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Quinn Essential
Jerry Hicks | Photo: Anaïs & Dax | October 28, 2013
Whether on a food truck, a TV show or in his restaurants, this local chef's on a mission to create the perfect meal.
Jason Quinn's just 27, but his rise in the food industry has been going at high speed. He owns two restaurants in downtown Santa Ana. He was the winner of The Great Food Truck Race on the Food Network two years ago. And he'll soon be a judge on a new MTV show called Snackdown. The fast-talking chef is quick to discuss his tattoos—they range from a Picasso to a space launch—and his love of high-quality food. He taste-tests everything and is lavish with compliments when his staff has done well. Quinn's Playground DTSA (playgrounddtsa.com) is jammed at night. And his latest pride is 2.0, the tiny pop-up just behind it. That's where we caught up with him.
Is it true that TV changes your life?
It didn't change me, but it made things so much easier when we started Playground. People knew about us because of TV.
Did you use your share of the winnings to open your first restaurant?
My share was about $27,000. You can spend that in like five minutes. That money just helped us get some nicer plates and better equipment.
In two years, you've gone from food-truck neophyte to expert judge on a national cooking show. Are you excited about that?
I am. The MTV people just called out of the blue. I think they liked that I was young and knew food and had something to say to their audience. This is the first time MTV has tried a reality cooking show, but I think it's going to be great.
When can we see it?
We start shooting in December, and it takes about three months to edit, so probably sometime in the spring.
Did you always want to be in the restaurant business?
I knew early on. I graduated from UC Santa Barbara as a history major. I saw that as the best way to just get through school and get my degree so I could do what I really wanted to do.
You're basically self-taught as a chef, aren't you?
Yeah, but you always learn from others. And you learn from your mistakes. But you correct those errors, and that's how you learn to be creative.
So what makes a perfect meal?
Really high-quality ingredients treated simply, the right mix of temperatures on the plate, texture and technique.
Does your wife, Hillary, work with you?
Yes, she's over at the Playground right now.
Did you have a partner in the Playground?
My father [Robert]. He's a lawyer, and he knows everything about dealing with city regulations. I know food, but he knows how to deal with issues. I couldn't have done it without him.
Why'd you open 2.0?
It's an expensive dining experience. Many of our dinners are $200 per person. But the goal is to have your customers leave here thinking they'd just had the most perfect meal of their lives. It takes six and a half hours for us to put together that night's dinner, but that's what I love to do: Try to create the perfect meal.


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17 November 2012
Photo: Paul Zimmer/Martin SidorjakRadek Stepanek (CZE) and Tomas Berdych (CZE)
PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC: United States apart, few countries around the world can rely on a point from the doubles rubber with the same confidence as Czech Republic. The match-up on day two of this Davis Cup by BNP Paribas Final, however, looked fraught with difficulties for Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek against a successful new Spanish combination. We should have known better.
That old maxim in tennis about top singles players - particularly those who play regularly together - normally being too good for doubles specialists was reconfirmed as the Czech duo beat Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez 36 75 75 63 to score their 12th win in 13 rubbers but more importantly take a 2-1 lead into the final day of this 100th final.
Any idea that they are within touching distance of their first title since their one and only success in 1980, when they went by the name of Czechoslovakia, however, would be a big mistake. One point can never have seemed so far away.
The subdued, almost tetchy manner of the Czech players afterwards told one that they knew only too well they still have it all to do: only a fool would take victory over David Ferrer for granted and that goes for better players than the Czech No. 1 Berdych. While the recuperative powers of this two-man team will be sorely examined like it never has been before, the outcome of this final will probably be determined more by brain than brawn and possibly a little know-how, too.
If Ferrer does manage to maintain his winning 5-3 record over Berdych in Sunday's opening rubber, the deciding rubber promises to be a nerve-jangling affair. The wily old Stepanek, who has played more than three times as many Davis Cup ties as his scheduled opponent Nicolas Almagro, wasted no time in getting to work on the mind games.
"Yesterday he played very well against Tomas but they already had a point in their locker room so he played very freely," he said. "When it comes to the last rubber it will be a completely different story."
Initially, in Saturday's doubles, it looked as if the Spanish pair would transfer their excellent form at London's O2 Arena, where they won the Barclays ATP World Tour doubles finals last week, to Prague's slightly smaller version of the same venue when they took the first set with ridiculous ease.
There were concerns, from the home side's point of view, that Stepanek's nightmare start on day one was about to continue on day two as he served two double faults to concede his opening service game. Berdych just felt it was a matter of getting used to a different style of play than they're used to.
Their plan of targeting Lopez was probably well conceived but didn't look like producing dividends as long as the man alongside him – Granollers – continued his inspired form. The Czechs eventually managed to break Lopez in the fourth game of the second set by punishing a second serve that was sometimes less than 80 mph, but Spain promptly broke back.
The set remained in doubt until the 12th game when the Czechs forced three break points on the Lopez serve. The Spanish saved all three but then capitulated on a fourth. Even in defeat, Spain knew that they could score a victory, by fully extending the Czechs prior to another heavy work load on Sunday and kept level pegging with them through the third set until they succumbed again in the 12th game.
But they couldn't sustain their effort in the fourth set when what Stepanek referred to as "something extra" in the game of top singles players clearly separated them from the Spanish, although after all his success in the doubles game this year he might almost see himself as a doubles specialist now.
Ferrer and Almagro can be relied upon to pose them a more stern examination. Berdych is obviously thinking positively and was not about to entertain the negative thoughts of a Spanish journalist, whose question in English left a little to be desired.
"Radek," the journalist asked, "with the possibility of Tomas losing against Ferrer high..."
Not surprisingly, he never got to finish his question, but if Stepanek shows the same alacrity he demonstrated in intercepting the question in the final rubber the Davis Cup could be theirs.
Follow this tie as it happens: Live scores or Watch Live
16 Nov 2012
David Ferrer defeats Radek Stepanek 63 64 64 in the opening rubber of the 100th Final proving why he is the leading man of the men's game this season
Czech No. 1 Tomas Berdych wins 63 36 63 67(5) 63 in just under four hours against Nicolas Almagro to level the tie at 1-1 on the first day
17 Nov 2012
The Czech duo of Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek defeat Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez 36 75 75 63 to take a 2-1 lead into the final day in Prague
Czech Republic
16 Nov 2012 - 18 Nov 2012
View details
Czech Republic
Tomas BERDYCH (CZE)
Marcel GRANOLLERS (ESP)
Radek STEPANEK (CZE)
Marc LOPEZ (ESP)
O2 Arena, Prague, Czech Republic
Full details
Niki Pilic receives his Davis Cup Commitment Award at the
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subset: commoncrawl


