text:
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18 October 2013
In a moving ceremony that brought back memories for soldiers and veterans, a life-size bronze statue of the Household Cavalry's most famous terrorist bombing survivor has been unveiled at the Royal Veterinary School in Hertfordshire.
Sefton served with the British army from 1967 to 1984, and became a symbol of resilience when, despite the odds, he survived an IRA nail bomb that killed four soldiers and seven horses in Hyde Park on 20 July 1982.
He and the 14 other horses and accompanying soldiers from the Household Cavalry's Blues and Royals had just ridden out from their Barracks in Knightsbridge to perform the daily ceremony of the Queen's Life Guard at Horse Guards Parade when they were targeted.
Less than two hours later, another bomb planted under a bandstand in Regent's Park killed seven Army bandsmen from the Royal Green Jackets, on a day that claimed more casualties than any other IRA attack on mainland Britain. More than 50 people were injured in the attacks and the newspaper photographs of dead and dying horses became the most enduring images of the Troubles.
Sefton was one of the most severely injured of the horses, his jugular having been severed by shrapnel, but the Regiment's Veterinary Officer, who was one of the first on the scene, stuffed the wound with an Army shirt and was able to stem the blood loss sufficiently to allow him to operate and save the horse.
Sefton had 34 injuries and underwent surgery for more than eight hours – a record for equine surgery at the time – to remove 28 pieces of shrapnel from his body. Remarkably, within three months Sefton was back in Knightsbridge on duty, his wounds healed, his coat regrown. His strength of character was an inspiration to people across the world and he received mailbags full of fan mail and donations.
The donations funded the Sefton Equine Hospital at the RVC which has now been replaced with a state of the art medical facility which treats the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment's horses whenever the need arises.
The new statue has been erected beside it as a lasting memory.
Those who knew him, treated him, and rode him were present at the Royal Veterinary School for the official unveiling of the statue by artist Camilla Le May (pictured with the statue) who spent weeks studying Sefton's equine colleagues at Hyde Park Barracks in preparation for the final sculpture.
They were all in agreement that she had captured his spirit. Camilla spent two years working on the project and six months making the sculpture which weighs three quarters of a ton. Beside the statue's hoof lies a six inch nail, a reminder of the bomb that caused so much devastation. But Camilla explained that the nail is lying harmless behind the horse to symbolise how he and the unit triumphed over adversity and moved on.
Brigadier Andrew Parker Bowles who was the Household Cavalry's Commanding Officer at the time of the IRA attack and treated the men and horses at the scene, said: "It has been wonderful to see this work from its beginnings and now seemingly to be meeting an old friend again. I remember Sefton for his courage and also for his spirit. For me, he epitomises the finest qualities we see in our armed forces."
Lieutenant Colonel Richard Pope, Commanding Officer of the Defence Animal Centre at Melton Mowbray, was a young veterinary nurse at the time of the bombing and treated Sefton during his recovery. He said: "Sefton was one of a number of horses from the bombing who came to the DAC for treatment and long term care. He was, like all the horses who survived, badly injured.
"The shrapnel caused some large wound injuries and he and the other horses also had to recover from the shock they suffered in the incident. Working Army animals are very fit, they are in good condition physically, which meant they were well placed to deal with the trauma that happened and we made sure they got the very best care."
Lieutenant Colonel Paul Bedford is the current Commanding Officer of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment and was presented with a limited edition bronze maquette of the statue. He said: "Today, as they do every day, the Household Cavalry rode out from Hyde Park Barracks to perform the Queen's Life Guard Ceremony. Every day as they do so they pass and pay their respects to the monument that now stands to those who fell on that day in 1982.
"This weekend soldiers from the Household Cavalry Regiment will be returning home as the unit completes six tours in Afghanistan. We are uncowed, we recover and carry on. This is an important day for us to be here to see this statue unveiled.
"We are very grateful. It's a remarkable piece of work. And I want to thank you on behalf of the Regiment for all the work that you at the Royal Veterinary College do to support us, our horses, and for this magnificent maquette."
Sefton became one of the first horses to be placed in the British Horse Society's equestrian Hall of Fame, and after retiring in 1984 he went to live in the Home of Rest for Horses, a sanctuary near Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire, with two other horses that survived the blast.
The statue was commissioned to honour one of the Royal Veterinary College's longest-serving senior academics, Prof Peter Lees, who retired in 2010 and has worked tirelessly to create better pain relief for animals. It was funded and unveiled by honorary fellow Lord Ballyedmond.


text:
Human Resources Department
Florida Gulf Coast University
Modular 2
Tele: (239) 590-1400
Fax: (239) 590-1011
If you have a hearing or speech impairment, call Florida Gulf Coast University using the Florida Relay at 711.
The next FGCU Blood Drive will be Monday, September 28th from 10:00 am- 5:30 pm. The bloodmobile will be located in Parking Lot 5 near the Cohen Center.
Please allow 30-40 minutes for the process, but the actual donation only takes between four and seven minutes. This time is considered work time and does not require the use of annual or other leave. It is recommended that you eat within four hours of donating. SPECIAL NOTE: Photo ID is required to donate blood.
Please click here for information regarding donating blood through OneBlood.
Sponsored by: Lee Memorial System Blood Center
Free Snacks/Drinks - All Donors Receive: "Just Chill" Insulated Tote Bag
Located on the \\Fgcu-coral\Root\Campus\CrossDept\Human Resources folder is an EXCEL file called Blood Donations.xls to use as a sign-up sheet. (Do not open it in MSWord and do not open as read-only.) Please place your name & office extension number in the slot that best suits your schedule. REMEMBER TO SAVE & CLOSE THE SPREADSHEET as only one user can access it at a time.
Students may schedule appointments by e-mailing firstname.lastname@example.com.
Remember - When you give blood, you are giving life to someone in need.
If you have any questions, please call Human Resources at 590-1400 or email email@example.com.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
We Live in an Age of Disintegration
The Terrible Cost to Democrats and American Society of Ignoring Thomas Frank's Warnings
Debt Deflation -- the Economic Concept That Proves Market Optimists Wrong
With Half a Million Ballots Left to Count, Likelihood of Sanders Win in California Dims
Neoconservatives Endorse Hillary Clinton for President Because They Know She's One of Them
By Mike Rose
Arthur Blaustein $7.13
Jacky Guerrero / oneNationCA.org
Coming out was one of the hardest things Viridiana Hernandez, a 19-year-old student from Grand Canyon University, has had to do.
Christmas came early for demagogues. The court decision putting a hold on the worst provisions of Arizona's new anti-Latino immigration law is a gift-wrapped present to those who delight in turning truth, justice and the American way into political liabilities.
Flickr / ThreadedThoughts (CC-BY-ND)
U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton decided Wednesday that SB 1070's most controversial bits, such as requiring immigrants to carry papers wherever they go, will have to wait until the courts can sort out the mess. As written, the law, which was set to take effect Thursday, would restrict the liberty of "lawfully-present aliens," the judge said.
Wikimedia Commons
As the U.S. Justice Department preps for a federal case against Arizona's controversial SB 1070 anti-immigrant law, many supporters of the bill are accusing the federal government of intentionally overlooking the more than 40 "sanctuary cities" that have popped up around the country.
Dario Castillejos, Dario La Crisis
"Machete," a phony trailer bundled into Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino's 2007 collaboration "Grindhouse," is getting expanded into a full-length movie. Rodriguez just sent out an updated trailer, with a "special Cinco de Mayo message to Arizona."
Arizona's bold election reforms just backfired. Public financing and an attempt to stop gerrymandering may be to blame for the state's immigration law.
The Phoenix Suns pro basketball team will celebrate Cinco de Mayo by wearing "Los Suns" jerseys—in part to protest their home state's anti-immigrant law. Steve Nash, the team's star (and an immigrant himself), explains rather eloquently why he opposes the law.
By Mike Luckovich
The notion that the first thing to do is "secure the border" between the United States and Mexico—and only then worry about comprehensive immigration reform—falls somewhere between hopeful fantasy and cynical cop-out.
Give us your tired and your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, because we already have an abundance of selfish, mean xenophobes. Polls show that most Americans support Arizona's new immigration law, which makes it criminal to accept the Statue of Liberty's invitation. (continued)
The Mexican Foreign Ministry has issued an alert to all citizens living in or traveling to Arizona after the state passed an immigration law that essentially requires brown people to carry papers. "It must be assumed that every Mexican citizen may be harassed and questioned," the alert warns.
Flickr / ONE/MILLION
A huge rally will converge in Phoenix on Saturday with activists calling for federal action to address Arizona's immigration problems. At the center of it all is Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, a man accused of racial profiling in his notorious crusade against undocumented immigrants.
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Nobody since Newton has been able to use geometrical methods to the same extent for the like purposes; and as we read the Principia we feel as when we are in an ancient armoury where the weapons are of gigantic size; and as we look at them we marvel what manner of man he was who could use as a weapon what we can scarcely lift as a burden.
William Whewell (1794 - 1866)
Source: E. N. Da C. Andrade "Isaac Newton" in J. R. Newman (ed.) The World of Mathematics, New York: Simon and Schuster, 1956.
Contributed by: Zaady
Those who dismiss "revisionist" qualms about the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki as indulgences in peace-time sentimentality must count President Truman's own Chief of Staff among the bleeding hearts: "It is my opinion that the use of this barbarous weapon at Hiroshima and Nagasaki was of no material assistance in our war against Japan. The Japanese were already defeated and ready to surrender because of the effective sea blockade and the successful bombing with conventional weapons. . . . The lethal possibilities of atomic warfare in the future are frightening. My own feeling was that in being the first to use it, we had adopted an ethical standard common to the barbarians of the Dark Ages. I was not taught to make war in that fashion , and wars cannot be won by destroying women and children. We were the first to have this weapon in our possession, and the first to use it. There is a practical certainty that potential enemies will have it in the future and that atomic bombs will some time be used against us."
William D. Leahy
Source: I Was There, 1950
Ridicule, the weapon of all others most feared by enthusiasts of every description, and which from its predominance over such minds, often checks what is absurd, and fully as often smothers that which is noble.
Walter Scott
Trust can be a powerful weapon.
Samson killed a thousand men with the jaw bone of an ass. That many sales are killed every day with the same weapon.
He's acting alone. He's cut off from his chain of command. He's exhibiting symptoms of pressure-induced psychosis, and he has a nuclear weapon. So as a personal favour to me, would you lay off him?
The arms race can kill, though the weapons themselves may never be used . . . by their cost alone, armaments kill the poor by causing them to starve.
Source: Vatican statement to the U.N., 1976
With the birth of the Babe in Bethlehem, there emerged a great endowment, a power stronger than weapons, a wealth more lasting than the coins of Caesar. This child was to be the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the promised Messiah - even Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Thomas S. Monson (1927 -)
Source: Friend June, 1996, "They Spoke to Us" © by Intellectual Reserve, Inc.Used by permission.
I am proud of the fact that I never invented weapons to kill.
Thomas Edison (1847 - 1931)
Commonly they must use their feet for defense whose only weapon is their tongue.
Sir Philip Sidney (1554 - 1586)
Copyright © 2016 Gaiam, Inc.


