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Drupal contributor statistics
I recently extracted some data from the Drupal project's CVS and Git logs to see how the number of code contributors and total contributions have changed over time. If there was any doubt of our continual growth, the resulting charts demolish it.
As can be seen from the graphs, there is a pretty big spike in commit activity post-Git migration.
Drupal 7 commit history
Acquia Hosting: an update after 8 months of Drupal hosting
Roughly 8 months ago at DrupalCon Paris, we launched Acquia Hosting. In this blog post, I wanted to give a quick update on where we are after 8 months.
Current status
For those who don't know, Acquia Hosting is a highly-available cloud-based hosting platform tuned for Drupal performance and scalability. From a technology point of view, we've built tools to automatically launch multi-server hosting environments optimized for Drupal. It is built on Amazon Web Services (i.e. Amazon EC2, Amazon S3, etc) using Open Source components such as Varnish, Puppet, GlusterFS, NginX and more. If you are interested in the technical details, I highly recommend watching Barry Jaspan's DrupalCon San Francisco presentation on the challenges of hosting Drupal on AWS -- I'm biased, but it is the best technical presentation that I've seen on hosting websites on Amazon Web Service (AWS). Highly recommended. The presentation is the result of 2.5 years of experience building products exclusively on Amazon Web Services and having to maintain close to 200 EC2 instances.
At Acquia, we're all very proud of what we've built. For example, we were recently able to have a new, enterprise-scale Acquia Hosting customer online only a few days after they first contacted us. It takes most hosting companies weeks or months to roll out, configure and tweak all the servers required to host a high-traffic traffic sites like this one. In just a few days, we scaled past the limits of their previous hosting provider and flawlessly served 3 million page views per hour (i.e. 830+ page views per second or 5000+ HTTP requests per second -- yes, Drupal scales). I hope the customer will allow us to write-up a detailed case study at some point. It is a real success story for Drupal, Acquia Hosting, Amazon Web Services and cloud computing in general: incredible time to market, great performance and scalability. We've come a long way since we started working on a Drupal hosting product about a year ago.
The way we started work on Acquia Hosting is the way we have continued: with a very strong focus on engineering. Our first area of focus was on reliability. The results of this were: providing multiple, redundant web nodes; real-time database replication; backups; monitoring infrastructure (we track 25+ system parameters); customer isolation, and so on. Next, we focused our efforts on improving Acquia Hosting's performance by adding tools like Varnish for page caching; customer isolation; reorganizing parts of our underlying architecture; lots of tweaking to Apache, PHP and MySQL; and repeated rounds of realistic load testing. Along the way, we developed deployment tools to make it easy to roll-out and automatically configure our customers' EC2 instances -- it takes just a matter of minutes to upgrade a site's capacity.
Considering our costs and other metrics eight months into the hosting business adventure, the real value of our hosting offering comes not from the technology alone, but rather from our support team's work while getting customers' sites online and helping them day in, day out. Once servers are provisioned for a new site, getting customers up-and-running involves detailed site audits (making sure they don't have core hacks, analyzing their site architecture, etc.), teaching them how the Acquia Hosting environment works, helping them learn to best leverage clusters of servers, doing load testing, and helping them get over performance bottlenecks (slow or excessive SQL queries, expensive uncached Views or blocks, etc.). At the end of the day, our team's deep knowledge of Drupal and our technology stack are the essence and ultimate value-proposition of our Drupal hosting offering.
Going forward, a top priority is to make the process of getting new customers online easier for us and better for them. Among other things, that means developing more "self-service"-style systems, improved customer dashboards and documentation, and streamlined, focused support operations to make sure our customers are getting their questions answered and their problems fixed in the shortest time possible so they can worry about their business and not their websites.