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Despite Her Early Success, Humbled Becky Stoyle Strives For More
March 26, 2013
AMHERST, Mass. - In an age when basketball and football dominate the sports headlines across most college campuses, track and field is a sport that usually takes a back seat.
That is, until athletes like Becky Stoyle make some noise and jump their way onto the scene -- literally.
Stoyle, a sophomore and Pembroke, Mass., native, made a name for herself this past indoor season, registering historic performances week after week as a key member of the Massachusetts women's track and field team. Her recent streak of dominance in the triple jump -- the event described by UMass coach Julie LaFreniere as arguably the hardest in the sport -- has turned some heads, and has helped to start putting track and field back on the map.
Stoyle recently became the first Minutewoman since 2005 to win the gold medal in her respective event at both the Atlantic 10 and New England Championships in the same season. At the A-10s, her jump of 41 feet, 1 inch, set not only her personal best mark, but also broke the program and the conference's all-time indoor triple jump record. A bronze medal at the ECAC Championships and a third consecutive UMass Athlete of the Week award topped off her unforgettable season-ending ride.
While Stoyle recognizes the importance of her record-breaking jumps and the hard work that's gone into accomplishing such feats, she is still far from settled.
"I'm still not satisfied with what I've done," Stoyle said. "I want to jump a lot farther than 41 feet. Thinking about what I'm even more capable of, I know I can do better."
Assistant coach David Jackson, who works individually with the jumpers at practice, knew from the first day Stoyle stepped on the practice field her talent level was record-worthy.
"It was known and expected from her coming into college that, as long as she stayed healthy, there's no reason that she wouldn't break the records," Jackson said. "I think she's going to be one of the best jumpers to ever come out of here by the time she's done."
Creating a champion
Coming out of high school, Stoyle had to make the difficult transition from training on her own to working full-time with a coach.
"Coach Jackson made jumping an actual workout," she said.
Prior to college, Stoyle had no jumping coaches to point out mistakes in her form or tell her what she was doing right. She had to teach herself. Under the tutelage of Jackson at UMass, Stoyle quickly learned that, although the training is taken to another level, it pays dividends in the end.
"Adjusting was a lot harder, but it was also better, so I liked it more," Stoyle said. "I focused on the specifics, and that's why I've excelled and done so well to this point because my training has not only become better, but it forced me to become better."
LaFreniere was "surprised" that Stoyle was able to reach her current level of competition in such a short amount of time. Stoyle's ability to handle the challenges of becoming stronger, faster and better at her techniques without taking that "inevitable starting-off dip" that most younger athletes endure, is a tribute to not only her physical toughness, but even more importantly, her strong mental capacity.
"When you pile all of those obstacles that early on an athlete, they might take a step back or two," LaFreniere said. "But she didn't. Partly because mentally, she's got it."
Another one of the essential factors that Stoyle's "got" is competitiveness. There's never been a question about her commitment to success in anything she's done, let alone on the track field. In high school, people used to be afraid of her because of the "apparent dirty looks" on her face all the time. Her mentality of "hating to lose" is what she believes contributes to her success.
"I consider myself a competitive person in everything," she said. "I think that's why in track I'm so competitive. Even the small things, I just like to be the best at what I do."
Jackson agrees.
"(Even at practice) she just gets frustrated more than the other athletes," Jackson said. "She knows she can do so much better, so when she doesn't (perform to her ability), she lets herself know it."
When the lights are on at big-time meets such as the A-10s and New Englands, Stoyle has a hard time focusing on anything but her event. The combination of sleepless nights, planning out every move in her head and training her body to be in the best possible shape add up to a week full of continuous stress leading up to a meet.
Although she loathes the week of stress before top-level competition and all the grinding circumstances that come with it, Stoyle does, in fact, find a silver lining in the tiresome process.
"It gets me really pumped up and I know I need to do big things," Stoyle said. "Although the stress is bad, it's what gets me really focused. That's why I performed my best, because I knew that I had to do."
Stoyle's knack for coming up big in pressure moments is something her coaches praise her for.
"When it comes down to it, she performs when it's time to perform, and that's one thing you can't coach," Jackson said.
Added LaFreniere about Stoyle's recent success: "Some athletes make it to the finals and their fatigue stops them from sustaining their performances. Becky did the opposite, and excelled in her last three events."
Not done yet
While all of the individual success Stoyle achieves on the field is what earns the publicity, she is not one to make everything about herself. She believes it has as much to do with her team than anything.
Stoyle credits the culture of the team -- the coaching, the athletes, the atmosphere -- as a main reason why she chose to come to UMass. LaFreniere said she "couldn't afford to lose her" back when she was recruiting Stoyle and it turned out the team she built helped aid in that cause.
"I knew that this is the place I would probably fit and do the best," Stoyle said. "The team is my kind of people. We all know what we want, and what each other need to do, so we're all supportive of one another.
"Without the support of my team and my coaches, none of this would be possible. They have a lot to do with my success, it's not just me."
With a historic indoor season under her belt, Stoyle must now turn the page and prepare for the outdoor meets that begin on April 6. While it's hard to look past all of the accolades, Stoyle understands that there are bigger and better things left to accomplish in the future.
"I don't want to take any steps back," she said. "There are still records I can break, and that's motivating."
While Stoyle's body of work as only a sophomore would be considered an illustrious collegiate career for most other athletes, LaFreniere believes that this past season was only one step into a very bright future and her best is yet to come.
"You're going to be hearing a lot more from her over the next two years," LaFreniere said.
"She's just getting started."
Joey Saade can be reached at email@example.com and followed on Twitter @Jsaade1225.
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Some jokes were better than others as President Obama and television personality Joel McHale told jokes last night, May 3, 2014 at the 100th annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner at the Washington Hilton. The audience consisted of approximately 2,600 members of Congress, celebrities and media.
McHale headlined jammed the President about not closing Guantanamo Bay as he had promised. It was hard to tell if that joke hit home with the President or not as he continued to pour his tea during its delivery. McHale said, "My favorite was when you said you'd close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay. That was hilarious."
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie was at the dinner which offered McHale the line, "Governor, do you want bridge jokes or size jokes? 'Cause I've got a bunch of both. I could go half and half. I know you like a combo platter. Now, I get that. I'm sorry for that joke, Governor Christie. I didn't know I was going to tell it but I take full responsibility for it. Whoever wrote it, will be fired. But the buck stops here. So, I will be a man and own up to it, just as soon as I get to the bottom of how it happened because I was unaware it happened until just now. I am appointing a blue-ribbon commission of me to investigate the joke I just told and if I find any wrongdoing on my part, I assure you I will be dealt with. I just looked into it. It turns out I'm not responsible for it. Justice has been served."
McHale also offered this one about Bill Clinton, "Hillary's daughter, Chelsea, is pregnant, which means in nine months we will officially have a sequel to "Bad Grandpa." It also raises the question: When the baby is born, do you give Bill Clinton a cigar?" And this about Nancy Pelosi, "I'm not going to spoil the shocking twist on "House of Cards," but just know that it was so surprising that Nancy Pelosi's face almost changed expression. Did you like that one, Nancy? I can't tell."
Obama's joke of the NSA tracking everything American's do did not do as well, especially after relating to Colorado's marijuana legalization as a "social experiment." Libertarians would say the social experiment known as the "War on Drugs" hasn't gone quite as well. At another time during President Obama's segment, the televisions went out, and he calls out for anyone that could possibly help. Out came former Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, which was not as funny as Obama's other comedic lines. He did deliver well with, "Yes, I am happy to be here, even though I am a little jet-lagged from my trip to Malaysia. The lengths we have to go to to get CNN coverage these days! I think they are still searching for their table {at the dinner]." Obama surprising took a jab at MSNBC and their low ratings as well, saying, "I think they're a little overwhelmed. They've never seen an audience this big before" referring to the crowd of 2,600 at the dinner.
The dinner has become more commercialized over the years with product placement seemingly everywhere and celebrities brazenly promoting their shows. At one point, the televisions at the dinner had the logo of animated movie 'Frozen' on them. HBO's 'VEEP' organized to get coverage with star Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who play the Vice President on the show with the real Vice President of the United States, Joe Biden. There was much talk last night of the lack of A-list celebrities not being at the dinner, however the evening went well. The main purpose of the annual event is to raise money to go toward scholarships for aspiring journalists and awards recognizing excellence in the profession.
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Two hurt in City Heights attack, 1 arrested
SAN DIEGO - A group of men waiting for a taxi cab were attacked on a City Heights street early Monday morning.
According to San Diego police, three men visiting the area from Colorado had just left a nearby restaurant and were waiting for a cab in the 4700 block of University Avenue at about 3:30 a.m. when they were approached by another group of men who assaulted them.
One of the victims was stabbed in the head, police said. In total, two people were taken to nearby hospitals. Their conditions were not confirmed.
The circumstances that led up to the attack were not clear. One of the men in the group described the actions of their alleged attackers to 10News.
"He was screaming and yelling, and they started fighting and hitting and punching," Molla Robso said.
A 46-year-old man accused in the stabbing was later arrested on charges of assault with a deadly weapon.


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Science Library, Creswick
An extensive research and teaching collection of books, reports, proceedings in the areas of forest science and related subjects.
Periodical collection
The periodical collection includes a large range of national and international journals on forest science and related disciplines in both print and electronic form.
Creswick Special collection
The Creswick Special Collection includes a range of historic books on forestry and related disciplines that were published in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.


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Sterling College Announces New Vice President for Academic Affairs
Sterling College is pleased to announce the hiring of Dr. Gregory P. Kerr as its vice president for academic affairs. Dr. Kerr comes to Sterling from Bluefield College in Bluefield, Va., where he has served as the chair of the Division of Science and Mathematics and as interim vice president for academic affairs. He will assume duties at Sterling on July 1.
"It is hard to overstate the importance of this position," said Sterling College President Dr. Paul J. Maurer. "We received forty applications for this position from across the country. Dr. Kerr stood out among many highly qualified candidates. His academic credentials are impressive, and in his experience as an interim vice president for academic affairs, he implemented numerous positive changes. I am delighted and excited that Dr. Kerr will serve with us at Sterling College."
As the interim vice president at Bluefield from May 2008 to June 30, 2009, Dr. Kerr administered an academic program consisting of 20 undergraduate majors; served on the president's leadership team; and planned, implemented and monitored an academic budget in excess of $3 million. He also negotiated articulation agreements with the Virginia Community College System and served as the accreditation liaison for the Commission on Colleges/Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).
Dr. Kerr was appointed as the chair of Bluefield's Division of Science and Mathematics in November 1999. He has built a successful biology program at Bluefield; more than 70% of its graduates have earned advanced degrees, and more than 40% of its graduates from 1997 to the present are in or have completed doctoral programs. He added a Forensic Science Program developed primarily from existing coursework, and he led the integration of Christian service with academic preparation of pre-health professions students.
Dr. Kerr earned his B.S. in Plant Science from Cornell University in 1981; his M.S. in Horticulture from Colorado State University in 1983; and his Ph.D. in Plant Physiology from the University of Minnesota, St. Paul, in 1988. His professional experience includes being a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Minnesota; an adjunct professor at Southwest Virginia Community College; and an adjunct associate professor at Patrick Henry College.
Dr. Kerr and his wife Cheryl have four children: Laura, Melissa, Timothy and Emily. They are actively involved in Covenant Baptist Church in Princeton, W.Va.


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West Virginia Coach Dana Holgorsen made his third change to the coaching staff this offseason when he dismissed Steve Dunlap on Saturday.
Dunlap, the associate head coach and special teams coordinator, was the last holdover from the coaching staff Holgorsen joined as the offensive coordinator and head coach-in-waiting in December 2010. Holgorsen retained Dunlap last season after three defensive assistants left the school for jobs at Arizona and repositioned Dunlap with special teams. He had been safeties coach.
WVU's athletic department confirmed the move, but has not announced it. A source told the Charleston Daily Mail that Dunlap has been offered an alternate position of employment with the university and it's up to Dunlap to accept and remain at his alma mater or move on to his next job.
Full Article at: Charleston Daily Mail


