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Middle-income Americans tend to wing it when making decisions about their money, which has led to expensive financial mistakes, according to a new survey.
About 67 percent of people with household annual income between $30,000 and $100,000 have made at least one "really bad financial decision," according to a study released Sept. 18 by the Consumer Federation of America and Primerica Inc. Those stumbles cost families an average $23,000.
Despite potential financial hazards, less than half those surveyed, or 45 percent, turn to an investment adviser to help them manage their money.
Another 15 percent said that they use the Internet and television for investment information, while 17 percent "wouldn't seek any information or advice, and just make a decision," according to the report, which was based on responses from 843 of 2,015 adults surveyed by ORC International in July.
Those in the middle class have seen their financial assets dwindle to an average $27,300 in 2010, from $37,000 in 2007. Yet their faltering financial prospects don't make them more attuned to money management.
"They'll spend weeks planning a vacation to Disney World, but when it comes to their financial future, they procrastinate," John Addison Jr., Primerica's co-chief executive, told reporters at the National Press Club in Washington on Sept. 17.
"The highest obstacle to financial success is procrastination."
The sponsors of the study are shocked at the willingness of middle-income investors to go it alone.
"A strikingly high percentage of respondents in our survey said they wouldn't consult any information at all in making a decision," said Stephen Brobeck, executive director of the Consumer Federation of America.
He urges more discipline before taking out unaffordable home mortgages, taking on too much credit card debt or making risky investments.
"Conduct a more careful consumer search when you're purchasing financial products," Brobeck said. "It's a complicated and dynamic marketplace."
Primerica used the survey to pitch itself as a financial Sherpa to those with a modest amount of money to put into the market.
The typical investment account at Primerica is $4,000.
Most of the firm's registered representatives are guiding clients on contributions to individual retirement accounts and mutual fund investments, according to Addison.
"Main Street, middle-income families are too important to ignore. They're the backbone of our country," Addison said.
"There need to be more [financial] representatives who go see these families," he said.
A major debate is under way about whether advisers at a firm such as Primerica should act in the best interests of their clients.
Primerica's registered reps must adhere to a suitability standard, which requires that investment products be suitable for their clients. Investment advisers must meet the more stringent fiduciary standard.
The Labor Department is expected to re-propose a rule that would expand the definition of "fiduciary" under federal retirement law, while the Securities and Exchange Commission is considering one that would impose fiduciary duty on anyone providing retail investment advice. Both seek to protect investors from conflicted financial advice.
Skeptics warn that flawed rules could raise regulatory and liability costs for registered reps and limit product offerings, potentially pricing middle-income investors out of the advice market.
The Labor Department fiduciary rule would curtail investment advice for IRA holders, Addison said.
"More retirement savings is better than less retirement savings," he said. "The more you reduce access for families, the more you hurt Main Street families."
The nature of Primerica's business keeps it focused on its clients' best interests, Addison said.
"We're not selling credit default swaps and derivatives to middle-income families," he said. "We sell bread-and-butter mutual funds."
The firm also sells life insurance and annuities.
The CFA is a strong proponent of fiduciary duty.
"CFA has a different policy position than Primerica on this issue, but we are not here to discuss those differences today," Brobeck told reporters at the press conference.
Mark Schoeff Jr. writes for InvestmentNews, a sister publication of Workforce Management. To comment, email email@example.com
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Ned Yost media session: June 23
The first topic of discussion when Royals' manager Ned Yost briefly met with the media this morning was catcher Sal Perez. After making his first start in his first game back with the Royals after being on the disabled list since spring training following surgery to repair a torn meniscus, he has been given today off. Yost said he expects to have Perez back behind the plate tomorrow afternoon, but they want to monitor his work load leading up to the All-Star break. Their plan is to go easy with him today then have him start tomorrow and Monday then give him Tuesday off and play again Wednesday. Yost said they will probably continue with a one or two days on followed by a day off system until after the All-Star break. After the All-Star break the plan is to start extending his playing time and work him back into an everyday role.
The Royals move this morning that designated right handed pitcher Roman Colon for assignment and selected the contract of left hander Francisley Bueno from the Storm Chasers was the other topic of interest. Yost said they needed another arm in the bullpen and even though they will be without a long man (Colon), they needed the protection. He went on to say Colon did a good job of saving the bullpen with his outing last night and the Royals have a full pen today because of it. He said three pitchers threw one inning each yesterday and three did not so they are in good shape thanks to Colon's efforts. Yost said Bueno has thrown the ball well for Triple-A Omaha this season against both right and left handed batters and the scouts who have seen him, like him. Bueno posted a 1-3 record 2.85 ERA and five saves for the Storm Chasers thus far. Bueno has not appeared in a Major League game since August 2008. Yost said it is very big for Bueno as it has been four years since appearing in a big league game. Yost said he was impressive down in spring training for the Royals and he has also done well at the Triple-A level thus far. He went on to say he has earned this opportunity so they are going to give it to him and see how he does.

subset: commoncrawl


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Digging Ohio's primary election today. Everyone's expecting low turn-out, which only makes your vote even more valuable. If you're not sure what's on the ballot, check out CityBeat's roundup of election coverage for background on the U.S. Senate Democratic primary, the Democratic and Republican primaries for Hamilton County Commissioner, Issue 1 and more.
Dogging David Krikorian, running today in the Democratic primary for the 2nd Congressional District against Surya Yalamanchili and Jim Parker for the right to face incumbent Rep. Jean Schmidt in the fall. MSNBC's Keith Olbermann named Krikorian his "Worst Person in the World" a few days ago for suggesting that Indian-American Yalamanchili's name is too foreign-sounding to win an election.
The Ohio Elections Commission today dismissed a complaint filed by Cincinnati Tea Party founder Mike Wilson against his Republican primary opponent in the race for the 28th Ohio House District seat. Wilson had filed a complaint with the commission contesting statements used in a telephone poll recently conducted by Tom Weidman's campaign.
Despite numerous examples of intolerance and hatred at its events and multiple polls showing the group represents only a small minority of the populace, the noisy Tea Party movement continues to gain an unwarranted amount of media attention as it strives for respectability.
(UPDATE AT BOTTOM) Fox News commentator Sean Hannity's participation in a Cincinnati Tea Party event today is drawing sharp criticism from experts on journalism ethics.
Hannity will be taping his TV show tonight during the local Tea Party's second annual Tax Day rally, which is being held at the University of Cincinnati's Fifth Third Arena.
CityBeat first wrote about the Springboro Tea Party last month, detailing the agenda for a rally planned Saturday that's heavy with speakers from the John Birch Society and movies about far-right conspiracy theories.
Now the Tea Party leader organizing the event, Brian "Sonny" Thomas, is under fire for racist and vulgar comments he posted on Twitter, which has prompted several politicians to cancel their appearances at the rally.
The Tea Party might be good at organizing rallies outside the Capitol building in Washington and staging rallies at Fountain Square, but just how pervasive is the group's views among the American people?
Not very, according to a new poll.
Today's issue of The Whistleblower – a gossipy Web-based newsletter – published the home address of U.S. Rep. Steve Driehaus (D-Price Hill), who voted in favor of the recent health care reform bill. The newsletter suggests opponents stage a protest at his house on Sunday.


