text:
Oh, the cross-base highway most certainly IS in the plan the RTID board approved.
The mediation-thing is a fucking joke. It has no teeth, and will have no impact.
Ladenburg won - he's pandering to his developer friends who want to cover many square miles of the East Pierce Co. Cascade foothills with McMansion subdivisions. They'll make a fortune.
I have an idea to make reading your pieces less annoying: I'm going to read through once, edit out your robotically slanted editorializing, and then re-read the piece.
Environmentalists signed on to the joint roads/Sound Transit package a few weeks ago despite the potential inclusion of the Cross Base Highway in Pierce County. Groups like the Transportation Choices Coalition justified their support for the $7 billion roads package because the cross-base highway will be subject to mediation, raising hopes that enviros will be able to kill the highway.
According to a widely distributed e-mail Ladenburg sent out last Friday, The cross-base highway is back in with a portion of the funding contingent on mediation with environmental representatives.
So, environmental groups signed off on a highway in exchange for mediation.
That was much more informative and far less annoying. I think I'll do that for all your articles and entries from now on ;P
That fucking sucks. Ladenburg is a complete ass-hole.
Please clarify: Mediation is not binding; if it fails, and the two sides do not agree in the mediation, what happens to the X base highway, is it in or out??
With 520 getting mediation too, pretty soon it will all be government by mediation/followed by voters voting on $37 billion transportation packages.
Um, why are we paying officials $100,000+ a year to not make decisions?
Ladenburg's conclusion is just plain wrong. He's trying to save face. While the RTID plan doesn't put a stake in the heart of the project, RTID just doesn't include anywhere near the money needed to build the highway.
The draft RTID package agreed to in January included most of the money needed to build the project- all but about $100 million. What's in there now includes almost none of the money. Only $30 million for the corridor is guaranteed by RTID. Another $60 million could be spent on the corridor if enviros agree to it in the mediation (not gonna happen!). There's also another $10 million in there for environmental mitigation, again if enviros agree to pavement being put down in the oak prairie habitat (again, not gonna happen).
Tahoma Audubon, the equestrian community in Pierce County and statewide environmental groups have been fighting cross-base for 20+ years. None of these people are gonna suddenly fold in a mediation that won't even start until Ladenburg is out of power (a key demand of the environmental community in the negotiations). Beyond Ladenburg and a few residents in the Spanaway area, there's not much passion for the project. The military doesn't like it, Norm Dicks has never much liked it, nor has Patty Murray. Cross-Base highway is dead, it's just that we don't get to drive the stake in its heart until 2009. That was about Ladenburg saving face, not about folding to him.
Hey Erica C. Sprawl in Marysville? I know highways have all sorts of unpredictable impacts, but a Pierce County highway probably won't do much to Snohomish.
Some other thoughts about RTID:
Josh and Erica are right to look at the entire package through the prism of climate change. The legislature has, over and over again, made a mess of this thing, by creating RTID in the first place and then by holding ST2 hostage to passage of RTID.
Several of us in the environmental community decided to pursue negotiations with the RTID to see if we could get to a combined ballot where the land-use and climate benefits of ST2 outweigh the detrimental impacts of RTID. Did we pull that off? To be honest, I don't know. A lot of us are trying to figure that out and I think it really depends on how much you value the ST2 (I think it's critically important to building a clean transportation system that drives land-use practices in the right direction). And, I think it depends on how much we can change the way the road projects are delivered and operated in the future.
We pushed for and got a lot of changes in the RTID policy language that could allow us to change the way some of the projects are built out and make it easier for us to get these roadways variably priced (i.e., congestion pricing) as they open up. Whether we can pull that off will depend on our ability to persuade the legislature over the next 10 years to implement pricing on these roads and change the ways some of the projects are built out (e.g., instead of 4 new lanes on I-405, 2 new lanes with the difference invested in rail transit). Some of this policy language will give us some legal leverage too. But more importantly, all the attorneys we've talked to think the state environmental policy act (SEPA) already gives us legal leverage to stop some of the highway projects because of their impact on climate change.
If we knew for sure we could reshape or kill several of the RTID projects through legal and legislative measures, we would probably all support the joint ballot because we don't know when the next opportunity to build out ST2 will come our way. Every year of delay is costly and has its own climate implications.
Admittedly, there's a lot of uncertainty about future efforts to reshape the RTID package and when we might get our next realistic chance to go for a major light rail expansion, so it's still not clear that the plusses of ST2 outweigh the damage that could be done by RTID. Most of the statewide environmental groups are wrestling with all this right now. In the end, because of the climate issues, I think you'll see some enviro groups opposing, others staying neutral, and others supporting but without a tremendous amount of enthusiasm. The legislature has made a big mess of regional transportation structurally, and many of our regional electeds have stepped right into it. They only have themselves to blame for the likely muddled response that comes from the environmental community, even with ST2.
Bill LaBorde: Ladenburg's conclusion is just plain wrong. He's trying to save face. While the RTID plan doesn't put a stake in the heart of the project, RTID just doesn't include anywhere near the money needed to build the highway.
I'm not a journalist. But I don't know, if I were a journalist, I think the first thing I would do upon reading Ladenburg's statement is do some research and try to determine if he's blowing smoke. For Erica to accept Ladenburg's (possible) spin as proof that the pragmatic environmental community sold out is a bit using an Osama bin Laden statement that al Quaeda is kicking ass in Iraq as further proof that GW Bush screwed up by invading the place. (Folks, please forgive the unintended Ladenburg-Osama comparison.)
OK, better analogy here. If Erica is willing to accept John Ladenburg's word at face value, maybe she can start accepting WSDOT studies at face value too.
The environmentalists' agenda to kill the RTID project dead in the name of global warming is like going to war without having procured a suitable amount of guns or soldiers first.
It's a step in the right direction. Quit trying to kill it because it doesn't suit your utopian image of what reality should be. People are not going to stop driving if you kill RTID. Changing habits is a process, not a war.
Hey LaBorde thanks for the thoughtful analysis with balance, nuance, pros and cons, & general lack of stupid, boring name calling, posturing & invective.
Hey Gomez: note the above comment.
LaBorde just wrote that the contents of Roads + Transit (the ballot measure in November) are the product of the following:
- Ladenburgs efforts to save face;
- Organized environmental groups lawyers who have litigation strategies to defeat parts of the measure IF the voters approve it;
- Speculation about what future legislatures might do; and
- Crappy policy by the legislature.
Those are all excellent reasons to vote NO.
Ill add two of my own reasons: the projects (both transit and roads) can be reduced after the vote, so we dont know what eventually will be built decades from now
Both sides (roads and transit) rely too much on long term debt.
My suggestion, vote this thing down. Then work on one thing at a time (e.g. get the SR 520 design finalized, and raise taxes to pay just for it with a minimum of bonding). After the first project is in shape from a design and finance perspective, get going on the next big one. That should be the light rail expansion: by then it will be 2009 and well know how much we want to expand it.
Gomez: The environmentalists' agenda to kill the RTID project dead in the name of global warming is like going to war without having procured a suitable amount of guns or soldiers first.
Two brief responses here:
I think, once we get into campaign season, you're going to find the bulk of the environmentalist community landing on the pro-ST2/RTID side. Whatever unseemliness there is to RTID is going to be outweighed by the unseemliness of allying with Kemper Freeman and gang.
Didn't Sun Tzu say something like, "Never enter into a war you haven't already won?" Well, folks like the Sierra Club and our trusty Stranger reporters are doing anything but following that principle. As I noted before, that really doesn't matter to these people.
Eric F.: It's a three-county roads package that includes new highway lanes in Pierce, King, AND Snohomish Counties.
Also, to Bill LaBorde: Thanks for your thoughtful response. I agree that Ladenburg's opinion doesn't make Cross-Base so, but I think he exemplifies the intractability of Cross-Base supporters. I think enviros would have been better off opposing this package in the first place (and not just because of Cross-Base) than hoping to get the highway killed in mediation years down the line. (If mediation fails, the whole package fails.)
Winston: wise thoughts.
Mega packages are bad. Vote no, break it down, bring back pieces we can manage!
And the proponents' arguments are so bad. They use a "you must ACT NOW" marketing approach. It is oh so credible. In other wrods, the proponents and officials backing this are saying "You voters, you vote yes, you hear? Or else we will punish you by withholding any improvements for 30 years. So there! We will hold our breath till we are blue in the face ! We will ! We will!"
Erica C. Barnett:
I agree that Ladenburg's opinion doesn't make Cross-Base so, but I think he exemplifies the intractability of Cross-Base supporters.
Erica, that was totally not your point, and you know it. You were using Ladenburg's opinion as evidence of groups like TCC selling out for nothing:
Groups like the Transportation Choices Coalition justified their support for the massive $7 billion roads package because the cross-base highway will be subject to mediation, raising hopes that enviros will be able to kill the highway.
And if Ladenburg's opinion doesn't make the Cross-Base Highway so, then there goes your nasty point about environmental groups selling out for nothing. If you're going to make misleading and sneering insinuations, at least have the nerve not to back away from them at the first sign of someone calling BS on you.
11. Hey, Sally: Note the tone of this paper and its urbanist acolytes. They operate with a simple-minded agenda to help kill what could be a productive project dead, and in the process completely burying any hope of developing more rail transit in this region.
ECB wrote: "(If mediation fails, the whole package fails.)" You know this is incorrect, right ECB? If the voters vote yes in November, the taxes go on and on forever. If mediation re: cross-base fails, or succeeds, it doesn't matter - the taxing would still go on for four more decades. The only thing that possibly could change is how some of those taxes are spent.
This thing needs to DIE at the polls. It is the wrong way to plan and finance transit and roads projects, for any number of reasons.
This question is for ECB: If we know that the legislature WILL NOT let Sound Transit go alone after a failed '07 vote (and we know that is true - we'll be lucky if they don't outright kill them), are you honestly willing to gamble with what might be a once-in-a-lifetime (at least for some folks) chance to get light rail? As a very pure enviro, do you think that the negatives from RTID will truly outweigh the land use and transportation implications of building rail?
Bill LaBorde:
"Beyond Ladenburg and a few residents in the Spanaway area, there's not much passion for the project. "
Scientific Survey from last year:
This package includes a new project, known as the Cross Base highway, which would be built from eye five to south central Pierce County. It will take local traffic off of eye five near McChord (mah KORD) Air Force base and Fort Lewis, reduce congestion in communities south of state route five twelve, including South Hill and Parkland-Spanaway, and will improve the movement of goods by connecting major manufacturing areas in Frederickson to eye five. Does this make you more likely or less likely to support the roads and transit package? (IF MORE LIKELY) Would that be much more or somewhat more likely? (IF LESS LIKELY)Would that be much less or somewhat less likely?
Much More Likely 48%
Somewhat More Likely 28%
Somewhat Less Likely 9%
Much Less Likely 10%
(No Difference) 3%
(Don't Know) 2%
So, apparently, 76% is only "a few residents" in Bill Laborde's world.
Erica should not be allowed to write on an issue that is outside the Pike/Pine corridor.
Yawn...did Erica regurgitate another one of her tired old transportation stories?
I thought I smelled something stale.
Soon this cute little blog will be drowned out by million of dollars of radio, tv and mail from the pro campaign.
Between now and them, Erica will rewrite the same story no less than 6 times.
Enjoy it while it lasts.
Puhleeze: Sorry, I should have been more clear--if mediation fails, Cross base doesn't get funded. If it succeeds, it gets $60 million. Added to the $30 million allocated for that corridor already, that's still hundreds of millions less than PC needs to build the whole project.
Winston@12 says,
"That should be the light rail expansion: by then it will be 2009 and well know how much we want to expand it"
OK--if I read this stupid argument one more time my head is going to explode. What, we have to wait until light rail opens to see if it really works?
Light rail is all over the world--AND IT FUCKING WORKS! Build it now, build as much as you can, then build more.
Questionmark: No, "we" don't "know" that the legislature will let ST go forward alone. I'm certainly not alone in hoping that that's exactly what will happen.
Bill LaBorde is correct. John Ladenburg has his fig leaf of a face saving "victory" but his highway is more of a loser than it has ever been. There is LESS money for the project in the package now than there was a few months ago and most of what's there goes for an interchange on I-5 that needs to be improved anyway. The rest is subject to mediation and if the mediation fails, legal action can resume. This goofy road is THREE miles (not five, Erica) south of another highway that goes the same place, which is why you have to come to the conclusion it's main purpose is not to improve commutes for Spanaway residents working in Redmond but to grease the skids for developers both east and west of Fort Lewis. I congratulate Bill and the other enviro groups who kept Landenburg Lane from getting any real funding AND cut funding for Shawn Bunney's pet project, a sprawl enabling mess known as SR 162. There are still lots of problems with both the RTID and ST2 packages and I am still leaning to a NO vote, but LaBorde and others deserve praise not Erica's scorn.
Erica C. Barnett:
Questionmark: No, "we" don't "know" that the legislature will let ST go forward alone. I'm certainly not alone in hoping that that's exactly what will happen.
"Hoping." Now there's a well-thought-out political strategy you can truly feel confident in.
This region's debate over Roads and Transit package reminds me of this classic from the Onion.
Citizens and electeds from the entire region just spent two years putting together this package. And now you want to start over again?
Ok, fair enough Erica. You think the legislature will. Im not sure why that is since everyone was well aware that RTID was a loser BEFORE they linked them together. The Gov and others saw the same rotten RTID polling everyone else did BEFORE they linked them together. They are NOT going to see a no vote as RTID sucks, Sound Transit is great. And there is very likely going to be regional governance reform next year led by the folks from the Regional Transportation Commission who ARE NOT supportive of Sound Transit. But OK, you hope theyll de-link them. And you think the governor is going to take a transit tax vote the year shes running for re-election? Or will we wait until 2009 to vote on ST again? 2010? 2012? OK, but Im not buying it. And Im going to be totally pissed if I dont get light rail before Im dead. Theres a lot riding on your hope.
Born on the 5th of July @ Take a closer look at the question. The question of whether one would be more likely or less to support the joint ballot if it included Cross-Base is couched in only affirmative arguments for the highway - reducing congestion and improving movement of goods. It's arguable as to whether Cross-Base would do either. Nowhere in the question or the whole survey were any of the environmental arguments against the road. Additionally, both an earlier and a later RTID poll showed Cross-Base with the lowest level of support of any of the joint ballot projects. The most recent poll in April had Cross-Base as the only project with less than 50% support, again without any opposition arguments.
The reality is that Ladenburg is the only elected official at this point who would fall on his sword for the project. Well, except maybe for the Master Builders. The RTID exec board members, the Port of Tacoma, the Chamber of Commerce and Boeing were all willing to support a package without Cross-Base. And, at all the RTID hearings, opponents of Cross-Base vastly outnumbered supporters.
Ladenburg is term limited so he didn't care. Soon he will be gone, and so will cross base.
"Bill LaBorde is correct. John Ladenburg has his fig leaf of a face saving "victory" but his highway is more of a loser than it has ever been."
Siwel @ 28 - can you read? The survey cited above shows over 75% support for Cross Base in Pierce County. Tell me how that translates into a "loser" in your mind?
Or, are you guys just going to continue sticking your heads in the sand and pretend the citizens of Pierce County share your Seattle-centered mindset? (hint: they have as much respect for self-centered Seattleites as Eastern WA has for the Seattle City Council after that enlightened body voted to take their irrigation dams down)
Since these projects all emerged from community process and consensus (Cross Base has been in consideration for 20 years - longer than many of these critics have been on the planet), the real enemy for the Greenstremists here is public will, and - when you get right down to it - democracy.
The day the hardcore greenies establish their Enviro Junta might be the day these "loser" projects get axed by the Pike/Pine intelligentsia.
"a later RTID poll showed Cross-Base with the lowest level of support of any of the joint ballot projects. The most recent poll in April had Cross-Base as the only project with less than 50% support, again without any opposition arguments."
Wrong again, Bill LaBorde. We can disagree on issues, but you at least need to try to be more honest when this data is posted on the internet
and when you refuse to cite your sources on a consistent basis.
That poll from April counted support/opposition region-wide (not just Pierce, which is where the 76-19 number came from in 2006.)
Region-wide, support is still more than 2-1 (47-21)
As such, your statements resemble mis- or dis-information.
"Ladenburg is term limited so he didn't care. Soon he will be gone, and so will cross base."
Good point, Tiptoe. Most of this will all be water under the bridge.
But for the Stranger to toss out 50 miles of light rail to satisfy a small group of die-hard Nader-style axe-grinders based on the "hope" that the already Democratic Legislature and Governor will somehow transform into Climate Change Warriors next year ...that is just plain silly.
Problems with the RTID have been around for a long time, but notice how NOT A SINGLE LEGISLATOR proposed a bill to de-link ST and RTID this year, last year (when the exact opposite happened) or any of the past 4 sessions.
Not one bill.
Once you leave Seattle City Limits, very little of these arguments fly very far.
Anybody who thinks stopping Cross-Base is somehow going to limit sprawl in Pierce County must be doing some of that meth they cook down there.
Southern and Eastern Pierce County have been BIAW hell for a generation now, because they never put in the same planning and environmental protections we put in King.
Moreover, the Republican-dominated County Council has given the developers the green light, and even if Calvin Goings (D) beats Shawn Bunney (R) and succeeds Ladenburg, his Council seat could go Republican, thus tying his hands even more.
The east-west SR 512 that feeds parts of Eastern Pierce is maxed out now. The areas that Cross-Base would serve are going to fill up regardless, and the pressure to build it will become inexorable.
The warehouses and distribution centers are in Frederickson for a reason, and there are more of them to come. Frederickson is the largest industrially zoned area in Western Washington. Now I would like some of the bright lights who post here to tell me how they intend to stop Cross-Base, Ladenburg or no Ladenburg?
The answer is, you won't. The best that the enviros can do to save that oak prairie is to try to force the Army to move the road to the other end of the base.
That is the part of the puzzle that no one mentions. But if that can be made to work, the road can be built, and the oak trees and the habitat can survive.
But stop the sprawl? Not happening. Put down the crack pipe if you think it is.
How about another way to judge if this was a victory:
The Original RTID proposal was missing $100 million for Cross Base.
The current proposal has $200 million, and an additional $70 million that is dependent on a mediation process that the environmental community must agree too.
Ladenburg is just saving face.
Correction on last post: The current proposal is MISSING $200 million.
So now opposing the cross base highway is opposing democracy? And I suppose I hate the troops too? What a shmuck.
Maybe SR 512, a freeway just three miles north of the cross base, is maxed out. I doubt it, but let's say it is. It would be far cheaper, far more environmentally responsible, and far better for Fort Lewis and McChord to add a lane or two to that highway then build cross base.
And yes, unincorporated Pierce County is a planning disaster area. Pierce County was the poster child for GMA in 1990 and even when forced to do some planning, the County Council did as little as possible. The UGA they created is significantly too large and when they finally adopted their comp plan, the County Council set the effective date out 8 friggin months to give their MBA/BIAW buddies lots of time to get vested. All of the shlock growth occuring now was permitted during that period. And to make matters worse, Pierce County has pitiful impact fees. So, yes Pierce County is a shithole. That doesn't mean you need to make it worse by building even more sprawl inducing highways like cross base.
And yes it has been talked about for 20 years. That is certainly not a reason to build it either. I'd be happy to talk about cross base for another 20 years if you want. Notice how the supporters of Ladenburg Lane never tell us exactly how they plan to come up with the missing $200 million, that is assuming the mediation results in the thing getting built. Do you really think there will be another gas tax from the Legislature any time soon? A local tax? That's a laugh. Just look at the I-912 vote in Pierce County. The people who most vocally support cross base and would benefit from it- ie Spanaway, voted against the gsa tax. My guess is they will also vote against RTID.
I'm guessing adding another lane to 512 would be acceptable to everybody *if* it can be done.
But if it can't, Cross-Base *will* be built, they *will* find the money, and it *will* be more expensive.
It's just mistaken to call Cross-Base "sprawl-inducing." The sprawl will occur in that area whether that highway is built or not. It's where a lot of jobs will be, and they are likely to be family-wage, union jobs.
All those people will have to live somewhere, and they will have to get in and out of the area. They will almost certainly *not* walk or bike to work, and they will sacrifice other things to be able to drive.
I put no value judgment on any of this. I do not live nor work in that area, but I have a lot of friends who do, and I visit the area often.
All I'm saying is that the sprawl will occur in that area, highway or not, and I don't see you disagreeing.
Born on the 5th of July @35: I didn't have the poll handy (or the time to search on-line), but yes I failed to pick up on the distinction between local and regional support for the highway. However, I still hold that the project has the most anemic support of any of the joint ballot projects and, more importantly, none of the opposing and only the supporting arguments for cross-base were tested.