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Theater Ninjas describes itself as "…the Food Truck of Cleveland Theater, who as a nomadic company seeks out new and exciting spaces to perform". One thing should be added to this description…as with Cleveland Food Trucks, Theater Ninjas tends to serve up surprisingly tasty gourmet treats for their legion of fans. It also takes a bit more effort to locate a Theater Ninjas performance but when done it is usually well worth the effort.
Thus it is with "[sic]", the new 80 minute production now showing at 78th Street Studios. The title is taken from the Latin term "thus" meaning "as is" meaning these are the friends that I have ended up with thus everything is as it is or should be in spite of the problems associated. The play is written by Melissa James Gibson and wonderfully directed by Pandora Robertson. The "theater" is actually a shared open space of various artist studios that has been converted into a legitimate stage with seating for around 40. The Ninja team has put a lot of effort in constructing the set; it consists of three tiny "apartment spaces" on slanted platforms with chairs, tables, dressers and various props as well as a window in each apartment that figures into the story at various times.
The apartments belong to three people who have been thrown together as friends against the big bad city. Babette (Lee Kolis) is an author in the "obscure genre" currently working on a book about the Guttenberg Bible. She recently slept with Theo (Ryan Lucas), but claims she was drunk at the time. Theo recently lost his wife (she is not dead, just "lost") and is experiencing writers block while trying to compose a jingle for a roller coaster theme song. Theo has decided to take his friendship with Babette to a much higher level in spite of Babette's protests. Babette is constantly hitting up Theo for money of which he is a soft touch for. Frank (Gabriel Riazi) recently broke up with Larry (whom we never see) who is friends with Babette and Theo. His dream is to travel to Kansas City to take a course in professional auctioneering. Recently he has been having erotic dreams about Theo. Then there is the mystery couple (Michael Prosen as the Man's Voice and Courtney Nicole Auman as the Woman's Voice) who appear as shadows on a white screen behind the set every time someone opens a window to eavesdrop. They are on the verge of separation.
As with all mad-cap comedies, the strength is in the dialog and this is where "[sic]" shines. There is "over-talk" with all three characters speaking different phrases at once, there is "sync-talk" where two characters say the same phrases in unison to a third person and there is Frank rehearsing his auctioneering skills with weird nonsense tongue twisting phrases that he repeats throughout the play.
In short, it is a play about how we do not necessarily "pick" our friends as assemble them from kit form and while not a perfect arrangement, it is good enough to help us survive on a day to day basis.
Prude Alert: There is some language as well as sexual reference. If your desire to be comically entertained is outweighed by your sensitivities, then you may wish to avoid this show.
Shooting From The Lip (My Last Words): Theater Ninjas' "[sic]" now playing at 78th Street Studios is a collection of comic vignettes put together in a loose story line that is sure to delight everyone. It is sharply written as well as sharply performed by a very able cast. Take the time to seek this one out (clue: go to 78th Street Studios at 1300 78th Street, Cleveland, Ohio and follow the signs to the second floor). You will be richly rewarded for your effort.
The Cast and Crew
Written by Melissa James Gibson, Directed by Pandora Robertson, Starring Courtney Nicole Auman, Rachel Lee Kolis, Ryan Lucas, Michael Prosen and Gabriel Riazi.
Lighting Design by Gregory Falcione, Costume Design by Stephanie Fisher, Set Design by Val Kozlenko, Original Composition by Michael Bratt.
"[sic]" will be performed through March 15, 2014 on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays & Mondays at 8:00 p.m. at 78th Street Studios, 1300 West 78th St., Second Floor, Cleveland, OH 44102
For tickets go to www.squareup.com/market/theater-ninjas
General Admission: $20
Thursdays & Mondays: $10
Under 25/Over 75: $15
Follow Theater Ninjas:
Twitter: http://twitter.com/theaterninjas #sic
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheaterNinjas


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Instructor of Dance, Interlochen Arts Camp
Dayton Ballet
B.F.A., Ballet, University of Cincinnati
Marcia Hetrick is from Carmel, Indiana and began dancing at age 13, training with Central Indiana Dance Ensemble. Marcia attended the University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music, pursuing a double major in piano performance and ballet. Her love of ballet led her to focus solely on it where, in 2011, she graduated Summa Cum Laude with a B.F.A. in Ballet. Marcia has danced professionally with Kentucky Ballet Theatre, Ballet Theatre Midwest, North Carolina Dance Theatre, Ballet Montana, and Traverse City Dance Project. Currently, Ms. Hetrick is in her fifth season with Dayton Ballet. Some of her favorite roles include "Bourree" from Stuart Sebastian's Mozart Dances, Principal Ballerina in Gerald Arpino's Birthday Variations, Lead Turkish Delight in Karen Russo Burke's The Nutcracker, "Danny Diamond Pas" in Stephen Mills' Five Flights Up, "Nervous Waltz Pas" in Stephen Mill's Fast Company, Le Corsaire Pas de Deux, Spring Waters Pas de Deux, and White Swan Pas de Deux. In contrast to her ballet career, Marcia is also a licensed Zumba® instructor and loves helping others dance into a healthy lifestyle! She thanks her family for their continual love and support.


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Alternate reality (AR) covers can feature elements of time travel, ghosts, or sexy vampires, or fantastic or magical themes. One thing many voters mentioned when they made their selection was that they wanted the cover to reflect the content; they felt that an alternate reality book ought to be easily identifiable by its cover. Ironically, AR's coverhead Jaycee sees AR trends going in the opposite direction:
"In AR, the direction seems to be leaning more toward the traditional clinch or hero/heroine alone without a lot of AR elements. Leisure is one of the few publishers who doesn't seem to fear a cover being labeled AR, though they do occasionally fall back on what I call the 'safe and sound' covers - the more traditional clinch. I'm pleasantly surprised that the new Harlequin TimeTwists do have an AR appearance, even if it's mostly the feeling of being caught in a timetunnel, being swept away to another time and place. Why publishers are so leery of having the cover strongly reflect the story I don't know, but it's clear by the winner of this year's contest that it's what readers prefer. One can only hope someone out there in publication land is listening and paying attention. <g>"
Nonetheless, the covers on the AR slate are varied, and their appeal is pretty broad. Voting was quite competitive in this category, and the covers in the 4-8 spots are separated by less than twenty votes.
The winning cover was Twilight Hunger, which voters found spooky, eerie and otherworldly - exactly what they want to see on an AR book.
Malvina thought it was " . . .eerie, creepy and definitely arresting. The eyes looking out over the silhouetted woods, and the moon and the mist - it all adds to the otherworldly air. Definitely a chiller thriller romance."
AAR's Liz Zink reviewed the book in ARC form and now wishes she had one with a cover. She especially liked the woman's face entwined with the branches.
It was Kestra's choice as well: "The eyes have it. The way they look out over the title, through the branches, under the moon, gives me a chill already."
The second place cover was Dark Legend. Quite a few who chose this cover mentioned their admiration for cover artist John Ennis.
Sandra chose this cover and mentioned that she had yet to see an Ennis cover that she didn't like.
Gillian liked that it had both AR and romance elements: "Some of these covers, while very pretty, don't feel like romances to me. This one is luscious and gorgeous in its use of colors, while the typeface successfully conveys the Gothic/paranormal elements."
AAR reviewer and Coverballot member Jennifer also made it her choice: "There's something wonderful and tactile about this image. You can see the sleek softness of her hair and the smoothness of her skin. A really beautiful piece of art that makes me stop, look, and want to read the book."
The third place Never After was much admired for its fairy tale look. Nearly half the voters who left comments about it compared it to either a fairy tale or an illuminated manuscript.
Diana subscribed to the illuminated manuscript theory: "I love this one! Are you sure it wasn't done by monks working by candlelight?" Both Dianne and Roxanne chose it because it reminded them of fairy tale books from childhood.
This cover was also very popular with the coverballot committee; several members voted for it, including cover head Jaycee: "It embodies everything an AR cover should be. The magical, mystical qualities of this cover just scream AR. ...Both covers on the Shayne books are definitely AR, as is Call of the Moon and Scandalous Spirits (which would get my second vote were it allowed
In fourth place was At Twilight. Like Twilight Hunger, it's a cover for a Maggie Shayne vampire book, and those who voted for it had similar comments. They liked the eerie, otherworldly feel and found it very appropriate for the genre. Cheng-Chen called it a "great combination of beauty and dreamland."
Former cover maven Carol was very impressed with this cover: "This is the best piece of art so far in my voting. It looks as if it could have been done by Dave McKean, it is that good. I'm sure it wasn't (since he only works for superstars like Neil Gaiman) but it has that look to it. Right behind it is the author's other book Twilight Hunger but the woman's face is too much like a cosmetics ad so it isn't quite as good." I also voted for this one, although I had a very tough time choosing in this category (and nearly went for My Enchanted Enemy instead). In the end I was most impressed by At Twilight's eerie appeal.
Speculation Press
Realm of Shadows was the fifth place choice. Those who chose it liked the spooky feeling it conveyed, and they also liked the way the artwork complemented the foreboding book title.
Janez thought it was perfect for an AR book, and added, "The cover makes me think of vampires and werewolves without even opening the book." Angie like the "shadowy, nocturnal quality." Bina isn't usually a reader of AR romances, but sometimes finds the covers so enchanting that she'd like to give them a try. She loved the spooky feeling of the cover and thought it sounded perfect for an AR book.
My Enchanted Enemy came in sixth. Voters loved the colors and the eerie, mystical sea. AAR's Leigh chose it after considering Twilight Hunger and Call of the Moon, because she found it fascinating to look at.
Carolyn, an admitted sucker for seascapes, found the cover enchanting: "The violet and purple hues with the castle and moon in the background and the highlighting of the waves hitting the rocks all form a vivid seascape. The special lighting and nighttime hues make this a gorgeously painted cover." It also suited Jess perfectly: "Of the nominees, My Enchanted Enemy has the cleanest look. I don't like frou-frou, misty, ghoulish covers at all. This cover clues the reader in that the book is AR/Paranormal without it looking silly."
Love Spell
The seventh place choice was Whispers in the Stars, which appears to be a cover that did its job; several readers mentioned that they had bought the book because they loved the cover, and were pleased that they enjoyed the book itself.
Goldie was one such reader: "I did buy this book and loved it. Why did I buy it? The cover! The cover made a promise to me the buyer which the story delivered."
Cindy was also a fan of both book and cover: "This cover is really beautiful and draws you into the story. The heroine is surrounded by the sky and stars. Very appropriate. Beautiful colors and evokes a sense of mystery, love, and other reality. Patricia Waddell writes beautiful stories on other worlds, so this continues to typify her style and story." Amy thought the cover was perfect for the title because "even the image seems to whisper."
Love Spell
In eighth place was the werewolf cover, Call of the Moon. Those who chose it thought it was sensual and sexy. Theresa thought it really conveyed "the darker side of romance," and Linda chose it because she simply loved the wolf.
Jeanette really found herself drawn into the scene: "You can see and feel the moonlight on your body, feel and smell the night air on your face, hear the wolf's howl in your blood and taste the dampness in the air you breathe. This one affects all my senses."
Come Midnight was voter's ninth place cover, and many voters praised its atmosphere. Suzanne said, "I had never heard of the book, but looking at the cover made me want to find out more about it; it contains a good blend of romance, tension, and danger."
Nana found it mysterious and intriguing. She added, "The atmosphere of the cover is so vivid - the clock striking midnight just as the lightning flashes, the man's head cocked as though he's just heard something and the woman trying to regain his attention."
Rounding out the slate was tenth place Scandalous Spirits, the only e-book cover in the contest. Those who chose it found it refreshing and different.
Lee thought too many of the other covers were almost interchangeable, and for her this one struck just the right note: "It was love at first sight. The cover looks a wee bit 'scandalous' and has just a hint of humor." Barbara thought that it "evokes the imagination before you even know what the book is about."


