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Even during festival week, the Mennonite traders remain low-key
Ontario Letter: A religious group with German roots contributes much to urban culture
Driving west from Waterloo, Ontario, through vast fields of corn and occasional patches of pumpkin, the landscape seems unnaturally flat. Photograph: Spencer Platt/Getty Images
It's festival week, but the twin cities of Waterloo/Kitchener are calm and quiet in the evenings. Restaurants are somewhat busier than usual and cabs a little slower to arrive, and there is no hint of drunkenness or even mild raucousness on the streets.
But then this is Canada, a byword for all things moderate. Waterloo/Kitchener is in the province of Ontario, situated some 125km northwest of Toronto. There are three universities here, lending a distinctly youthful, student air to the metropolis (making the lack of festival madness even more remarkable).
I am here to visit my daughter who is attending Wilfred Laurier University.
Kitchener was known as Berlin until 1916, reflecting the origins of the original immigrants. German Mennonite families from Pennsylvania purchased land here in the early 1800s, looking to settle in an area where they could peacefully follow their religious beliefs. Immigration accelerated until the 1870s, with many of the new settlers coming from Germany and Switzerland. Abraham Erb was one of the original Mennonite settlers and part of his land now forms the centre of Waterloo. However, German settlers overtook Mennonites by the 1840s, leading to the development of the area now known as Kitchener. Meanwhile the original settlement was named after the Battle of Waterloo, which ended the Napoleonic wars in Europe.
As I drove through the city, street names such as Weber, Erb and Cressman are a constant reminder of its roots. But for a real feel of the past, I headed to St Jacob's market on a Saturday morning. Just on the edge of Waterloo, St Jacob's village is a small community surrounded by farmland which seems to go on forever. You might see a horse-drawn, small, black carriage trotting in your direction. This is driven by one of the approximately 4,000 Old Order Mennonites who farm the surrounding countryside and who come to the market to sell their farm produce, exquisite quilts and solid furniture every week.
Eye contact avoided
What struck me most as I wandered through the market is how the traditional Mennonite traders, dressed in prayer caps and straw hats, do not seek to make eye contact with browsers. If you indicate an interest in something they will converse with you; but dyed-in-the-wool street hawkers they are not.
Not all Mennonites have retained the Old Order way of living. Many are indistinguishable from their neighbours, having decided to embrace modern conveniences while retaining their religious beliefs. However, the Old Order continue to live the way their forefathers did – without electricity or cars, while dressing in simple clothing.
Mennonites are a Christian group who take their name from their founder, Menno Simons. Originally a Catholic priest, Simons also rejected the Lutheran Church because of its emphasis on "faith-alone". He developed a theology of martyrdom and of suffering for God. This led to the persecution of Mennonites by various Catholic and Protestant states; as Mennonites are committed to non-violence, it means they would rather flee a country than fight for their rights or join the armed forces of that country.
Meanwhile, at the corner of Erb and Caroline streets, in the heart of Waterloo, stands the Seagram distillery. By all accounts the Guinness of the city, it was seen as "the place" to secure a well-paying job. Just as was the custom in the Dublin brewery, family members followed in the footsteps of relatives in getting employment at Seagram, knowing they would be treated well. The distillery building is still there, although production has moved elsewhere since 1992.
Driving west through vast fields of corn and occasional patches of pumpkin, the landscape seems unnaturally flat. Thirty minutes away, Stratford, Ontario, has a reputation as a centre for theatre and the arts. Whether it's Shakespearean drama, musicals, opera or modern plays, it's done here to an extraordinarily high standard.
Bieber 's cradle
Unsurprisingly it has become a mecca for those seeking short breaks with a culinary or literary twist. And whisper it: Justin Bieber is a Stratford native. There is even a map showing the schools he attended, the ice cream parlour he went to after soccer games and the skate park where he learned his moves.
The retirees from big city Canada are playing down this aspect. But if teenyboppers and Shakespeare are to mix anywhere, then Canada – natural home to tolerance and egalitarianism – is the place.


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Back-to-School in the Bag, Freebies to Nab!
The following is a guest post by PETA staffer Royale.
It's August, and you know what that means—back to school! As far back as I can remember, I've always loved this month for that very reason. Not that I loved going back to school, but the shopping that commences just before one does so is, well, worth submitting to the semesters that follow. Although I graduated from college five years ago, I still go "back-to-school shopping"—hey, it's nostalgic, and I'm practicing for when I have children of my own. So whether you're heading back to the classroom or just want to honor tradition (hehe), you're going to need a bag to carry you through until spring.
Some of you might be surprised to learn that millions of animals are slaughtered each year and turned into shoes, handbags, belts, and other accessories. With tons of fashionable and cruelty-free alternatives available, it doesn't take a genius to realize that killing animals just ain't smart. So don't fail your animal friends this fall—go faux for all your back-to-school fashions.
Studious or studious, I've got just the satchels you've been searching for. Plus, two lucky winners have a chance to win my fabulous Navoh picks (this teacher's playing favorites: the Christopher and Chambers) by leaving a comment below! Tell me what cruelty-free products you'd carry in your new bag—if there's one thing that I like as much as accessories, it's makeup!
This contest has ended.
Commenting is closed.
They are Great!! Luv them 🙂
I am vegan and I would love to win any of these beautiful bags.
Arbonne makes great products! They're certified vegan and I'm obsessed. They have amazing product lines. My favorite : their primer. It makes your face feel like silk!
I would like to win this purse for my wife, who uses nothing but cruelty free products.
got this e-mail just in time! i've been looking for a new purse/bag, these look like some good options.
Urban Decay* ^ excuse the typo 🙂
I loooovee the christopher pale pink bag! it is too cute as well as the other bags! I'd carry my school must haves such as ordinary things. I'd carry pencils/pens/crayons, yes i do actually carry crayones with me EVERYWHERE i go, hey you never know, right? keys, ipod, and lets not forget, make-up! Currently, and my all-time favorite, i use Urban Decsy. I loooveee all their products, especially their eyeshadows! Not only are they super cute, but they're cruelty-free. I ALWAYS carry my makeup with me and this Navoh bag is the perfect size for all my must-haves, not to mention, its soo cute! I'd definatly love to rock this bag at school and out! <3
I would carry my Burt Bee's beeswax lip balm in this good looking bag.
What wouldn't I carry in a fab vegan bag?! I have so much junk in my handbag that I'm prepared for any situation!
I always keep some Lush lip balm in my bag coz I'm always getting chapped lips. Once I've done my make-up in the morning I can't be bothered to do it again so I dom't normally have any make-up in my bag, unless I'm going somewhere special 🙂
Hmmmmm….I would carry absolutely everything and every where because they are so fashionable and look very functional as well!
Go Peta for keeping us informed!
I love to carry cruelty free lip gloss/lip balm in my bag. I love lip gloss!
I would definently keep PETA animal friendly stickers in my purse and stick them on people as they walk by..oh and also on animal by products in stores [:
Aside from having the basics ie money, identification card, etc…. I would continue to put a mini notepad made of recycled paper! That way I have my to do list and important notes- knowing that everything in my bag is totally animal cruelty free and ecco friendly!!!
As much of a make-up person that you are, I am a snack person! I would definitely have a piece of fruit and some nuts in there, along with a good book and my sunglasses. I am a sucker for good chapstick though!
I love to use Burt's Bees and Bath & Body Works supplies! Both wonderful, cruelty-free products 🙂
My friends always joke about how I carry everything but the kitchen sink in my bags. I carry an over-supply of organic and all natural makeup, at least one book at all times, pens and pencils, hair supplies, a wallet, cell phone and ipod, chargers, keys, extra tooth brush and tooth paste, mini tea-tree oil facial cleanser, non animal tested lotions and creams… you name it I got it 🙂
vegan lip balms
reusable shopping bag
Let Them Eat Cake and Forever 21 arte totally beauty!!!! I need a new bag, if i don`t win i could have an idea about what to buy (Somtingh similar of curse, it's difficult to get those brands in my country).
The cruelty-free products I'd carry in my new bag… i think:
My St. Ives mineral teraphy hands cream
My Ecotools eyebrow brush
My Revlon colorstay pressed powder in Medium deep
My revlon cream eyeshadow in Twilight
My Mary-Kay Blush in Nutmeg
My Palmer's Lip Balm
And my nivea control shine cream…
Of course, just some thing.
Thanks for PETA Living page =D
I carry hand sanitizer & lotions. All CRITTER free(testing).
Everything I get these days has to be cruelty-free… My latest purchase is my lip tint! Even though it's an insect, I don't like products that have carmine in it, & the lip tint from mark. is free of it!! I really had to search, but I finally found a lip shade that's by-product & cruelty free! I only have faux leather purses & wallets to store my make-up in as well… And I feel great about it! 🙂
I don't wear makeup but it looks big enough to hold my songwriting book where i write all my animal rights and peace songs =).
Kiss My Face is where it's at for me! I carry their cream inside my bag and apply it whenever I have dry skin!
I am a high school teacher so I would would one of these bags!
Cruelty-free make-up is what I would put in this bag: Urban Decay eye/lip pencils and lipstick. Cruelty-free hand cream from L'Occitaine.
What would I carry in my bag? Let's see. My personals (ID, credit card, library card, others), my makeup bag full of cruelty-free, PETA approved items, a small to medium-sized library book (maybe, two), keys, and cell phone. I might put a couple of Luna or Clif bars in there, too.
I don't wear much make-up at all, but i do keep a lip palm with me. Anything from The Body Shop is great! Natural and Earth friendly:) I love their products! My current favorite is Pink Grapefruit lip butter from The Body Shop.
The bags you're showing here are absolutely gorgeous! I'd love to have one. Who doesn't though?!
I LOVE these bags, they're GORGE! I would carry my animal cruelty-free Urban Decay makeup…I lovelovelove the 24/7 eyeliner pencils, glitter eyeliner, blush, and Big Fattie mascara. Burts Bees chapstick and Makeup Forever foundation as well. Of course my phone and my binder that's covered in PETA stickers too!
There's nothing I love more than "Love My Lips" peppermint lip-tinting chapstick. It's a locally made vegan chapstick that is sold at the vegetarian restaurant and health shop down the road from my college.
Aside from that, I always like to have a good book in my bag. "Farm Sanctuary" is an especial favorite :]
Awww, how cute.
I dnt wear make up, only cruelty free chap stick~!!!
<3 <3 <3
I rlly rlly RLLY want one of those bags!!!!
I mean I would be all fashionable and yet all helping the environment~!!!
what a better way to show off my friends!!!
well imma done. Bye
The cruelty-free products I'd carry in my new bag would be: a recycled man made wallet I have, Bonne Bell lip balm, my favorite sunglasses, keys and hopefully a little money to spare. >^..^<
I'd carry seeds for birds!
Tarte powder and kiss my face chapstick!
I love the bags! The Navoh Chambes is my favorite, I would carry all of my essentials in it!
What beautiful bags!
I normally wear no make up but I always carry something for my lips so Burt's Bees Lip Balm and Kiss My Face lip gloss would both be in the bag. I would have to have some cruelty free lotion from Lush for my dry skin in there.
Tom's of Maine toothpaste with my folding toothbrush in a little hemp bag from a local crafter would be floating around in there alongside a fabric wallet with my ID & cash.
No matter which Vegan bag I choose to wear, I always carry my LaROCCA shield lip balm! Keeping everything I wear Smart is important, not just to our earth and myself but with the intent on thinking about all animals. Vegan is more attractive!
I would carry tons of products from the Body Shop and because they have such nice things and no animal cruelty. Love the bags!
I'm Vegan, so these bags are extremely important and I love them. I find it very difficult to find vegan bags/purses. I would carry my Smashbox lipstick or None of your Beeswax lip balm (by Lush). Its the only makeup I wear 🙂
Go Vegan!
I would bring my Aveda face powder and my Key Lime Pie Lara bar in my new cruelty free bag…….They look really cool!
These are so so cute I've been looking for a new cruilty free bag since my rescued chinchillas decided to chew on the straps of this one… lesson learned 🙁 I would carry my organic apples and carrots maybe some mixed nuts. Cell burts bees chapstick my keys with peta key chains etc
ooh, i like that "let them eat cake" one! i would carry in it…. cake! vegan chocolate cake. also, the band Cake – i don't know if they're vegan, but they are environmentalists and do a lot to promote green living.
I love the "Let them eat cake" bag because if there is one thing I'm always in search for it's got to be vegan cake! In this stylish bag I would most definetly carry my non-leather wallet, my celly, my reusable coffee cup, and my favorite hello kitty foldup reusable shopping bag 🙂
What wouldn't I carry in one of these awsome bags!? Of course my tiny size vanilla body lotion from The Body Shop and mascara from there too. Some seventh generation tissue and just-in-case feminine needs. A super shiny wallet made from recycled candy wrappers. And from Lush, The Greeench, to keep my pits fresh while shoulder to shoulder on the bus. And not to forget, an apple and an orange for when hunger strikes. 🙂
Hi everyone! great bags! I always carry my volume-up gloss from Essence brand which products/ingredients are not tested on animals at all and they don't even hire any employee who use to test ingredients on animals. Also my bag itself is synthetic. Greetings from Portugal 🙂
I would transfer everything from my current purse into this new one. So that would include my book Fit for Life which I am currently reading, my vegan/raw bars for when my children and I get hungry on the road, my vitamins, the EATING dvd which I always have a copy of on me, my planner and my wallet.
Thanks for the opportunity!!
Wish they had some comfortable backpack bags…That is all I use because I travel so much, I need my both arms to carry all my things.
If I won one of your beautiful bags, I would continue to carry my go vegan post cards. They have a picture of a kitten and a piglet on. The caption says, "Which do you eat, which do you pet?. So far I have left these at grocery stores. Maybe someone will have an aha moment and reconsider purchasing animal products.
Many blessings
I already carry animal cruelty-free makeup in my bag!! I look for the bunny symbol to ensure that it's cruelty-free. I love Smashboz cosmetics, because they take their part in eradicating animal cruelty.
if i won this bag i would take it to college with my not tested on animals make up ,fruit pices , fruit juice, my recyled paper and pencils , my buspass and other cards in my faux leather wallet ,
I don't wear makeup, but I always have my mango lip balm in my purse to keep my lips healthy and moisturized! Also, I take my PETA brand guide with me everywhere I go so I know that I am supporting good brands.
I love all of these bags, and it's hard to believe they are all cruelty-free! Any of these bags would be a nice replacement for the handbag I am carrying now a beautiful yellow faux leather bag from Nine West.

