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Hey Gini,
Thanks for providing the ingredients of a good social media policy. Having undergone this exercise myself last year, I wanted to share some of my org's experience.
I wanted to encourage everyone at my org to use social media as a part of their work. The first draft of our policy (written by our then-consultant) contained these ingredients but came off as punitive. No disrespect to the consultant - he was just following orders, so to speak! He and I worked together to add language to empower employees to share their expertise and engage in ongoing online conversations.
[What's interesting is that our current social media consultant (the other one took a full-time job, boo on him!) thinks that it's not encouraging enough.]
We had our legal counsel review our policy. Minimal changes were suggested. Legal compared it to the Red Cross policy (which, last I checked, you can find on Mashable)! I guess that's the standard in nonprofit.
I share this because it can feel like the social media policy can be so CYA that orgs can miss out on the opportunity to encourage staff to join the online community they're so eager to create. - That is, assuming that's what you want to do.


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Ok, so I'd really just like to thank Mom2fur at Sorta Frugal. Just had to be a little dramatic, since this is my first blog award!
There are some requirements for accepting, so here we go...
1. You have to pick 5 blogs that you consider deserving of this award for their creativity, design, interesting material, and also contribute to the blogging community, no matter what language.
2. Each award has to have the name of the author and a link to his/her blog to be visited by everyone.
3. Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that presented her/him with the award. (Hey, I tried... Blogger's not cooperating on the pic!)
4.The award winner and one who has given the prize have to show the link of "Arte y Pico" blog so everyone will know the origin of this award.
5. To show these rules.
So here's my five nominees....
1. First on the list is Lydia at Lydia's Cozy Corner. I actually know her in real life--we were schoolmates. She's several years younger than me, but one of her brothers was in my class, and I'm pretty sure we had an art class or two together at some point during my high school years. I don't really remember talking back then--like I said, she was a few grades below me, at least--but I think I found her blog through Facebook or something. Anyway, Lydia is a very talented girl who writes the most wonderful posts about cooking (complete with mouthwatering pictures--she really turns cooking into an art form!) and makes these amazing invitations/cards. I wish I had some grand occasion that I needed invites for...I would so want to buy them from her.
2. Second is Oonaballoona, at Oonaballoona. Found her thanks to a BurdaStyle thread asking about members' blogs. She's an East Coast girl, transplanted to L.A., who makes great outfits and talks about life in LA-la land. Very enjoyable to read.
3. She paints, she knits, she sews, she shares my love of stealing clothing ideas from Anthropologie... third up is KOTI*KOTI (don't know the author's name, sorry!) Another BurdaStyle blog find. She makes some amazing stuff-- even designed/inspired two of the BurdaStyle patterns (the Naomi and the Kasia.)
4. I always enjoy reading Sharon's posts at Adventures From the Sewing Studio. Besides her sewing projects, often vintage-inspired, she also does some very entertaining posts about her dogs and has a regular feature she calls "Flashback Friday", in which she shows a picture of herself or a family member from years past, often in something she made. So fun.
5. Last, but certainly not least, is Cidell at Miss Celie's Pants. Her sewing is amazing-- she's inspired me to really think about fit, fabric layout, and finishing details, because all the stuff she makes turns out totally professional-looking.
Second order of business: I'm officially signed up for a 2-month pledge at Wardrobe Refashion... after taking nearly 6 months off, I missed it. So here's my re-pledge:
I, Becky, pledge that I shall abstain from the purchase of "new" manufactured items of clothing, for the period of 2 months. I pledge that I shall refashion, renovate, recycle preloved items for myself with my own hands in fabric, yarn or other medium for the term of my contract. I pledge that I will share the love and post a photo of my refashioned, renovoted, recycled, crafted or created item of clothing on the Wardrobe Refashion blog, so that others may share the joy that my thriftiness brings!
Third order of buisness: There will be Friday Favorites. But I'm going to post it later. I have open-flame cooked food to eat and explosions in the sky to watch. (Literally speaking...not the band. Though I like the band too.)

subset: commoncrawl


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Each title offers four simple, funny stories starring everyone's favorite characters.
Whether sorting out shoe sizes with Big Bird, putting on one too many colorful layers to play in the snow, saving a single treat from Cookie Monster's clutches, or learning the ups and downs of flying from Abby, Elmo sure gets the concept!
Elmo's Shoes, Elmo Gets Dressed, Elmo and the Cookies, Abby Flies


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Going through the Smithsonian and found this.Very interesting!!!
March 2011
Jasmine H
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Educated at King Edward's Grammar School, Birmingham, and Edinburgh University, Sarah Dawkins is the Secretary of the Francis Bacon Research Trust, a Feng-Shui consultant, co-director of Zoence Academy and elder of Gatekeeper Trust. She organises the FBRT events, and teaches and leads workshops and pilgrimages internationally.
Zoence web site: www.zoence.co.uk
Gatekeeper Trust web site: www.gatekeeper.org.uk


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Humans are the most dominant species on Earth. Having claimed more than 50 percent of the Earth's landmass and 50 percent of its freshwater supply, our procreative success has threatened the existence of thousands of species, causing scientists to name this period of history the sixth mass extinction.
2010 has been officially declared the Year of Biodiversity with the goal of increasing awareness and protection of the most endangered species on Earth. Check out the website Countdown 2010 for more info on the U.N.'s target for biodiversity.
It's clear that the human population explosion is the greatest environmental problem our planet faces at the current moment, so the Center for Biological Diversity has created a great campaign that serves to drive the point home (so to speak) by handing out 100,000 condoms. An artist was commissioned to create colorful artwork for each condom pack. Check it out.
Visit EndangeredSpeciesCondoms.com to get your freebie or volunteer to hand them out!
The opinions expressed by MNN Bloggers and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not reflect the opinions of MNN.com. While we have reviewed their content to make sure it complies with our Terms and Conditions, MNN is not responsible for the accuracy of any of their information.


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Things to see and do - Portugal and Madeira
Leaving for Madeira
Nearby hotels
Alamal River Club from52 €Book
Casa de Campo Herdade da Lameira (ex Hotel Rural da Lameira) from60 €Book
Monte Filipe Hotel from55 €Book
Things to do nearby
Lisbon City Sightseeing Tour and Sintra Day Trip
- 82 €
- Book
Fatima and the Sanctuary Basilica Half Day Tour from Lisbon
- 55 €
- Book
- 35 €
- Book
Hotel Verdeal :
Nearby tourist sites
Nearby Restaurants
Cotation :
Type de cuisine : Traditional cuisine
Hotel Verdeal
Hotel Verdeal
Address : Quinta do Verdeal P - 3620-000 Moimenta da Beira
from : 40 EURBook
Offering free Wi-Fi, this 3-star hotel provides modern, air-conditioned rooms with a balcony. It has a seasonal outdoor pool and a traditional Portuguese restaurant. Free parking is available on site. Hotel Verdeal's en suite rooms come with a flat-screen TV and a minibar. Each spacious room has a wooden floor and a colourful décor. A freshly prepared buffet-style breakfast is served in the morning. Traditional cuisine paired with regional wines is offered in the evening. Guests can enjoy a drink from the bar on the shaded terrace. Luggage storage is available at Verdeal's reception. Leisure facilities include a tennis court and a playground with swings for younger guests.
Useful Information
- Address : Quinta do Verdeal P - 3620-000 Moimenta da Beira3620-000Moimenta da Beira
Main services
- Air conditioning
- Disabled access
- Non-smoking rooms