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Dress: Maria Nicolle | Heels: Celine | Bag: Paris Hilton
This dress has been in my closet for months since the time I got it. I was waiting for the perfect occasion to wear this. Actually this is from the clothing line of a long time friend which as you can see is named after her. I wanted to wear something worth the name of the event [sm lanang premier opening] which is premier.
This dress just shouts elegance! So bad I didn't do justice to this, I run out of time in hitting the salon. It would've been nice if I went for a lower bun. As you can see another earthly color. Look at the clean cut: sleeveless but no show of cleavage; hemline that approximately just 2-3inches above the knee [if only my legs are longer haha]. Stare on the black embellishments from the neck line to the bust line in V-shape substituting the cleavage exposure [which apparently nothing to expose haha] and continued details on the lower hemline, now that's a work of an art. This is a straight cut dress so I added this white belt to bring out a little shape. To lower down the formal look I paired it with Celine's black chunky heels platforms to remain in that 21 look. Since I have to be in the mall for the whole day I needed a bag which can accommodate all the things I need just like my camera, kikay kit, phones and etc, I again used this black Paris Hilton large handbag.
Expect a repeat performance of this dress :))
Next post will be on what happened on F21 fashion show and opening :)


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Website: http://www.companioncare.co.uk/basildon.html
Tel: 01268 585 700
Companion Care Vet Surgery
Inside Pets at Home
Unit 1A Old Market Retail Park
High Street
Essex SS13 3BY
Reviewed by: Cliff McGeorge on 14/01/2015
Overall rating:
Since my visit I compared your prices with on line companies and I have seen that there is a large mark up on the price charged by yourselves compared with the on line companies.I am pretty sure this is industry wide and is not isolated to your company , that being said I live on a fixed income and I found it very expensive when the purchase of drugs are needed.My feeling is that either the profit margin on drugs is made more reasonable ,or people should be made aware that they have have the option to follow the prescription route .I look at the issue as industry wide and truly believe that the issue that will become more prominent as more people become aware of it. I am totally happy with the service provided by your practise and will be returning for follow up visits
Thank you for your email regarding prices at our Basildon surgery.
Veterinary medicine can always be found cheaper online because these companies are buying medicines in bulk, have no other overheads to consider and are only trying to provide the cheapest product rather than the best value overall service (including consultations, surgery and wider surgery abilities). When medicine is purchased from a vet directly, we consider it important to note that you are buying the veterinary skill and expertise on the correct use of any given product. This also includes the support for any issues that may arise from its use. While many internet pharmacies are of a high quality the correct product and strength of product cannot be guaranteed from some online sites. We are always happy to provide a prescription for a small charge so the medication can be purchased from an online pharmacy so feel free to ask for one at any time.
We consider our prices to be fair and competitive for the veterinary industry and do review our prices on a regular basis and all feedback is taken into consideration at these times. We hope this helps explain why surgery prices will always be more than internet prices.
I am very pleased to hear the service you have received at the surgery has been good.
Reviewed by: Lucy & Leon on 16/10/2014
Overall rating:
We found out our cat needed emergency surgery after being rushed in with a blocked bladder!
We had no insurance and were told it was going to be over £2000 we came to a very reasonable agreement as the Practice Manager was very helpful and agreed to help us.
I can thank him enough for saving our cat!
Lovely friendly nurses/vets who generally care and an all round lovely place!!
Reviewed by: Kelly Scales on 27/09/2014
Overall rating:
Excellent care again for our Smudge! Thank you for looking after him so well and thank you for being so friendly and understanding. Shola, Toby and Maria are all really really lovely and treat the animals and people with lots of care. I feel confident that if I take Smudge in he will be seen and treated to a high standard with everything explained to us.
Reviewed by: Chrissie bee on 15/07/2014
Overall rating:
At a very distressing time and not having used this practice before we found the staff from the reception area to the vets to be very caring to both Bertie and ourselves. What was important to me was to know that everybody in this practice loved animals. I was kept informed throughout with phone calls from shoal who was performing the operation and Toby who we originally saw. When we returned for Bertie after a successful operation we were shown the X-rays on screen,and a photograph shoal had taken on his mobile of how serious this was, shoal gave me his personal number to be able to contact him at anytime.The receptionists know who you are and Bertie by name and I think a lot if thought and consideration has gone into this practice for customer care. I would not hesitate in recommending this practice as everyone is so approachable,knowledgable and understanding of the stress everyone is going through.
Reviewed by: Gemma on 28/05/2014
Overall rating:
This has been my vets for the last 4 years, both my dogs have had illnesses and been looked after brilliantly, I visit regular and I wouldn't go anywhere else.


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Rated 5 out of 5 by 1 reviewer.
Rated 5 out of 5 by thejoysofraisingboys Beautiful, intricate carved jewelry box This jewelry box is really quite beautiful! I purchased this for my Mother-in-law to put a necklace in as a gift and when it arrived in the mail, I was blown away. Very pretty, intricate details and just the right size to house some of her jewelry. A+ purchase! The price wasn't too expensive, either! I would definitely recommend this product! :) May 19, 2014
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MYSTIC FALL'S (HD) by CSuk-1TWatch
©2012-2016 CSuk-1T
for looking at my art --> B4 U download.
I started work on this 4th/June/2012 by doing some manipulation to the fractal background. After seeing the result though, i did not want to just upload it as it was. I knew straight away that i wanted Unicorn's and a Unicus (a winged Unicorn) in the setting of a mystical image. Took me some time to arrange, manipulate/tweak all the creature's exactly how i wanted them, but i'm very happy with the result. I hope you will be too!


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Join the East Branch Friends of the Arts and the Lake Placid Sinfonietta for their first performance in Keene Valley! The quaint Keene Valley Congregational Church is a light, airy venue for this creative program that will include Prokoviev's "Classical Symphony" and Aaron Copland's "Hoedown" from Rodeo. Tickets are available through the East Branch Friends of the Arts and at the door.
Lake Placid Sinfonietta 2114 Saranac Ave, Lake Placid, New York 12946 View Map


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on orders $75+
Kyjen Plush Puppies Squeakin' Eggs are replacements for the Egg Babies Dog Toy. Hide these eggs in your dog's Egg Baby for hours of replayable fun! These replacement squeaker eggs will replace all varieties of Egg babies plush god toys.
Free shipping on all orders over $75, even the BIG STUFF that weighs a ton. No code. No hassle.
We want you to be happy with all your purchases at PetMountain. If not, we will make things right.
We won't be beat on price. Always shop with confidence with our low price guarantee.
We guarantee that every brand we sell is new and 100% authentic. Shop over 300 trusted pet brands.
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Net Impact
Net Impact is a new generation of leaders who put together their business skills to work for good throughout every sector. Its main purpose is to show that it's possible to make a net impact that benefits not just the bottom line, but people and planet too.
Green Biz
GreenBiz.com, Business Voice of the Green Economy, is the leading source for news, opinion, best practices, and other resources on the greening of mainstream business. Launched in 2000, its mission is to provide clear, concise, accurate, and balanced information, resources, and learning opportunities to help companies of all sizes and sectors integrate environmental responsibility into their operations in a manner that supports profitable business practices.
Green Business – Online Community for Eco Entrepreneurs
This Community is filled with like-minded entrepreneurs and professionals who understand the unique challenges and opportunities presented by running and working for a green business. Here you can share your thoughts, learn from others, brainstorm, develop partnerships, share best practices, generate ideas for new businesses, network, learn what is working for others, discover cost saving practices, forge alliances, refine strategies to increase profits, get feedback, and much more.
Reuters – Green Business
Reuters' special section on Green Business news.
Sustainability division at U.S. EPA
Sustainability has emerged as a result of significant concerns about the unintended social, environmental, and economic consequences of rapid population growth, economic growth and consumption of our natural resources. In its early years, EPA acted primarily as the nations environmental watchdog, striving to ensure that industries met legal requirements to control pollution. In subsequent years, EPA began to develop theory, tools, and practices that enabled it to move from controlling pollution to preventing it. Today EPA aims to make sustainability the next level of environmental protection by drawing on advances in science and technology to protect human health and the environment, and promoting innovative green business practices.