subset: commoncrawl


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Fans of Syfy channel's paranormal reality television series Destination Truth, its host Josh Gates, and travel.
There will be a Truthies meetup at ComicCon.
dari Truthie3 Senin, 20 Mei 2013
Trending Now
Can you define these popular missing words?
Truthful; likely; probable. R.
``A more truthy import.'' --W. G. Palgrave.
dari michael duke gruber Selasa, 24 April 2007


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Laughing at Funerals and Other Things I Learned From My Dad
Sunday, June 16, 2013
This morning I called my Dad to wish him, Happy Father Days and we talked for about an hour like we always do. I wished he lived closer so I could spend more time with him. When I got off the phone I starting thinking what has my Dad taught me over the years.
I am very proud of my dad. He is the second oldest child of seven children. His parents came from Poland and were farmers. He quit school at the age of 15 to help raise his siblings when his mother died. He worked in the oil industry for over 60 years start off as a welder's assistant working his way up to top ten in a very well know oil company in Western Canada.
My Dad taught me:
Always put an extra plate on the table, you never know who is going to show up. He always said it not a problem to throw on extra pot of potatoes on the table. It was very common in our house to have 30 people over for dinner on the holidays. Everyone was welcome.
Life is too short to argue. Family comes first no matter what.
It's okay to laugh at funeral. Believe it has happen too, my son, niece and myself got a terrible case of the giggles at my Uncles funeral. My Dad said it was it was ok his brother would have thought it was funny too.
A shot of brandy and clove of garlic cures everything!
You are never too old to learn something new. Get a career. I am grateful for going back to school and going into the oil industry. I've had my Dad help me with many a school assignment and I am thankful he can pass on his great knowledge.
Everything happens for a reason. When things seem bad just get up, dust yourself off and keep going.
I learned my Dad takes great pleasure in teaching my boys Polish swear words. He has been encouraging them to use them around our new Parish Priest who is Polish. My Dad's theory is the boys need to learn the important words in the language.
My dad loves a good practical joke was know to play good ones on his brothers and friends back in the day. He believes in shot brandy before bed. He loves good food,friends and family. He loves to gaze at the stars. He said if they ever send old people in space he would like to go.
I am proud of my boys because they have all told me, their greatest desire to be like Grandfather. I am proud to call him my Dad.
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Now is the time to plant your fall garden and get a few more months of fresh vegetables. Some plants produce higher quality and more flavorful vegetables when they are allowed to mature during cooler weather, which makes late summer/early fall the perfect time for these veggies. While there is still plenty of time to plant hardy crops such as lettuce, spinach, kale and other greens with shorter growth times, it's the ideal time to plant tender vegetables that could be damaged by frost. Planting now will allow crops such as potatoes and beans that have longer slower growth rates the time they need to mature before the first fall frosts.
Picking Your Seeds
There is one important step to remember before purchasing or planting your seeds. Determine the date of your first fall frost and count backwards. This will give you the number of days left in your growing season. Some plants, for example onions, beets and carrots can handle a light frost so you can go outside your growing season by a week or so with these.
Our company garden has been cleared out of our spring planted onions, collards, and lettuce which gave us room to start our fall planting. As always we removed all dead plant material, loosened the soil and added a good quality fertilizer (we use Dr. Earth Vegetable Fertilizer) before direct sowing our Fall seeds.
Several weeks ago we planted cucumbers and pumpkins since we live in Zone 6 and have a shorter growing season. If you live in a warmer climate you still have time for pumpkins, guards and winter squash. Then, late last week we direct sowed the rest of our seeds for fall in the raised beds. In addition to the big autumn pumpkins our fall garden now includes the following:
Tall Top Early Wonder Beets
Purple Top White Globe Turnips
Parisienne Carrots
Green Sprouting Calabrese Broccoli
Chinese Cabbage
Yellow Spanish Onions
Other great fall vegetables include: potatoes, beans, gourds, winter squash, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, kale, collards, parsnips, head cabbage, kohlrabi, rutabaga, radish, spinach, lettuce, mustard greens, and parsley.
I always get a bit excited when I see the first sprouts popping up. Here's a quick overview of what our garden looks like today:


