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World Snooker Tour
The World Snooker Tour is a circuit of snooker tournaments organised by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) for their members. To compete as a professional player, players must be WPBSA members. The circuit comprises a two-tier tour structure, with a primary tour and a secondary tour. The number of players on the primary tour is restricted, while the secondary tour is open to all professionals and amateurs.
Historically a player just needed to become a professional member of the governing body to participate in events, which was attained by formal invitation by an existing current member, and this system was eventually replaced by the "Pro-Ticket" series.[1] The game went open for the 1991/1992 season, whereby anyone could apply for professional membership and enter the tournaments.[2] Due to over-subscription, a two-tiered tour structure was adopted for the 1997/1998 season: the primary tour—known as the Main Tour—with a limited membership, and a secondary professional tour was established for the rest of the professional membership.[3]
Main Tour[edit]
The Main Tour consists of ranking tournaments which contribute to a players ranking, and invitational events which do not.[4] All players on the tour can enter a ranking event, whereas the entry criteria for an invitational event is often set by the sponsor or broadcaster, and usually excludes many players on the tour.[5][6] Ranking tournaments are often played in two stages—a qualification stage and the "main draw", usually at different locations.[4] The main draw is most likely to be held at a prestigious venue where audiences can purchase a ticket and watch the players compete.[7] Typically only the main draw is televised,[8][9] and therefore often carries considerably higher prize money than the qualifiers.[10][11] Players traditionally come into ranking events in different rounds based on their world ranking, and the top players in the sport—often the top 16 ranked players—are usually seeded through to the venue stage and do not have to play a qualification match; however, from the 2013/2014 season the circuit began to transition to a "flat" format structure, with all the players starting in the first round. Some tournaments also have an amateur leg that makes it possible for non-members to enter WPBSA events.[12]
To compete on the Main Tour as a professional player, a player must qualify for it. At the end of each season, a pre-determined number of players are relegated from the tour based on their performance in ranking tournaments and on the secondary tour, making way for new professionals to join the tour. There are several qualification routes for the tour: a player can gain qualification via the secondary tour or by the various events organised by the WPBSA itself or affiliate organisations, and a limited number of places are usually made available to players at the discretion of the governing body.[13]
Following the creation of the Main Tour in the 1997/1998 season, the top ranked professionals qualified automatically for places while the rest of the membership had to qualify for places through a series of qualifying schools.[14] The qualifying schools were only held the once, and thereafter the main qualification route was via the secondary professional tour.[3] Following the scrapping of the secondary tour, the promotion places were then allocated to the International Open Series (PIOS)—an amateur open tour organised by Pontins—for the 2005/2006 season. The amateur status of the event meant that players who had been relegated from the Main Tour and wished to compete on PIOS had to relinquish their professional membership. This had an unpopular side effect, since if players relinquished professional membership they would be unable to enter the World Snooker Championship, which is open to all professional members including those who do not compete on the Main Tour.[15] Another issue was that players could not compete on PIOS while competing on the Main Tour, meaning that they were unable safeguard their membership on the Main Tour by immediately re-qualifying via PIOS, effectively keeping them out of professional competition for a whole season should they drop off the tour.[3] Even though PIOS was a competition in its own right, it primarily served as a Main Tour qualification route, and anticipating the streamlining of tour qualification for the 2011/2012 season this unpopular contest was discontinued after the 2009/2010 season.[15]
Q School[edit]
The Q School was established in an attempt to streamline the qualification process for the Main Tour, and is more or less a replacement for PIOS. A series of play-offs are run through to the quarter-final stages only. Players pay a fixed entry fee to enter all the play-off events, and there is no prize money. Each player who wins a quarter-final game qualifies for a two-year tour card on the Main Tour. All the players that have entered the event compete in the first play-off, and those that are not successful are automatically entered into the next play-off and so on.
There are some important differences between the Q School and PIOS. Q School is purely a qualification process whereas PIOS was a tournament series in its own right. Q School is conducted in a limited time period of two to three weeks in May, during the interlude between seasons, while PIOS events were played over the course of the season. Another important distinction from PIOS is that it is open to everyone, and players who have just been relegated from the Main Tour are eligible to enter and if successful immediately regain their places on the tour.[1][16]
Other qualification routes[edit]
Players can also gain a place on the Main Tour by competing on the Players Tour Championship (PTC), which is an open tour that anyone can enter. A pre-determined number of Main Tour places are awarded to players based on their performances in the PTC events, and a professional player already competing on the Main Tour can be spared relegation by performing well in them.[13] Players can also qualify via the Qualifying Tour, an amateur tournament series run in conjunction with the European PTC events, culminating in play-offs for a tour card; organised by the European Billiards and Snooker Association (EBSA), entry is restricted to players who are registered with a national governing body of the EBSA.[17] The International Billiards and Snooker Federation (IBSF), EBSA and Asian Confederation of Billiards Sports (ACBS) also each nominate players for the tour, and the WPBSA usually makes a limited number of discretionary places available to players too.[13]
Current criteria[edit]
The players who retain their place on the tour are only guaranteed a place for one further season, while everyone else is awarded a two-year tour card.[13]
Secondary professional tour[edit]
A secondary tour was first established in the 1994/1995 season; comprising six tournaments, the WPBSA Minor Tour was open to all professionals, but only ran for one season.[18] The concept was revived in 1997/1998 in the form of the UK Tour, following the adoption of a two-tier tour structure.[14] Unlike the Main Tour which had restricted membership, the UK Tour was initially open to all professional members, even those competing on the Main Tour—although members of the Main Tour were prohibited from entering from the 1999/2000 season.[3] It was rebranded the Challenge Tour from the 2000/2001 season,[3][19] and open to all players not on the Main Tour and amateurs.[20] From the 2001/2002 season, the Challenge Tour had a restricted membership and offered exclusive professional competition to a limited number of professionals that were not members of the Main Tour,[20] and the Open Tour was established which was open to all players—including players on the Main and Challenge tours.[19] The WPBSA operated the three level circuit until the 2002/2003 season when it split with the English Association of Snooker and Billiards (EASB). Since the Open Tour fell under the control of the EASB, which is an amateur governing body, the Open Tour took on amateur status and professional players were no longer eligible to enter.[19] The Challenge Tour was axed upon completion of the 2004/2005 season, leaving the restricted Main Tour as the only professional competition provided by the WPBSA.[3] The 2009/2010 season saw another attempt to establish a secondary tour with the introduction of the Pro Challenge Series.[21] Only four of the planned seven events were played before the series was axed due to low player participation; one of the criticisms of the event was that it offered no ranking points which discouraged participation.[22] The most recent innovation is the Players Tour Championship (PTC), a series of minor-ranking tournaments open to the entire professional membership, introduced in 2010/2011. The PTC events also include an amateur leg, effectively making the PTC an open tour.[23] They also count towards the rankings for professionals on the Main Tour.[24][25]
- ^ a b Hendon, Dave (9 May 2011). "On Cue for Cue School". Snooker Scene Blog. Snooker Scene. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
- ^ Hendon, Dave (15 July 2009). "Past Masters #9". Snooker Scene Blog. Snooker Scene. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f Turner, Chris. "WPBSA Secondary Professional Tour". Chris Turner's Snooker Archive. Archived from the original on 28 February 2012. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
- ^ a b "Full Calendar". World Snooker. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. Retrieved 12 May 2013.
- ^ "Tournaments". World Snooker. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. Retrieved 12 May 2013.
- ^ Årdalen, Hermund (15 May 2011). "Tournaments". Snooker.org. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
- ^ "Tickets". World Snooker. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. 9 December 2010. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
- ^ "World Snooker Events – Live Coverage" (PDF). World Snooker. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. Retrieved 12 May 2013.
- ^ "TV Schedules". World Snooker. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. 4 April 2011. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
- ^ "2013/14 Calendar". World Snooker. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. 8 April 2013. Retrieved 12 May 2013.
- ^ "Indicative Prize Money Eankings Schedule 2013/2014 Season" (PDF). World Snooker. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. Retrieved 12 May 2013.
- ^ Hearn, Barry (8 April 2013). "Letter to Tour Players from Barry Hearn" (PDF). World Snooker. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. Retrieved 12 May 2013.
- ^ a b c d "Tour Structure". World Snooker. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. Archived from the original on 4 March 2015.
- ^ a b Hayton 2004, pp. 171–174.
- ^ a b Turner, Chris. "Pontins International Open Series". Chris Turner's Snooker Archive. Archived from the original on 28 February 2012. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
- ^ "World Snooker Q School". World Snooker. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
- ^ "Tour Places For European Amateurs". World Snooker. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. 5 July 2012. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
- ^ Hayton 2004, pp. 166–167.
- ^ a b c Hayton 2004, pp. Introduction & 178–182.
- ^ a b "2000 / 2001 Challenge Tour". fcsnooker. Preston, Lancashire: The Frank Callan Suite. 26 April 2002. Retrieved 15 June 2011.
- ^ Hendon, Dave (30 June 2009). "Pro Challenge Series Launched". Snooker Scene Blog. Snooker Scene. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
- ^ Hendon, Dave (2 March 2010). "Pro Challenge Series Axed". Snooker Scene Blog. Snooker Scene. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
- ^ "Players Tour Championship pits stars against amateurs". BBC Sport (BBC). 22 June 2010. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
- ^ "Ranking Points Schedule". World Snooker. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. 26 November 2010. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
- ^ Turner, Chris. "Players Tour Championship". Chris Turner's Snooker Archive. Archived from the original on 16 February 2012. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
- Hayton, Eric (2004). The CueSport Book of Professional Snooker. Suffolk: Rose Villa Publications. ISBN 978-0-9548549-0-4.
External links[edit]