Free Acquia Hosting program
We also announced a free Acquia Hosting program. To help support the Drupal community, we give free Acquia Hosting to sites for non-profit groups that promote Drupal use and adoption. We're now hosting 25 community websites including Drupal Edu, SpreadDrupal, Drupal Dojo, Drupal Catalan, Design 4 Drupal Boston and more. There are about 50 more Drupal community sites in the backlog waiting to get setup with an Acquia Hosting account. Yet another reason to make it easier to get new users and customers up and running!
State of Drupal presentation (April 2010)
Two weeks ago at DrupalCon San Francisco I gave my traditional state of Drupal presentation. A total of 6000 people watched my keynote live; 3000 were present at DrupalCon, and another 3000 watched the live video stream. Nonetheless, a lot of people asked me for my slides. So in good tradition, you can download a copy of my slides (PDF, 48 MB) or you can watch a video recording of my keynote on archive.org.
State of Drupal presentation (September 2009)
Two weeks ago at DrupalCon Paris, I gave my traditional state of Drupal presentation. The video of the presentation is available from archive.org, and you can download a copy of my slides (PDF, 8 MB) as well.
I don't want to give away the spoiler, but essentially, the state of Drupal is strong. :) We should be really proud of what we have accomplished with Drupal 6, and what we're about to accomplish with Drupal 7. In the presentation, I also talk about what it means for Drupal to grow up, and what the next phase of our life will most likely look like.


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L'Univers de Chocolat Print: Car Accident
L'Univers de Chocolat and advertising agency Dentsu from Sao Paulo have made this incredibly humorous print advertisement entitled "Car Accident". The cartooned picture features a car, obviously after the accident. It is rolled over several times, we can see a shoe and parts of the vehicle tossed around. That would be sad if not funny. You know what has happened? The driver had whisky chocolates! Hilarious.

subset: commoncrawl


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1275 Jones Rd.
Hoffman Estates, IL 60169-0847
Hoffman Estates, IL 60169-0847
Tel: (847)490-0310
Grades: Nursery School-PK | 34 students
We believe that our team of teachers will make a difference in both your child's life as well as our community.
Our teachers are commited to making every day special for all the children that we have at our center. They have over 200 years of combined experience in the educational field. Many of our teachers hold advance degrees in Early Childhood Education, are CPR & First Aid certified and participate in monthly Early Education trainings. Through teamwork and dedication, we are able to make each day a stepping stone in your child's development into becoming a life-long learner.
School Overview
|School Type
|Early Childhood / Day Care
|Religious Affiliation
|Grades Offered
|Grades Nursery School-Prekindergarten
|Year Founded
Student Body
|Total Students
|34 students
|Student Body Type
|% Students of Color
State avg.: 31%
|Students by Grade
Academics and Faculty
|Total Classroom Teachers
|1 teachers
School Notes
- Welcome to the Jones Road KinderCare in Hoffman Estates! We
know that choosing an early learning program is an important step
in your childs educational journey , so were pleased and honored
that you've
considered us. Our team of experienced professionals will partner
with you and your child to ensure that we meet your every need, and
we'll strive to exceed your expectations. Our center is proud
to be a part of the Hoffman Estates community and we partner with
the local school districts to provide before and after school
transportation to ensure that your childs school day is seamless,
we know this also allows parents piece of mind. We look
forward for you and your family to come by and visit our facility,
come and take a look at the things that make us the right choice
for your child.
- At KinderCare, your child's safety is one of our top priorities. Each staff member is trained and certified in First Aid and CPR. The center is locked at all times and the front entrance requires a code to enter the building. All the playgrounds surrounding our center, have a secure fence. Monthly fire and disaster drills are conducted to ensure the safety of the children.