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Sanford's fit Intiative
Sanford's fit Initiative has come a long way since its inception in 2010. Through fit, we are actively working to promote healthy lifestyles in homes, schools, daycares, our clinical settings and throughout the community by way of technology, engaging programs and utilizing key role models in a child's life.
Web Resources
The fit website for Juniors, Kids and Teens creates an entertaining and interactive online environment where they can play games, watch videos and take daily challenges. Parents benefit from their own set of resources where they can find tips and tools on becoming healthy role models and raising fit kids.To date, the children's and parent's site have received more than 4 million visitors. Over 700 pieces of content have been added to the sites including videos, slideshows, games, articles and even fit songs!
In addition to the web, fit is developing meaningful school resources to bring value and fun into the primary education setting. We are doing this by integrating fit points into science and math components to provide health promotion, an avenue into the classroom without taking valuable time away from those critical subjects.
fit4theclassroom.com – fit 4 the Classroom is an online school resource developed in cooperation with Discovery Education.
- Went live in September 2012
- Received over 50,000 visits which equates into exposure to approximately 250,000 students across the country
- Over 18,000 teachers from all 50 states entered a sweepstakes for their classrooms and schools
We are also reaching thousands of students through several pilot school programs.
- fit Club for Girls – fit Club, an after school program for 5th grade girls, has been conducted at 5 schools in Sioux Falls with over 150 girls participating.
- fit4Schools.sanfordfit.org – fit4Schools, which includes unique fit-based lessons integrated into daily classroom activities, has been piloted in 3 South Dakota schools touching over 500 students.
- fit PROMISE Program – fit has worked with Sanford's PROMISE program to reach nearly 1,000 students.
- Mission: fit Possible – This distinctive assembly program has held session in 20 schools in the Orlando, FL, area.
fit-care is designed to help children in child care settings learn and establish healthy habits early on in their lives. Child care providers in South Dakota have access to the fit-care curriculum and training courses designed to teach and role model fit behaviors along with educating parents and families.
- Launched in March 2012
- Developed in cooperation with the South Dakota Departments of Health and Social Services
- Has been delivered at all 5 training centers across South Dakota
- Utilized by almost 500 child care providers reaching between 5-6,000 children
Have you seen Denny, Abby, Sam, Alex and Marty around lately? The fit Friends, along with the fit team, have been making a variety of appearances at events across the Sanford footprint! fit has been at over two dozen events interacting with more than 15,000 children and parents to spread the word about the fit platform and resources.
Looking Forward
fit is continuing to look to the future for ways to continue to make a meaning impact on children and families both on-line and off-line. Other exciting expansions that are in the works include:
- Smartphone Apps – Though a series of fun and engaging apps, fit will continue to activate kids at the touch of a fingertip to live a fit and healthy lifestyle related to FOOD, MOVE, MOOD and RECHARGE.
- Clinical Settings – fit is developing resources for the clinical setting which can be used to spur actionable and understandable discussions between health care providers and families.
- Engaging Key Role Models – Firefighters and youth sport coaches are role models and have a big influence on children so that's why fit is developing resources for them to teach the principles of fit along with sports fundamentals and other outreach efforts.


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I thought sketching a galaxy would be easier than I experienced. Several sketches later and I'm still not satisfied. This is the best effort and sole survivor that I reluctantly included with my sketches. It's not quite accurate, but it does show the core and surrounding area as well as the spiral structure I observed.
Thanks for looking.
Ed D


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|Holyoke HS swimmers compete at Windsor
|Written by Brenda Johnson Brandt
HHS swimmers performed extremely well at the Sterling-Windsor dual in Windsor last Tuesday, Jan. 20. While the host school defeated Sterling 105-81, some strong individual finishes were noted.
Individually, LeAnne McWilliams captured third in the backstroke and fifth in the 50 freestyle.
Freshman Jordan Zeiler placed fourth in the 50 freestyle and fifth in the 100 freestyle events, and sophomore Briar Bergner nabbed fifth in the 100 breaststroke.
Relay teams met with success last week.
McWilliams and Bergner swam on the 200 medley relay team, which placed third.
Zeiler and Krogmeier competed on the third-place 200 free relay and the third-place 400 free relay.
Other Holyoke swimmers on the Sterling team were Pamela McWilliams, Chelsy Gomez, Kendra Walz and Amber Wilkening.
Coach Adria Colver cited solid, steady improvement from Walz, Wilkening and Gomez.
She also noted she's proud of the way LeAnne McWilliams, Pamela McWilliams, Bergner, Krogmeier and Zeiler are racing right now.
This week, the Sterling team's schedule notes two duals. The girls hosted Silver Creek Tuesday, Jan. 27 and will travel to Estes Park Thursday, Jan. 29.


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|It's "Black and Blue Friday"
Safety in crowded stores, parking lots a hot topic this holiday shopping season.
As stores gear up for the biggest holiday shopping day of the year, it may be easy to forget that Black Friday isn't always a sign of holiday cheer. A new poll reveals that personal safety inside stores and outside in store parking lots is the No. 1 holiday safety concern for Americans–particularly women and seniors.


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Villa 1163, Natai
- Natai, North Phuket
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Located in Phang Nga, 25 minutes drive north of Phuket airport on the unspoiled Natai Beach, each of the four luxury villas each enjoy 6,400 square meters or more of land with 60 to 90 metres beach frontage giving a true sense of space and tranquility enhanced by the stunning uncluttered garden.
The villa is laid out with 3 individual pavilions, each with pool and ocean views and designed in an overall contemporary Thai style. A fourth pavilion hosts the kitchen and staff quarters.
The central focus of the house is "The Great Room", the large open plan living/dining pavilion. Its glass doors slide into pocket walls to maximise the indoor / outdoor feeling of the room which opens onto a large covered deck. The view to the lap pool, uncluttered garden and ocean is enough to make anyone want to relax and savour the moment.
One of the unique features of this villa is the snooker room found underneath the Family room. This large room also hosts a large comfortable couch and a projector screen for high quality movie viewing. And for those who are thirsty, the mini bar in the Family room is ideal to stock up drinks and snacks prepared by the Chef.
Holiday rental minimum stay: Low period 3 nights
High period 5 nights
Peak period 7 nights.
Rates are inclusive of 10% service charge and 7% VAT.
Please note: These rates are subject to change. Final rate will be confirmed prior to payment of deposit.