text:
Tuesday, July 17
Suspicious conditions, 12:27 a.m.: Ransom Avenue and Easy Street.
Suspicious conditions, 12:56 a.m.: Matot and Railroad streets.
Hazard, 9:44 a.m.: 800 block of Chetco Avenue.
Lost property, 9:58 a.m.: Brookings.
Driving complaint, 12:22 p.m.: Fifth Street and Chetco Avenue.
Suspicious conditions, 2:43 p.m.: Freeman Lane.
Driving complaint, 7:23 p.m.: Oak Street and Chetco Avenue.
Dispute, 7:44 p.m.: 98000 block of Hall Way.
Driving complaint, 8:18 p.m.: Between 3 1/2 miles up South Bank Chetco River Road and Hillside Avenue.
Non-injury traffic crash, 9:44 p.m.: 300 block of Fifth Street.
Driving complaint, 11:14 p.m.: Chetco Avenue and Fifth Street.
Wednesday, July 18
Minor in possession, 2:33 a.m.: Buena Vista Loop.
Found property, 9:11 a.m.: Donalds Road.
Criminal mischief, 9:56 a.m.: 600 block of Meadow Lane.
Lost property, 10:38 a.m.: Brookings.
Animal complaint, 11:01 a.m.: 800 block of Paradise Lane.
Loud noise, 11:23 a.m.: 400 block of Smith Drive.
Driving complaint, 11:40 a.m.: Highway 101 northbound.
Animal complaint, 11:58 a.m.: 900 block of Chetco Avenue.
Assault, 12:19 p.m.: 500 block of Railroad Street.
Loud noise, 2:51 p.m.: Azalea Park.
Child abuse, 3:05 p.m.: 7100 block of Vista Ridge Drive.
Hit and run, 3:46 p.m.: 1100 block of Chetco Avenue.
Loud noise, 4:17 p.m.: 200 block of Lilac Lane.
Telephone harassment, 5:19 p.m.: Reported at Brookings Police Department.
Hazard, 6:59 p.m.: 98000 block of Gerlach Lane.
Suspicious conditions, 7:43 p.m.: Harris Beach.
Unknown problem, 9:34 p.m.: 15700 block of Pedrioli Drive.
Loud noise, 10:18 p.m.: 900 block of Helen Lane.
Thursday, July 19
DUII, 1:07 a.m.: Parking lot at Chetco Avenue and Wharf Street.
Violation of city ordinance, 8:45 a.m.: 300 block of Pacific Avenue.
Lost property, 9:26 a.m.: 16900 block of Apple Alley.
Driving complaint, 3:34 p.m.: Highway 101 South.
Driving complaint, 4:02 p.m.: Highway 101 near the California state line.
Dispute, 9:24 p.m.: Clifford Kamph Memorial Park, Smith River.


text:
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Habemus Papam
I am not Catholic but Lutheran. If not for Martin Luther, who knows where my beliefs would've been rooted...
My father was Catholic, my mother Lutheran. That seems to be the way it goes, doesn't it? The mother often seems to be the one who decides such things.
The point of this post is not for me to wax philosophical. It is to comment on the historic events of the day.
Habemus Papam: We have a pope.
Jorge Mario Bergoglio, born in Buenos Aires, one of the five children of Italian immigrants, his father was a railway worker, his mother a housewife.
The first words I heard to describe him were "humble" and a "man of the people".
Those aren't bad words, are they?
As I watched the white smoke boil from that silly little chimney, I found myself practically moved to tears.
Again, I am not Catholic, yet I have been strongly moved by these events. The tradition, the rituals, the whatever you want to call it, has always fascinated me.
Today, however, wasn't about that.
It was, for me, about faith.
St. Peter's Square was packed despite the fact that it was a cold and rainy evening in Rome. When the smoke was white, the joy was palpable. They cheered, they chanted, they sang, all with great joy.
What I noticed about the crowd were the number of young faces present, faces filled with joy, hope, and, dare I say it, faith.
I needed this day.
I needed the reminder that faith is not outdated. It is not dead. It was there, burning brightly in St. Peter's Square.
I pray for the new pontiff's health. I pray for his humility and his faith. May they carry him through the troubled waters ahead.
2 comments:
- Bump said...
Glad to see your Christian tolerance. I've a nephew who is pastor of a small mid-western Lutheran church. He too talks well of other denominations. He and I probably agree that all Christians worthy of the name have made that famous "leap of faith". Okay. Neither my nephew or I understand Islam. Apparently there is no "leap" involved to be a believer? The Prophet Muhammad is their teacher and Allah is their God. There is a wide gap between Islam and Christianity and radicalized Muslims intend to murder all infidels, including Christians, that refuse Islam. Question: Aggressive, militant Islam is a horrific threat to the new Pope. We may be seeing the start of a religious war between Catholics and other Christians and Islam. How should the Pope direct or lead the Christian response?
- CJ said...
I try to be tolerant but after Boston... my tolerance is a bit thin.
Why do you see a war between Catholics and other Christians? I'm not sure I agree with it.
I think the Pope has a huge job ahead of him and I honestly have no idea what he should do, mainly because my feelings about Islam have been so hardened by the violence they continue to propagate.


text:
Weird Late Night Misc. Religion Poll Data Quote-of-the-Day
Forty-five percent of Catholics did not know that their church teaches that the consecrated bread and wine in holy communion are not merely symbols, but actually become the body and blood of Christ.
You can also bookmark this on del.icio.us or check the cosmos
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One Response
keith Says:
September 29th, 2010 at 11:10 am
Yum Yum,
cannibalism is great…


text:
Hugoton took care of a young and pesky Liberal team 10-4 Tuesday at the Liberal Baseball Complex. The Eagles led 4-2 going to the seventh before the Eagles put up six runs in the seventh to blow a tight game open.
Yates Sutton pitched six innings of one hit ball with nine strikeouts for the win. Reid Davis was 4-5 with an inside the park homerun while Alfredo Licon and Nick Frederick were both 3-5.
Hugoton scored two in the second and one in the third before adding one in the sixth. Liberal did a good job of pitching out of jams and scored two runs of their own when Law Greiner laced a two RBI double to right center in the sixth to make it 4-2.
Hugoton out-hit Liberal 15-1 and both teams committed three errors a piece.
The same two teams meet at Hugoton Friday at 4 p.m.
©2016 Seward County Broadcasting Company, Inc.
1410 N. Western Ave. Liberal, KS 67901


text:
Dhoom Machale dhoom song
10 Dhoom Machale dhoom song Articles
After a song in Aamir Khan's Dhoom:3, Peru's pop sensation Mia Mont wants to act in Bollywood!2 years ago 0
Pop sensation of south American country Peru and the voice behind the Spanish version of Dhoom:3 title track, says it was a dream come true for her… Read Article ▶
Why is Katrina Kaif inviting everybody to dance?3 years ago 5
Ms Kaif is asking everybody to dance but she isn't hosting any party. We are just talking about the title track of her upcoming film Dhoom:3 The… Read Article ▶
Dhoom:3 song Dhoom machale dhoom – Is Naya's Arabic version any match to Tata Young's English rendition?3 years ago 5
After Tata Young's English version of Dhoom machale dhoom, this time YRF has given the title track of Dhoom:3 an Arabic twist. But is it a treat to… Read Article ▶
Want to be a seductress like Katrina Kaif in Dhoom:3?3 years ago 1
Kat has been praised and bashed alike by critics for her latest Dhoom:3 number Dhoom machale, but we're sure there are many who'd like to attain that… Read Article ▶
Aamir Khan and Katrina Kaif's Dhoom:3 song Malang costs Rs 5 crore3 years ago 3
As Dhoom:3 is said to be the third and last installment of the Dhoom series, the makers are leaving no stone unturned in delivering the best A… Read Article ▶
Nargis Fakhri all praises for Dhoom:3!3 years ago 2
The Madras Café actor is all praises for the Dhoom:3 babe When the much awaited Dhoom machale dhoom song from Dhoom:3 released, everyone took to… Read Article ▶
Yogen Shah
Is Aamir Khan trying to sideline Abhishek Bachchan from Dhoom:3 promotions?3 years ago 1
Mr Perfectionist was late for the launch of the Dhoom: 3 title track and the news spread like wildfire, even the film's heroine declared that Sachin… Read Article ▶
Yogen Shah
After Salman Khan and Ranbir Kapoor, Katrina Kaif talks about her bikini pictures!3 years ago 2
Ranbir-Kat's Spain holiday still continues to haunt this couple, the Dhoom:3 actor made sure she had no confrontation with the media until yesterday… Read Article ▶
Yogen Shah
Dhoom:3 song Dhoom machale dhoom: Katrina Kaif a Barbie doll not an actor, think fans!3 years ago 18
Kat's song from Dhoom:3 was the most awaited song, but Ms Kaif might not be very happy to know what fans of the Dhoom franchise have to say Katrina… Read Article ▶
Dhoom:3 song Dhoom machale dhoom – Is Katrina Kaif aping Tata Young?3 years ago 40
The much awaited song from Dhoom:3 is finally out but is it an audio-visual delight? Aamir Khan's Dhoom:3 is the most awaited film of the year and… Read Article ▶