- Hours Of Operation: 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM, M-F
- Languages Spoken: Hindi, Spanish
- Accepts all different kinds of subsidy programs on Chicago Plan
Profile last updated: 03/14/2016
Nearby Private Schools
Show me:
- School Location Miles Grades Students
SchaumburgGrades: NS-K | 76 students
0.2 miles
930 W Higgins Rd
Schaumburg, IL 60195
Hoffman EstatesGrades: NS-K | 102 students
0.4 miles
1015 W Golf Road
Hoffman Estates, IL 60169
Hoffman EstatesGrades: PK-8 | 574 students
1 miles
255 Flagstaff Ln
Hoffman Estates, IL 60169
SchaumburgGrades: K | 16 students
1 miles
1725 W Golf Rd
Schaumburg, IL 60194
SchaumburgGrades: PK-1 | 124 students
1.1 miles
22 Kristin Drive
Schaumburg, IL 60195
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October 20, 2016
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Our NFL Power Rankings will be hitting the site in a few hours.
Around the NFC West: Oct. 9, 2012
The San Francisco 49ers made a strong case for the top spot by outscoring the New York Jets (34-0) and Buffalo Bills (45-3) by a combined 79-3 margin during an eight-day period. They dominated in all phases, most notably from the quarterback position and especially against the Bills.
NFC West teams have been winning largely with defense. The quarterback play Alex Smith has provided the 49ers at times this season -- at Green Bay and against Buffalo, for sure -- puts them on another plane.
Remember the interception rate (1.1 percent) Smith carried through last season, the one that was so low it could not possibly be sustainable? It has actually fallen to 0.7 percent through five games.
The 49ers' third-down conversion rate has climbed from 29.4 percent last season to 39.6 percent his season. Their red zone touchdown percentage has climbed from 40.7 percent to 64.7 percent.
Eleven regular-season games remain. These trends might not hold.
For now, though, the 49ers are playing as well as or better than any team in the NFL.


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A charter bus full of passengers hit a bridge on Soldier's Field Road Saturday night, Boston Fire officials said.
The Calvary Coach bus, which was headed eastbound, struck the Western Avenue bridge just after 7:30 p.m.
Boston firefighters said they needed to remove the roof of the bus to remove injured passengers.
Boston EMS says over 30 people suffered injuries. Several were trapped on the bus for over an hour.
There were 42 passengers on the bus, which a spokesman for the Boston Fire Department said was coming from Harvard University.
Massachusetts State Police said the bus was carrying passengers from Pennsylvania and was too high for the roadway.
Storrow Drive and Soldiers Field Road were shut down from Western Avenue to Charles Circle to allow emergency vehicles to get through
The bus a day later at an area tow yard.
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Madden NFL 09 News
Displaying 31–45 of 48 articles
'Madden' 20th Anniversary Interview Video
Watch the new interview with John Madden himself, as he talks about the reaching the 20th anniversary of the football franchise. He chronicles the growth cycle and process by which Madden has transformed from its early beginning to the NFL simulation it is today. Madden NFL 09 hits stores August 12th. What are your thoughts on how far the...
'Madden NFL 09' Direct-Feed Gameplay Exclusive Video
Madden NFL 09 from EA Sports releases next week on every platform possible, but why don't you check out what to expect from the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 version of the game in this direct-feed exclusive video. Make sure to check out the HD version! Click here for the version of the Madden NFL 09 Direct-Feed Gameplay Watch Larger...
'Madden 09' Gets Twisted
Rap stars get everything! Like, how the hell else would Chicago rapper get his hands on an advance copy of multi-platform Madden NFL 09? 'Cause he's a multi-platinum MC, that's how! Damn it must feel good to be a gangsta… Gonintendo.com: Rapper Twista is the first man to own Madden 09
NFL Hall-Of-Famer Sues Sony, EA
The great running back, NFL Hall-of-Famer Jim Brown gave Sony and Electronic Arts one hell-of-a pep rally. Yesterday, Brown sued both companies for using his image on the Madden NFL titles (specifically on 2001), apparently without his permission. With Madden NFL 2009 set to kick off this August 12, Brown said that the companies used his...