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* * * Limited Number of Tickets Will Be Available At The Door * * *
6th Annual Santa Barbara Tequila Harvest Festival
Event Details:
Ascend to the lush grassy hilltop of Elings Park to experience California's premier tequila tasting event at our 6th Annual Santa Barbara Tequila Harvest Festival. Presented by The Berry Man, Inc. and benefiting the Elings Park Foundation. Imbibe from over 50 premium hand selected tequilas and mezcales. Savor gourmet appetizers from top local chefs. Enjoy live musical entertainment by Mariachi Nuevo Jalisco. Don't miss this festive summertime upscale event! Ticket price includes all tequila/mezcal and food samples. This is strictly a 21 and over event.
#SBTHF 2015: Date & Time
Saturday, August 29, 2015 from 6:00PM to 9:00PM (PDT)
#SBTHF 2015: Location
Elings Park
1298 Las Positas Rd.
Santa Barbara, CA 93105 (Map)
(805) 569-5611
#SBTHF 2015: Festival Schedule
- VIP Entrance Time: 5:00PM
- VIP Advanced Tasting: 5:00Pm – 6:00PM
- Silent Raffle benefiting Elings Park: 5:00PM – 9:00PM
- General Entrance Time: 6:00PM
- VIP Tasting Presentation : 6:00PM – 7:00PM
- Silent Raffle Winner Announcement: 8:30PM
- #SBTHF 2015 Closing: 9:00PM
#SBTHF 2015: Tickets
(Tickets go on sale April 1, 2015 at Midnight. Online ticket orders available until Noon of August 29, 2015)
VIP Admission Tickets Include: $115 per Person VIP TICKETS – SOLD OUT
(LIMITED to 80 Tickets)
- VIP Admission Door Time: 5pm to 9PM
- Separate VIP Entrance line into #SBTHF 2015
- One (1) hour advanced tasting of Main Exhibition Tents before doors open to General Admission.
- Receive the #SBTHF 2015 Official Tasting Glass. Hand selected to glassware designed to bring our the true connoisseur in you.
- Tasting Presentation in the VIP Tent. (From 6PM to 7PM)
- Sample Extra-Añejos and other distilled Spirits not found in the Main Exhibition Tents during VIP Tasting Experience.
- Experience specially made appetizers showcasing the infusion of tequila in delectable dishes only found during VIP Tasting Experience.
- Sample from 30 Premium Tequila and Mezcal labels in the Main Exhibition Tents.
- Savor delicious appetizers from local restaurants.
- Enjoy live Latin Music and entertainment.
- Participate in the #SBTHF 2015 Silent Raffle for a chance to take your favorite Tequila or Mezcal home. 100% of all proceeds from the Silent Raffle directly benefit this years beneficiary, Elings Park.
General Admission Tickets Include: $65 per Person Buy General Admission Tickets
- General Admission Door Time: 6pm to 9pm
- Sample from 30 Premium Tequila and Mezcal labels in the Main Exhibition Tents.
- Savor delicious appetizers from local restaurants.
- Enjoy live Latin Music and entertainment.
- Participate in the #SBTHF 2015 Silent Raffle for a chance to take your favorite Tequila or Mezcal home. 100% of all proceeds from the Silent Raffle directly benefit this years beneficiary, Elings Park.
Group Rate Tickets: $50 per Person (6+ persons) Buy Group Rate Tickets
- If a few is good, a group is better when buying your General Admission tickets to the 6th Annual Santa Barbara Tequila Harvest Festival. We are offering discounted tickets rates for groups of 6 or more. The best part is we are offering this low group rate all the way up to the day before the festival or while supplies last.
Designated Driver Tickets: $25 per Person
- Designated Drivers will be allowed to enter with their Party, whether VIP or General Admission. However, Designated Drivers will not be allowed into the VIP Tasting Presentation.
- We desire nothing more than to have our guest to arrive and leave the Santa Barbara Tequila Harvest Festival safe and sound. One way of doing this is to assign a Designated Driver. We are offering Deeply Discounted Ticket Rates to designated drivers, so that they may partake in the entertainment, enjoy the delicious food, and activities with family and friends. Designated Drivers will not be served alcohol and will receive a special colored wristband.
Tickets Delivery:
- Tickets are being sent electronically as PDF tickets. PDF tickets will be attached to the bottom your order confirmation email. Please Print and bring tickets to event entrance.
- Have a Smartphone? Think Green. Download the NightOut App for iPhone or Android to access and display your tickets and scan-able barcodes right on your phones!
Ticket Refund and Transfer Policy:
- All Ticket Sales are Final and Non-Refundable.
- Ticket Transfers are available. Please contact Night Out directly at 1-800-936-3126 or firstname.lastname@example.com.
#SBTHF 2015: Dress Code
The Santa Barbara Tequila Harvest Festival will be held outdoors in a large grass area on a beautiful summer afternoon.
Recommended Attire:
Ladies: A light top with slacks or a sundress with wedges, flats, or sandals instead of heels (we don't want you sinking into the grass) and a fashionable summer hat.
Gentlemen: A nice button-down shirt and khaki pants or shorts with loafers and a Panama or Trilby hat.
#SBTHF 2015: Silent Raffle
Make sure not to forget your checkbook as you will have the opportunity to bid on your favorite Tequila, Mezcal, or other great auction items in our $5 per ticket Silent Raffle. Bid as much as you would like and as often as you would like. Remember 100% of all proceeds from the Silent Raffle directly benefit Elings Park, this years beneficiary of the 5th Annual Santa Barbara Tequila Harvest Festival.
#SBTHF 2015: Parking & Transportation
We highly encourage the use of a taxi cab as the means of transportation to get to and from the the Santa Barbara Tequila Harvest Festival. This way you avoid the hassle of dealing with limited parking and a $5 parking fee. Honestly, after sampling from 30 Premium Tequila and Mezcal labels, you just might find yourself in need of a taxi cab. There will be convenient Taxi drop-off and pick-up zone located right in front of the entrance gate.
Parking will be available on-site for the event at Elings Park. There will be a $5 Parking Fee (Cash Only). Please Note: There is No street parking around or surrounding Elings Park.
Elings Park located at 1298 Las Positas Rd Santa Barbara, CA 93105 (Map)
#SBTHF 2015: Terms and Conditions
Purchase and possession of admission ticket(s) as well as presentation of it to gain entry to the event signifies agreement to the following Terms and Conditions set by Event Management:
1. Event Rules: a) You must be at least 21 years of age (with valid government issued ID), b) No Refunds or Exchanges, c) No outside food or beverages allow (except for bottled water), d) No pets allowed, e) No In/Out privileges, f) No chairs allowed, and g) No samples may me taken out of event area upon exiting.
2. In the interest of public safety, Event Management reserves the right to refuse admission to any person and to request the ticket holder to leave the venue at any time for safety reasons.
3. Admission to the venue and event is at the ticket holder's own risk. Neither Event Management, Venue Management, nor Non-Profit shall be liable for any loss, injury, or damage sustained within the premises; except for death or personal injury which is caused by the negligence of the Event Management or their employees or agents.
4. Neither the Event Management, Venue Management, nor Non-Profit can accept responsibility for property lost or stolen at the venue during event.
5. Admission ticket holder agrees and grants irrevocable permission to have likeness, image, voice, and appearance photographed and recorded for commercial purposes and used as embodied in titles TBA, whether recorded on or transferred to video, film, slides, photographs, audio tapes or other media, now known or later developed, and to be included in a non-commercial promotional and news video by Event Management.
This is a 21 and Over ONLY event.
* * * * * Remember to Please Harvest Responsibly * * * * *

subset: commoncrawl


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Episode 1 recipe: Stuffed Lamb's Hearts
Don't be squeamish! Try your hand at making this delicious Northern staple.
There's no reason to be squeamish! Just go to the Butcher, take a deep breath and confidently ask for four lamb's hearts. It's as easy as that and you'll be rewarded for your efforts. Heart is, and always has been, a great Northern meal and a staple for many with a family to feed on a budget. Heart is full of protein and has a gorgeous flavour that you won't fail to appreciate once you've tasted it. Accompanied by my smooth creamy Celeriac Mash and smothered in rich gravy, you'll have a dish that is, quite simply, unrivalled.
For the celeriac mash:
4 King Edward potatoes, peeled and quartered
½ celeriac, peeled and chopped into 2.5cm cubes
2 tsp salted butter
100ml full-fat milk (you might need a bit more with floury potatoes, less with waxy)
Sea salt and ground white pepper
For the lamb's hearts:
1 tbsp beef dripping or butter
3 red onions, peeled and finely chopped
8 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped
1 large glass of red wine
220g stale white bread, crusts off and cubed
10 fresh sage leaves, chopped
4 lamb's hearts
8 rashers of streaky bacon
1 litre chicken stock
In a large saucepan, cover your potato and celeriac with water and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until tender. Drain and return to the pan. Add the butter and cover to let the butter melt. Take off the lid and mash, slowly adding milk to create a creamy consistency. Season and cover.
To make the lamb's hearts, melt your dripping or butter in a frying pan and add your onion and garlic. Cook gently until translucent, but not coloured. Add the wine and cook until it is reduced by half, then add your bread, a little at a time, to create an unctuous mixture. Season. Continue cooking for 15 minutes. Cool slightly and stir in the sage leaves.
Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas mark 4. Trim the hearts, removing any fatty nodules and sinews so that the flap at the top of the heart can be used to cover the opening later on. Next, use your fingers to scoop out any blood clots at the base of the ventricles. You could ask your butcher to do this.
Press the oniony stuffing into each heart until the chambers are filled right to the top, then bring the flap down to cover the stuffing. Use two rashers of bacon for each heart and form a cross over the top opening to secure. Stand the hearts upright in a deep roasting tray and pour stock around them. Cover with foil and scrunch it down around the edges of the tray to secure. Cook for 2½ hours.
Remove from the oven and lift out the hearts onto a warm serving dish. Stir any stuffing that has escaped into the juices and season to taste. Serve the hearts on top of the mash, and smother with gravy.
The Great Northern Cookbook is available now on Amazon.