text:
Top Definition
Normally a bad ass Bitch with a bad ass body.
Never underestimate the Bictoria side of that chick.
ayon kay yeayea9669 ika-14 ng Nobyembre, 2009
Is a outgoing, Pillsbury dough girl, Italian Mozes who is very awkward and flirts with random people (when she does not no).
Is Bictoria having &*@^ with anatoliy!
ayon kay Jope wgw ika-23 ng Enero, 2009


text:
Following day 12 of athletic competition at the 2014 Winter Olympics, medal standings show the United States alone at the top of the leader board with 23 podium finishes, according to data posted to the Games' official website on Feb. 19.
Day 12 saw team USA add three medals to their Olympic haul, including a gold for alpine skier Ted Ligety in the men's giant slalom, and silver and bronze in women's bobsled.
Second place belongs to both host nation Russia and the Netherlands, who each enter day 13 with 22 total medals. The Dutch continued their dominance in long track speedskating on Feb. 19 by taking silver and bronze in the women's 5,000 meter event, while the Russians, like the Americans, added three medals to their Sochi collection.
Norway, who leads the gold medal count with nine, sits in fourth place overall with 20 total medals, while Canada is alone in fifth place with 18 and Germany ranks sixth with 15.
Seventh place features an 11-medal tie between France and Sweden, while Switzerland occupies ninth place with 10 medals, Austria is 10th with nine, and the Czech Republic is 11th with eight.
With seven medals each, Slovenia, Japan, and Italy share the 12-spot on the leader board. Belarus and China follow in 15th place with six total podium finishes, while a trio of nations that includes Poland, Korea, and Finland share 17th place with four medals apiece.
Two more nations, Australia and Latvia, are tied for 20th place with three medals each, while Great Britain is alone in 22nd place with two medals. Finally, rounding out the medal count standings are Slovakia, Croatia, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine with a single medal apiece.
The 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi will resume Feb. 20 with day 13 of athletic competition.
Suggested Links
- 2014 Winter Olympics medal standings, day 11: U.S. still tied for the lead
- 2014 Winter Olympics medal standings: U.S. back on top after day 10
- 2014 Winter Olympics medal standings after day 9 see another new leader
- 2014 Winter Olympics medal standings: Day 8 sees a new leader emerge
- 2014 Winter Olympics medal standings after day 7 see U.S. tied for 1st


text:
May 18, 2013 8:35 AM
Got a couple extra holes in your ears? Why waste them on boring old studs or hoops when you can gussy them up with this Celestial Curve Earring ($25)? It'll make you the envy of all your single-pierced friends.
If you've got a product or service that you'd like to promote on Outblush, click here to find out about our advertising opportunities.
Outblush is a blog for girls who love to shop. Our staff digs up the best clothes, home stuff, beauty items, and more. New items are posted every day — bookmark us and check out:


text:
My previous post about MagLev and the planning of the next Ruby shootout received a lot of attention. MagLev's speed claims have been subject to a lot of skepticism, and many believe that these impressive figures are due to a combination of clever optimization for trivial tests and incompleteness. The skepticism is understandable. There have been very bright people working on alternative VMs for years, and this new product shows up after only 3 months, and claims to be way faster than anything seen before.
Except, that it's not entirely new. What makes the fact that they may be onto something and develop a faster implementation credible, is that they are leveraging decades worth of Smalltalk experience, where the Smalltalk VMs underwent similar development challenges. Ruby and Smalltalk are family, there is not inherent reason why Ruby has to be dramatically slower than certain Smalltalk implementations. Parsing and compiling Ruby code into "smalltalk-ish" bytecode is not the hardest thing to do. So, from a certain prospective, MagLev is 30 years old, not 3 months old. I'm enthusiastic about the VM because I think MagLev is promising, but don't let people tell you that I'm naive. Despite the fact that MagLev is incomplete, I want to challenge it so that we verify and clarify what kind of speed improvements are really offered at this stage. Let's investigate how.
One very valid point that was raised by several people both in my comment section and on Slashdot, is the fact that many of the benchmarks that have been employed so far are not very useful. Some of them are meaningless, not because of the usual "micro-benchmark must be taken with a grain of salt" sound logic, but rather because they offer an opportunity for VMs to optimize them out. When a lazy/smart VM realizes that a given loop doesn't produce any results which will be used in some way, it'll just skip it, giving us the impression of being many, many times faster than the standard Ruby 1.8 implementation by Matz et al.
In the real world, when that loop has to do something meaningful and the results of the computation have to be printed on the screen, that impressive performance is nowhere to be seen. So far this set of tests, which were employed by Yarv for testing its own progress, have also been used to compare different implementations (and these benchmarks can be found in Rubinius' repository as well). This was the easy thing to do, but if we're going to get serious about it, we need to produce a better set of benchmarks, especially when the current ones question both Yarv and MagLev's impressive results.
In the long run, it would be good to come up with some serious benchmarks based on AST nodes in order to test each of Ruby's features. We can work on that, but let's get started with some "beefed up" micro-benchmarks for the imminent shootout. In one of my comments I wrongly called the Yarv tests "standard". That was unfortunate wording, because there are no "standard" benchmarks that we can rely on even minimally in the Ruby community. Let's fix that.
I created an empty project on GitHub, called Ruby Benchmark Suite. This project will hold a set of benchmarks that VM implementers can use to monitor their own progresses and that I can use to run periodical shootouts between all of the major implementations.
I also created a Lighthouse project, so that we can have some support for communication and project management. For on going discussion about the project, I created a public Google Group which I invite you to join, if you're interested in helping out. I'd like to see VM implementers get involved with this, in order to make it a set of reasonable, standard benchmarks that we can all agree upon.
For the next shootout, I'd like to start my multiple testing within the next week or two. So it'd be great if we could come up with a bunch of new tests and revisit the existing ones. What I'd like to see is the following:
I hope I can count on your help for this project.
If you enjoyed this post, then make sure you subscribe to my Newsletter and/or Feed.
May I make a suggestion?
I suggest you create a virtual machine for each of your platforms. Presuming none of your benchmarks are disk io bound you can test all of the platforms on the exact same machine under the same sort of conditions (same amount of memory, same CPU allocation etc).
VMware workstation allows you to create a base image and then create a set of "diffs" so it might be an ideal solution.
Thanks for inviting us, Antonio. This sounds like a great idea. We'll be glad to participate.
Since I've been at GemStone since it started in 1982, I have a small correction to your timeline. Your readers can choose what age they wish to view our MagLev VM.
The first GemStone VM (32-bit) was released in 1986, and version 6.2.2 of that product was released last Friday. The first 64-bit GemStone VM was released in 2005 and version 18.104.22.168 of that product was also released last Friday. MagLev is *based* on our upcoming 3.x VM. That VM will be released at such time it is feature complete and passes the tests required for current production customers to upgrade their existing (i.e. non-Ruby) applications.
Running Ruby is new functionality for us, and as Charles has pointed out, Ruby compliance is no small task. We haven't had time to implement anything besides Webrick, the microbenchmarks, and a bit of XML parsing. So I can't give an estimate of when we will pass enough RubySpecs for people to view MagLev as real.
But we'll be glad to share our Ruby code and performance benchmarks (good and bad) along the way.
— Monty
What about using the ones at shootout.alioth.debian.org as a start, they at least all require output i believe, so their shouldn't be any cases of pointless loops. Also comes with the added bonus of implementations in many languages.
I think they were just added recently to the rubinius benchmark directory, as an additional set of benchmarks to test perf.
This kind of thing is why I have a lot of respect for the Ruby community. When they encounter a problem instead of just whining about it they try to solve it with a combination of programming skill and open source.
Some comments I would add:
* I've never liked benchmarks that just have a single number result. I'd rather see the same test done with e.g. more and more data and get a nice graph that shows where bottlenecks get hit.
* Similarly if a result takes 1 second half the time and 11 seconds the rest, it shouldn't be just averaged to 6, the variability should be shown somewhere
* Memory is important as well as speed. I believe alioth already reports on this?
* For VM's that get faster with use Alioth also has a graph that shows the time taken for the first and subsequent runs. In effect this gives an upper and lower bound on times depending on how much you want to punish/reward systems in how they trade startup speed against ongoing performance. (http://shootout.alioth.debian.org/debian/miscfile.php?file=dynamic&title=Java%20Dynamic%20Compilation)
* Is the software that displays the alioth results open source, as well as the benchmarks themselves? Could be a good way to centrally report the results and give something back by letting other languages (e.g. Iron/J/python) use a similar setup customised for comparing across multiple implementations of a single language.
* I would have thought that also testing on a dual-core machine would be sensible. Don't modern VMs use the other thread to do VM-stuff in the background? (http://java.sun.com/performance/reference/whitepapers/6_performance.html#2.1.6)
While Ruby has improved by 5x with the newer 1.9 release.
It is still VERY slow comparing to other language like Lua or Java or even Python.
A quick glance sees Ruby 1.9 is still one of the slowest according to the test shown above.
Will this MagLev bring us up to speed with Lua / Java.
[…] couple of weeks ago I announced the creation of a Ruby Benchmark Suite project. The next shootout will take place starting from the […]
[…] Antonio Cangiano comienza el proyecto Ruby Benchmark Suite. […]
I sincerely welcome and appreciate your comments, whether in agreement or dissenting with my article. However, trolling will not be tolerated. Comments are automatically closed 15 days after the publication of each article.


