text:
Did you or your VSO file a Notice of Disagreement to your first denial? If so, you got a De Novo Review, same as a DRO. In that process, you are not present and what you received was a 2nd denial from a different Rating Official. In that case, your only resort is to file a VA Form 9, Appeal, that will go to the BVA. You only have 60 days to file the Form 9 from the date of the 2nd denial. Also, along the way, you can submit additional evidence, if appropriate.
Dave B does this for a living and has handled thousands of cases.
<< Moderator Note - I posted Dave Barkers post as a reply so it showed up on this page. RVN this is your last warning on bad information. I choose not to delete your reply. This time I did. >>This message has been edited. Last edited by: Dave_M,
Thought: Don't ask. Demand in writing a DRO Hearing, if timid is perceived, it is answered accordingly. If determination is perceived, then often it is responded to respectively.
Wishing you the best and Godspeed.
Eres Tu!
The claimant has one year from the date of the denial letter to perfect their appeal. The appeal must be received and date stamped by the VA; or 60 days from the date of the Statement Of the Case whicever is later, the appeal must be received and date stamped by the VA. One day over and the appeal is not accepted.
Example: If you received a letter of denial dated August 22, 2007 and you filed a Notice of disagreement on August 25, 2007 you have until August 22, 2008 for that perfected appeal to be date stamped as received, or 60 days from the date of the Statement Of the Case, whichever is later. If you filed your Notice Of Disagreement on August 21, 2008 you will have 60 days from the date of the Statement Of the Case. This what I consider a "chisled in stone" requirement, no waivers on getting the perfected appeal filed.
VA expects the VA Form 9 they provide, to each appellant, to be used in the appeals process. Some people like to play games with their time limits and procedure required, this is not the time to take any risks. Once the year has passed without the appeal being perfected, it is quite difficult to reopen a claim. It requires new and material evidence, as defined by VA regulations, to reopen an issue. I assure you it is not easy.
Here is a Copy Paste from VA which gives a great insight.
Section C. Decision Review Officer (DRO) Review Process
In this Section This section contains the following topics:
Topic Topic Name See Page
10 Overview of the DRO Review Process 5-C-2
11 DRO Duties and Responsibilities 5-C-3
12 DRO Jurisdiction and Authority 5-C-7
13 De Novo Review 5-C-11
14 Informal Conferences 5-C-15
15 Making the Decision 5-C-18
16 Exhibit 1: Informal Conference Report 5-C-22
17 Exhibit 2: Appeal Response Form 5-C-23
10. Overview of the DRO Review Process
Introduction This topic contains an overview of the DRO review process.
Change Date December 9, 2004
a. DRO Review Process The table below describes the stages of the Decision Review Officer (DRO) review process.
Stage Description
1 The appellant elects the DRO review process.
2 The DRO conducts a de novo review of the prior decision.
Reference: For more information on de novo review, see M21-1MR, Part I, 5.C.13.
3 Based on a review of the evidence of record, is there enough evidence to make a new decision?
· If yes, the DRO makes a new decision.
· If no, the DRO
- pursues additional evidence considered necessary to resolve the claim, and/or
- conducts an informal conference to obtain additional evidence from the appellant and his/her representative.
4 Based on evidence gathered, the DRO
· upholds or overturns the original decision
· works with the appellant and his/her representative to
- focus the issue, and
- fully explain the decision in an effort to resolve the appellant's disagreement, and
· begins to prepare the appeal for BVA review by sending an SOC, unless there is a full grant of benefits.
Reference: For more information on sending an SOC, see M21-1MR, Part I, 5.D.
11. DRO Duties and Responsibilities
Introduction The DRO performs an array of duties with the purpose of resolving issues raised by the appellant and his/her representative. This topic contains a definition of DRO and information on
· the DRO duties
· the Veterans Service Center Manager (VSCM) duties
· the DRO work measurement responsibilities
· which work measurement codes to take, and
· the acting DRO.
Change Date August 19, 2005
a. Definition: Decision Review Officer The Decision Review Officer (DRO) is a senior technical expert who is responsible for holding post-decisional hearings and processing appeals. The DRO may have jurisdiction of any appeal.
b. DRO Duties The table below lists the duties of a DRO.
· The DRO is a member of the Appeals Team but is under the direct supervision of the Veterans Service Center Manager (VSCM) or assistant VSCM. The Appeals Team Coach may assign work to the DRO.
· The composition of the local appeals team may vary. At some ROs, the team may consist of only DROs, while at others, it may include
- DROs
- RVSRs
- VSRs, and
- Claims Assistants.
Duty Description
1 Hold informal conferences and formal hearings.
2 Evaluate the evidence of record including the need for additional evidence as a result of information obtained during the hearing.
3 Make a decision.
4 Make direct contact with appellants and their representatives.
Continued on next page
11. DRO Duties and Responsibilities, Continued
b. DRO Duties (continued)
Duty Description
5 Provide feedback to each Rating Veterans Service Representative (RVSR) as to the cases handled and appealed without regard to whether the decision was
· upheld
· reversed, or
· modified.
6 Provide feedback to local management about
· trends
· general quality, and
· areas in need of training.
7 Work together with station and service center management and staff to develop consistency and accuracy in first-line decision making.
8 Perform Master Rating Specialist duties, including
· acting as a resource for other employees, and
· directing management of the appellate workload.
9 Play a central role in employee development, including
· mentoring new rating specialists
· participating in the training of RVSRs
· coordinating training opportunities with BVA and local medical centers, and
· providing feedback to Compensation and Pension (C&P) managers at all levels.
10 · Certify appeals prior to transfer to BVA, and
· coordinate the transfer of appeals to BVA.
11. DRO Duties and Responsibilities,
c. VSCM Duties The VSCM (or assistant VSCM)
· supervises the DRO
· may exercise all duties and authorities of the DRO
· assigns duties that are appropriate to the DRO's grade level and position, as time allows, provided such duties do not conflict with the DRO's status as an impartial and independent decision-maker
· appoints acting DROs during the temporary absence or disqualification of the DRO, and
· assigns a rating or authorization panel, whose members did not participate in the decision, to hold a personal hearing in
- cases where the traditional appellate review process has been elected by the appellant, and
- unusual or emergency circumstances.
d. DRO Work Measurement Responsibilities The DRO
· maintains an accurate record of the actual hours spent performing DRO duties at different regional offices (ROs), should the need arise, and
· prepares a report for the VSCM or Appeals Team coach at the RO where the service was performed.
Note: ROs borrow or loan the corresponding amount of time. Charge the DRO's time against the cost center for the rating activity.
11. DRO Duties and Responsibilities,
e. Which Work Measurement Codes to Take Use the table below to determine which work measurement codes to take.
Note: Complete EP credit continues to be recorded by the RO having jurisdiction of the claim. Maintain these reports under RCS VB-1, Part 1, Item 13-005.000.
Reference: For more information on which EP credit to take, see M21-4, Appendix C.
If the DRO or VSR … Then he/she takes EP code …
prepares an SOC only 172.
holds an informal conference which results in the withdrawal of the appeal 173.
Note: Annotate the informal conference report when taking the EP.
· conducts a de novo review and issues a decision
· prepares a clear and unmistakable error (CUE) decision, and/or
· holds a traditional hearing 174.
f. Acting DRO When the DRO is temporarily absent or disqualified because he/she participated in the decision under review, the VSCM of the RO where the hearing is scheduled appoints an acting DRO.
The acting DRO
· shall have considerable understanding of the issue that is the subject of the hearing
· shall not be less than a GS-12, except in extraordinary circumstances, and
· cannot have participated in the decision being reviewed.
12. DRO Jurisdiction and Authority
Introduction The DRO has jurisdiction over several appellant issues. This topic contains information on
· the DRO's jurisdiction over
- appellant issues, and
- subordinate issues
· issues not under the jurisdiction of the DRO
· the jurisdiction of the visiting DRO
· the DRO's decisional authority
· the DRO's lack of authority in subsequent hearing requests
· how the DRO is bound by a BVA decision, and
· how DRO bargaining is prohibited.
Change Date June 19, 2006
a. DRO Jurisdiction over Appellant Issues Once the DRO assumes jurisdiction of a case, he/she works in partnership with the appellant and representative to resolve all issues covered by the NOD in accordance with the laws and facts in that particular case. The appeal remains with the DRO until it is forwarded to BVA.
The DRO has jurisdiction over a rating issue that the appellant raises during the hearing provided the issue was part of the rating decision being appealed that is the subject of the formal hearing or informal conference.
Notes: The DRO has
· de novo review jurisdiction only over appeals for benefits governed by
- 38 CFR 3, and
· limited jurisdiction over a rating issue raised during an informal conference or formal hearing, provided the issue was part of the rating decision that is the subject of the hearing, and
· no jurisdiction over an appeal on a rating decision made by the DRO him/herself.
12. DRO Jurisdiction and Authority
b. DRO Jurisdiction Over Subordinate Issues When an issue is favorably decided, the DRO assumes jurisdiction over any subordinate issues, including
· evaluation and effective date, and
· any inferred or ancillary issues that are encompassed by that favorable decision.
Reference: For more information on inferred or ancillary issues, see
· M21-1MR, Part III, Subpart iv, 6.B.3, and
· M21-1MR, Part IX, Subpart i.
c. Issues Not Under the Jurisdiction of the DRO The DRO does not have jurisdiction over
· Committee on Waivers and Compromises (COWC) issues
· loan guaranty
· insurance, and
· hearing requests concerning a denial of benefits from a medical determination rendered by a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical activity for
- clothing allowance
- automobile and adaptive equipment, and
- specially adapted housing.