And I also stand by my original contention that there is not much passion for the project among electeds or other interests, except for Ladenburg, the builders lobby and the Realtors (and if the highway would have no impact on sprawl, why do the builders and realtors care so much?). Yes, a lot of residents in the Frederickson/Spanaway area want cross-base, but as siwel pointed out, they always vote against taxes anyway.
And, if I'm so wrong about the politics of all this, why was the RTID exec committee so eager to throw the project out the window if it would buy the support of the environmental community?
"And there is very likely going to be regional governance reform next year led by the folks from the Regional Transportation Commission"
Good! That sound like a reason to vote no. We need much better transportation system planning and execution. I don't trust the people designing RTID + ST2. The yo-yo's who have blown all transportation taxing/planning/construction in this region are THE SAME ONES trying to convince us they have a prudent plan now.
The parameters for taxing and spending untold billions of our tax dollars this measure would give future political appointees are WAY TOO INDEFINITE.
Bornonthe5thofJuly @ 34:
"Since these projects all emerged from community process and consensus..."
You've got to be kidding!!! These projects were selected the same way any other transportation project list is selected, from the top down with some opportunity for citizen comment. These projects have all been on various legislative, WSDOT, local elected and highway proponent wish lists for the last decade or two. Yes, there were public meetings, opportunities to submit written and oral comments, but it's not like the RTID board started off with a blank slate, going around asking neighborhood groups to tell them what to do.
To make such an absurd proposition makes me think you must be on the payroll of something associated with the joint ballot effort. Lately, I've been buying into the argument that it's worth holding my nose on the bad RTID projects (for now) to support the joint ballot to make sure we get started on light rail as soon as possible. But, when I see people associated with RTID showing an utter disregard for the quite valid climate change implications of these road projects, it makes me want to throw $100k into a no campaign, while working with Sierra Club to raise another $300 or 400k to blow this thing out of the water.
In all seriousness, if the joint ballot proponents keep denying any meaningful connection between road building and global warming pollution, it's going to drive a lot more of the environmental community and, more importantly, the grassroots members of our organizations, to oppose the measure in November.
Bill LaBorde at #7:
It will be very difficult to change the project list after an affirmative vote. If it includes four new general purpose lanes on I-405 between I-90 and Renton, its proponents will argue that they can go back on what the voters approved. The horse will be out of the barn and she will have the four lanes at about $1.2 billion. The RTID enabling legislation does not allow its funds to be spent on rail transit. It was written by state senators McDonald, Finkbinder, and Horn, all eastside Rs that wanted to expand I-405; its nickname was "Senate Bill 405". There were six transit projects eligible for RTID funding (e.g., HOV lanes, ramps, signal systems, P&R, buses, flyer stops). At the suggestion of TCC, construction mitigation service was added in a later session.
Question: how strong is the policy language you mention regarding pricing? The RTID cannot force tolling on the Governor and legislature. What assurance do we have?
Sales tax for I-405 expansion?
eddiew 45 errata: oops, it should be "cannot" in second sentence.
@45 - "It will be very difficult to change the project list after an affirmative vote." That isn't true. The scopes can change big time, and no final designs of these "projects" have been completed. Funds can be switched around inside the counties by the counties. RTID was DESIGNED to make sure no one in the future would be bound by what the voters were told.
Remember how ST dropped stations and shortened the light rail line after the 1996 vote? RTID is like that, only worse.
It will not be difficult for a county (say Pierce) to reallocate funds from one project to another (say, to the cross base highway).
The Pierce Co. council was nearly unanimous in selecting the Cross Base Highway as an included project. Although the preliminary funds from RTID allocated to it now are smaller than originally disclosed, that can change after the vote by the co. council and they have the votes. They'll make up the difference, either from the general fund or from a new tax down there.
The redundant highway you guys mention that is either 3 or 5 miles away from the crossbase footprint is NOT 512, it is the military owned and maintained (hint - no cost to taxpayers) Perimeter Road.
Perimeter Road is a two-lane road that connects the I-5 Thorne Lane interchange in Lakewood with Spanaway Loop Road via 150th Street. Spanaway Loop Road connects directly to 176th Street and is a straight shot to Frederickson. McChord Air Force base's new commercial gate is located off this road.
Perimeter Road is actually CROSSED by the proposed road and if crossbase is built, will be closed. Now, we have a road that follows the same path, costs nothing to taxpayers, and has no traffic congestion.
Ladenberg has consistently pretended this road doesn't exist, or could be closed at the discretion of the military. HELLO, if the military needed to shut down Perimeter Road for security reasons, how likely are they to want to leave open a 4-lane highway with no checkpoints, and within spitting distance of cargo planes landing full of soldiers and jet fuel?
Frederickson employs less than 3,000 people, did you realize that? Why doesn't every little town that has gridlock get its own personal highway to home? The crossbase is a total waste of our tax dollars, I hope the enviros are successful in beating this one, I'm gonna vote no just to help them out!
Either HOV lanes on SR 512, or improving Perimeter Rd with some safer shoulders, etc. - along with some improved transit service and improvement of the rail line to Frederickson - would do a lot to improve freight and people mobility in that corridor without the same environmental harm that would come from Cross-Base.
Thank you Erica for writing this article, as I was shocked to have heard that environmentalists changed their tune so quickly on this road project and the package. Although the money and the mileage may seem small, and I read Bill LaBorde's rationale for a compromise - it doesn't add up. If this package was not the time to take a stand that we cannot build brand new roads through rare remaining wild places and face up to the realities of climate change, when is? These packages come only every decade, and the details within them matter. This was a time to design transportation different, and it appears we are leaving the real choice up to the voters. This package does not have my vote.
"But, when I see people associated with RTID showing an utter disregard for the quite valid climate change implications of these road projects, it makes me want to throw $100k into a no campaign, while working with Sierra Club to raise another $300 or 400k to blow this thing out of the water. "
You have $100k to spend - on a political campaign? Where did you come across that kind of money?
Your statement sounds like the Ralph Nader threat to tank Al "Big Oil" Gore, so we could "really stick-it to those sell-out Dems" back in 2000. Man, did that turn out well, right?
What bugged me most about Nader in 2000 was the fact he pussyfooted around W, the epitome of Big Oil, and saved most of his vitriol for Gore, who had written a book call "Earth in the Balance" eight years earlier.
What makes my analogy even more relevant is the fact I never see these greens, or the rest of the "perfect kicks good's ass" folks, actually going after the REAL enemies of public transit www.secstate.wa.gov/elections/initiatives/legislature.aspx?y=2007 , good land use planning, etc. Instead, you guys bash on the people you should be trying to team up with.... progressives need to learn the other side is really good at putting aside their differences...which is the main reason they've been so successful at the ballot box, despite their highly unpopular and radical views.
While I can understand your frustration with the way these compromises end up, I'm tired of the constant refrain in this region that "if we just go back to the drawing board, and start another 2-4 year process...everything will work out better (ie, MY way).
Bill, I think you're missing the argument many of us are making. Most - including myself - are not "showing disregard" for the climate change implications of anything that involves an internal combustion engine.
I, personally, have fought the good fight for longer than many of you have been on this earth. I've engaged in the abovementioned "shoot yourself in the foot" method, and I've been involved in political compromises which didn't always turn out the way I had hoped or expected.
But, in all cases, I set aside personal frustrations and have tried to work for the common good. I applaud those who are ahead of the curve, and are trying to alert car-happy "green" Seattleites to the impending disaster brewing in their tailpipes, which is a direct result of the eight-decade love affair with the automobile. But to use this concern to pull another Nader-esque stunt, and take us all off the cliff...then I have to part ways with your approach.
In other words, those who are supportive of this "Roads and Transit" package simply recognize the obvious political reality which engulfs all of us. I have not seen a single argument from you - or ECB - or from anybody, for that matter, which makes me think the legislature or our elected (Democrat) leaders are going to give us anything better to vote on. And they CERTAINLY aren't going to give us anything next year, or possibly the year after.
I sincerely hope the people at RTID take your concerns seriously, and I hope car-happy greens across Seattle and the globe will start hearing the message that THEY are the problem. But the American (and especially left coast) obsession with the automobile is an addiction which isn't going to be broken overnight. And just like with any drug addict, the "war on drugs" (ie, attacking the supply) simply isn't going to work. In other words, the "no roads in my name" folks are going to have to figure out how to attack on the demand side: tolling, better transit alternatives, etc.
Eddiew's concerns with 4 lanes on 405 might be valid, but that part of the RTID package was set in motion over a decade ago, and set in stone several years ago. The other segments of the 405 project are already a done deal (thanks, in part, to enviro backing of I-912), so sticking your fingers in the dike to stop the last link is just plain dumb, and a waste of time.
And finally, Bill: if what you say is true, and you have a half million dollars to spend shooting down 50 miles of light rail (as well as some nice bus/HOV facilities) how's about using some of that money on getting car-happy Seattleites (your base) to get out of their damn cars? (the addiction analogy would be drug counseling rather than drug wars and prison). Since something like 90% of all Seattleites consider themselves to be environmentalists, the mailing lists of every environmental group in the area would be a good place to start.
Embracing actual and political gridlock is only going to empower the likes of Tim Eyman, who is very good at tapping into the self-interest obsessed Washingtonian.
I could go back to my original example of Ralph Nader supporters telling us "things have to get worse before they get better," but I'll spare you that last analogy.
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SAN DIEGO (July 13, 2013)—A lunch hour dare to drink a weird concoction that included hot sauce, carrots, salt and milk likely caused 22 students to get sick at a San Diego elementary school although it's not clear if all of them were actually ill, officials said.
San Diego schools spokesman Jack Brandais said the at Audubon Elementary dared each other to drink from the mixture Thursday.
Afterward some reported upset stomachs and nausea.
Teachers then made a general announcement to see if other students had stomach problems and Brandais says that call brought out students "who may not have had problems at all."
Of the 22 students, 18 were taken to the hospital, and all were later released.
As a precaution, the school's kitchen, cafeteria and outdoor lunch areas were sanitized overnight.