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Plus Blog
March 25, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Maths phobe goes forth to multiply
A date for your TV diary: next Tuesday, the 31st of March 2009, at 9pm, BBC2 will screen the Horizon programme Alan and Marcus go forth and multiply, in which actor and comedian Alan Davies explores his fear of maths with mathematician and author Marcus du Sautoy. Together they will visit the fourth dimension, cross the universe and explore infinity, and along the way Alan does battle with some of the toughest maths questions of our age. Let's hope he's done some swotting with Plus first!
posted by Plus @ 12:25 PM
0 Comments:
March 19, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Only a few days left to become a Plus author!
This is your final reminder of the Plus new writers award, our writing competition which gives you the chance to become a Plus author, and win an iPod and signed books by some of the best popular science writers around. The deadline is March 31, so get writing now — we're looking forward to reading your entries!
posted by Plus @ 3:27 PM
5 Comments:
March 19, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Travels in a mathematical world
If you enjoy the Plus podcasts, then you might also like a maths podcast published by Peter Rowlett, the University Liaison Officer of the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications. On his travels he records short interviews with interesting mathematicians talking about their career and work. There are also episodes on the history of mathematics and on mathematical news, and the webpage also contains a blog.
posted by Plus @ 3:24 PM
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March 11, 2009
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
This is the 50th issue of Plus and to celebrate, we've made it especially big. We explore the incredibly life-like images generated by computers and fragile medieval frescoes, find chaos in fluid flows and prime numbers in a sieve, meet the "English Galileo" and a man who's into geeky pop, and learn about the dangers of bacon sandwiches. Plus the usual regular features including book reviews, puzzle and podcasts.
posted by Plus @ 4:55 PM
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March 6, 2009
Friday, March 06, 2009
Geek Pop 2009: Be there and be square
The Geek Pop '09 virtual festival site opens its gates today to music fans and science geeks from all over the world. Geek Pop showcases the talents of up-and-coming artists playing music inspired by science.
In the second year of running, festival goers will be treated to 15 acts playing four virtual stages. The festival, which kicks off during National Science and Engineering Week (6th-15th March), is free to enter and festival goers can take away a free festival highlights podcast. All performances will be available on Geek Pop catch-up for the entire year following the event.
Headlining on Geek Pop's main stage, the Tetrahedron, will be doctors Adam Kay and Suman Biswas, otherwise known as Amateur Transplants. Other artists include an engineering professor, an astronomy-inspired electro outfit and renowned science writer Stuart Clark playing rock guitar.
As well as music downloads from artists playing at the event, the first 1,500 visitors to the Tesla Tent will be entitled to three free music downloads of their choice, courtesy of sponsors 7digital.
"We've really got some fantastic acts lined up and what's great is that all of them are very committed to their music as well as their science," says festival organiser Hayley Birch. "But there's a serious message in Geek Pop, which is that science and creativity aren't so very far apart. Of course, there's also a not so serious message, which is that it's okay to be a geek."
And if you're into your geek pop, watch out for an exclusive interview with one of the artists playing at the festival, soon to be published on Plus.
posted by Plus @ 2:35 PM
1 Comments:
March 6, 2009
Friday, March 06, 2009
The mathematical work of Charles Dodgson aka Lewis Carroll
Writing, mathematics, photography — Charles Dodgson had many talents, and if he hadn't become famous for his Alice books, he would almost certainly have become famous for something else. In this podcast we talk to Robin Wilson, Professor of Pure Mathematics at the Open University and a prolific author himself, about Dodgson's mathematical work, which included an influential theory of elections and a play on Euclid's Elements. Robin Wilson is the author of the book Lewis Carroll in numberland, which has been reviewed in Plus.
Labels: podcast
posted by Plus @ 11:24 AM
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|Heidi's plans to open doors at beginning of the year
|Written by Chris Lee
Heidi Spitz is getting excited as she plans to open the doors of Heidi's Wednesday, Jan. 2.
Hoping that paperwork becomes finalized, Spitz will open the doors to the public at her 112 W. Denver St. location. The shop is located at the former Buzzz Stop.
Spitz used to work at Buzzz Stop but a serious motor vehicle accident in July 2011 took her away from the business.
She has spent the last five months working at The Oak Tree and has had many people suggest she reopen the local coffee shop.
"The community kind of made me decide there is still a need for it," Spitz said last Friday, Dec. 14.
Spitz is known for her delicious cakes and baking from home and wants to move that back into town.
Heidi Spitz
Once the doors are open, customers will see a menu fairly similar to what the Buzzz Stop used to offer. The new owner said the decorations will have changed a bit inside.
Buzzz Stop closed its doors in March of this year so there hasn't been much work to get it back up and running. A good cleaning and a few visits from the health department and Heidi's will be open for business, according to the new owner.
As for lunch, wraps and paninis will continue to be available and Spitz said she plans to add other items to the lunch menu highlighting the different seasons throughout the year.
Spitz said her daughter Makayla will help her to begin with and another employee will be in each day to help cover the lunch hour.
Spitz is excited to return to the social aspect of the place. She said it's a great place for people to gather in a relaxed atmosphere to visit over a snack and cup of coffee.
Spitz said the facility will be available for birthday parties, office meetings and other functions. She is also offering gift certificates throughout the holiday season. She can be reached on her cell phone at 580-9549 prior to the opening for those interested in obtaining gift certificates.
Once open, Heidi's may be reached at 854-CAKE (2253). Doors will be open Monday-Friday from 7 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
Spitz grew up in Gunnison and attended college at Northeastern Junior College in Sterling. She moved to Holyoke 18 years ago. Spitz and her husband Pat have two children, Coleton and Makayla. Prior to working at the Buzzz Stop, Spitz helped with the family farming and ranching operation. She enjoys team roping, crafts, decorating and spending time with her family.
Holyoke Enterprise December 20, 2012


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1969 Plymouth Barracuda - Hidden TreasuresWritten by on April 14, 2014 Staying In The Family
This month's Hidden Treasure comes from Wayne Cawley from White Deer, Pennsylvania. He tells us that he just bought this 1969 Barracuda from his uncle. The car is a Formula S, powered by a 383 that is backed by a four speed. Wayne tells us that his uncle ordered it new in 1969. Apparently, the family all liked the 1969 Barracuda, because Wayne's uncle and his dad bought one that year.
According to Wayne, "My uncle's Barracuda was ordered with the 383 and a four speed, a green exterior (F8), and a green interior. It came with a white side-stripe, console, and a tachometer." It had been sitting outside in the weather—in the same spot for the last 37 years. After more than a month of talking to his uncle, Wayne finally talked him into selling it. We're told that he got it at a fair price but it is in rough shape. He tells us that his plan is to restore it back to as close to original as possible. It's going to be hard to actually determine the exact options that the car came with, as the left inner fender is so rusty that there is nothing left of the fender tag. Hopefully, Wayne's uncle has a good memory about what came with the car when it was new. "It seems to be all there," Wayne tells us.
He was able to acquire all of the original parts for the car except the carburetor, so restoration should be fairly easy—relatively speaking. Wayne says that the pictures don't do the car justice, as it is a decent, restorable car. He wanted to take pictures of it where it was sitting before he moved it, but he tells us that he forgot his camera. Apparently, it had sunk several inches into the ground.


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May 25, 2016
Valdosta, GA - Some benefits for long-time unemployed Georgians are going away.
The federal government is reducing the amount of aid extended to jobseekers in additon to that offered by the state.
Here's how it works, when job seekers exhaust their benefits from the state they might be eligible for an extension through Federal benefits called "Federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation". There are four levels of federal compensation that a jobseeker moves through one at a time. But now the last one is going away.
That 4th tier of extended benefits is only avaible as long as the state's unemployment rate stays above 9.0. But it hasn't been that high since September and is now down to 8.5, which is a good thing. The idea being as the rate improves so does a job seekers chance of finding a job.
Job seekers on the 3rd tier have until Saturday to qualify for the 4th tier. There's nothing they can do to speed up their claim. Folks who have already qualified for tier 4 will not lose their benefits.
There are currently 64,000 Georgians on these extended Federal Benefits. An estimated 5,000 are on Tier 4 right now.
Click Here to access the online Public Inspection File
Viewers with disabilities can get assistance accessing this station's FCC Public Inspection File by contacting the station with the information listed below. Questions or concerns relating to the accessibility of the FCC's online public file system should be directed to the FCC at 888-225-5322, 888-835-5322 (TTY), or email@example.com.


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Wow, very nice! The only minor "criticism" that I have is that, if that's basically the "known world," the whole thing is a bit too square. Now I have the same problem, so it's a minor quibble- it's easy to create the world within the framwork of the 8.5x11" mindset of a peice of paper or computer screen. I've been using Fractal Mapper v8.0 and one neat feature it has is Globe View. Your map can be displayed on a spinning gloe; this really helps visualize it in terms of being on a real planet. Not useful if your world isn't round, of course.
Overall a very fine set of maps.


