text:
Donald Trump's campaign chair is "confident" Trump's run for president is not behind Hillary Clinton's despite lagging fundraising totals and the recent removal of a top campaign leader.
During an interview with NBC News' "Meet the Press" Sunday, Paul Manafort told Chuck Todd the campaign is "getting organized" and that the team is "now integrated with the Republican National Committee."
The campaign endured scrutiny this week for a trip made to a Trump-owned golf course in Scotland amid the United Kingdom's "Brexit" vote. Manafort defended the decision not to call off the trip, saying supporters are attracted to Trump because he is an international businessman. He called attacks on the trip ""tone deafness of the Hillary Clinton campaign."
Manafort formally took over the helm of the campaign after Corey Lewandowski was fired Monday. He's advised presidential campaigns of Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush.


text:
Bad Girls (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
|This article's plot summary may be too long or excessively detailed. (June 2011) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)
|"Bad Girls"
|Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode
Faith examines the man she accidentally killed
|Episode no.
|Season 3
Episode 14
|Directed by
|Michael Lange
|Written by
|Doug Petrie
|Production code
|Original air date
|February 9, 1999
|Guest appearance(s)
"Bad Girls" is episode 14 of season 3 of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It is written by Doug Petrie and directed by Michael Lange, it was originally broadcast on February 9, 1999 on the WB network. In "Bad Girls", Buffy gets a new Watcher, and Faith lures Buffy into reckless abandon.
While out slaying, Faith asks Buffy if she's ever had sex with Xander and Buffy says they're just friends. They're attacked by a vampire with weapons--a short blade and long blade--and then kill it. The next day at school, the gang is looking into college and they discuss future plans. Wesley, Buffy's stuffy new Watcher annoys Giles in the library while both Slayers do their best to ignore him as much as possible. Buffy is instructed to go retrieve an amulet that once belonged a demon named Balthazar (who led a cult of swordsman vampires) before he was killed. Faith expresses to Buffy her belief that as the Slayers, they can do what they want, and enjoy it. Buffy is skeptical, but Faith believes Buffy gets off on slaying as much as she does.
That night, Buffy finds the amulet but a group of Balthazar's vamps enter before she can take it. Faith arrives and the two slay some of the vamps before taking the amulet back. After handing over the amulet to Wesley, Buffy leaves to take a necessary chem test, but she can't stop talking through the whole test about the night previous and how much she ended up enjoying it. Faith shows up at the window and she and Buffy leave to destroy a vampire nest. The two go dancing afterwards at the Bronze where Buffy meets up with Angel. She's acting very strange and he tries to ignore it and tells her that Balthazar isn't dead and he's looking for his amulet. When Wesley comes looking for Buffy, she takes the amulet from him and gives it to Angel.
Buffy and Faith go out and find Balthazar, a very heavy and ugly demon that must live in a large pool of water and constantly be kept wet. At a loss for weapons against a large group of vampires, they break into a hardware shop and steal some. Faith continues to expound on her philosophy of being a Slayer to Buffy. "Life as a Slayer is very simple. Want, take, have." The police arrive and arrest them, but in the car, the two Slayers kick down the metal gate separating them from the cops, causing the car to crash and the cops to be injured. The following morning, Buffy checks the local newspaper for any news regarding the accident, but finds nothing. The Mayor is attacked by one of Balthazar's vampires, who is foiled by Mr. Trick.
Balthazar demands his minions bring him the Watchers and kill the Slayers. No matter the cost, he must have his amulet. The enemy who crippled him is about to gain ultimate power and he refuses to let this come to pass. Willow presents Buffy with a protection spell and is ready to go slaying that night, but Buffy tells her that it's too dangerous and that she's going with Faith instead. This leaves Willow feeling hurt. The two run into several vampires and stake them, then Allan, the Mayor's secretary walks out and Faith accidentally stakes him, too. He dies before anything can be done and both Slayers flee the scene of the crime in separate directions. Buffy runs into Angel and he tells her about Balthazar taking Giles while Faith returns to the scene where Allan is and just stares at the body.
With the two Watchers in his possession, Balthazar searches for answers as to who has his amulet. Wesley, coward that he is, is willing to give up anything in exchange for his life. Angel shows up with Buffy, frees Giles and everyone fights. When Balthazar captures Angel, Buffy tosses live wires into his tub of water, electrocuting him. With his dying breath, Balthazar warns them of his enemy. "When he rises, you'll wish I'd killed you all." In his office that night, the Mayor performs a ritual that makes him invincible. He is now unable to be killed. Buffy confronts Faith about the killing but Faith doesn't want to talk about it. She doesn't care.
- Alexis Denisof met Alyson Hannigan as a result of being cast as Wesley, and the two married on October 11, 2003. Denisof's role on Buffy would also lead him to become a regular cast member on the spin-off, Angel.
After Faith accidentally kills Allan, Buffy finds her in her hotel room obsessively scrubbing his blood from her shirt. As Richardson and Rabb note, this scene is reminiscent of Lady Macbeth's "equally futile attempt to wash away guilt by washing away its physical signs." When Buffy reminds Faith that "you can shut off all the emotions that you want... but eventually, they're gonna find a body," she is referring to the authorities' finding Allan's body; however the ambiguous grammar suggests that it is Faith's emotions of guilt and shame that will eventually find a body as well.[1]
- After nearly being drowned by the vampires in the nest, Buffy remarks 'I hate it when they drown me'. This is in reference to the Season 1 finale "Prophecy Girl", where the Master leaves Buffy to drown in a shallow pool, after drinking her blood.
- Faith follows Angel as a character who fights on Buffy's side but later turns into a villain. While Angel's turn was sudden and caused by his curse, Faith's transformation is more gradual; the seeds were planted in her first appearance.
- When Buffy is attacked by the vampire while in the graveyard, Faith stakes it from behind. She will do this again in Season 4's episode "Who Are You," but Buffy was in Faith's body at the time.
- When Buffy realizes that Xander's eye twitches when she brings up Faith's name in front of him, he covers his eye. This foreshadows Xander losing his eye later in the series.
- Faith steals a long green lever bow, idly commenting that "this could be my new thing". Although her attempts to use it in this episode are inept, she does indeed become an ace, and ultimately uses the bow to infect Angel in "Graduation Day (Part 1)."
- Buffy's instantly antagonistic relationship with Wesley recalls her first meeting with Giles, highlighting how far they have come.
Arc significance[edit]
- This episode is the major turning point of season three. Faith has been a loose cannon with issues of trust and she enjoys slaying a little too much, but she has been fighting for the right cause. The emotional blow to her of killing a human is a major step in her turning to the other side.
- Willow gives Buffy the protection spell she has been working on since "Gingerbread", in a lavender-scented pouch.
- This episode marks the first appearance of Wesley Wyndam-Pryce, who goes on to become a prominent member of Angel Investigations in L.A.
- Faith stakes Allan in this episode. This reacts to Buffy in "Dead Things" from Season 6.
Cultural references[edit]
- When the two Watchers are in front of Balthazar, Giles says, speaking about Wesley : "Look, tell you what, let Captain Courageous here go, and I'll tell you what you need to know.". This is a reference to 1897 novel Captains Courageous, by Kipling.
- ^ Richardson, J. Michael; Rabb, J. Douglas (2007), "Buffy, Faith and Bad Faith: Choosing to be the Chosen One", Slayage, 23, retrieved 2007-07-26
External links[edit]
- "Bad Girls" at the Internet Movie Database
- "Bad Girls" at TV.com

subset: commoncrawl


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If Carmelo Anthony ends up ditching the trademark orange-and-blue threads of the New York Knicks, that wardrobe change won't happen before next summer.