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Biomimetic Membranes Show Promise
Novel water purification and treatment system provides significant permeability01/14/2016
Mind Your Refrigeration Systems, Part I
Understanding fluids and their properties is key to energy-efficient operations.01/12/2016
State Of The Chemical Industry: Momentum Builds
U.S. chemical output should grow faster than GDP for the next five years01/07/2016
Shake Up Your Condition Monitoring
Vibration measurements can provide important insights on machinery health.01/04/2016
Novel Catalyst Boasts High Selectivity
Platinum atoms on copper surface enable efficient hydrogenation of butadiene12/22/2015
Chemical Makers Embrace Virtualization
Approach can provide significant advantages for automation projects12/21/2015
OSHA Issues New Field Operations Manual
Penalty amounts will rise substantially12/16/2015
Listen to Your Steam Traps
Checking the sounds they make and other tests can help minimize steam loss12/15/2015
Researchers Crack Methane Cracking
Continuous reactor using molten tin produces hydrogen and high-quality carbon12/14/2015
Ecofriendly Catalyst Saves Palladium
A nanoparticle catalyst containing far less palladium promises economic and environmental advantages.12/02/2015
Quick Poll: How would you rate the physical security of your site's control rooms?
Participate now.12/01/2015
Vaaler Awards 2015: Two Products Earn Honors
Biennial awards recognize achievements that significantly enhance plant operations and economics11/30/2015
A Strategic Approach for Upgrading Process Control Systems, Part 1
Determining when to migrate to a new system and developing a process for the upgrade projects.11/17/2015
CSB Chair Gives Good Vibes
New head sends strong signals about reinvigorating the Chemical Safety Board11/16/2015
Flow Meters Achieve Solid Success
Plants benefit from improved accuracy and reduced maintenance11/11/2015
Energy Saver: Make Your Processes Smarter
Effectively monitor data to make your plant more energy efficient and reliable11/10/2015
Succeed at pH Troubleshooting
Heed some pointers to properly diagnose the cause of a problem11/05/2015
Is Pump Inlet Velocity Important?
An extensive review clarified its role in centrifugal pump selection11/04/2015
Chronic Chemical Exposure Requires a Rethink
Industry must pay more attention to the impact of long-term contact with chemicals11/02/2015
Industrial Role for Oilseed Beckons
A genetically modified oilseed produces high yields of unusual triacylglycerols (TAGs) that may serve as biofuels or industrial feedstocks10/28/2015


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Albert Grindle
The Gazette
HUDSON — The Hudson volleyball team brought its "A" game Wednesday, while Wadsworth was, at best, in the "C" range.
The Explorers' 25-17, 25-14, 25-11 victory in the Hudson Division I Regional semifinals was as swift as it was stunning. They advance to face Massillon Jackson, which disposed of sub-.500 Mayfield in three games, in Saturday's championship.
The Grizzlies ended their season 22-4 after entering play with a 14-match win streak.
"Hudson played a great match tonight," Wadsworth coach Jill Klingbeil said. "They definitely brought their 'A' game. Our girls have worked hard all season to get to this point. Unfortunately, tonight was not our night."
Led by 6-foot-3 middle hitter Krissy Mummey, Hudson (20-6) closed the first game on a 15-7 run and never trailed after erasing a 1-0 deficit in the second.
Mummey and the Grizzlies' rare lack of execution were the forefront. Mummey had a match-high 12 kills and won the anticipated one-on-one battle with 6-0 Wadsworth senior Ciera Koons, while Wadsworth compiled double-digit error totals in two of the three games.
All told, the Grizzlies' miscues and Mummey's putdowns accounted for more than 55 percent of Hudson's points.
"We were ready for this game, but we just came out and I feel we were nervous," Wadsworth outside hitter Jodi Johnson said. "We didn't really know what to do when we got off to bad starts."
While Mummey dominated the net and received support from fellow front liners Jordan Mackay (10 kills) and Allison Rense, Hudson's defense wowed the crowd and made it difficult for Johnson or fellow outside hitter Peyton Booth to get anything going.
The Explorers used a team-wide effort to keep multiple balls alive, including successfully converting after one hit the rafters, with Celia Cristofoli (13 digs) taking charge after contributing offensively early on.
The all-out effort was something the Grizzlies didn't see while cruising through the average Barberton District.
"They had big rallies and they mostly dug all of our hits, so that was a big factor," Johnson said. "It gets frustrating, but we know not to think about it."
Wadsworth's only true opportunity to snare anything resembling momentum came in the second game. The Grizzlies fell into 8-3 and 19-9 ruts that led to Klingbeil timeouts, but clawed to within 20-14 on a Johnson kill.
Once again, however, Wadsworth had no answer for Mummey, who had three kills over the game's final five points.
The frustration began to show at that point, as the Grizzlies committed seven errors while falling behind 8-0 in the third game. The only thing left was the final score, which was punctuated on Wadsworth's eighth line violation while attempting to contend with Mummey at the net.
"It seemed like every time we seemed to get into a rhythm, either we were unable to finish on the rally or Hudson came up with a big kill," Klingbeil said. "It kind of killed or momentum every time we started to get it."
The loss was incredibly difficult for anyone wearing red to swallow, though it had yet to fully sink in because it happened with such quickness.
Johnson, though, refused to let it detract from another outstanding year in which the Grizzlies extended their Suburban League win streak to beyond 50 matches and were one of the hottest teams in Northeast Ohio for the better part of two months.
"I feel like we still accomplished great things this season," she said. "I feel good about it."
Contact Albert Grindle at (330) 721-4043 or firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Our Deal of the Day today is the Best Buy - Insignia NS-WBRDVD Blu-ray Disc Player with Wi-Fi and 1080p Output for $129.99 with FREE Shipping!.
Offer: A great price on an 11.6" netbook folks! This factory refurbished netbook features a ultrathin 1" form thickness, a 11.6" WXGA (1366x768) resolution screen, an integrated webcam, a full size keyboard, 1GB of DDR2 SDRAM memory, 160GB hard drive, 802.11b/g, 10/100 ethernet, 3 cell battery and Windows XP Home! Get it soon before they run out or pull the deal.


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Great ideas come from collaborative discussion, group sharing, and interaction. CritWalls lets you share and critique creative works online the way you would do it in person. Here are some ways people are using CritWalls:
CritWalls Wrokshop - Hands-on workshop experience you would normally get from top-tier institutions, now available to you here, online.
Marketing - Share a bunch of images, and then discuss everyone's thoughts behind each. Maximize insights with threaded discussions.
Design - Centralize your files and discussions for every project, visually cross-reference ideas, inspirations, and competition, and critique with call-outs, voice recordings and visual mark-ups.
Knowledge - Visually develop a project on a CritWall, and open it up to colleagues for internal crowd sourcing and knowledge sharing.
Education - Use Critwalls to turn in assignments and discuss them, to carry conversations beyond class meetings, and to offer online courses.
And more! Post storyboards, build product lines, show off a portfolios, share files, and do it all interactively.


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According to the Canadian Press, Canada's number one female tennis player, Eugenie Bouchard of Montreal advanced to the semifinals on Saturday before losing to Andrea Petkovic of Germany 1-6, 6-3, 7-5 at the Family Circle Cup in Charleston, South Carolina.
Overall it was a solid week for Bouchard, who is ranked 20th in the world, and was ranked sixth at the clay court tournament.
Bouchard defeated 2000 Olympic gold medalist Venus Williams of the United States 7-6, 2-6, 6-4 in the third round and then former world number one Jelena Jankovic of Serbia 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 in the quarterfinals.
By advancing to the semifinals at Charleston is significant because it was on clay, the same surface that will probably be used for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Even though Petkovic was ranked 14th at the Family Circle Cup, she is no slouch by any means. Petkovic has advanced to the quarterfinals of three grand slam titles and has been ranked as high as number nine in the world.
On Sunday, Petkovic beat rising Slovakian star Jana Cepelova 7-5, 6-2. Cepelova had beaten reigning Olympic gold medalist and world number one Serena Williams of the United States 6-4, 6-4 in the second round before beating higher ranked player Elena Vesnina of Russia in the third round and fellow countrywoman Daniela Hantuchova in the quarterfinals.