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The stem cell microenvironment in the maintenance of pluripotency and reprogramming
Pluripotent stem cell research is just on the verge of beginning to fulfill its promise to revolutionize medicine. Whether they are derived from embryos, or from adult cells that have been reprogrammed, human pluripotent stem cells can be propagated indefinitely in the laboratory and can turn into a wide range of mature cell types, providing an renewable source of a wide range of types of human tissue for research or therapy. We are still learning about the best ways to grow and manipulate pluripotent stem cells, and how best to reprogram adult cells to the pluripotent state. In fact, our concept of what a pluripotent stem cell is and what it looks like is still emerging. Recent work has shown that pluripotent stem cells, in the embryo or in the laboratory, are not simply homogeneous monocultures. Rather, stem cell cultures are complex and highly dynamic ecosystems. They contain a spectrum of cell types, from the most primitive cells, to cells that are already well on the way to becoming particular specialized types of cell. Different subpopulations of cells within these ecosystems communicate with one another, and these interactions dictate cell behavior. Cells even produce a type of scaffold on which they grow, called the extracellular matrix, that helps guide its fate. Thus, the microenvironment of the stem cell-its neighbors, and the signaling molecules they produce, is a critical component to guiding the cells fate. Our understanding of this microenvironment is however still rudimentary. This project will study two key processes-stem cell renewal, or the means by which stem cells divide to produce more stem cells, and specification, or how stem cells chose to begin to specialize into more mature cell types. We will look at the regulation of these processes at very high resolution, to see how individual cells within the various subpopulations respond to signals around them, and to identify the critical signals that maintain stem cells in the primitive unspecialized state or help adult cells to become reprogrammed. By carefully dissecting the stem cell population, and identifying its various subcompartments, we will provide critical information for other scientists that will enable them to study stem cell regulation at a much more refined level. And, an enhanced knowledge of the signaling systems cells use to talk to one another will help us to propagate stem cells and to enhance the reprogramming of adult cells. All of these fundamental discoveries will facilitate work towards the application of pluripotent stem cells in medicine.
Over the past ten years there has been remarkable progress in human embryonic stem cell research, and much of this progress has been driven in recent times by the California Proposition 71 initiative. Advances in our understanding of stem cell growth and differentiation, the approach of the first clinical trials of human embryonic stem cell derived products, and the remarkable discovery of the reprogramming of adult cells to the pluripotent state, have raised the prospect that this research will soon begin to fulfill its promise to revolutionize medicine. California can take a leading role internationally in this process not only by accelerating the progress of basic discoveries to the clinic, but also by building the intellectual infrastructure for the next decade of discoveries in stem cell research. This proposal is based on a new framework to understand the structure of pluripotent stem cell hierarchies, to unlock the fundamental principles underlying the interaction of pluripotent stem cells with their immediate environment, and to discover how these interactions decide stem cell fate. The results will lead to concrete outcomes in terms of products and processes for stem cell manipulation in research and biotechnology, and they will provide enhanced means for the derivation and propagation of embryonic stem cells and pluripotent stem cells from adult tissues. The basic discoveries will also strengthen the intellectual basis of stem cell research in the State, and the project will provide outstanding training opportunities for California scientists.
Pluripotent human stem cell lines can develop into any cell type in the body. In order to exploit the power of these cells for use in research or therapy, we need to be able to grow them in the laboratory in pure form and efficiently turn them into specific types of mature cell. Current methods for growing pluripotent stem cells yield mixed populations of cells, some of which have limited capacity for growth and development, others that represent true pluripotent stem cells. Thus, the stem cell cultures are like an ecosystem, with many components. We are studying the culture microenvironment of the stem cell to learn how it regulates cell growth. In order to do this we have to understand the heterogeneity in stem cell cultures. To this end, we have developed techniques to analyze the molecular makeup of single stem cells, and to track their fates. These techniques enable us to identify the most primitive cells in the culture with the greatest potential for growth and differentiation. These cells tend to be spatially segregated from other more mature cells, in a specialized microenvironment that helps them to maintain their ability to grow and turn into specialized cells. We have identified some key components of the microenvironment that keep stem cells in the primitive pluripotent state. We will use these techniques to develop means to produce pure populations of specialized cells from stem cell cultures.
Our aim is to gain a detailed understanding of how human embryonic stem cells are regulated- how do embryonic stem cells decide whether to multiply to produce more stem cells, or to begin forming specialized cell types. We have found that human embryonic stem cultures are not homogeneous but are composed of different cellular subpopulations whose identities can be clearly defined at the molecular level. Only a minority of cells in the population has the capacity for self renewal, the ability to form new stem cells. This ability to divide to produce new stem cells depends on factors made by the stem cells themselves. Other cells in the culture have begun the process of specialization, with many on the way to becoming precursors of the central nervous system. Again, the choice to become a nerve cell depends on signals from surrounding cells in the culture. Understanding the conversations between subsets of stem cells is crucial to efforts to grow pure populations of stem cells or specialized cell types.
Human pluripotent stem cells are defined by their abilities to multiply indefinitely in the laboratory and to turn into any type of body cell. However, stem cell cultures are not composed of one cell type, but are heterogeneous. In this study, we took a close up look at human embryonic stem cell cultures by examining the properties of individual single cells, rather than studying the population as a whole. The result show that the population of cells in the culture dish comprises a complex hierarchy, from primitive cells with great capacity for multiplication through to cells just on the verge of becoming specialized cell types. Specific signals govern how cells at different stages of this hierarchy behave: whether they divide to form more stem cells, or begin to specialize into different cell types such as nerve cells. The cells themselves produce signals that govern how they move through this hierarchy. By understanding these internal dialogues between different populations in stem cell culture, we can learn how to control stem cell behaviour, and to understand why some stem cell lines respond differently to others under specific culture conditions. In turn, this knowledge will enhance our ability to propagate stem cells and to turn them into particular cell types useful in research or regenerative medicine.
- Stem Cell Reports (2014) Single-cell gene expression profiles define self-renewing, pluripotent, and lineage primed States of human pluripotent stem cells. (PubMed: 24936473)


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Europe's budget
Germany wants EU funds to be better spent
© picture alliance / Klaus Ohlenschläger
Since 27 June 2013, the multiannual financial framework has been in place as the EU budget plan for the period 2014–2020. A total of almost 1000 billion euros is available for the different policy areas. In the allocation of these funds, greater priority is being given to boosting growth and employment. In a consensus reached during the final negotiations, additional funds are to be allocated to combating youth unemployment.
This means that the negotiations on this key European project have now been concluded. During the negotiation process the Federal Foreign Office served as lead ministry within the German Government. This framework will determine all EU revenue and spending over the next seven years.
The EU's multiannual financial framework (MFF, previously known as the financial perspective) is the central planning instrument for the use of European Union funds. It is intended to ensure that the EU manages its spending in an orderly manner and within the limits of its own resources. The annual EU budget – which is laid down in a special procedure – is embedded in the financial framework and must be kept within this framework. Funds are allocated with the aim of financing the EU's political goals, thereby ensuring its future viability. With regard to budget funding, the prime concern is to ensure that the level of national contributions paid by each member state is fair.
Agreement on the draft for a new MFF
In Germany's view the negotiations were a success as the most important goals were achieved:
- Excluding certain specific instruments, the ceiling on spending under the new MFF is limited to 960 billion euros.
- Germany will keep all its rebates on payments to the EU; in 2011 these amounted to 2.3 billion euros.
- "Better spending" instead of "more spending": more efficient use of the funding available instead of a budget increase.
In light of the economic crisis and the difficult situation for national budgets, the German Government was opposed to an increase in EU spending, wanting instead to see the available funds used more efficiently. And in this it was successful: the budget for the period 2014–2020 was limited to 960 billion euros, whereas in the previous period it was almost 1000 billion euros. Despite this successful consolidation, Germany remains the largest net contributor of the EU, paying almost 20 per cent of the EU budget.
The German Government has been particularly keen to ensure that spending is effective. More money is envisaged for research and education, areas crucial for the future. Spending on infrastructure and transport is to be doubled and in the first two years alone 6 billion euros will be made available to combat youth unemployment. Where cuts have been made, this has been done with moderation: regions in the new Länder that will no longer get maximum support will continue to receive 64 per cent of their previous support through a combination of various measures. The funds for agriculture in the EU budget will be further cut, without this meaning abrupt reductions for German farmers.
Given the difficult financial situation, allocations are to be reviewed at the end of the first two years (review clause). Speaking at the EU summit in Brussels, Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel welcomed the agreement, which was of the utmost importance, she noted, especially if headway was to be made in combating youth unemployment.
In detail: the path towards the MFF 2014–2020
In June 2011 the Commission presented its proposal for the next MFF for the years 2014 to 2020. In addition, by the end of 2011 work had been completed on drafting some 70 regulations dealing with specific policy fields. In the first half of 2012, the Danish EU Council Presidency created a document known as the "negotiating box" to keep track of how the negotiations were proceeding. The work was taken forward on this basis by the Cypriot EU Council Presidency, which in late October presented the first proposals for the allocation of funds under the various expenditure headings.
This was when the negotiations entered the home stretch. As the 27 member states were, as was expected, unable to agree on the MFF package on 22–23 November 2012, the heads of state and government managed to reach an agreement on 7–8 February 2013. The Irish EU Council Presidency then began the "trilogue negotiations" with the Commission and the European Parliament and this resulted on 27 June in a political agreement.
Agreement still needs to be reached during the Lithuanian EU Council Presidency on some 70 legal acts governing spending under various headings in specific sectors. Similarly, the European Parliament meeting in plenary session still needs to formally approve the relevant Council Regulation and Interinstitutional Agreement on the MFF. Lastly, the Commission is expected to submit shortly a draft Own Resources Decision, which needs to be ratified in all 28 member states.
external link, opens in new windowMore on the multiannual financial framework on the European Commission website
Last updated 28.05.2014