New 'Madden NFL 09' Celebration Trailer
EA Sports showcases the dynamic celebrations featured in the multi-plfatform football franchise Madden NFL 09. Now you can recreate the Lambeau Leap, river dance like Chad Johnson, or even mix-n-match from a collection of celebrations. The football behemoth of a franchise releases on August 12th, start rehearsing those dance moves for the...
New 'Madden NFL 09' Screens
Latest Madden NFL 09 screens for your visual intake. The EA Sports' football goliath hits stores August 12th for the PSP, PS2, PS3, Xbox, Xbox 360, DS and even a mobile version. They'd probably put it in a Magna-Doodle™ if they could. Click the image below for the Madden NFL 09 image gallery Read More?
Hands-On: 'Madden 09'
I got a chance to put my sweaty mitts all over EA Sports' flagship franchise, Madden NFL 09, and got a taste of what the 20th Anniversary version of the game is going to be like on its release in August. First off, the big man himself is back, as John Madden runs you through a training sequence to see what you're good at. There's rushing...
EA Unleashes E3 Schedule
The mighty, mighty Electronic Arts unleashed their E3 schedule this afternoon, and it is predictably fierce and impressive. Like a 290 lb Lineman in Madden 09, EA's games will crush your very bones. "EA's 2008 lineup is our best ever," said EA CEO John Riccitiello. "This is the year that our core franchises leap forward...
Sessler's Soapbox: Sessler Previews E3
E3 is coming up fast! All the biggest names in gaming will be showing off their big upcoming titles and, needless to say, this all has Adam as giddy as a school girl. In this week's Sessler's Soapbox, Adam wants to share his giddiness with you as well as let you in on the fact that our E3 coverage is going to have exclusive demos that no one...
Madden Players Cop To Game Addictions
Electronic Arts hosted a swinging soirée/press conference at New York's Touch nightclub last night to introduce Madden NFL 09 and celebrate the 20th year of the franchise. Wooo hoooo! Madden boxcover athletes Daunte Culpepper (2002), Marshall Faulk (2003), Ray Lewis (2005), Shaun Alexander (2007) and Vince Young (2008) were there...
E3 Preview: Hands On With EA Sports
G4 recently attended a event at EA where we were allowed some Hands On time with some of the most anticipated games EA would be announcing or showing off at E3. Some of them, we can't talk about yet. Others are free and clear and this is just one of several posts today, chronicling some the games we were able to demo at EA's E3 2008 preview....
'Madden NFL '09' Backtrack Trailer
Madden NFL '09 is on the horizon and it's going to bring some new features along for ride. One of them is Backtrack, which is shown off in this new trailer: Watch Larger Version of this Video
'Madden '09' Vs. 'Madden '08'
The big deal with Madden's football simulator every year is how it's going to differ from previous entries in the series. The below featurette takes a look at how Madden '09 compares with '08. Just like every year, '09 will be out on every platform you can think of by Christmas. Watch Larger Version of this Video
'Madden '09' PSP Package From Sony
Madden fans, if you have yet to get on the handheld gaming console train, then Sony has a deal for you. In conjunction with the release of Madden '09, Sony will offer a metallic blue PSP, as well as Madden NFL 09, the NFL: In Just One Play UMD Video, a PLAYSTATION Network voucher to download Beats from PLAYSTATION Store, and a 1GB Memory Stick...
No PC 'Madden '09' Coming
EA Sports' new top dog Peter Moore said in a recent interview that there will be no Madden 09 for the PC, due to piracy and the onrush of awesome plasma screen televisions, which is what the game is built to optimize. Kinda sad for non-console users, but Moore really wants to move sports onto the home computer sooner than later. It's a really...