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The ultimate gym bag also makes an ideal travel tote. Lightweight, durable nylon construction. Spacious, well-organized storage. Detachable 1-quart TPU travel pouch for liquids. Interior, insulated water-bottle pocket with dedicated access and secure closure so you don't have to open the main compartment to reach the water. An exterior pocket provides quick access to phone and keys. Stashable lashing straps make it easy to attach a yoga mat to the side of the tote.
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Bought to use as my bag on a 2 week trip to Vietnam. It fit 2 packing cubes, two small stuff-sacks, a pair of sandals, and my toiletries. A shoulder strap would have been very useful, but otherwise, this bag was easy to handle. I will continue to use this as a gym/weekend bag, the excellent is excellent.
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Comments about Zen Tote:
The carry straps are too short to be comfortable. The mat straps can be tucked away if not needed, however when you do use them the zippered pocket they come out of bunches up making them tough to use. The worst part though are the clips themselves. They are cumbersome and tedious to manipulate making access to your yoga mat difficult.
Comments about Zen Tote:
The bag would be great as a gym bag or overnight bag. I was looking for something that had interior pockets as well (or partitions) - which this bag lacks. The water bottle area is clever, and I liked that. The exterior pockets were not very useful. I had wanted a bag that I could travel with to pack items like a computer, books, travel documents, water bottle, and perhaps an item or two of clothes. I guess I just prefer more ability to organize the interior. But, I think the bag would suit a gym bag purpose really well.
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have been using this bag everyday since I received it and I really like it. love the color and the pockets and it just looks cool. wish it had longer straps for over the shoulder carry. and the zippers seem a little weak and I worry about them holding up over time. overall very glad I purchased this bag!
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text:
TCF of Tyler Walking Group: Come join us for a walk, a stroll, a jog! Walking and talking is great therapy!
When: Second Saturday of the Month
Where: Rose Rudman Trail—meet at the park pavilion off Shiloh Rd.
Who: Everyone is invited to join—there will be someone walking at your pace!
TCF of Tyler Steering Committee: If you are interested in participating in our chapter by serving on the steering committee, please plan to attend a steering committee meeting in 2012. Call 903-258-2547 for more information.
TCF of Tyler Annual Candle Lighting Ceremony: Our Annual Candle Lighting Ceremony will be held the second Sunday in December, 2015 at Crossroads Community Church, 13730 Hwy 155 South, Tyler (map). The service begins at 6:30 p.m. with food and fellowship after the ceremony. If you would like to bring a covered dish, dessert, etc., we welcome it.
We will be collecting food for the food pantry at our host church and toys for a toy drive.
If you'd like to attend and/or help this year please contact us for more information.
We hope you'll join us in December, 2015 for this beautiful and touching event.
MADD Heart meets 2nd Tuesday of the month at the MADD office, 215 Winchester Dr. Ste., 100, Tyler, TX 75701. For more info call 888-665-6233 or email Melissa at firstname.lastname@example.com.
TCF of Tyler Memorial Quilt: If you would like to have your child's photo included on our fourth memorial quilt, please mail a $25 donation to P.O. Box 9714, Tyler, TX 75711. For more information contact us at (903) 258-2547, or email us at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Thanks to Teresa Terrell for donating her talent and time on this beautiful quilt which will be displayed in our meeting room and at special events.
TCF of Tyler Annual Butterfly Release: Butterflies were released in memory of all our children at the 2015 Compassionate Friends Butterfly Release on Saturday, May 16 at 1:00 p.m. The setting for this uplifting and peaceful event was the Sharon Shrine Temple located on Highway 31 East.
Thanks to all volunteers and businesses who helped make this event successful!
View photos from a previous Butterfly Release, courtesy of spotted.tylerpaper.com.


text: The local operations manager for the IRS must decide whether to hire 1, 2, or 3 temporary workers. He estimates that net revenues will vary with how well taxpayers comply with the new tax code. The probabilities of low, medium, and high compliance are 0.20, 0.30, and 0.50 respectively. What is the expected value of perfect information? Do not include the dollar %u201C$%u201D sign with your answer. The following payoff table is given in thousands of dollars (e.g. 50 = $50,000). Note: Please express your answer as a whole number in thousands of dollars (e.g. 50 = $50,000). Round to the nearest whole number, if necessary.


text:
Despite only having two fights inside the UFC, and another four under the Strikeforce banner, Ronda Rousey is poised to enter the top-ten earners in UFC history..
As the UFC Women's Champion Rousey is a proven PPV draw and is likely earning a revenue share for PPV sales.
White said that after her fight UFC 170, Rousey will enter the top ten all-time of earners in UFC history. He didn't say who else was in the list, but it is likely an elite group including Chuck Liddell, Georges St-Pierre, and Anderson Silva.
Rousey is scheduled to fight fellow Olympian Sara McMann in the main event of UFC 170, next weekend, live on PPV.
tags: Ronda Rousey (detail)
Recent Comments »
2/14/14 5:29 PM by House Boru
Diaz better be on that list
2/14/14 5:27 PM by Phil999
Well not popular but in the news
2/14/14 5:26 PM by Phil999
Everyone bitching about her and creating multiple threads for months made her even more popular.
2/14/14 5:24 PM by jagen
This statement hurts Dana's argument in the debate that he's not hiding Ronda from Cyborg. Apparently you're paying her more than any other fighter or close to it, no wonder you don't want her to get brutally smashed.
2/14/14 9:28 AM by VitorpeepeetasteStrongTRT
How? She has had 2 fights!
2/14/14 9:14 AM by 12
2/14/14 7:20 AM by mmaresearchstudy
they sure are banking a lot on her ... hopefully doesent turn into a female kimbo
2/14/14 4:32 AM by If it ain't Dutch, it ain't much
I think you might be right, I forgot about that. Think the amount might be over $3.50 though per buy. Her management knew how big she was as a draw and I think they got her a good deal. Somewhere between $6-$10 mil in 3 fights is my guess. We will never know though.
2/14/14 4:11 AM by SinCityHustler
Doesn't the PPV cut kick in after a certain threshold? Like after 300k or so and you get paid for every buy over that number? Speculation on my point, perhaps you know better.
2/14/14 2:20 AM by JimmersonzGlove
On the surface, you're correct, but in the bigger context, you're not. The UFC brand sells because the public thinks/knows its the best org for MMA. This is because they have virtually all the top 10 fighters under contract. Guys like Okami/Fitch were top 10 for a long time, and both legit title contenders who got shots at the belt and had big wins before and after their shot. Having guys like that on the roster add to the idea of the "UFC level" fighter and makes the brand strong. You can watch guys of little relevance stand & bang on HDnet if you just want action. UFC has to walk the fine line of balancing action with merit.


text:
- 19Promote
Art Print
Dream Stalkerby QianaNicole PhotoARTography
Collect your choice of gallery quality Giclée, or fine art prints custom trimmed by hand in a variety of sizes with a white border for framing.
hehehe, love it ;D
Thanks glad, you both like it :)
Love this! :)
This is great! love it!
Thank you Deepti and Beth :)
Wow! I really love this. It's clever and original. I've never heard it but I'm adopting it!!
Thank you...its one of my personal quotes , its something I say often...lol (please do adopt) :)
When you think about it, you are quite right. Thank you.
You are welcome :)
haha! great one!!
Thank you :) glad im not the only one "Stalking their dreams" :)
yes! its good :D
Thank you Lena :)
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text:
Uranium price Spike
- Uploaded by Ivision on May 8, 2011
- Views: 263
Uranium price Spike
The price of uranium has rebounded 20 per cent in three days as
utilities see a buying opportunity in the price collapse that followed
the earthquake and nuclear scare in Japan
Since last Friday it has rebounded to $59.75, according to MF Global, a
broker. "There were consumers looking for a buying opportunity and this
was their buying opportunity,†said Max Layton, metals analyst at Macquarie.
Scott Lawrence, head of nuclear fuels at MF Global, said "a considerable
amount†of uranium had been contracted during the drop in prices. "The
result has essentially removed some of the available inventory from the
marketplace for immediate placement and as a result we've seen another
price movement to the upside,†he said.
Radioactive death CHART attached:


text:
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Jan 4
Sep 14
Nov 10
Woofstock= bands rocking from 6 - 2am to raise money for less fortunate animals of NC!!!
Nov 2
Damn FIne Coffee starts at 8 pm, Voxxie after 10 pm...
Nov 1
DFC in Motorco Showroom - Thursday, Nov. 1st!! Voxxie starts at 9, DFC shortly after 10.
Sounds Like: Ben Folds, Gentle Giant, OK Go, SELF, Muse
Label: Turn To Start
Bio: Damn Fine Coffee, the latest project of Jonn Buzby (Land of Chocolate, Finneus Gauge) takes a stripped-down approach to the frenetic musical mayhem that has long been a trademark, eschewing the use of guitar in exchange for a more simplistic trio that most notably resembles Ben Folds Five in term...See Full Bio


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Alaska Tomato Seeds
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> Alaska Tomato Seeds
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The Alaska (or more correctly, Aljaska) tomato is Russian in origin. These small (but not cherry) tomatoes are borne on short two foot vines in masses. They have a good tomatoey flavour and keep well but dislike strong sunlight. Mid-season. Keep well shaded. Grow indoors or outside in a sheltered spot.
These seeds have a best before date of May 2012
Seeds (12 to a packet).
© 2015 Heirloom Tomatoes.