At least, that's what sources have told ESPN.com's Brian Windhorst:
The Knicks, sources say, have zero intention of trading Anthony no matter what he says about next summer. Not only did owner Jim Dolan personally seal the deal to bring Anthony to New York, but the front office realizes it has one of the most talented players in the league and won't be able to get fair value in return.
Anthony, of course, has the option to get out of his current contract at season's end. He's made it known that the option is simply a formality.
"I want to be a free agent," he told the New York Observer's Rafi Kohan before the season started.
But the reigning scoring champion has kept coy about his future plans beyond that. He really doesn't need to say anything else, as various experts have done all of the talking for him of late.
ESPN Radio's Stephen A. Smith said recently that sources told him Anthony has already decided to leave the Empire State. Melo did his best to quickly dispel that rumor:
Melo shot down premise he's already decided to leave NY. Said he's not sure who Stephen A.'s sources are, but it didn't come from him.— Rod Boone (@rodboone) December 5, 2013
According to Steve Smith, Rajon Rondo's high school coach, Anthony has been recruiting the injured Boston Celtics point guard to join him in the Big Apple, via USA Today's Jason Jordan.
Anthony didn't exactly shoot down those talks, but he isn't confirming them either:
Melo was asked a/b report that he's "recruiting" Rondo to play for NYK. Melo: "C'mon, man. In my book, that's tampering."— Baxter Holmes (@BaxterHolmes) December 7, 2013
What do those reports have to do with Windhorst's note? Nothing on the surface.
But dig a little deeper, and you'll be engulfed in all the smoke coming out of New York. Figuring out which fire is the real source of those fumes is anyone's guess.
Unless Anthony or the Knicks go on record with a definitive statement—which neither will—these reports from anonymous sources will continue to arise.
Should the Knicks consider trading Carmelo Anthony?
It's likely that neither the Knicks nor Anthony himself has decided anything at this point.
New York can either pull the plug on an overpriced, underperforming roster to try to restore the franchise's relevance, or it can wait to see if this team might actually be turning a corner with its back-to-back blowout wins.
Anthony's choice, at least according to Windhorst, has less to do with the on-court product. Anthony, in Windhorst's words, "is going to do what is best for Carmelo Anthony."
Windhorst seems to think that means Melo will take the money and stay. The Knicks can give him an extra year and roughly $30 million more than any other potential suitor.
But NBC Sports' Brett Pollakoff doesn't see the situation the same way:
That extra year in a terrible situation becomes less enticing when you have more money than you know what to do with, and the scrutiny that comes in New York...when the losses are piling up might not be worth it when it's time to make that decision.
Leaving $30 million on the table can't be easy. But as Dwight Howard's exit from the Los Angeles Lakers last summer showed, the extra cash carries no guarantees.
Anthony has plenty to consider over the coming months. So, too, do the Knicks.
There is plenty of money at stake and reputations in need of repair on both sides of the equation. So, expect both parties to weigh their options. Expect some sources to keep adding to that weight.
But don't expect to actually learn anything any time soon.


text:
Homework Help
Comments off · Posted by karlp in Humor
Choosing Your Destination is Not the Same as Choosing Your Path
First is First and Second is Nothing
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Ghettos of the Internet
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Do You Know How To Ask for What You Want?
Comments off · Posted by karlp in Balance, Challenges, Goals, Meditation, Vision or Mission
Getting Down Off An Elephant
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First, Second, Third Meditation
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Scheduling for Success
Comments off · Posted by karlp in Balance, Challenges, Exercise, Habits, Muscles of Success
I recently posted a quick video on the subject of scheduling (using a calendar) vs. working from priorities. See my YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/karlpalachuk
I'm particularly interested in how you add things to your to-do list in order to be more successful. You might want to add one or more of the following activities:
– Daily quiet time
– Exercise
– Reading
– Writing / Journalling
– Studying a hobby or new skill
We are all super-busy these days. So how do you add something to your routine when you're already so busy? I'm assuming that what you want here is to help build new habits.
If schedules help you build habits, then they're excellent. If working on priorities help you build habits, then they're excellent. For most people, I think attaching new habits to your existing schedule is the easiest way to make sure the new habits are exercised.
If you prefer to work on priorities rather than schedules, you'll need to make the new habit a high enough priority so that it actually gets some attention. After all, it's easier to add something to your calendar than to suddenly make it a higher priority than anything on your to-do list.
Whichever method you use, you have to overcome the societal influence that says you should put work above personal improvement. After all, we find it much easier to add work-related tasks to our over-full lists. For some reason, it seems more acceptable to add work to our list instead of things like reading or exercising.
The irony is that you need the non-work related tasks in order to recharge your batteries, maintain your health, and improve your skills. But instead, we fill up our already busy schedules with more "tasks" that may or may not contribute to our overall success.
I encourage you to spend time evaluating priorities – and then putting daily reflection high on the list. Make that the first thing you do every day and chances are very good that all the other priorities will fall in line much more easily.
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Reduce Travel Stress
Comments off · Posted by karlp in Beliefs, Relax Focus Succeed®, Workaholism
My latest RFS video is posted now.
I recorded it while traveling. It was a very stressful travel day for many people. It was the day Southwest Airlines' computers failed and they had to ground their entire fleet for some time.
Even under normal circumstances, many people create travel stress because they start with a crowded schedule. They leave no room for error. That's great in a perfect world. Well, I assume it is, but we don't live in a perfect world.
Learn how you might add an attitude of Slow Down, Get More Done into your travel.
Like it if you like it!
And please subscribe to my channel so you don't miss any future videos.
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Wrong Dry Cleaners?
Comments off · Posted by karlp in Humor
I may have chosen the wrong dry cleaners.
The sign on their window reads . . .
"35 years on the same spot."
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Mindfulness Meditation: You can't do it wrong
Comments off · Posted by karlp in Habits, Meditation, Muscles of Success
My latest Relax Focus Succeed video is live on YouTube.
Some people are reluctant to get into "mindfulness" meditation. First, they're not sure what it is. Second, they are afraid they won't do it right.
Along those lines, many people have tried some kind of meditation and report they they "just can't do it" because they can't sit quietly. You need to be aware that you can't do anything once and be good at it! So you can't try sitting in a chair for sixty seconds and report that you're not able to be mindful.
Mindfulness consists of simply being aware of what is happening right now at this moment.
It takes practice to quiet your mind. But you start by being overwhelmed with monkey mind thoughts. Every step along the way from noisy to quiet is part of the process of quieting your mind. So you can't do it wrong. You simply need to try to experience what's happening. Quietude will happen over time.
In the video I give the example of simply sitting and being aware of what's happening to you. You may find it easier to sit quietly with your eyes closed just because visual stimuli can be quite enticing. So it's easier to avoid distraction if you simply close your eyes. Eventually, you will enjoy opening your eyes and add that information to your mindfulness.
Why practice mindfulness? That's a lengthy topic for sure. But the short answer is that there is tremendous value in observing what is happening in your life in real time. In many cases, we would all be better served by taking a few seconds and evaluating what is happening to us before we respond. But all too often, we respond almost automatically. Why? Because we have no practice of stopping and observing things as they are in the moment.
The practice of mindfulness while sitting in your chair at home can be the first step at viewing the world as it is without filters. With practice, you can choose to try this when you're going through your normal daily routine.
Please watch the video. Like it if you like it. Share it.
And leave any comments you have.
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Comments off · Posted by karlp in Humor
What do you do when you find an endangered animal that eats only endangered animals?
If you win a lawsuit against a parsley farmer, can you garnish his wages?
When you buy styrofoam, what do they pack it in?