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Ford City officials want to tear down Eljer Plumbingware factory eyesore
FORD CITY -- A rundown, vacant factory building stands smack in the middle of what was once Ford City's industrial row, but if town officials have their way it won't be standing for long.
The former PPG and later Eljer Plumbingware factory space known as Building 228, located between the Allegheny River and the 1100 block of Third Avenue across from the borough maintenance garage, has been an eyesore on the town's riverfront landscape for decades, those officials said.
They want to demolish the 570-foot-long by 100-foot-deep, three-story-high building that sits 80 feet from the banks of the river and reclaim the view for the town's residents.
The borough acquired the factory property several years ago from Eljer for $1.
There had been some thought about keeping the building intact, either for use by another industrial tenant or to house a retail complex similar to Pittsburgh's Station Square. In either case, the building would require extensive renovation, officials decided, concluding it woud be best to raze it and make the space available for residential and commercial development.
"They put $5-to$7 million into a former factory building at the other end of town," said Ford City council president John Lux. "That's been sitting down there empty for years now. Why do the same thing up here• It would cost millions to renovate it."
"Besides. I think the people in town would rather have access to the river," he said. "Let's change the landscape of Ford City. Let's see the river from town. Let's get it torn down."
Lux would like to see condos and possibly a marina go up in the cleaned-up space.
"By tearing down the building, we can get more new residential housing mixed in with new businesses, and with that maybe increase the tax base and lower the property taxes," Lux said.
Holding up the process is the high price tag to demolish the structure.
The borough received 13 bids on razing the structure. The lowest responsible bid came from C.J. Contracting for $150,000. But the borough doesn't have the money and hasn't identified any state or federal grant money to do the project.
The majority of the cost would be to build a wall to separate the torn-down area from an adjoining factory space that has other ownership, Lux said.
The town has decided to do the job on it's own. A community campaign fund drive has been started to raise the needed money.
Councilman Tom Shaffer is leading the effort. In addition to contributing the first $250 to the campaign, Shaffer is working to form a committee.
For now, donations can be sent to Ford City Borough, attention Building 228 Fund, Box 112, Ford City, Pa, 16226, or delivered in person to the borough office.
"We're promoting the idea, getting people involved and looking for donations," Shaffer said. "Hopefully this can get kicked off around Heritage Days (the first week of July)."Additional Information:
Mayor Mantini recalls the past
Ford City mayor Marc Mantini can't help but remember, with a little help from some of the old glassworkers living in town, what used to go on at PPG Building 228 and at the other former PPG factory properties.
'It's about the generations that helped build the glass in Ford City that helped build America,' Mantini said.
Mantini recalled the casting hall and the furnaces within the walls of the old factory building where the sand, soda, ash and lime made the glass at 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
Glassmaking was a very expensive process for hundreds of years prior to the development of John Ford's plant in Ford City, according to Mantini.
'Here the pot furnaces on the second level made inexpensive commercial glass,' Mantini said. 'They were circular, 6 to 8 feet wide and 4 feet high. They were the first-generation, mass production furnaces and 50 to 60 men manned those furnaces.'
Later a continuous tank furnace was developed and a major production of glass was moved to the southern end of town. That furnace was about 15 feet by 15 feet and eight feet high and it cooked glass 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, Mantini said.
Mantini agrees that demolishing Building 228 is the best thing to do for the borough.
'You have to tear it down. Those buildings are antiquated,' Mantini said. 'Remember the past, but move on.'
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Uranus Axis Mystery Solved
- Uploaded by Ghost32 on Oct 8, 2011
- Views: 720
What knocked Uranus over? Scientists might finally have answered one of astronomy's longest standing questions. But first, a writer for io9 explains why the planet is such a mystery.
"Uranus is unique among all the planets of the solar system because it essentially orbits on its side, with its axis tilted nearly perpendicular to the Sun. ... Uranus's spin axis lies 98 degrees off of its orbital plane with the Sun. No other planet is tilted more than 30 degrees off its axis..."
The tilt of the planet has always posed a problem for astronomer's vision of the early solar system.
Up until now, the dominant theory is that an impact from a planet several times the size of Earth could have knocked Uranus over. The problem with that theory is that if it were true, the planet's moons wouldn't be in the orbit or rotation they have now. (Video source: The Science Channel)
Basically, if the impact happened early in the planet's formation, its moons wouldn't be spinning the direction they are. If it happened later, the moons wouldn't be orbiting the way they do. But ScienceNow reports new computer models appear to have figured it out.
"This problem would disappear if one impact tilted the planet to, say, 50° or so, and a second blow delivered an additional tilt of 48°. A larger series of smaller impacts is also possible. In each case, the planet and the disk material would remain orbiting in the same direction."
So it sounds simple enough: two separate impacts each knocked the planet halfway to its current rotation. But that creates its own problems with one pre-existing theory. Universe Today quotes the study's author saying Uranus shouldn't have been getting hit at all.
"The standard planet formation theory assumes that Uranus, Neptune and the cores of Jupiter and Saturn formed by accreting only small objects in the protoplanetary disk. They should have suffered no giant collisions. The fact that Uranus was hit at least twice suggests that significant impacts were typical in the formation of giant planets. So, the standard theory has to be revised."
The new theory of multiple impacts could also explain why Pluto has so many large moons -- it was getting pelted as well.


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Sergio Garcia shocked the golf world after the third round of the Masters by saying that he doesn't think he is capable of winning a Major Championship, and he backed up his comments after the tournament. Is he right or does he just lack confidence?
The Spaniard began the third round just one shot behind the leaders, but a disappointing 75 moved him out of contention for the final round.
Garcia lost confidence
The despondent Garcia then unburdened his soul by telling the media he just didn't believe he had what it takes to win a Major.
"That's the reality. I'm not good enough and today I know it. I've been trying for 13 years and I don't feel capable of winning," Garcia said. "I don't know what happened to me. Maybe it's something psychological. After 13 years, my chances are over. I'm not good enough for the Majors. That's it."
Statements like that make it pretty clear that there is "something psychological" holding him back, but just in case you thought his comments were a knee-jerk reaction to a bad round, Garcia reiterated the sentiment after completing the final round.
"Everything I say, I say it because I feel it," he said. "If I didn't mean it, I couldn't stand here and lie like a lot of the guys do. If I felt like I could win, I would do it. Unfortunately at the moment, unless I get really lucky in one of the weeks, I can't really play much better than I played this week. And I'm going to finish 13th or 15th. What does that show you?"
And when asked what he thought was missing from his game, he answered, "Nothing."
He ended up 12th, which means he has been in the top 12 in all of the last four Major championships; not exactly the kind of dooms-day scenario you'd expect to cause such a negative reaction.
Perhaps Garcia has fallen victim to believing his own hype, a cardinal sin for any professional athlete who wants to manage expectation.
Garcia vs Woods
He burst on to the scene as a fresh-faced 19-year-old by shooting the lowest amateur score in the 1999 Masters tournament. He subsequently turned pro and won his first European Tour title six starts later in the 1999 Irish Open. Later that same year Garcia went on to duel with Tiger Woods for PGA Championship title, with the Spaniard coming off second best.
But it did lead to speculation Garcia would give Woods a run for the title of 'best player of their generation'.
Since then Tiger has gone on to win 12 more Major titles for a total of 14, whereas Sergio is yet to win even one, so he may have a point.
But the Mole is having a great deal of difficulty believing that someone as good as Garcia isn't capable of winning a Major.
Garcia's obvious talent
Surely it is more just a loss of belief in himself, rather than an actual lack of talent, after 54 attempts at Major glory without success.
There is no doubt that if Garcia doesn't get a breakthrough in his career, he will go down as one of the best players to never win a Major.
Do you think Sergio Garcia is good enough to win a Major? Has he really lost confidence in himself, or do you think he is just trying to alleviate a bit of the pressure from himself?


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If you like this, Harlequin recommends
- Motive: Secret Baby
- by
- Oct 2008
- Cries in the Night
- by
- Jul 2010
- Colby Brass
- by
- Nov 2010
- John Doe on Her Doorstep
- by
- Jul 2010
Specialist Cole Danes's investigation revealed the unthinkable: a trusted, longtime personal assistant toVictoria Colby had been the source leaking highly sensitive information that could have resulted in the agency's destruction. But it soon became clear that a secondary party was the real culprit. Single mom Angel Parker was being manipulated and controlled by a sinister mercenary driven to destroy the Colby Agency using any means necessary. Only, that was about to stop...dead!
Cole was determined to complete his mission, and he needed Angel to accomplish that end. But he didn't expect to need Angel.... He had every intention of being as ruthless as his adversaries and using Angel as his pawn, but spending time in seclusion with her wore away his emotional armor. Now he was more concerned with protection than retribution, which could prove fatal for them both.