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Homeowners in the town of Clay with flood damage had an opportunity to hear what the town is doing to correct the problem last week. Town engineer Douglas Wickman of C&S Engineers shared the preliminary results of a flood study the town had undertaken at the board's last meeting Monday July 16. About 35 residents were in attendance for the presentation.
The study was commenced after last year's July 12 rain event, after which numerous Clay residents reported water in their basements, yards and streets. The July 16 report pertained only to those residents who had water in their homes. The study was initiated as a result of flooding and sewage backup in Bayberry but was expanded as flood forms came in from all over town, reporting basement flooding in other neighborhoods.
Wickman discussed flooding in seven neighborhoods in the town, describing the reasons C&S thought those neighborhoods experienced flooding and what it was doing to correct the problem. Residents had a chance to ask questions and give further information.
The following neighborhoods were discussed:
Six homes in Belmont, located off Route 57 near John Glenn Boulevard, were affected by the July 12 flood. Wickman said that the drainage pipe servicing this area was not large enough to handle the amount of water that came with that storm. Flooding was most severe at the bottom of the hill on Belmont Drive.
Wickman said that the town is working to clean the catch basins in that area and to keep the drainage pipes clear.
"The storm sewers are in very good working order there," he said. "It's a fairly good-sized pipe. It takes a very, very severe storm for a problem to occur, but it can happen. We're looking for a flood route out of there so that if there's a situation where the pipe can't handle it, there will still be a place for the water to go."
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Richard Stengel of Time takes a look at what makes Benjamin Netanyahu tick, his personal history and whether he is the prime minister who will bring peace between Israel and the Palestinians. (Note: This article is for Time subscribers only, but you can read a...
Lone soldiers from North America attend Thanksgiving dinner in Tel Aviv
How to destroy your Thanksgiving dinner
How the Chabad rebbe helped create food stamps, and other Jewish Medal of Freedom stories
Russia and Turkey refuse to back down in row over jet downing
Jonathan Pollard's job offer stands
Tag: Syria Violence
View the most popular tags overall?
May 18, 2012
May 18, 2012 | 5:46 am
May 15, 2012
May 15, 2012 | 5:22 am
Meridor: Thanks to sanctions, Iran is not rushing full speed to the bomb
In a wide-ranging interview, Deputy Prime Minister Dan Meridor talks to David Horowitz of the Times of Israel about Iran, as well as a settlement freeze, the peace process and the future of the peace...
May 14, 2012
May 14, 2012 | 2:06 am
Palestinians Short of Ideas, Not Guns
Mahmoud Abbas should start talking with Israel instead of trying again to bring international pressure to force Netanyahu's hand, writes Jonathan S. Tobin of Commentary Magazine.
Abbas may harbor hopes a re-elected Obama will return...
May 13, 2012
May 13, 2012 | 1:54 am
The Turkish prime minister is apparently trying to consolidate his power, writes Andrew Finkel in the New York Times, but is it the right move for Turkey?
This week, Erdogan said that Turks should begin debating a move from the current parliamentary...
May 9, 2012
May 9, 2012 | 5:17 am
Israel Needs Consensus in Response to Apocalyptic Event Threatening its Survival
Israel's leaders must take into account the opinions of all its defense experts when making a decision on whether to attack Iran, writes Ed Koch in Algemeiner.
Israel has to be the final...
April 30, 2012
April 30, 2012 | 3:29 am
Benzion Netanyahu, historian, Israeli Prime Minister's father, dies at 102
Alan Abbey of the JTA rounds up the eulogies to Benzion Netanyahu, the historian and Zionist activist who, along with two of his sons, has formed an integral part of Israel's history.
April 27, 2012
April 27, 2012 | 5:32 am
Charles Krauthammer of the Washington Post takes aim at Barack Obama over the lack of American intervention in Syria.
Yes, we've imposed economic sanctions. But as with Iran, the economic squeeze has not altered the regime's behavior. Monday's...


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August 23, 2011
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Pitchers are often some of the quirkiest athletes out there.
This is a well-known, but often under-reported, aspect of baseball. And the York Revolution is deep in this department, whether it be because a pitcher has an impressive mustache or unique personality. On the whiskers side, there's starting pitcher Alain Quijano. The veteran left-hander is growing out an impressive beard this season because he feels it's a good-luck charm. On the personality side, there's closer Rommie Lewis, who has so many interesting takes on topics that he now has his own recurring segment on the pre-game radio show of Revs' play-by-play man Darrell Henry.
Then there's relief pitcher Beau Vaughan, who is a mix of the two. Vaughan is growing out his hair and not shaving this season. This isn't for superstitious reasons, though. Rather, he's aiming to look like a certain hairy TV show character for a Halloween party in October.
"I actually want to go as Opie from Sons of Anarchy," Vaughan said last week. "When I was in high school people said that guy who plays him is my doppelganger. So as soon as I saw that show I'm like 'oh yeah. I gotta do that for Halloween.'"
Then Vaughan lists his previous Halloween costumes, which all happen to be movie characters, such as Ron Burgundy (Anchorman), Big Ern McCracken (Kingpin) and Bill Lumbergh (Office Space).
"I go all out for Halloween," Vaughan said.
Given his quirkiness, it only makes sense Vaughan's first name isn't actually his real name.
"My real name is William Lee Vaughan IV," Vaughan said. "My dad goes by Bill. My mom's got a brother Bill and a cousin Bill. And she's just like 'I'm calling him Beau.' That's how that worked."
Some might question the sanity of Vaughan when they see him in the first few innings of every game walking back-and-forth in the bullpen. There's a perfectly logical explanation, though.
"That's something recent. In the 2011 season I sat out and finished my degree. I lost 60 pounds in five months," Vaughan said. "I had finished the 2010 season and I was 247 pounds. I said 'I can't do this.'"
So now the 6-foot, 4-inch right-hander has become a bit of a health nut and tries to walk a couple miles before a game and one mile during the game.
Reliable reliever: The Arizona native is more than just an interesting personality, though. Serving as York's long-inning reliever in his second season with the Revs this year, Vaughan has a 2.50 ERA in 54 innings of work through Monday.
"I was just running some numbers today for our team and found that Beau is only walking 5 percent of all the batters he's faced," Revs baseball operations manager Toby Crites said. "This is an exceptional rate and really speaks to his strengths as a pitcher in not beating himself and making the hitter beat him instead."
According to Crites, Vaughan's pitching repertoire consists of a fastball that tops out at 88 mph, a changeup that sits around 82-83 mph and a curveball that averages 76 mph.
A third-round draft pick of the Boston Red Sox in 2003, Vaughan has a career 4.66 ERA in 41 games at the triple-A level. But he last played affiliated minor league ball four years ago and turned 33 in June. This might lead one to wonder what his goals are with York. Does he still hope to get picked up by a big-league organization? Or possibly earn a fat contract from a foreign league?
"If it happens it happens. I'm not holding my breath," he said. "I'm happy playing here. I have a great time in this clubhouse and on the field."
— Reach John Walk at firstname.lastname@example.com.


text: Featured comments + Add comment Comments (19) Featured sengoku "@decrypt as a console gamer for me it's always about game play and ease of use. the exclusives are just a added bonus. i work on a pc all day long i know what i takes to build one and how to set it up to maximize performance. in the end i would b..." 953d ago talisker "Of course, good console specs don't guarantee all next gen games will be great. I even expect more mediocre stuff as new consoles will be easier to port and publish. " 953d ago Smashbro29 "The PC does better on both accounts. " 953d ago


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Fiscal fourth quarter reported annualized profits of $.032, per share. This means at $.1 the stock is trading at a P/E multiple of just 3.2 times. The news release anticipates continued growth meaning the effective P/E is likely even lower. This company is also positioned for its next acquisition given its cash and debt capacity. As it further diversifies its revenue streams this should further support what the market pays for its earnings. This company is now on a growth footing. A 8 times earnings ratio would make it worh over $.25, per share.
BURNABY, BC, Nov. 29, 2012 /CNW/ - IWG Technologies Inc. (IWG) today announced its financial results for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2012. All amounts are expressed in Canadian dollars unless otherwise indicated.
The Company is reporting fiscal 2012 revenue of $6,014,067 a 36% increase over the previous year's figure of $4,431,148. Net earnings were $526,310 compared to $323,406 in the prior year (an increase of 63%). These amounts include fourth quarter revenues of $1,659,158 (a 41% increase) and net earnings of $318,067 (an increase of 92%) representing 0.8¢/share.
This year's results provided net earnings of 1.4¢ per share compared to 0.8¢ in the prior year, on both a basic and fully diluted basis. Detailed financials including MD&A will be available on SEDAR and the company website at www.iwgtech.com.
The results are summarized as follows:
"Fiscal 2012 was a significant revenue growth year for the Company which resulted in record margins and net profit. All of us at IWG are very proud of this achievement" says Bruce Gowan, IWG's Chairman.
"Fiscal 2012 proved to be a record year as IWG experienced sales growth in all product lines. The water treatment products experienced strong growth in core products and in the new IWG-A6 product that began deliveries to Gulfstream for their new 650 aircraft. The new ES On-Demand Water Heater product, introduced in the fall of 2011, resulted in higher than expected sales levels for the year. Product repairs and parts sales set a new high in annual revenue" says Bruce MacCoubrey, President and CEO of International Water-Guard Industries Inc.
As previously announced, IWG signed agreements with FACC of Austria to provide a compact water system for the Bombardier CL 300 aircraft upgrade, with Airbus Corporate Jet Center to provide water treatment units for their aircraft completions and with Embraer to install water treatment units on their Legacy aircraft. It is expected that these initiatives will provide continued growth.
IWG Technologies, Inc. is the public holding company for International Water-Guard Industries Inc., a Canadian aerospace company focused on aircraft potable water treatment, water systems, water heaters and components. IWG has expertise in all aspects of water treatment, has the products and know-how to provide high quality water for passengers and crew, and lightweight, space-saving solutions for the aircraft operator.
On behalf of the Board of Directors
Bruce Gowan Chairman of the Board
Receive investor kits and email updates from Stockhouse and directly from these companies.