X-Play Gaming Update 08.13.08
8,375 Views | 02:02 | 6 Comments
X-Play Gaming Update 08.12.08
1,183 Views | 02:13
Madden NFL 09 Release Trailer
2,818 Views | 02:07 | 1 Comment
Madden NFL 09 Review
31,607 Views | 03:09 | 56 Comments
All Access: Madden VIP Party
967 Views | 03:15 | 1 Comment
6 sacks with 1 player in a game
Complete a game without an INT
Complete game without fumbling
Hold a Rival to under 300 yards
Record 12 sacks in a game
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Harp Other Harps Around The World
A selection of articles related to harp other harps around the world.
Original articles from our library related to the Harp Other Harps Around The World. See Table of Contents for further available material (downloadable resources) on Harp Other Harps Around The World.
- The Aeonic Perspective of the Enochian Temples
- The initiatory system of the Enochian Temples divides the path of initiation into four major stages, distinguished primarily by the types and sources of the influences they are sensitive to. Briefly, these stages are: 1. Lunar-planetary, focused in Yesod and...
Magick >> Enochian
- Bringing it Down to Earth: A Fractal Approach
- 'Clouds are not spheres, mountains are not cones, coastlines are not circles, and bark is not smooth, nor does lightning travel in a straight line.' B. Mandelbrot W e want to think about the future - it's our nature. Unlike other creatures, humans possess an...
Mystic Sciences >> Astrology
- Manifesting World Enlightenment: Part 3
- One of the very best ways to raise personal or group consciousness, is to MANIFEST spiritual Intentions into the environment at large. The projection of love into one's surroundings for instance, results in love being reflected back to the sender, like...
Mind >> World Mind
- Mother Of The Gods And The Father Of The Gael
- There is no surviving, or as yet translated, Creation story within Irish mythology. We learn from the Lebor Gabala Erenn, a text from the Christian Middle Ages, of the Tuatha De Danann, or "People of the Goddess Danu", who came to Ireland either...
Deities & Heros >> Celtic, Welsh, Irish & Brittish
- What is hypnotic trance? Does it provide unusual physical or mental capacities?
- 2.1 'Trance;' descriptive or misleading? Most of the classical notions of hypnosis have long held that hypnosis was special in some way from other types of interpersonal communication and that an induction (preparatory process considered by some to be...
Parapsychology >> Hypnosis
- Select Cross-Cultural and Historical Personifications of Death
- This extensive introduction includes some of the more well known, along with some lesser known Death "incarnations", and I use that term loosely, as in many cultures, the Angel of Death can be quite an adept shapeshifter. We have tried to cull...
Mystic Sciences >> Necromantic Studies
Harp Other Harps Around The World is described in multiple online sources, as addition to our editors' articles, see section below for printable documents, Harp Other Harps Around The World books and related discussion.
Suggested News Resources
- Carson City Brewery Arts Center hosting harpists Lisa Lynne & Aryeh
- The show features Lisa Lynne and Aryeh Frankfurter, who play the Celtic harp, as well as the rare Swedish Nyckelharpa and assorted instruments from the mandolin, cittern and bouzouki family. The audience will hear traditional ...
- Camerata Pacifica Presents "The Aftermath of A Rowdy Night in Paris!"
- David Bruce's "The Consolation of Rain" is another Camerata Pacifica world premiere. Commissioned for the ensemble by Bob Klein and Lynne Cantlay. For oboe, cello, harp and percussion, this 5 movement work is a quiet reflection on loss, but imbued with ...
- Ray Chen With the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center, Reviewed
- The second is his triumphant post-exile comeback, an epic World War II-era patriotic piece designed in part to get back into the good graces of the government (along with his less subtle cantata Hail to Stalin). It worked, at least for ...
Great care has been taken to prepare the information on this page. Elements of the content come from factual and lexical knowledge databases, realmagick.com library and third-party sources. We appreciate your suggestions and comments on further improvements of the site.
Harp Other Harps Around The World Topics
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Welcome to the
VIP-escort-deluxe Model Club
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Escort Model-Escort Ruhr area
The Ruhr area is with its more than five million inhabitants and its many small and large cities, the largest contiguous area of settlement in Germany. In addition, the Ruhr area, such as the Ruhr is sometimes called, the most developed region in Europe. Since the ECOC, the megacity Ruhr area has gained international attention and many domestic and foreign members of our Super Deluxe Model Clubs drawn into its spell.