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This section of the website offers accurate information about issues currently being discussed in our community.
Information travels quickly via cellphone, social media and conversation. Sometimes, facts can be distorted into fiction as they move through the grapevine. This question-and-answer section aims to distill grapevine sludge into crystal-clear facts.
If you have a question or want to check out something you've heard about schools in Chesterfield County, please email email@example.com.
Why does the school system spend so much on administration and so little on instruction?
Actually, the opposite is true. Administrative costs take up less than 4 percent of the FY 2013 budget, and 69 percent of the budget is spent on instruction in Chesterfield County Public Schools. The school system's administrative costs are lower than the state average for school systems and are significantly below the average administrative costs of a mid-size business, which run about 12 percent.
What is this capital improvement plan I keep hearing about? If the school system needs more money, why not just take some of the funds from the capital improvement plan and use that money to pay teachers?
The capital improvement plan is similar to a family borrowing money to build a home and using that home to secure the loan. The school system's capital improvement plan is the same. The school system sells bonds to build or renovate schools.
Major maintenance projects, such as air conditioning and heating, and technology account for about half of the school system's capital improvement plan. Each year, Chesterfield County Public Schools pays about $45 million in debt service.
If Chesterfield County Public Schools did not have a capital improvement plan, then there would be no school renovations, no school additions, no HVAC repairs, no new or replacement technology, no new gyms, etc.
Teachers are paid from the school system's operating budget, which comes from a different source than the capital improvement plan.
What is up with all the early release days?
On eight days in the 2012-13 school year, Chesterfield County students will be dismissed three hours early. Also, school days now start a few minutes earlier and end a few minutes later than previous years. These strategic changes give teachers time for planning and professional development without taking instructional hours away from students. The end result is expected to be higher academic achievement for students.
I understand that teachers need planning time and professional development, but why can't early release days be scheduled on Fridays instead of Wednesdays? This would give families extended weekends.
This might make it too tempting to take an even longer weekend and not send students to school on Friday morning. Regular attendance is important for student achievement.
Are there separate honors and upper-honors classes? If so, how are the students selected and why aren't these classes advertised?
Chesterfield County Public Schools offers honors, dual enrollment and Advanced Placement classes. There is no upper honors designation.
All classes are included in the school system's course offerings guide, which is available online. Middle and high school students register every spring for classes for the next school year. Schools provide lists of their classes to students to discuss with their parents. After getting recommendations from teachers about which level of classes would be best for them, students work with school counselors to finalize their schedules.
If dual enrollment and Advanced Placement are offered for the same class (for example, English 12), there is no honors class. If a high school does not have a teacher certified to teach dual enrollment, then it offers an honors level and
Advanced Placement. For middle and high school courses that are not offered as dual enrollment or Advanced Placement, only an honors option is available. Honors and dual enrollment courses are weighted 4.5 and Advanced Placement classes are weighted 5.0 when calculating GPA.
How do schools determine which student is placed in which teacher's class? What criteria are used?
The process for creating classes for the upcoming school year is complex and lengthy. It often begins as early as April and continues through the summer. Classroom teachers, special education teachers, resource teachers and administrators collaborate to create each class. The goal is to create a balance within each classroom based on the instructional, social and emotional needs of the students. Considerations include reading levels, math levels, gender, ethnicity and specific instructional needs for individual students. Also, within some classes there are small clusters of students who are identified as gifted or who are identified for other support programs.
We do not live in Chesterfield County but are willing to pay tuition to Chesterfield County Public Schools. Can our child enroll in Chesterfield?
No. Chesterfield County Public Schools does not accept out-of-county students. Families must prove that they live in Chesterfield County before they can enroll their children.
How can I shift my child to a different Chesterfield school?
If you are seeking a waiver for child-care reasons, then the process starts with the school you want your child to attend. Download a child-care waiver form, fill it out, have it notarized and take it to the school you want your child to attend. The school will verify your information and consider your request.
If you are seeking a waiver for any reason other than child care, then the process starts with the school your child is zoned to attend. Download this waiver form, fill it out and take it to the school your child is zoned to attend. If the principal approves your request, then he will forward the form to the school you want your child to attend. If that school's principal also approves, then she will forward your application for a waiver to her director for final approval.
If, at any step along the way, someone determines that a waiver request does not meet school system guidelines, then your request will denied and you will be given information about the appeals process.
Bus transportation is not provided for students who receive a waiver to attend a school outside their attendance zone.
My family is moving to another state. How can I get a refund of my child's account balance from mylunchmoney.com?
Call the school system's Food and Nutrition Services Office at (804) 743-3717. A staff member will take your information, then request a check for the amount left in your child's account. It takes about two weeks for the check to be mailed to you.
Several children who attend my child's school live outside Chesterfield County. Why are they allowed to attend a Chesterfield County school?
They are not. Students must live in Chesterfield County to attend Chesterfield County Public Schools. Please contact the school system's Office of Pupil Placement (594-1707) if you have information about students who live outside the county but who are in Chesterfield classrooms.
Why do I get so many phone calls from my child's school?
Schools use a digital system to communicate via phone or email with parents. Calls can be directed to the entire school system, a school, a grade, a classroom, a bus, etc. Student achievement and family involvement increase when parents know what's going on at their child's school, and this digital system is an important method of communication.
Why does it take so long to make a decision about closing schools when it is snowing?
Predicting the weather is not easy. Weather-related closings or delays are an operational judgment call, not a policy-based decision.
Many factors play into a decision to close schools or open them late, but one factor is constant: The safety and well-being of students is at the forefront of every decision.
Whenever bad weather is predicted, the school system's Transportation Department monitors road conditions throughout the county as well as weather reports for changes that could affect road conditions. Some buses are on the road as early as 5:40 a.m., so school employees begin monitoring conditions at 3-4 a.m. School employees also are in contact with the Chesterfield County police and the Virginia Department of Transportation for the latest information on road conditions in the county. As soon as a decision is made to close or delay school, information is posted online and sent to parents, school employees and media outlets
Can I bring homemade cookies or cupcakes for my child's class to enjoy?
Chesterfield schools encourage healthy snacks and limit celebrations that involve food during the school day. Many students have food sensitivities that can lead to life-threatening reactions. At home, parents can manage the foods their children are exposed to. Managing exposure at school is more of a challenge, so schools take reasonable steps to meet that challenge by asking all parents to follow four simple guidelines:
If you have questions, it's best to ask your child's teacher about her guidelines for food in the classroom.
Why are high school graduations held at the VCU Siegel Center?
Chesterfield, Henrico and Hanover high schools all hold graduations at the Siegel Center. There are several reasons the Siegel Center is a better location than a high school gym, auditorium or football field.
Families are understandably proud of their graduates, and the Siegel Center allows extended families to attend the ceremony. Most high school auditoriums or gyms could barely hold the graduating seniors plus one parent each without
exceeding the number of people allowed by the fire marshal. The Siegel Center allows 6,000 people to attend each graduation, allowing many family members and friends to attend.
High school graduations have taken place at the Siegel Center for at least a dozen years. Before that, Chesterfield graduations took place at the Richmond Coliseum or the Arthur Ashe Center. In the distant past, high school graduations
were held on football fields, but these outdoor sites are subject to bad weather and temperature extremes, which make it difficult for some senior citizens and people with medical conditions.
Using one site for all 11 high school graduations allows Chesterfield County Public Schools to save money on setup costs. Instead of setting up 11 different sites with sound systems, security, chairs, decorations, etc., we set up one venue and use it 11 times.
Why do schools today offer so much more than they did when I was a student?
Chesterfield County is changing. About five years ago, 20 percent of our students qualified for free or reduced-price lunches. Now, 30 percent
of our students qualify because their families are struggling economically. There are more students who need special education services, as well as more students who qualify for gifted education. Students enter schools with a wide variety of skill sets and knowledge, but schools must bring all students to the same level of academic proficiency
Is there a maximum student-to-teacher ratio established by law? Are there any special considerations for students with disabilities or special needs?
Yes. Virginia's Standards of Quality require school boards to make sure that divisionwide ratios of students to full‐time equivalent teaching positions (excluding special education teachers, principals, assistant principals, counselors and librarians) are not greater than
Also, school boards are to assign instructional personnel in a manner that produces school-wide ratios of students to full‐time equivalent teaching positions of 21-1 in middle schools and high schools.
Virginia regulations governing special education programs state that school boards are to set pupil-teacher ratios for pupils with mental retardation that do not exceed pupil-teacher ratios for self‐contained classes for pupils with specific learning disabilities.


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The Grizzlies are finished, having suffered a stunning sweep at the hands of the Spurs in the Western Conference finals. Thus begins the Lionel Hollins sweepstakes.
If you're wondering why we have had 11 teams with some tumult in their coaching ranks, but only three hires so far (Cleveland brought in Mike Brown, the Suns went for Jeff Hornacek and the Bobcats hired Steve Clifford) much of the reasoning involved Hollins and his stay in the Western Conference finals. There are expected to be two big-time jobs offered to Hollins—the Nets and Clippers—while the Grizzlies themselves scramble to keep their free-agent coach.
The Bucks are in the mix, too, though a source told SN that the team is likely to focus on Rockets assistant Kelvin Sampson.
Thanks to the performance of the Grizzlies this year and in the postseason, Hollins has become the hottest name on the market. That's a big leap for a coach who entered this season with an uncertain future, unable to get a contract extension from the Grizzlies and new owner Robert Pera.
There are plenty of reasons for Hollins to cast his gaze elsewhere—and for Memphis to consider letting him walk away. When the Grizzlies made the franchise-altering trade of Rudy Gay at the end of January, Hollins was not on board. The move was a cost-cutting measure to get the Grizzlies away from the luxury tax, but it also re-invigorated the season, sparking point guard Mike Conley to up his offensive game and bringing to Memphis role-playing small forward Tayshaun Prince and promising big man Ed Davis.
That Hollins didn't recognize the benefits of the deal is a strike against him. That he has been steadfast in his refusal to integrate Davis into the rotation (6.0 minutes per game in the playoffs) is another strike. There is also some question about the Grizzlies and their playoff performance—yes, they reached the conference finals, but they did so facing a Clippers team with a banged-up Blake Griffin and a Thunder squad with no Russell Westbrook. Would Hollins be such a commodity had the Grizzlies been eliminated by a healthy Oklahoma City club in the conference semis?
Still, the Grizzlies would prefer to keep the coach who has brought them to the highest points the franchise has achieved in its history. Memphis is 183-129 in four years with Hollins on the sideline, and the team has made the playoffs three straight seasons. For a franchise that has seen some flux in the past year, a little stability in the coaching ranks would be welcome.
But the Nets have a billionaire owner in Mikhail Prokhorov, and having spent lavishly on the roster last summer, Brooklyn has little choice now but to spend lavishly on a coach—and Hollins is the only available coach likely to get a large chunk of money. Similarly, the Clippers need to convince point guard Chris Paul to sign a long-term deal and are willing to overspend in their search to replace Vinny Del Negro.
The willingness of those two teams to spend could be enough to make the Grizzlies fold their hand and promote an assistant to take over the job. Worth it or not, Hollins is seen as a franchise-changing coach. The bidding war is set to begin.