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Women With Breast Cancer May Have Cognitive Problems Before Chemotherapy
by VR Sreeraman on December 9, 2012 at 2:00 PM Women Health News - G J E 4
Women with breast cancer likely to suffer from cognitive problems before chemotherapy, which is commonly referred to as "chemo brain", according to a study.
Bernadine Cimprich, Ph.D., R.N., associate professor emerita at the University of Michigan School of Nursing in Ann Arbor, and colleagues found that pretreatment neurocognitive compromise and fatigue were key contributors to the cognitive effects often attributed to chemotherapy.
Advertisement"For a long time, women undergoing treatment for breast cancer have reported cognitive problems such as trouble thinking clearly, remembering things, and carrying out jobs and other responsibilities, which we have attributed to chemotherapy or 'chemo brain,'" Cimprich said. "Research shows that these problems do occur in some women during chemotherapy, but we still do not understand what the underlying causes are."
Cimprich and her colleagues reasoned that the mental demand and stress of a breast cancer diagnosis could play a role in these early cognitive problems. They tested neurocognitive responses using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) on 28 women who received adjuvant chemotherapy, 37 who received radiotherapy and 32 healthy controls. Before treatment and one month after treatment, the participants performed a verbal working memory task with varying levels of demand for cognitive control during fMRI scanning. They also provided self-reports of fatigue.
Women who underwent chemotherapy reported a significantly higher level of fatigue and performed less accurately on the cognitive tests before treatment and one month after treatment. In addition, greater fatigue correlated with poorer test performance and more cognitive problems reported over time.
Brain imaging before treatment showed reduced function in regions needed to perform the task in both patient groups when compared with controls, with more compromise seen in women awaiting chemotherapy. Women who were less successful in recruiting the brain regions needed for the task before treatment were more likely to suffer greater fatigue over time, regardless of treatment group.
"Our initial findings showed that the level of worry interfered with patients'' ability to do a task," Cimprich said. "The level of worry had a key role in the cognitive problems with these women before treatment, and this worry was related to fatigue."
Scores for cognitive testing from women who underwent radiation treatment fell between those of women who underwent chemotherapy and those of the healthy women.
"Women faced with the decision to undergo chemotherapy should know that cognitive problems, should they occur, may not always stem from chemotherapy," Cimprich said. "Women should not avoid accepting recommendations for lifesaving chemotherapy for fear of 'chemo brain.'"
Cimprich recommended existing interventions to combat stress after a breast cancer diagnosis, including mindfulness intervention, psychological support, cognitive behavior interventions and exercise.
"It might be possible to diminish worry and fatigue and maintain strong brain function during the course of treatment using these interventions," Cimprich said.
The research was funded by the National Institutes of Health.
Source: Newswise
P Scientists Uncovers Antibiotic-Gobbling Bug Regulator Linking Exercise to Bigger, Stronger Muscles Identified M
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Credit Union Web Training Webinar:
Emerging Leader Series: Understanding Asset Liability Management Concepts
The entire credit union meets at the desk of asset liability management (ALM). The Asset/Liability Committee (ALCO) discusses the profitability and capital impact of loan rates, investment structure, deposit rates, deposit structure, developing a risk profile, mitigating risk, and the impact of interest rate risk on capital adequacy. This is important information for all emerging leaders.
Controlling interest rate risk through ALM has always been important in operating a profitable credit union. With the recent increase in interest rates, it is now more critical than ever. This webinar will provide the information needed to understand all of the regulatory requirements necessary for an effective ALM program. In addition, the session will address areas of asset liability modeling that may cause erroneous decisions. It will also cover asset/liability theory including measurement, ratios, and normal risk parameters, and include the practical implementation of these theories in an understandable manner that will improve your interest rate risk, profitability, and shareholder value.
Continuing Education: Attendance verification for CE credits upon request
Don't Miss the Other Emerging Leader Series Webinars!
Sign up for the entire series and receive 6 webinars for the price of 5!
Click here to learn more about the Emerging Leader Series
This program is best suited for all emerging and existing leaders that are involved in interest rate risk. This session is a cost-effective way to determine the interest rate risk at your credit union and to meet regulatory guidelines.
Webinar content is subject to copyright and intended for your individual credit union's use only.
Gary Young, Young & Associates, Inc.
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The people of Effin probably wondered what the big effin' deal was with Facebook not listing the little Irish town for users to post on their profile page.
Well, they need wonder no longer. Today reports a woman from the village, in the county of Limerick, complained that Effin wasn't an option when she went to choose her hometown on the social networking site. The news show asked Facebook what its issue with Effin was, and was told the town wasn't being blackballed because of its similarity to the slang term for the F word, but because of a technical oversight.
According to Today, Effinites can now list their hometown with pride. How effin' great is that?
Click here to read the full story.
Click here to read another fascinating news story from today's headlines.
Don't miss out on MORE great articles like this one. Click here to sign up for our weekly newsletter!


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Live updates
Plymouth's three diving hopes through to the women's final
All three of Plymouth's divers competing in the women's 10m competition have qualified for the final.
Tonia Couch and Sarah Barrow, who won a silver medal in the synchronized event yesterday, qualified in third and ninth place respectively.
And Team England's youngest member, 13-year-old Victoria Vincent, who also trains at Plymouth's Life Centre, qualified in eighth place.
The final
Youngest member of England squad dives today
Plymouth diver Victoria Vincent is about to take to the pool in the qualifying round for the women's 10m diving competition.
13-year-old Victoria almost didn't make it to Glasgow because it was feared she was too young. On finding out the news last month that she could go, she tweeted her delight.
Swimmer Ben Proud returns to Plymouth today
Superstar Plymouth swimmer Ben Proud will be back in the city today after his Commonwealth Games triumph.
The 19 year old, who broke four records, took two golds and a bronze medal will be back at the Life Centre where he trains with Plymouth Leander swimming club.
Plymouth's diving duo win Commonwealth medal
Plymouth's Tonia Couch and Sarah Barrow have won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games.
The synchronised diving pair duo for the first four rounds of the 10m competition, but were eventually beaten by the Canadian pair.
Plymouth's Ben Proud wins second gold
Plymouth's Ben Proud has completed an outstanding Commonwealth Games sprint double by adding the 50 metre freestyle crown to his 50 metre butterfly gold.
The 19 year old came home in 21 point 92 seconds, holding off stiff competition from the Australians Cameron McEvoy and James Magnussen, who took silver and bronze.
Proud on course for gold double
19-year-old Plymouth swimming sensation Ben Proud is hot favourite to win a second Commonwealth gold in the Tollcross pool this evening.
Proud set a new games record and personal best in the 50m freestyle semi-final last night. He claimed England's first swimming gold of the Games on Friday night in another sprint, the 50m butterfly, as well as a team relay bronze.
Meanwhile, Sophie Taylor became the third England teenager to win a gold medal in the 100m breaststroke. Taylor has been training alongside Proud and the Plymouth Leander swimming team for the last month in the lead up to the Games. She put herself on the national map by storming home ahead of favourite Lorna Tonks of Australia.
Exclusive interview with Ben Proud's family
Plymouth swimmer Ben Proud's family have spoken exclusively to ITV Westcountry of their pride at his ground-breaking gold medal. The 19 year-old became England's first gold medal winner in the pool on Friday night, setting a new Commonwealth and British record. Later, Proud collected bronze in the 100 metre freestyle relay.
A second gold at these Commonwealths is well within Ben's sights now after he qualified third fastest for the 50 metre freestyle final tomorrow.
His mum Sally and big brother Oliver talk below about how proud they are:
Melmore misses out on gold in Commonwealth final
In the commonwealth games, Torquay's Natalie Melmore failed to defend her title in the lawn bowls singles as she was beaten 21-15 by Jo Edwards. She had to settle for bronze.
Proud takes gold to make Plymouth proud
Plymouth's Ben Proud has clinched England's first swimming gold medal at the Commonwealth Games.
He was hotly tipped to top the podium after qualifying for the 50m butterfly final with a season's best time of 23.16 seconds. And he didn't disappoint at the Tollcross swimming centre.
The 19-year-old finished half a stroke ahead of his rival, the veteran south african Ronald Schoeman, recording a time of just 22.93 seconds.
And it wasn't just a gold medal he won. Proud also set a new Commonwealth record and British record as well.
Tancock loses title but takes bronze
Exeter's Liam Tancock has lost his 100 metre backstroke title.
The 29-year-old, who has returned from a hip injury, had to settle for a bronze medal.
Tancock lost out to fellow Englishman Chris Walker-Hebborn who set a new Commonwealth record with a time of 53.12 seconds.


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Coming home from work with an empty belly leads many to jump on www.seamless.com immediately. The thought of cooking after a long day is so overwhelming, that having to think about creating a meal can be just too much. Enter the easy meal- something so ridiculously simple that tastes amazing, looks great, and quells those hunger pangs.
On a night when you just CAN"T, do this- make a fritatta. Eggs, potatoes, onions, ham, cheese, anything, stirred together and baked. For this particular fritatta, you can take a standard size 14.5 x 10.5 disposeable aluminum roasting pan pan (three for $1 at many Key Foods), and just chuck ingredients in until you feel like stopping.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Rub a glug of olive oil across the bottom and sides of the pan and set aside. Break 9 eggs into a large bowl and whisk until blended together. Add spices like tarragon, parsley, and coriander to taste. Go through the fridge and pantry for filler: potatoes, peppers, broccoli, spinach, bacon, turkey, etc. Chop potatoes into cubes and boil until soft. As they are boiling, you can bee cutting up onions and peppers, breaking broccoli florets apart, grating cheese, or frying up some bacon. It may seem like a lot, but this is such a free form recipe that pretty much anything that you do is ok, and prep time can be time for you to think about your day, drink some wine, catch up on voice mails, etc.
Once you have all of your ingredients ready, dump them into the roasting pan. You can be somewhat ocd and arrange them so that you have even layers, or you can just throw them in. It's your choice. Once you have an even layer of filler, pour in the eggs. When this is cooked, the egg is like the Ring- it binds everything together. Sprinkle cheese and paprika on top, to make it look pretty. Now slide your roasting pan full of food into the oven. Set the timer or your phone alarm and go lie down.
You don't need to stir it, watch it, or babysit it. The fritatta starts working on itself and you can come back somewhat refreshed and find your self with dinner, and enough leftovers to allow to to not have to think for a few nights. make sure that the eggs are completely set before removing from the oven (or leave it a little runny in the center if you like that). Take the pan out and let it cool as you make a simple salad and put that on your plat. Cut a slice of fritatta or two, and rejoice in the beautiful meal that you just made yourself. You will feel warm and happy after eating this, and then you will go to sleep, have great dreams, and wake up the next day and get a raise.
Or not.
The fritatta can work cold, maybe take a chunk and cut it up to sprinkle on a salad to take to work. Eat it with roasted scallions and carrots (another no-brainer- just put the veggies in the oven, balance a piece of fritatta on top and cover.). Make a sandwich out it, with mustard slices of ham. Now you have something to play with, and it's a great dish when you have surprise company.