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Relax Focus Succeed Class Starts June 28th
Comments off · Posted by karlp in Balance, Goals, Habits, Meditation, Muscles of Success, Positive Attitude, Relax Focus Succeed®, Vision or Mission
Relax Focus Succeed®
– Balance Your Personal and Professional Lives and Be More Successful in Both
Taught by Karl W. Palachuk, Author and Coach
– Five Tuesdays – June 28 – July 26, 2016 – Register Now
– All classes start a 9:00 AM Pacific
This course will show you how to master the concepts of Relax Focus Succeed® – a program for balancing your personal and professional lives and finding more success in both.
This course is intended for anyone who is stressed out, over-worked, and ready to take their whole life to the next level. We all lead busy lives, filled with too many demands. Many of us don't get enough sleep or exercise. We fight to be successful at work and at home.
Taught by someone who's been there. Karl Palachuk was diagnosed with debilitating Rheumatoid Arthritis at age 39 and spent several years getting the disease under control. With two businesses to manage and a young family, he found himself unable to work more than a few hours a day. That's when he developed a process for achieving goals at a very high level without working himself to death.
Many of us chase the entrepreneurial dream – but few of us reach our entrepreneurial vision.
In this course you'll learn a new approach to balancing the demands in your life – and learn some strategies for building the life you want and deserve.
This is an intensive teleseminar course over a five week period. All assignments are voluntary, of course. But if you want feedback on assignments, please complete assignments during this course and email them to the instructor.
You will learn how to:
- Balance your personal and professional lives
- Focus on the single most important things in your life
- Develop your vision for self-fulfillment
- Relax – in a meaningful way
- Be the same person in all elements of your life (overcome Jekyll/Hyde syndrome)
- Put the past – and your present – in their place
- Build your muscles of success
- Stop working 50- or 60- or 70-hour weeks
- Avoid being interrupt-driven
- Slow Down, Get More Done
- Work less and accomplish more
- Define Goals: Long-term, Medium-term, and Short-term
- Build quiet time into your life
The course will include a number of recommended do-it-yourself exercises.
Registration includes a copy of the book Relax Focus Succeed® by Karl W. Palachuk.
Includes five weeks of teleclasses with related handouts, assignments, and "office hours" with the instructor.
Only $249
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Cure for Lip Prints
Comments off · Posted by karlp in Humor
Here's an old news story. Not sure if it's true, but it could be and that's good enough for me.
According to a news report, a middle school in Oregon was faced with a strange problem. A number of girls were beginning to use lipstick and would put it on in the bathroom. That was fine, but after they put on their lipstick they would press their lips on the mirror, leaving dozens of little lip prints. Finally the principal decided that something had to be done.
She called all the girls to the bathroom and met them their with the custodian. She explained that all these lip prints were causing a major problem for the custodian who had to clean the mirrors every night. To demonstrate how difficult it was to clean the mirrors, she asked the custodian to clean one of the mirrors.
He took out a long handled squeegee, dipped it in the toilet, and then cleaned the mirror.
Since then there have been no lip prints on the mirrors.
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The Power of Mental Habits – and The Challenge of Changing Them
Comments off · Posted by karlp in Balance, Beliefs, Challenges, Habits, Meditation, Muscles of Success
Over the last year I've consumed a large number of books on habits. Creating habits, breaking habits, good habits, bad habits, etc.
It's interesting how much we focus on the physical side of habits. For example, in your morning routine. You probably do the same things in the same order almost every day of your life. SO: Adding a new habit to that routine is difficult. You've created a box of time and packed it full of things that need to be done within that time. So it's hard to wedge one more thing into the box.
Those things are physical. Get up. Got to the bathroom. Make coffee. Brush teeth. Activity. Activity. Activity.
Mental activities are also habits. And one could argue they are harder to recognize and harder to change. It takes a certain mindfulness to examine yourself in real time and explore what you're thinking.
For example, when I'm given advice to change something in my life, I am immediately resistant. It doesn't matter whether the change is large or small. It doesn't even matter if it comes from a stranger or a trusted friend who is extremely knowledgeable on the subject. The strange thing is: I'm surprisingly open to recommendations and criticism. Even in my mastermind groups, I have to remind people that I'm far more open than I appear to be.
So my first reaction is resistance, followed by contemplation when I'm alone and don't have to worry about the responses of others. Then I try to look at the advice I've been given. And very often I take that advice. But I still acknowledge my mental habit of resisting as a first response.
Think about your mental self-talk. Is there a lot of "I'm not good enough" or "I need to change …" talk inside your head? Those are patterns. They are habits of thinking. Spend an hour trying to keep track of where your mind wanders and your first responses to things. After all, you're awake most of your life and your brain is always working. What's it working on?
Mental habits are hard to change. Unlike physical habits (which are also hard to change), mental triggers are harder to spot sometimes. If a driver cuts you off and you become angry or judgmental, it's easy to see the trigger. But what about if you're just walking down the street or driving peacefully and your brain starts chattering on about all the problems in your life? What was the trigger? How do you step back from the current mindset and try to find the trigger?
When changing a physical habit, we first recognize the trigger. For example, stepping into the line at the grocery store. Let's say that as soon as you do that, you start eyeing the candy bars and virtually always end up throwing one in the cart. Recognizing that trigger can help you choose to attach a different activity as your response. Maybe you'll grab sugarless gum. Maybe look at the magazines instead. Or maybe you'll go in the quick-check line with no candy bars.
The point is, you recognize the trigger-response-reward and begin building a different habit. You start to lay down a different response and reward.
Now consider a mental example. What triggers judgmental attitudes? What is your mental response? What's the reward? It takes quite a bit of work to identify your responses and rewards – especially if they are purely mental.
If you're interested in exploring this, I recommend a two-step process. First, spend some quiet time each morning thinking about thinking. Relax, quiet your mind with a few deep breaths. Then just pay attention to the thoughts that wander into your brain. When you recognize a thought, label it. For example, say the word Happy. Then set that thought aside and wait for the next. Label it. Perhaps Hungry or Tired or Frustrated. The interesting thing about our brains is that they never stop. There will always be another thought. It might be a memory, a plan, a worry, or a distraction because a bird flew by.
The goal is to teach yourself to identify your thoughts. You have millions of them every day. And if you've never spent time recognizing them, then you won't be good at it. So the first step is to identify the kinds of thoughts you have. What does a positive thought look like? Or a negative one. Or a self-blaming one. etc. All of that work takes place while you are sitting quietly, trying to simply observe your self.
(The oft-quoted numbers of 50,000-80,000 thoughts per day are literally just made up numbers that got repeated again and again. We don't have a way to measure how many thoughts we have. But even a little research suggests that it's much higher than the mythical number.)
The second step is to practice labeling your thoughts as you go through your day. When that driver cuts you off, what goes through your brain? You clearly have a choice about how you react. Your thoughts and reactions are not outside your control. BUT you do have a mental habit of response. Without thinking about it, you have laid down a pattern of response.
You can literally observe yourself as if you are outside yourself. Watch the driver cut you off. Then STOP your brain from responding. Now choose. As you watch yourself respond, try to identify the reward. How does anger or frustration or judgement serve you in this context? What's the reward? And remember: In the world of the mental, the reward is probably mental. Satisfaction, self-righteousness, fear, anger, pity. Something inside you gets value from a specific mental response. What is it?
Once you recognize the trigger, response, and reward, you can decide whether you want to keep responding in that way. It may be that the answer is yes. It may actually make you feel better and contribute to your happiness. If that's the case, you are now more fully aware of that.
But if you want to change your response, you also have that choice. For example, you could simply choose to be amused by the driver who cuts you off. Maybe you'll enjoy pondering whether you'll catch up to him at the next light. Now you can start to build a new habit. When someone cuts you off, you can slow down a bit and choose to be amused. Your reward is tiny bit of happiness. And if the drivers where you live are anything like the drivers where I live, you'll have lots of opportunities to practice your new pattern of trigger-response-reward!