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Don Churro Cafe, South American Cuisine in Chantilly
Posted 09 April 2009 - 02:43 PM
Don Churro is a South American restraunt located in the cullinary mecca known as Chantilly. Its on the back end of the Sully shopping center near Bungalow Billiards and the new Lotte.
This place is rapidly becoming one of my go-to places by virtue of the good food and its proximity to my office.
I talked to one of the owner once and he said that the menu consisted of their favorites from south american cuisine. The menu consists of tapas and full sized entrees.
Some of the tapas are really quite good. Our favorites are the Papa rellena (frided mashed potatoes filled with ground beef) and the Chicharron de calamar (fried calamari). The Gambas al alillo are also delicious.
My wife has enjoyed the sandwiches (Barros Luco and Churrasco Palta). From the entres I have had the Pescado al grill, Fritada, Hornado and Bandeja Paisa. I'd reccomend all of them.
The only miss we have had on the menu is the Coclo con queso which quite literally is a piece of corn served with cheese. The cheese was good but the dish did not work for us.
Most important for us is that its been a pretty easy place to take our one year old. He's been pretty content to sit in one of our laps and shovel pieces of potato, ground beef and avacado into his mouth. If you're stuck in Chantilly and don't want to go to Sichuan Village or Thai Basil, give this place a try.
Their website is at: http://www.donchurrocafe.com/
Posted 09 April 2009 - 02:45 PM
Posted 13 July 2009 - 09:30 AM
We went yesterday for the first time. We also had the Papa Rellana and Chicharron de Calamar. We enjoyed both. The calamari was very tender and easy to chew. We added a couple empanadas: Saltana Boliviana and De Queso. I'd order both again. The De Queso (just cheese filling with sugar on top) would make a decent, cheap ($1.99) dessert. I thought a couple of the sandwiches looked really good and will probably try one on my next visit.
Some of the tapas are really quite good. Our favorites are the Papa rellena (frided mashed potatoes filled with ground beef) and the Chicharron de calamar (fried calamari).
Service was very good. Our waiter was very knowledgeable about the menu and food.
Posted 17 September 2009 - 09:04 PM
The chevice, specifically the "De Pescado Peruano" is $13.95 and comes with three sides: two types of corn and sweet potato slices.
The fish is not cooked except in the lime marinade. It is a very "bright" dish but not overly lime flavored. It is cut into bite sized strips and comes with raw sliced red onion, which again is tempered by the strong marinade. The fish is light and fresh, the marinade seems to cook it to a nice degree of firmness.
The corn sides are 'regular' and toasted. The regular corn is very large kernels of corn, any one of which is the weight of 6 or more kernels of what comes in American cans of corn. It is meaty and tasty, more like lima beans than corn. By the time I started eating the fish, the fish marinade had run into the corn - and that was fine by me.
The toasted corn is served in a leaf of romaine lettuce to help keep it out of the marinade. The kernels have shrunk a bit from the toasting and are lightly salted - they tasted a bit like "corn nuts" without the excessive salt and dryness that make that snack so harsh - there's just enough moisture left in these kernels to make them a little chewy inside.
The sweet potato came in two thick slices, served cooked and plain. Given the bright nature of the rest of the food, this sweet addition was welcome to the palate. These too were served in a lettuce leaf.
A side dip is a peppery complement to the fish marinade, the way that neon green and neon yellow go together - both will grab your attention, but things get interesting and nice when you mix them. The spice level was enough to know there was a heat source but not enough (in moderation) to cause reactions.
All in all, very nice. Every once in a while, I want a meal that is light and bright - not meat and potatoes. This is it, and the next time I have that craving I'm headed to Chantilly
Posted 13 March 2012 - 10:18 AM
I have only tried their Ecuadorian dishes and those are pretty tasty, although their are some inconsistencies which lead me to believe that no one in the kitchen is actually Ecuadorian.
One of my favorite Ecuadorian dishes are llapingachos - mashed potatoes flavored with achiote oil, rolled into patties, stuffed with a chunk of cheese, and fried until a crispy skin forms on the outside. I know, right? Well, Don Churro's llapingachos are pretty much on point. The cheese isn't quite the flavor of the farm cheese generally used in home recipes, but they can't really be faulted for that. I have ordered these both times I've gone and will do so again.
Most, if not all latin american countries have their version of an empanada. The one unique contribution to this category that comes from Ecuador is the "empanada de morocho." Morocho refers to the grain used to make the dough, and in my experience these empanadas traditionally have a shredded chicken and olive filling. The filling may well vary, but as is evident from the name, the dough is the central characteristic. I may be wrong on this, and if I am, forgive me, but I'm pretty sure that they're not using morocho for their dough. This empanada tasted more like a deep fried saltena than anything else. It may not seem like a big deal, but if they're not going to do it right, why bother putting it on the menu?
I also tried their hornado, which is seasoned roast pork, and this was quite good. Served with some mote (hominy), tostado (toasted corn described in ventworm's post above), avocado slices, and llapingachos, this was a real tasty plate. The pork was tender and delicious, the sides were on point, and as I mentioned above, the llapingachos really are worth the trip. One small quibble - the menu indicates that this dish includes "encebollado" which they mean to refer to the pickled thinly sliced red onions which are a traditional garnish on many Ecuadorian dishes. The only thing is, this isn't "encebollado," it is "encurtido de cebolla" or "cebolla encurtida." Encebollado is actually an entirely different dish which is more of a stew, often using fish as the protein. Again, not a huge deal, but it wouldn't be so hard to research things a little to get them right. Sort of makes me wonder how many things are labeled wrong on menus where I don't have the background knowledge to know better!
The only hot sauce they provide is a green one which may be Peruvian in origin, and is quite delicious. The traditionalist in me longs for "aji de chochos" - traditional hot sauce made with tamarillo (tree tomato), chiles, and lupini beans - but I may be the only guest who would actually use it so I can understand why they don't have a tub of it on hand.
All in all, this place is a welcome change to the standard lunch options and has consistently offered tasty, if slightly inaccurate, versions of some of my favorite Ecuadorian dishes. There are many more Ecuadorian options I'll have to tick off the list before moving on their other dishes, but I plan on returning often, so that shouldn't be too difficult!
Posted 13 March 2012 - 01:37 PM
Thanks for the very informative review; I've been meaning to get back to Don Churro. Regarding hot sauces, rest assured there are plenty of us out here who are always looking for new hot sauces to try, and the one you describe sounds delicious!
"Consider the source" -- Jim Bouton, Ball Four.
Bob Wells as of September 23, 2014; Twinsdaddy forever.
Posted 17 October 2012 - 06:59 AM
Except they don't open at 5:30 (please update your website). They open at 6:00. Not enough time, Mr P is running late, now what do I do? what else is around here... Don Churro Cafe? Last time I needed a quick meal in Chantilly I almost got sick from a crappy Mexicanoid place, don't want to do that again... wait, not Mexican, looks promising.
So I got a table and ordered some pabellon criollo (marinated pulled beef with black beans, fried plantains, and rice) and aji de gallina (shredded chicken in yellow chili sauce with potato, egg, olive, also served with rice) and waited for my husband.
At that early hour the place was half full of Spanish-speaking people who had pulled tables together so they could watch a football match on the big screen while drinking sangria and eating dinner. Half of them had yellow jerseys on. The other half cheered and jumped up and down (literally) when Venezuela scored. A few other diners wandered in; two young women in office clothes got girly-looking cocktails, then one of them slipped on a yellow jersey.
It was like eating in someone's den, with waitresses. But I don't mean this in a bad way: I had a blast (when in Rome...) watching the game.
And the food was great, too. The beef had a slightly sour, slightly winey flavor that was compelling. The chicken was really rich but delicious in a comfort food kind of way. We had churros and tres leches for dessert, then slipped out the door not long after the place erupted in cheers and hugs when Ecuador scored. A man rushed over and made a point for thanking us for dining with them.
Next time this meeting happens in Chantilly I'll make a point of eating here. Thanks, Karaikudi, for being closed, otherwise I would never have found Don Churro.
Elizabeth Miller
fast cars, slow food
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text: The local fall political season had its official kickoff Wednesday with county Democrats and Republicans holding gatherings for their faithful. The Democrats seemed unusually optimistic about their chances in the Nov. 7 election while Republicans realized they face significant challenges. Thats not surprising given the fact polls show the Republicans in trouble at the top of the statewide ticket. Most polls show Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ted Strickland holding significant leads over Republican Ken Blackwell while Republican incumbent U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine is trailing Democratic challenger Sherrod Brown. Ohio seems to mirror the rest of the country where an underlying unease about the status quo is fueling Democratic hopes across the country. We all know what the polls say, Mary Taylor, GOP candidate for state auditor, said at the Ashland County Republican picnic. Referring to the recent scandals that have plagued the Ohios GOP from Gov. Bob Taft on down, Thats going to affect the November election. Thats something were going to have to work on as a party. Even State Senate President Bill Harris of Ashland said he was concerned about his own 19th Senate District race against Democratic challenger Tom Burkhart. This is going to be one of the most difficult races weve had as the Republican Party, he said. Thats because there are so many things going on. Across town, county Democratic Party Chairman George Bringman said theres a lot of excitement, a lot of interest about the Democratic chances in November. I really look to see that the Democrats will sweep the statewide offices, Bringman said at Wednesdays open house and ribbon-cutting at Democratic headquarters. During her brief remarks to local Democrats, Connie Schultz, wife of Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Brown, said her husbands campaign is running an 88-county race, looking beyond the usual Democratic strongholds. Weve never seen so much bipartisan support, said Schultz, who is on leave as a columnist for The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer. We have got to build bridges for these people ....we want to save this state. We want to give people hope. While Democrats seem to be doing well at the top of the statewide ticket, it will be interesting to see if they can mount serious challenges to Republicans in the local congressional, state senate and statehouse races. It will be interesting to see how deep on the ticket the apparent dissatisfaction with Republicans will be felt. Perhaps the most interesting local race to watch in that regard will be the county commissioners race where two well-qualified candidates are squaring off to replace retiring seven-term GOP incumbent Marilyn Byers. Given the strong Republican roots and organization in Ashland County, conventional wisdom would say Republican Kim Edwards, current mayor of Hayesville, should have a leg up on Democrat John Leininger, who is attempting to become the first elected county-wide Democratic office holder since he decided not to run for re-election as county commissioner in 1988. But 2006 seems to be far from a conventional election year. It should be fun to watch.