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Picture: Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony Q Viva Show at Mandalay Events Center at Mandalay Resort and Casino Las Vegas, Nevada...
Jennifer Lopez has stepped out in Santiago, Chile, sporting a fresh new hairdo. J-Lo is currently rocking new shoulder-length locks, which she's wearing big and curly; a stark contrast to the fella on her arm, boyfriend Casper Smart, with his shaved head. US Magazine have published a snap of the couple looking suave in South America, both clad in black jackets and wearing dark shades.
Jennifer, 42 and Casper, 25, have been dating since November 2011 and were pictured enjoying a little downtime together before hitting the stage for Lopez's concert. Although she had recently been wearing her hair straight, Lopez has gone back to the curl for this new tour, which began in Panama City, Panama, on June 14, 2012. Her stage outfits have been turning heads even more so than her new hair; especially the nude-style, hand-embroidered crystal catsuit that was designed for her by Zuhair Murad. The daring outfit is not dissimilar to the one worn by Britney Spears around the time that she released 'Toxic' and seems to have been copied by Katy Perry at the Much Music Video Awards in Toronto, Canada.
As well as having her beau on her arm, Jennifer Lopez also has the most important members of her entourage with her: her four year old twins Max and Emme are also going along on the adventure, too. Under the terms of her agreement with their dad, Marc Anthony, J-Lo had to ask the court for permission to take the kids on her tour.


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New Packages
136 - 150 of 457 results
April 11, 2007
TricorBraun patented a new handle for one-gallon containers that offers both commercial and ergonomic advantages over traditional handles. The new design reduces the shelf height and expands the amount of space for decoration and is easier to pour th… Read More »
April 11, 2007
Rexam's Super Low Profile Pump (SLPP) mechanism provides the elegant spray system for the new 'Danielle by Danielle Steel' fragrance from Elizabeth Arden. The Rexam spray mechanism, anodized in silver, fits the scent's 1.7- an… Read More »
April 3, 2007
C+N Supplies Closures for Juicy Couture… Read More »
March 6, 2007
Rexam's Super Low Profile Pump (SLPP), featuring the patented The Crimpless System, fits the new Calvin Klein Euphoria men fragrance's 50- and 100ml sizes. The men's bottle has a distinctive glass cube appearance with slightly curve… Read More »
March 6, 2007
World Wide Packaging's one-piece tube design eliminates on-line filling problems while ensuring the correct in-hand orientation of package graphics.The tubes are custom-made with angled applicator and dome caps, and have various color finishes.… Read More »
March 6, 2007
The Cosmetic Packaging Group, a division of O.Berk Company, introduces its Vanity Flair Line of PET bottles in three sizes: 50-, 125- and 250ml. The fluted waist and broad shoulders of each bottle enhances its shelf presence for bath and body lotions… Read More »
March 6, 2007
Clarified propylene has reached a new level of transparency in tubes that rival the clarity of other PET rigid packages. The tubes are manufactured in a two-step process by Weener Plastic Packaging Group and offer a high-gloss surface that supports e… Read More »
March 5, 2007
Rexam Produces Fashion Pump for CK's Euphoria Men Rexam's Super Low Profile Pump (SLPP), featuring the patented The Crimpless System, fits the new Calvin Klein Euphoria men fragrance&… Read More »
February 16, 2007
Arrowpak's new Adina line is done in polypropylene and is the perfect alternative to higher priced materials while still evoking the desired upscale look and feel. Bottles come in 30-, 60- and 120ml. sizes and jars in 30- and 50ml. sizes that c… Read More »
February 16, 2007
UFP Technologies Inc.'s customized shells are made from 100% recycled paper fibers and offer a cost-effective, environmentally friendly alternative to petroleum-based packaging materials. The molded fiber does not fluctuate significantly, even… Read More »
February 16, 2007
The James Alexander Corporation's Plastic Ampoule is available with a variety of applicator tips and features ease of use with one-handed activation. It is available in both swab and dropper configurations, in customizable lengths and can fill… Read More »
February 16, 2007
Diamond Packaging designed and manufactured the cartons for the launch of Coty's Forbidden Fruit fragrance, inspired by the television show Desperate Housewives. The cartons feature .018 SBS paperboard complemented by foil stamping, and foil em… Read More »
February 6, 2007
Arrowpak Debuts Adina Collection for Skin Care Arrowpak's new Adina line is done in polypropylene and is the perfect alternative to higher priced materials while still evoking the desired up… Read More »
January 10, 2007
Kaufman Container provided dispensing units for the re-birth of Amenity––a men's skin care line focused on clinical grooming. Kaufman provided samples of its latest line of dispensers, the Keltec, in both the Star and Light series f… Read More »
January 10, 2007
Alcan Packaging Beauty introduced its new brushed aluminium plastic tube to maximize haptic and visual impact of tubes. The package allows the plastic tube to have a brushed aluminium look for the ultimate masculine beauty packaging. More info: www.… Read More »
136 - 150 of 457 results


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NCI Drug Dictionary
The NCI Drug Dictionary contains technical definitions and synonyms for drugs/agents used to treat patients with cancer or conditions related to cancer. Each drug entry includes links to check for clinical trials listed in NCI's List of Cancer Clinical Trials.
The search textbox has an autosuggest feature. When you enter three or more characters, a list of up to 10 suggestions will popup under the textbox. Use the arrow keys to move through the suggestions. To select a suggestion, hit the enter key. Using the escape key closes the listbox and puts you back at the textbox. The radio buttons allow you to toggle between having all search items start with or contain the text you entered in the search box.
- m-azidopyrimethamine
An antifolate derived from diaminopyrimidine with cytotoxic properties. With a mechanism of action similar to that of methotrexate (MTX), m-azidopyrimethamine blocks tetrahydrofolate synthesis, resulting in depletion of nucleotide precursors and inhibition of DNA, RNA and protein synthesis. This agent is more lipophilic but less potent than MTX. Check for active clinical trials using this agent. (NCI Thesaurus)
Abbreviation: MZP


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Toaster cover
By Annie
from Iowa
About Me Budget Shopper
Comments about Gingham 2 Slice Toaster Cover:
Cover toaster and looks so nice Don't know why I waited so long to get this.
Bottom LineYes, I would recommend this to a friend
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(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)
Good quality toaster cover.
By Rosey
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Product shows more color and in fact it is white on 3 sides. A little dissappointed with that. Overall, the cover is perfectly sized and good quality material.
Bottom LineNo, I would not recommend this to a friend


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PHOTO CAPTION: In this army.mil photo from the 2012 Oktoberfest in Munich, a band clad in lederhosen march and play. Oktoberfest, which takes place Sept. 21 through Oct. 6 in Munich, is an important cultural event in Bavaria, but U.S. Army Soldiers, Family members and civilians should exercise caution and good judgment when taking part of the festivities.
September 19, 2013
By Col. Christopher M. Benson
Franconia Military Community and USAG Ansbach Commander
ANSBACH, Germany (Sept 19, 2013) -- The 180th München Oktoberfest runs from Sept. 21 through Oct. 6. The world's largest Volksfest has something for everyone young and seasoned alike.
Oktoberfest has the traditional Bavarian cuisine to sample and a variety of alcoholic beverages, and, for the young of heart, there are amusement rides. There's also music, singing and dancing. Oktoberfest is an event you don't want to miss.
Held since 1810, Oktoberfest is an important, long-established part of Bavarian culture. Other cities across the world hold Oktoberfest celebrations modeled after the München's event. The fest provides new arrivals to Germany the opportunity to immerse themselves into Bavarian culture, meet new friends, and have fun. I encourage everyone to take advantage of the opportunity to attend this historic event. However, to ensure a safe and fun time, be sure to properly plan ahead.
Whether you plan on going with your unit, a club or friends, if you plan on sampling the various alcoholic beverages make reservations before you leave to stay in a local hotel, take a taxi to the nearest public transportation service, or have a designated driver. There is no good reason to drink and drive.
Don't participate in drinking contests. If you are traveling with friends, watch out for each other. It's not about how many alcoholic beverages you consume, it's about the camaraderie.
Keep in the mind that huge crowds mixed with alcohol can be a recipe for trouble. If you travel with small children, make sure you keep them close, hold their hands, and dress them so that you can easily spot them in a crowd should they become separated. In case someone gets separated or lost, have a meeting spot for everyone to go to at a certain time. This should be someplace everyone can remember, like right in front of a specific game, ride or stand.
If you'd like someone else to do the driving, U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach's Outdoor Recreation, or ODR, is offering a one-day trip Sept. 28, and they still have slots available. If your work schedule allows, take advantage of the Morale, Welfare and Recreation shuttle bus and leave the driving to MWR personnel. To learn more, call Ansbach ODR at 09802-83-3225 or DSN 467-3225.
USAG Bamberg's ODR also offers a one-day trip from 7 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Sept. 21. Slots are still available. To learn more, call Bamberg ODR at 0951-300-9376 or DSN 469-9376.
Remember you are American ambassadors assigned or stationed here on behalf of the United States and our Army -- have fun, stay safe and behave appropriately. If you do drink, drink responsibly.
For more information on Oktoberfest, visit www.oktoberfest.de/en/.