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The Milwaukee Co. Sheriff's office said they were investigating an email threat against Sheriff David Clarke on Monday.
The email said quote, "I wish to hell somebody would shoot you." It goes on to use a racial slur against the Sheriff.
The Sheriff's Office said they knew who made the threat and that the person had been convicted of making a phone threat in the past.
If the person is convicted of the email threat, the suspect faces a penalty of up to 90 days in jail.


text: coderman <coderman at gmail.com> writes: >On 11/25/05, David Wagner <daw at cs.berkeley.edu> wrote: >> if humans ever see >> YURLs, then it is very easy to imagine that humans might occasionally >> leak those YURLs to others without intending the consequences that follow. >> Do you have any thoughts on the best way to deal with this risk? > >when dealing with such identifiers in a user interface they should be >aliased with a pet name; they are meaningless to human brains. a pet >name in this instance could be embodied as a bookmark, a hyperlink, >etc. Petnames are plausible for frequently visited sites. I can see having a petname for cnn.com. But petnames for one-time URLs don't seem very attractive, from a usability stand point. If my friend forwards me a link in email, do I have to set up a petname before I can follow it? Doesn't sound very attractive. Then, there's also the issue of how I forward a link to a friend. Let's say I visit a site I really like and I want to send a link to my friend (but without giving away my authentication tokens, obviously). I'm not quite sure how one would go about supporting this kind of use case in a flexible, general fashion. Right now I just click on a link and copy the URL into the clipboard, but doing that with YURLs would risk unwanted leakage of capabilities. >you can't prevent malicious users from intentionally exposing secret >YURL's but you can make it very difficult to disclose a secret YURL by >accident. Right. Preventing accidental disclosure of YURLs is the problem I'd like to learn how to solve. Can it be done without harming usability?


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Mimmie Tote - Deep Red
Item# HB6385
Detailshttp://www.kipling-usa.com/mimmie-tote/100134857.html Mimmie Tote Deep Red
Item# HB6385
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Meet the working girl's best friend, Mimmie! A roomy tote crafted with a dual main compartment interior and durable strap that offers optimal storage and convenience that will brighten your day and lighten your load. Dimensions:15.5"L X 15"H X 8.75"DRead More
- 1 Back zip compartment
- Adjustable strap
- 1 Media pocket; 1 Cell phone pocket; 1 Pen pocket
- 2 Dual Main Compartments; 1 With Velcro closure
- Nylon
- Imported
Ground Shipping Delivery: $8*
5-7 business days (if ordered by 12pm EST)
2nd Day Air Delivery: $20*
2 business days (if ordered by 12pm EST)
Overnight Delivery: $25*
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Shipping to Alaska, Hawaii or Military APO/FPO?
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Shipping Internationally?
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*Rates and delivery times for the 48 continuous United States
Returns must be made within 90 days of delivery for a refund of the purchase price, minus the shipping, handling, gift box fee and other additional charges.


text:
A nice variety of writing news for today, if I don't say so myself.
First off, I have an essay on digital piracy published in The Curator today. Not my typical forte, I know, but I think it has deep cultural undertones that question what the value of art as a product actually is. An excerpt from "Not Your Father's Shoplifting":
Artists and fans have moved far beyond the confines of the law. The whole artist and fan relationship is moving forward in terms of interaction, accessibility and the use of content while the record companies and movie studios are stuck in the dark ages of physical media. Sites like Bandcamp, NoiseTrade, Vimeo and Youtube are pushing the envelope of artist/fan interaction and giving fans what they want: access to media without the hassle of annoying record companies. The sheer brilliance of NoiseTrade and Bandcamp is that it gives consumers of music what they want: music at a reasonable price.
Yet is what consumers want actually right or fair?
Moving over to The Master's Artist, I have a new post up discussing "Two Books on Creating with Children." Both books are by the excellent author Amanda Blake Soule. An excerpt:
Two books that have been really helpful in constructing a "Turner Manifesto for Creativity" have been The Rhythom of Family and The Creative Family by Amanda Blake Soule. Both of these books share how one family on a farm in Maine has woven creativity into every aspect of their lives, from making their own cough drops to sewing knapsacks for hikes.
Lastly, my meditation of food ethics and Lent, "Hungering and Thirsting after Righteousness," is featured on the blog Slow Church. Be sure to peruse some other great posts on the Slow Church blog and leave some comments.