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- Filed Under
? A 54-year-old male of Bucyrus, was arrested on suspicion of trespassing at Kroger, 210 E. Mary St. 8:15 a.m.
? A report of a shoplifting at Circle K, 325 S. Lane St. was investigated. 8:17 a.m.
? A report of a breaking and entering in the 400 block of Kaler Avenue was investigated. 1:08 p.m.
? A disturbance on Reid Street was investigated, and an assault complaint was lodged by one man against another. 3:39 p.m.
? A disturbance in the 400 block of W. Mansfield St. was a dispute over ownership and possession of dogs. 5:30 p.m.
? Officers assisted the Crawford County Sheriff's Office in the 500 block of South Sandusky Avenue with the investigation of a domestic dispute. 8:13 p.m.
? Officers assisted Bucyrus Fire Department at Bucyrus Plaza. 11:49 p.m.
? A man was arrested in the 900 block of Failor Avenue on charges of speeding and operating a vehicle under the influence. 4:49 p.m.
? Officers on patrol investigated a suspicious male loitering in the 200 block of S. Poplar Street. He left the area. 1:42 a.m.
? A traffic citation was issued in the 200 block of South Poplar Street to a male for a stop sign violation. 1:56 a.m.
? Officers investigated an altercation in the city lot behind Dillingers. No one wanted to make a report. 2:34 a.m.
? A vehicle struck a utility pole in the area of Lakewood Drive and Oakridge Drive. The driver was uninjured. 9:29 a.m.
? Officers located a vehicle wanted out of Findlay Police Department for unauthorized use in the 500 block of Russell Avenue. The owner was contacted and retrieved the vehicle. 11:45 a.m.
? Officers checked on a report of subjects ringing a doorbell and running in the 100 block of North Sandusky Avenue. 4:28 p.m.
? A report of a subject with a gun was investigated in the 900 block of South Highland Avenue. The subject was found to have an air rifle. He was warned against discharging it in the city limits. 4:39 p.m.
? A report of prescription medication being stolen in the 1800 block of East Mansfield St. is being investigated. 4:59 p.m.
? Officers assisted Ontario Police Department with a welfare check in the 600 block of Virginia Avenue. 5:57 p.m.
? Officers investigated a disturbance in the 1300 block of East Southern Avenue. An individual was unwelcome at a residence. She called for a ride and left the area. 6:16 p.m.
? Officers checked a residence for possible stolen property. 6:20 p.m.
? A report of a shoplifter at Ehrhart's, 108 N. Lane St., is under investigation. 7:02 p.m.
? An East Rensselaer Street resident reported their residence broken into. Prescription medication was reported taken. 7:28 p.m.
? Officers assisted Bucyrus Fire Department in the 900 of block West Perry Street due to a fire alarm initiated by a popcorn popper at the basketball game. There was no fire. 7:40 p.m.
? A Monnett Street resident reported medication and a phone stolen from his residence yesterday. 10:50 p.m.
? A resident in the 300 block of North Walnut Street reported $200 stolen from his residence. 11:49 p.m.
? A domestic dispute on East Beal Avenue resulted in a 47-year-old male being arrested on charges of domestic violence. He was taken to the Crawford County Justice Center to await an appearance in court. 8:28 a.m.
? Report was taken of a man loitering in the 800 block of North Sandusky Avenue, knocking on doors in the area. The man was looking for a friend and waiting for them to return. The 33-year-old man was arrested on two warrants out of Crawford County Sheriff's Office. He was taken to the Crawford County Justice Center to be held. 2:28 p.m.
? An officer arrested a male in the 100 block of West Mary Street for an investigation on charges of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. The individual is being held at Crawford County Jail awaiting a hearing. 9:33 p.m.
? An officer checked a car parked at Circle K, 325 S. Lane St., with a man possibly passed out inside. The man was identified and had an active warrant. He was arrested and taken to Crawford County Jail. 10:02 p.m.
? Officers assisted LifeStar at Indian Creek Apartments on Whetstone Street. A resident suffered a minor household injury. 12:32 a.m.
? Officers spoke to a man who claimed to have had $30 stolen from him while at Suburban Lanes. 1:13 a.m.
? A 23-year-old male was cited for open container of liquor on Washington Square. He was issued a minor misdemeanor citation and released with a pending court date. 2:25 a.m.
? A domestic issue between a male and female in the 800 block of Wingert Street was investigated. It was found to be a verbal altercation and the male half had left prior to officer's arrival. 6:58 a.m.
? Officers investigated a break-in of a vacant home on South East Street. 2:19 p.m.
? A West Mansfield Street resident reported a trailer entered. 3:26 p.m.
? A South East Street resident reported tools stolen from the residence. 4:20 p.m.
? Officers investigated a disturbance in the 200 block of East Mary Street. A report was taken of a sex offense complaint. 4:39 p.m.
? An East Oakwood Street resident reported metal roofing, plywood and 20 bags of aluminum cans stolen from their yard overnight. 5:23 p.m.
? A Franklin Street resident reported theft of two bicycles stolen that were loaned out and never returned. 8:05 p.m.
? A West Mansfield Street man was arrested on charges of criminal trespass and was held for court. 8:27 a.m.
? A Galion resident was arrested on charges of domestic violence and was held for court. 12:36 a.m.
? A Marion resident was arrested on charges of domestic violence and was held for court. 9:20 a.m.