d. Jurisdiction of the Visiting DRO If the DRO at the host office participated in the decision being reviewed, a visiting DRO may be requested to hold hearings or conduct de novo review. The visiting DRO will render a decision in such claims, but not maintain jurisdiction of the appeal.
However, the VSCM at each RO has the authority to grant the issue on appeal based on a de novo review or CUE without referral to the visiting DRO. The VSCM is not permitted to delegate this authority to anyone else.
Note: Submit a written request to C&P Service when a specific delegation of this authority is necessary.
Continued on next page
12. DRO Jurisdiction and Authority, Continued
e. DRO Decisional Authority The DRO may
· amend, reverse, or modify a decision based on de novo review
· amend, reverse, or modify a decision based upon new evidence, or
· exercise single signature CUE authority.
· Unless a CUE exists, the DRO cannot revise the decision in a manner that is less advantageous to the appellant than the decision under review.
· A decision in which CUE is cited requires the signature of the VSCM if the decision would
- reduce a service-connected evaluation(s), or
- sever service connection for a disability(ies).
Note: The VSCM's signature is required on the rating even if the reduction or severance based on a CUE would not cause a reduction or termination of total benefits paid.
Reference: For more information on DRO decisional authority, see 38 CFR 3.2600.
f. No DRO Authority in Subsequent Hearing Request The DRO has no authority to participate in a formal hearing if he/she participated in the decision under appeal.
Example: If the DRO makes a new decision based on de novo review and the appellant subsequently requests a formal hearing, the DRO does not have authority to conduct the formal hearing.
Reference: For more information on the DRO not having authority in subsequent hearing requests, see 38 CFR 3.103(c)(1).
g. DRO Bound by BVA Decision In the absence of new and material evidence, the DRO is bound to follow a decision of BVA in an individual claim and cannot recommend a change based on de novo review authority.
Continued on next page
12. DRO Jurisdiction and Authority, Continued
h. DRO Bargaining Prohibited A DRO cannot make a bargain with an appellant or his/her representative by requesting or requiring him/her to withdraw a claim or take any action in exchange for the granting of any benefit.
Example: A DRO tells an appellant's representative that she will grant a 50 percent evaluation for PTSD if the appellant withdraws the claim for secondary service connection for hypertension.
A DRO is not prohibited, however, from discussing the lack of merit in any particular case or from encouraging the claimant or his/her representative to withdraw a meritless appeal.
13. De Novo Review
Introduction This topic contains a definition of de novo review and information on
· who may receive a de novo review
· who conducts a de novo review
· what may be reviewed
· de novo review of contested claims, and
· responding to a CUE.
Change Date June 19, 2006
a. Definition: De Novo Review A de novo review is a new and complete review of the appealed issue with no deference given to the decision being appealed. This review leads to a new decision, which may be a full grant, partial grant, CUE, or no change.
Reference: For more information on de novo review, see 38 CFR 3.2600.
b. Who May Receive a De Novo Review An appellant has a right to de novo review of his/her claim if he/she
· files a timely notice of disagreement (NOD) with the decision of an agency of original jurisdiction on a benefit claim, and
· requests the DRO review process/de novo review no later than 60 days after the date of the notice sent informing the appellant of his/her right to de novo review.
· The 60-day time limit cannot be extended.
· An appellant cannot have more than one de novo review of his/her claim.
13. De Novo Review
c. Who Conducts a De Novo Review At VA discretion, the de novo review is conducted by the
· VSCM, or
The DRO has de novo review authority over post-decisional claims.
Only an individual who did not participate in the original decision being appealed conducts this review.
References: For more information on
· who conducts a de novo review, see 38 CFR 3.2600
· DRO jurisdiction, see M21-1MR, Part I, 5.C.12
· acting DROs, see M21-1MR, Part I, 5.C.11.f, and
· visiting DROs, see M21-1MR, Part I, 5.C.12.d
d. What May Be Reviewed Review only those decisions that have not become final by
· appellate decision, or
· failure to timely appeal.
The review will encompass only the decision with which the appellant has expressed disagreement in the NOD.
13. De Novo Review
e. De Novo Review of Contested Claims The DRO or VSCM designee conducts one hearing or de novo review for each of the different appellants in contested claims.
In some cases, the appellant requests a hearing or de novo review but does not live in the same jurisdiction as the office having custody of the claims folder.
The table below describes the process for reviewing contested claims when the appellant does not live in the same jurisdiction as the office having custody of the claims folder.
Stage Who Is Responsible Description
1 DRO/VSCM at RO closest to the appellant's residence · Holds a hearing
· prepares a transcript, and
· sends a transcript to the DRO/VSCM at the RO with jurisdiction over the claims folder.
2 DRO/VSCM with jurisdiction over the claims folder · Reviews the transcript, and
· makes a decision.
f. Responding to a CUE Use the table below to respond to a CUE.
Important: If the CUE involves a rating issue, it is necessary for the DRO or RVSR to annotate the rating with a certificate of error.
Reference: For more information on CUE, see M21-1MR, Part III, Subpart iv. 2.B.7.
If … Then …
a DRO
· finds a CUE on a prior decision
· prepares a decision that proposes to
- reduce a service-connected evaluation, or
- sever service connection for a disability, and
· the VSCM agrees · the DRO and VSCM (or Assistant VSCM) sign the decision, and
· the person who prepared the original decision gets a copy of the decision.
13. De Novo Review
f. Responding to a CUE (continued)
If … Then …
a DRO
· finds a CUE on a prior decision
· prepares a decision that would
- reduce a service-connected evaluation, or
- sever service connection for a disability, and
· the VSCM does not agree · the VSCM states his/her disagreement on the decision
· the DRO prepares another decision affirming the issue in question, and
· both documents are filed in the claims folder.
a DRO
· finds a CUE on a prior decision, and
· prepares a decision that would not
- reduce a service-connected evaluation, or
- sever service connection for a disability
· the DRO signs the decision, and
· the person who prepared the original decision gets a copy of the decision.
· an RVSR
- believes there is a CUE, and
- prepares a decision, and
· the VSCM agrees · the RVSR and VSCM sign the decision, and
· the person who prepared the original decision gets a copy of the revised decision.
· an RVSR
- believes there is a CUE, and
- prepares a decision, and
· the VSCM disagrees · the VSCM states his/her disagreement on the decision
· the RVSR prepares another decision affirming the issue in questions, and
· both documents are filed in the claims folder.
Note: The final decision reducing the evaluation or severing service connection does not require the signature and approval of the VSCM or Assistant VSCM unless new evidence has been received since the proposed decision was approved.
14. Informal Conferences
Introduction An informal conference is provided as part of the DRO appellate review process. This topic contains a definition of informal conference and information on
· the purpose of an informal conference
· when to schedule and conduct an informal conference
· where and how to conduct an informal conference
· requesting, canceling, or rescheduling an informal conference
· who may attend an informal conference
· presenting evidence during an informal conference
· the Informal Conference Report, and
· handling
- additional evidence submitted during an informal conference, and
- new issues raised during an informal conference.
Change Date December 9, 2004
a. Definition: Informal Conference An informal conference is a tool available to the DRO and other Veterans Service Center (VSC) personnel during the DRO review process to ensure that
· all parties understand the issue(s) pending review
· the issues are focused and clarified, and
· the record is fully developed.
An oath or affirmation is not used for an informal conference.
Note: While informal conferences are not part the traditional appellate review process, direct communication with the veteran and his/her representative is not precluded in these cases and should be initiated in order to facilitate resolution or clarification about matters on appeal.
14. Informal Conferences
b. Purpose of an Informal Conference The purpose of an informal conference is to
· clarify the issues the appellant wishes to appeal
· provide explanations, and
· identify additional sources of pertinent information.
c. When to Schedule and Conduct an Informal Conference Informal conferences are scheduled and conducted at the discretion of the DRO.
d. Requesting, Canceling or Rescheduling an Informal Conference A claimant may request, cancel or reschedule an informal conference in writing, by e-mail, by fax, by telephone, or in person. If this is done by telephone or in person, the DRO or employee receiving the request should promptly complete a VA Form 119, Report of Contact, to document the request.
e. Where/How to Conduct an Informal Conference Conduct an informal conference
· in person at the RO
- of jurisdiction, or
- nearest to the appellant's residence
· by telephone, or
· by videoconference.
Informal conferences may be conducted in work areas as long as all participants agree on the location.
14. Informal Conferences
f. Who May Attend an Informal Conference The appellant and his/her representative may attend an informal conference at their discretion.
Note: If the appellant's representative is an attorney, emphasize
· the informality of the conference
· that rules of evidence do not apply, and
· that leading questions are permissible.
g. Presenting Evidence During an Informal Conference During an informal conference, the appellant or his/her representative may
· introduce evidence into the record, and
· make arguments and contentions with respect to the facts and applicable law.
h. Informal Conference Report Use the Informal Conference Report to
· document the informal conference, and
· describe
- all the issues in detail (Example: The veteran seeks a rating increase from 50 percent to 70 percent for post-traumatic stress disorder.)
- specific additional evidence required
- a summary of the discussion during the informal conference, and
- the course of action agreed upon by the parties.
Note: The Informal Conference Report should be placed in the claims folder.
Reference: For a sample of the Informal Conference Report, see M21-1MR, Part I, 5.C.16.