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Make A Soda Bottle Terrarium
Make this soda bottle terrarium. It is an easy project that anyone can do and it should take you about half an hour to complete it. This is a nice learning experiment to teach you about plants, closed environments; and while it is growing you can observe the life cycle of plants.
There are many different ways you can do this project. If you feel ambitious you can do the whole project without cutting the bottle. You simply put everything in through the hole at the top. When it comes time to transplant your plants into a bigger pot or into a garden then you will cut the bottle open. (Note: Whenever cutting with scissors or a knife please seek the help of a parent or adult)
An Explanation of why you build your terrarium like this.
Why Pebbles? The pebbles at the bottom allow excess water to flow to the bottom of the bottle. This will prevent it from soaking the soil and making it muddy. As the temperature inside the bottle rises from sunlight the water will be drawn up into the bottle. It becomes like the earth with a nice cycle of water flow just like rain. Dew will even collect on the inside top of your bottle then slowly drip down onto the plants like rain.
Why the Activated Charcoal? If you put a thin layer of charcoal (1/2 inch) in your terrarium it acts as a filter purifying the water as it flows up and down. the plants and the bacteria in the soil can cause the inside of the terrarium to get very dirty and even to rot. You can purchase this kind of charcoal at an aquarium store or any well stocked pet store.
Why the Spaghnum or Spanish Moss? this simply acts as a screen to prevent your soil from settling down into the rocks yet it allows the water to flow smoothly.
Why the Soil? This is the nutrition for the plants. They will absorb the nutrients from the soil with their roots.
Why the Moss on the top of the soil? This is just to make it look nicer! It is totally optional.
OKAY! Let's build our terrarium
Step 1: Draw a line around the bottle about six inches up. I use a neat little trick to make a nice straight line. I rest the marker on the top of an upside down coffee cup then I rotate the 2 liter bottle. It makes a nice straight line.
Cut the bottle along the line with a pair of scissors. You may need to start a small hole in the bottle before you can cut it with the scissors. Please ask a parent or adult to help you with this cutting of the bottle.
Place a handful of stones in the bottom half of the bottle. About 1-2 inches deep should be good.
Place your other materials in the bottle. The charcoal then the moss then the soil. If you are not using charcoal or moss then put just the soil in. fill it to about 1 inch from the top.
Now Plant your seeds! You should plant 6 to 10 seeds and later as they grow you can pluck out some of the weaker ones and leave the 2 or 3 best ones.
Don't forget to water your terrarium before placing the top on. The soil should be moist but not soaked.
Now Place the top on. I recommend you squeeze the top onto the bottom so the top is on the outside.
If you have trouble fitting the two pieces together you can cut a slit about halfway down the bottom half of the bottle. this will help it close up a bit and make it easier to fit the top over it.
Congratulations your terrarium is completed. In a few days your seeds should germinate and in no time you will have a soda bottle terrarium that looks as nice as this one.
Taking Care of Your Soda Bottle Terrarium
There are two important factors you have to consider when it comes to your terrarium: the amount of sunlight it gets and the amount of water that is inside.
Once the plants have sprouted you should make sure it gets sunlight but do not leave it in direct sunlight for the entire day. It is a closed environment and it can get very hot inside.
Water - Look carefully at the soil in the terrarium. It should look moist but not soaked or too dry. Beads of water should form on the top inside near edge and these will drip down the sides and continue to water the soil. If it appears to be too wet you can take the top off and leave it uncovered for a day or two.
Don't Throw It, Grow It!: 68 windowsill plants from kitchen scraps
Magic and wonder hide in unexpected places - a leftover piece of ginger, a wrinkled potato left too long in its bag, a humdrum kitchen spice rack. In Don't Throw It, Grow It! Deborah Peterson reveals the hidden possibilities in everyday foods.
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Nov. 13, 2000
LOS ANGELES - As much as UCLA coach Bob Toledo wants his team to beat crosstown rival Southern California on Saturday, he feels for embattled Trojans coach Paul Hackett.
While the Bruins (6-4, 3-4 Pac-10) are assured of playing in a bowl game next month, the Trojans (4-6, 1-6) have fallen on hard times, and Hackett has been under heavy fire in recent weeks.
"That bothers me," Toledo said Monday. "Paul and I aren't close friends, but we are friends. It makes you feel bad. It's not just him, it's his family, it's the assistant coaches, it's the university.
"You don't win, people get on you. That's hard, (but) that comes with the territory."
Even if the Trojans beat UCLA and No. 11 Notre Dame on Nov. 25, it might not be enough to save Hackett's job. Hackett, who has two years left on his contract, and Toledo were assistant coaches on John Robinson's staff at USC from 1976-78.
The Trojans beat the Bruins 17-7 last year to snap UCLA's eight-game winning streak against them. It was USC's first win in the series since 1990, when Todd Marinovich's 23-yard touchdown pass to Johnnie Morton with 16 seconds left gave the Trojans a 45-42 victory - the second-highest point total in the 69-game series.
This year's matchup at the Rose Bowl has been a sellout for several weeks, meaning a crowd of about 90,000 is expected.
Despite their problems against UCLA in the 1990s, the Trojans lead the series 35-27-7. Until last year, Toledo was a perfect 8-0 in the series - three wins as a USC assistant, two wins as a UCLA assistant, and three wins as the Bruins' head coach.
"I have seen so many people rise to the occasion, it brings out the best in everyone," he said. "It kind of makes or breaks your season - you have to live with these people 365 days a year."
Toledo said almost all of UCLA's injured players, and there are several, especially on defense, should be able to play Saturday.
"How long they participate is another story," he said. "They might last one play. There is no tomorrow, no reason to save anything."
One of those injured players is linebacker Robert Thomas, who missed much of UCLA's 35-28 loss to No. 6 Washington last weekend because of a stress fracture in his left foot.
"It's pretty painful," Thomas admitted. "Oh, I am playing, definitely. I've got to play, it's SC week. Nobody's hurt during SC week. That's the way it is around here."
Thomas smiled when asked how he felt about the Trojans.
"They're our rivals, there's a lot of hatred between us," he said. "All rivalries have hatred. It's nothing personal, it's USC vs. UCLA."
Bruins quarterback Cory Paus is looking forward to playing against the Trojans for the first time. The third-year sophomore missed last year's game because he broke his collarbone the previous week.
"I don't particularly like SC," Paus said. "I've heard people around here say, 'I don't care if you lose every game you play as long as you beat USC,' only they say it a little differently than that. I heard that the last time I left the Rose Bowl.
"They've had a pretty tough year, we have, too. We've been a little more fortunate than they have."
So does Paus feel sorry for the Trojans?
"No, I don't," he replied. "It's tough to lose some close games. We've lost some close games, too."
By JOHN NADEL
AP Sports Writer


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Online retailer Bonobos is teeing up its own golf brand, called Maide, which launches at maidegolf.com on Tuesday. It is the first new brand incubated by Bonobos since the company was founded in 2007.
This story first appeared in the March 19, 2013 issue of WWD. Subscribe Today.
Maide, which means "stick" or "club" in Gaelic, will launch with 20 styles and colors for spring, doubling its assortments by this summer. The initial collection includes pants, shorts, polo shirts and sweaters, with outerwear and accessories to be added next year.
Bonobos, which is partly owned by Nordstrom Inc., previously offered a small range of golf pants and polo shirts under its own label, which accounted for 2.5 to 3 percent of total sales. "I thought it was amazing product and it deserved its own place to be heroic," said Andy Dunn, founder and chief executive officer of Bonobos, of the decision to create a stand-alone brand for the line.
According to the company's own research, about 25 percent of Bonobos customers are golfers or are interested in the sport. Sales of golf pants and shirts at Bonobos grew 180 percent in 2012, said Dunn, outpacing the more than 100 percent growth in total brand. Dunn declined to provide total volume for the company.
Bonobos has tapped Ian Velardi as design director, overseeing the design of both Maide and the tailored clothing and outerwear categories of Bonobos-branded product. Velardi will continue to design his own namesake men's label, which sells at Barneys New York, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale's and Scoop. Bonobos plans to provide support and infrastructure to help grow the Ian Velardi business.
At Bonobos, Velardi reports to Dwight Fenton, who has joined the company as vice president of design from J. Crew, where he was senior director of men's wear. Fenton reports to Dunn.
Bonobos is aiming for Maide sales of $2 million this year. Apart from the e-commerce site, which links to a shop-in-shop within Bonobos.com, the line will be wholesaled to select green-grass shops.
Maide pants retail for $108, and shorts for $88, both constructed from performance polyester fabric with details like a discrete zippered hem on the leg and an interior gel waistband strip that helps keep a polo shirt tucked in. Polo shirts are $78 in five solid colors and three striped styles. Cotton V-neck and cardigan sweaters are $88 to $98 in solid colors and engineered stripes.
The look of the collection draws from the Fifties, Sixties and Seventies. "There was a tailored, gentlemanly aesthetic that guys had on the course back then, during the golden age of golf," noted Kevin Kelleher, brand lead for Maide.


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Former Treasury Secretary Joins Leadership Triangle at Citigroup
By JOSEPH KAHN
Published: October 27, 1999
Robert E. Rubin, arguably the best-known financier of his generation and the recently retired Treasury Secretary, has taken a top position at Citigroup, the nation's largest financial services company.
Mr. Rubin, 61, a former top official of Goldman, Sachs & Company, said yesterday that he had joined Sanford I. Weill and John S. Reed, the chairmen and chief executives Citigroup, in what Mr. Reed described as a ''three-person office of the chairman'' that will oversee what has become the first true American financial conglomerate since the Depression.
The appointment came less than a week after the Clinton Administration and Congress agreed on a compromise bill that would overhaul the laws that regulate the financial industry, a measure that removes many of the restrictions preventing banks, securities firms and insurance companies from buying one another or engaging in one another's businesses. Both Mr. Rubin and Citigroup strongly supported the bill, which would greatly benefit the company. Mr. Rubin said he played a role in arranging the final compromise that will probably lead to the repeal of the so-called Glass-Steagall legislation. But he said that had nothing to do with his decision to join the company.
The appointment settles the speculation about what Mr. Rubin, who presided over the Clinton Administration's economic policy during one of America's longest economic booms, would do for an encore. Mr. Rubin also discussed jobs with American International Group, a leading life insurance company, and Warburg Pincus, a New York investment firm, before agreeing to join Citigroup, said people who were told about Mr. Rubin's negotiations. He also had discussions with Goldman, Sachs about serving on his old firm's board, people close to Mr. Rubin said.
Mr. Rubin declined to discuss his talks with other companies, and officials of those three companies also declined to comment. Citigroup officials said that while Mr. Rubin would be free to pursue outside endeavors, including a role in New York or national politics, he would not work for any financial company that competes with Citigroup.
Mr. Rubin will not become a third chief executive with Mr. Weill and Mr. Reed, who brought Citigroup together last year by joining Citicorp, one of America's leading banking companies, with Travelers Group, the large insurance company and investment bank. They have had a sometimes rocky relationship since then. But Mr. Rubin will head the executive committee of Citigroup's board, work full time at the company and participate in all significant managerial and strategic decisions, the three men said. Mr. Rubin will also have a corner office alongside Mr. Weill and Mr. Reed in the company's blond-wood and glass executive suite in midtown Manhattan.
''I really like the issues of managing a large institution, and I want to really get back involved,'' Mr. Rubin said in an interview. ''I'd also like to fish, read books and play tennis, but life is a trade-off.''
Mr. Rubin's role at Citigroup appears to be a delicate balance between his desire to take an active role in plotting the company's future and his wish to avoid becoming a chief executive with day-to-day responsibilities. No Citigroup employees will report to him directly. But Mr. Rubin plans to bring Michael Froman, his former Treasury Department chief of staff, to work at Citigroup.
The terms of his employment took five weeks of almost constant meetings to negotiate, people close to Mr. Rubin said.
''Bob has the best job in the company: no line responsibility, but he will be a full partner,'' Mr. Reed said during a meeting to announce Mr. Rubin's appointment at Citigroup's headquarters on the East Side of Manhattan. ''He will not play a role as an executive officer of the company, as Sandy and I have to.''
But after years as the Government's top economic official, Mr. Rubin brings to Citigroup a Rolodex of contacts that one bank analyst called priceless. To the extent that he is willing to use his contacts to promote Citigroup's banking business around the world, Mr. Rubin could generate hundreds of millions of dollars in fees for the bank.
Some analysts also saw the Rubin name on Citigroup's marquee as a draw for star bankers on Wall Street, potentially making the firm's Salomon Smith Barney investment bank a more formidable competitor to other firms, including Goldman, where Mr. Rubin spent the bulk of his career as a bond trader and senior executive.
''He has to be one of the most well-regarded individuals among senior Government officials and corporations worldwide. He can get a meeting with anyone he wants,'' said Joan Solotar, who analyzes Citigroup for Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette. ''They will win deals that they would not otherwise have won.''
Mr. Rubin's return to Wall Street is not unprecedented. James A. Baker 3d, the former Bush and Reagan Administration official, joined Carlyle Group, a venture capital and buyout firm. Nicholas F. Brady, a Bush Administration Treasury Secretary, also followed Mr. Rubin's circular path from Wall Street to Washington and back. Mr. Brady now heads Darby Overseas Investments, an emerging-markets investment fund.