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Guest House Wingham accommodation [Taree and Manning Valley region]
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Welcome to The Bank Guest House & Tellers Restaurant The BANK Guest House is the perfect base from which to explore the beaches, river bends [more...]
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text:
In early 2008, as I compiled data for Counter Culture's first Sustainability Scorecard, I remember wondering whether the information would be interesting to anyone besides me. Some of the metrics in that first report, like the percentage of certified organic coffee we purchase, have continued to grow in relevance, whereas other metrics, like the percentage of delivery fuel replaced by biodiesel, have become obsolete.
In spite of metrics that have not stood the test of time, the act of measuring our progress and reporting on it publicly has become more and more integral to who we are as a company and how we define sustainability. We have eliminated a few categories from the Scorecard over the years – in some cases because we have refocused our energy away from an area, and, in others, because we have achieved our target of 100 percent enough times to make continued reporting moot – but for the most part we have added to the Scorecard as we have formalized goals and grown our partnerships and projects.
Five years later, I hope that our Sustainability Scorecard has proven to be interesting, and I look forward to its continuing evolution as we learn, focus and grow.
Kim Elena
Kim Elena


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Meal Type
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6 servings, about 1 cup each
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Serve with a small roll and mixed green salad tossed with your favorite KRAFT Dressing.
For less zip, prepare using TACO BELL® Thick & Chunky Mild Salsa.
* Nutrition information is estimated based on the ingredients and cooking instructions as described in each recipe and is intended to be used for informational purposes only. Please note that nutrition details may vary based on methods of preparation, origin and freshness of ingredients used.
Delicious, scales to your spice needs based on the heat of the salsa, and very filling. Also VERY inexpensive to make. Tip: Cut all of your tortillas into strips to create a Noodle effect and make the dish more filling!
This soup is easy to make and delicious to eat. I added black beans, onion/garlic/ and chilli powder and a little bit of parsley to make it look pretty. The sour *****, cheese and tortillas give it that extra kick.
K:44650v0 :65855


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A Few Rounding Errors Amongst Friends
What does cause tremendous health affects is unemployment. – Dr. James Enstrom (HT: Martinezgazette.com) The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has been caught making environmental policy based on badly flawed and intentionally dishonest estimates of PM2.5 pollution admissions. How bad is bad? Try a 340% overestimation of diesel particulate pollution levels? No way? Way!!


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Brand value: $20.3 billion
Consumer perception rank: 84
Wal-Mart is the world's largest private employer with 2.2 million employees. Wal-Mart scores poorly on consumer perception, but the retail behemoth, with $447 billion in sales, is the second largest company in the world by revenue after Royal Dutch Shell.
Photo: Getty Images


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Re: Why did Campaign for America's Future remove an article...
A blog (from "web blog") is a discussion or informational site consisting of discrete entries ("posts") typically displayed newest first. All Corrente posts are front-paged; there is no up-rate or down-rate process. Corrente posts are almost entirely community moderated. We encourage a clash of ideas, and do not encourage a clash of persons.
If you are the author of this post, see the Edit tab ad Help (and Advanced Help) for detailed documentation.
And why, especially, did CAF "remove"* an article that shreds Obama's (current) plan to treat elders to a cat food diet?** Let's start with a screen shot:
(And before moving on, I must say that -- I just have to say that -- I'm totally chuffed when "a moment of moral clarity" can't be found at "the strategy center for the progressive movement," search for it though we might. Too perfect.)
Here, for completeness, is the paragraph that contains the search string "a moment of moral clarity," from the Common Dreams re-post of the original CAF article (also at HuffPo; the original is cited by letsgetitdone at Corrente, Kos, and FDL).
Ask a Democrat: On Social Security, Which Side Are You On?
This is a moment of moral clarity. Right now there are only two sides in the Social Security debate: the side that says it's acceptable to cut benefits – in a way that raises taxes for all income except the highest – and the side that says it isn't.
It's time to ask our leaders – and ourselves – a simple question: Which side are you on?
Nancy Pelosi says she can convince most Congressional Democrats to "stick with the President" as he pursues his gratuitous and callous plan to cut Social Security benefits as part of a deficit deal – even though Social Security does not contribute to the deficit.
Excuse me: Stick with the President? What about sticking with our seniors and our veterans? What about sticking with our disabled fellow Americans? What What about sticking with the more than 4,000 children on Social Security who lost a parent in the Iraq War?
It would be irresponsible not to speculate, so and but could the underlined words have caused CAF's
censors removers to whip out their digital scissors? Questioning or criticizing "the President" -- often, the locution is "our President" -- is, after all, strongly taboo among career "progressive" tribalists.
Or could it have been the headline, which would indeed be awkward if posed to, say, "Leader" Pelosi?
So, why did "Our Future" -- whaddaya mean, "our"? -- take the post down? Inquiring minds want to know, but alas, there are no comments at their blog, so none of "us" can ask the question.
NOTE Hat tip, Avedon for the catch. Click the link -- http://blog.ourfuture.org/20121221/ask-a-democrat-on-social-security-whi... -- and you too can get an Error 404 Not Found! Here is the URL to the
censored removed article (I had to add carriage returns to make this and the next URL wrap, so take them out if you copy and paste them):
And here is the URL for the Google search:
And here is a screen shot of the Google results:
The 404 is at the very first link.
NOTE * I won't say the word "censor." But feel free to think it!
NOTE * I'm sure that in any internal editorial discussions -- if "editorial" is the word I want for a publication that is, in the end, a party organ --
censorship removal would have been couched in terms of "Not reducing the President's options," "giving the President flexibility," or possibly "wiggle room." But cutting social insurance programs shouldn't be "on the table" at all. The only rational and humane policy is: "NOT ONE PENNY OF CUTS to social insurance programs, and any cost savings returned to beneficiaries as services." After that, we can move on to lowering Social Security eligibility to 60, so more young people can get jobs, and making Social Security age neutral, so young people don't get progressively more screwed out of their retirement.
... assuming that the decision was made higher up.
probably it was.
i see they've allowed this article to stay up [so far] which calls out a pseudonymous "liberal" blogger instead of congresscritters:
otoh, the former post [that's now gone] linked to a 'call your congresscritter' phone list http://strengthensocialsecurity.org/publicstatementcallpage, while the newest post [by the same author] links to a petition site http://www.credoaction.com/campaign/senate_deal_2012/, so maybe the tactic was changed now that the congresscritters are presumably home for the holidays and not in their dc offices?
... but not on calls.
that's one i hadn't thought of.
is my guess. Whereas contacting your own Congresscritter directly causes them to pay more attention to you, the voter from their home state/district.
"I voted for him and look what he's doing! Wery Wery mad at him." Yeh, along with the gang at The Nation, CAP is just starting the whole process over again. Shock, Shock, Complain, Complain, but vote for Democrats and then put out petitions when the president and Dems are about to throw the 99% overboard, this time without even the life vests. Just a stinking manual on "How to Swim". This is tiresome. And cruel.
Hey, CAF is building a new blog and there are some problems with the redirects. Articles are appearing and then disappearing. The fact that the one you write about was widely re-posted and says CAF on it makes it clear this is the CAF position.
I am sure this particular one will reappear soon.
Meanwhile there are LOTS of posts about Social Security and chained CPI right now, many blasting any Dems who support this. (Also we published Mike Lux's "First Loyalties)
Just a few examples and only from the last 2 weeks - go to the blog and look http://blog.ourfuture.org/
The Liberal Scrooges
Social Security is Still the Third Rail (You've Been Warned)
Progressive Leaders Stand Against Social Security Cuts
Defense Lobby Wins, Middle Class Loses In Obama Debt Proposal
Progressives In Congress Say "No Deal" To Social Security Cuts
8 Deficit Reducers That Are More Ethical – And More Effective – Than the "Chained CPI"
Bumping Up To Premium Catfood
DC Elites Literally Propose Old People Eat Cat Food
Dear "Chained-CPI": When You've Lost the VFW, You've Lost America
Is Your Senator a Champion for Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid?
ALERT: Tell Congress Today: Don't Put Chains On My Social Security
Oops, I am logged in as "seeing the forest" because I have been a reader for some time, and that's my own blog. I also am a Fellow at CAF. This is Dave Johnson writing.
i was hoping it was just technical issues. i've always liked caf better than most of the other 'lefty' organizations, though even they've generally not been liberal enough in my view. glad to hear they're not consciously resorting to censorship!
This is from Isaiah Poole:
"As the editor of the OurFuture.org blog, I was as surprised as anyone when I was alerted that a post by Richard Eskow challenging Democrats on where they stand on Social Security benefits no longer appeared on our blog. I immediately inquired as to how the post was deleted. I still don't know how the post was deleted as of this writing, but I immediately had the item reposted, and it appears at this link: http://blog.ourfuture.org/?p=80580. If the writer of the Corriente item had before publishing first asked me or another member of our online team his question, "Why did Campaign for America's Future remove an article against Social Security cuts?" we would have responded in the same way, thus sparing Corriente the embarrassment of publishing an inaccurate article."