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Monday, September 6, 2010
© Copyright 2015 Clayton News Daily
By Valerie Baldowski
Locust Grove Mayor Lorene Lindsey is among a group of 11 area leaders who were selected to be members of the Metro Atlanta Transportation Roundtable.
Lindsey was chosen in August to serve on the roundtable, which is scheduled to meet in November. The purpose of the group is to discuss potential transportation projects, said Lindsey.
The Metro Atlanta Mayor Association's (MAMA) Executive Committee will join with the Regional Business Coalition of Metropolitan Atlanta, to sponsor a seminar on the Georgia 2020 Transportation Act - House Bill 277, which became law on June 2.
Mike Bodker, MAMA chairman, said the projects up for discussion will be grouped into three categories, which include transportation, such as road widening and road improvements; transit projects, including commuter rail; and bicycle/pedestrian projects.
What makes the roundtable discussions important is the collaboration and cooperation they encourage, said Bodker.
"At the end of the day, we have to recognize that the transportation issues facing our region have to be solved regionally. We can no longer deal with transportation issues myopically," he said.
Henry County is included in the Atlanta Region, which is one of the areas that will be covered in the transportation discussions. Bodker said State Department of Transportation Planning Director Todd Long has established a set of preliminary, draft criteria, which will guide the project selection in each region.
In the past, local governments had a tendency to make transportation decisions on their own, Bodker said. "They haven't done as good a job of coordinating those projects as they could have," he added.
Most transportation projects cross jurisdictional lines, through cities and counties and unincorporated areas, he continued.
Some of the other preliminary Transportation Improvement Projects (TIP) to be considered include commuter rail service through Atlanta, Lovejoy, Griffin and Macon; transit facilities in Henry County; and operating assistance for the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA) express bus service, according to the Atlanta Regional Commission's (ARC) web site.
The ARC and local governments have until Sept. 30, to send Long comments on the draft criteria, according to Bodker.
HB 277 created the Georgia 2020 Transportation Trust Fund Oversight Committee, and provides for the allocation of money from the trust fund, said the MAMA chairman. It also allows for a 1-percent special transportation sales and use tax to fund transportation projects.
Transportation proposals submitted to the committee would have to achieve the best value for the money, said Bodker. The projects must also be able to be delivered on time and on budget, and have public acceptance and trust, he added.
Bodker said if a majority of roundtable members agree on a project list, it will be submitted to the voters, who would be asked to implement an extra penny-on-the-dollar sales tax to pay for the projects. Referendums would be held across the state in November 2012, with votes being tallied by region. If the ballot fails in some counties, but passes in the region overall, the 1-percent tax will still be charged in all of the municipalities and counties, he said.
Lindsey stressed that the ARC will play a pivotal role in the transportation deliberations. "Since I'm already on the board of the ARC, the rest of the cities said for me to be the [mayoral] participant in Henry County," she said. "The ARC is going to play a big part in this, so being on the board, we'll have continuity."
Henry County is facing its own set of traffic challenges, specifically the Eagle's Landing Parkway area, said Lindsey. "Our greatest transportation [issue] is congestion," she said.
Traffic in Locust Grove near exit 212 is also heavy during the afternoon commute home, Lindsey said. Plans are for an additional lane to be added along a section of Bill Gardner Parkway, from Interstate 75 to Tanger Boulevard, added the mayor.
More like this story
- Southside leaders seek to revive commuter rail ( August 10, 2011 )
- ARC staff rejects Southern Crescent's commuter rail ( July 11, 2011 )
- Regional transportation list undergoes new cuts ( July 8, 2011 )
- Telephone town-hall meeting ( June 10, 2011 )
- ARC hosting final T-SPLOST forum in Clayton ( September 28, 2011 )