i. Handling New Issues Raised During an Informal Conference If a new issue is raised during the informal conference and a decision on that issue has not been made, refer it to the appropriate activity for development and a decision.
15. Making the Decision
Introduction After de novo review and/or an informal conference, the DRO makes a decision on the claim. This topic contains information on
· the decision format requirements
· the VSCM's responsibility for quality of the DRO's decision
· the decision to
- award full benefits
- award partial benefits, and
- uphold the previous decision
· implementing the decision, and
· the appellant withdrawing the NOD.
Change Date August 19, 2005
a. Decision Format Requirements
Consider the Informal Conference Report when making a new decision. DRO decisions, which are either a new rating decision, SOC, or supplemental statement of the case (SSOC), must identify all the issues and include a
· summary of the evidence
· citation of pertinent laws
· discussion of how those laws affect the decision, and
· summary of the reasons for the decision.
Reference: For a sample of the Informal Conference Report, see M21-1MR, Part I, 5.C.16.
15. Making the Decision
b. VSCM Responsibility for the Quality of the DRO's Decision The VSCM is responsible for the quality of decisions in the VSC. This responsibility extends to ensuring that DROs properly apply all laws, regulations, and instructions to decisions rendered.
In some cases, where the VSCM disagrees with the substantive decision of a DRO, the VSCM may
· request reconsideration but not direct a change in the decision, or
· seek an advisory opinion, administrative review, or administrative appeal.
Exception: The VSCM has the authority to direct a change in the decision of a DRO when CUE is cited and the decision would
· reduce a service-connected evaluation(s), or
· sever service connection for a disability(ies).
References: For more information on
· advisory opinions, see M21-1MR, Part III, Subpart vi, 1.A.2 (TBD) or M21-1, Part IV, 7.03 and 7.04
· administrative reviews, see M21-1, Part III, Subpart vi, A.3 (TBD) or M21-1, Part IV, 7.03 and 7.05
· administrative appeals, see M21-1MR, Part I, 5.J.50, and
· responding to a CUE, see M21-1MR, Part I, 5.C.13.f.
c. Decision to Award Full Benefits If all benefits sought are awarded for the entire period covered by the appeal
· consider the appeal resolved
· advise the appellant, and
· update Veterans Appeals Control and Locator System (VACOLS).
Because the DRO has jurisdiction over all aspects of the issue, the reasons and bases section of the new rating decision must be comprehensive and include a discussion of evaluations and effective dates as necessary.
The decision must include a statement that this is an award of all benefits sought on appeal and that the appeal is therefore considered satisfied in full.
15. Making the Decision
d. Decision to Award Partial Benefits The DRO may make a decision that awards the benefit in part but which may still require an SOC/SSOC.
In this case, the DRO
· sends the appellant the
- new rating decision
- an SOC/SSOC, and
- the Appeal Response form, and
· makes every attempt to contact the appellant and the representative directly to explain his/her decision and the options available.
Note: If the appellant withdraws the appeal, for example during an informal conference, the DRO does not have to send the appellant an SOC. In cases where the conference is conducted by telephone, written confirmation of the withdrawal must be made.
Example 1: A veteran files an NOD with a decision denying increased rating for a knee condition. After a review of the record, the DRO decides to award a partial rating increase. The DRO prepares a
· decision that will implement the rating increase, and
Note: The SOC is required unless the appellant has withdrawn the appeal.
Example 2: A veteran files NODs with two decisions. The DRO decides to grant one of the claims, but deny the other. The DRO prepares a
· decision that will implement the award, and
· SOC for the claim that was denied.
· For a sample of the Appeal Response form, see M21-1MR, Part I, 5.C.17, and
· For more information on sending an SOC, see M21-1MR, Part I, 5.D.
15. Making the Decision
e. Decision to Uphold Previous Decision If the DRO confirms the previous decision, he/she sends
· an SOC confirming the decision on appeal and explaining the reasons and bases for the VA decision, and
· VA Form 9, Appeal to Board of Veterans' Appeals, to the appellant.
Reference: For more information on sending an SOC, see M21-1MR, Part I, 5.D.20.
f. Implementing the Decision The DRO routes the decision to the appropriate activity.
A DRO's decision is final and binding on all ROs and is not subject to revision on the same factual basis, except by BVA or as provided under 38 CFR 3.105(a).
g. Appellant Withdrawing NOD When an appellant calls the DRO to indicate satisfaction with the decision and a desire to withdraw his/her NOD, the DRO
· explains VA's need to obtain written confirmation of the withdrawal, and
· informs the appellant that an SOC/SSOC will be sent if written confirmation is not received in ten business days.
If the DRO does not receive written confirmation within a reasonable period of time, such as ten business days, he/she issues an SOC, if he/she has not already done so.
Note: An appellant and/or his/her representative may withdraw an appeal at any time, subject to the restrictions of 38 CFR 20.204.
Reference: For more information on withdrawing an NOD, see M21-1MR, Part I, 5.A.2.
16. Exhibit 1: Informal Conference Report
Change Date December 9, 2004
a. Informal Conference Report An example of an Informal Conference Report is below.
17. Exhibit 2: Appeal Response Form
Change Date August 19, 2005
|New Member
Yes I did file a NOD with the VSO for the second denial, but have not filed a form-9. I do have additional evidence.
Quote: "Yes I did file a NOD with the VSO for the second denial, but have not filed a form-9. I do have additional evidence."
If you and your VSO feel your claim is well grounded, please file the VA Form 9! Nowhere has anyone said you need additional evidence to file the VA Form 9. The VA appeals system exists because the claimant disagrees with the agency of original jurisdiction and desires the case to be heard by the Board of Veterans Appeals. There is a deadline that cannot be waived, that form must be date stamped by the VA before:
1. the end of the one year period, or
2. the end of the 60 days after the SOC was issued.
Now it is presumed by me, you have a VSO, so ask for a personal BVA hearing, either in person in Washington D.C., a Travel Board in your VA Regional Office, or a video BVA Hearing in the closest VA Regional Office.
If you do find additional evidence, it may be presented at the hearing.
I know I've asked this before, but the cut and paste, above, doesn't really mention it.... and that's concerning asking for a DRO Hearing after a SOC is received. Not to be confused with a BVA Hearing, I speak of a DRO Hearing at the VARO facility, face-to-face.
If done timely, isn't that possible, or not ?
Yes it is.
My claim(s) are now at the Authorization Stage. WONDER... what's that means ? The people at the 1-800 number told me this yesterday and that I will receive a written notification in 15 to 30 days.
My claim(s) went to the Tiger Team in Ohio; only took 2 weeks, then back to the VARO for finalizing.
What is the Authorization Stage; is it a claim award or a denial?
Sorry Robert.
I answered your question on the Tiger Team thread, short answer if you dont want to look, award.
Eres Tu!
Here is what I ahve found, the VA lies and takes away what you already have when you file a claim. I know I opened a new claim and they took away and down rated me to 0% sawing that i had not had a problem in over 29 years. Funny they just did not read the medical records and they would have saw hospitalized for it over and over again during those 29 years. then got outside doctors to exaime me two of them and write to the VA Board and once again the VA gets a VA Doctor opion that has not even see me write saying no and then they base it on that statement alone. Been in this for 4 years and just had a BVA which one doctor came to the hearing and answered questions, But now it is wait for that out come, an from what I read on here it might take a long time, even the doctor said at the hearing how come the VA did not give this veteran the benifit of the doubt, any got any answers to what the VA is doing ignoring there own regs, because 20 years ago a VA comp doctor wrote to the board saying this man should have his upped at that time and added a new thing, they ignored him and I never knew about it until opening and reading my medical and c-file, all veterans should take the time and go thru there files out there you would be surprised what they wrote in there. Thank You
After AMC finished with the stuff on remand and it is still denied, and have no more information but still disagree with decision what are my options? Can I go back in front of the BVA judge?
I do not know the answer. I have asked my experts to review the question.
If the AMC denied the issue on Rmand it will be forwarded to BVA for final disposition, i.e. review and decision by a Veterans Law Judge. An AMC denial does not constitute a final decision, rather it is a step in the appellate process prior to being returned to the BVA.
I hope this helps.
"Building better lives for America's disabled veterans and their families." Ne Desit Virtus-Let Valor not Fail
does the judge just rubber stamp the AMC decision? Or does he read everything and make his own, sure wish I could appear again to point out the AMC mistakes.
The judges make their own decisions. The AMC functions as a Regional Office within the BVA.
Thank you
The Veteran Law Judge does rely on the AMC, but if the development informaiton would be equally balanced, the VLJ may rule in favor of the veteran. That however is rare.
I will cast no stones. Proud member of the RD-DV!
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Camp Paumalu Fix-Up Day
January 19, 2013 @ 8:00 am - 3:00 pm
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Come have Fun and help fix-up Camp Paumalu with our PCCS (Paumalu Camping with a Core Staff). Meet other Girl Scout parents, leaders and girls. Have fun with group painting, leveling and brush clearing. Enjoy "Stone Soup" Paumalu style!
Deadline to register is Tuesday, January 15, 2013, by 5:00 p.m.
Event open to:
Registered Adults, Troop Leaders, Parents of Girl Scouts.
Girls of parents will be provided games and crafts in safe areas while fix-up areas are being addressed by adults.
All participants (Adults and Girls) must be a registered member of the Girl Scouts of the USA for 2012-2013.*
Saturday, January 19, 2013, 8:00 a.m.
Lunch at 12:00 p.m. of "Stone Soup" and sandwiches.
Departure time on Saturday, January 19, 2013, 3:00 p.m.
Camp Paumalu on the North Shore of O'ahu
Comsat Road
Paumalu (Haleiwa), HI 96712
Optional Fee:
1 (or more) Can of Vegetables (peas, carrots, corn, lima beans, beets, etc.) per adult for,"Stone Soups ala Paumalu."