subset: commoncrawl


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Find a copy in the library
Finding libraries that hold this item...
|Additional Physical Format:
|Online version:
Souvenir of the loyal girl of Winchester.
Loyal girl of Winchester. September, 1864.
[Philadelphia? 1888?]
|Named Person:
|Rebecca M Bonsal; Rebecca M Bonsal
|Document Type:
|All Authors / Contributors:
Philip Henry Sheridan; Theo W Bean; Rutherford B Hayes; John P Nicholson
|OCLC Number:
|Apparently a reprint, made by J.P. Nicholson at the request of ex-President Hayes, of a pamphlet published some years earlier under title: "Souvenir of the loyal girl of Winchester." Relates to the service rendered by Mrs. Rebecca M. (Wright) Bonsal in furnishing information as to the strength of the Confederate army to General Sheridan before the battle of Winchester. Includes letters from Generals Sheridan and Crook, Colonel T.W. Bean, Major H.K. Douglas, of General Early's staff, and ex-President Hayes.
|[10] pages 22 cm
|Other Titles:
|Souvenir of the loyal girl of Winchester.
User-contributed reviews


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BALMEDIE, Scotland -- The chilly, wind-whipped dunes and grasslands of the Scottish coast may have been the birthplace of golf, but that hasn't been much help to Donald Trump and his plans to create what he says will be the world's best golf course here.
Don't even start with the old Menie estate being said to be haunted by someone called the Green Lady. That's chump change compared with a nasty battle that has pitted local boosters and Scotland's new independence-minded government against those who complain that the New York real estate magnate is bullying his way across the foundations of Scottish environmental law.
Trump often seems to launch his development projects with a heavy wooden driver club; this time, he's landed in a bunker. At issue are Balmedie's sand dunes, a major part of which are protected as a "site of special scientific significance" under Scottish environmental law, removing them from any possibility of development.
"We already have some of the best courses in the world in Scotland, and the idea that another golf course and hotel is going to save us is absolutely grotesquely laughable," said Mickey Foote, a former producer for the punk group the Clash, who is now spokesman for Sustainable Aberdeenshire, a group fighting Trump's project.
"He's sold the people on the idea that it's wild, rough country and he's going to tame it, he's going to make it beautiful," Foote said. "I'm saying, it's perfectly beautiful as it is."
The battle has led to the firing of the local infrastructure committee chairman who rejected the project and recriminations against all seven committee members who voted no.
It also has sunk the Scottish government in a "sleaze" quagmire. After newly elected Scottish National Party ministers rescued the project by declaring it a matter of national significance, newspapers revealed that SNP officials had held meetings with senior Trump Organization officials on the eve of the decision.
"The pressure that was put on the council was absolutely unprecedented," said Martin Ford, the committee chairman who was ousted after casting a tie-breaking vote against Trump. "This is not normal. Indeed, I think it's very dangerous."
Most people in Aberdeen, the North Sea oil town a few miles south of Balmedie, are excited about the Trump International Golf Links, hoping it will lure championship-class golf from places such as St. Andrews and provide a solid new economic underpinning when the oil runs out.
The project with its two championship golf courses, 450-room hotel, 500 villas and 1,000 vacation homes is expected to bring a $400 million jolt to the local economy and up to $100 million a year thereafter.
"For the people of Scotland, generally the silent majority would think it's a worthwhile project. But as is often the case, the minority is extremely well-represented, often vigorous, well-organized, and they have been able to hijack the democratic process," said Geoff Runcie, chief executive of the local chamber of commerce.
In Aberdeen, a prosperous corner of Britain where unemployment hovers around 1 percent and there is hardly anyone clamoring for waitressing jobs at a golf hotel, it is nonetheless hard to find many people who aren't a) golfers and b) ready to roll out the red carpet to Trump (this despite the 70 golf courses already in Aberdeenshire).
"I'm 110 percent for it," said Bob Abercrombie, a 56-year-old native of Aberdeen. "It's going to employ a lot of people. And there's plenty of lovely, lonely places for people who like to go hill walking all over the place. It's a strip of sand, and there's miles and miles and miles of sand out there."
The sand is the key. It's commonly believed that golf got its first foothold in the grassy sand dunes of Scotland, famed for its coastal "links" courses challenging, often intimidating expanses of rolling sand, tough grasses and constant wind.
Trump says he wants to build on the scenic old seaside shooting estate at Balmedie as a testimonial to his late mother, who was born and raised in Scotland, and also because he believes the stark, majestic beauty of the wild Scottish coastline here could provide golfers with a one-of-a-kind experience.
But a coalition of environmental groups claims the dunes comprise one of the few remaining mobile dune systems in Britain. They have urged that the project be scaled back to eliminate the nine holes sitting among the dunes, a feature that Trump officials insist is the centerpiece of their project.
"They think we could damage or destroy this site of interest. But those two words are incorrect," said Neil Hobday, Trump's project director. "Alter, yes. Change, yes. But alter and change in a way that people who live beside the sea around the world and here in Scotland have done for centuries.
"What we're talking about doing is simply planting grass, which would stop this highly mobile sand from traveling northerly, where it has essentially been gobbling up farmland like a giant sand slug."
Environmental activists and others say parts of the dune system date back 4,000 years.
"To him, it's a blight because it gets in the way of his golf course. This is like seeing a tiger in the wild and saying, 'If I shoot it and stuff it and put it in my living room, it's preserved and improved,' " said Don Banks, who lives in an old lodge house on the edge of Trump's property. "If Trump is allowed to build on this one just because he says he wants it and my money talks, it undermines the whole system of environmental protection in Scotland."
This is what the local infrastructure committee had in mind when it rejected the Trump application Nov. 29, setting off a political shock wave. In addition to being called traitors, "numpties" (airheads) and "neeps" (turnips) in the local paper, committee members who vetoed the application have faced personal hostility. Debra Storr said a woman arrived at her front door and began shouting obscenities, then shoved her.
Immediately after the vote, the Scottish government seized control of the project, even as the Aberdeenshire council scheduled an emergency meeting to remove Ford from his job. A hearing officer, and ultimately the Scottish minister of finance, John Swinney, will now make the final determination.
Since then, it has been revealed that Swinney was a guest at a Trump resort only days before the government "called in" the project and placed it in his hands for decision, and that the Scottish government's chief planner, Jim McKinnon, had two Trump employees in his office Dec. 4, the day the project was called in.
Earlier last month, Scotland's three opposition parties moved to call in for questioning First Minister Alex Salmond, head of the Scottish National Party, who also held meetings with Trump's people.
Now, the story is no longer just Trump's project but the SNP's dreams of Scottish independence from Britain. Salmond's determination to generate tangible economic plums during the SNP's maiden voyage in government, ahead of a hoped-for referendum on independence, has been a major motivating factor in the campaign to lure Trump, analysts say, even as opponents of independence hope to use Trump to discredit the party.
And for some of those in Balmedie, it remains not political but highly personal. For Michael Forbes, a fisherman and quarry worker who has lived in the middle of what is now Trump's property for 30 years, it's about seeing the home to which he has affixed a plaque that says "Paradise" turned into a golf course.
Forbes refused Trump's offer of $750,000 and a job for life. Now, his ramshackle home, the prefab annex his mother lives in, the crumbling outbuildings and assorted broken-down farm equipment and oil drums will be a picturesque island in the midst of the Trump resort.
"They think money can buy everything," Forbes said, "but it can't buy me."
© 2016. All Rights Reserved. Contact Us