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By Craig Harper
For the Courier
Little League Baseball draws the lion's share of publicity, capped by its nationally televised World Series in Williamsport, Pa. But baseball purists might prefer tournaments under the auspice of the United States Specialty Sports Association, of which the Dakota Ridge Sports Association's youth teams are a member.
Copyright © 2016
Columbine Courier is your source for local news, sports, events, and information in South Jefferson County, Colo., and the surrounding area.


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Thank you for visiting our site. Over the past 25 years we are pretty certain you have used one of our products without even realizing it. Have you ever sat on a chair, lounged on a sofa, walked on some carpet (underlay), sat on the chairs at the airport or at a Leaf game, slept on a comfortable mattress with good foam on top, gone to a theatre or a nice restaurant? We are pretty certain you have done a few of these things. You have tried us before but now you get to choose what you think is comfortable or right for your comfort application.
We carry 45 grades of foam that can be cut down to any size or shape for furniture, packaging, marine, industrial or the best and most comfortable mattresses in any size or shape that you require. If you want Real Comfort it all starts with a good piece of foam. It continues with good foam. It's all about the foam. Foam is everywhere!
We use the largest selection of foam grades from all over the world and the latest in sleep technology to make you and your partner a custom mattress with the best and most natural comfort ingredients at a great factory direct price. Whether you are looking for a memory foam mattress or all natural latex rubber, as a foam and mattress manufacturer we can show you all the options that are available in today's marketplace.
If you want to buy a good mattress that is made with Real Comfort then you should get to know your foam first. Foam is the key comfort ingredient used in all mattresses. It is the fastest growing sleep surface and the number 1 brand of mattress presently sold in North America. All mattresses have foam in them. Chances are, if you are sleeping on a mattress you are sleeping on foam. What you may not know is that there are many different grades of foam and that they are not all the same.


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I can't believe this is the first photo of this on Panoramio!!!!
Boggling indeed! I'd take one, if I'd been there. How long will it take, I wonder, before this is your most popular photo? LOL!
LOL, isn't it great? We were the ones barbequing in the sun, though. It was 109 degrees out!!!
Nice catch Kamalyn!
The people living here certainly are not Muslims!
Best wishes, Timo
Hi BnP, I see you kept your head down and managed out and back. 109 degrees - you wouldn't be too used to that I think.
Oink! Oink! Do they sell hogs here? LoL!
LOLOL M: They sell bits-n-pieces of hogs here! Apparently this was one of the first drive-in fast food places in the 1920's, part of a chain called The Pig Stand. Here's a link to a little write up on it. It was pretty amusing to see it in the distance as we approached.
LOL Timo - neither are they Jewish, I'm sure!
Thanks H! All went fine, earthquakes, hurricanes, epic drought, 109F temps and all. What a week! At least everything there is well air-conditioned.
Hi! On the hog.
funny pig-ture :)
cheers, Dietmar
Yup - really living it up Tery - lol!
And lol Dietmar - Thanks!:D)))
Photo taken in Lavaca, San Antonio, TX, USA
Franks Hog Stand


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Gout is a kind of arthritis that occurs when uric acid builds up in blood and causes joint inflammation. Acute gout is a painful condition that typically affects one joint. Chronic gout is repeated episodes of pain and inflammation, which may involve more than one joint.
Symptoms of gout may include pain that (usually) affects a single joint, such as the big toe, knee or ankle joint. Patients often describe the pain as throbbing, crushing or excruciating. The affected joint often appears red and warm, tender and swollen. A gout attack may go away after a few days; some people may never have another episode while other may have recurring episodes. Chronic gout, also known as gouty arthritis, has the potential to lead to joint damage and limited range of motion for the affected joints.
Gout is actually caused by having higher than normal levels of uric acid in your body. This may occur if your body makes excessive uric acid or has a hard time eliminating uric acid. A build-up of uric acid (in the fluid around the joints) can develop into uric acid crystals. The formation of such crystals causes the pain and inflammation to occur.
The exact cause of gout is unknown, although it often runs in families. Gout may also develop in patients with certain pre-existing diseases, such as diabetes, kidney disease, obesity, and anemia. Additionally, certain medications that interfere with the removal of uric acid from the body may increase the risk of a gout attack. For example, people who take diuretics or water pills, may have higher levels of uric acid in their bloodstream.
Certain medications may be prescribed to lower the levels of uric acid in your bloodstream. More importantly, lifestyle changes can positively impact your overall health and reduce your risk of gout. Such lifestyle changes include decreasing beer intake, losing excessive weight, daily exercise, and limiting your intake of red meat and sugary beverages.
For more information on gout treatment options, visit the arthritis center at Web MD.


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KnowledgeWorks EDWorks StriveTogether
(May 18, 2012) Recent approval by the Delaware State Board of Education for Delaware State University's plan to add an EDWorks Fast Track school to its campus means the state could be getting its first early college high school. In keeping with the mission of EDWorks Fast Track schools, the early college high school on DSU's campus will "be designed specifically to serve first generation college-bound students." Along with DSU, we've been partnering with Innovative Schools, a non-profit public school support organization based in Wilmington to make this new school a reality. In an article on DoverPost.com, it states that "the University plans to enroll students in the school by the 2013-2014 school year."
Read the complete article on DoverPost.com.


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Withdraw or die!
The intertidal snail Batillaria minima was the subject of a post back in June. Long-time readers of this blog may recall that deep retractibility of land snails into their shells and the resulting conclusion that they build oversized shells have been the subjects of several posts (for example, here).
While photographing B. minima one day last June, I also tested their retractibility into their shells. During that process, I noticed that many snails had repair scars on their body whorls. This observation led to a quick study, which has just been published in No. 14 of Triton, the Journal of the Israel Malacological Society. You can download the pdf version from here.
In summary, the study demonstrated is that some B. minima survive the attacks of a predator, because the snails can withdraw to a position about a quarter of a whorl behind their apertures, which is possible because they have oversized shells. This led to a more general conclusion:
"From an evolutionary point of view, a snail would build an oversized shell only if the protection and other possible advantages offered by such a shell compensate for the extra time, energy and material required to build and maintain it. In B. minima, the vital antipredatory function of the oversized shell provides the necessary
Note: Some time after I submitted this manuscript, I found a paper (Dudley, Nautilus, 94:162-164, 1980) about the comparison of the frequencies of repair scars on B. minima and Cerithium lutosum. The paper did not discuss retractibility.


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Thanks for helping us sort this video!
Thanks for helping us associate the correct Pornstars to this video!
Aiutaci: queste pornostar appaiono in questo video?
Pornstar Name:
Tutti i commenti (10)
What's her name?
wats da guys name in this video, anyone???
there was no anal but he can eat some pussy
What a beauty...I'd love to lick her!!!!
he has a nice one very big also good pussy licker
Would love to wake up to her
yes there were is was a squirt at thee end but yeah there wasnt no anal
My niece squirts when she's getting assfucked,and I am not far from her gusher...


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There are 11 paid holidays per year - ten designated holidays and one personal holiday.
For a full-time employee a holiday is worth eight (8) hours. For part-time employees, the holiday hour value is pro rated based on the employee's percent of full time.
If a holiday falls on a day the employee is scheduled to work fewer hours than the value of the holiday, the employee receives holiday credit for the difference. This results in holiday credit hours that the employee can arrange to take off at a later date.
If a holiday falls on a day that the employee is scheduled to work more hours than the value of the holiday, the employee will need to use leave or flex their schedule in order to make up the difference in time between the hour value of the holiday and the hours the employee was scheduled to work. The following table provides examples of these holiday time keeping considerations.
Visit the Holiday Leave Record Keeping webpage for holiday/work examples.
All accrued holiday credit must be used or paid annually.
Classified staff employees must use the holiday credit,
or be paid by the following deadlines:
Harborview Medical Center and UW Medical Center…………………….September 30
All other units……………………………………………………………………………June 30
The balance of unused holiday credit should be used or paid if an employee moves from one staff position to another within the University or when separating from University employment.
Holiday credit accrual must be posted in the Online Work/Leave System (OWLS).
To record holiday credit accrued (for the holiday that fell on the employee's scheduled day off), open the employee's record and take the following steps:
View the University's holiday calendar.
To learn more about the personal holiday, please visit the Personal Holiday page.
Calendar Updates


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The G7 strategy for dealing with Russia is to shun the predator. Europeans and Japan join the US in a show of disdain for Russia by cancelling their meeting in Sochi and holding it on friendly soil. At the same time, the door may have been left for a visit by Vladimir Putin, but he chose to stay home, of course. He may have been arrested for violating international law by invading Crimea. (Small chance)
In one report by The Hill this morning, the headline was "Russia kicked out of G8 club." That language sounds frivolous compared with Russia's war like invasion. Then again, Russia's land grab was accomplished without firing a shot. All they had to do is march in a hold a referendum.
Worse behavior can be expected by Russia until and unless the Europeans extricate themselves from dependence on trade.
"The Topline: President Obama and the Group of Seven leaders have booted Russia out of the club.
The G-7 leaders effectively suspended Russia's membership in the Group of Eight by announcing they would hold a G-7 summit in Brussels in June to replace the planned G-8 summit Russia was set to host in Sochi.
In a statement, the countries indicated they were willing to impose coordinated sanctions against Russia in response to its military intervention in Ukraine.
Deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes said that "as long as Russia is flagrantly violating international law and the order that the G-7 has helped to build since the end of the Cold War, there's no need for the G-7 to engage with Russia."
The move was dismissed by Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov, who said Russia would not be affected by the exclusion.
"If our Western partners believe the format has exhausted itself, we don't cling to this format. We don't believe it will be a big problem if it doesn't convene," Lavrov told reporters in Amsterdam, according to Reuters.
Monday's move to a G-7 summit is the latest in a series of steps taken against Russia since it annexed Crimea last week.
The G-7 includes Japan, Canada, Germany, France, Italy and Britain, and was expanded to include Russia in the 1990s after the fall of the Soviet Union."