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Economic Indicator Roundup
For a "Quick 'n Easy" read, just review the labeled white boxes, then skip to my "Easy Take" summary at the end. You can review any charts/graphs afterward. I want to make sure no one is intimidated by the length of my posts, even though I'm trying to making them easy …
This is a dashboard of economic indicators that I like to follow. For each, I will try to give you a brief description, the latest reading and what I understand to be its implications. For simplicity, I will assign each a rating of positive, neutral or negative. For each indicator, I will denote in its section how I decide which rating to give it. At the end, I assign an overall rating, but this is just to guide me in my takeaway of where things stand. It's not scientifically rigorous or anything.
- Positive – indicative of a healthy, growing economy.
- Neutral – indicative of a slow or no growth economy but not a contracting (recession) economy.
- Negative – indicative of a shrinking economy or recession.
Quick Summary
|Indicator (Click for details – only works if full article is open)
|Current Rating (change)
|ADS Business Conditions Index
|Bloomberg Financial Conditions Index
|Daily Consumer Leading Indicators
|Negative (downgrade)
|Citigroup Economic Surprise Index
|USA Today / IHS Global Insight Economic Outlook Index
|Employment Trends Index
|Chicago Fed National Activity Index
|Easynomics Real Estate Price Stability Index
Indicator: ADS Business Conditions Index | POSITIVE
Easy Intro to ADS Business Conditions Index | Link to Source | Latest Date This Info Represents: Feb 25, 2012
Quick 'n Easy
A combination of several key indicators of business conditions suggests, with low confidence, that current conditions are above average, historically speaking. It suggests that, except for a brief dip in early November 2011, the levels have been mostly above average since early October 2011. The most recent date for which all the readings leading up to it were highly confident is around Jul 7, 2011, when conditions were slightly above average (+0.207).
Easy Description: Combines several indicators together to describe current business conditions. A value above zero means that conditions are better than average, but below zero means worse than average.
Latest Reading: +0.106 for Feb 25, but this only includes the weekly unemployment figures and maybe one other indicator. This level is barely worse than the revised number for a week ago (+0.114). Conditions look like they hit a low point just barely below zero in the middle of the 4th quarter (around Nov 12) but improved considerably before flattening out slightly above the zero (average) line. It now appears this index has been above average since the beginning of the fourth quarter except for a brief dip in mid-November.
The index value corresponding to July 7, 2011, is the most recent one for which all the readings leading up to it were highly confident (see "Additional Info" below about varying degrees of confidence on the chart). According to the ADS Business Conditions Index, we can confidently say that on that date, business conditions were slightly above average (+0.207). The date with confident date used to be much later (recently it was Sep 11, 2011) but has moved back again due to revisions in the data.
Implications: Recent data has strengthened this index, indicating that general business conditions are looking healthy right now. The fourth quarter of 2011 started with slightly above average business conditions but dipped briefly below average (zero) – but not much below average. The index hit a low point around Nov 12. Since then, the index has mostly been above the historical average.
Additional Info: This index provides confident readings about the past when all of the indicators have been collected (everything to the left of the left-most vertical line). The readings in between the two vertical lines are somewhat less confident because they include some, but not all, of the indicators. And the latest reading always falls to the right of the right-most vertical line and includes only a couple of indicators.
Easynomics Rating Methodology: For this index, I will use the very latest reading and rate anything between zero and minus 1.00 as "neutral" – anything above or below that will be rated "positive" or "negative" respectively.
Indicator: Bloomberg Financial Conditions Index | NEUTRAL
Easy Intro to Bloomberg Financial Conditions Index | Link to Source | Latest Date This Info Represents: Mar 2, 2012
Quick 'n Easy
Levels of stress in the financial markets were key to the most recent crisis in 2008. After this index hit a low point (which would be high stress) on October 3, 2011, it has seen some ups and downs before generally improving since late November 2011. It has now risen high enough to be well into what I call a "neutral" level. At this moment, it would seem that financial stress is not a drag on economic prospects.
Easy Description: Monitors the level of stress in the U.S. financial markets. Zero is normal, above zero is good and below zero is bad.
Latest Reading: minus (-) 0.08 (versus a reading of minus (-) 0.08 last week)
Implications: The index has now sit nicely in the "neutral" zone since January 20. For a while, it was looking like the patterns in this index resembled what happened leading up the crisis in 2008, but the levels of stress never reached anywhere near those disastrous ones. Instead, we have seen continued talks in Europe about making sure that Greece defaults on its loans in an orderly way, eliminating some concerns that there would be a financial crisis that could spread across the world. Whether the "markets" have it wrong is a question some would debate, but there is no question that the perceived level of risk in the financial markets has improved considerably and steadily since late November 2011.
Easynomics Rating Methodology: For this index, I will rate anything between 0.50 and minus (-) 0.50 as "neutral" – anything above or below that will be rated "positive" or "negative" respectively.
Indicator: Daily Consumer Leading Indicators (Consumer Metrics Institute) | NEGATIVE (downgrade)
Easy Intro to Daily Consumer Leading Indicators | Link to Source | Latest Date This Info Represents: Mar 2, 2012
Quick 'n Easy
Consumer spending makes up about 70% of our economy, so an indication of what this spending looks like down the road is key in predicting growth rates. The level of interest from consumers in making discretionary (non-essential) purchases in the near term, as captured by the Consumer Metrics Institute on March 2, was about 11% below a fairly normal level seen in the year 2005.
Easy Description: Very unique indicator that captures the level of consumer interest in purchasing discretionary (non-essential) items. It measures activities that occur well in advance of the purchase, so that makes it a true leading indicator. The indicator that I choose to focus on is called the "Absolute Demand Index." It tracks where demand is compared to levels in 2005, a fairly normal level. So, if the Absolute Demand Index level is 90, it means the level of consumer interest in purchasing discretionary items is 90% of what it was in 2005. The index is expressed in a daily form (see chart to right) and a monthly form (see chart below.)
Latest Reading: Absolute Demand Index daily reading is approximately 89 for March 2, which means preparations for consumer discretionary purchases is 11% lower than the fairly normal levels seen back in 2005.
Implications: The last time the daily index dropped below the 90 level, it went back up again and down to average somewhere in the neutral zone. The problem is that the daily index depends on where the index was exactly a year before. Unfortunately, from January to March 2011, the daily index averages were dropping lower and lower (see the monthly chart on the left for proof of this). This means that we're likely to see the daily index drop considerably over the next few weeks, unless something remarkable happens to lift the daily year-over-year index readings seen on the Consumer Metrics Site (not shown on this page). Hopefully, this will not be a long-lasting effect. If we see leading indicators for consumers turn down, we will be starting at an economic slowdown that could put a recession back on the table as an option in the next few months.
The recent positives in employment reports definitely helps things. The consumer needs to have money to spend on discretionary items. That money generally comes from jobs. And it looks like we're seeing more jobs and hiring for now. But watch for those statistics on disposable income levels to really get a feel for whether consumers have money to spend. After a nice jump in December 2011, the reading for January 2012 came in a bit lower, so that may be contributing to the slow decline we've seen in consumer discretionary purchase preparations. Let's see how things look for the next several months.
Easynomics Rating Methodology: For this index, if the daily Absolute Demand Index is 98 or higher, I will rate that "positive" – between 90 and 98 will be "neutral" – below 90 will be "negative."
Indicator: Citigroup Economic Surprise Index US | POSITIVE
Easy Intro to Citigroup Economic Surprise Index | Link to Source | Latest Date This Info Represents: Mar 2, 2012
Quick 'n Easy
An index that measures whether reports on economic data are generally coming in above, at or below expectations suggests that we are getting reports that are better than expectations. This does not necessarily mean the reports are great – just better than expectations.
Easy Description: Daily measure of whether, on balance, U.S. economic reports have been better than (positive values), worse than (negative values) or same as (zero) what economists have expected. For the importance of this, see my post about expectations versus actual results.
Latest Reading: +45.10 on Mar 2, 2012 (versus +58.00 on Feb 24)
Implications: The index hadn't really dipped below the mid-60's level for long since it reached that level in early December, so the fact that it closed below 60 a couple of weeks ago and now dipped down to the 45 level is troublesome.
Remember that economic reports aren't necessarily leading indicators, so where we are headed could be somewhere better (or worse).
Easynomics Rating Methodology: I will give this indicator a rating as follows: 100 to 34 is "positive"; between 34 and -34 is "neutral"; -100 to -34 is "negative."
Indicator: USA Today / IHS Global Insight Economic Outlook Index | NEUTRAL
Easy Intro to USA Today / IHS Global Insight Economic Outlook Index | Link to Source | Latest Date This Info Represents: January 2012
Quick 'n Easy
A combination of indicators that predict the growth rate of the economy for the next several months suggests that the U.S. economy will grow at a slower-than-average pace through June 2012. But at least it's slow growth instead of a shrinkage.
Easy Description: Forecast of the 6-month annualized Real GDP growth rate for the next several months. Based on an index of 11 leading indicators, each of which generally predicts future changes in economic growth.
Latest Reading: Forecasting a peak of 2.5% for January 2012, and each month's forecast is slightly lower from there, eventually reaching a June 2012 forecast of 1.6%
Implications: These numbers continue to suggest that growth should be slow compared to historical averages, which removes some of the cushion that would protect us against a shock to the system (like what's happening in Europe.) These growth rates will make it tough for the economy to produce too many jobs above and beyond the needs of the growing workforce population.
Note that some of this forecast depends upon interest rate spreads (the difference in interest rates on short-term bonds versus long-term bonds, for example). Those kinds of spreads have been artificially affected by the Federal Reserve's interventions that are intended to keep interest rates low. Their usefulness as tools for forecasting economic growth are lower as a result. What I'm saying is that this forecast may be slightly too optimistic.
Easynomics Rating Methodology: For this index, if the average growth rate of the forecast months is 3 percent or higher, I will rate that "positive" – between 0 and 3 percent is "neutral" – below zero will be "negative."
Indicator: Employment Trends Index | NEUTRAL
Easy Intro to Employment Trends Index | Link to Source | Latest Date This Info Represents: January 2012
Quick 'n Easy
A combination of indicators related to the jobs market through January 2012 suggested that we should see very nice job growth for the first quarter of 2012, but this will likely be temporary given the expected slowdown in the economy. The index has been growing, but a generally weak outlook for the economy is what keeps the experts on this index from feeling comfortable expressing any major optimism.
Easy Description: Combines several indicators together to provide an outlook for employment growth.
Latest Reading: 105.81 for January 2012 (up 5.9% from one year ago) – December 2011 reading was revised up to 105.04 (previously 104.32)
Implications: The reading is consistent with improving job growth for the next several months but with one caveat. According to an expert on the index, "The Employment Trends Index has been improving rapidly for four straight months, suggesting somewhat more robust job growth is likely to continue in this quarter. Beyond that we still remain cautious. We expect sluggish growth in economic activity in the first half of 2012 and therefore we do not foresee the strengthening of the labor market to be sustained in the second quarter of 2012." Translation: The jobs market lags the economy usually, so the recent improvement in the economy will show up over the next several months – but once things slow down, several months later we will see a deterioration in the jobs market, too. I will keep the rating at "neutral" because the expert is not expressing optimism for a sustained rise, and the index has not returned anywhere near the previous levels before the recession.
Easynomics Rating Methodology: For this index, I will base my rating largely upon what the index expert says. If the indication is for job growth of any kind, I will rate it either "positive" or "neutral" depending upon the level of growth. If jobs are expected to decline, I will issue a "negative" rating.
Indicator: Chicago Fed National Activity Index 3-Month Moving Average | NEUTRAL
Easy Intro: None yet | Link to Source | Latest Date This Info Represents: January 2012
Quick 'n Easy
An index combining 85 indicators into one number suggests that, over a three-month period, the economy was growing at a rate that was slightly faster than the historical average in January 2012. This level essentially rules out a recession as of that date.
Easy Description: The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago combines 85 different indicators into one number to give a sense of whether the overall U.S. economy is growing faster than its historical trend (numbers above zero) or slower (numbers below zero). It's not as simple when you're trying to determine whether the economy is actually growing (expansion) or shrinking (recession). If you average the last three months' index values, you get the CFNAI-MA3 ("moving average 3 months"). According to the Chicago Fed:
When the CFNAI-MA3 value moves below -0.70 following a period of economic expansion, there is an increasing likelihood that a recession has begun. Conversely, when the CFNAI-MA3 value moves above -0.70 following a period of economic contraction, there is an increasing likelihood that a recession has ended.
Latest Reading: The more reliable moving average of the last three months (CFNAI-MA3) for January 2012 was positive (+) 0.14, which was slightly better than the previous month's revised reading of positive (+) 0.06. The single month CFNAI reading for January 2012 was positive (+) 0.22, which is a big drop from the revised positive (+) 0.54 reading for the previous month.
Implications: In January specifically, economic activity was better than historical averages (+0.22 for the single month reading), and the more reliable way of looking at things shows an economy that was slightly above average (+0.14). We can essentially rule out that a recession had begun in January 2012. The "production-related indicators" are responsible for most of the drop in January's single-month reading versus the previous month. The other three areas each improved ever so slightly from the previous month, but that still left the "Personal Consumption & Housing" category well below average (-0.27). In summary, of the four broad categories of indicators in January, there were 3 positive and 1 negative. Somewhat good news – 48 of the 85 total indicators were better in January than they were in December.
Keep in mind that this index reports significantly later than other ones, likely because it takes a while for all 85 of its required indicators to be updated! Still, I like its comprehensive look at the economy and its fairly reliable prediction of upcoming recessions.
Easynomics Rating Methodology: I will give this indicator a rating based on the CFNAI-MA3 as follows: +0.20 or higher is "positive"; between +0.20 and -0.70 is "neutral"; -0.70 or worse is "negative."
Indicator: Easynomics Real Estate Price Stability Index (EREPSI) | POSITIVE
Easy Intro to Easynomics Real Estate Price Stability Index | Latest Date This Info Represents: January 2012 (contains estimated portion)
Quick 'n Easy
An index designed to look at the stability of home prices indicates that, thru January 2012, there is room for another 1.9 percent drop in home prices before reaching a stable point. If trends in months of supply and price/rent ratio continue, it is likely that prices will be above the stable point, but chances are that won't happen.
Easy Description: This index is an average of three indicators that help ascertain whether home prices are above or below historically normal levels: 1) new homes inventory months of supply, 2) existing homes inventory months of supply and 3) price-to-rent ratio. For more info on what these mean, click on the "Easy Intro" above.
Latest Reading: Thru January 2012, the EREPSI is at minus (-) 1.94 percent, which means there is room for another 1.94 percent drop in home prices before reaching a stable point. This is based on actual values for the "months of supply" components but an estimated value for the Case-Shiller HPI that assumes its trend will continue. The February estimated reading relies on estimates for all components right now.
Implications: We've seen strong improvement in the index since July. My somewhat arbitrary decision is to call this index "positive" if it's within 7.5 percent of a the stable point. Prospects for some stability in home prices look, dare I say, extremely good. Based on the parameters that this index tracks, there is hope that real estate prices may not move down much farther from here. It was reassuring to see Calculated Risk write that the housing bottom (in prices) is here , but it's not surprising given that most of this index is based on things I learned at that blog.
Easynomics Rating Methodology: In the housing market, if things get too far "out of whack" with respect to price-to-rent ratio and inventory, it doesn't matter which direction … it's a negative. We don't want a bubble or an overly pessimistic crash. Therefore, I will give this indicator a rating as follows, based on the most recent month with actual "months of supply" data to use in calculations: Within 7.5 percent of zero in either direction is "positive"; within 15 percent of zero in either direction (but not closer than 7.5 percent) is "neutral"; farther than 15 percent from zero in either direction is "negative."
Easy Take
This week, the daily consumer leading indicators turned to "negative" in the midst of a generally disappointing week of economic data. We currently have 3 positive, 4 neutral and 1 negative components. Using a scale of positive=3, neutral=2 and negative=1, this yields an average rating of 2.25 out of 3 (versus 2.375 last week), which falls in the middle third of the possible range. In other words, my set of indicators combine into a "neutral" rating. The consensus view of the above indicators is that the economy looks like it is growing but at a slower rate than the historical average.
NOTE: You may be reading an outdated analysis. Please visit my latest economic indicators roundup.
Disclaimer: My dashboard isn't really a group of similar indicators, so we can't say that it represents any one particular thing. For example, it's not geared strictly toward predicting the future of the economy like a leading indicators dashboard. It's not like a coincident indicator dashboard that focuses on how things are right this second. It's just a bunch of things I like to follow, interpreted in a way to be consistent with either economic growth or shrinkage. I would just guess that if the indicators I most like to follow start trending one way or the other, there is a good chance the economy is going that way, too.