subset: commoncrawl


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In the time that I have been acquainted with this region I have become increasingly aware of it as a testament of water, the origin and guide of its contours and gradients and of all the lives - the plants and small creatures, and the culture - that evolved here. That was always here to be seen, of course, and the recognition has forced itself, in one form or other, upon people in every part of the world who have been directly involved with the growing of living things. The gardener who ignores it is soon left with no garden.
W. S. Merwin (1927 -)
Source: A Shape of Water, 1997
Contributed by: Zaady
We must cultivate our garden.
Voltaire (1694 - 1778)
Source: Candide
"You are right," said Pangloss, "for when man was placed in the Garden of Eden, he was placed there ut operaretur eum, to dress it and keep it; which proves that man was not born for idleness."
I also know that we should cultivate our gardens.
The more one gardens, the more one learns; And the more one learns, the more one realizes how little one knows.
Vita Sackville-West (1892 - 1962)
Many things love to come and live off your plants, including bacteria, bugs, birds, and bunnies. If you don't control them, entire crops can be ruined. The result of your careful cultivation, in your garden and in your life, can be lost to predators in a short time. . . . Take a look at your life, what toxic relationships, substances and emotions are feeding on your energy and taking away from what you have to give to others. Eliminate them.
Vivian Elisabeth Glyck
Source: 1997
In green old gardens, hidden away From sight of revel and sound of strife, Here I have leisure to breathe and move, And to do my work in a nobler way; To sing my songs, and to say my say; To Dream my dreams, and to love my love; To hold my faith, and to live my life. Making the most of its shadowy day.
Violet Fane (1843 - 1905)
Source: Green Old Gardens
What do you suppose? A bee sat on my nose. Then what do you think? He gave me a wink And said, "I beg your pardon, I thought you were the garden.
Source: Rhyme from England
Whatever else seems pleasant at first apprehension, at length becomes dull by too long acquaintance. But the pleasures of a Garden are every day renewed. A Garden is the only complete delight the world affords, ever complying with our various and mutable Minds.
When the world wearies, and society ceases to satisfy, there is always the garden.
Copyright © 2016 Gaiam, Inc.


text:
Tom Courtway
UCA's 10th President
President Tom Courtway was appointed the 10th president of the University of Central Arkansas by the UCA Board of Trustees in December 2011. Courtway was serving as interim president when appointed.
UCA first hired Courtway as general counsel in 2002. He left in late 2003 to serve as interim director of the Arkansas Department of Education and returned to UCA as general counsel in 2004. In December 2005, Courtway became vice president of Hendrix College in Conway until August 2006, when he returned to UCA as vice president and general counsel.
Highlights of Courtway's service as president include the adoption of an official university seal; opening of Bear Hall, a 122,200 square-foot residence hall, which also houses UCA's Athletics Department offices and skyboxes overlooking Estes Stadium; and the construction of a 200-seat campus amphitheater.
Courtway practiced law for several years in Arkansas. He worked with the Wright, Lindsey, & Jennings Law Firm in Little Rock from 1986 to 1993, when he moved to Conway to establish his own practice. In 1995, he joined the Brazil Law Firm in Conway, and in 2000, opened the Courtway & Osment Law Firm in Conway where he remained until 2002.
Courtway served in the Arkansas House of Representatives from 1995 to 2001. During his time representing District 45, he chaired the Revenue and Tax Committee. He also served on the Agriculture & Economic Development Committee, the Judiciary Committee, and the Insurance & Commerce Committee.
He worked in Washington D.C. as a legislative aide for U.S. Senators Dale Bumpers and David Pryor from 1979 to 1982 and from 1983 to 1986 respectively.
Courtway earned a bachelor of arts degree in economics and business from Hendrix College in 1974, a juris doctorate with honors from the University of Arkansas School of Law in 1978, and an M.L.T. from Georgetown University in 1983.
Courtway was born in Wynne, Arkansas. He graduated from Conway High School in 1971. His father, Bob, taught at Hendrix College for close to 30 years, and his mother, Betty, was a public school kindergarten teacher.
He and his wife, Melissa, have four sons and two granddaughters.


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Wings, Abdelkader agree on new deal
Monday, 08.23.2010 / 11:47 AM ET / News
By Todd Beam - Detroit Red Wings Communications Director
Abdelkader, 23, was Detroit's second round selection – 42nd overall – in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. He appeared in 50 games for the Red Wings in 2009-10, collecting three goals and three assists, while finishing third on the team in hits (152). The Muskegon, Michigan, native registered his first career regular-season point (Oct. 15), goal (Oct. 17) and first career two-goal game (Nov. 11) last season.
He appeared in 11 games for the Red Wings during the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs, adding a goal and an assist and tied for the NHL leading penalty minutes (36). Abdelkader also played in 33 games for the Grand Rapids Griffins last season, notching 11 goals and 13 assists.
A former star at Michigan State, Abdelkader helped the Spartans capture the 2007 NCAA championship, scoring the game-winning goal with just 18.9 seconds left in the title against Boston College. He was named the Frozen Four Most Outstanding Player.