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1927 Ford Roadster "Indy Speedster V-8" - America's Most Beautiful RoadsterWritten by Brian Brennan on June 1, 2012 Contributors: Randy Lorentzen ... and then some, Bill Lindig's '27 Ford roadster
Let's start with the question most asked at this year's Grand National Roadster Show about the America's Most Beautiful Roadster recipient. "What's with the No. 3?" We asked owner Bill Lindig of Houston the same question. "What's with the No. 3?" The "Indy Speedster V-8" is a tribute to the great Indy roadsters of the past. Bill noted in his research that the No. 3 came up as the most frequent number on the winning cars. There you have it; one winning tradition begets another.
Hot rods take time—lots of time and this roadster was no different. My first "introduction" to the 2012 AMBR winner dates back almost 15 years when I first saw its highly developed makings at the 1998 Hot Rod and Performance Trade Show held in San Antonio (now in Indianapolis). It was resting within the Ford Racing and Performance booth under the watchful eye of Angelo Gimapatroni, then head of Ford Racing, who introduced us to Jackie Howerton, the owner/builder. The story on the Lindig roadster wouldn't be complete without brief recollections on Howerton's background—a hot rodders' hot rodder, he conceptualized and brought to a "strong" representation the roadster you see.
We asked Howerton about his inspiration for the roadster. "My inspiration (since I had never built a hot rod) was to build a hot rod with a style from my background as a race car driver/fabricator. I wanted to be accepted into the hot rod world and hoped that building this car would do it. I wanted to make the transition from my racing life to my new hot rod life."
Transition accomplished.
An abbreviated background on Howerton shows us that he's truly a noteworthy race car driver/builder, having moved up to and competed in the USAC ranks in the early '70s. Howerton won many races and was the Tulsa Speedway Champion, the Oklahoma City Speedway Champion, Muskogee Nationals Champion, and 5 State Champion during the 1970 season. He also won 60 feature events at Tulsa and Oklahoma City venues. He comes by his talents genetically; his dad, Angelo Howerton, was a driver in the modified and midget ranks and a midget champion during the '50s.
Moving forward the "roller" found its way to Fred Fleet. Back in 2000 Bill saw the car in its reconstructive stage and knew if the opportunity arose he would "scoop" it up, which he did in 2008. (His decision took less time than it will take you to read this sentence!)
The sometimes prickly relationship then began between Bill and Pete Chapouris. Chapouris, the president of SO-CAL with his "eye" on how a hot rod should look, is never at a loss to express his opinion. (His track record would support his choices.) Bill a self-made and extremely successful businessman is also known for his definitive likes and dislikes. (There's a great story of the Lindig/Chapouris partnership, which exists to this day, during the roadster build but we will save that for another time!) The strengths of these highly accomplished men (and hot rodders) are undoubtedly the keys behind the roadster's truly successful outcome.
We asked Bill about his current plans for the roadster and he responded. "Following a few events in SoCal I intend to bring it to our country home in Kerrville, Texas, which is in the heart of the Texas Hill Country. Fire it up and drive, drive, drive; driving it on the curvy asphalt backroads. This race car–inspired hot rod with its torsion suspension is a fantastic driver. It puts your heart in your throat."
We agree with Bill as our firsthand account will confirm.
A little over a year ago, before the car was "blown apart" for paint, I had the opportunity to experience what turned out to be a definitive ride. A "tipping point"—here was the makings of a roadster that was to compete for the highest stage honors, a beauty contest, but possessed a pedigree buried deep in the roots of a true performance legacy. With Chapouris at the controls we left the confines of the multibuilding SO-CAL digs. I was about to experience acceleration that would literally take the breath from my lungs. The acceleration of the 450hp Art Chrisman–built 353-inch aluminum small-block Ford fed by the triple play of Holley carbs, fed from the twin 5-gallon aluminum tanks, literally made it difficult to breathe, giving new meaning to "breathtaking acceleration." In today's mega-horsepower (dial in the amount you wish) era 450 isn't the end-all but couple this with a 1,925-pound roadster supported by a weight distribution of 45 percent (front) to 55 percent (rear) spread over a 110-inch wheelbase, along with a low center of gravity, and you have the makings of a retina-detaching hot rod that's both quick and fast. It handles like a race car and rides like a limo.
The exhaust note resonating from the Howerton-built and titanium ceramic-coated, by Kelli Inman, headers is a canon of sound, a repeating firing order of exhaust notes, that every hot rodder knows, understands, and thoroughly enjoys. It's truly music to a hot rodder's ears; listen to the V-8 accelerate through the gears; First leaping toward 40 mph then into Second passing 70 mph and into Third now the speed approaches triple digits and into Fourth and then Fifth. All the while the BorgWarner World Class five-speed never misses a launch through the B&M shifter in companion with the Center Force clutch package supported by an aluminum flywheel. All the while my ample backside was pressed deeper and deeper into the custom-made aluminum bucket seats covered in Ultraleather by Gabe Lopez of Gabe's Street Rod Custom Interiors. The interior was purposefully stitched in a minimalist design to emulate the race cars of the '50s and '60s. A full set of Smith gauges resides within the custom insert that's placed within the custom dash, again the classic example of less yielding more.
The fun really begins as you approach one of California's "high-speed" off-ramps; down from Fifth into Fourth a jump in rpm followed by a full-body snap and then grab at your waist from the D&J Safety lapbelts and a quick visit into Third on your way into Second all the time straining against the lapbelt. Nothing short of a race car will allow you to experience the shear excitement of a blast up and down through the gears. With great acceleration comes great braking (it better!) and this hot rod stops on command through the use of a custom-made pedal assembly that operates the Wilwood 7/8-inch master cylinder modulated by the proportioning valve upstream from the Wilwood twin-piston calipers and 12-inch drilled and vented rotors.
Regardless of the direction this hot rod is pointed the quick-release equipped and hand-wrapped steering wheel by Carl Olson and Larry Amboy works to perfection. The unique wrapping was the brainchild of Chapouris as he remembered a '20s Bentley race car while attending a Goodwood event years back. Having a great idea and implementing it are often two different scenarios but Chapouris enlisted his longtime friend (and neighbor!). Olson knew Amboy, a well-known fishing rig maker. In time Amboy was able to deliver the ideal complement to the interior with its unique and interesting presentation on a steering wheel wrap. The steering wheel rests on top of the custom column, which in turn (pun intended) directs the Halibrand 9:1 Sprint Car steering box yielding highly controlled turns. The roadster handles and rides comfortably thanks to the Howerton-fabricated parallel front torsion bar suspension based on a stainless steel axle, radius rods, tie rod, drag link, Sanders spindles, and the SO-CAL Speed Shop aluminum Speed Shocks. In back the basis for the crossbar rear suspension is a Halibrand quickie (utilizing a Watt's linkage) running in street trim with 3.78 gears through an open differential, a pair of Strange Engineering 31-spline axles, and revisiting a pair of SO-CAL Speed Shocks, Wilwood twin-piston calipers and 12-inch drilled and vented rotors.
All of this highly proven and track-tested suspension is attached to a titanium ceramic-coated frame made from 1-3/4 x 0.120-inch 4130 chromoly tubing. It was Howerton's intent to build a sprint car-like chassis with the necessary characteristics to be totally at home on the street. Again, the goal was achieved.
The greatest suspension and the best of intentions all go out the proverbial window if the wheel and tire package doesn't answer the call to performance and address the desired aesthetics. The roadsters' heritage is racing bred and to have anything less than original Indy circa-'50s Halibrand magnesium wheels with one-off bronze Rudge-style two blade knockoffs would be remiss. No "miss" here as original polished Halibrand mags are wrapped with Englebert tires, 5x16 fronts and 7x18 rears are spotted at the corners.
The chassis' sublime shine comes through the ample use of nickel plating out of the tanks of Quaker City Plating, while the highly polished aluminum one-off valve covers and air cleaner arrived from the mill of Clay Cook of C. Cook Enterprises of Erlanger, Kentucky.
Earlier paint was mentioned and it should be noted the color is PPG Mercedes-Benz Iridium Silver sprayed on my Mick Jenkins of SO-CAL Speed Shop with the graphics patiently handled by Dennis Rickleffs; additional paint support came from Juan Carrillo and Paco Castell. The roadster's skin is adorned via a combination of paint and highly polished aluminum, especially the Jerry Weeks hand-fabricated nose and Howerton grille. Weeks also masterfully applied the power hammer in shaping the bellypan and other sheetmetal. Additionally, master metal shaper Jimmy Kilroy broke out his English wheel and shaped much of the body. Look closely at the interior and you will gaze upon a combination of Weeks and Kilroy's raw hammered aluminum allowing each of us to see the old-world craftsmanship represented in the metal shaping. The SO-CAL team along with the likes of Mike Curtis, Scott "Dirty" Howard, Monty "Moose" Hutchinson, Richie Norgueria, Ryan Reed, Eric Sandoval, Robin "Silky" Silk, and Eric Vaughn performed artesian levels of fabrication.
A number of handmade items are used in conjunction with hot rod ware ,such as the Dietz headlights on removable stands and custom taillights that convey a sense of '39 Fords—the quintessential hot rod "teardrop". Arguably one of America's iconic hot rods is the Carroll Shelby Cobra, and the pair of external mirrors is genuine Cobra fare.
During the 11th hour the likes of Jon Ciauri, Jimmy "Shine", Evin and Justin Veazie all from the halls of SO-CAL gathered up their talents and assembled this year's AMBR winner. Anyone who has been involved in the final assembly of any hot rod knows the pressure is on—on time and no screw ups!
To achieve more sometimes you have to do less. The look is minimalistic but there are literally thousands of finely crafted individual components and it is this "more by less" appearance that gives this year's AMBR winner a timeless appearance. Many years from now hot rodders will stand and stare as this hot rod that will look as good then as it does now.
I asked Howerton to sum up "his" hot rod's journey, and this is what he said.
"SO-CAL did a beautiful job, and I'm so glad that Bill allowed the car to be finished first class. I'm really proud to be a part of the AMBR guys and be included in the SO-CAL legacy."
Transition accomplished.
More Photos From This Article View Slideshow
The steering wheel is quick-release (as in a race car) from the custom steering column that is linked to the Halibrand steering gear.Carl Olson and Larry Amboy provided the patience and talent required to wrap the four-spoke wheel in its unique pattern—what one might find on ocean fishing gear.Sanders spindles are wrapped with Wilwood 12-inch drilled and slotted rotors further fit with dual-piston calipers.The wheels are '50s-era Indy Halibrand magnesium wheels capped with one-off bronze Rudge-style two blade knockoffs all wrapped with Englebert rubber.