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Advisory Board
Community Partners
Student Organizations
Business Management, Accounting
MBA, UW-Madison
Arnie is the Director of Administrative Services for the University of Wisconsin University Health Service. He is responsible for Budget and Finance, Building Services, Health Information Management, Human Resources, Information Technology, Risk Management and the Student Health Insurance Plan.Prior to coming to the UW Madison Arnie worked for 26 years in the private sector including nine years as Vice President of Finance and Business Development for a Medical Transcription Company where he served as CIO, CFO and led the mergers and acquisitions activities of the company, buying six other companies and finally successfully selling the company to a NASDAQ traded company. Six years as a senior executive for a large regional health care provider and HMO, during this time he served as CIO and Vice President of Support and Retail Services. In addition to his work in the healthcare industry Arnie served as Vice President of Information Systems for an industrial distribution company, worked as a financial analyst for a multinational manufacturer and was and auditor and consultant at public accounting firms Arthur Andersen & Company and Grant Thornton. Arnie graduated from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh in 1976 with a BBA in Accounting and from University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1989 with an MBA in Marketing. Arnie has been a Certified Public Accountant in the State of Wisconsin since 1979. Arnie was also certified as a production and inventory control manager (CPIM) by the American Production and Inventory Control Society in 1979.


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Din kundvagn är tom
Authors: Machiko Nissanke and Marie Söderberg
UI Papers 2011/2
This paper examines potential effects of China's new "offensive" on African development through the lens of the changing landscape of aid relationships in Africa. After discussing domestic imperatives behind China's drive for deeper engagements with Africa, we present the model of "economic cooperation" as practised by Japan in Asia through a trinity of aid, investment and trade. It is this model that is most clearly visible in the modality of China's aid, though operational details differ significantly between Japanese aid and Chinese aid. We also discuss why Japan itself has not followed this modality so much in its engagement with African countries as elsewhere. The paper then presents a critical review of the discourse of African economic development examined through an analysis of the aid relationships with the traditional donors. From this specific perspective, we examine the scale and modality of China's economic cooperation and its potential impacts on African development. We suggest that Chinese engagement has an important potential to fillsome critical gaps left by traditional donors, but it is also presenting new challenges and problems for African policymakers and stakeholders. As concluding remarks, we discuss the potential opportunities and challenges African countries face as a result of China's decisive entry as a new partner for economic development and the dynamically evolving economic interface between China and Africa.
Machiko Nissanke is Professor of Economics at School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London. She previously worked at University of Oxford, Birkbeck College, University College London, and was Research Fellow of Nuffield College and the Overseas Development Institute, UK. She has published numerous books and journal articles on financial and international economics and served many international organisations as adviser and coordinator of research programmes.
Marie Söderberg, is the Director of the European Institute of Japanese Studies at Stockholm School of Economics. She is also a Professor of Japanese Studies at Stockholm University and Chairman of the Board of the Centre for East and Southeast Asian Studies at Lund University. She has published on Japanese Influences in Asia, Japan China and Japan-North Korea relations. A central focus of her research is Japanese foreign aid policy on which she over the years have done numerous studies of various aspects.
Utrikespolitiska institutet
Besöksadress: Drottning Kristinas väg 37
Postadress: Box 27035, 102 51 Stockholm
Telefon: 08-511 768 00
Telefax: 08-511 768 99
E-post: firstname.lastname@example.com
Alla rättigheter tillhör Utrikespolitiska institutet och får ej kopieras eller användas utan tillåtelse.
Om Webbplatsen


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serial numbers ?
Social Situations
General Gun Discussions
> serial numbers ?
June 11, 2010, 02:36 PM
I want to buy a gun from a guy is there any way I can look on the internet with the serial number to make sure its not stolding don't want to get caught up in a stold gun that would not be good thinks for your help.
If you enjoyed reading about "serial numbers ?" here in TheHighRoad.org archive, you'll LOVE our community. Come join
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June 11, 2010, 02:45 PM
Nope, there's no way. Just buy it and enjoy it.
June 11, 2010, 02:53 PM
If you're that suspicious of who you're buying from (sounds like you are suspicious) then don't risk it...Buy a gun from someone you're not wary of, or buy it from a store...
Rail Driver
June 11, 2010, 02:53 PM
I don't know where you are at (and I think your spell check got confused) but here in Florida we use this:
Just input the serial and hit search.
June 11, 2010, 03:34 PM
Here's a few sites you can try. Of course there's no guarantee that all stolen guns are entered into a civilian searchable stolen gun database.
Good Luck.
June 11, 2010, 03:36 PM
Thinks for the quick response. I live in N.C. if that helps.
June 11, 2010, 05:29 PM
Find out how much your local gun store charges to do a transfer. The gunstore puts the firearm in their book and transfers it to you. Later on down the road if it turns up stolen there will be a record of who transfered it to the shop to transfer it to you.
Chances are if it's stolen the seller will not want to do it this way.
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For the first time in 22 years, the Bridgeton Exchange Club has canceled its nationally-ranked Sunset Challenge Triathlon due to ongoing cleanup work at Parvin State Park. The cancellation is just the most recent misfortune to befall the park since a derecho storm wreaked havoc in South Jersey more than a week ago. The storm, which claimed the lives of two boys camping in the park, has now forced officials to close Parvin altogether until cleanup is complete.
"It was not an easy call," said Bruce Willson, director of the Exchange Club. "But we looked at athlete safety and courtesy first."
Representatives from the club spoke to park police and determined that proceeding with the triathlon, which was scheduled for July 21, would be not only difficult, but unsafe.
"This storm came through and hundreds of trees were either knocked down or snapped in half," said John Trontis, Assistant Director of the New Jersey State Park Service. "Aside from the horrible loss, it left us with weeks' worth of cleanup."
Besides the efforts of Parvin maintenance crews and park workers from all over the state, a private contractor has been called in to help clear brush and debris. Trontis is especially grateful for the efforts of volunteers from the Parvin State Park Appreciation Committee.
"We probably have the best corps of volunteers in that park," said Trontis.
And, he adds, they need all the help they can get.
"You have to see the devastation to understand the full scope of it."
Bob Considine, spokesman for the Department of Environmental Protection, was optimistic.
"While the park is still entirely closed to the public at this time, considerable progress is being made," he said.
Work is now being conducted on the park in order of how quickly and easily it can be handled, with efforts focused on getting visitors back through the gates as soon as possible. Considine and Trontis both said the picnic and swimming areas of the park could be open as soon as July 16. Considering the extent of the damage, this is an early start. The camping and nature areas of the park, however, could require as many as six more weeks before they can be opened to the public.
Park employees went to work immediately after the storm either moving or refunding camping and event reservations, Trontis said. But it was too late for the triathlon.
Willson said the race route for the cycling portion of the triathlon was completely choked with debris immediately after the storm.
"Obviously, not having a clear status on the race in two weeks, we had to make that call," he said.
He added that the race should go on as planned next year.
Contact Andy Polhamus at email@example.com
Related coverage:
- Couple's Parvin State Park wedding plans change after massive storm
- South Jersey storms claim two lives, leave 206,000 without power
- South Jersey residents cope with no power, defrosting food, melting ice cream three days after storm
- Atlantic City Electric restores power to about half of South Jersey customers without electric
- Cumberland County supermarkets cope with power outages
Follow @gctimesonline