text:
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SpotON Radio
Spotify And The Echo Nest Announce New Partnership
Spotify and The Echo Nest today announced integrated APIs, making it easier for Spotify app developers to tap into The Echo Nest for all of the deep musical intelligence they offer. For customers, this partnership should lead to more synergy opportunities between recording artists and the music labels and their fans.
Bryan M. Wolfe
| March 29
SpotON Radio Is Like Pandora For Spotify
Spotify recently opened their API to third party developers, so what's the result? Something awesome like SpotON Radio.
Christine Chan
| January 10


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Natural gas costs could leave consumers cold this winter
Energy prices are high and will likely stay that way, with the biggest winter sticker shock expected in the Midwest, according to a Purdue University agricultural economist.
Energy prices are high and will likely stay that way, with the biggest winter sticker shock expected in the Midwest, according to a Purdue University agricultural economist.
An experimental AIDS vaccine of Merck & Co. has exceeded expectations and led to a double enrollment in the trial to 3,000, researchers said.
Cadres of telecom crews are standing by for the arrival of Rita, the second major hurricane to plow into the wobbly Gulf Coast this season.
A U.S. House of Representatives bill would make it harder for federal officials to set aside swaths of habitat for endangered plants and animals.
Upside Wireless Friday offered free text messaging for wireless customers in the path of Hurricane Rita.
One of the remaining challenges for evolutionary developmental studies of mammals, whose evolution is best known from their teeth, is how their tooth shape is altered during development.
Verizon says a regulatory ruling in California opens the door for the company's push into packet-switch technology for next-generation broadband telephony.
NTT will be undergoing a major restructuring effort to cut costs and boost efficiency, a Japanese daily said Friday.
Saturn's moon Titan is enveloped in a thick orange haze, and the organic particles that make up that smog have been raining out of the atmosphere and down onto the surface for millennia. This rich chemical brew is thought ...
An international team of scientists has started a six-week expedition off the coast of Vancouver Island to conduct research beneath the Earth's crust.


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Driver avoids serious injury after run-in with mooseJune 16,2013Staff Writer
KILLINGTON — A Middlesex motorist avoided serious injury following a collision with a moose Saturday night.
According to State Police, shortly after 9 p.m., Maurice A. Hebert, 65, was driving east on Route 4 in a 2012 Jeep Wrangler when a moose emerged from the woods and struck the passenger's side of Hebert's vehicle.
Hebert sustained minor scrapes, as did his passenger, Rosemary Hebert, 63, of Middlesex. A 15-year-old juvenile passenger was not injured. The vehicle sustained damage to the front, rear and passenger side and was towed from the scene.
The moose's condition was not available.MORE IN This Just In
Emergency crews Thursday found two hikers from Vermont who spent the night lost... Full Story
BENNINGTON — The annual Southern Vermont Garlic and Herb Festival, now in... Full StoryBRANDON The towns annual summer townwide yard sale, one of the biggest in the state, will take... Full Story
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The Shawnee County Sheriff's Office identified a boy killed in a weekend go kart accident as 15-year old Robert Koch.
It happened in the 2500 block of NE 31st Stree. The Sheriff's Office says Koch was riding with a nine-year old passenger around 3:30 Saturday afternoon. The go kart rolled several times, killing Robert. The nine year old wasn't hurt.
The Sheriff's office says both of them were wearing seatbelts and the go cart had a roll cage.


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Pet care personally designed for your special pet
Welcome to Case by Case Pet Services!
Case by Case Pet Services specializes in Pet Sitting, Dog Walking, Dog Biking, Grooming, Livestock Care, and all types of Pet Care. We are located in Newcastle, WA and provide service in the Bellevue, Newcastle, Issaquah, Sammamish, May Valley areas as well as parts of Redmond, Kirkland, and Mercer Island.
Case by Case caters to the pet owner that knows their pet is actually healthier and happier in the comfort of their own home. We understand that kennels and doggy day cares are NOT for everyone, since many simply cage your pet without any chance to safely roam, get exercise, or receive love. That's why we offer many types of services to the discerning pet-owner and provide those services in your home.
With us you get not only a pet sitter that LOVES animals but also built-in house sitting (a great safe-while-you're away strategy) as well. Case by Case will even create or tailor services to specifically meet your pet care needs. If we don't have a service you need just send us a request and we will create one just for you and your beloved pet.
Whether away on vacation, a weekend get away or just a long day at work, your pet still deserves care and attention. We believe every pet is an individual with his or her own personality. The same is true for the pet's parent. Needs differ. Case by Case tailors its services to meet the needs of today's busy pet lover.
Interested in starting your own pet care business?
If you are looking for a pet sitting, dog walking, boarding franchise then look no further
Case by Case has been established since 2000; we offer alternatives to kennels.
If you have dreamed of being your own boss, working the hours that suit you and have a genuine love of dogs then make sure you don't miss this fantastic opportunity.
The Case by Case Franchise is a life changing choice for you and your family giving you the dream of working from your own home with very low overheads.
Located in Newcastle, WA Case by Case offers the following:
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•High income potential – $30,000+ per Year
•Low overheads
•Run the business from home
•Flexible working hours
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•Large exclusive territory in which only you can operate
•Complete business start up package (includes your own website)
•2/3 day comprehensive training
•Ongoing support for up to 6 months
•Marketing campaign
•Use of all Case by Case branding
•Lead generation
•Own page on website
•Own email address
•Expert industry advice
Call Marcy for further information
Payment Accepted
|American Express