One of my favorite sayings is Slow Down, Get More Done. This is another example of that. After all, if you choose to, you can choose how you respond to every little thing in your life.
Habits got you where you are. Habits will get you wherever else you want to be.
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Personnel Director Humor
Comments off · Posted by karlp in Humor
I asked the personnel director how he got to be successful.
He says he owes it all to hire education.
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The Happiest Times of My Life
Comments off · Posted by karlp in Family, Misc., Positive Attitude
What are the happiest times in your life? That's worth looking at because there are probably some common elements there. With some serious introspection, you might even figure out the connections.
There are three periods in my life that stand out as the happiest.
The first time was when I was a kid. By "kid" I mean in that age range of about seven to eleven. I had a lot of independence and hadn't started worrying too much about girls. I grew up with five brothers. I was the middle kid, so I was surrounded by activities and companionship all the time. We lived about half a mile from a great big park. During the summer months, we'd go there and play on the playground, check out games, or watch baseball. We were literally barefoot all summer and "gone" most of the day.
During that time I also built a small private sanctuary for myself in our basement. We had a dank, unfinished basement that really had nothing but the old oil furnace in it. I put up some shelves and built a work area under the staircase. That's where I set up my chemistry set and my electronics experiments.
I was happy and free and I always felt loved and secure. I also felt like I had a lot of independence.
The second period that stands out in my life is when my daughter was a little girl. Two was an awesome age. But the time when she was 3-6 was the best. She was old enough to have stamina, so she could hang out with me all day. We literally went everywhere together. My co-workers and clients all knew her.
Every weekend, the two of us would head out for an adventure. It normally involved a trip to the Rite-Aid to wander every aisle. We finished in the plant department. Then we'd go to the lumber yard to get supplies for whatever the weekend project was. Again, we hit every aisle. She sat on the riding mowers and sang "I'm a lumberjack and I'm okay." After that we either planted things, painted things, or built things.
On Sunday we either had Daddy-Daughter breakfast before church or Daddy-Daughter lunch after church. Even today she has fond memories of the places we went regularly.
I think my daughter considers me her shield from the world – in large part because we spent all of our time together during this period of her life.
Don't get me wrong, I've loved every age. But after she started going to school, she developed a life outside of our relationship. That's how it's supposed to be of course. She was a great teenager, a great high schooler, and now she's a wonderful woman.
The third period of happiness that stands out in my life is right now. Over the last six years I've rebuilt my life completely. I make a living writing and speaking, which I dearly love. My grown daughter lives with me now as she is finishing college. I get to travel as much as I want (which is a lot). I have been averaging about 20-30 presentations a year in 20-25 cities. I live in a delightful older house with just the right size yard. I've created the life I want and I'm living it.
When I travel, I take extra days to see the sights and relax. In 2015 I took 50 vacation days, including two separate weeks in Australia, a week in England, and a week in Hawaii.
I write at lot. I read a lot. I travel a lot. And more than most people, I spend a great deal of time hanging out with friends I really enjoy – all over the world. My favorite combination is: Sharing a meal, at night, outside, near the water, with live music. The more of those elements I can combine, the happier I am.
No one's life is perfect. But I'm happy to have the self-awareness to appreciate that mine is very good. I'm going to work very hard to keep it heading in the right direction.
. . .
And how about you? What were (are) the happiest times in your life? If "now" isn't on the list, what can you do to get it there?
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text:
German company PCC and MFC Commodities SUA (the Austrian branch) have expressed their interest in the future privatization of Oltchim Râmnicu Vâlcea, said Gheorghe Piperea, a partner at Rominsolv, and receiver of the plant, together with BDO Business Restructuring. PCC is a minority shareholder in Oltchim, with over 30% of the share capital, and MFC Commodities is one of the creditors of the company.
According to some sources from the plant, trader MFC Commodities has an older contractual relationship with Oltchim and allegedly has about 40 million Euros in debt to recoup. MFC Commodities offered to lend this kind of money to Oltchim, in order to allow it to resume its production capacities, through a loan which the trader may take out from Erste Bank, our sources also say. Constantin Roibu, the former CEO of Oltchim, declined the offer.
Sounds like smith has been busy....wish I could post link but apparently yahoo doesn't like that anymore
Five vendors will work with Oltchim lohn
Capital Market
Five suppliers are interested to work with Oltchim lohn, sources from the Ministry of Economy. First announced their interest in a month ago, are CCP MFC Commodities. Receivers of the plant is in advanced talks with suppliers who want to continue working with the company Valcea, say our sources, who told us that soon will be undertaken contracts.
Meanwhile, our complete submission to the European Commission for obtaining the information necessary to aid rescue Oltchim (about 20 million). Authoritative sources in the Ministry of Economy told us that the authorities explained to the Commission that it was the behavior of shareholders, suppliers and banks to Oltchim and showed that neither the state nor the providers of private traders and banks have made it difficult factory claims garantaten though.
In data submitted to the European Commission, the State representatives have explained all creditors Oltchim prudent behavior: "A PricewaterhouseCoopers report last year that enforcement of pledges on plant assets would have major creditors a recovery rate up to 10 to 12 % of these debts accumulated by Oltchim.'s why all private and public creditors had been cautious and not to mass foreclosures. Commission data available and the impact that would have closed Oltchim that impact social impact on the local and regional economy, the impact on GDP and trade deficit disappearance of a major part of petrochemicals. "
The authorities have sent the Commission that the liquidation Oltchim has higher costs than insolvency to reorganize and privatize part of the plant viable Valcea, also said sources.
Currently, the documentation to obtain approval for state aid is currently under analysis. Commission must find that Oltchim not benefited so far from aid. Receivers of plant (BDO Business Restructuring and RomInsolv) are in negotiations with creditor banks to get a new loan of 10 million euros. Oltchim working capital needs about 40-45 million to operate at 60% capacity level, according to authorities would ensure profitability.
FYI - From the wiki....looks like a nice asset to take over if it can be gotten cheaply enough...yes?
So...why is this stock off 10-15% from it's highs with the rest of the market on a tear??
"Oltchim S.A. Ramnicu Valcea was one of the largest chemical companies in Romania.[5] It provides chemical products since 1966 and it is the most important exporter on Chlorosodics, Polyether Polyols and Propylene Oxide markets in Eastern and Central Europe. Besides this, it is the second PVC producer in the area.[6]
It is a very important employer in the area of Ramnicu Valcea, with no less than 5000 employees.
They promote commitment to environment and re-technologization for the safety of the surroundings and of their employees.
In 2009 and 2010, the company had to lower production and lay off employees because of the financial crisis and it became one of the first companies to receive aid from the government.[7]
In 2012, the company was declared bankrupt."
Sentiment: Strong Buy
Source: BURSA On Line, ediţia din 04.02.2013:
"PCC and MFC Commodities are interested in the privatization of Oltchim"
Wojciech Zaremba - one of the special administrators of the plant
Rescue package and state guarantees through Eximbank for the resumption of the plant's operation
German company PCC and MFC Commodities SUA (the Austrian branch) have expressed their interest in the future privatization of Oltchim Râmnicu Vâlcea, said Gheorghe Piperea, a partner at Rominsolv, and receiver of the plant, together with BDO Business Restructuring. PCC is a minority shareholder in Oltchim, with over 30% of the share capital, and MFC Commodities is one of the creditors of the company.
According to some sources from the plant, trader MFC Commodities has an older contractual relationship with Oltchim and allegedly has about 40 million Euros in debt to recoup. MFC Commodities offered to lend this kind of money to Oltchim, in order to allow it to resume its production capacities, through a loan which the trader may take out from Erste Bank, our sources also say. Constantin Roibu, the former CEO of Oltchim, declined the offer.