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Welcome to SKLTN, an apparel company dedicated to action sports athletes. As the seasons change (or weather for that matter) so does our focus and our product line –
, snow,
, surf, and
. After years of testing and private use, we are now offering our products in limited quantities. Our clothing is technically functional with style.
SKLTN was established to meet the needs of the action sports generation. This generation is made up of riders, skiers, wake boarders, surfers, kite boarders, and racers. These athletes crave competition (just as much with oneself) and have an insatiable appetite for adrenaline, speed, and airtime. They are explorers and pioneers. Intrigued by challenge and fear - more so in how they respond to it both physically and mentally. They respect Mother Nature while embracing her power. As with the natural cycle their sports change with the seasons. They are incessantly glued to weather sites constantly evaluating the conditions and forecasting what is to come. While the thrill and exhilaration is what they seek they also share an appreciation for the true essence of their sport and lifestyle. A sunrise while a light fog slowly clears revealing the pure glass lying beneath it as the ballast tanks fill. The silence you get sitting deep in the trees only on a powder day. Watching, late in the day, as the sun illuminates a distant ridgeline while you sit above the fresh line you scouted from below. The excitement and anticipation you feel as you check and recheck the weather conditions from multiple sites all forecasting steady 20+ mph winds for the next 3 days. The alone time in the ocean you get between sets in a lineup of few. This is the essence of the action sports generation and the basis of SKLTN.
Copyright © 2011 SKLTN. All Rights Reserved | The SKLTN mark and logo are trademarks of SKLTN Apparel, LLC.
About SKLTN
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I heard an interview with Florida Senator Marco Rubio last week. This empty suit made some news because he called Hillary Clinton a 20th century politician (or words to that effect). If this clueless dunce could only realize what a perfect hypocrite he is. Since becoming Senator in 2010, this lame excuse as a "government servant" is personified by his non-action: he's a political coward, doesn't stand for anything, is afraid of his own shadow (& his party) and he's a liar. His path of least resistance exists because he refuses to take a real stand on anything and will not rock the boat in fear he might upset the extreme right which rules the Republican Party.
Rubio is a senator because he spent time in the Florida statehouse and he is of Cuban extraction. He almost became a politician of distinction despite what his right-wing cohorts thought, but backed down because of what his right-wing cohorts think. He had an immigration bill which would have ultimately allowed illegal aliens to become citizens. That pathway is secondary, but almost all legitimate attempts at allowing illegals to become citizens have this "pathway" because the alternative (deportation) is not feasible. The Republicans can and will continue to ignore logistics because the hallmark of their narrow-minded absurd view of reality dictates this. They're against amnesty, and anything short of deportation is amnesty in their very myopic worldview. Let's face it, with 12 million or so illegals in America, we need to confront a tough reality: they are here because we lacked the initiative to secure our border. What poverty stricken mass of people wouldn't want to improve their lives by moving to the richest country on earth? Yes-they did it illegally and shouldn't just be given a diploma of citizenship, but some pathway to that is our only real choice: deportation is a non-starter. By refusing to admit this, the right-wing Republicans will only aggravate the ever-growing Hispanic population (electorate) and ultimately shrink their voter base. It won't happen overnight-but it will happen.
Rubio's problem is that he shrank from standing up for a plan that-had he been a Democrat, would have been received as a valid option. Had he been a man of conviction and stood his ground-then maybe one day, that small amount of courage (the bar on just about everything these days is so low) would have been recognized and appreciated by voters-not just his fellow Republicans who have to pass a rigid litmus test in order to be considered for higher office. Rubio left his plan in the dust, and the only Republican I can think of who stood up for such a path is Jeb Bush, and I'm no fan of that family. Maybe Rand Paul might see the light, but we'll see about that. Rubio is a liar for-if nothing else, in his tepid autobiography, he said his parents escaped Castro's tyranny to come to the freedom that America has to offer. That line has so much to offer in a book, but unfortunately for this naive dope, he failed to realize that in today's very rough political world, there are "fact checkers". They easily discovered Rubio's parents left Cuba BEFORE Castro came to power. What creep would lie about such a thing when he obviously knew better. Besides, if this twit would lie about that-what won't he lie about?
John F. Kennedy could have written an autobiography after he got to the White House and it would have been an interesting book (especially if he told the whole truth-but then he might have been impeached). Instead he wrote "Profiles in Courage". This was a great book that still reverberates through history with a lesson that is obviously lost on today's politicians. The book was about several US senators who defied public opinion and their own party to do what they thought was the "right thing". In other words, they didn't care about polls or being reelected-they went with what they thought was the best road to take for our country. This simple but hard core belief is lost-maybe for good. Our country's political system is a farce, and Marco Rubio (among others) serves as a perfect template as to why such political cowardice is the rule in today's American political world.
So for this do-nothing senator to call Hillary Clinton a politician of the 20th century is laughable. Let's face it, to be honest, almost to a head, the politicians of the last century got more accomplished that this crowd. So far, in this century, we've been attacked (even as we knew one was coming prior to 9/11) by terrorists in a very low tech, but effective operation; our economy suffered it's biggest hit since the Great Depression, and our debt is almost so high as to seem like a made up number (trillions??). We've failed to address even the most typical rights of congress anymore without a cliffhanger of a fight which does our economic stability no good, and brings our ability to get anything of consequence done to an almost stand-still. It's a pathetic plight and I'm not saying Democrats have no part in this-but let's face it-the extreme right wants to get nothing done since it would put President Obama in a good light. Damaging America's standing and potential for progress is okay as long as they don't work with the opposition. America is at a low point and poll numbers reflect that for all levels of government. I pick out Marco Rubio as an example because he had the gall to point fingers when he doesn't even have the conviction to stand up for a plan of his own doing: a true profile in cowardice.


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New Member, New Songs, New Album
We've been looking forward to this announcement for quite some time. After all the set backs with Lifetime that we had to put you guys through, we wanted to make sure we could come out and hit you with everything all at once. We thought it would be cool to do it as a video update so check it out below!
New BLNT from Shintaro Ito on Vimeo
So, you're probably asking yourself where you can hear these new jams at? CLICK HERE to listen to our brand new song, Means For Change! This song is going to be available exclusively as a FREE download at Punknews.org. We'll be giving you guys more details on that in the days to come, but in the meantime, enjoy the new song and please welcome our new guitar player, Travis!