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I am writing this post from our bedroom, sitting cross-legged on the white bedspread, the white noise of our air-conditioning loud enough on this warm April Monday to have me wondering why it's belting out so fiercely and also if I've missed the sound of the oven timer going off. I just got up to check—both the air-conditioning and the oven—and turned the air-conditioning off and pulled a tray of near-burned oatmeal cookies from the oven. This activity is sort of a microcosm of my entire life, maybe yours too, this making of messes and then cleaning them up. I mean, from the moment I get up (make the bed!) to the projects throughout the day (Workout; pile sweaty clothes that smell like elephants into the hamper. Do laundry; dump it onto the bed to fold. Prepare dinner; now wash the dishes. Get an assignment; untangle the documents and instructions into something that makes sense). Chaos, order, chaos, order. When Tim's family was in town visiting a few weeks ago, I told my … [Read more...]
Maple Ginger Tea Lattes + Buckwheat Ginger Cookies (+ AeroLatte Giveaway!)
[UPDATE: Giveaway is now closed. Congrats to ZDubb, winner of the Aerolatte frother!) "A happy marriage is a long conversation which always seems too short." Andre Maurois You may assume a couple that works from home together shares a great deal of time---and, in fact, they do. In our daily routine, Tim and I prepare joint breakfasts, raise questions to one another from across the room, share work snacks of chopped apples, almond butter on celery, warmed-up leftovers from the night before. Most afternoons, when one of us receives a question about schedules or planning, there's little of that lag time between initial query and checking with the spouse because answers come quick when the spouse is but an arm's length away. And I'll tell you, quite candidly, that once you've tasted this kind of immediacy, it's a hard thing to let go of, so we're prone to say how much we hope we never will. Still, though, time is not time. … [Read more...]
Kombucha 101
You know, I was thinking, when my diet changed earlier this year, so did this place. And along the whole journey, from the early stages of removing refined flours and sugars, to the next steps of incorporating new ingredients (from whole wheat pastry to spelt to buckwheat flours), and even recently as I've started soaking flours overnight, you've stuck with me. You may have been shaking your head or laughing out loud, but at least a few of you have jumped right in, and those of you that haven't: you're still here. I was telling my brother yesterday that I really value people who will stay, who will stick by you and not run when things get uncomfortable or hard to understand, who are willing to put a little effort into relationship. And while of course every relationship is valuable because every person is, I have to say: those people who will fight through the rough stuff? They're few and far between. They're the best ones. They're you guys. So that said, I've got a real treat … [Read more...]
Late October
Well, it's happened. We had our first snowfall of the season today, just after the heat came on at work and just before my car stalled when I left to drive home (My diesel VW Jetta, though it gets great mileage, hates winter. We have that in common). The snow wasn't much to speak of---just 30 minutes or so of on-and-off flurries, but it was enough. Enough to remind me of what's coming and to send me into full-on hibernation mode. Every year around this time, I wander around the house in sweat pants and sweatshirts, thick socks, blankets, something hot to drink. There's no desire to go for walks anymore, not when I can see my breath and nothing, not even several layers, takes away the deep chill. Tonight was also the first time I turned on the heat, and, I'm so serious when I say this, the heat system smells like winter. It's this weird, not-quite-burnt odor that makes me hum Christmas carols and crave cookies with red sprinkles. Part terrible and part wonderful, this season, … [Read more...]


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Separate names with a comma.
Just a minor note: If you transfer a Reckless Blue-striped Basculin from BW, it'll be changed to Rock Head in XY.
It only affects a single ally.
Exactly as you would expect: the target's Special Defense is raised one stage. That's it.
I did not see this posted anywhere, but the description for the ability Oblivious now says, "Keeps the Pokemon from being infatuated or falling for...
I was training Wormadam today on Route 14 where there are wild Drifblim that know Explosion, but Anticipation was not activating. I played around...
Minor correction: Dustox does not resist Bug 4x, as Bug does not resist itself.
Yeah, only getting Metal Claw for Steel STAB is unfortunate; Iron Head would rule.
White Herb only activates when stat modifiers go below 0. A +2 Leaf Storm will bring the modifier down to 0, then another Leaf Storm will bring it...
I've been using this Krookodile set to some success and love it:
Krookodile@ Hard Stone
252 Attack / 252 Speed / 4 HP
Damn Troll Freak making Fly its only (outside of ubiquitous Hidden Power) Flying STAB. Same with Metal Claw being Doryuuzu's only Steel STAB.
There's going to be an ice cream Pokemon. All your arguments are invalid.
I absolutely adore Tsujarta's final evolution. It just solidified its place in my party (assuming they're real).
Seed Bomb should be slashed with Crunch to hit Ground-types that switch in to take your STAB Poison attack.
Serebii updated with the effects of Moguryuu's abilities:
Sand Throw doubles speed in a sandstorm and Sand Power increases the power of Ground,...
I downloaded it and got a Timid Mischievous Latias after only two soft resets.


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ICTIM provides a clear path through the maze of information on herbs, vitamins, supplements and natural products.
It provides,
ICTIM also provides a service, offering evaluation, advice, and accreditation, of courses from foundation level upwards.
Rosari Kingston
is a practicing herbal physician in West Cork, Ireland.
Rosari has been involved in education and research for many years and currently lectures on the Irish Healing Tradition in University College Cork.
Dr Dan Kenner
is a clinician with 30 years experience in both oriental and occidental medicine. His areas of interest include endocrinology and integrating both the eastern and western medical traditions.
Dr. Ashish Paul
is an Ayurvedic doctor working in London and specialising in infertility, PCOS and gynacology.


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Since Apr 23, 2002
Born and raised in Winter Haven, FL 1 Nov 1964
Joined the US Army - Infantry in 1983
'83 - '87 Stationed with 1 Bn 52nd Infantry (mech), Bamberg, Germany (Made E5, tried to join SF but could not due to knee injury)
'87 - Dec '89 Stationed at Ft Leavenworth, KS (Range Saftey and training Officer and Garrison NCOIC)
Dec '89 Left the service (stayed in Leavenworth, KS) and kicked around for a while
'90 - '93 Went to work in the Dept of Army as a Civilian (Met my future wife from St Mary's College during an April fools day parade)
'93 - '95 Left government service and went to the Bay area working for EDS
'95 - '00 Joined Cisco Systems as a network engineer. Moved to Denver CO (now with 2 girls and obtained my CCIE #2024). Became the Sr Network Architect for Cisco's Global voice and data backbone. Moved to Cisco's Fortune 200 consulting group NSA and consulted with CIO's on policy and procedures to improve security and availability of their networks
'00 Left Cisco for a VP position at a Western regional VAR (MSN Communications) as head of professional services. (got my boy)
'01 Completed additional Cisco certifications for networking (CCNA, CCDA, CCDP) and the industry standard security certification CISSP #25434
'02 Left MSN for a temp CTO position with Avaya developing the end to end IP achitecture.
02 Left Avaya to work for by IBM Global Services in their Network Consulting Practice as the delivery leader for Network Security
'10 had to leave IBM due to health issues preventing my traveling and joined Verizon Business.
'14 My group within Verizon was laid off so I returned to IBM in '15.
Currently reside in Thornton, CO with my wife and three kids.


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I have developed a Quantum GIS plugin layer using Microsoft Visual studio and placed it in my plugins folder of my customized QGIS application.
I now intend to debug the DLL using Microsoft Studio.
I have Quantum GIS 1.8 sources and debug successfully compile and also try to debug my dll using this environment without success.
My question is: How can i debug a Quantum GIS DLL using Microsoft Studio?


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Continuing Education Theater Classes
Related Links
- Theater at AACC
- Theater Noncredit Online Courses
- Performing Arts
- Dance - Noncredit
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- Music - Credit
- Upcoming Cultural Arts Events
- More Continuing Education Courses
- Register Today
Discover or develop your theatrical talent by taking AACC's Lifelong Learning theater courses. Subjects include basic acting, line delivery, stage presence, and improvisation. Learn to prepare for an audition, and the world of comedy, writing one-liners, physical humor and creating good will.
Upcoming Noncredit Theater Classes
Registration Form -- print, sign and fax 410-777-4325
Click on the course number below for more information on dates, time and cost.
For course descriptions, schedule and pricing, click on one of the following course.
TH 303 - Introduction to Screenwriting NEW Online
THT 302 - Acting 1 credit/noncredit
THA 335 - Acting 2 credit/noncredit
THA 345 - Introduction to Film credit/noncredit
THA 348 - Introduction To American Film credit/noncredit
For more information, call 410-777-2325 or email Dawn Schulman at firstname.lastname@example.com


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When I insert a gallery into a visual editor, I can't see the gallery placeholder in visual editor. If I switch over to "Text" editor, the [gallery] shortcode is there, but there is still no gallery placeholder when I switch back to "Visual" editor (only an empty line).
Does anyone else experience the same issue?
(I'm testing on Windows using XAMPP.)