The creative mix of industrial culture, many natural areas with cycle paths, parks but also many forests and lakes, have contributed to the overall popularity of the Ruhr. With our graduates club members will find of course our very pretty and stylish Super Deluxe Escort Ruhr area Models very special appeal. Want to learn more about this remarkable and interesting megacity, learn with its many attractive options, then read on…
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Thanks for the answer. CEO thinks there is 100 mil ounce potential on site. I think Silver Wheaton would agree on that as well. From SLW's web site."Development decisions on three more targets within the District are expected during 2012, with a goal of identifying 100 million ounces of silver in this prospective District and ramping up to more than 7 million ounces of annual silver production within the next decade."Dilution is not being considered at all in my opinion. If the CEO was a serial diluter, he would not have done the SLW deal. They have the means to move forward without it.


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New Jersey's Top 10 sports stories of the year
Wednesday, December 19, 2012 5:44 PM
No. 2: Rutgers joins Big Ten
In the constantly changing state of college football conference expansion and realignment, Rutgers, after much anticipation, became a central figure when it accepted an offer to join the Big Ten on Nov. 20. AD Tim Pernetti and the Scarlet Knights patiently waited out the realignment game and arguably did better than any other realigning school as they got away from the sinking Big East to join the booming Big Ten, massive TV contract and all, possibly as early as 2014.
The majority of Rutgers fans were thrilled with the move, as many speculated that being in the Big Ten will help with recruiting, academics, and finances. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images).
Related articles
- New Jersey's Top 10 sports stories of 2012 December 26, 2012, 6:00 AM


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How did life evolve on Earth? The answer can help us understand our past and prepare for our future. This collection documents the overwhelming evidence in support of biological evolution, stresses the importance of biodiversity and ecosystem management, and evaluates the alternative perspectives offered by various kinds of creationism. These reports also focus on how science and religion can be viewed as different ways of understanding the world, rather than as frameworks that are in conflict with each other. For educators, students, teachers, community leaders, legislators, policy makers, and parents who seek to better understand all aspects of evolutionary science, this collection is an essential resource.
In 1996, The Institute of Medicine launched a concerted, ongoing effort focused on assessing and improving the nation's quality of health care. Since then, the Quality Chasm series has grown to 11 important books- crucial reading for policy makers, licensing officials, hospital administrators, medical educators and students, caregivers, health journalists, patient advocates, and patients themselves.
Recent events have proven that even prepared communities can be overwhelmed in a state of state of emergency. This collection of reports provides guidelines and targeted resources for all stakeholders in a disaster response, including state and local governments, emergency medical services and health care centers. These reports also examine the improvement of emergency services in rural communities and recommends post-disaster public engagement practices.
A quarter of deaths worldwide are caused by infectious organisms. As new infectious diseases are continuing to emerge in new locations around the globe, it is essential society understands the environmental, human health, and ecological impacts cause by infectious diseases. This collection provides an overview of infectious disease, including the biology, history, the future trends of widespread and harmful infections, and what we need to do individually, and as a society, to address this growing global challenge.


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We all know you can't really judge a book by it's cover, it's a narrow and often ineffective
He repeated the same answer over and over again; the number one factor that influenced his success was his choice of staff. The secret is to "hire really smart, really
I recently came across the most outrageous study while watching documentaries on Youtube; Scientists were trying to discover the human nature of kindness - by using hot sauce.
In the
Steve Jobs did the same; Every new iProduct launched was personally unveiled by him and in doing so, he became the face of Apple.