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Welcome to the Transfer Advising Website!
Welcome to the Transfer Advising Website!
MassBay Community College is committed to assisting students in furthering their education beyond the Associate Degree. Transfer Advising (located in Academic Advising) has great resources to assist students make informed choices regarding their academic plan. Our goal is to make your transition to another institution as smooth as possible.
Transfer Advising CurriculumMassBay Student Transfer Guide 2014-2015MassTransfer Program ApprovalsTransfer / Articulation Agreements MassTransfer ApplicationCommon ApplicationMassBay Common Application Instructions
All students interested in transferring to another school are instructed to attend a transfer workshop early in their academic career at MassBay. During the workshop, students will learn how to ensure they are selecting appropriate courses for transfer, general information about the transfer process and transfer programs, as well as have an opportunity to ask questions directly with a Transfer Counselor.Students must attend a workshop first, before seeking an individual appointment with a Transfer Counselor.
Transfer Workshop Dates, please click here to view Transfer Calendar.To sign up for a Transfer Workshop:Call: (781) 239-2784Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Call: (781) 239-2784Email: email@example.com
© 2009 -
MassBay Community College


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A Clinton woman says a thief took thousands of dollars worth of collectible sneakers.
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- Location: Anywhere in the UK
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Wed 19th Dec at 8:30pm
Mike Sanchez
@ The Robin 2, Wolverhampton
Also appearing: The Portions, Wayne Conn & The Big Beat
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Mike Sanchez + The Portions + Wayne Conn & The Big Beat
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Mike Sanchez
Mike Sanchez is one of the most exciting and charismatic performers of Rhythm & Blues and Rock 'n' Roll in the world today, pumping powerful boogie-woogie from the piano.
Mike has spent the last four years as a full-time member of Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings, fronting the band since 2001 alongside Georgie Fame, Beverly Skeete, Albert Lee, Andy Fairweather-Low and Eddie Floyd on their annual world tours.
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Venue Facts
Venue: The Robin 2
Website: therobin.co.uk
Phone: 01902 401211
Disabled Bookings: 01902 401211
→ Bilston Central 3 min walk


text:
Singapore Banks' Credit Profiles Strengthened In 2004, Says S&P Report Mar 05
- March 2005
- Region: Singapore
- Standard & Poors
- DBS Bank Ltd.
- United Overseas Bank Ltd.
SINGAPORE (Standard & Poor's) March 1, 2005--The credit profiles of Singapore banks have strengthened further in 2004 as a result of continued growth in the domestic economy, said Standard & Poor's Ratings Services in a commentary titled "Industry Report Card: Singapore Banks" published today. The earnings of Singapore banks in the fiscal year ended December 2004 have reached a five-year high. Operating earnings and net income have exceeded those of the previous year, although they were partially aided by one-off gains from sale of certain investments. "Profitability continues to be underpinned by the substantially lower loan loss charges, owing largely to macroeconomic factors, such as the improving economy which brought increased lending activity and stabilization in property prices that lowered...
Companies mentioned in this report are:
- DBS Bank Ltd.
- United Overseas Bank Ltd.
- Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp. Ltd.
Action: S&P Event
Standard and Poors RatingsXpress Credit Research provides in-depth coverage of international corporates, financial institutions, insurance companies, utilities, sovereigns and structured finance programs. RatingsXpress Credit Research lets users determine the credit rating of holdings and identify key factors underlying an issuer's creditworthiness, distinguishes the different risk exposures for new and existing deals, and provides an understanding of how their analysts interpret key regulatory, political and environmental events and their economic impact.
Research type: News
This product is a is a brief one-page announcement of no more than 500 words with a quote from the analyst. It is media and investor focused with no accompanying commentary article.
- DBS Bank Ltd.
- United Overseas Bank Ltd.
- Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp. Ltd.


text:
The 49ers rivalry with the Seattle Seahawks deepened Sunday, collectively and individually.
After Seattle's 23-17 victory in the NFC Championship game, Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman and 49ers receiver Michael Crabtree engaged in a war of words that will resonate into next season.
Sherman started it.
After making the game-saving play, batting away an end-zone pass to Crabtree that Malcolm Smith intercepted, Sherman turned an on-field interview with Fox-TV into a ranting monologue.
"I'm the best corner(back) in the game," Sherman screamed. "When you try to come at me with a sorry receiver like Crabtree, that's the result you're gonna get.
"Don't you ever talk about me," Sherman said, angrily.
The interviewer, Erin Andrews, was caught completely off-guard, asking Sherman who had spoken ill of him.
"Crabtree," Sherman spat. "Don't open your mouth about the best or I'm going to shut it for you real quick. LOB."
The reference was to the Legion of Boom, a nickname for the Seattle defense. And with that, Sherman was gone, interview done.
Crabtree, in an interview last week, was asked if Sherman was the best cornerback in the game. According to reports, Crabtree said he didn't think so, but then qualified his remark by adding, "I don't know (anything) about the best cornerbacks in the league. I just know teams, you know. We are playing the Seattle Seahawks, and hopefully we come out with a win."
Sunday, with the 49ers driving to victory in the final minute, quarterback Colin Kaepernick lofted a pass to Crabtree in the corner of the end zone. Sherman leaped to bat the ball in the air, and Smith intercepted, effectively ending the game.
Sherman, who starred at Stanford under coach Jim Harbaugh, then chased after Crabtree and was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct. Then, for good measure, Sherman made a choke sign toward the 49ers bench on his way off the field.
Asked what Sherman said to him, Crabtree said: "I ain't getting into that. He knows what time it is. We're on the field and he ain't doing nothing. That's one play he made. ... That's probably the only play he made the whole game."
Told of Sherman's postgame rant on Fox, Crabtree smirked and said: "He's a TV guy. I'm not a TV guy. I play ball. He makes one play, he talks."
Sherman was considerably calmer when he appeared on the Fox postgame set later.
"I don't like people saying negative things about me," he said when asked about the Crabtree rant. "I don't like people running their mouth. I told him, 'Good game and good try, but I'm the best corner in the game.' "
Then Sherman went to the interview room where he told reporters (three times) that Crabtree is "mediocre."
Crabtree later wrote the following on his Twitter account: "Film don't lie... @nflnetwork @espn pull up the tape of that game and show me where this guy is the best? #fake #fake #fake."


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The Misanthrope
by Molière
Analysis: Trivia
Brain Snacks: Tasty Tidbits of Knowledge
Welcome to the wild, wild life of Molière. This vagabond actor and playwright was rumored to have married his own daughter, who was twenty years younger than he was. Was it really his daughter? No one knows. Why did he do it? For the moooola! (source, 302)
Molière performed in such illustrious places as the Louvre and Versailles before the big guy himself, King Louis XIV. That's a bit more impressive than selling out Madison Square Garden. (source)
Did you know that you used to be excommunicated for being a comedian? Molière was guilty of this egregious act, and since he didn't renounce his profession before his death, he was initially denied a Christian burial. What would they have thought about reality TV stars? (source)
This guy is as good as French royalty. He was voted 8th greatest French person of all time in 2005. Who was number one? Oh, just some guy named Charles de Gaulle. (source)


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We're teaming up once again with the Family Health Partnership to raise money and awareness for women fighting breast cancer in McHenry County for their Care 4 Breast Cancer 5k on Sunday, October 20th!
Joe from the Morning Show will be showing support for the 5th year in a row, in memory of his late mom. YOU can help too and join Joe's "BIG OR SMALL SAVE 'EM ALL" team to walk/run or make a donation to help women in our area!
Join Joe's team here! OR make a donation HERE


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Buckeye Buddies
The 4-H officers had a meeting on Jan. 17 of the Buckeye Buddies 4-H club at the Beverly Library.
The group looked at last year's scrapbook. Present at the meeting were leaders Sara Haines and Joni Adams. Also attending were six members.
The next meeting will be on Feb. 28, at the Waterford Grange Building at 4:30 to 7 p.m.
The club will be working on a window display. The window display committee will meet on Feb. 21, at Sara Haines' house.


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Gospel of John
Gospel of John Current Hot-Button Issues And Cultural Debates In Practice
Getting Biblical in Daily Life
You might think that Jesus is too interested in using brilliant pastoral metaphors and healing people to bother much with our twenty-first century cultural dilemmas. But think again.
Capital Punishment
The death penalty is used throughout the Hebrew Bible and New Testament and no one seems to bat an eye. People are routinely stoned, beheaded, or crucified. It was not a super friendly time. In John's gospel, two people are sentenced to death. The first is the woman caught committing adultery who the religious authorities want to execute by stoning. The other, of course, is Jesus who is crucified by order of the Roman Empire.
Opponents of capital punishment bring up the story of the woman caught committing adultery (8:1-11) to argue that Jesus is anti-death penalty. After all, he convinces the religious authorities to spare the woman and then allows her to go free himself, showing a God full of mercy rather than harsh condemnation for the guilty. And then of course, there's Jesus, who many people would dub an innocent victim of capital punishment. Remember, Pilate didn't actually think he had committed a crime.
Of course, those who support the death penalty point out all the other instances where the Bible is perfectly okay with sentencing people to die (see Genesis 9:5 and Exodus 21:12 and Deuteronomy 13:5 and 22:23-24, Romans 13:1-7… we could do this all day). And, because Jesus himself did not ask for clemency and did not specifically speak out against the death penalty, many people say he implicitly supported its use.
Capital punishment was simply part of the landscape of the Bible and something 1st-century people would have been exposed to regularly. Today, our Constitution outlaws cruel and unusual punishments, and our trial and appeals process is a lot more extensive than Pilate's. Stoning and crucifixion are out, but hanging, electrocution, and lethal injection are in. You can bet that causes a lot of controversy.
People who study the Bible from a female-centered perspective love them some John because of all the stories of spiritual, strong women it has brought to the world. Unlike the other gospels, John's Gospel has lots of female characters who actually speak and interact with Jesus. The story also portrays women among the earliest disciples of Jesus. Check out this impressive list:
- Jesus's mom talks him into showing off his miracle working at the wedding in Cana. Hey, if your kid was the Messiah, you'd be bragging, too (2:1).
- The Samaritan woman totally understands Jesus and spreads the good word to others in her village (4:39).
- Martha of Bethany seeks Jesus's help for her brother Lazarus and has a very high profile talk with him about the resurrection of the dead (11:1-44).
- Mary of Bethany washes Jesus's feet with her hair to prepare him for his death (12:3). Now there's a forward-thinker.
- Four female followers stand at the foot of the cross to comfort Jesus in his hour of need (19:25).
- Mary Magdalene gets the honor of being the first disciple—male or female—to meet the Risen Christ (then she gets called a prostitute for her trouble…) (21:1-18).
If none of this seems like a very big deal, you have to remember the context—i.e., the rest of the male-centric New Testament.
Today, feminists look to the women in John's Gospel as evidence that ladies did hold positions of respect and authority in the church. The Catholic Church teaches that because women are not named among the "official" twelve disciples, they can't be ordained as priests or deacons. Sorry, ladies. Perhaps we could interest you in a nice habit?
But feminists only have to point to Mary Magdalene, who shared the truth of the resurrection to the male disciples, to demonstrate that women did preach and teach alongside Jesus. They also like to note that the list of "official" disciples contains one guy who turned Jesus in and one guy who denied he knew him. In that company, the women of John's Gospel start to look pretty stinkin' good.