Last week, BURSA exclusively reported that businessman Ştefan Vuza, who, in September, participated in the call for bids for the acquisition of the majority stake in Oltchim, through Aisa Invest and Chimcomplex Borzeşti, is still interested in the takeover of the plant of Vâlcea.
Mr. Vuza told us: "In September, after the installation of the new government, I have sent a letter to PM Victor Ponta expressing interest in the privatization of Oltchim. In January, I had several talks with the Ministry of the Economy. I am still interested in the privatization of CS Oltchim Râmnicu Vâlcea, if the company is rid of its debts, of the contracts with the leech companies, and if it successfully restructured. I don't we will see any concrete in less than a year, in the insolvency process which I hope will end with a reorganization and not with a bankruptcy".
Lawyer Gheorghe Piperea told us that on Friday, he participated in a meeting with Minister of the Economy Varujan Vosganian, with the suppliers and lenders of Oltchim, as well as with PCC: "Following the meeting, it was agreed that Wojciech Zaremba, the representative of PCC in Romania, will be one of the special administrators of Oltchim. The other special administrator will be appointed by the Ministry of the Economy. As you know, PCC has expressed its desire to be involved in the administration of the plant during the insolvency".
"I think that it a good thing for one of the special administrators to be a representative of PCC because that means there will be no surprises from the minority shareholder. PCC will support the reorganization process, including through supplying raw materials, and will support the approach of the Romanian authorities to obtain the approval of the European Commission for the state aid which will be granted to Oltchim".
The receiver of Olchim told us that banks support the reorganization of the plant and that the aid of the state will consist of a rescue package of about 20 million Euros and the granting of letters of bank guarantee issued by Eximbank for loans of 25 million Euros. Thus, the working capital will be secured to allow Oltchim to resume production at full capacity.
The notification of the state aid for Oltchim has not yet been sent, as there are still talks and information exchanges between the Competition Council and the European Commission on the final form of the documentation.
Gheorghe Piperea also told us that he talked to the utilities providers of Oltchim, whom he assured that they would get back the amounts they are owed, because according to the legislation in effect, the holders of such claims get paid before the holders of other types of claims. Oltchim will have all the utilities available during the insolvency period.
ALINA TOMA VEREHA (Translated by Cosmin Ghidoveanu)
SC Oltchim SA will pay its current invoice out of its own production, a press release of the Ministry of the Economy states.
PCC has committed to supply the raw materials needed for the adequate functioning of the plant and to support the initiative of the Ministry, including by lobbying in Brussels. The creditors of Oltchim, especially commercial banks, have agreed to this solution, as they want to be part of the entire process for the rescue of the plant.
Also, lawyer Teodor Cuzino, a representative of MFC, a creditor of Oltchim, said that the latter could become a strategic investor in that case.
Also on Friday, Minister of the Economy Varujan Vosganian, had talks with the management of the Competition Council, where the procedures and the steps to follow for fulfilling the requirements of the European Commission for the state aid of 20 million Euros for Oltchim. Together with other representatives of the relevant investors in Oltchim, minister Vosganian intends to travel to the European Commission to discuss this topic with the vice-president of the European Commission, Joaquin Almunia."
PCC SE raises to 32% stake in Romania's Oltchim
January 9, 2013 13:49 CET
BUCHAREST (Romania), January 9 (SeeNews) - German chemicals, energy and logistics group PCC SE said it raised to 32.3% its holding in Romanian chemical company Oltchim [BSE:OLT] by acquiring indirectly 14.02% from Carlson Ventures International.
The deal, whose price was not disclosed, involved the purchase of all the shares Carlson Ventures held in Cyprus-based Polyolt Holding on January 7, PCC said in a statement on Tuesday.
PCC SE controls directly 62,870,262 shares equal to a 18.3182% stake in Oltchim. It secured its first stake in the Romanian organic, inorganic and macromolecular products maker at the end of 2007 in a drive to strengthen its footprint in the country. It has repeated stated its interest in increasing further its holding and placed a bid in Oltchim's privatisation tender.
Romania tried to sell its 54.8062% stake in October 2012. Local journalist and politician Dan Diaconescu won the auction for the stake placing the highest bid, 203.149 million lei ($60.44 million/46.07 million euro), however the deal was cancelled as he had no financial resources to foot the bill.
Olthicm reported a net loss of 278 million lei on a turnover of 1.53 billion lei in 2011.
(1 euro = 4.4095 Romanian lei)


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OSHA News Release - (Archived) Table of Contents
OSHA National News Release
U.S. Department of Labor
National News Release USDL: 03-495
September 22, 2003
Contact: Frank Meilinger
Phone: (202) 693-4676
for Safety and Health Training Programs
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) today awarded more than $11.2 million in Susan Harwood Training Grants to 67 nonprofit organizations for safety and health training and educational programs. 50 of these grantees are new recipients of these grant monies. These grants will support classroom quality training programs that can be published and used by other organizations, training for OSHA's industry-specific ergonomic guidelines, and training for targeted safety and health hazards, including workplace violence and small-business safety and health management systems.
"This $11.2 million in grants will leverage the reach of training and education efforts to increase the health and safety of workers. These grants will also provide increased compliance assistance in a wide range of professions and disciplines-all of which will contribute to our mission to safeguard America's workers," said Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao.
This year OSHA awarded grants in three categories. Targeted Topic Training Grants support training for construction and general industry hazards, transportation fatality hazards, workplace violence, emergency preparedness and response, lead and silica exposure, and safety and health management systems for small businesses. OSHA Training Materials Development Grants support the development, evaluation, and validation of training materials for the eight areas in the targeted topic training grants. Finally, Ergonomics Guidelines Training Grants support training based on the new industry-specific ergonomics guidelines targeted by OSHA: the nursing home industry, retail grocery stores, poultry processing and shipyards.
"Outreach and education are important tools for us to use in reducing injuries and illnesses," said OSHA Administrator John Henshaw. "These grants will help train employees in targeted occupational safety and health topics, and develop practical, user-friendly materials and curricula that will be made available to others so a larger audience can benefit in the future."
Of the 67 grants, 50 are to new grantees selected through a national competition announced last May. The remaining 17 grants are one-year extensions of existing grants.
The training grants are named in honor of the late Susan Harwood, a former director of the Office of Risk Assessment in OSHA's Health Standards Directorate, who died in 1996. During her 17-year tenure with the agency, Harwood helped develop OSHA standards to protect workers exposed to bloodborne pathogens, cotton dust, benzene, formaldehyde, asbestos and lead in construction.
A complete list of the 2003 Susan Harwood Grant recipients follows in the accompanying fact sheet.
OSHA is dedicated to saving lives, preventing injuries and illnesses, and protecting America's workers. Safety and health add value to business, the workplace and life. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.
Auburn University, Auburn, Ala. The university will develop a four-hour course for workers, supervisors, and managers in micro-to-mid sized businesses to recognize situations and behaviors that lead to workplace violence, to learn precautionary measures to prevent violence, and how to behave in case of such acts to minimize the impact; $152,280.
Georgia Tech Research Corporation, Atlanta, Ga. The institute will develop a training module to reduce silica exposure and control occupational hazards associated with cleaning concrete delivery trucks, including hearing protection, ergonomic concerns, confined space procedures, lockout/tagout procedures, fall protection, and heat stress. All materials will be available in English and Spanish; $55,689.
International Society of Arboriculture, Champaign, Ill. The society will develop an interactive CD-ROM program to reach and train arborists and tree workers in OSHA-approved safe work practices for tree care operations. The program will include hazard awareness and recognition, personal protective equipment, proper and safe use of equipment and gear, and best practices for various methods of tree pruning, removal and cutting. The CD-ROM will feature English and Spanish audio capability; $73,100.
Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kan. The university will develop a library of training resources in English and Spanish for the landscaping and horticultural services industries. Products to be developed include employee workbooks that address the most serious hazards, a supervisors/employers supplement on employer responsibilities and the business benefits of managing safety and health, and an instructor's guide that includes learning activities for instructor-led training; $217,590.
Kirkwood Community College, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The college will develop an interactive expert system to develop emergency action plans and train employees on hazards that require evacuation, relocation or shelter to protect their health and safety. A training tool for employees based on facility-specific evacuation, relocationor shelter procedures, and an incident command and training tool for management will be produced; $200,000.
Laborers' Health and Safety Fund of North America, Washington, D.C. The grantee will enhance training products developed under a Harwood grant on highway construction hazards. Upgrades include the addition OSHA regulations, new demos, incorporation of story-telling elements, added participatory elements, and revisions to the instructor's and student booklets; $223,079.
North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC. The university plans to develop a technical assistance program directed to small manufacturing businesses. Four training modules will be developed to guide the target population in establishing effective safety and health management systems. Lesson plans, training objectives and an evaluation will be provided for each module. Final training materials will consist of a computer-based training program that can be accessed via the Internet or CD-ROM; $209,853.
Northwest Public Power Association, Vancouver, Wash. NWPPA will further develop their utility industry operation and maintenance training program for electrical, wireless and HDTV construction and maintenance workers and employers, including a new component on safe tower construction. Five new courses will be developed; $361,750.
Ohio State University Research Foundation, Columbus, Ohio. The university will adapt 66 of 85 existing English/Spanish agricultural tailgate training safety modules to the landscaping/horticultural services industries. The 66 modules address occupational safety and health topics and will be revised for use as tailgate training materials. 10-to-20 new modules will be developed for classroom and self-study that address additional risks and hazards common to the industries. All modules will be translated into Spanish; $187,787.
Pennsylvania Foundry Association, Plymouth Meeting, Pa. The Association intends to develop two silicosis prevention training modules for the foundry industry; a self-learning course for supervisors and an instructor lead classroom-ready worker awareness course. The worker awareness module will be translated into Spanish; $200,000.
Regents of the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM. The university will develop a 3-part training program that focuses on creating comprehensive safety and health management systems for small construction companies. The project will produce modules on awareness, system design development, and implementation that will be delivered in two formats: in class and Web-based instruction. Materials from both module formats will be made available via the Internet; $194,310.
Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY. The Institute will develop a 6-module training program to assist small businesses with establishing safety and health management systems. Six high-hazard small businesses will be recruited to serve as case study companies. Applicant will benchmark small VPPPA companies and OTI's Management System Course and utilize the information in the development of this program; $154,011.
Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX), College Station, Tex. TEEX will develop training materials for employers and workers with minimum to moderate experience on fall hazards in the construction and maintenance of telecommunication towers. Materials will address the most dangerous tasks and job duties in the industry, identify hazards, and methods to abate those hazards; $195,718.
Texas Engineering Extension Services (TEEX), College Station, Tex. TEEX will develop training materials in a photo-example format on the most common or most dangerous safety and health hazards in land-based oil and gas field operations. More than 1,000 photos with color-coded borders and English or Spanish captions will help convey the message regarding hazard recognition. The photo training materials will supplement existing OSHA oil and gas well drilling and servicing e-Tool by showing hazards in more detail; $226,311.
University of Findlay, Findlay, Ohio. The University will develop a training program that covers the design and implementation of workplace emergency preparation plans. A 4-to-6 hour module focusing on the assessment of the workplace and development of emergency response plans will be developed for managers and supervisors. An 8-hour module that focuses on implementation of the emergency response plan will be developed for employees; $185,249.
University of Massachusetts Lowell Research Foundation, Lowell, Mass. The university will develop an OSHA 10-hour Construction Outreach Program for Hispanic Workers. The program will include 13 modules, training manuals, trainer's guide, visual aids, pocket sized safety and health alert cards for each of the training topics, and a Spanish construction dictionary. A 15-minute video on work hazards will be developed featuring Hispanic construction workers; $105,626.
University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Tex. The University will develop a training program that promotes the value of safety and health management systems for small retail grocery and convenience stores. Materials will incorporate general safety training, recordkeeping, ergonomic hazards, and workplace violence information. On-line Web-based training will deliver training to managers and supervisors; $197,422.
Wayne State University, Detroit, Mich. The university will develop training materials addressing highway construction hazards geared to workers, supervisors, and managers. The program will address work zone/traffic control aspects for motorists, internal traffic control within work zones, and general construction safety topics; $199,648.
West Virginia University Research Corporation, Morgantown, WV. The university will develop training materials on fall protection and awareness for residential construction. The university will develop bilingual training materials for use with interactive web-based training modules, downloadable training materials (supervisor and worker manuals, train-the-trainer guide, PowerPoint slides, and pre and post tests) and an interactive training DVD. Internet and DVD formats will be available in English and Spanish; $198,859.
Western Iowa Tech Community College, Sioux City, Iowa. The College will develop training materials for taxi/limo drivers and small business retailers that are aimed at preventing or mitigating workplace violence. Interactive materials will be developed for managers to create and implement written workplace violence prevention programs. The materials will be translated into Spanish and be available via the Internet, CD, DVD and in hard-copy formats; $125,166.
Aging Research Institute, Topeka, KS. The grantee plans to train 100 nursing home teams that include employers and workers. The training will include a two-day program that emphasizes the ergonomic guidelines and hazard/task analysis. Promoting management commitment is an integral part of the program; $159,639.
Arnot Ogden Medical Center, Elmira, NY. The grantee will develop a train-the-trainer ergonomics program for nursing home employers and workers. The program incorporates direct training, videoconferencing, and Web-based training. Training will include the OSHA guidelines, a discussion of the cost-effectiveness of ergonomic injury prevention programs, and a step-by-step process for establishing an ergonomics program; $166,565.
College of Southern Maryland, La Plata, MD. The college will develop a train-the-trainer program that provides nursing home managers and workers tools to decrease ergonomic injuries. They will provide eight-hour site-specific training tools to assist in delivering facility-based ergonomic training. Trainers will be provided four one-hour modules that address OSHA guidelines and incorporates case studies and exercises; $99,998.
Employers Association, Inc., Plymouth, MN. The association plans to develop two training programs, one for management and one for employees, based on the ergonomic guidelines for nursing homes. The management program will cover the practical aspects of establishing and maintaining a viable ergonomics process and the employee course will include an interactive program that emphasizes practical, hands-on approaches to preventing ergonomic injuries; $108,491.
Georgia Tech Research Corporation, Atlanta, Ga. The grantee will develop and conduct ergonomic training, based on the draft ergonomic guidelines, for the poultry processing industry. The training also will address hazard recognition, evaluation, and control. Training materials will be developed in hard copy and electronic format. Approximately 90 trainer-instructors will be recruited from the poultry industry to participate in a three-day train-the-trainer program;$103,854.
Lewis and Clark Community College, Godfrey, IL. The college plans to develop an ergonomic Risk Factor Identification Tool that, in addition to OSHA ergonomic guidelines for nursing homes, allows caregivers to quickly determine whether a work-related situation poses an ergonomic hazard. A train-the-trainer program will be initiated in five participating facilities; $100,000.
Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union, New York, NY. The union will conduct training programs for workers and employers in the poultry processing industry. The program will utilize two bilingual health and safety educators. Particular emphasis will be placed on reaching Spanish-speaking workers. Training programs will be tailored to the particular needs of each participating facility; $124,856.
Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY. The institute will develop a sequence of training activities to address ergonomics in retail grocery stores. The activities include a walkthrough assessment, a train-the-trainer workshop, and employee awareness training. Topics for a 24-hour workshop include ergonomic risk factors, administering an ergonomics program, detection of ergonomic problem areas, and examples of successful ergonomic interventions; $169,101.
University of Kentucky Research Foundation, Lexington, Ky. The university will develop and provide customized ergonomic training for poultry processors. Training will be oriented toward practical solutions to reduce the number and severity of ergonomic injuries. The grantee will provide assistance for initiating an in-plant ergonomics program, provide training for managers and workers, and discuss methods of tracking and evaluating ergonomic initiatives;$88,348.
WVU Research Corporation on behalf of West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV. The grantee plans to develop a 7.5-hour ergonomics awareness and intervention training program targeted to small business nursing homes. The program will address the application of the OSHA ergonomic guidelines, the benefits of implementing an ergonomics process, the identification and analysis of ergonomic problems, and the recognition of practical solutions; $99,811.
American Road & Transportation Builders Association - Transportation Development Foundation, Washington, D.C. The grantee will address the most significant roadway construction hazards and target specific geographic areas. The association will hold eleven four-hour training classes for the roadway construction industry and update one module based on OSHA's changes to the Signs, Signals, and Barricades standard; $153,811.
Associated Builders and Contractors, Mobile, Ala. The grantee will develop and deliver training for 50 owners and 1,000 Hispanic workers in the recognition and prevention of fall hazards in residential/commercial construction. All training will be conducted in Spanish. The seven-hour training class will be divided equally into the hazard recognition and control in the areas of residential, commercial, and communication and HDTV tower construction; $79,496.
Associated General Contractors of America, Alexandria, Va. The grantee will educate contractors and their employees in fall protection. CD-ROMs, handouts, regulations, and OSHA fall protection publications will be developed in English and Spanish. Training classes will be held at 15 AGC training centers and cover fall protection standards, best practices, where hazards occur, and protection systems; $233,000.
Building Trades Labor-Management Organization of Washington State, Olympia, Wash. The grantee will develop an awareness training program for the construction trades that emphasizes the proper selection and use of hearing protection, and a focus on how to avoid overprotection and improve worker convenience. The Center to Protect Workers' Rights and the University of Washington will help recruit Spanish attendees; $178,056.
Connecticut Business & Industry Association (CBIA), Hartford, Conn. The association will target small businesses with Hispanic and hard-to-reach workers and train workers and supervisors in responsibilities for emergency response and prepredness such as egress, and how to develop an appropriate plan. Plan includes symposium, workshops, and follow-up activities; $172,488.
Construction Advancement Foundation, Portage, Ind. This foundation will collaborate with the Construction Employers Association of Cleveland to deliver eight hours of training to managers and supervisors. The training will cover developing written programs, the value of safety and health management systems, and the implementation of the systems; $150,000.
Forest Industry Safety & Training Alliance, Inc., Rhinelander, Wisc. The grantee will target landscapers and horticulturalists in multi-state region to provide hands-on worksite training. Program will focus on non-English speaking audience and will target small businesses; $151,717.
Gadsden State Community College, Gadsden, Ala. The college will hold workshops to train owners and managers of small and medium-sized businesses on the importance of safety and health management systems, how to develop an effective management system, and how to evaluate and implement the system. The recruiting plan includes details on attracting minority-owned businesses to the training; $264,764.
High Plains Technology Center #24, Woodward, Okla. The grantee proposes to reduce injuries and fatalities by providing instruction in the use of tools and equipment in the oil and gas industry. Instruction will be delivered in English and Spanish. Materials will also be translated into Spanish; $118,140.
Labor-Management Construction Safety Alliance, Boston, Mass. The alliance will use materials from the "Build It Smart" program for a two level training program. Level One is a program to train joint apprenticeship training center instructors, OSHA outreach trainers, foremen, supervisors, and safety and health professionals on delivering toolbox talks on hearing conservation. In Level Two, the trainers will hold toolbox training sessions for construction workers; $61,972.
NAHB Research Center, Inc, Upper Marlboro, Md. The grantee will train small-home builders and supervisors on how to implement safety and health management programs in the residential construction industry. Course content will be determined through a workshop with stakeholders. A PowerPoint presentation, student manual, and instructor's guide will be produced; $156,134.
National Safety Council, Itasca, Ill. The grantee will develop a training program as part of "Safety Wins," a safe driving program involving national partnerships. The program enlists NASCAR spokespersons to deliver safety message on recognition, avoidance, and prevention of workplace safety and health hazards related to vehicle operations. Training will coincide with national racing events and take place on-site at race tracks; $153,240.
Rutgers The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ. The university will partner with other non-profit organizations to deliver Emergency Preparedness training to immigrant workers. Plan will utilize train-the-trainer format to target temporary, Hispanic, and hard-to-reach workers. A bilingual ERP program will include workbooks, program brochures, and ERP program impact evaluation; $212,865.
Southeast Michigan Coalition for Safety and Health (SEMCOSH), Detroit, Mich. The grantee will provide OSH training in Spanish on hazards in the landscaping and horitcultural services industries to Spanish-speaking immigrant and landscape workers. The program is a collaborative effort with the Michigan Landscape Association, community organizations, and churches serving the Latino population. The program will train both workers and employers; $150,000.
State Building and Construction Trades Council of California, Sacramento, Calif. The council will conduct three one-to-two day train-the-trainer sessions, including one in Spanish regarding noise and hearing conservation in construction. The council will host awareness seminars that address risk factors and focus on best practices and practical solutions; $153,700.
University of Maine, Orono, Maine. The university will develop ship building safety training materials. Grantee will research, write, and produce a handbook entitled, "Achieving Occupational Safety and Health in Ship and Boat Yards." Program will involve employees, supervisors, and managers; $182,955.
Unstrung Bow Spiritual Retreat & Compassionate Mission Ministries, Inc. (DBA: The Relational Culture Institute), Fresno, Calif. The organization will develop a workplace violence program in English and Spanish in a train-the-trainer format. The grantee will contract with University of California, Berkeley, for outreach and training. Training materials will be translated into Spanish;$150,000.
Utility Workers Union of America, Braintree, Mass. The grantee will develop and deliver industry-specific emergency response and preparedness training curriculum for the utilities industry. A train-the-trainer plan will include a new curriculum and will utilize workers as trainers; $172,568.
Western Iowa Tech Community College, Sioux City, Iowa. The college will provide onsite fall hazard training to wireless communication and HDTV tower construction employers and workers. The training will include sessions for tower erection employees and a separate course for supervisors/competent persons thatemphasizes fall prevention. Materials for the supervisor/competent person course will be developed and translated into Spanish for Spanish-speaking supervisors; $94,663.
York Area Labor-Management Council, York, Pa. The council will offer workplace violence training in a train-the-trainer format to small businesses. Curriculum focuses on secure work practices, recognizing threats, and two-way communication. Plan is aimed at workers and employers; $55,000.
Institutional Competency Building (Renewal Grants)
American Federation of Teachers Educational Foundation, Washington, D.C., $150,484
Boat People S.O.S., Inc., Falls Church, Va., $165,750
Construction Education Foundation, Rosslyn Va., $147,538
Environmental Research and Education Foundation, Washington, D.C., $56,260
George Meany Center - National Labor College, Silver Spring, Md., $224,250
Graphic Communications International Union, Washington, D.C., $223,500
International Union, United Auto Workers (UAW), Detroit, Mich., $230,250
National Roofing Contractors Association, Rosemont, Ill., $164,128
National Safety Council, Itasca, Ill., $193,178
North Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Project, Durham, NC, $544,500
Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical and Energy Workers International Union, Nashville, Tenn., $231,000
Regents of the University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, Calif., $206,250
Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Education and Support Fund, Washington, D.C., $222,000
Trimmer Education Foundation, formerly Construction Education Foundation, Arlington, Va., $147,538
Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees (UNITE), AFL-CIO, New York, NY, $156,000
United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) International Union, Washington, D.C., $162,713
United Steelworkers of America, Pittsburgh, Pa., $113,250
University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, $95,576
U.S. Labor Department releases are accessible on the Internet at http://www.dol.gov. The information in this news release will be made available in alternate format upon request (large print, Braille, audio tape or disc) from the COAST office. Please specify which news release when placing your request. Call (202) 693-7773 or TTY (202) 693-7755.
|OSHA News Release - (Archived) Table of Contents


text:
18 years of experience
Accepting new patients
12639 Old Tesson Rd
Saint Louis, MO 63128 Phone number & directions
Patient Reviews
Patient Reviews ? Write a Review
Overall Rating:
Total Ratings
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Great Doctor!