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COME 2030 and the Mtwara Port would be handling some 28 million tonnes of traffic, thanks largely to the gas boom in Mtwara and Lindi regions.
Our Staff Writer CHABY BARASA reports.A HUGE leap indeed for the Port located 580 kilometres Southward of Dar es Salaam whose current capacity stands at a mere 400,000 metric tonnes per annum.
To reach the said target, the port will see four more berths constructed and a free port established as Tanzania Ports Authority sets out to fully exploit on the massive discoveries of the resource estimated at over 50trillion cubic feet.
Mtwara Port Master Absalom Bohella says once the port attains its full potential in the wake of gas discoveries, the economic benefits to the region would be there for all to see and tap. Mr Bohella observes that the port has been a sleeping giant that is now about to rise to prominence as a result of the expected gas boom.
"Mtwara has the potential to overtake Tanga and rival Dar es Salaam ports in the near future," says Bohella, brimming with confidence. The Port, built by the colonial government in the 1950s is mainly designed to handle conventional cargo. However, it can deal with up to 750,000 metric tonnes if additional equipment is put in place for handling containerized traffic, says Bohella.
Currently the port mainly handles break-bulk imports namely cement, food stuffs and miscellaneous general cargo while general exports are unprocessed cashewnuts to India and other Asian countries.
"It therefore goes without saying that the facility has not realized its full potential as attested by the average annual cargo figures at the port, which indicate that for the past five years, it handled 136,500 metric tons, which is 34 per cent of its capacity of 400,000 metric tons," says the Port Master.
However, discovery of gas and ongoing offshore exploration of oil and gas in the southern regions undertaken by various multinational companies that include BG Group, Ophir Energy, Statoil and Petrobas, is set to transform the port in a big way. Mr Bohella says the oil and gas exploration companies operating offshore are currently using Mtwara Port as a supply base, which has translated to an increase in revenue of the port even before the fully fledged gas economy takes off.
On the other hand, for 24-year old Bakari Mselem the turnaround in the port's fortunes mean nothing unless it translates into tangible results-employment and a good salary. Mselem, one of the many boda boda (motorcycle) operators in Mtwara town, says he is tired of hearing all stories about gas discovery and how it would transform lives of people in the region.
"I'm desperate, I want a job, even if it is not highly paying but at least an employment that would guarantee me something at the end of the month," says Mselem, noting that the motorcycle taxi business, that he currently engages in, is too unpredictable and risky. The fact that he is a form two drop out and without any formal qualification or training could mean that Mselem misses out on employment opportunities generated by the sector.
He would probably have to settle for other indirect opportunities to be provided by the gas sector. Indeed Mselem is not alone. There are uneducated and unemployed youth in Mtwara and Lindi regions who face the same scenario but still have high hopes that the gas 'manna' would transform their lives overnight.
However, it is not all doom and gloom for Mselem and other youth, thanks to introduction of the EEVT project (Enhancing Employability through Vocational Training), which aims at improving the employability of young people in the regions of Mtwara and Lindi, with a focus on the growing demand for skilled labour in the gas industry and related services.
The EEVT Project Manager Mawazo Mataje notes that over three years (2012-2015), VETA (Vocational Education Training Authority) teachers and their students will be trained by tutors from Volunteer Service Overseas and City & Guilds International College. "In the long run, VETA will be capable of producing a steady stream of qualified craftsmen and teachers in response to the demand of gas sector's skilled labour, " says Mr Mataje, noting that doors are open for Mselem and others to join.
The project focuses on fields like welding and fabrication, plumbing and pipe fitting, carpentry and joinery, electrical installation (industrial and domestic), motor vehicle mechanics and food production.
He says major progress has been made including training teachers to improve teaching methodology, quality assurance procedures, one on one transfer of skills between VETA teachers and VSO advisors, rehabilitation and purchase of equipment and tools, creating industry links between VETA and gas related industries (both national and international companies) and of the most important is compliance to health, safety and environment within VETA centres in Mtwara and Lindi.
"Feedback from industries where students have been placed for internship shows that there is a good progress on their skills and knowledge though the trainees need more practice to become competent and skilled people," he observes. According to him, although VETA covers the whole of the country in terms of enrollment for students, the focus is on Lindi and Mtwara.
"Still there are students from other regions because that is a national policy in education where you cannot enrol only Mtwara and Lindi. However, we have more trainees from the two regions due to geographical location of the centres," he notes.
He adds that observing Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) is among the challenges faced by the trainees especially on their attitudes towards full compliance to the issues.
"Good progress has been made but still it is not enough to the international level required in the gas industries. The gas industry is very much strict on the HSE and some of the gas companies like BG have been supporting VETA to provide their staff for technical advice.
"However, health, safety and environment in VETA workshop cannot be the same as working in the real industry environment. Therefore, students need more exposure and change of attitudes towards HSE compliance. "The gas industries make HSE as number one qualification no matter how good welder or plumber you might be, if you do not comply to it then you cannot work in the gas industries," observes the Project Manager.
He explains that to address the challenges, the EEVT has developed the HSE committee for both Lindi and Mtwara, through support from British Gas (BG) and other companies within Mtwara. The project also works with Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OSHA) for legal compliance to HSE.
Mtwara Regional Commissioner Joseph Simbakalia remains optimistic that opportunities would be many and not necessary coming as direct employment to individuals.
"There is no reason to despair. Discovery of gas would stimulate various sectors of the economy, hence the need for people to be ready to capitalize on these opportunities," he says. Focusing ahead, the RC challenges residents to prepare for the envisaged sweeping economic changes by investing in their children's education.
"Education is the only sure w a y to ensure our children are well equipped to fully exploit opportunities and enjoy the fruits of the resources," says Mr Simbakalia, a retired army officer. A recent report on Mtwara Port performance says expansion of the facility will translate into more employment opportunities for the residents in the region.
Currently the port employs 180 workers, a number which is expected to rise to 320 in five year's time, with indirect employment estimated to reach over 8000. On the other hand, the oil and gas companies conducting activities offshore who employ 200 workers currently would have doubled the workforce in ten years' time, according to experts' estimates.
To maximize benefits to the local communities, the First Draft of the Local Content Policy of Tanzania for Oil and Gas Industry 2014 seeks, to facilitate local community business development, contribute to human capability development and stimulate productivity in the local community economy.
The scope, according to the draft policy, will be to as far as possible to procure materials and contracting of services locally; hiring and development of the local community personnel; improving the capacity and capability for sustainable commercial benefits for the communities in which the oil and gas projects operate.
According to the 2012/13 unaudited reports of the Port, revenue collected during that period amounted to 13.197bn/- against expenditure of 11.413bn/-, hence 1.784bn/- was recorded as profit.
In 2011/12 financial year, the Port's profit was only 0.449/bn. "The port covers an area of 2, 694.24 hectares of which 70.67 ha are currently under utilisation, while the remaining ha were bought in 2004 from N'gwale and Msemo villages for Port expansion purposes," Mr Bohella says.
Tanzania Port Authority Acting Director of Planning and Investment, Mr Gladson Urioh notes that plans are underway for expansion of Mtwara Port to ensure it realizes its full potential and services the envisaged social and economic booms brought about by the discovery of gas in Lindi and Mtwara.
Mr Urioh says the feasibility study for the development of the port and economic zone at Mtwara Port envisages expansion of the quay wall westwards by constructing four additional berths so as to cater for the anticipated increase in demand.
"TPA plans to increase the capacity of the Port to cater for the expected increase in traffic following development of the Mtwara Corridor and the ongoing exploration activities for oil and gas in the Indian Ocean," he says.
He concedes that there has been tremendous growth of exploration activities in the shallow to deep waters of the Indian Ocean in the country. "The drilling activities in the deep sea have required sourcing of materials and equipment from multiple places around the globe in order to manage the drilling operations of the wells.
"Timely availability of materials and equipment is a key factor in managing exploration costs of these projects. The industry requires the presence of a local supply chain and service companies."
He notes that while tremendous efforts have been made to create a conducive, business environment for Mtwara Port to support the drilling operations, "the lack of an Oil and Gas Supply Service Hub is still an impediment."
This is due to the fact that the operations of oil and gas companies require huge costs to ensure that there are no disruptions in the drilling operations and hence would not allow stock outs, whose maintenance is inefficient and quite costly to the exploration companies.
The Export Processing Zones Authority (EPZA) Director General, Dr Adelhelm Meru, underscores the urgent need for the country to offer the necessary support infrastructure and enabling environment for trouble free operations to boost and support the oil and gas industry.
"That is why introduction and development of the oil and gas free zone within Mtwara port as a distribution centre for Tanzania and eastern and southern Africa has been crucial," Dr Meru says.
The free zone is intended to support global procurement policies and logistics coordination beyond national boundaries. A total area of 110 hectares has been earmarked as a Free Port Zone. The area would be developed in two phases.
The first phase would involve development of 10 hectares and phase two will include developing the remaining 100 hectares. The 10 hectares would be dedicated to the oil and gas service companies while 100 hectares will be established as a General Free Port Zone to cater to not only the oil and gas service companies but also other companies.
According to the EPZA boss the objective of the project is to create "a good business and working environment for oil and gas service companies by providing them with an area that has all the necessary, infrastructure for them to perform their operations efficiently and swiftly."
The infrastructure would include a tarmac heavy duty road network, utilities (water, electricity), administration building, check point building and a boundary wall.
A number of oil service companies currently providing support to oil and gas exploration companies in the deep sea have shown interest to locate at the envisaged Mtwara Free Port. The EPZA boss is optimistic that in the event the free port is established, it is likely that more companies would relocate to Tanzania and more space would be required. The initial space requirement for interested companies is 18 hectares.
According to the Report of the Feasibility Study for the Development of Port and Economic Zone at Mtwara Port, the Offshore Supply Base Cargo is forecast to reach 240,000 tonnes per annum by 2030.
The Report notes that development of a free port at Mtwara would bring economic benefits to Tanzania and its establishment is a prerequisite for the country's future progress of the petroleum industry and other development projects.
"The free port would not only be a catalyst for industrial growth and service provision, but would also make it more economically feasible and dynamically active in facilitating exports and imports of goods in Tanzania and the entire Eastern African region," says the Report.
The Natural Gas Policy 2013 however, cautions that high expectations among residents where natural gas discoveries have been made need to be moderated with realism as discoveries may not necessarily yield immediate results.
The Policy underlines the need to manage expectations for the various stakeholders such as NGOs, activists, media and general public to understand that such high hopes may take time to be realized and that reality should not be a source of public discontent and disagreements.


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- The Waiting İs Over
- Biennale In Berlin
- City Of Endless Discovery
- A Time For Rediscovery
- Botero in Pera
- Something For Everyone
- Lord Of The Dance
- 2 Cıtıes 3 Photographers
- Back To The Golden Age Of Rock
- Not A Biennale, A Triennale!
- Pierre Loti All Over Again
- Capital Of Culture Agenda
- Bicycle Tour To End In Istanbul
- Adam's Lament
- Transatlantic
- La Gran Sultana
- The Leyla Gencer House
- Calligraphy Meeting In Istanbul
- Films Rain Down On Istanbul
- Film Days In Doha
- You Are What You Eat
- The Ottomans and Their Coins
- Agenda
- Birhan Keskin's Kırklareli
- One Step Closer To The Sun
- On The Mediterranean
- Summer Fun On The Göksu
- Dalaras In Istanbul
- Turkish Art In Manhattan
- Sufi Light In Houston
Olive Garden Of Wisdom
The tradition of producing and sharing knowledge, which started thousands of years ago with Plato on the Aegean, has continued for the last thirteen years at Adatepe's Taşmektep.
Attached to the Çanakkale township of Ayvacık, Adatepe is a village close to the stars. Assos is a mere 30 kilometers away, Troy 70. The treasures of this village, tucked away in the foothills of the oxygen-rich Kaz Dağları mountain range that looks out over the Gulf of Edremit are its pine forests, olive orchards and traditional houses. And bearing witness to how long mankind has been aware of the beauty of this region is the Altar of Zeus on the side of the village facing the sea.
Mankind has indeed been aware of the beauty here for a long time. Sappho, who lived on the nearby island of Lesbos, described this as a place of "Horses grazing, meadowlands, clover/Where flowers bloom and the fragrance of honey wafts."
But come, let us pause briefly. Socrates defines learning as remembering. Man knows but has forgotten. According to Socrates, who proved his claim by having a slave solve a geometry problem, his task was no different from that of a midwife. Perhaps the abundance of oxygen that drew Aristotle to nearby Assos reinforced his memory! All joking aside, however, when Plato's student Hermias wrested control of Assos from the banker Eubolos, one of the first things he did was to invite Plato's most famous student, Aristotle, there to teach. Indeed, he even went so far as to arrange a marriage between his niece Pythias and the great philosopher. But I digress.
Let us now fast forward some two thousand years. It is 1997. Erhan Şengel, Zerrin İren Boynudelik and Kamil Firat are enthusiastically surveying the ruin of a primary school abandoned close to forty years ago. For they have found what they have been looking for. They immediately set to work to rent the building from the Province of Çanakkale and restore it preserving all its original features. So is born the Adatepe Taşmektep (literally, 'Stone School'), which offers a wide range of activities from philosophy, art history, Sufi mysticism and interpreting miniatures to photography and pottery workshops. Every summer people escape the tiresome routine of the cities in which they live to meet here, in these lovely surroundings, to share knowledge and ideas in the shade of the pine trees. The classes are held either in the classrooms of the school ensconced amongst the pines, or in the school garden.
İlber Ortaylı, Hilmi Yavuz, Oruç Aruoba, Mete Tuncay, Mehmet Genç, Murat Belge, Ömer Madra, Meral Özbek, Zerrin İren Boynudelik, Kamil Fırat, Kadir Demir and Ömer Laçiner are just a few of the figures from Turkish intellectual life who have taken part in the seminars here, which are having an impact on the local economy. Olive growing and animal husbandry are the backbone of the economy in Adatepe where the number of bed&breakfasts is growing apace. Right now three are operating inside the village.
To cut a long story short, the village of Adatepe is living proof that people may have recourse to millennia-old words to say something completely new.
The seminars are being realized through the truly incredible efforts of two of my former and very distinguished and beloved students, Zerrin Boynudelik and Kamil Fırat. I cannot find words to express my admiration. They rented an abandoned old stone school building from Çanakkale Province for 49 years, then restored and furnished it and turned it into a seminar venue. In extraordinary splendor, the sky here becomes a luminous dark blue garden by night, and for the first time since childhood I have again seen Venus, the Milky Way and other stars on Adatepe nights.
Art and War.
Zerrin İren B. & Kamil Fırat:
Kürşad Demirci:
History of Comparative Religions.
Zeren Tanındı:
The Book as a Work of Art: Bindings, Illuminations and Miniatures
Wood Print Workshop
Kadir Demir:
Caner Karavit:
Pottery Workshop
Ömer Laçiner:
Iran Before and After Khomeini
Rüstem Aslan:
From Mythology, Archaeology and Literature to Troy
Ebru Ceren Uzun:
Photography Workshop - Basic Photography
Kamil Fırat & Orhan Alptürk:
A Stroll Through the Forest of Photographic Narrative