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101 Things I Learned in Architecture School
MIT Press, 2007 - Architecture - 101 pages
2008 Silver Award Winner, Architecture Category, Independent Publisher Book Awards. and Winning entry, General Trade Illustrated Category, in the 2008 New England Book Show sponsored by Bookbuilders of Boston.
This is a book that students of architecture will want to keep in the studio and in their backpacks. It is also a book they may want to keep out of view of their professors, for it expresses in clear and simple language things that tend to be murky and abstruse in the classroom. These 101 concise lessons in design, drawing, the creative process, and presentation—from the basics of "How to Draw a Line" to the complexities of color theory—provide a much-needed primer in architectural literacy, making concrete what too often is left nebulous or open-ended in the architecture curriculum. Each lesson utilizes a two-page format, with a brief explanation and an illustration that can range from diagrammatic to whimsical. The lesson on "How to Draw a Line" is illustrated by examples of good and bad lines; a lesson on the dangers of awkward floor level changes shows the television actor Dick Van Dyke in the midst of a pratfall; a discussion of the proportional differences between traditional and modern buildings features a drawing of a building split neatly in half between the two. Written by an architect and instructor who remembers well the fog of his own student days, 101 Things I Learned in Architecture School provides valuable guideposts for navigating the design studio and other classes in the architecture curriculum. Architecture graduates—from young designers to experienced practitioners—will turn to the book as well, for inspiration and a guide back to basics when solving a complex design problem.
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Easy book to pickup and read on a road trip. Very good idea on the visual reference for each theory/lesson as we know most architects tend to be visual learners. I think I will be looking back to this book to revive myself of the simple design methods ("less is more approach") when I find myself in too deep. Good read.
Review: 101 Things I Learned in Architecture SchoolUser Review - Zoha Trabelsi - Goodreads
101 Things I Learned in Architecture School It's not long, or an extensive textbook. It's really an interesting helpful book full of amazing tips! a quick read and quite literal. It isn't as "in-depth ... Read full review


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TEMPLE HILLS, Md. (WUSA) -- A teenager is in critical condition after a hit-and-run accident in Prince George's County on Thursday evening, police said.
It happened at around 6:24 p.m. on the 4700 block of Wheeler Road in Temple Hills, police said.
When police got to the scene, they saw a teenage boy in the roadway.
Witnesses say the vehicle that hit the boy left the scene without stopping.
A citizen who saw the accident, told police the striking car was a dark colored taxi cab. The citizen assisted police and went to Southern Avenue Metro station, where he helped identify the cab.
Police took the driver into custody. The driver being questioned and charges are pending.
Police did not say which cab company was involved in the incident.