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What do you think of his lines?
Two M Chief Bluestock Paint
9 year old Sorrel Overo APHA Stallion should I geld him or breed him?
You can't tell from bloodlines if a horse should be cut or not. What has he done? Show us some pictures. Bloodlines are just names on a piece of paper until he does something to prove them.
if he is the satlly in you "barn," geld!!!!
From the one side shot you have of him in your pictures, I'd say please geld him.
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The newest oxymoron? "Government efficiency"
I'm always surprised by people that think government can run something better and more efficiently than a private entity. Oh sure, there are things that are best left to government – like national defense – because it simply makes more sense when it comes to that. But the fact that we charge them with that duty doesn't mean they run it efficiently.
Governments have no incentive to be efficient. We've talked about how, in private concerns, the profit motive provides incentive to be efficient. In government there is no such motive. So waste, fraud and abuse are rampant.
How rampant? Take a look at this chart:
We've all been told by the Democrats that the government can help lower costs in health care. But when you look at the 4 health care items on the chart (Medicare fee for svc, Medicaid, Medicare part C and D), you are looking at $63.5 billion … that's with a "b" … dollars a year in "improper payment rates". Also look at the percentage of error. In the EITC program, 22.7% or 12.6 billion of what they pay out is in error. (Don't forget, the chart looks only at programs of $750 million or more a year – and we all know there are literally thousands of government programs below that threshold doing the same thing.)
Add all these up and government is making about $100 billion dollars a year in improper payments. So if anyone wonders why I snort derisively when I hear Congress talk about a $10 billion savings over 10 years (not to mention that usually means not spending as much as they now spend) you can understand why. We're not bleeding money at a federal level, we're hemorrhaging it. What in the world is a 10 year $10 billion dollar "savings" worth when government is blowing a trillion dollars in 10 years via waste, fraud and abuse?
But do they actually address the problem? No. We've known about this level of waste, fraud and abuse for years … decades even. And absolutely nothing of worth has been done to correct it. In fact, given the amount of expansion the federal government has seen in the last decades, it's gotten worse. As the Mercatus Center says:
While people of good conscience on both sides of the political aisle can debate the merits of whether or not government should be involved in certain activities, none should tolerate the high levels of improper payments currently associated with government spending on social welfare programs. Federal spending has grown too massive to be adequately overseen. Waste, fraud, and abuse squanders public resources and undermines trust in government.
Indeed. But there is one sure fire way to at least reduce this waste, given the apparent fact that government hasn't a clue about how to reduce it. Get government out of areas it has no business and cut spending. Simplistic? Not really. That is a solution, or at least a partial solution. I certainly understand there will be argument about the areas where government should be involved or not, but hey, crazy me, I've always found the Constitution provides some pretty good guidelines. And, of course, then you have to elect legislators with both balls and a charter to do that (and who won't succumb to "Potomac fever" when they arrive on the scene) and stay on them until they do what is necessary to accomplish the task.
Yeah, I know, not going to happen anytime soon. People like their government cheese too much and most don't mind at all that someone else is paying the freight.
Meanwhile this atrocious and unacceptable waste of your tax dollars will continue unabated (and likely get worse) – a victim of "government efficiency".
Elizabeth Warren: Poster woman for progressivism
If ever there was a poster woman for progressivism, MA Senator Elizabeth Warren fills the bill. Known as "Fauxahontas" for using fake indian credentials to cash in on minority preferences, she has taken the Ted Kennedy Senate seat from the hapless Scott Brown and is now on target to out-liberal the liberal Lion.
One of the more interesting things to do with her is to disect her thinking via reading what she has to say about certain subjects. It gives one a good peek behind the curtain and into the "progressive" mind. For instance, here she is talking about the school loan program the government unilaterally took over:
Right now, in order to finance the United States government, we take in billions of dollars of profits for student loans, but permit billionaires to have enough loopholes that they pay at tax rates that can be lower than those of their secretaries.
This is a straightforward choice: We can take $75 billion and either way we'll use it to protect tax loopholes for billionaires or $75 billion can be used to help students to refinance their outstanding student loan debt. It's billionaires or students.
This particular quote is instructive in so many ways. First, note how she makes the point that government "permits" billionairs to keep their money via loopholes. Obviously she believes that's something that shouldn't be permitted, but more importantly in infers a belief that everything you earn belongs to government. The student loan program is simply an excuse for taking it if she has her way. If it weren't that, it would be something else. But bottom line she believes government has a right to that money in the name of … well you call it – fairness? Equality? Whatever.
Secondly, what is the problem right now in terms of the cost of schooling? The price is to high. How does one get the price down? Competiton. That and you don't subsidize the cost and lay off the cost of that subsizidation on students. If there is limited competition and vast subsidization, what is the incentive for colleges and universities to cut costs to compete for students?
That's right, none. So what the government program that she wants to tax billionaires for is doing is helping to sustain, maintain and grow the higher education bubble.
Heritage's Brittany Corona, a research assistant in education policy, has criticized the federal government's involvement in the student-loan business, citing, in particular, the unknown long-term costs to taxpayers.
"Continuing to expand higher education subsidies through subsidized federal student loans and grants does nothing to put pressure on colleges to lower costs," Corona warned. "In fact, access to easy money does the opposite, enabling universities to raise prices, knowing students can return to the federal trough for more financing."
Sound familiar at all? Have we had previous experience with this sort of nonsense in the last 5 or 6 years?
When this bubble pops and collapses, I'm sure the Warren's of the world will find some "private" boogyman to blame it on. But in reality, it will again be a government program that fueled the expansion of the bubble and the eventual collapse.
And the students? Well, they'll still be on the hook to pay for their overpriced education for the rest of their lives, regardless of the interest rate.
Unemployment the people's main priority? So let's hike the minimum wage …
A poll came out the other day saying that the majority of American's first priority is unemployment. And it should be given the incredible low we're now suffering in labor force participation.
So what bright idea are Democrats pushing in spite of that? Hey, let's raise the minimum wage?
Result? Well, even the CBO, the Dems favorite "go to" agency to support their ideas (when it actually agrees, of course), doesn't see this as a particularly bright idea if they're concerned about the people's priority:
Once fully implemented in the second half of 2016, the $10.10 option would reduce total employment by about 500,000 workers, or 0.3 percent, CBO projects.
Notice it says reduce "total employment" by 500,000. It also says it is only a projection and that it could actually be higher than that.
But, but … it will help the poor!
The increased earnings for low-wage workers resulting from the higher minimum wage would total $31 billion, by CBO's estimate. However, those earnings would not go only to low-income families, because many low-wage workers are not members of low-income families. Just 19 percent of the $31 billion would accrue to families with earnings below the poverty threshold, whereas 29 percent would accrue to families earning more than three times the poverty threshold, CBO estimates.
Or said another way, Democrats are willing to see a half million plus lose their jobs to serve 19% (and that assumes that all of the 19% keep their jobs).
But, but … it will give the poor more to spend!
Moreover, the increased earnings for some workers would be accompanied by reductions in real (inflation-adjusted) income for the people who became jobless because of the minimum-wage increase, for business owners, and for consumers facing higher prices.
Those are facts, folks. Democrats don't deal in facts, they deal in emotions … and if they can pass a minimum wage bill, they'll feel wonderful about themselves. And if they can't, they'll blame it all on the mean old Repubicans who want you to be able to keep your job or something radical like that.
I wonder if the GOP will figure this out
I am talking about the establishment GOP – those that think compromise on principle is a good thing if it keeps it all collegial in Congress and the left doesn't call them bad names.
As the deadline for 2014 enrollment nears, Obamacare is increasingly growing unpopular, especially among the uninsured. A new Kaiser Family Foundation survey finds that about twice as many uninsured people have an unfavorable view of the health-care law than have a favorable one.
Among the uninsured, 47 percent view Obamacare in a negative light versus the 24 percent who view it favorably. That's a change from 43 percent who viewed it unfavorably last month, and 36 percent who viewed it favorably. Overall, half of Americans view Obamacare unfavorably, while just over one-third have a positive take on the law.
More of the uninsured also said Obamacare made them worse off (39 percent) than improved their situation (26 percent), according to the poll.
Got that? The majority of people find ObamaCare to be a travesty and a plurality of those who are uninsured want nothing to do with it.
Looking for an issue GOP (clue: it's not caving passing immigration "reform")?
This mess the Democrats have made is the single issue on whichyou can win. That's right, single issue. This is a subject very near, dear and important to every Americans. And the Democrats have screwed it up royally. You have no need, in the interim, cave on anything. There is nothing which requires you to pass legislation that will piss off your base. None.
Think about it.
Thoughts on a snowy Wednesday
I sure am glad I'm not into drunk blogging, because given the Wizard of Oz show last night, aka SOTU, I'd still be plastered.
BTW, Cory Remsburg stole the show.
On the 2014 election front, the president may be facing some real problems in his "year of action" (which I've come to believe mostly refers to how often he'll wield his pen signing executive orders – something he blasted as a Senator. I'm sure it's Bush's fault):
[T]he 2014 Senate playing field is potentially brutal for Democrats. Democrats are defending seats in five states — Arkansas, Alaska, Montana, South Dakota, and West Virginia — where Obama's approval rating was at or below 35 percent in 2013, according to Gallup. In four other states where Democrats hold a Senate seat that's up in 2014, Obama's approval rating was well below his national average of 46 percent: Louisiana (40 percent), Colorado and Iowa (42 percent), and North Carolina (43 percent). In Oregon, New Hampshire, and New Mexico the president had a 45 percent job-approval rating, just below his national average. That's a whopping total of 11 Democratic seats that could potentially be in play this November.
Republicans also have seats they must defend, but far fewer of them. In Georgia, where the GOP must defend an open seat, Obama's approval rating of 45 percent is below his national average. In Kentucky, where Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell is running for reelection, only 35 percent of voters have a favorable view of the president.
This is intersting on a couple of fronts. One, if the GOP holds on to the House (and there's no real reason to believe that won't happen) and take the Senate, executive orders are about all this president is going to have at his command. Second, since Harry Reid went nuke, it will be interesting to see how he enjoys being on the other side of it. Oh rest assured he'll be like a goose who wakes up in a new world everyday, because you can count on him to blast such an abuse of power and the traditions of the Senate.
I find some solace in all of that even though I'm not a fan of the establishment Republicans. And I darn sure don't think they'll do what I think is necessary to dismantle this monstrosity called ObamaCare or, for that matter, solve any other problems by just getting out of the way. They're "lawmakers" and that is their product – well that and taking your money for hare-brained scemes like jobs programs, etc. Nope, I fully expect the GOP, should they control Congress to cave to the pressure of special interests – like Democrats and media calling them names and talking about how mean spirited they are – and basically pass a Democrat lite agenda. Watch immigration for the cue.
Where I find the solace is in defanging Obama for the last few years of his presidency. He'll wield his executive order pen and thunder (or perhaps by then, squeak) about Republicans blocking his agenda (something they should gladly admit too, but they won't – they'll cower), and blah, blah, blah, etc., etc., ad infinitum.
Nope, the good news is if the GOP can take Congress, the Obama nightmare, er, presidency, will be effectively over.
That, I will drink too.
ObamaCare: the myth and the reality
Perhaps I should say the building myth and the reality.
What is the building myth? That the worst is behind it. Megan McArdle fills you in:
Many of the commentators I've read seem to think that the worst is over, as far as unpopular surprises.
But she then takes a chain saw to that particular notion:
In fact, the worst is yet to come.
· 2014: Small-business policy cancellations. This year, the small-business market is going to get hit with the policy cancellations that roiled the individual market last year. Some firms will get better deals, but others will find that their coverage is being canceled in favor of more expensive policies that don't cover as many of the doctors or procedures that they want. This is going to be a rolling problem throughout the year.
· Summer 2014: Insurers get a sizable chunk of money from the government to cover any excess losses. When the costs are published, this is going to be wildly unpopular: The administration has spent three years saying that Obamacare was the antidote to abuses by Big, Bad Insurance Companies, and suddenly it's a mechanism to funnel taxpayer money to them?
· Fall 2014: New premiums are announced.
· 2014 and onward: Medicare reimbursement cuts eat into hospital margins, triggering a lot of lobbying and sad ads about how Beloved Local Hospital may have to close.
· Spring 2015: The Internal Revenue Service starts collecting individual mandate penalties: 1 percent of income in the first year. That's going to be a nasty shock to folks who thought the penalty was just $95. I, like many other analysts, expect the administration to announce a temporary delay sometime after April 1, 2014.
· Spring 2015: The IRS demands that people whose income was higher than they projected pay back their excess subsidies. This could be thousands of dollars.
· Spring 2015: Cuts to Medicare Advantage, which the administration punted on in 2013, are scheduled to go into effect. This will reduce benefits currently enjoyed by millions of seniors, which is why they didn't let them go into effect this year.
· Fall 2015: This is when expert Bob Laszewski says insurers will begin exiting the market if the exchange policies aren't profitable.
· Fall 2017: Companies and unions start learning whether their plans will get hit by the "Cadillac tax," a stiff excise tax on expensive policies that will hit plans with generous benefits or an older and sicker employee base. Expect a lot of companies and unions to radically decrease benefits and increase cost-sharing as a result.
· January 2018: The temporary risk-adjustment plans, which the administration is relying on to keep insurers in the marketplaces even if their customer pool is older and sicker than projected, run out. Now if insurers take losses, they just lose the money.
· Fall 2018: Buyers find out that subsidy growth is capped for next year's premiums; instead of simply being pegged to the price of the second-cheapest silver plan, whatever that cost is, their growth is fixed. This will show up in higher premiums for families — and, potentially, in an adverse-selection death spiral.
In fact, she is exactly right. Note how many of these surprises happen before 2016. And, as they come true, perhaps … just perhaps … when voters are told that the rest of this nonsense is likely to come true too (it is the law, you see), they might believe it.
Perhaps. The "Cadillac tax" was inartfully delayed until after the election. However, the snowball will already be rolling down hill by then and you'd think the public would be open to believing that the rest of this abomination, that which was delayed, will indeed happen. And you'd also believe they'd want to do something about that (that, of course assumes Obama doesn't wave the magic executive pen and waive all of this until after the election).
But then, doing something would depend on what? Well, getting elected officials that want to actually get rid of most of this monstrosity and are willing to say that and then do it. Uh, that won't be Democrats (well except perhaps blue dog Democrats, if they're not extinct by then).
What it all boils down too is that voters will have to depend on Republicans to do the heavy lifting. The question is will they do that if elected? In other words, will Republicans be up to the job?
If I had to base it on the current crop – yeah, not so much.
Gridlock: It's a feature, not a bug
No one said it would go smoothly or that compromise was a requirement in Congress. For whatever reason, "progress", for some, is defined in the number of new laws passed and hours worked in Congress. NBC News for instance in their daily email newsletter this morning:
By now, we've told you how unproductive the 113th Congress has been so far, now passing just 57 bills into law (compared with 67 passed at this same point in time by the previous 112th Congress, which then was the least productive modern Congress on record). But here's another way to measure how unproductive the Congress has been — in terms of hours worked. "According to data analyzed by The New York Times, the House of Representatives, which ended its business for the year last week, left town with the distinction of having been at work for the fewest hours in a nonelection year since 2005, when detailed information about legislative activity became available. Not counting brief, pro forma sessions, the House was in session for 942 hours, an average of about 28 hours each week it conducted business in Washington. That is far lower than the nearly 1,700 hours it was in session in 2007, the 1,350 hours in 2005 or even the 1,200 in 2011." We know members of Congress do much of their work with constituents back home. But the TV ads here kind of write themselves. Who wouldn't want a 28-hour work week? Expect every incumbent to get dinged with that "28 hour work week" hit while "you at home struggle to make ends meet working 40 or 50 hours" yada yada.
Yada, yada indeed. We ought to give them medals for not intruding any further on our freedoms. OK, not really. But apparently it is forgotten that Congress was supposed to be a part-time job (thus the two sessions) and that only laws of necessity (as outlined in the Constitution) were to be passed. Now, apparently, Congress is only "productive" when it is engaged in stepping on everyone's freedoms by passing dozens upon dozens of new laws, many of which are unnecessary or are designed to reward one constituency at the cost of another.
And we've developed a ruling class via career politicians and their heirs. I've never been so tired of the names Clinton, Bush, Kennedy, Cuomo, etc. Political power isn't hereditary … or wasn't supposed to be anyway.
Why do people feel the way NBC does? Because they don't pay attention and they have no sense of history or how this nation was formed. They've totally bought into the mind drugs that purveyors like NBC and the NY Times offer every day. According to them, a "productive" Congress is a Congress engaged in finding new ways to run your life. As Dale said last night we're finally to the stage that most of the country believes they belong to the state.
American exceptionalism isn't a figment of anyone's imagination. It is, or was, a product of our founding. And as long as we stuck to the principles of our founding, we remained an exceptional country. Now it seems we're headed toward the mediocrity of any number of other countries simply by trying to fix something that wasn't broken. We've fallen for the siren song of "free" stuff, and there are enough Americans benefiting from the state robbing others to give to them that they see no reason to change that slide into the abyss. As long as the free stuff continues to come their way while they live, well, that's just fine.
And the NBCs of the world are just fine with helping us along to that unexceptional, over-regulated, nanny-state existence that they apparently think is best for us and our country.
David Brooks: "Let's Increase The Power Of The President, You Guys!"
It's hard to describe this blinding stupidity as anything other than … well, blindingly stupid. I think this one sentence encapsulates the #Fail quite nicely:
This is a good moment to advocate greater executive branch power because we've just seen a monumental example of executive branch incompetence: the botched Obamacare rollout.
If you think Brooks is trying to get all counter-intuitive on you (a la Thomas Friedman's wistful longing for Chinese authoritarianism), think again. It's just full on stupidity.
Brooks' argument is that Congress is too beholden to the "rentier groups" (i.e. moneyed interest groups and lobbyists) and that the judiciary is too involved in the process:
In the current issue of The American Interest, Francis Fukuyama analyzes this institutional decay. His point is that the original system of checks and balances has morphed into a "vetocracy," an unworkable machine where many interests can veto reform.
First, there is the profusion of interest groups. In 1971, there were 175 registered lobbying firms. By 2009, there were 13,700 lobbyists spending more than $3.5 billion annually, and this doesn't even count the much larger cloud of activist groups and ideological enforcers.
Then there is the judicial usurpation of power. Fukuyama writes, "conflicts that in Sweden or Japan would be solved through quiet consultations between interested parties through the bureaucracy are fought out through formal litigation in the American court system." This leads to uncertainty, complexity and perverse behavior.
After a law is passed, there are always adjustments to be made. These could be done flexibly. But, instead, Congress throws implementation and enforcement into the court system by giving more groups the standing to sue. What could be a flexible process is turned into "adversarial legalism" that makes government more intrusive and more rigid.
In other words, because the power to form laws is relatively disbursed amongst constituents, elected officials and the court system, gridlock happens sometimes and that's just totally unacceptable. Because, heaven knows that if Congress isn't cranking out new laws at a fast enough pace, the world will end. (That seems to be the meme going around anyway.)
So what would be the benefits of more powerful Executive branch?
Here are the advantages. First, it is possible to mobilize the executive branch to come to policy conclusion on something like immigration reform. It's nearly impossible for Congress to lead us to a conclusion about anything. Second, executive branch officials are more sheltered from the interest groups than Congressional officials. Third, executive branch officials usually have more specialized knowledge than staffers on Capitol Hill and longer historical memories. Fourth, Congressional deliberations, to the extent they exist at all, are rooted in rigid political frameworks. Some agencies, especially places like the Office of Management and Budget, are reasonably removed from excessive partisanship. Fifth, executive branch officials, if they were liberated from rigid Congressional strictures, would have more discretion to respond to their screw-ups, like the Obamacare implementation. Finally, the nation can take it out on a president's party when a president's laws don't work. That doesn't happen in Congressional elections, where most have safe seats.
Note the two "advantages" I've bolded. It's as if things like Solyndra fiasco and the IRS targeting of conservatives never happened.
Lest there be any confusion about Brooks' prescription, he sums it up as thus:
So how do you energize the executive? It's a good idea to be tolerant of executive branch power grabs and to give agencies flexibility. We voters also need to change our voting criteria. It's not enough to vote for somebody who agrees with your policy preferences. Presidential candidates need to answer two questions. How are you going to build a governing 60 percent majority that will enable you to drive the Washington policy process? What is your experience implementing policies through big organizations?
We don't need bigger government. We need more unified authority. Take power away from the rentier groups who dominate the process. Allow people in those authorities to exercise discretion. Find a president who can both rally a majority, and execute a policy process.
At least he's being honest about what the political and chattering classes truly want. As an added bonus, Brooks has inspired a better description of his cant than "blindingly stupid": contemptible.
Lawless and Unbound
A primary reason for structuring our government with the checks and balances it has was to prevent a concentration of power. The POTUS was specifically limited because of the position's duties, and the danger exercising them could mean to the freedom of the people. America didn't want a king. Well, we may gotten one anyway.
The House of Representatives held a hearing yesterday on the Obama Administration's exercise (or non-exercise) of it powers, and asked whether or not the Executive branch was properly following the "take care" clause of the Constitution. AllahPundit provides some commentary on the hearing, focusing Prof. Jonathan Turley's testimony:
If you have time for only one snippet, though, skip to 2:33:00 for his list of Obama's five most egregious violations of separation of powers. Some are familiar to you — declaring that he wouldn't deport illegals who might qualify for DREAM, refusing to enforce the employer mandate, etc — but the ones about him shifting money around without regard to how Congress has appropriated it might not be. Turley makes two valuable points here. One: Courts tend to give the executive a wide berth in separation-of-powers challenges on the theory that Congress has the power of the purse and can defund any executive agency it likes. But that's not true anymore, he says. Obama, by defying appropriations, has claimed some of that power for himself. What check does Congress have left? That brings us to point two: Even if Congress can't stop Obama, the courts can. The problem there, though, says Turley, is that O and the DOJ have argued successfully in many cases that no one has standing to sue him because no one can show an injury from his power grabs that's concrete enough to justify a federal lawsuit. So the courts can't check him either.
The only check left, it would seem, is through elections. Which isn't a check at all on a term-limited President. Of course, there's always the impeachment route, but that doesn't seem likely (despite what some in the media think). Turley thinks it's not even being considered:
Now, I was the lead witness but I was testifying in through the haze of a raging flu. So I went back and checked. Impeachment was mentioned in passing but it was quickly discounted. Indeed, I specifically testified that, as someone who testified at the Clinton impeachment, I did not view such a measure as warranted given the ambiguity of past decisions. Indeed, the references to impeachment were made in the context of the loss of meaningful options for Congress to respond to such encroachments when the President reserved the right to suspend portions of laws and fought access to the courts in challenging such decisions. Yet, the Post simply reported that the word impeachment came up (not surprisingly) in a discussion of the options given by Framers to Congress in dealing with unlawful presidential conduct.
During the hearing, not only did I discount impeachment as an option, but a Democratic member specifically asked the panel about the references to impeachment. No one could remember how it came up but it was clear that no one thought it was a substantial issue — or significant part of the hearing.
In a discussion of checks on the presidency, impeachment is one of the enumerated options given to Congress. Notably, past judicial opinions involving such separation of powers controversies have also discussed impeachment with the power of the purse as devices given to the Congress. In discussing impeachment with these other powers, courts were not advocating impeachment or suggesting that it was a viable solution in that given case.
In the end, since the Senate is held by the same party as the President, impeachment isn't a serious option. But the Obama Administration's unwillingness to faithfully execute the laws passed by Congress remains a serious issue. At this point, the only options left would seem to be either shutting the government down, or refusing to pass any new laws since the POTUS won't execute them anyway. And whither goes the Republic.
Harry Reid opens Pandora's box
And, he and Democrats will eventually pay for that:
The partisan battles that have paralyzed Washington in recent years took a historic turn Thursday, as Senate Democrats eliminated filibusters for most presidential nominations, severely curtailing the political leverage of the Republican minority in the Senate and assuring an escalation of partisan warfare.
Saying that "enough is enough," President Obama welcomed the end of what he called the abuse of the Senate's advise and consent function, which he said had turned into "a reckless and relentless tool" to grind the gears of government to a halt.
Of course Obama and Reid (along with Biden) were some of the more outspoken defenders of the filibuster when Democrats were in the minority. Minority rights, you know. Blah, blah, blah …. words without end, words without meaning.
SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV): "…the so-called nuclear option… attempt to rewrite Senate rules so we would be another House of Representatives; that we would throw away the Constitution of the United States so the Federal courts could be packed." (Sen. Reid, Congressional Record, S.8911, 9/5/06)
REID: "We stand united against an outrageous abuse of power that would pack the courts with out-of-the-mainstream judges." (Sen. Reid, Congressional Record, S.5198, 5/16/05)
Now, of course, it is an "obstruction" and we're likely to get exactly what Harry Reid railed against then.
Well, we'll see how that works out for them when they're in the minority again and another party is sitting the the White House, won't we?
Reid – not smart enough see beyond today and the fact that he has just set it up for Democrats of tomorrow to pay for this in ways they never imagined.
If we could only outlaw their whiny cries of outrage when this eventually bites them in the butt, I'd be satisfied.