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Archive for the 'Cool Astrology' Category
Happy Fourth of July 2013! amazing Fireworks video
Dear America,
Below my celebratory gabfest there's a celebration-gone-wild video and a little Astrology for your birthday this Thursday, so watch your Jupiterian step!
The brief video embedded below shows an event that some may call 'a blast from our past' and which on one level is described in America's July 4, 1776 natal chart (5:10 pm LMT) as the Mars-ruled Immum Coeli (IC), at the bottom of the chart, a place where roots run deep and which shows that our ancestors, forefathers, and founders fought in and aided the American Revolution (and in earlier conflicts, and certainly later ones.)
US natal IC @00Aries53 is ruled by Mars and has the Aries Point upon it (IC = the HOW? sector of the chart) denoting times when events that may affect the masses tend to occur upon the world stage. The Aries Point (00Aries00:00) is a degree in the Zodiac of recognition, fame, and prominence along with the three other Cardinal Points where activity has been observed over the centuries to have manifested when Cardinal Points are triggered, catalyzed, or simply visited by planets in their courses.
(Progressions have a say, too.)
So upon our US natal IC is the me-first sign of Aries which allows the ruler of impulse-conflict-action and aka the archetypal 'god of war'–Mars–to tell us about what drains our nation–what siffons off our energy, manpower, monetary resources, natural bounty, and more–and how America shall end (IC/4th house of Partings and Separations.) Which is not to say the ruling class hasn't almost throttled the Collective into oblivion already. Yet a sigh escapes and we know it won't help our common cause directed at maintaining America as a sovereign nation to ignore the fact that as a nation we have a violent streak at our roots, in our core, our very being–and with natal Chiron in Aries/4th house as well.
But at this moment (reminds Chiron!), none of this has to be a fatal condition for America, just a telling one.
So, Happy 237th Birthday, America!
A sincere wish from one of your many Children of the Revolution, Jude Cowell
Now if you're a history buff, this might be interesting if you've not seen it – or as a review, if you have:
A Chronological List of Dates for US historical events for use in rectification work on the several versions of natal charts for America.
For How a Thing Ends Is in Its Beginning
Which is the truest, most descriptive birth chart for our nation? Can all be of use on some level (ex: our Scorpio Rising chart as a natal chart for secret agencies, spies, secret or invisible government, and such other arachnids as those?)
Astro-Note: if my schedule works as planned during the upcoming days, a Report (PDF) concerning America's Jupiter Return of July 22, 2013 will be available for electronic delivery by mid-July! As you know, in our Sag Rising chart, Jupiter is chart-ruler making the adventurous planet very prominent in all US affairs.
Watch for an announcement via my Twitter feed (@judecowell), here on the Threshold, or at Stars Over Washington if and as you may, and visit there to order your copy of my US Solar Return 2013 Report from the sidebar, top. jc
Thanks, and don't burn the grilled corn on the cob!
Is your Sun sign really Ophiuchus?
Don't miss Zoe Fox's take on a "new zodiac" as the 13th sign Ophiuchus insinuates its serpentine self more fully into our mass consciousness!
Update 1.15.11: well, when I posted it, I didn't feel up to discounting the above story even though I knew that astrologers have known of the constellation Ophiuchus all along. But NYC's 'astrologist' Lawrence Grecco gives a good explanation of why the current Ophiuchus excitement is unwarranted because the Zodiac used in Astrology is based on Time, not Space!
So all you Sun Sagittarians and Capricorns who bethought yourselves Ophiucheans in disguise may now chillax!
New Astrology Blog by Mary Plumb!
Now this is getting good: Mary Plumb, whom you've read in the most excellent American astrology magazine, The Mountain Astrologer, has a new blog called A New Day.
In her recent post, Mary has kindly mentioned one of my blogs (thanks, Mary!) but that's not the reason I post this: it's partially meant as a shout-out to Mary's new blog and partially to give one blogger's view on the state of Astrology blogging 2010.
George Bush had been crazily 're-elected' when I began writing my first blog in October 2005 using Astrology as a microscope to squint upclose at squirmy Politics, and there were a lot fewer blogs available offering or using Astrology than there are now. In 2010, you can toss your browser (as if you still use one!) in any direction on the Internet and find a wide assortment of them at your disposal – and most with free content.
Some of the earlier blogs I once read have fallen away or been discontinued and that's understandable: sometimes real world involvements interfere with my blogging time as well. Or perhaps an author's interest wanes for this time-consuming task or their work schedules change.
My interest doesn't wane as much as fluctuate for though having four planets in Capricorn (the sign of Politics, Government, Law, and Business) sometimes I've simply had all the politicians my craw can stand for a day or two and a mental health break is necessary. (The 24/7 cameras have only made them worse!)
So when I find that an astrologer the caliber of Mary Plumb will be blogging regularly, I take note – there are insights galore and learning afoot! No one astrologer can study all the charts desired by any audience or required by any topic so I am happy and encouraged that Mary is adding her measured voice to the online symphony of astro-information.
May the venerable art continue to bring its telescopic and microscopic abilities and talents – and the element of timing – to the Web!
Update Nov 9: the above post may have been published too eagerly since I followed the lead of a blog unknown to me which called Mary's blog 'new' – mea culpa. Please pardon, if so! jc
Wedding Day Astrology: Sandra Bullock and Jesse James
Blog Alert: it has come to my attention bwo a discriminating reader (see her comment below) that the marriage certificate for the Bullock-James wedding has been located and that their nuptials took place, not on July 16, 2005 as many sources state, but on July 14, 2005, in Texas and not in California.
If so, quite a number of news articles now online contain lovely fairytale details of a wedding that wasn't there…at the reported hour, at least.
Therefore, I've just gone through the several articles I read or skimmed through when preparing the following post and am finding no updated mention of July 14, 2005, as of yet. Rather than deleting this post I shall let it stand for now, unreliable though the time/place may be, and see what develops.
Yes, the 2-day difference in wedding dates would, of course, change the sign of the Moon but not the Sun. Therefore, I leave it to you to decide whether you wish to read my original (apparently incorrect) article or not. JC
Original post begions here:
In a sunset ceremony on a ranch north of Santa Barbara, CA, Sandra Bullock and Jesse James were wed on July 16, 2005 under a circus-like tent full of family and friends.
The above paragraph begins my freshly published Page in the sidebar of 'Wedding Day Astrology' Reports. My Wedding Day Astrology list of couples has become semi-extensive (no such word, I guess, but there it is.)
So check out the sidebar to your left for info on the Bullock-James nuptials and marriage as seen through an astrological lens, or simply click directly, if you wish.
Astrology's parallels and contra-parallels
Over the weekend I perused a few of the older Astrology books in my library many of which are now out of print. An interesting tidbit of information, suitable for my fellow novices, is Mae R. Wilson-Ludlam's details on Astrology's parallels and contra-parallels in Declination.
To paraphrase a master from the 1970s, Wilson-Ludlam defines them in Natal Astrology as two planets (or more) parallel in the same direction (both North and South) carrying a 'togetherness force' that 'holds on' for life. When two planets are on either side of the celestial equator (one North, the other South), a contra-parallel is formed. This acts as a separative force even though 'the attraction is just as magnetic as between two planets in parallel'.
However, the result of the contra-parallel is opposite as far as effect is concerned, and there is a 'lessening of interest, a choice that must be made, or a separation of some kind.'
If two planets are in aspect by longitude and are also parallel, they 'leave an indelible mark in the character'; when two planets are conjunct and parallel they 'describe an activity of an at-one-ment with nature forever'.
Having the same two planets conjunct in longitude (by aspect) and in contra-parallel indicates 'an active interest which will lessen over one's lifetime.'
Hope you find this Cool Astrology information from the 1970s interesting and useful in your studies!
Source: used copies of Wilson-Ludlam's Power Trio: Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn are available on Amazon along with her other Astrology books.
Astrology of AIG, BofA, Madoff, and Ponzi
Although this reluctant astrologer has dabbled with Financial Astrology – especially in the last two or three years – it is a very detailed and specialized branch of the Art so I wisely refer you to one of the best online sources for insights into the current climate:
Neptune Cafe.
If you're an astrologer or a reasonably informed follower of it, you probably have found Michael O'Reilly's site and writings before now.
The link above is noted here for its coverage of 2008's econo-crisis and contains articles from Dec 2008 through March 2009, a key time frame in the meltdown.
Along with founding horoscopes for AIG, Bank of America, and others, you'll find the natal charts of Bernard Madoff and Charles Ponzi (both charts set for noon since their birth times are unknown), two men who curiously were born with Mercury Rx square Pluto. Madoff's Mercury/Pluto square is from Aries to Cancer, Ponzi's from Aquarius to Taurus…one an originator of what we call the "Ponzi scheme', the other a notorious current-day disciple.
When the thinking processes of *Mercury conflict with powerful, subversive, yet coping Pluto in square aspect (90 degrees = blockages, obstacles but gives dynamic tension toward action) a deep dynamic is set up indicating one who may communicate harshly thus arousing bitterness in others, and who rarely feels obligated to anyone. Extremes of behavior are common with a Merc/Plu square, and self-control must be developed with maturity.
Naturally fearless, this individual can demonstrate an astounding lack of common sense in dangerous situations while he takes unnecessary risks just to prove how courageous he really is. Professions that involve hazzards are desired such as: research and development, chemistry, medicine or pathology, or crime detection.
'Crime detection'?!
Yes, for with Astrology's AC-DC tendencies, we see that with Madoff and Ponzi, the energy can flow in either direction (with Bernie serving a 150-year sentence now.)
A person with a Merc/Plu square prefers to avoid reality, a trait that is perhaps 'helpful' when mounting massive frauds perpetrated upon society. The aspect shows one who may disregard such things as safety precautions and has a tendency to make more errors in judgment than the average person – especially when it comes to handling large sums of money!
Cunning schemes may be used in obsessive fashion so that other people's lives are arrogantly re-shaped in some way (wiping out their finances, in this case) and use of violence is also a possibility as is the ridicule from society which may follow underhanded Merc/Plu activities that have brought notoriety upon both their heads.
As for AIG and Bank (Robbers) of America, I leave you to sip your coffee at the excellent Neptune Cafe!
*Fleet-footed Mercury also rules commerce and trade, and Pluto's alias is Hades, god of the Underworld and crime.
Chiron and Sun/Venus
Master astrologer Zane Stein, an early watcher of and author on Chiron, has written an informative article which reveals the importance of the Sun/Venus cycle and Chiron which you will find intriguing for the Mars/Venus relationship is also involved.
Mr. Stein predicts that much more about Chiron will soon come to light…that what we think we know of the Wounded Healer archetype in an Astrology chart is only the mere tip of a vast iceberg.
You remember the Sabian Symbol of Chiron's Nov 1, 1977 discovery degree, right?
From Dane Rudhyar's 'An Astrological Mandala'…
'4 Taurus': "The Pot of Gold at the End of the Rainbow"…Keynote: Riches that come from linking the celestial and the earthly natures.
This refers to "the bridge used by divine beings to communicate with mortals."
Rudhyar goes on to note that the rainbow is symbol of universally valid wealth: "All wealth, in a very real sense, comes from "commerce"; i.e. from the commingling of minds and from contracts, and thus is based on faith in the validity of a promise."
Now if we can find some residual faith in commerce and the Fed – our faith now in tatters since today's revelation of the Fed's lying to us last Fall about banks being sound – we should be able to move on with new commercial pursuits and 'bridge' this economy back together for us mere mortals in spite of a deceptive upper class who imagine themselves to be 'immortal beings' deserving of all the world's wealth because they know how to work the system they invented to enrich themselves while keeping the lower classes enslaved in debt and penury.