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View Moby Waller's Instablogs on:
2014 Preakness Picks & Analysis From BigTrends.com
Price Headley, CEO of BigTrends.com: The second leg of the Triple Crown happens this Saturday at Pimlico racecourse outside Baltimore, and my comments about California Chrome (Post Position 3, morning line odds 3-5) as a legitimate contender for the first Triple Crown in 36 years still stand. The horse was hand ridden to victory in the Derby and should be fresh for this race. His draw in the number 3 post position was also favorable.
The race is 1-3/16 miles (1/16 short than the Derby) and the weather should be good Saturday for a fast track. The only pending question here in my view is who gets 2nd and 3rd. At 3-5 morning line odds, it's not worth betting Chrome to win, we need to pair him with other horses to get a decent payoff.
Here's my assessment:
I think there will be plenty of speed in this race with Social Inclusion and a couple of others battling on the front end. I expect this sets up for closers to finish well to get 2nd and maybe Social Inclusion can hang on for 3rd.
I like the local horse Kid Cruz (PP 7, 20-1) as he won on this track in the Tesio stakes last month with a strong closing kick, and I figure he can pick up the pieces for 2nd place.
I think Ride on Curlin (PP 10, 10-1) will also have a good closing kick, and Dynamic Impact (PP 1, 12-1) and Bayern (PP 5, 10-1) are wildcards that have an outsiders shot at 3rd or 4th. So here's my play on a model portfolio:
$10 Exacta 3 on top of 7,10
$2 Trifecta 3 on top of 7,10 on top of 7,10, 1, 5
Good Luck!
Moby Waller, Portfolio Manager at BigTrends.com: This year's Preakness is a terrible betting race, due to California Chrome being such a huge (and deserved) favorite. Price & myself both correctly picked Chrome to win the Kentucky Derby, but neither of us had the 2nd place longshot horse and that messed up our Exacta & Trifecta wagers.
The Preakness is normally a race where closers do not win, and it often seems to run as a shorter race than its 1 3/16 length would indicate. However, there isn't nearly as much impressive speed in this race as there was in the Deby, so I think some late runners could finish in the money.
There is a story out there about huge favorite Chrome having a cough, so take that for what it's worth --
I put California Chrome (PP 3, 3-5) on top. In order to make the betting on this race somewhat potentially lucrative, I threw out the second betting choice of Social Inclusion, as the morning line odds of 5-1 were too low for this horse relative to the other contenders.
Next I chose Kid Cruz (PP 7, 20-1), who can close, won last time out at the this Pimlico race course, and has nice odds.
Then, Ride On Curlin (PP 10, 10-1) who also can close, has had consistent speed numbers, and ran a decent Derby despite a criticized Borel ride (new jockey this race).
Next I looked at a lot of these horses, but settled on Dynamic Impact (PP 1, 12-1) -- won his last 2 races with decent speed times.
Theoretical Wagers:
$5 Exacta 3 with 7/10/1
$2 Exacta Box 3 7 10 1
$2 Trifecta Box 3 7 10 1
$5 Win Place Show on 7,10Tags: Horse Racing, Handicapping, Betting, Sports, Preakness
2014 Kentucky Derby Picks & Analysis From BigTrends.com
Price Headley, CEO of BigTrends.com:
It's time for our annual KY Derby selections and commentary. First, we'll start off with an updated table of past Derby winners, their speed ratings and final tune-up race. Our analysis of past data indicates that horses with strong 100+ speed ratings in prep races have a better probability of winning the big race.
Derby Winner
BRIS Speed Rating
Last race (# weeks before Derby)
97, 102
Florida Derby (5 weeks)
95, 102
Santa Anita Derby (4 weeks)
100, 89
Turfway Spiral (5 weeks, poly)
92, 94
Arkansas Derby (3 weeks)
96, 98
Sunland Derby (5 weeks)
106, 104
Florida Derby (5 weeks)
98, 101
Bluegrass Stakes (3 weeks, poly)
104, 104, 97, 97
Florida Derby (5 weeks)
100, 96, 98, 96
Santa Anita Derby (4 weeks)
105, 109, 101, 103
Arkansas Derby (3 weeks)
111, 103, 97
Wood Memorial (3 weeks)
109, 105, 88, 94
Illinois Derby (4 weeks)
108, 108, 106, 98
Wood Memorial (3 weeks)
110, 103, 100, 98
Wood Memorial (3 weeks)
104, 94, 94, 94
Lexington (2 weeks)
107, 103, 73
Santa Anita Derby (4 weeks)
102, 98, 105
Santa Anita Derby (4 weeks)
101, 102, 93
Arkansas Derby (3 weeks)
98, 103, 106
Blue Grass (3 weeks)
104, 105, 99, 100
Wood Memorial (3 weeks)
96, 85, 77
Blue Grass (3 weeks)
102, 96, 107, 100
Arkansas Derby (2 weeks)
109, 100, 99, 87
Blue Grass (3 weeks)
108, 101, 104, 98
Blue Grass (3 weeks)
My favorite in this year's race is California Chrome (Post Position 5, 5-2 odds). This is not a bold pick but he's by far the class in the field, having won his last 4 races by a combined 25+ lengths. He truly looks like the best chance at a Triple Crown winner in many years (remember we haven't had a horse win all three jewels of the Crown since Affirmed held off Alydar to win it all back in 1978).
I would not be surprised to see the favorite go off closer to 2-1, which is very short odds in a 19-horse field. The Derby usually favors closers and horses that want the extra ground. Typically this doesn't show up on paper yet for these colts, as they've only gone 1-1/8 miles or less, and the Derby is 1-1/4 miles. That last 1/8 of a mile (also known as a "furlong" in the racing biz) is what separates the champions from the also-rans.
We should have a beautiful sunny day with no rain at Churchill Downs for this year's Derby as well.
With those thoughts in mind, here are my top challengers to California Chrome:
Dance with Fate (PP 12, 20-1): Looking for value here among the horse that won their last prep race. Dance with Fate won the Blue Grass at Keeneland impressive, though his speed rating in that race was only 99. Keeneland has been one of those hard to judge preps because of the Polytrack surface, which makes this pick a high risk, high reward play. But given that Street Sense won the Derby off a similarly slow Blue Grass win, I like the value here for win bets.
Wicked Strong (PP 20, 6-1): Awesome closing kick in the Wood Memorial win, now he's on everyone's radar as a logical second choice. The outside post position (the 20 horse just scratched) is not a huge issue for a closer, as he will settle in towards the back early and get a rail trip to save distance. Just not a super value here, but must consider in exotic bets.
Samraat (PP 6, 15-1): Gets my vote for Mr. Consistency, ran a game second in the Wood but seems to lack the closing kick to actually win it. Like him to get on the board though in 2nd or more likely 3rd.
Ride on Curlin (PP 19, 15-1): Closed strong in the Arkansas Derby behind longshot winner Danza. Gets the wily jock Calvin Borel (they call him "Bo-Rail" at the Derby for his savvy wins on longshot Mine that Bird and Street Sense). Something tells me Cal will be close at the finish. Call it a hunch play.
So my theoretical bets on a sample $100 model portfolio look like this:
$10 Win on 12
$6 Win on 20
$4 Win on 19
$5 Exacta box 5,12
$5 Exacta box 5,10
$5 Exacta box 5,20
$1 Trifecta 5 with 12 with ALL
$1 Trifecta 5 with 20 with ALL
$1 Trifecta 5 with 19 with 20
$1 Trifecta 5 with 19 with 6
$1 Trifecta 5 with 6 with 19
$1 Trifecta 5 with 6 with 20
Moby Waller, Portfolio Manager, BigTrends.com:
We've had a lot of rain recently in Kentucky (and it's been cold here, like in most of the country), but the forecast for Louisville on Saturday looks fairly dry and warm - should be a fast track.
Looks like there are a lot of front-running speed type horses in this year's Derby. A horse who can stalk a bit off the pace and/or close strongly is likely to win in my view.
California Chrome (PP 5, 5-2) is the obvious favorite here, with 4 very strong wins in a row. I have to put the favorite on top in this case, as much as I would like not to. Jockey/horse would do better to stalk the pace rather than try to lead from early on.
Wicked Strong (PP 20, 6-1) looks ready to run a big race and can handle the distance, but the far out post position could hinder.
Danza (PP 4, 8-1) finished the last race very well and looks to like the track here.
Medal Count (PP 14, 20-1) can close and is bred for long distance, hasn't done much on dirt but seems to like the track.
Suggested theoretical wagers (all exotics, based on having a favorite in there):
$2 Exacta Box: 5, 20, 4, 14 = $24
$2 Trifecta Box: 5, 20, 4, 14 = $48
Others to put in for Exotics:
Dance With Fate (PP 12, 20-1)
Intense Holiday (PP 16, 8-1)
Candy Boy (PP 18, 15-1)
$2 Exacta Box: 5, 12, 16, 18 = $24
Alternate Scenario Exotic:
$1 Exacta Box: 1, 6, 10, 13, 19 = $20
Total 4 Bets = $116
From Forbes: "The Derby exacta payouts over the last five years have been (at the $2 increment): $981.60, $306.60, $329.80, $152.40 and $2074.80".Tags: Sports, Kentucky Derby, Betting, Handicapping, Horses, Derby, Horse RacingMay 02 11:26 AM | Link | 2 Comments
Strong Percent R Readings Indicate Further Market Upside - Revisted For 2014
Once again, extremely strong momentum/trend readings for the broad market prove very bullish.
We previously examined this in 2012 and here (as well as before then) - when the market gives an extremely strong Daily reading on Williams Percent R (using the BigTrends inputs and method for %R), it actually is usually a bullish signal for further upside to continue. This is logical given that a very strong reading on this indicator shows the strength of the current trend - but goes against many investors & traders out there who look for a reversal using "overbought" or "oversold" strategies - we know that overbought can go more overbought and of course "the trend is your friend".
With both the Daily and the Weekly Percent R readings on the S&P 500 Index ETF (NYSEARCA:SPY) hitting 100.00 max readings on the last trading day of 2013, we did a new optimization of the S&P 500 Index (SPX) Daily chart over the past 10 years, January 1 2004 to January 1 2014. Previously we had found that daily close readings over 99 on Percent R were a good Buy signal over the next 17 trading days (a bit over 3 weeks). On the SPX over this particular time frame, the optimal reading was over 98.8 over 19 trading days (a similar result both on level and duration) - over the past 10 years, this system with these settings is 78.6% winners with a win/loss size ratio of 1.39 (33 winners vs 9 losers with winning trades about 1.4x as big as losing trades).
In general the past 10 years has been a bullish one, but remember that we saw a giant plunge in the market from October 2007 to March 2009. A nice thing about this system is that it largely avoided the losses of that time period (because it didn't generate many Buy signals during that time frame). For example here is the year-by-year results:
Percent R High Readings System Equity Curve
(click to enlarge)
You can see that there were only 2 down years for this system based on these settings (2008 and 2011), and both of those where very small losses - and there was only 1 signal in all of 2008, compared to as many as 8 in the strongest years of 2012 and 2013 (remember that this is on a 19 trading day holding period, basically a month - with no concurrent signals - so there is a maximum of about 12 trading signals a year).
The Equity Curve of this system when compared to the market since 2004 shows the smooth nature of the gains and how it largely avoided the big losses/drawdowns that the market had:
Percent R System Equity Curve, 2004 to 2014
(click to enlarge)
SPY 2004 to 2014 Chart
(click to enlarge)
Here you can see all of the signals for 2013 - also how we currently are in a "buy" signal in effect from 12/26/13:
SPX Daily Chart
(click to enlarge)
The nice thing with the signals in strong years like 2012 & 2013 is that it kept you in the market much of the time during these strong bull runs. The only losing signal in 2013 was the most recently closed one and was actually basically a breakeven - Nov 14 to Dec 11, SPX was down 0.50 from 1782.75 to 1782.22.
Also remember that a strong January (and we've tested this before, as well as the "First 6 Weeks" indicator), portends well for a strong year in general for the market ... (NYSEARCA:DIA) (NASDAQ:QQQ) (NYSEARCA:IWM) but that's another analysis/story that will unfold over the coming weeks.
Bottom line is that extremely strong Daily Percent R (Williams %R) readings using the BigTrends method and inputs have been a good indicator for further market upside when we've tested this multiple times in the past over multiple time frames - and continued to work well in 2013. Don't be afraid of jumping on board a strong trend.
Performance Divergence Among Asian ETFs http://seekingalpha.com/a/1mec1 Dec 2, 2014
Lowest Monthly VIX Close Since January 2007 http://seekingalpha.com/a/1c8fh Jun 3, 2014
2014 Preakness Picks & Analysis From BigTrends.com http://seekingalpha.com/p/1qkgp May 16, 2014
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text:
Hunting for Easter eggs
Back on March 1, 2008, I saw another 1994 model Ford-NH 8340 front-wheel assist tractor (106 horsepower) sell at auction. This time in northeast Missouri. That tractor had 3,850 hours and sold with a Ford 7410 loader. The tractor and loader sold for $30,000.
So I've seen two Ford-NH 8340s sold at auction in the last 19 days. An 8340 is kind of rare out there on the auction market, on the used equipment market in general. So to run across two nice ones in 19 days was kind of fun. I've always really enjoyed this aspect of collecting and compiling auction sale price data. . . uncovering those harder to find pieces of equipment and reporting on what they just sold for.
Like hunting for Easter eggs.
Here are a couple other recent examples. On March 13th, a JD 6715 tractor (105 horsepower), mechanical front-wheel drive with 800 hours sold for $43,500 on an auction in north-central Wisconsin. The next day (March 14th), a 2006 model JD 6715 mechanical front-wheel drive tractor in like new condition sold for $50,000 on a sale in northwest Ohio.
Or how about Wilson 41-foot grain trailers? I see tons of Wilson 42-foot grain trailers sell at auction. . . not so many 41-footers. Check out these recent auction sale prices on Wilson 41-footers.
$30,000: 2002 model, sold 3/7/08 in northwest Illinois
$18,000: 1994 model, sold 12/20/07 in west-central Illinois
$17,500: 1992 model, sold 3/13/08 in north-central Michigan
$9,000: 1983 model, sold 3/14/08 in northwest Ohio
See now this is good information. How does age of the piece of equipment affect value? How much more is a five-year-old model worth vs. a 25-year-old model? The sale prices tell the tale.
You can slice up the auction sale price data we compile in so many insightful ways. The examples I've listed shine the light on recent auction sale prices. What's it worth now? But I think it can also be extremely helpful to analyze these prices over time. What's it worth now vs. last year, three years ago, 10 years ago? Is a piece of equipment holding its value? Is it depreciating? How fast? Appreciating?
Let's go back to Ford-NH tractors and zero in on Ford-NH 8970s. Slightly over 200 horsepower, NH made 8970s from 1993 to 2000. Back on March 8, 2008, on a farm auction in southeast Kansas, a 1996 8970 with 4,600 hours sold for $60,000. It was mechanical front-wheel drive. Let's compare to other similar houred Ford-NH 8970s sold at auction over the years (each tractor listed was MFWD).
$60,000: 1996 model, 4,600 hours, sold 3/8/08 southeast Kansas
$40,100: 1995 model, 4,632 hours, sold 3/20/07 northwest Illinois
$35,500: 1998 model, 5,500 hours, sold 11/28/07 southeast South Dakota
$45,000: 1996 model, 3,540 hours, sold 4/7/06 southeast Minnesota
$50,000: 1998 model, 3,607 hours, sold 7/22/05 east-central North Dakota
$35,000: 1994 model, 5,786 hours, sold 2/5/04 northwest Kansas
$41,500: 1996 model, 4,435 hours, sold 3/5/04 southeast North Dakota