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Rangers Photos
Photos: Rangers witness mascot meetup, walkoff home run in loss to Indians
Photo: Joe Robbins/Getty Images
David Murphy #7 of the Cleveland Indians pulls up at second base after driving in a run with a double in the second inning of the game against the Texas Rangers at Progressive Field on August 3, 2014 in Cleveland, Ohio.
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In 4th Judicial District Court Tuesday, Judge John Fenn sentenced 58-year-old Barbara Yalowizer to Deferred Prosecution and 1 to 5 years Supervised Probation on the Misappropriation of Funds charge to which she plead guilty a few weeks ago.
Yalowizer, who worked for Sheridan County School District 1 for nearly 30 years, had taken about $5,000 from the District to support her growing gambling addiction. She was arrested in October.
Judge Fenn told her that given the fact that she has virtually no criminal history and that "everybody can make a mistake", he chose to give her the special sentence. He also told her that it is very important for her to make the necessary changes and take control of her life, to put this matter behind her. Otherwise, he warned, if she violates any part of her probation, which includes that she is to get counseling for her addiction, and she is not to participate in gambling of any kind, including office pools, she will face the possibility of prison.
District 1 Superintendent Sue Belish was present in court to show her friendship and support of the woman she had hired. She had gotten permission from the District's Board of Trustees, but she was not representing the District in court. She told Judge Fenn that she in no way condones what Yalowizer had done and that it was wrong; however, she would not turn her back on their friendship.
When asked if she had anything to say, Yalowizer tearfully told the judge that what she did "was wrong. I'm so sorry and am working every day on this problem. I made a mistake and am willing to take the lumps for it, but I hope you can forgive me."