But shiny cars and
There's only one problem with this logic; it's wrong! Nobody actually wants to see what you've got... As Maya Angelou famously stated, "People don't remember what you said,
This is probably the most crucial point if you want to improve your presentation skills, which is why I've put it at number one! Pick a template and style that
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Debby Boone Remembers Rosemary Clooney in Reflections of Rosemary
* Additional fees apply. No coupon or promo codes necessary to enjoy the displayed discount price.
The last date listed for Debby Boone: Reflections of Rosemary was Saturday June 25, 2011 / 1:00pm.
Currently at Welk Resort Theatre San Diego
Neil Simon's Tony-Winning Musical Sweet Charity
- Full Price:
- $49
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- $38
Sweet Charity transports you to New York City for an amusing and bittersweet portrayal of dance club… More
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Featured review from Linda
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Great voice and presence. Staging elegant. Warm and personable performer
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Debbie is such a gracious and sweet lady with a fantastic voice. She not only spoke and sang about Rosemary, but also others from Rosemary's singing friends. It was such a great show.
star this review starred report as inappropriate
A little expensive for such a short show. I did enjoy all the personal information she gave out.
star this review starred report as inappropriate
I very much enjoyed the performance and there wasn't anything I was disappointed in - Debby's performance & orchestra were excellent; my seating was good - I was pleased to be so close to the front (hearing disability) and last person seated in my...continued
Quotes & Highlights
"Remarkably, as Boone, whose sunny vocal style is the antithesis of Clooney's distinctively duskier sound, navigates such varied touchstones as "Blue Skies," "Mood Indigo," "You're Gonna Hear from Me" and "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry," her phrasing becomes startlingly Clooney-esque, making this tender embrace a loving reflection both literally and spiritually." —JazzTimes
Check out the promo video on the Welk Resorts website.


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Termite Alate (Swarmer) Pictures...
As termite swarming season gets into full swing, we wanted to remind you of one of what the enemy looks like. The following are termite swarmer images from different places around the country. Termite Swarmers in San Diego, California (2011) Termite Swarmers in San Diego, California (2011) Termite Swarmers in Adairville, Kentucky (2012) Termite Swarmers in Orlando, Florida (2012) Termite Swarmers (May 2013) Termite Swarmers in New Orleans, Louisiana (May...
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Formosan Termite Swarms
The Formosan subterranean termite is an invasive, forign termite species. Compared to the native U.S. subterranean termite species they are more agressive, they forage in a wider area and they grow into much larger colonies of termites. While native termite colonies can grow to includes several hundred thousand members, mature Formosan termite colonies can surpass a million members. Swarmers Alates, commonly called termite swarmers, are wingged reproductive termites that leave the colony to start their own colonies. It's common to see termites swarming on moist, spring nights just before dusk. They are attracted to light, and on those perfect spring nights its common to see them swarming around lights, windows and on window seals. Due to their greater numbers, Formosan termite colonies can release a massive number of swarmers. While the alates tend to have a tiny chance of individual success, their shear numbers guarntee that new colonies will be started. Studying Termite Swarming To help study termites better, and to create semi-controlled enviroments, researchers and students will setup termite study areas. These areas are generally away some where the termites can be left alone without causing damage to peoples property. In these areas mock homes can be setup to moitor and track termites as they procede to demolish the wood. In one such study area, while going out to study the termite swarming season, researchers found an old section of wood that had been completely infested by Formosan termites. The termites had eaten into the wood and part of the colony was now living there. Closer inspection revealed that that secion of the colony included a high concentration of Formosan termite alates. They were able to relocate the wood to an enclosed environment, where they setup light traps to attract and trap the swarmers. Then they proceded to monitor the termites as their swarming began and ended. The main swarming happened during a 5 day period. Every day around dusk swarms of Formosan alates would emerge. The alates were collected and counted. In the 5 day period, an estimated 68,729 alates were collected (Su & Scheffrahn 1987). While this may have only represented a part of the total number of alates for the colony, the numbers are quite impresssive. Day 1: 10,371 Day 2: 23,997 Day 3: 26,500 Day 4: 4, 768 Day 5: 3, 363 After the 5th day of the main swarming, there were small sporadic swarms of just a couple hundred alates for another 6...