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One that posts at TrollKingdom, the best site ever.
Yippy! I post at TK!
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An idiot troll who can't get out of the past. One who is stuck on dwelling over things that don't make sense. Has incredibly low IQ.
"Go away, Faceman...."
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FAU Microbiologist Named a Jefferson Science Fellow
Nwadiuto Esiobo, Ph.D., One of 13 Scientists Selected from U.S. Universities
BOCA RATON, FL (October 17, 2011) – Nwadiuto Esiobu, Ph.D., an associate professor and applied microbiologist in the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science's department of biological sciences at Florida Atlantic University, has been named a Jefferson Science Fellow. Esiobu is one of 13 scientists from U.S. universities selected to participate in the prestigious program, which was introduced by the U.S. State Department in 2003 to develop and advance the fields of science, technology and engineering in international arenas, and guide the design and implementation of U.S. government policy.
Esiobu will spend the 2011-12 academic year in Washington, D.C. as a lead science advisor in the Secretary of State's Global Food Security Initiative. In this role, she will focus on sustainable agricultural output in Africa using proven technologies; advocate the creation of adaptable food production practices with changing climatic conditions; enhance outreach for adding value to raw material; and bridge gender inequity gaps in Feed the Future countries.
"I am delighted at this rare opportunity to learn and serve, and look forward to my year in Washington with great expectations and eagerness," said Esiobu. "Most of my research and outreach are aimed at sustainable development and biosecurity. This award allows me to learn firsthand how science and technology intersect with economics and politics to influence policy. I see the fellowship as a platform to grow, and to use my expertise and experiences to fortify partnerships that may play important roles in the rapid globalization of world systems."
In addition, Esiobu will lend her expertise to the Office of International Health and Biodefense, where she will focus on public health policy to address the use of counterfeit and substandard medicines such as antibiotics and antivirals. By highlighting the health risks associated with use of counterfeit medicines, she will promote multilateral and regional policy efforts to deter the manufacturing and marketing of fake drugs, which infringe on the U.S. Intellectual Property Rights and account for huge economic losses.
"Scientists who are selected for this fellowship are truly unique, as they must not only demonstrate scientific achievements but must show interest in diplomacy and the ability to describe complex scientific issues to non-expert audiences," said Gary W. Perry, Ph.D., dean of the College of Science at FAU. "We are proud of Diuto for being selected and for representing Florida Atlantic University at this level."
The Jefferson Science Fellows program is administered by the National Academies and supported through a partnership between the scientific academic community, professional scientific societies and the Department of State. For more information, visit http://www.state.gov/g/stas/fi/c28280.htm.
-FAU-About Florida Atlantic University:
Florida Atlantic University, established in 1961, officially opened its doors in 1964 as the fifth public university in Florida. In commemoration of its origin, FAU is celebrating its 50th anniversary throughout 2011. Today, the University serves more than 29,000 undergraduate and graduate students on seven campuses and sites. FAU's world-class teaching and research faculty serves students through 10 colleges: the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, the College of Business, the College for Design and Social Inquiry, the College of Education, the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the Graduate College, the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing and the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. FAU is ranked as a High Research Activity institution by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. For more information, visit www.fau.edu.