I went to Dr. Burlison for my second child. He was a great dr. He helped me understand everything. I liked the office and the staff. Everyone seemed to really care about my child and my health. The delivery didn't go so smooth. I went into labor early and he was not the doctor on call so he didn't get to deliver my child. He may not have delivered but he was there everyday after that to check up on the two of us. It was really great to know your doctor will be there every step of the way. I would recommend him to anyone who wants a laid back, straight forward, experienced doctor.
Dr. Burlison is very-Caring, Understanding, Patient, Informative and was willing to answer all my silly questions. He made my pregnancy a smooth and enjoyable time even with the minor health issues I had. I would recommend him to everyone.
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Dr. has a dry sense of humor so if you go in expecting it, all is well. He is very good and clearly knows his stuff! He delivered one of my children via csection, treats my pcos, has done hysterectomys on two fo my family members! Great doc!!!


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"ok sequel"
my favorite part of this is the Earth religionists and their sermons and songs. & actually I would rather Atwood had lifted that element out and produced a completely unrelated novel of nature religionists, or survival of an isolated cult or something & I think she very well may have given us another masterpiece like Handmaid or Oryx. Unfortunatley it is tied to the Oryx story, which was great, but all we really have here is that same story retold from different characters perspectives until it reaches the same point at which Oryx ended. OK fine, but aside from elements like the religion, or the nature artist who may be my favorite in this book, it is basically the Oryx story but from the city view. If you like Oryx, I think this is worth doing just for the songs and sermons.
"Great Atwood, great audio (even the music)"
I am a huge Atwood fan, and have listened to Oryx and Crake at least twice. The reader is good, though I really liked the male reader in O&C a bit more. I enjoyed the connections between the two books, and the different perspective it lends. The music was a bit strange at first, but it does a great job of adding to the "goofiness" of the God's Gardeners (think hippie folksy 70s Christian music), along with Adam One's "sermons". The story tells well, and it has that same Atwood tongue-in-cheek cynical world view. If you liked Oryx and Crake, you'll like this one too. Not a world I'd care to live in, but very thought provoking and engaging.
The audio books I get tend to be either 1) scifi or 2) things for my husband and me to listen to on long road trips--humor or history
"The Year in the title takes 25 years to come"
With great imagination, Atwood creates a world that is scarily recognizable as an all-too-possible future. Drug companies that seed their products with maladies to which only they control the remedies . . . fast food that is no longer recognizable as anything grown from the earth . . . leading to the growth of "fanatic" vegetarian cults . . . Yet, the overall effect of the book was somewhat tedious. The author did not employ her wry humor often enough, and the sections describing life before the "dry flood" felt too long. Disclaimer: I have not read Oryx and Crake, which I now realize is a prequel to this book.
Prince Butler
"A disappointing sequel to Oryx and Crake"
Atwood's strengths are her mesmerizing use of language, metaphor, and imagery. She is one of the greatest word people of our generation. Usually, her characters have amazing and interesting psychological depth that you can immerse yourself into. Her stories, while engaging, are secondary to her style. "Oryx and Crake", and "Handmaid's Tale", are examples of her best work. "Year of the Flood," is not. The plot wrapped up many of the loose ends in O&C, but Atwood's poetic artistry was missing from her writing style. O&C was literature; YotF was a plot, and not a great one at that. There was some poetry in the songs, but the campfire/folk music style was more annoying than enriching. If you are an Atwood fan, you should probably read it, so that you can say that you did. If you haven't read her, try one of her other books before judging her.
"good sleeping pill"
Oryx and Crake was a fabulous read and listen as was MaddAddam. I wasn't able to finish the book After The Flood but thought if I listened to it it may make a difference. Well that didn't work. Listening to this reminded me of watching cement set......very slow. There was nothing compelling about this book that made me want to listen. I could not not even finish it.
I love Margaret Atwood. I just didn't like this book.
Narration was decent; the narrator just didn't have good material to work with.
It was hard to make this experience worse but the hymns did the trick.
"Shadowplay off another story.."
I kept feeling like I was a block away from Oryx & Crake... It's been quite a while since I read that one and I kept getting the feeling that this story would be much deeper and more interesting if I remembered more of O&C. BIGtime. At least that story seemed to be going somewhere, this one kinda rambled a bit. The characters are kinda interesting but not terribly so. It just seemed like a shadow play off O&C. And the songs were terrible. IF they had been hummed or sung by the appropriate character (a more traditional approach), it would have fallen within the context of the story. As a fully realized musical production however.... it was very jarring and off-putting. I fast forwarded through every one after the first (which kind of defeats the author's intent). Anyway. Not terribly interesting but not horrible, just ok. I feel like I should re-read Oryx & Crake now (which I DID enjoy quite a LOT :)
this book serves as an unauthorized sequell to orxy and crake. some of the loose ends from orxy and crake are tied up with this book.
i found "the year of the flood" to be too coincidental at times. too many pieces that fit together too easily.......too many people who all happened to know each other in a previous time.
I did enjoy the story very much but I absolutely hated the singing parts. Luckily, the audio recording is cued well so you can just skip over them and not miss any dialouge
"Really Enjoyed it"
After reading and loving "Oryx And Crake", I was eagerly anticipating the release of "The Year Of The Flood". And happily, I was not disappointed. "The Year Of The Flood" is a companion book to "Oryx And Crake", meaning this story takes place during the same time as "Oryx And Crake". It's not a sequel. Through the stories of Ren and Toby, we learn more about what it was like to live in the pleeblands, outside of the Helthwyzer complex. We also learn about the Gardeners, a cult-like group that has unforeseen influence on the men instrumental to the catastrophe to come (Snowman and Crake).
Why did I rate this only four stars? Because I found the first few chapters very confusing. It took a while for me to figure out what was going on. If this happens to you, don't give up. The payoff is well worth the time and effort. I also found the first half of the book a bit slow. The characters were very interesting, though, and by the time I reached the halfway point, I could not put this audiobook down. I am not sure if Ms. Atwood is planning to write a sequel, but I would love to read it. I'd especially love to read more about Zeb and Adam One and their time at the Helthwyzer complex. Really enjoyed this one!
"Post-Apocalypse with Music"
Yes,the music for the songs is pretty cheesy, but taken in context, I think the bland catchiness is just perfect for the hymnal of God's Gardeners,and the lyrics are often quite funny. I enjoyed this listen very much, as I found the narrators quite good, and I was intrigued by Atwood's dystopia and it's details. Another reviewer found the ending "unresolved," but I found the open-endedness thought-provoking as the author gives us plenty of clues as to what might happen (nothing particularly happy or pretty, in my opinion). I have read a lot of speculative fiction of the dystopic/post-apocalyptic variety and I appreciated Atwood's humor.
"Great book - bad music."
Agree with the first review by Valerie. The music was awful.
I do not agree with the other reviews though this was a great story. I had a hard time putting it down.


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