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|Catecholamines, cardiac natriuretic peptides and chromogranin A: evolution and physiopathology of a 'whip-brake' system of the endocrine heart.
MedLine Citation:
|PMID: 20802109 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE
|In the past 50 years, extensive evidence has shown the ability of vertebrate cardiac non-neuronal cells to synthesize and release catecholamines (CA). This formed the mindset behind the search for the intrinsic endocrine heart properties, culminating in 1981 with the discovery of the natriuretic peptides (NP). CA and NP, co-existing in the endocrine secretion granules and acting as major cardiovascular regulators in health and disease, have become of great biomedical relevance for their potent diagnostic and therapeutic use. The concept of the endocrine heart was later enriched by the identification of a growing number of cardiac hormonal substances involved in organ modulation under normal and stress-induced conditions. Recently, chromogranin A (CgA), a major constituent of the secretory granules, and its derived cardio-suppressive and antiadrenergic peptides, vasostatin-1 and catestatin, were shown as new players in this framework, functioning as cardiac counter-regulators in 'zero steady-state error' homeostasis, particularly under intense excitatory stimuli, e.g. CA-induced myocardial stress. Here, we present evidence for the hypothesis that is gaining support, particularly among human cardiologists. The actions of CA, NP and CgA, we argue, may be viewed as a hallmark of the cardiac capacity to organize 'whip-brake' connection-integration processes in spatio-temporal networks. The involvement of the nitric oxide synthase (NOS)/nitric oxide (NO) system in this configuration is discussed. The use of fish and amphibian paradigms will illustrate the ways that incipient endocrine-humoral agents have evolved as components of cardiac molecular loops and important intermediates during evolutionary transitions, or in a distinct phylogenetic lineage, or under stress challenges. This may help to grasp the old evolutionary roots of these intracardiac endocrine/paracrine networks and how they have evolved from relatively less complicated designs. The latter can also be used as an intellectual tool to disentangle the experimental complexity of the mammalian and human endocrine hearts, suggesting future investigational avenues.
|Bruno Tota; Maria Carmela Cerra; Alfonsina Gattuso
Related Documents :
|15837529 - Natriuretic peptides as prognostic and diagnostic markers in chagas' disease.
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12399629 - Comparison of plasma levels of mature adrenomedullin and natriuretic peptide as markers...
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Publication Detail:
|Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Review
Journal Detail:
|Title: The Journal of experimental biology Volume: 213 ISSN: 1477-9145 ISO Abbreviation: J. Exp. Biol. Publication Date: 2010 Sep
Date Detail:
|Created Date: 2010-08-30 Completed Date: 2010-11-29 Revised Date: -
Medline Journal Info:
|Nlm Unique ID: 0243705 Medline TA: J Exp Biol Country: England
Other Details:
|Languages: eng Pagination: 3081-103 Citation Subset: IM
|Department of Cell Biology, University of Calabria, 87030, Arcavacata di Rende, Italy. email@example.com
Export Citation:
|APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex
|MeSH Terms
Amino Acid Sequence
Biological Evolution*
Catecholamines / metabolism*
Chromogranin A / metabolism*
Endocrine System / physiology*
Heart / anatomy & histology, physiology*, physiopathology
Molecular Sequence Data
Myocardial Contraction / physiology
Myocytes, Cardiac / metabolism, ultrastructure
Natriuretic Peptides / genetics, metabolism*
Nitric Oxide / metabolism
Nitric Oxide Synthase / metabolism
Sequence Alignment
Signal Transduction / physiology*
Reg. No./Substance:
|0/Catecholamines; 0/Chromogranin A; 0/Natriuretic Peptides; 10102-43-9/Nitric Oxide; EC 184.108.40.206/Nitric Oxide Synthase
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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text:
We have not raised our class fee's since we started in 2005
Studios located at Ashtonfield,
East Maitland, Jesmond, Maryland Rutherford and Warners Bay
About Us
Groove Dance Productions originated in 2005 and is a family operated studio. The studio specialises in Hip Hop and Tap classes and we constantly update our dance styles. We also have a number of boys in the studio due the contemporary style the studio offers.
We have raised over $10 000 for different charity's and have recently raised over $4 000 for Ronald Mcdonald House Newcastle
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Styles of Dance
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Please email us for a time table and any information required
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text:
To find a doctor, call 800-667-5356 or click below:
Find a Doctor
Request an Appointment
Brand Name(s):
| WHY is this medicine prescribed?
| HOW should this medicine be used?
| What SPECIAL DIETARY instructions should I follow?
| What should I do IF I FORGET to take a dose?
| What SIDE EFFECTS can this medicine cause?
| What should I know about STORAGE and DISPOSAL of this medication?
| What should I do in case of OVERDOSE?
| What OTHER INFORMATION should I know?
Temsirolimus is used to treat advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC, a type of cancer that begins in the kidney). Temsirolimus is in a class of medications called kinase inhibitors. It works by blocking the action of the abnormal protein that tells the cancer cells to multiply. This may help slow the growth of tumors.
Temsirolimus comes as a solution (liquid) to be given by infusion (slow injection into a vein) over 30 to 60 minutes. It is usually given by a doctor or nurse in a doctor's office or infusion center. Temsirolimus is usually given once every week.
You may experience symptoms such as hives, rash, itching, difficulty breathing or swallowing, swelling of the face, flushing, or chest pain. Tell your doctor or other healthcare provider if you experience these symptoms while you are receiving temsirolimus. Your doctor may prescribe other medications to help prevent or relieve these symptoms. Your doctor will probably give you these medications before you receive each dose of temsirolimus.
Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while taking this medication.
If you miss an appointment to receive a dose of temsirolimus, call your doctor right away.
This medication will be stored at your doctor's office or clinic.
In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.
Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain lab tests to check your body's response to temsirolimus.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about your treatment with temsirolimus.
It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.
AHFS® Consumer Medication Information. © Copyright, The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc., 7272 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland. All Rights Reserved. Duplication for commercial use must be authorized by ASHP.
Last Reviewed: September 1, 2010.
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text:
Orville Schell spoke at the most recent Long Now seminar. His subject was the future of China, and whether or not China could make the kinds of long-term investments in its future that its success as a nation now demands. Tim O'Reilly blogs Stewart Brand's notes capturing the gist of the talk:
These days you cannot think usefully about China and its potential futures without holding in your mind two utterly contradictory views...
- Peaceful borders in all directions
- Economic, non-threatening engagement with the entire world, including with societies the US refuses to deal with
- 200 million Chinese raised out of poverty
- Private savings rate of 40 percent (it's 1 percent in the US)
- 300 million people with cell phones, and the best cell phone service in the world
- A superb freeway system built almost overnight
- New building construction everywhere, and some of it is brilliant
- 150 million people online
- 350,000 engineering graduates a year
- One-third of the world's direct investment
- Huge trade surplus
- And an economic growth rate of 9 to 12 percent a year! For decades.
but also...
- Not much arable land, so a growing dependence on imported food
- Two-thirds of energy production is from dirty coal, by dirty methods, growing at the rate of 1-2 new coal-fired plants per week
- 30 percent of China has acid rain; 75 percent of lakes are polluted and rivers are polluted or pumped dry
- Of the 20 most polluted cities in the world, 16 are in China; you don't see the sun any more
- Some industrial parts of China are barren, hellish wastes
- Driven by environmental horrors and by widespread corruption, there were 87,000 instances of social unrest last year, going up every year
- The population is aging rapidly, with no pension or welfare, and a broken healthcare system
- The stock markets are grossly manipulated
- Public and official amnesia about historical legacies such as Tiananmen Square in 1989
I have listened to the podcasts of Long Now Seminars in the past and they can be quite thought provoking.
The audio for Orville Schell's lecture is not yet available. I assume it will be soon. http://www.longnow.org/projects/seminars/
The LNF should really have a place marker on the page as on the Seminar page there is no listing of the event as well.