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Help Center > Badges > Popular Question
Question with 1,000 views. This badge can be awarded multiple times.
earned this badge 4 times
Awarded Nov 3 '15 at 18:26
What are good metrics for a test team to use to start measuring their workload and ability to meet external deadlines?
Awarded Aug 7 '15 at 15:39
How do I convince someone who's bought the Record-Playback line that object oriented framework is essential?
Awarded Jul 1 '14 at 1:54
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My name is Wolfie and I will be recording my first full length album with your help. Become a part of Wolfie Complex!
42 backers pledged $5,020 to help bring this project to life.
Successfully raised $5,020 with 42 backers
Just a few days and only $135 to go!
This is a sample of what will be on the album. If you like it please consider donating.http://www.youtube.com/user/wolfiecomplex?blend=9&ob=5#p/a/u/0/6j1EOls3CbI
20% There!!!!!
We are making ground quick folks!!! We will have 30%in the next 11 days!! So be on the lookout for your copy of the live radio performances and green room... Read more
Project launched


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Natalie Portman's Son Aleph is a Cutie! Family Spotted in GenevaMariaLianos
Natalie Portman and fiance Benjamin Millepied took their little boy out for dinner and a walk in Switzerland and he looks adorable!
The exclusive photos appear in Us Weekly. In one of the photos, Portman is smiling at her son Aleph while they are in a restaurant in Geneva.
In another photo, the cute family are going for a stroll. Millepied, 33, is carrying their son in a baby Bjorn as he's holding hands with Portman, 30.
The family is spending time in Geneva while Millepied is doing choreography work for the National Geneva Theater.
Portman has reportedly turned down her first post-baby role in order to focus on being a mom. Her rep confirmed that Portman chose to turn down the offer.
It's refreshing to see that this Oscar-winning actress is willing to put her career on hold for her family.
Photo: PacificCoastNews.com


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Pricing is great. I have to admit the beds were real comfortable. It's not the Hilton but who cares its all about location ,booze and the freaking Florida keys. I will be back soon. Lots of great places to eat around here.
- Also Known As:
- Key Lantern Motel And Blue Fin Hotel Islamorada


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Great-Circle 's Products and Services
SQUID, Grib files, best start or best sails , ... More information? Click on picture
Squid (grib files)
Squid is a software to download and watch the weather grib files and make routing (with isochrone method). Squid can also display satellite images (visible, infrared, water vapor, colorful) and retrieve synoptic charts and observations (SYNOP, METAR and scatterometry).
The last application of Great Circle is Squid Mobile! You can download it for free of charge since the Apple store, and connect with your login to take advantage of all your features! Do not hesitate to download it!
Best Start® is a decision support tool for skipper to determine the best weather window to attempt to break a record. It can determine, for nearly three hours, the best starting point in the next ten days and evaluate the probabilities of beating the record
Best Sails
Best Sails is a tool that allows for very quick statistical study of weather and conditions of state sea on a route. In addition, the analysis also Best Sails the usage of sails statistics. The tool is based on historical data with high resolution very good qualities.
Weather model forecasting
Great-Circle has developed its own high-resolution meteorological model based on the open-source model WRF. Available resolutions range from 12 km to 1 km over some areas of the globe. Forecasts are available in Squid or an FTP server (depending on the project).
Great-Circle carries out specific studies in meteorology, both in the marine field than on land. Our R & D team can adapt some specific tools as needed
About Great-Circle
Great Circle, your weather partner in sailing
Initiated by passionate and experienced off-shore sailors the company distributes raw and custom high resolution grib files produced or forced from the major global models available. Skilled IT programmers, climatology researches and meteorologists specialized in remote sensing and ocean weather modeling joined our team this year to adapt and code all we ever dreamed to get. At Great Circle we know the real value of reliable and accurate weather forecasts.


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Acerca de
I am a UK and India based freelance photographer and project manager with a focus on travel, people and culture.
I have studied photography at New York's Parsons School of Design, Dublin's DIT and the UK's London College of Printing. At these places I honed my practice under the tutelage of photographers such as Tom Hunter, Clare Strand, Colin Jarvie and Neil Selkirk.
Since graduating from ual: London College of Communication in 2006, I have worked on photographic projects, publications, advocacy projects and exhibitions both independently and collaboratively.


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For the record 6-11-14
Police Report
Arrests—Officers arrested Seth Murphy, 32, Concordia, at approximately 2:15 p.m., June 9, in the 800 block of Washington Street on a Cloud County Warrant for Probation Violation. Murphy was transported to Cloud County Law Enforcement Center.
Officers arrested Torry Barleen, 30, Concordia, at approximately 3:40 p.m., June 9, in the 800 block of Russ Street. Barleen was transported to Cloud County Law Enforcement and charged with Criminal Threat.
Fire Dept./EMS Report
At 4:12 p.m., Tuesday, Medic-5 went to Mt. Joseph and transported a 63-year-old female to Cloud County Health Center.
At 9:35 p.m., Tuesday, Medic-5 went to Cloud County Health Center for long distance transfer of a 63-year-old female to St. Francis in Topeka.
CCCC trustees approve COLA increase
The Cloud County Community College board of trustees last night approved a two percent cost of living (COLA) increase for faculty members as well as for full and regular part time administrative and support staff employees effective July 1, 2016. The faculty two percent increase... [More]
For the record 7-27-16
Police Dept. Report On July 26th at 10:20 a.m. Tom Richard, Concordia, reported Criminal Damage to Property which had occurred in the 500 block of Washington. Investigation continues.
Commission approves grants
Cloud County board of commissioners Monday approved the four "Get In the Cloud" small business grants presented by Ashley Hutchinson, CloudCorp director. Selections are Moody Hue Studio, Concordia, $25,000; Old Mill Custom Cabinets, Glasco, $13,500; Designs 4 U, Concordia, $5,000;... [More]
More News
- Courthouse 7-27-16
- For the record 7-26-16
- For the record 7-22-16
- Courthouse 7-22-16
- Courthouse 7-20-16
- For the record 7-20-16
- For the record 7-19-16
- City officials discuss water billing with county commission
American Legion drops Osborne to win state title
OSBORNE — Putting up six runs in the top of the fourth inning, the Concordia American Legion knocked off host Osborne 9-3 in the championship game of the Kansas Pee Wee Baseball State Tournament Friday night. The American Legion was clinging to a slim 2-1 lead heading into... [More]
American Legion advances to state title game
OSBORNE — Winning a matchup of two Concordia teams, the American Legion advanced to the championship game of the Kansas State Pee Wee Baseball Tournament. The American Legion shut out 16th Street Car Wash 5-0 in the tournament semifinals on Thursday night. Advancing to... [More]
More Sports
Prairie Pondering
Remembering the smoke-filled rooms . . . "The Atlantic" recently ran a lengthy commentary by Jonathan Rauch. It was "How American Politics Went Insane." He got into history with the party bosses, smoke filled rooms, deals made and carried... [More]
Letter to the Editor 7-22-16
Dear Editor, Voting!! As I was lying awake last night, thinking about the day and what Ted Cruz said at the Republican Convention. I realized I had to agree with him. Yes, I agree his timing and choice of place to present his feelings was probably not the best, but... [More]


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BBB Accredited Business since
47th Street Closeouts, Inc
Phone: (212) 391-1888 Fax: (212) 997-2392 20 W 47th St Fl 201, New York, NY 10036 http://www.47stcloseouts.com
BBB Business Reviews may not be reproduced for sales or promotional purposes.
This firm manufactures closeouts and wholesale jewelry.
Request a Quote
BBB Accreditation
A BBB Accredited Business since
BBB has determined that 47th Street Closeouts, Inc meets BBB accreditation standards, which include a commitment to make a good faith effort to resolve any consumer complaints. BBB Accredited Businesses pay a fee for accreditation review/monitoring and for support of BBB services to the public.
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Factors that raised the rating for 47th Street Closeouts, Inc include:
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- Complaint volume filed with BBB for business of this size
- Response to 3 complaint(s) filed against business
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|Complaint Type
|Total Closed Complaints
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Business ManagementMr. Dani Borohov, Manager
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20 W 47th St Fl 201
New York, NY 10036 (212) 391-1888 Directions
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Additional Notes
Complaint: While deployed my fiance found a ring on the **** ****** Closeouts website. ***** (the rep) said a $500.00 deposit would be required to hold that specific ring and deal that was being offered. My fiance mailed a check out the next day and everything was going fine. I arrived back in the states and used the money I had recieved from deployment to pay off the ring in full. We made the final payment of $7400.00 on 09/**/13. The total of $7900.00 was for a 2.25 CT G-SI found on the site and had paid extra to upgrade the diamond. The ring was shipped on 9/*/13 and when it arrived we were devastated at what we received. The diamond was extremely poor and the flaws extensive. With the ring was a paper document hand written in claiming it was worth something like $25,000. We called the next day and ***** (the rep) apologized up and down and said that the "wrong diamond" must have been put in. This was my 8th tour for our country and I used the money I earned being away from my fiance on what is a very expensive ring for us. In my opinion a reputable business should put more though and care into such large transactions. We took his word for it and sent the ring back at our cost. We also asked that the correct ring be sent before 10/**/13 because we had the ******** ****** **** that evening. We called a week prior and somehow we had been forgotten about but ***** said he would personally taske care of it. Note: ***** is the only person we have ever contacted and the ring was sent to his attention. The second ring arrived in the mail and again was nothing like what we had ordered. ***** had decided to "upgrade" the size of the stone which would have been nice if it was even the setting we had originally ordered or even if it had been a good quality stone. We took it into a jeweler and he confirmed that it would be graded as an I1-I3 due to all of the inclusions. With this ring they sent a new appraisal which was dated 09/**/2012 and rated at a SI-2. We again called the next day and he wanted us to again send it back and he can send something else. We allowed them to fix the problem and they continued to be unreliable and untruthful. It is criminal what they are doing to customers. The last ring he sent has no engraving and is not even the setting we ordered so would not be considered custom.
Desired Settlement: I will send back the ring for a full refund. We no longer have the debit card that was used because we opened a joint account. We are requesting a full refund of the $7900.00 in money order or cashiers check.
Business Response:
Customer Review(s)
Customer Reviews Summary
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Michael Saiz
Hey there
I'm a young Software Engineer hungry for knowledge and new technologies. I study parttime for my Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSc). In my job i am working with J2EE, JSF... for a dynamic webproject running on wildfly and WAS Liberty with DB2 database.
The last years i was working on a lot of IBM XPage projects if you a question on xpages, but dont want to post it on stackoverflow? Feel free to send me a mail i can't promisse anything but i will try to help you out.
Keeping a low profile.
This user hasn't posted... yet.
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White Rabbits' newest video, which is for the song "Heavy Metal," will surely give you the creeps. The visuals show a family of three (or... Read more »
Thanks to Jon Jon for putting me onto this dope song & video from White Rabbits! This one is called "Percussion Gun" & it's off... Read more »