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Posted: Oct 15 2003, 10:45 PM
First, it was a rumour, but then the magic became reality and John Williams, composer of the music of the Harry Potter films, accepted to come to Mexico, to direct the Filarmonic Orchestra in three concerts, on December 19, 20 and 21, at the Cultural Centre Ollin Yoliztli... and if you were thinking that this was the best thing ever, think again... because Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson will probably be there too!!
We had the idea of gathering a group of Harry Potter fans, so we could go all together on December 19, and, in that way, give us more presence there.
Now that Dan and Emma might be there, we want to make our idea come true.
We also realized that, due to all the circumstances, many fans from USA, Canada and perhaps even UK would come to the concerts... so we're inviting you to join our group!
If you're interested, please contact me at firstname.lastname@example.com, or any other member of the Order!


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Reporter's Notebook: Rock Critic Jim Fusilli Looks Back on 2009
A year's waning hours seem like a good time to shake the remnants of old stories out of a reporter's notebook. Here are a few things that happened to me in the course of covering rock and pop music in '09 that didn't make their way into my columns:
In January, I requested an interview with Van Morrison, who was releasing a recently recorded live version of "Astral Weeks," his classic 1968 album, and declared I'd be willing to travel to Bath, England, where he lives. I'm asked if I'd be willing to appear in a documentary about him. Sure, I say. Turns out the people making the documentary want to film me interviewing Morrison and I'd have no rights of approval. I imagine a situation where the notoriously prickly Morrison shouts at me or dumps an ale on my head. We conduct the interview by phone.
In February, I see Leonard Cohen in New York City. I love the show, though the woman a few rows in front of me leaps into the air every time Cohen's band begins a song he recorded prior to '74. Mid- and late-period Cohen elicits no reaction. Has she been waiting 35 years to see him?
In March, I go to Austin to cover South by Southwest, one of my favorite events, mostly for the enthusiasm of the unknown bands who play before almost-empty rooms at the ungodly hour of noon. I see maybe 50 bands and several movies, including a documentary on Neil Young that features a lengthy guitar solo I find torturous. (In the theater, the crowd cheers in approval.) Doing my legwork, I run into Clem Burke of Blondie in an out-of-the-way bar that serves absinthe. During a conversation with Erin McCarley, who weighs no more than 100 pounds, she eats an entire pizza. One major electronica star tells me his fiancé wants to be a journalist. Mark Mothersbaugh of Devo shows up for our interview wearing a jumpsuit and one of those red-plastic pyramids on his head.
In April, Jeff Beck declines to be interviewed for a story. I drive to see him perform in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Coincidentally, I'm staying at the same hotel as he is –- I can tell by the big bus out front. I stalk the lobby and get my interview.
Later in the month, I'm driving in Los Angeles, thinking about the Coachella music festival, when I hear that Phil Spector has been convicted of second-degree murder. Notes for a story I intended to write at the conclusion of the '07 trial that ended in a hung jury –- and thus, without a resolution on which to opine –- are still in my laptop. I hurry back to the hotel, finish the story quickly and it appears in the paper. Reacting to what he deemed a harsh judgment on my part, a friend of Spector writes to tell me I don't understand him. I do, and so did the jury.
In May, I invite the 15-year-old son of a friend to see Delta Spirit, who are performing in Montclair, New Jersey. The teenager, who plays guitar, is considering a career in music. After the show, Matt Vasquez, the band's lead singer, spends a half-hour with him, talking about songs and favorite composers as if they were peers. Later in the month, I miss a call by Dave Matthews. When he calls back, he apologizes for missing me the first time. My second brush with graciousness in two weeks.
Had a pleasant chat with Steve Martin, who is on tour playing banjo with a bluegrass band, and during our conversation, he admits to a bit of nervousness while performing music live. At his show in a small auditorium at the Rubin Museum in New York, he makes a joke about a critic being in the audience. I was in a seat his publicist secured for me -– "The Wall Street Journal," read the big sign on it when I arrived –- and I swear he looked at me 100 times during his set.
I enter the much-hyped, highly distorted world of Woodstock in anticipation of the festival's 40th anniversary. My interview with Santana drummer Michael Shrieve is cut short by his allergic reaction to whatever he had for breakfast.
In June, I travel to Manchester, Tennessee, to attend the Bonnaroo Festival. The music is great –- my first time seeing Grizzly Bear live and Portugal. The Man knocks me out –- but torrential rain turns the dirt on the pitch to ankle-high mud, my hotel is no better than a minimum-security prison and a waitress mistakes me for a famous singer-songwriter: "Are you him?" she asks. I am, I reply, thinking she follows middle-aged rock critics. "You're Jimmy?" I haven't been called Jimmy since high school, but I say yes. "I knew you were Jimmy Buffett," she says happily. Another waitress sets her straight.
Also in June, I interview Regina Spektor, whose new album I enjoy. She is vibrant, funny and expresses herself in unorthodox ways, perhaps because she was born in Moscow and lived in Austria and Italy before settling in the Bronx. I write a story full of colorful quotes, then set it aside so I can read it fresh before I submit it. I pick up a story about her that appears in another newspaper and she's told the reporter the exact same things using the exact same words. I delete my piece.
Later in the month, I'm reviewing my notes for a trip I'll be taking to London to see Michael Jackson's comeback concert at the O2. As I begin to organize them chronologically, I get a message that tells me he's been rushed to the hospital. Cardiac arrest, I soon learn, and I conclude that at least the tour will be cancelled and at worst he won't survive the medical emergency. I begin writing without conscious thought, my head filled with pertinent facts. Later, I see that my piece reflects how deeply the tragedy moved me and I realize just how much I was looking forward to his triumphant return.
Check back tomorrow at noon for Part II…


text:
We're Revelry Events and we are all about rulebook-free weddings.
If you want a wedding that doesn't fit the normal conventions, that captures your personalities and most of all, ensures that everyone has a damn good time then we're your gals!
Super organised and super style focused we do everything from full planning to styling to on the day co-ordination, and even offer a nifty pay as you plan option for the more budget conscious.
We are based in Greenwich but travel all over the UK and overseas to create perfect, personal events for our couples and clients.
Get in touch with us today to find out more about how we can work together to create your perfect event!
"I'm so thankful we chose Holly and Team Revelry as our wedding coordinators. An overseas wedding would not have been possible for us without her. She worked with us from the start to establish how much support we would need.
My parents and I said over and over again, it was the best spent money in the entire experience."
Sarah-Jane and David
"Revelry combine faultless attention to detail and military precision with a relaxed charm that makes their perfectionism look effortless. Consummate professionals, brilliant organisers, bright, uplifting, lovely people."
Adam Rowley, Delirious Films