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Tis the season… the season for joy and celebration, but also the season for accidental fires caused by careless use of extension cords and faulty Christmas tree lights. Chelan Fire and Rescue Chief Tim Lemon says there are precautions you can take to prevent holiday fires.
Chief Lemon reminds you to give your tree plenty of water to prevent it from becoming dry but if you do see needles drying and falling from the tree, it might be time to remove it from your house.


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Skydiving.com now has a network skydiving location serving Call and Newton County in Texas. Call Skydiving.com at 1-800-617-7948 for details, free information and specials on skydiving in Call, TX today!
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Possible Duplicate:
Are class-specific weapons better than other weapon?
I am starting with monk and asked a friend what weapon I should use. He told me that my priority should be on knuckles and fist weapons. I started out that way but daggers seem to be much better because of their attack speed. Is it because knuckles work better with a shield or am I missing something? Why prioritise knuckles? Do monks get bonus damage for them or something?


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April 28, 2014
A family room may be the most versatile of spaces. It's used by everyone in the household for a variety of activities, like playing games with kids, relaxing by watching TV and socializing with visitors. For all these needs, the family room should have floors with the performance and stability of Anderson's Urban Loft collection to withstand constant use and look good through it all.
The best way to ensure that the family room will be well-used is to create a room design that's functional and embraces everyone's favorite pastimes. When deciding on a floor plan that accomplishes this, encourage every family member to help with a list of activities in which they expect to participate in the room.
Creating traffic patterns around furnishings and play areas is important for creating a natural flow to the foot traffic in and out of the room. It should be functional without taking away from the aesthetic effect, particularly as people enter the room and see the space as a whole. This is where a talent for home design comes into play, along with an appreciation of how the room is used most.
Setting up activities
The point of a family room is to allow all members of the house to pursue their interests without interfering with the enjoyment of others. In this respect the layout of the room becomes especially important. One way to solve this dilemma is to create partitions with screens or positioning large furniture pieces between activity areas.
If videos and gaming are important, comfortable seating should be arranged around the viewing area, freeing up space for more active pursuits elsewhere in the room. For a special interest like paddle games, room needs to be set aside for a table and space around it to prevent interference with other furnishings or quieter activities that may be going on.
According to House Logic, many homeowners don't want their entertainment centers to dominate family rooms any longer. A space-saving design can be accomplished instead by hanging a flat screen TV on the wall and using a cabinet to hide away equipment when it isn't in use. The same unit can also be used for storing other possessions that are routinely used in the family room. Being able to stash items away quickly makes it easier to outfit the room for gatherings at other times.
Anderson Reader
Urban Loft


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If you are looking for an asphalt driveway in the Indianapolis metro area Young and Sons Asphalt Paving should be your first call. In business since 1977 Young and Sons has paved over 10,000 residential driveways. It is this type of experience that will guarantee you the long lasting quality you are looking for. For a free estimate fill out the box on the side and one of our project coordinators will be in touch with you within 24 hours or less or you can call at the number listed above.
Is asphalt the right choice for you? Asphalt driveways are relatively low maintenance and hold up extremely well with the seasonal changes in our area. A well maintained driveway should last 20 plus years if cared for properly. Young and Sons has a full service maintenance plan designed by Ron Young himself to ensure you get the maximum life out of your driveway.
We make the process easy. We understand that installing or replacing a driveway is never the ideal situation for a homeowner. Through our efficient systems, experienced staff, and state of the art equipment, Young and Sons has the ability minimize the time it takes to install a new driveway. As a result we can install the highest quality driveway at a low price and minimize the hassle of having your driveway torn up.
For a free estimate fill out the box on the side and one of our project coordinators will be in touch with you within 24 hours or less or you can call at the number listed above.
There is not job too big or too small for Young and Sons Asphalt Paving. We handle every aspect of asphalt paving from residential driveways, sealcoating, parking lot repair, striping, excavating, crack sealing, chip and seal, catch basin repair, and commercial asphalt paving. Parking lot maintenance ranks high on the long list of specialties Young and Sons provides. For a full list of our asphalt paving services CLICK HERE.


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Welcome to the Doctors of USF Health! Our board-certified physicians deliver care to patients coming from all over the Tampa Bay area, throughout the state of Florida, and from around the country. We have put together this Patient Resource Guide to help you whether you are coming from Tampa, St. Petersburg, Wesley Chapel, Lakeland, or visiting from thousands of miles away.
For Appointments, please call 813-974-2201 or toll-free 888-USF-DOCS(888-873-3627).
Interpretation Services Available: When scheduling your appointment, sign language or foreign language interpretation services are available at no cost to you.
Download patient forms you need to fill out in advance of your appointment.
Find the most commonly requested phone numbers and information here.
Addresses frequently asked questions
Helps you navigate our system with or without a physician referral.
Answers to common billing questions and contact information.
Browse Physicians Directory by Specialty and Other Health Care Professionals.
Listing of all the locations Doctors of USF Health see patients at and quick links for more info.
A step by step guide for scheduling and preparing for your appointment.
Options on where family members can stay while care is being provided to a loved one.
Learn about the benefits our EMR system offers patients.
Information to educate patients on their rights.
Information about HIPAA compliance and patient privacy rights.
Our goal is to provide you with the best patient care. Our staff is available to help you and your family with questions or concerns regarding your visit. If you feel that your issue wasn't resolved, please contact our USF Health patient advocate at (813) 974-4814 with your compliments, complaints, or concerns.


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Click and drag image to rotate.
VQ Contractor (Hard Surface)
Industrial Duty Vacuum
Model #:
- VQ902SPH (Honda) / VQ1002SP (Briggs) Self-propelled
- Operator adjustable gobbler door
- Optional chariot reduces fatigue
- 75-gal. top load felt bag with hard bottom; optional dust bag
- 33" Wide steel intake and housing
- Caster kit and curb rollers standard
- Engine: 262 cc Honda (VQ902SPH); 250 cc Briggs (VQ1002SPH)
- Bag Volume: 75 gal. top fill
- Bag: Felt
- 33" Gobbler door
- 6-blade impeller
- 5-speed transmission
- 13" pneumatic rear wheels
The VQ Wide Area vacuum delivers size, power and years of trouble-free quiet operation on hard surfaces. At 33" of nozzle width, the VQ has been one of our most productive legacy vacuums.
Five forward speeds allow the operator to match groundspeed to the terrain and application – a maximum of 5 mph is possible. The adjustable intake door opens up for items as large as one liter bottles and closes down for small, heavy debris.
The intake nozzle, housing and exhaust are constructed of steel for long life. Heavy-weight casters and curb rollers add maneuverability and durability in tight places.
To match its overall size and performance, the VQ comes standard with a 10-bushel (352 liter) synthetic felt bag. This improves filtration and increases time between emptying.
33" Wide All-Steel Nozzle
Durable and adjustable for both large and small debris.
10-Bushel Bag
Spend more time vacuuming and less time emptying the bag. Synthetic felt bag captures all types of debris and filters out most dust.
Low Noise
The scroll shaped housing reduces noise while increasing airflow.
Steel Impeller
Six bladed ¼" steel impeller reduces bulk before depositing it in the filter bag and offers superior suction and noise reduction.
Casters & Curb Rollers
Standard; provides maneuverability and durability.
|262 cc Honda (VQ902SPH); 250 cc Briggs (VQ1002SPH)
|Bag Volume:
|75 gal.
|278 lbs (VQ902SPH); 282 lbs (VQ1002SPH)
Part #: 830257
A must for many large hard surface properties to reduce operator fatigue. 250-pound maximum load.
Debris Bag Dust Cover
Part #: 830284
Directs dust away from the operator's face.
VQ Hose Kit
Part #: 830255
5" diameter, 8' length