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Michael Brint, D.Phil.
Rahuldeep Gill, Ph.D.
Grady Hanrahan, Ph.D.
Haco Hoang, Ph.D.
Akiko Yasuike, Ph.D.
Rahuldeep Singh Gill, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Religion
Email: email@example.com
Rahuldeep Singh Gill is interested in the relationship between texts, subtexts, and contexts, as well as the nexus between the social and the religious. In particular, he examines the evolution of Sikh institutions over five hundred years of the tradition's history, as well as the interaction of Sikhs, Muslims, and Hindus. His research explores the life and works of the Sikh tradition's most important interpretive writer, Bhai Gurdas Bhalla (d. 1636).
Dr. Gill is Cal Lutheran's Campus Interfaith Strategist, who launched CLU's Asian Studies Minor, served as Associate Director for CLU's Center for Equality and Justice, and has served as the Center's Director since in 2014. In addition to offerings in Christianity, global religions, and Indian thought, he teaches a yearly course on Sikh tradition and has twice won Diversity Professor of the Year since he joined the faculty in 2009.
He encourages discussions in his classes, broadens students' perspectives, deepens their appreciation of diversity, and inspires them to be more understanding and compassionate. His translations of Bhai Gurdas's seminal vars will soon be published, along with an introduction to the Sikh savant's life and contribution.
Dr. Gill also teaches at Berkeley's Graduate Theological Union as Visiting Associate Professor of Sikh Studies. He works with organizations to make sure that Every Perspective Matters to acheive Innovation Through Inclusivity.
Dr. Gill's primary specialties are:


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Home >> Departments >> Board of Elections
Board of Elections
Amy Young, Director
11 North Mitchell Avenue, Room 108
Bakersville, NC 28705
E-Mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
Fax: 828.688.1651
2016 Primary Information & Notice
Download a printable copy of this notice here.
This is an official notice of an election to be conducted in Mitchell County on March 15, 2016. This notice contains a list of all of the ballot measures and federal, State, and local offices this county expects, as of this date, to be on the ballot on the date of the election. (See the ballot measures listed below this annoucement)
An Election Notice will be prepared not later than 100 days before a regularly scheduled election that permits absentee voting, and as soon as practicable in the case of an election or vacancy election not regularly scheduled. For a second primary, an Election Notice will be prepared, no later than the day following the date the appropriate board of elections orders that a second primary be held.
As soon as ballot styles are printed, this county board of elections will update this notice with the certified candidates for each office and ballot measures and referenda questions that will be on the ballot. For General Elections during even-numbered years, ballots will be printed 60 days prior to the election. For statewide primaries and other elections (except municipal elections), ballots will be printed 50 days prior to the election. Municipal ballots are available 30 days prior to Election Day. You must request an updated Election Notice.
Transmitting a Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot
This notice may be used in conjunction with the federal write-in absentee ballot (FWAB). Covered military & overseas voters seeking to vote by absentee ballot may use the FWAB to register to vote, request an absentee ballot, and vote an official military-overseas ballot. When using the FWAB to register to vote, and/or request an absentee ballot, please transmit your signed and completed FWAB no later than 5:00 p.m. on the day before Election Day. If submitted later than this day and time, your absentee ballot will not be counted. Federal write-in absentee ballots are available at www.NCSBE.gov. You may also request a regular absentee ballot by using the federal postcard application (FPCAL available at www.FVAP.gov. A regular ballot can be mailed, faxed or emailed to you. You may return the FWAB or a regular absentee ballot by mait secure fax (1-919-715-0351) or email email@example.com.
Marking a Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot:
When marking a FWAB, for each office for which you wish to vote, write in either a candidate's name or political party designation. For ballot measures or referenda, write either "YES" (you are for the ballot measure or referendum) or "NO" (you are against the ballot measure or referendum). In a primary, if you are registered as Democrat, Republican or Libertarian, for partisan contests, you may only vote for the candidates of the party for which you are affiliated. You are also eligible to vote for non-partisan contests. If you are registered as unaffiliated ("independent"), in a primary, you may choose to vote for the partisan contests of one of the parties or you may choose to vote for non-partisan contests only. Please contact your local board of elections to confirm your party affiliation or voter registration status
Please check the website for the NC State Board of Elections (www.NCSBE.gov) for additional information on militaryoverseas absentee voting.
Election Notice of Contests and Referenda
Mitchell Board of Elections 3/15/2016
- US President
- US Senate
- US House of Representatives District 11
- NC Governor
- NC Lieutenant Governor
- NC Attorney General
- NC Auditor
- NC Commissioner of Agriculture
- NC Commissioner of Insurance
- NC Commissioner of Labor
- NC Secretary of State
- NC Superintendent of Public Instruction
- NC Treasurer
- NC State Senate District 47
- NC House of Representatives District 085
- County Commissioner
- Mitchell County Register of Deeds
- NC Court of Appeals Judge (Stephens)
- NC Court of Appeals Judge (Hunter)
- NC Court of Appeals Judge (Dietz)
- NC Court of Appeals Judge (Zachary)
- NC Superior Court Judge District 24
- NC Superior Court Judge District 24 (Eggers-Gryder)
- NC Superior Court Judge District 24 (Harrison)
- NC District Court Judge District 24 (Mcentire)
March 15, 2016 General Election Important Dates
|January 25
|Absentee Voting
|February 19
|Voter Registration Deadline
|March 3
|One-Stop Voting Begins
|March 8
|Last Day To Request An Absentee Ballot
|March 12
|One-Stop Voting Ends
|March 15
|Election Day
|March 22
|County Canvass
Department Overview
The Mitchell County Board of Elections duty is to conduct fair, honest and impartial elections so that all citizens have the chance to exercise their right to vote. We work for the Public and we do the Public's business. We provide an open, honest, and non-partisan election process. We maintain an accurate data base and pride ourselves in excellent customer service. We provide timely, accurate, and legally correct information. The Board of Elections is responsible for conducting all elections including federal, state, and county as well as municipal and special referenda.
- We maintain and oversee all voter registration records for Mitchell County.
- Ensure proper geo-coding for all citizens.
- Contract for and maintain all polling places.
- Educate the public and the media about election law according to North Carolina General Statutes.
- Receive, audit, and maintain campaign finance reports.
- Maintain all election supplies and equipment.
- Conduct candidate filing.
- Ensure that ballots are designed and printed properly.
- Design and maintain open, honest, and accurate vote counting and reporting systems.
Scheduled Meetings
The Mitchell County Board of Elections meets the last Friday of each month at 4 pm. More frequent meetings are scheduled during election time. Each meeting is posted on the information board in the foyer of the Mitchell County Courthouse. All meetings are open to the public.
Requesting Information
All files and information maintained by the Board of Elections (with the exception of Birth dates and bank account information in regards to campaign finance) are public record. You can request information via email, fax, telephone or written request by mail.


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Anonymous asked: "the first time korra's parents met" This request was good. My #1 pairing is SennaxTonraq and the best part is that they are CANON! Woot! The scene depicts the first time Tonraq laid eyes on Senna. However, Senna always had a crush on him when they were kids but could not play out much because she was a sickly child. As a result, Tonraq didn't even know she existed. Poor Senna! But it all changed when Tonraq turned 14. The day of his right of passage, Senna came up to him and gave him a medallion for good luck. By the end of the day, Tonraq was given the Mark of the Brave. Two years later, he would ask Senna to marry him. I always imagined Tonraq to be feared because he looks so big and intimidating (even at a young age) but is really sweet and gentle. Only Senna saw him for he truly was. This is my headcanon and I'm sticking to it!
anonymous asked:
A prompt where Korra's parents catch Asami and Korra having sex (͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)