text:
This summer, a cold wind will be whipping from north, arriving at Bard College and harnessing the strength of powerful theater, the grace of nimble dancing and the wonder of eclectic artistic prowess.
Bard SummerScape 2013 will explore the life of Igor Stravinsky, and the world of 20th century Russia, from July 6-Aug. 18. "Stravinsky and His World" was announced this week, a multi-week multi-arts celebration in Annandale-on-Hudson.
The popular summer ritual begins July 6 and 7 with "A Rite" by Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company and SITI Company. Ten performances of "The Master and Margarita" by Mikhail Bulgakov will run July 11-21, and a film festival, "Between Traditions: Stravinsky's Legacy and Russian �migr� Cinema," runs July 12-Aug. 3. Sergey Taneyev's opera "Oresteia" is the final event leading up to the Bard Music Festival and the opening of the incredible Speigeltent, with cabaret, children's programming and a dash of winking nightlife.
The Bard Music Festival, with programs led by the American Symphony Orchestra, runs Aug. 9-11 ("From St. Petersburg to Paris") and 16-18 ("From Paris to Los Angeles").
Tickets go on sale Feb. 18. Even more information about Bard SummerScape will be released soon. For more information currently, visit fishercenter.bard.edu.
Location, ST | website.com


text:
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Ca$h'n Gun$ Live
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Product Description
The game includes 110 cards -- including six types of armament: Bang! Bang! Bang!, Double Guns, Shotgun, Grenade, Kevlar, and Backstab -- rules, and a whistle so that the referee can easily signal when a round begins. Ca$h'n Gun$ Live also includes a 12th superpower for the basic Ca$h'n Gun$ game. The rules included are in French. The text on the cards, however, is in English, as was done with Ca$h'n Gun$ itself.
Description written by W. Eric Martin and used with permission of BoardgameNews.com
Product Information
Ludovic Maublanc
Asmodee North America, Repos Production
Gerard Mathieu
Year: 2007
Players: 8 - 20
Time: 30 minutes
Ages: 8 and up
Weight: 259 grams
Language Requirements: Game components are printed in English. An English translation of the rules is provided.
- 110 cards:
- 38 5.000$ Action cards
- 38 10.000$ Action cards
- 29 20.000$ Action cards
- 1 extra card for CA$H'n GUN$
- 3 player aid cards (German, French, Dutch)
- 1 whistle


text:
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
by Seth Grahame-Smith
Slavery Quotes in Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
The theater of it all! Men and women! Children and infants presented to this surly mob—this collection of so-called gentlemen! I saw a Negro girl of three or four clinging to her mother, confused as to why she was dressed in such clothes; why she had been scrubbed the night before; made to stand on this platform while men shouted numbers and waved pieces of paper in the air. (4.95)
Here's a helpful hint: if you ever want to change things, just say "what about the children?" Okay, so that might not have worked in the 90s when people were worried about rap lyrics, but in the 1850s, "what about the children?" was a very powerful part of the abolitionist argument. Check out Uncle Tom's Cabin—all 800 pages of it—for a glimpse of this.
Quote #5
So long as this country is cursed with slavery, so too will it be cursed with vampires. (4.114)
Now there's an epiphany. Abe realizes this after his first trip to New Orleans, and the notion only gains strength during his second trip to New Orleans, when he notes that vampires are especially comfortable in the South since they can feed on slave blood without worrying about being discovered or punished (5.39). This is super convenient for Abe, since the two fights of his life (against vampires and against slavery) turn out to be the same fight. But from a writer's perspective, vampirism makes a nice symbol for slavery, too, because both slave owners and vampires survive on the blood of others.
Quote #6
[There is] in view from the windows of the Capitol a sort of livery stable, where droves of Negroes are collected, temporarily kept, and finally taken to Southern markets, precisely like droves of horses. Men—chained together and sold! Here, in the shadow of an institution founded on the promise that "All men are created equal"! (8.44)
Abe doesn't hate slavery just because kids get enslaved or all the Southern money is used to buy slaves instead of buying Lincoln-commemorative coins. He hates it because it seems super hypocritical for a country that says it's based on equality to really be based on inequality. Also, vampires.


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Top Definition
When you have to take a crap so bad that it feels like it has already started to "peek" out your ass similar to a turtles head when it comes out of its shell.
The turtle is peeking. If I don't get to a bathroom right now, I'm going to shit my pants.
by RandomThoughtGenerator February 08, 2010
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Can you define these popular missing words?


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|Honda Marine Recognized By J.D. Power And Associates
|Miami, U.S.A., February 15, 2007– Honda Marine announced that its EFI outboard engines ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Four-Stroke Outboard Engines" in the J.D. Power and Associates 2007 Marine Engine Competitive Information Study. Honda has received the four-stroke EFI outboard award for three consecutive years.
Honda Marine engines scored 939 out of a possible 1,000 points, the highest total since the award's inception. The study also reported an increasing awareness among boat owners that higher-technology engines deliver a superior overall boating experience. Further, the study showed an increase in demand for quiet, efficient, clean-running engines. "Receiving this recognition for the third consecutive year further illustrates Honda's commitment to building superior products with outstanding performance and unparalleled reliability," said John Fulcher, senior manager, Honda Marine. "The acknowledgement by J.D. Power and Associates reflects that Honda and its dealers are delivering on their promise to provide customers with an outstanding sales and service experience."
J.D. Power and Associates presented the award to Honda during a ceremony today at the Miami International Boat Show. Best known for its work in the automotive industry, J.D. Power and Associates has, in recent years, expanded to serve a number of other industries, including marine engines.
Honda Marine, a division of American Honda Motor Co., Inc., manufactures and markets a complete range of outboard marine engines. Its comprehensive product line is powered exclusively by environmentally advanced 4-stroke engines.
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Related quotes
"When we have nothing to worry about we are not doing much, and not doing much supplies us with plenty of future worries"
"What we are left with then is the present, the only time where miracles happen. We place the past and the future as well into the hands of God. The biblical statement that "time shall be no more" means that we will one day live fully in the present, without obsessing about past or future."
"I don't worry about yesterday because it is already gone. I use the energy I have to survive for today because it is all I have. When I survive today I hope I can see tomorrow."


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Oxnard Hyundai Confirms, 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo Wins Ruedas ESPN &Best Sports Car& Award
Oxnard Hyundai is excited to confirm, The 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo has been named "Best Sports Car" by Ruedas ESPN.
The leading Spanish automotive radio show in the U.S., Ruedas ESPN presented the award at the 42nd annual Miami International Auto Show. By earning this accolade, the 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo also joins the 2012 Veloster, which was named Ruedas ESPN's "Best New Product" in 2011.
Broadcast live on ESPN Deportes Radio, Ruedas ESPN can be heard on more than 48 radio stations in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. The weekly show can also be found on satellite radio stations Sirius and XM Channel 149. Hosts Jaime Florez, Niky Pauli and Sergio Rodriguez discuss topics from cars, engines and anything on wheels as well as the latest in automotive sports. Airtime is Sundays from 10 am to 12 pm EST.
Oxnard Hyundai is a proud member of the Conant Auto Retail Group (CAR Group), which holds a strong reputation among the automotive industry in California, representing such brands as Acura, Ford, Honda, Infiniti, Lincoln and now Hyundai.
Oxnard Hyundai is proud to serve the greater Ventura County. For more information about Oxnard Hyundai call 888-457-2051, visit (www.oxnardhyundai.com), or visit the dealership today at 1601 E. Ventura Blvd, Oxnard, CA 93036.
Don't forget to become a fan of Oxnard Hyundai on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Oxnard-Hyundai/193167897378860) or follow them on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/oxnardhyundai).
Oxnard Hyundai is proud to serve the greater Ventura County area including: Camarillo, Moorpark, Newbury Park, Point Mugu Nawc, Point Hueneme, Santa Paula, Somis, Thousand Oaks, Ventura and Westlake Village.
Related Links
Information Source: WEBWIRE


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K&M Adventures – Churchill '13
K&M Adventures is heading to Churchill, Canada, 27 May – 01 June, yeap, shorebird mecca is our spring/summer destination! You'll fly into Churchill the 27th and fly out the 2nd and in between you will be welcomed by some of the best bird photography on the planet! I've not been there for breeding season since '98 but prior to that, I was there for years! My "worst" trip was 60 difference species of birds, photographed! While world renown for Polar Bears (and we've had those in the summer as well), Churchill is not as well known for summer bird photography but that might just change. We are taking only 6 folks with us, the price is $2795 which includes once you arrive in Churchill, transportation, guides and instruction.
The top photo is of a great bird you just don't see elsewhere like this, the Hudsonian Godwit, and this isn't a perfect looking male as the full, brick, red breast isn't fully in. Then there is the Pacific Loon you see here, a sweetie that for four years nested in basically the same place and would pose for us all day. Then there is the bird that nearly no one knows who it is when I throw it up on the screen, that's because we only see it in its winter drab colors. This is the spectacular Dunlin, another of the great birds of Churchill.
Of course, there is no guarantee of any species or birds at all because, well, weather and life is what it is. But my worst day in Chruchill with birds blows away my best day ever in the lower 48! Here's just a couple of other species I photographed in Churchill in years past.
Don't know who these species are, or better yet you do know and want to photograph them yourself? Well then, you need to join us. Worried you need a big lens (because you do) but don't own one? Well, we've arranged with BorrowLenses.com for a special deal for you so you won't miss out! Give us a call 760.924.8632 / 661.204.1506 to register or to find out more!