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Stock up with home baked goods, farm fresh eggs and more. The indoor Farmers' Market opens at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, Dec 19 at the Olathe Community Center.
Meadow Lane Trail public meeting Wednesday, Dec. 9
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A public meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 9, at Meadow Lane Elementary for input on the development of the Meadow Lane Trail. The trail will run from Stratton Oaks subdivision to Ridgeview Road, connecting with the Johnson County Gary Haller Trail. This meeting will cover the design and construction schedule and allow for attendees to give their input on the development.
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Featured Golf News
A Few Days Not Enough at New Jersey's Golf Mecca
After driving our golf cart up a steep incline at the Crystal Springs Golf Club in Vernon, N.J., my buddy Mark and I hopped out of the cart and onto the 11th tee.
Ballyowen Course at Crystal Springs Resort
"Where's the hole," Mark asked me with a tinge of incredulity in his voice. "Well, just look down about 80 feet and across a quarry filled with deep green water and you'll see it," I told him, pointing out the flag nestled on a maniacal green that wraps around the lake and a rock wall. "Wow," is all Mark could say.
The "wow" factor is what you will get at Crystal Springs Resort, especially if you're an avid golfer. While the par-3 12th, which can play anywhere from 150 to 190 yards depending on how nasty the greenskeeper is feeling on a particular day, is one of the best and most dramatic short holes you will find anywhere. And it's only one of 117 holes of golf at this resort.
Crystal Springs, located in what is known as the Sussex Skylands area of northwest New Jersey, just south of the border with New York State and fairly close to the rolling farmlands of eastern Pennsylvania, has its golf spread among five courses.
The resort's Ballyowen and Wild Turkey golf courses are super routings created by master architect Roger Rulewich. The above-referenced Crystal Springs course is regarded as one of the sternest tests in the region. The nine-hole Cascades, also designed by Rulewich, formally opened for play in the spring of 2009 and turned Crystal Springs Golf Club into a 27-hole facility. You can choose from three different options when playing an 18-hole round by using any of the nine-hole layouts - Cascades, Classic and the Villages.
There are 27 holes at the Great Gorge Golf Club, a former Playboy Club (from what I hear - wish I was around at the time!), and Black Bear Golf Club a few miles away from the resort's main property has another 18.Wild Turkey is also on The Lodge's property. In addition to the above layouts there is the nine-hole Minerals Family Golf Center, where adults and youngsters can enjoy the game together without feeling intimidated.
Obviously, this is a place where you can easily immerse yourself in golf. We got to sample only three of the tracks - Ballyowen, Crystal Springs (18 of 27 holes) and Wild Turkey - during a too-short three-day stay. Though often considered the best layouts at the resort, the remainder of the golf is at least good and there's so much else to do here you may want to just kick back for another day or two and enjoy some of the other amenities. More on those later. Let's talk golf.
The first day at the resort we jumped onto the Ballyowen golf course. Rulewich is known for designing courses that are both fair and penal at the same time. The fairways at Ballyowen, as at Wild Turkey, are rather generous and the greens undulating, though not tricked up.
Crystal Course at Crystal Springs
The biggest hazard you'll run into (usually) at Ballyowen is unseen - the wind. This is a treeless course that sits on a bit of a hill with nowhere to hide when the breeze kicks up, as it did during the second nine of our round. The wind can make a two-club difference on some of the approach shots. Better pick the right club because three of the par-3s play across water. And when the fescue grows tall during the summer, you will have trouble getting safely out of the rough.
Finish your round in the late afternoon and you'll be serenaded home by a bagpiper, who gives the course a tangible sense of being in Scotland or Ireland rather than Northern Jersey. Don't fret mate. Even though it's the good old U.S. of A. you'll still be able to quaff a pint from the specialty brewery in the very nice clubhouse after your round.
The second day we tackled Crystal Springs, designed by the under-appreciated Robert von Hagge. The layout is a beautiful beast, especially if you play it from the tips (around 6,900 yards). We played it a step down and it was all we could handle. I hit the ball well and was 4-over par through the first 11 holes, including a nice 3 on that 12th hole. The unrelenting difficulty of the track finally caught up to me, however, and I limped in over the final seven holes. The fairways here are narrow and there's trouble all around: you name it, water, quarries, woods, wetlands and plenty of bunkers.
Not satisfied with only 18 holes on Monday we decided to give the resort's real-grass 18-hole putting course a whirl. The greens were as good as you'll find on some daily-fee courses and it's an enjoyable way to unwind after a round, warm up for 18, or practice your flat stick. The fact that my buddy Mark beat me both times we played the putting courses didn't lessen my appreciation of this little gem, located right outside the entrance to the Grand Cascades Lodge.
Since I mentioned it, let me tell you about the Lodge, a stone-and-wood structure that's perched atop a hill and affords wide views of the area. It has 200 well-appointed living accommodations and is only a few steps away from 45 holes of golf (the Crystal Springs and Wild Turkey courses). We stayed in a corner suite with two bedrooms, fireplaces - including one on a patio deck overlooking the practice area and the valleys beyond, a kitchen and comfortable dining/living area, a Jacuzzi and four televisions. It's a perfect place to crash land for some R&R after a busy day. By the way, the practice area has dozens of hitting bays, a short-game area and is home to the David Glenz Golf Academy. Glenz was the PGA National Teacher of the Year in 1998 and his staff of PGA pros is available for lessons and clinics, which they were giving on the days we visited.
Crystal Springs Resort
At night, we checked out the laidback Crystal Tavern, an upscale pub in the Grand Cascades Lodge that features views of the practice range and mountains beyond. I heard the roast duck or sirloin tip are out of this world, although being true blue-collar golfers we wolfed a delicious burger with all the toppings and downed a few cervezas. If you're into upscale, the Restaurant Latour at Crystal Springs received the Wine Spectator's Grand Award and the New York Times rated it as "excellent."
One of the coolest (literally and figuratively) places at the Lodge to dine is the Wine Cellar. You walk down a winding staircase and into the sprawling space where 54,000 bottles and more than 3,640 labels lie protected against the elements. The resort's owners are so proud of the Cellar they give tours on a regular basis. No less an authority on the fruit of the vine than Wine Spectator gave The Cellar its stamp of approval. The area was 40 years in the making and includes the best vintages of the chateaus of Bordeaux, France. The resort hosts dinners in a small area in The Cellar. Listen, I don't know one Beaujolais from another but I've heard the dinners are not to be missed if you're into wine.
Biosphere at Crystal Springs Resort
To complete a busy day we strolled into the very funky "Biosphere" before hitting the pillows to rest up for our round at Wild Turkey. This is one of the most unique features at the resort. The indoor complex has an underground aquarium, vortex pools, caves and tropical foliage, as well as a 140-foot water slide. The glass enclosure allows for year-round tanning. We thought it a nice place to hang out with our special others and pretended we were in the Caribbean. Outside, there's another swimming area, an oversized marble chessboard, ping pong and other table games, a chef's garden area that can host outdoor events, and ample space for merely lounging about and enjoying the view of the hillsides and practice tee.
The resort also features the newly-opened Reflections Spa at the Grand Cascades Lodge. The interior of the spa contains such unique features as 6,500 quartz crystals in its ceiling, water features in each corridor, art glass throughout the interior and exterior, and a heated salt bath and flowing-river foot soak.
The Elements Spa at Minerals Resort, located only a few miles away from the Grand Cascades, offers massages, facials and body therapies. The Minerals Resort also has seven indoor and outdoor heated pools and a sports club. Accommodations are available.
Up early and at em' on Tuesday, we tuned up with another round on the putting course (another loss) as the day dawned clear and bright. The Wild Turkey track is one of my all-time favorites. Rulewich, known for his wise use of existing terrain, outdid himself on this effort. The tee shot on the first hole is from a severely elevated tee to a massive fairway below and it's an exhilarating way to start the day.
Wild Turkey has maybe the second most impressive hole at the resort (I'm a big fan of real good par-3s). The seventh plays close to 200 yards from the tips and the drive must clear another yawning quarry lake. The hole is very similar to the 11th at Crystal Springs Golf Club, although this one plays straight across the quarry and not from an elevated tee. It's still awesome because the lake sits about 60 feet below.
Wild Turkey (the Cascades nine was designed to emulate this layout to some degree) features holes laid out along a ridge line and those in a sunken - or basin - area. The "basin holes" of Wild Turkey, hole Nos. 3 and 12 through 17, are reminiscent of the classic American links style of Ballyowen. The fairways here are ample and never take driver out of the equation. There are enough bunkers in the fairway landing areas and around the greens to grab your attention.
Unfortunately, we didn't have enough time to check out the other courses but I had played them during another visit. Great Gorge has 27 holes and was designed by George Fazio. Crystal Springs assumed management of Great Gorge Country Club and upgraded the conditions.
The three nines - Quarryside, Lakeside and Railside - are very different from one another and each offers a stern test. Railside favors shot-making ability over muscle. Its par-3 third hole features artifacts from the area's railroad era, including a Stonehenge-like formation located in a bunker to the left of the green.
Black Bear, a very playable 6,673-yard layout, was co-designed by Jack Kurlander and Glenz and offers a diverse set of holes. Some 65 bunkers are scattered about the track and water comes into play on three holes.
Like I said, the Minerals nine is an executive-length layout but has some interesting holes nonetheless.
If you're into golf, be sure to check out Crystal Springs Resort. It's one of the few places in the Northeast where you can drop your bags in your room and be a few minutes from 45 holes of championship golf, a great practice facility, a putting course and a plethora of other fun stuff to do. Heck, you don't even have to go outside to get to the clubhouse for Crystal Springs and Wild Turkey. A covered walkway will take you from the Lodge to the starting point in comfort and style.
Like us, you might not ever want to leave the property.
For additional information or a tee time, call 973/827-5996 or visit www.crystalgolfresort.com.
John Torsiello is an editor/writer living in Connecticut. He has written extensively about all aspects of the golf industry for a number of national and regional publications. He is a regular contributor to Golf Course Industry, Lawn and Landscape, Golfing, and Fairway Living magazines as well as various online publications. He has strong, ongoing relationships with industry professionals and has worked closely with course owners, architects, developers, course superintendents and general managers around the country. He has won a number of awards for his writing, including first place from the Turf and Ornamental Communicators Association for a piece that appeared in Golf Course Industry magazine.
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text: Steven Tyler: 'Judging Idol wasn't all that fun' Steven Tyler Wed-01-Aug-12 08:33 Share this Tell Us What You Think WTF 0 LOL 0 FAIL 0 OMG 0 HOT 0 CUTE 0 ] By Jay-Jay FeeneyNow that AEROSMITH rocker STEVEN TYLER has left the judging panel on AMERICAN IDOL, he's saying it wasn't all that fun.He says he only agreed to do it for the money and to give his bandmates the chance to calm down after he announced plans for a hiatus.He said, "It was just hard work - seven-hour days and then I went and did the (Aerosmith) album for eight hours after that."The show's about kids and what you do to nurture their talent. They wanted me to take the p**s out of the kids and I don't have that in me. That's not what I'm about." You May Also Like Adam Lambert takes his boyfriend to American Idol final American Idol could be coming back with past winners as judges American Idol could get a complete overhaul American Idol divorces Become a fan of The Edge on Facebook and on Twitter .


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PENNSAUKEN — Tony Sacca's tumultuous football career has taken him from Delran to Barcelona and back again, with stops at Penn State and the NFL in between.
Now the South Jersey native is looking to parlay his athletic achievements into a touchdown in the business arena with Sacca's Pourhouse Pub, a bar he is about to take over in Pennsauken.
Sacca, along with two buddies, has signed a sales agreement on Lombardo's Tavern & Package Goods Store, at Cove Road and Westfield Avenue. An assistant football coach at La Salle University in Philadelphia, he is dividing his time between the gridiron and tackling the bar business. But after the season winds down, Sacca said, he plans to be at the pub full time.


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Standard & Poor's Ratings Services raised its underlying rating (SPUR) on Palm Beach County Solid Waste Authority, Fla.'s improvement revenue debt one notch to 'AA' from 'AA-' based on the authority's financial flexibility and ability to carry out a significant capital improvement plan (CIP) while maintaining affordable assessment rates. The outlook is stable. Standard & Poor's also assigned its 'AA' standard long-term rating, and stable outlook, to the authority's series 2008 improvement revenue bonds. In our opinion, the ratings also reflect the authority's: Revenue mix that relies primarily on assessment fees for two-thirds of its revenues, significantly insulating the system from waste flow fluctuations; Strong operational and financial performance of the authority's integrated solid waste system; and Capital facilities plan...
Companies mentioned in this report are:
- Palm Beach Cnty Solid Waste Auth
- Palm Beach Cnty
Action: New Rating
Action: Outlook: Stable
Action: Upgraded
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.
This product consists of a Summary Analysis: Bi-annual (at least). An abbreviated analysis containing Standard & Poor's issuer credit ratings as of the time the article was published. The analysis includes a rating rationale - the basis on which the rating was assigned - and an outlook section if the issuer is not on CreditWatch. Financial statistics are not included. SHOW LESS READ MORE >
- Palm Beach Cnty Solid Waste Auth
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