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In Higher Ed, Cloud Service Benefits Outweigh the Concerns
As students and administrators seek anytime, anywhere access to the cloud, higher ed IT teams must face their fears and get to work.
Photo courtesy of the University of Maine
Dr. Lucille Zeph, associate provost and dean of the Division of Lifelong Learning at the University of Maine in Orono, says that providing students with many options through a variety of technologies is key to successfully serving rural student populations.
The University of Maine, which serves a total of 34,700 students, has been offering distance education since the late 1980s. It currently offers a diverse menu that includes web-enhanced online courses; video conferencing and web conferencing through several distance-education platforms; traditional lectures broadcasted to regional outreach centers with the use of interactive TV; hybrid classes; and distance-cohort classes, for which the professor alternates origination sites each week in order to provide all local students with the chance to attend some lectures in person, in addition to working online or through video conferencing.
"There's no one one-size-fits-all when it comes to providing access to higher education to students in rural areas."
Dr. Lucille Zeph, University of Maine
"There are really a number of permutations that we offer to give the rural student an opportunity to find the right match for them," Zeph says, noting that through instructional-design support and faculty-development opportunities, faculty also are becoming comfortable with distance education and are combining methods to make coursework more dynamic, engaging and supportive.
"Not every delivery method is right for every student, because some don't have the high-speed Internet access they need, and even if they have the connectivity, some still want the social interaction as well as technology and academic support that we offer at our outreach centers" in Belfast and through the statewide University of Maine System, Zeph says. "So it's important to recognize that there's no one one-size-fits-all when it comes to providing access to higher education to students in rural areas."
According to John White, deputy assistant secretary for rural outreach for the U.S. Department of Education, many higher education officials recognize that students living in rural areas remain the least likely to enroll in or complete postsecondary education and training.
"By connecting all of the schools and libraries to ultrafast Internet, we can ensure rural areas have access to tools for rapidly improving education and training for career pathways in their communities," White says.
Advances in technology ensure that, beyond broadband, students in rural areas and those who simply can't make it to class some days have access to important materials and to their professors.
6.7 million+
Number of students who took at least one online college course during the fall 2011 term, an increase of 570,000 students over the previous year
SOURCE: "2012 Survey of Online Learning" (Babson Survey Research Group, Jan. 2013)
Western Nevada College, in Carson City, Nev., invested in lecture capture to ensure that the school's large rural student population is able to enjoy the opportunity to sit through traditional lectures, just as on-campus students do, says distance-education coordinator Clarence Maise. The new solution is expected to have a positive impact on all of WNC's students.


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To celebrate Canada Day, Gord and I headed to Against the Grain Urban Tavern (south of Jarvis/Queens Quay E). It just open about a month again.
It was quite busy. We sat on a couch on the patio.
Here's Gord.
Here are me and Gord.
It was hot and sunny ... my cold draft tasted good!
As a snack, we ordered the Baja Roasted Chicken Nachos (melted Cheddar and Jack cheeses, bell peppers and red onions on a bed of crispy tortilla chips, served with salsa sauce, fresh avocado relish and chilli scented sour cream) which was good ... the chicken was spicy and and I could taste limes.
Our server, Natasha, took good care of us. There were lots of servers taking care of the patio and all seemed friendly.
It's amazing how much that area has changed. There is a boardwalk now along the water.
Sugar Beach is next door and it was a popular spot ... no beach, just sand.
We walked westward to Harbourfront ... another popular spot today.
A fun way to spend Canada Day!
Friday, July 01, 2011
Against the Grain Urban Tavern, Toronto, ON
7 comments:
- Gran said...
Happy Canada Day! Great pictures, and that beer looks yummy.
- 1 July 2011 at 22:24
- My Little Corner said...
Happy Canada Day to you ! I can't believe what a beautiful day you had! It's so bright and sunny, I can't remember what one of those look like! LOLs!
What a nice day you and Gord had - good for you!
- 2 July 2011 at 01:07
- Lady Banana said...
Looks a great place to spend the day!
- 2 July 2011 at 08:52
- Finding Pam said...
This looks like a wonderful place to enjoy. Happy Canada Day.
Thank you for commenting on my blog.
- 2 July 2011 at 09:49
- Cindy said...
Happy Canada Day, back to you! Looks like you had a good one.
- 2 July 2011 at 11:11
- The Optimist said...
This post made me hungry for nachos! Yummy :)
- 2 July 2011 at 18:35
- Sue St Clair said...
We went down to Sunnyside. Was a lovely day, but not that much going on there.
- 3 July 2011 at 10:17
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OAKLAND Bay Area Rapid Transit's two largest unions voted Friday on a tentative contract agreement after a bitter labor dispute that prompted two strikes.
More than 2,300 members of Service Employees International Union Local 1021 and Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1555 voted on whether to approve a new four-year contract that includes a 15 percent raise and improved safety conditions.
The agreement also requires workers to pay into pensions for the first time and increases their monthly health care contributions from about $92 to $129. The unions represent train operators, station agents, custodians and maintenance and clerical workers.
The vote comes nearly two weeks after the unions reached a deal that ended months of tortured talks over salary, benefits and safety conditions. The unions went on strike for nearly five days in July and after a state-mandated cooling off-period, went back to the picket lines for four days last month angering thousands of commuters.
During the second strike, two BART workers were killed by a train operated by an employee under training in Walnut Creek on Oct. 19, which many believe drew the parties back to the bargaining table to iron out a deal a couple of days later.
SEIU said voting results were expected late Friday.
If the two unions ratify the contract, BART's board of directors would likely then vote on the new contract at a special meeting, BART officials have said.


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Expand Social Security Coverage to Include Newly Hired State and Local Government Employees
RevenuesOption 19
Expand Social Security Coverage to Include Newly Hired State and Local Government Employees
|(Billions of dollars)
|Change in Revenues
Source: Staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation.
Note: This option would take effect in January 2014. The change in revenues would consist of an increase in receipts from Social Security payroll taxes (which would be off-budget), offset in part by a reduction in individual tax revenues (which would be on-budget). In addition, the option would increase outlays for Social Security by a small amount. The estimates do not include those effects on outlays.
Nearly all private-sector workers and federal employees are covered by Social Security, but a quarter of workers employed by state and local governments are not covered. Under federal law, state and local governments can opt to enroll their employees in the Social Security program, or they can opt out if they provide a separate retirement plan for those workers instead. State and local governments may also have their employees participate in Social Security and be part of a separate retirement plan. In contrast, all federal employees hired after December 31, 1983, are covered by Social Security and pay the associated payroll taxes. Furthermore, all state and local government employees hired after March 31, 1986, and all federal government employees are covered by Medicare and pay payroll taxes for Hospital Insurance (Medicare Part A).
Under this option, Social Security coverage would be expanded to include all state and local government employees hired after December 31, 2013. Consequently, all newly hired state and local government employees would pay the Social Security payroll tax. That 12.4 percent tax on earnings, half of which is deducted from employees' paychecks and half of which is paid by employers, funds the Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance programs. If implemented, this option would increase revenues by a total of $81 billion over the 2014–2023 period, the staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation estimates. (The estimate includes the reduction in individual income tax revenues that would result from shifting some labor compensation from a taxable to a nontaxable form.)
Paying the Social Security payroll tax for 10 years generally qualifies workers (and their dependents) to receive Social Security retirement benefits; other work requirements must be met for employees to qualify for disability benefits or, in the event of their death, for their dependents to qualify for survivors' benefits. Although extending such coverage to all newly hired state and local employees would eventually increase the number of Social Security beneficiaries, that increase would have little impact on the federal government's spending for Social Security in the short term. Over the 2014–2023 period, outlays would increase only by a small amount because most people who would be hired by state and local governments during that period would not begin receiving Social Security benefits for many years. (The estimate does not include any effects on outlays.)
In the long term, the additional benefit payments for the expanded pool of beneficiaries would be only about half the size of the additional revenues. That is largely because most of the newly hired workers would receive Social Security benefits anyway under current law for one of two possible reasons: They might have held other covered jobs in the past, or they were covered by a spouse's employment. As a result, this option would slightly enhance the long-term viability of the Social Security program, which faces the prospect that income from Social Security payroll taxes will not be sufficient to finance the benefits that are due to beneficiaries under current law.
Another rationale for implementing the option concerns fairness. Social Security benefits are intended to replace only a percentage of a worker's preretirement earnings. That percentage (referred to as the replacement rate) is higher for workers with low career earnings than for workers with higher earnings. But the standard formula for calculating Social Security benefits does not distinguish between people whose career earnings are low and those who just appear to have low career earnings because they spent a portion of their career working in jobs that were not covered by Social Security. To make the replacement rate more comparable for workers with similar earnings histories, current law reduces the standard benefits for retired government employees who have worked a substantial portion of their career in employment that is not covered by Social Security. However, that adjustment is imperfect and can affect various public employees differently: Specifically, it can result in higher replacement rates for some public employees who were not covered by Social Security throughout their career and in lower replacement rates for other public employees. This option would eliminate those inequities.
Implementing this option would also provide better retirement and disability benefits for many workers who move between government jobs and other types of employment. By facilitating job mobility, the option would enable some workers—who would otherwise stay in state and local jobs solely to maintain their public-employee retirement benefits—to move to jobs in which they could be more productive. Many state and local employees are reluctant to leave their jobs because pensions are structured to reward people who spend their entire careers in the same pension system. If their government service was covered by Social Security, there would be fewer disincentives to moving because they would remain in the Social Security system. State and local governments, however, might respond to greater turnover by reducing their investment in workers—by cutting training programs, for example—causing the productivity of state and local employees to decline.
An argument against such a policy change is that it might place an added burden on some state and local governments, which already face significant budgetary challenges. State and local pension plans are generally designed to be prefunded so that participants' contributions can be invested to pay future benefits. As long as the plans are fully funded, transferring new employees to the Social Security system would not cause any problems. However, many plans are underfunded and depend on contributions from new participants to make up the shortfall. Under this option, the affected state and local governments would probably restructure their plans in one of two ways. They might exclude newly hired state and local employees from participation—thereby forgoing a possible source of new funding—which would place an additional burden on those governments. Or, they might choose to supplement the Social Security coverage for new employees by formulating a benefit package that, with Social Security included, was equivalent in value to their current plan. But such a package would increase costs to state and local governments because the cost per dollar of Social Security benefits for state and local government employees would probably exceed the cost per dollar for pensions provided by state and local governments. Social Security costs would be greater because that program initially paid benefits to recipients who had not contributed much to the system and because Social Security redistributes benefits to workers with low career earnings. Delaying implementation of the option for a few years would provide state and local governments time to restructure their pension plans. Nevertheless, costs to the affected governments would probably rise.