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Your Guide to Fort Lauderdale Hotels
Fort Lauderdale is one of the top destinations of Southern Florida. If you are ready for a vacation full of sun and fun, then you need to book your flights to Fort Lauderdale today!
Expedia can also help you find the best rates on Fort Lauderdale hotels. We offer great deals on a variety of resorts and downtown hotels that are affordable for all budgets. Many hotels in Fort Lauderdale are on the beach. However, there are some lovely spas and luxury hotels located within walking distance off the shore. If you want to bring your dog on vacation, then we can even find you pet friendly hotels. Expedia is here to help you easily make your travel plans no matter what your budget.
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One of the top activities to do in Fort Lauderdale is to visit the Riverwalk Arts & Entertainment District. You will find markets, performers, and other things of interest here daily. Special events happen on the weekend providing fun for the whole family. Fort Lauderdale used to be the top destination for Spring Breakers in the 1960's. However, it has evolved into a well loved destination for people of all ages. If you love a relaxed beach side atmosphere, then Fort Lauderdale is exactly where you need to go. You can still escape this bit of paradise and set of to one of the many cruises from Fort Lauderdale, but you certainly don't have to.
Hotels Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Hotels in Fort Lauderdale, FL are available at a variety of price points. Expedia will help you find the perfect match for your family. You can check out the reviews of airport hotels or luxury resorts. The honest opinions of people who trust and use our site will help you make a better decision about your hotel.
Book Fort Lauderdale Vacations With Expedia!
Expedia can help you finalize all of your travel plans from managing car rentals to booking 5 star hotels. We offer incredible deals on the best beach hotels in the area. You will be able to stay in a luxurious resort with special activities developed just for kids, and spa days designed especially for adults. If you want a relaxing and fun vacation, then Fort Lauderdale is a great place to go.


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Everyone deserves a whiter, brighter and healthier smile. In the past, having pearly whites meant expensive in-office whitening treatments or awkward at-home applications. Today, Supersmile offers effective, affordable whitening alternatives. Created by the father of aesthetic dentistry, Dr. Irwin Smigel, Supersmile boasts scientifically advanced whitening ingredients. This includes the patented Calprox technology, which safely lifts surface stains from teeth by removing the protein pellicle, the film that bacteria and plaque adhere to. Offering an impressive variety of convenient, fast-acting products, the entire Supersmile line works on all types of teeth: natural teeth, veneers, teeth with braces, caps and dentures.
Whitening toothpastes might be a staple in toothpaste aisles nationwide today, but this innovative concept started with one brand: Supersmile. The company launched in 1987, and a whitening toothpaste that founder Dr. Irwin Smigel first made exclusively for his patients helped to create a brand that has since become the Number One Whitening System recommended by cosmetic dentists nationwide. Although whitening toothpaste gave Supersmile its start more than two decades ago, the company has now expanded its product line to offer a variety of products to brighten your smile.
Supersmile recognizes the importance of effective dental hygiene and wants to educate its customers in addition to providing them with whitening products. Proper oral care varies for every individual—some people might face conditions such as gingivitis, while others might have sensitive teeth that do not respond well to many whitening treatments. Understanding more about these conditions is made simple by Supersmile, helping its customers discover the right products for their unique needs. In addition to offering important customer education, Supersmile stands behind its clinically proven Calprox technology, a safe alternative to other harsh whitening treatments on the market. In fact, Supersmile prides itself in the fact that Calprox, while innovative, remains gentle on your teeth. You want a whiter and brighter smile, but not at the risk of your overall oral hygiene. When you choose Supersmile, you can discover the benefits of effective whitening without any discomfort or damage. Check out the line of Supersmile products available at SkinStore to find the right ones to add to your daily dental hygiene routine today.


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May 31, 2016
Three freshmen attending the University of Mississippi have been charged with five violations in connection with racial and other graffiti inside a men's residence hall Nov. 6. All three are African Americans. A university spokesman put a positive spin on the developments.
"Our responsibility is to help students grow and mature and become wiser, better human beings," said university spokesman Jeff Alford. "And that opportunity clearly exists here now for the whole experience. For people to learn something very valuable that we hope will change their lives for the better."
The students have been instructed to appear before the university judicial council in January.
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Results tagged ' Royals in the Community '
Royals Autograph Opportunities…
Do you have a blank baseball just sitting around waiting to be signed?
Well, we can help you take care of that with three perfect opportunities to meet some of your favorite Royals!
Saturday, May 10: Meet Billy Butler and David DeJesus at Sprint!
Prior to heading out to Kauffman Stadium for the 6:10 p.m. game against Baltimore, two of Kansas City's young stars – Billy Butler and David DeJesus – will meet fans and sign autographs at the new Sprint store at The Legends at Village West in Kansas City, Kan. DeJesus will appear from 11 a.m. to noon with Butler following from noon to 1 p.m.
Sunday, May 11: Autograph Afternoon at The K!
Taking a break from their pregame routine, select Royals players head out into the stands along the first base line to meet fans and sign autographs from 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. For the first Autograph Afternoon of the season, fans met John Bale, Butler, Luke Hochevar, Ron Mahay and Manager Trey Hillman…come out on Sunday (with your mom!) to see who will be signing this time!
Monday, May 12: Gloves For Kids at Dick's Sporting Goods
Join Royals broadcaster Ryan Lefebvre and current Royals for Gloves For Kids at Dick's Sporting Goods in the Town Center Plaza (11801 Nall Ave. in Leawood, Kan.) from 6-8 p.m. A $20 donation will go directly to the purchasing of new baseball gloves and baseball equipment for area youth baseball players. Each fan that donates at least $20 will receive a $5 gift certificate for Dick's Sporting Goods.
The players scheduled to sign include Brian Bannister, John Buck, Butler, DeJesus, Alex Gordon, Tony Pena, Jr., and Mark Teahen (players subject to change). Just a heads up…One group of Royals players will sign from 6-7 p.m. and the other from 7-8 p.m. A $20 donation is required for each session.
So…at least three great opportunities to see your Boys in Blue out and about this weekend (and Monday!). Hope to see you at one…or all three!
For more info on the Royals appearances and efforts in the community check out royals.com/community.


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Warshing Dishes n' Spitting Coffee
If a "blog" is supposed to reflect real everyday life, then between every post about coffee there would have to be a post about washing dishes. A good part of cupping is washing dishes. I spend a LOT of time washing dishes, and spittoons, and dumping the grind thing over the spittoon, which gets really gross. Since I think, next the average coffee roaster shop, we cup a lot, we generate a lot of dishes, a lot of spent grounds, a lot of full spittoons. Gross, yes, but that's the way it goes. I think we might be on par with some green brokers/importers on daily cupping chores, and they usually have someone tasked with cleanup. I pity that person. On the plus side, I am headed to Ethiopia on Saturday, to Dire Dawa and Harar region first, then to Yirgacheffe and Sidamo. After that I will be in Kenya. More on that later... for now, it's just cupping and spittoons around here.
|From Interesting Images


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3 Ways to Save $300 With the New iPhone
The early numbers are in, and they're impressive: Apple has sold more than 4 million iPhone 4S handsets during its first three days on the market. And buying a 4S could actually be a smart money move. Unlike past iPhones, the 4S isn't just another well-designed handset -- this one promises tangible productivity gains that could save some serious moola.


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Doesn't the manual somewhere list the MIL codes? I would think it should... what's the point in having user-accessible diagnostics if they don't let you know what they are?
Computer controll engine, is not an end all for trouble shooting. You will not get a "light' for a verity of possible malfunctions IE bad TCI, fuel pump not pumping, oil leaks, loose wires.You still need to go back to basics, then check codes. Oh this works for cars too.
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