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Applying for a mortgage is an excruciating process. What documents does the bank need? Will you be approved? Or will you be denied and pushed out the door with your tail between your legs?
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Fitness Over Forty, a weekly series of video presentations targeting the increasing "over forty" population in East Texas, addresses health and fitness issues that are specific to men and women ages 25 to 54 and older... more »
Dr. David Di Paolo, radiologist at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler and nationally certified fitness trainer, hosts the series featuring UT Health Science Center medical professionals who inform viewers about the benefits of a healthy diet and active lifestyle... more »
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Pleather vs. leather
A scary side effect of being a personal finance writer is that I'm way more likely to nag my daughter about her spending habits than her outfit choices. (In my defense, I've spent years talking to people whose financial lives were ruined by overspending.) I try to teach Becca, who is 14, to make her own decisions. But sometimes it's hard.
Case in point: We were at Urban Outfitters last month, when Becca reached for a leather jacket that was—to use her word—perfect. Everything from the cut to the feel was beautiful, I had to agree. The only not-perfect-thing was the price, which was $128. Despite what you've seen on Gossip Girl, a leather jacket is not a necessity for a 14-year-old New Yorker. At least not in our family.
Plus, Becca and I had just been to Forever 21, where they had an almost identical jacket—in pleather—for a third the cost.
Pleather versus leather?
I'm often torn in these moments when shopping with my children, and I imagine other parents go through the same thing: Keds or Nike? Juicy versus JC Penney? Sometimes it's easy. Others are more weighted. You know the feeling… I never got name brands as a kid so maybe one pair of True Religions wouldn't be harmful… Of course you may or may not be able to afford the item, but it's not only about that. (In some ways, having it be just about money would make the solution simpler: Sorry! We can't afford that right now.) What I'm really talking about now is the values we're imparting to our kids. If we're spending more money than we normally would, is it for something that our children will cherish and respect—or is it just one more way to create closet clutter?
I cycled through my mental pre-purchase checklist: Does she love it? (Definitely.) Does she need it? (Not really. A leather jacket's not exactly a substitute for a winter coat here in NYC.) Will she get so much use out of it that if you add up the cost-per-wear, it would come to pennies? (Probably, but what if it gets torn? Or she loses it? Although it's in fashion now, next year who knows?) Will she grow out of it in twelve months? (Hard to say…)
I took a deep breath. As much as I wanted Becca to make the prudent choice, I wanted it to be her choice. I say no a lot, and this time it was a fairly close call—one I wanted her to make.
"It's a nice jacket," I said, as neutrally as possible. "Do you like this or the one at Forever 21?" I added, reminding her of the less-expensive option.
"This one's way nicer," Becca said, touching the leather. She paused thoughtfully. "But I don't need a leather jacket. That other one for $38 is just fine."
I smiled, thinking I'd clearly taught her something … this time.
- Oct 28, 2009 11:36 AM — Beth Kobliner
- 1 comments
Comments (1)
October 29, 2009 11:38 PM PT
Seeing as my kid is still too young to really care about brands as a factor of social acceptance (ugh, I remember wearing Sears shirts when other kids were wearing Ralph Lauren Polos in 5th grade and feeling SO embarrassed!!) this hasn't been a problem yet. But kids these days watch TV, and brand hierarchy is something that's inevitable, so I know I'm going to have to deal with it someday. The problem is my wife and I (albeit unconsciously) gravitate toward certain brands and we talk about them (I neeeeed those Lucky Jeans!) so I'm sure the kid picks up on that stuff. Hey, we're consumers living in a consumer culture. I'm in marketing and I get brand loyalty. I live and breath brand loyalty. What are we going to do to reconcile that? I have no idea…
But for now I'm ok. All I have to say is "if we buy this cheaper one, you have enough left over to buy this Lego set too." I don't know for how much longer the Lego argument will be relevant, though.
So we're screwed. But that's why I'm reading this blog :)
About Beth Kobliner
Beth Kobliner is a personal finance expert, magazine columnist, and commentator who offers practical advice and insight on a wide range of economic and financial matters. She is author of the New York Times bestseller, "Get A Financial Life: Personal Finance In Your Twenties and Thirties." A graduate of Brown University, she lives in New York with her husband and three children.
Latest Posts
"Get A Financial Life." Beth Kobliner's New York Times bestseller. Get more info or visit Beth Kobliner's Web site.


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Tag Archives: 2012
We launched Innovation Excellence on August 1, 2011 and so 2012 was our first full year of operations. To celebrate we've pulled together the Top 100 Innovation Articles of 2012. Did your favorite make the cut? But enough delay, here are the 100 most popular innovation posts of 2012 (each receiving 5,600 – 34,400 page views): Continue reading
Mobile is the first order priority device for access, because it's always with you, always connected. The desktop's at the office. The tablet's at the house. The TV's at the house. You're generally not watching TV during the day, but the smartphone is always with you. From mobile usage data to trends and latest news, this ebook should get you up to date with all the new things and we're sure it will convince you it's time to go mobile. Continue reading


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Thaddeus Lowe Balloon Reconnaissance at Battle of Fair Oaks
Photograph is featured in National Air and Space Museum: An Autobiography.
Image Number: LC-B811-2348
Credit: Library of Congress, courtesy National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution
For print or commercial use please see our permissions page.
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Give your senses a burst of this wonderful fragrance brought to you by Jack Black. Signature Black Mark Eau de Parfum from Jack Black is a sensual and warm fragrance that will have you savoring every last particle of it's aroma. Created from the finest essential oils crafted with an artisan's skill by world-class perfumers, you will not be overpowered by a strong-smelling parfum. Day or night you can enjoy this subtle yet tantalizing fragrance. With Kashmir Saffron, fresh Coriander, and warm red Cedar you will be wondering why you haven't purchased this sooner. Don't hesitate to try this product, we promise you are not going to regret it!
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A perfect game by Sid Palmer at Englewood Bowl and a 708 series by Jessica Hendrickson at Sarasota Lanes are the headline items in this weekend's Examiner.com report of high scores at bowling centers in the Sarasota-Manatee-Charlotte County area.
Palmer blasted 12 consecutive strikes in the middle of a 166-over-average 751 series during competition in the Pete's Patio Mixed League, and the big numbers increased his average to 199.
Hendrickson pounded out her 708 set on games of 227, 268 and 213 in this week's session of the Bob Anderson Plumbing Mixed League, where she now carries a 203 average.
With many summer leagues having already concluded their schedules, and with fall-winter leagues yet to get under way, this week's report isn't too extensive, but other high-scoring accomplishments from area centers included:
- SARASOTA LANES: Aaron Albritton 277-714, Manuel Fontanot 269, Tom DeDona Jr. 269, Jordan Sepper 268-720, Cory Anderson 268, Richard McLaughlin 265-761; Christi Dodge 250, Kathy Anderson 234.
- BOWLAND PORT CHARLOTTE: Sean June 277, Tony Harris 266, Dave Jodoin 265-958 (4), Wendell Van Gaasbeck 922 (4), Richard Oliveira 915 (4), Tim McDonald 900 (4); Mary Raper 229, Danielle Gassera 225-620, Rosie Gassera 615.
- TREASURE LANES: William Noland 726; Nita Hester 248-605, Jennifer Peacock 246-677, Jan Baker 235, Bobbie Jo Weese 232, Dolores Meyers 225-663.
- ENGLEWOOD BOWL: Zach Taylor 278.
Sarasota-Manatee association's annual meeting is Aug. 17
The annual meeting of the Sarasota-Manatee County USBC Association will be conducted at the Fraternal Order of Eagles Hall, on Wilkinson Road in Sarasota, at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 17.
The meeting -- which will include election of officers, committee reports and full budget and finance information -- is open to all SMCBA members. For additional information, contact association manager Terry Wood at 723-1134.
Any association member who is interested in serving on the SMCBA board of directors can submit an official application to Wood at email@example.com
[You may subscribe to Bill Herald's Examiner.com bowling columns -- free of charge -- by clicking on "subscribe" near the top of the column, after you will receive e-mail notification each time a new item is published.]