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SITXHRM006A Monitor staff performance
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
EasyRPL is the Leading provider of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) for SITXHRM006A Monitor staff performance. We focus on Skills Recognition for the full qualification. If required we can organise gap training where needed.
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to monitor staff performance within the framework of established performance management systems. It includes the skills to conduct structured performance appraisal and formal counselling sessions.
This unit applies to individuals who monitor day-to-day staff performance in a tourism or hospitality context. It requires the application of significant communication and problem-solving skills combined with sound knowledge of current performance management practice.
Depending upon the sector and organisation, dedicated specialist staff, operational supervisors or managers undertake this role.
A more strategic approach to performance management can be found in specialist human resource management units from the Business Services Training Package.
Required Skills
The following skills must be assessed as part of this unit:
communication and interpersonal skills to provide effective feedback, coaching and counselling to team members
problem-solving skills to develop and respond to unpredictable staff performance issues
planning and organisational skills to monitor and maintain a formal performance management system
literacy skills to express potentially complex and sensitive information in writing and to develop and interpret typical performance management documentation
numeracy skills to work with documents such as staff records and schedules.
Required Knowledge
The following knowledge must be assessed as part of this unit:
understanding of the performance management concept within an organisation
types of performance standards and performance management systems applicable to tourism and hospitality workplaces
role and importance of feedback and coaching, including appropriate communication, in relation to monitoring staff performance
grievance procedures
performance appraisal techniques and systems, including:
reasons for performance appraisal
types of performance assessment
compiling and using performance data
protocols and procedures for performance appraisal interviews
procedures for formal counselling sessions
communication skills, including active listening, questioning and using appropriate non-verbal communication in relation to counselling, providing feedback and coaching
industrial relations, equal employment opportunity (EEO) and diversity issues and legislation that impact on monitoring staff performance.
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence requird to demonstrate competency in this unit
Evidence of the following is essential:
knowledge of typical procedures and processes for formal performance management and counselling
ability to demonstrate appropriate communication skills to provide supportive feedback and guidance to colleagues
project or work activities that allow the candidate to address typical performance management issues found in tourism or hospitality workplaces.
Range Statement
The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording in the performance criteria is detailed below.
Expected standards of performance and performance problems may relate to:
personal presentation
level of accuracy in work
adherence to procedures
customer service standards
team interaction
response times
waste minimisation
cost minimisation.
Appropriate guidance and support may include:
advice on training and development opportunities
support with difficult interpersonal situations
opportunity to discuss work challenges
confirmation of organisational objectives and key performance requirements
ensuring adequate resources are applied
representing staff interests in other forums.
Recognition and reward may include:
informal acknowledgment
acknowledgment of an individual's good performance to the whole team
presentation of awards
written report to management.
Possible solutions to performance may include:
additional training
assistance with problems outside of the workplace
adjustment of workload
reorganisation of work practices
agreement on short-term goals for improvement.
Required procedures for a formal counselling session may include:
formal notification to staff member and management
invitation of appropriate people
organisation of appropriate location for counselling session.
Performance management systems may include:
type of assessment, e.g. self, peer, team and productivity indicators
methods of collecting performance data
methods of interpreting performance data
processes for performance appraisal interviews.
Licensing & Regulatory Information
Not applicable.


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I'm working with a client who's been having a problem with content scrapers, so he decided to drop town to the excerpt RSS feed instead of a full feed... But he wants to add an image.
I've built a little function that will go through the post and pull the URL of the first image, but I can't figure out how to tie it into the the_excerpt_rss() function.
I've ripped open feed-rss2.php and thought I found the lines, but any changes I make there doesn't show anywhere.
Ideally, there's an add_action() or an add_filter() call that I could use - but I don't know of any.
Any thoughts?


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A homegrown experiment in reforming afternoon religious school at Santa Ana's Temple Beth Sholom is among five alternative models developed by other innovative congregations singled out for recognition by the Rhea Hirsch School of Education at the Los Angeles campus of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR).
"Jewish education is not like public education; there are no national standards," said Isa Aron, an HUC-JIR education professor and founding director of the Experiment in Congregational Education.
The research results of the 11-year-old project are evolving into a national clearinghouse of best practices and cutting-edge programs that address the seemingly relentless criticisms of synagogue education -- from inconvenient hours to teachers without professional training.
To help students avoid conflicts with after-school enrichment activities, Beth Sholom began allowing students to be individually tutored in Hebrew if their parents also take a synagogue class and participate in Family Learning Circles, a communal activity such as a Shabbat dinner club.
"Having parents continue to learn is a great role model," said Mindy B. Davids, Beth Sholom's education director.
Now, 57 percent of students and families in the 650-family congregation are enrolled in Family Learning Circles. Enrollment in adult education rose more than three-fold last year to 342. "I can hardly believe it myself," Davids said.
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Games or Category
Games or Category
Games or Category
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Games or Category
Please select a star rating before submitting your review
Free Freshbox (100% discount)
Out of stock
—Free today with App of the Day.—
Freshbox is an application which could help users to record shelf life of your goods and remind users to use them before they get expired.
Only several simple steps needed to avoid waste of food, medicine, make-up, and etc: take a photo or type a name for food, set the expiration date (or production date and shelf life). Done! Freshbox will remind you before your food expired, which avoids food wastage. With Freshbox in your mobile device, you will never have to worry about food expiration.
-The elaborated user interface perfectly matches its function. Opening Freshbox is just like opening your fridge.
-Sweet and intelligent reminding system would remind you in appropriate time according to the food's shelf life.
-We provide the recommended shelf life and storage advices for the food with ambiguous shelf life like some fruits and vegetables.
-Fast switch food state between "finished" and "unfinished". All you need is to tap the date label pasting on food.
-Well designed calculating method makes you conveniently put in production date or expiration date, and easily refresh one food from finished state to unfinished state when buying new one.
-A new what-you-see-is-what-you-get mode greatly simplifies photographing process,you can record your food simply by taking photos without typing a word.
-Shake it! New design for obsessives to clear the badge of the application.More comfortable experience!
-More features will be published in future versions, please pay close attention to us.


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Are you ready to buy a cruise? Get tips on finding the best cruise for you and save money with our cruise buying guide.
Will I get sick on a cruise?
The incidence of illness on cruise ships is actually relatively low. (If you are concerned about getting SEA-sick, read our Tips for Avoiding Seasickness.)
That said, people do sometimes get sick, and just like in any public place you should take some basic precautions -- in particular washing your hands regularly -- to ensure you have a healthy cruise.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) inspects virtually all cruise ships (those that visit a U.S. port, go on a foreign itinerary and carry over 13 people) to ensure compliance with U.S. Public Health regulations.
For more information, check out our Tips for Staying Healthy on Your Cruise.
Know something we don't?
We welcome suggestions. If you see something amiss, or have information we should add, please let us know!


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Is your video iPod or Zune just a little hefty to carry around. While I've never really thought that the iPod was too thick, the Zune would certainly be uncomfortable to carry in one's pocket. This new media player is boasting a size so thin that no one could complain.
The Blast from Oppo is set to measure around 0.27 inches thick with a decent size LCD screen and basic touch-sensitive controls on the front. You'll be able to play back most conventional music and video files as well as Flash videos, lossless APE or FLAC music tracks and view GIF images.
While we're not sure what price we'll see on the Blast, it should be kept relatively low because it won't actually include any built-in memory. All content will be loaded on microSD cards, which are generally inexpensive. The player is set to be released in China, though no time frame was given.
Oppo unveils wafer-thin Blast media player [via electronista]


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The Consumer Federation of America recently released its annual chronicle of the top 10 consumer complaints.
Click here to check out which complaints topped the list.
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Classic styling for your classic baby, this adorable knit cap looks great on either boys or girls! It's an easy way to try color knitting for both newbies and more experienced knitters.
pattern details
Required Supplies:
- RED HEART® Designer Sport™: 1 ball each 3261 Terra Cotta CA and 3570 Iced Violet CB
(Designer Sport is discontinued)
- Knitting Needle: 5.5mm [US 9]
- Yarn needle
|Pattern Number:
|Designed By:
|Project Type:
|Baby / Child ,Hats
|Pattern Corrections:
|Baby Fair Isle Hat_PatternCorrection
|GAUGE: 18 sts = 4"; 20 rows = 4" in St st using yarn double.
CHECK YOUR GAUGE. Use any size needles to obtain the gauge.
Step 1.
Choose your size
Hat fits babies from 6 to 18 months.
Circumference: 16".