text:
Elroy Stratton takes a water sample at the Red River Wastewater Treatment Plant in Bossier City. Stratton takes a sample each hour and tests for the PH level.
- Filed Under
Bossier City has kept a close eye on future utility demands for the better part of a decade, Mayor Lorenz "Lo" Walker says.
The continued growth inside and outside the city led to the decision to upgrade facilities, which started three years ago with the passage of a $125 million utility bond issue. Some of the projects are nearing completion, while others are just getting started. Here is a look at how the city plans to accommodate future utility demands.
Wastewater improvements: $82 million
New Red River wastewater treatment facility
Bossier City plans to build a new wastewater treatment facility on the south side of its existing south Bossier plant. The project is estimated to cost between $50 million and $65 million and would increase the capacity of wastewater pumped through the plant. Once constructed, the treatment part of the old plant will be demolished and the other buildings will become available for other uses.
Funding: Bossier City received a $22 million Department of Environmental Quality loan to replace the headworks, which screens the water before the treatment process, in November 2010. The loan is paid down with the $8 rate increase residents began paying in September 2010. The remainder of the project will be paid with revenue from the 2008 utility bond issue. Debt on those bonds will be paid down with hotel and motel tax revenue.
Timeline: Construction is expected to start in spring 2012.
Northeast wastewater treatment plant
A rehabilitation of the northeast wastewater treatment plant is planned to start with construction of the new Red River wastewater plant. Kauffer said the rehabilitation will not increase the capacity of the plant, but it will make it "just like new."
Funding: The project will be paid with revenue from the 2008 utility bond issue. Debt on the bond will be paid down with hotel and motel tax revenue.
Water improvements: $100 million
$72 million: Expansion of water treatment plant
A new water treatment plant is being constructed at the Hamilton Road treatment facility. Once the new plant is completed, a full-scale rehabilitation of the existing water treatment plant will follow. The two plants will eventually hook together to double the capacity of the facility to 45 million gallons per day, Public Utilities Director Bryan Kauffer said.
Funding: 2008 utility bond issue. Debt on these bonds is paid down with a water rate increase residents took on in 2008 and hotel/motel taxes.
Timeline: Construction of the new plant is expected to be done in May 2012. Rehabilitation of the existing plant will start immediately after and take approximately a year, Kauffer said.
$28 million: In miscellaneous projects starting with a $1.2 million water distribution system model and master plan. This month, the Bossier City Council agreed to retain Manchac Consulting Group to develop a comprehensive plan and model to get water into the plant, treat it and get it out in the most effective manner. Additional projects will be generated from the model, Kauffer said.
Funding: 2008 utility bond issue
Timeline: The model is expected to be done by the end of the year. Planning and outlining of projects would start in


text:
The high cost of principal turnover
Amy Scott
Oct 30, 2014 Half of new principals leave in their third year on the job.
Vocational high schools: Where job skills are the goal
Emily Hanford
Oct 24, 2014 Lots of kids won't go to college, and need career training in high school
Teaching theology... for profit?
Sarah McCammon
Aug 21, 2014 A for-profit college based in Georgia offers theology degrees to would-be pastors.
Who created that app? A teacher
Adriene Hill
Aug 20, 2014 Teachers are big creators of digital learning tools.
Quiz: Support for the Common Core not as common
Dan Abendschein
Aug 20, 2014 Teachers turn against the controversial program.
School staffing up nearly 400%, but not with teachers
Gigi Douban
Aug 13, 2014 Hiring teacher's aides played a big part in this increase. We look at the 'why'.
Conde Nast gets into the education business
David Weinberg
Jun 4, 2014 Conde Nast is working with universities to create accredited certificate programs.
How much help do rural schools in your state need?
Shea Huffman
May 20, 2014 A new report tracks how states support education in rural districts — and which states need to do more.
U.S. manufacturing has an image problem
Mark Garrison
May 14, 2014 The industry's trying to attract the next generation of workers.
Go to college, wash your own clothes. Right?
David Gura
May 8, 2014 Davidson College tells students to handle their own dirty laundry.


text:
Dravus Ruffian Dark Grey Button Up Shirt
Item # 193625
Take An Additional 50% Off
Stash Points: 0
What is this?This is the number of points you get in The Zumiez Stash for purchasing this item. Stash points are redeemable for exclusive rewards only available to Zumiez Stash members. To redeem your points check out the rewards catalog on thestash.zumiez.com.
Dark and handsome, the Ruffian button up shirt from Dravus is far from the rough and reckless.
|More Details


text:
'Shoregasboard' food truck court opens
Even though the boardwalk in Long beach is still under construction, food truck owners are hoping tourists and residents will eat at their food court. Videojournalist: Jim Staubitser (April 27, 2013)
Newsday.com now uses Facebook for our comment boards. Please read our guidelines and connect your Facebook account to comment.
Local retailers talk Small Business Saturday 2 dead in fiery truck-car collision in Inwood Black Friday protest Good Morning LI: It's Black Friday! Forty years of football Blimp makes unplanned landing Good Morning LI: It's Thanksgiving! Judge to rule 'soon' on whether to shut down fantasy sports Balloons get inflated for Thanksgiving Day parade Stony Brook miracle baby 3 luxury East End homes on the market Good Morning LI: It's National Tie One On Day!


text:
|View single post by slowtrot
|Posted: Thu Nov 1st, 2007 06:10 pm
|susansweet wrote:
Ole I agree Thomas has gotten a raw deal . He is THE ROCK !!! He needs a cheer leading squard to spread he word. Good solid general. One of the Norhern Generals I admire .
Hi Susan!
You gotta get around to some of the other boards, particularly the Yahoo CW groups. There was a lively discussion going on there about two or three years ago.
The cheerleaders at that time were Joe Rose, Bob Taubman and myself. Prior to that Bob Redman was highly involved until he got a little to rambunctious. Now, the efforts have slowed a bit. However, I think we raised an awareness that didn't exist before. But, since this is a relatively new board or at least one that I haven't been active in maybe we can get some good discussions going. I notice ole's here. If I remember he participated also.


text:
- Resources
- Auditing Government Funding
- State/County Contract Program
- Tribal Affairs Fiscal/Contract Information
- Civil Rights Compliance Information
- Business Opportunities Funding Information
- Accounting Policy and Procedures Manual
Are you interested in doing business with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS)? We value your expertise and welcome you to apply for contract or grant opportunities that result in our mission of protecting and promoting health and safety of the people of Wisconsin—"We are all in this together."
DHS contracts with counties, tribes, school districts, boards, and a number of non-profit organizations for the administration of the Department's programs. These contracts require these agencies to follow the Department's auditing requirements in the Financial Management Manual (P-80049).
For contracts and grant contracts, the official State of Wisconsin site for vendors to access information on goods and services purchased by DHS is VendorNet. VendorNet registration provides automatic notification via email each time DHS or another state agency posts a Request for Bid (RFB)/Request for Proposal (RFP) in a designated commodity/service area over $50,000.
To give you timely information regarding the status of DHS contract and grant contract opportunities, we use and follow the Contract Life Cycle Model through the various steps of the process, starting with Current Solicitations (the red arrow identified in the graphic). Select each arrow of the graphic to view different aspects of the Contract Life Cycle process.
NOTE: Some areas of the Contract Life Cycle may not contain data at this time due to the anticipated implementation of the State's unified business system (STAR). To obtain information regarding a specific record(s), please submit an Open Records Request to firstname.lastname@example.com. For additional information, refer to Open Records-Notice of Public Records Access.
Contract Life Cycle
Did you know...
Procurement is the acquisition of commodities or services by purchasing, renting, leasing, contracting, or bartering.
Purchases acquire goods or services for the direct benefit of the State and are subject to Wis. Stat. Chapter 16 Subchapter IV, and the Wisconsin State Procurement Manual.
Contracts are a formal arrangements between the DHS and one or more parties, which by their terms and elements, are enforceable by law.
Grant contracts, on the other hand, are the transfer of something of value to a recipient for the purpose of support or stimulation rather than to acquire goods or services that directly benefit the State. For further clarification of definitions used in Federal policies, refer to Federal Terminology and Definitions.
Audit management described on this web site applies primarily to grant contracts issued by the DHS due to the manner in which the grant contracts are established.
Non-procurement transactions include payments made pursuant to statute when the statute directs DHS to contract with, or grant funds to, a particular entity, agreements, contracts, or grant contracts between or among DHS and other Wisconsin state agencies.
Request for Application (RFA) is a request for grant applications, for both discretionary and competitively funded programs, that allows organizations to apply or compete for funding to maximize the public investment in and best serve the needs of the various programs.
Request for Proposal (RFP) is a method of purchasing where specifications and requirements for the commodity or service cannot be clearly defined, but the problem, outcome and deliverables can be prescribed. Cost is only one of the factors used to choose the vendor.
Request for Bid (RFB) is a method of purchasing services and commodities that are projected to cost over $50,000 where specifications, requirements, services and end-products can be clearly defined; and once minimum requirements are met, cost is the determining factor in selecting the successful vendor(s).
Request for Information (RFI) is a formal written request which solicits from vendors specific and targeted information which DHS might use to gauge market availability or other conditions. An RFI does not (and need not) necessarily lead to a future procurement or contract for the goods or services mentioned in the RFI. An RFI is used to obtain information only, no contract will be issued.