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Springtime Termite Swarming...
As we start sliding out of the winter months and the weather starts to get nicer, termites begin to become more active. They'll quietly work along, multiplying, and preparing the next generation of alates (young king and queen termites) to leave and start their own colony. The number of alates will build up in mature termite colonies, and when the weather is right, they'll burst from their colonies in large swarms of flying termites. The timing of termite swarming is a directly related to the weather. Termites have delicate bodies. They like warm temperatures. They don't like to be out in the open. And they avoid direct sunlight, since the heat will quickly kill them. So termite swarmers need 'ideal' conditions when they leave the nest and take flight. Ideal Termite Swarming Conditions So what are ideal conditions? Simple: a warm, moist day. A spring day after a rain storm creates the prefect environment for swarming. Typically, swarming will happen towards the early evening hours. Under these conditions, the moisture in the air after a rain storm helps the termites keep their bodies from drying out while they are out of the nest. Springtime Termite Swarming Season in the U.S. For most of the U.S. the termite swarming season runs from March, April and May. The following maps show the regions where termite swarming starts and surges throughout the United States. February – In warmer southern areas of the United States, termites can start swarming in early February. March – For most of the U.S., termite swarming season starts ramping up in March. April – By April termite swarming season is going full steam across the entire United States. April – Termite swarming season peaks about mid-April. May – Towards the end of May the swarming season starts coming to an end, as the hotter summer months start to roll around. June – By June termite swarming season slows down and is pretty much done. Data Source: "2012 Termite Swarm Alert Map." Terminix.com. 2012. Terminix International Company....
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How to Kill Drywood Termites...
Understanding how to kill termites depends on a few factors. Termites are common pests that can be found all over the United States. Some varieties of termites live underground and move back and forth in mud shelter tubes. Subterranean termites make up nearly 90% of the termites that plague the eastern region of the United States. Formosan termites are also subterranean termite that are common in the southern portions of the United States. Drywood termites occupy dried wood, and they can be located in Southern California and the Gulf Coast. Drywood termites require a different treatment strategy than subterranean and Formosan termites. The process used to solve a Drywood termite infestation consists of either a spot treatment and structural fumigation. Drywood Termite Spot Treatment How to treat termites will also revolve around whether the infestation confines to a concentrated space. A do-it-yourself, spot treatment is useful under this condition. A spot treatment system can be purchasable at a nearby home and garden retailer. Deciding how to kill termites in a more extensive infestation warrants a more potent maneuver to purge the affected area of the pests. The swarm is manageable with the use of sulfuryl fluoride, SO2F2, also called Vikane. Sulfuryl fluoride is a fireproof, non-corrosive biochemical compound that does not emit a bothersome odor. It is a controlled product, so it must be administered by a licensed fumigator. It infiltrates various hard, fibrous substances rapidly. It is essential ridding the structure of Drywood termites and a variety of pests. Drywood Termite Structural Fumigation The practice of fumigation with sulfuryl fluoride addresses any variety of a termite infestation. The setting to receive the chemical agent is first covered to contain the treatment to the affected area. Sulfuryl fluoride offers rapid, consistent diffusion of the pest-killing compound. The restricted use of sulfuryl fluoride limits to overrun furnishings, such as household effects, construction textiles, structures, decontamination compartments, and vehicles excluding aircraft and submarine watercrafts. Sulfuryl fluoride is practical for use with a waterproofed canvas or impenetrable structure. The treatment period can extend from 2-72 hours; however, the exposure to treatment requires on average 20-24 hours typically. It is contingent on the selection of fumigant employed, pricing, and the substantial time constraints involved. Sulfuryl fluoride is a poisonous gas that should not be exercised by an unqualified individual. Prolonged exposure because of inhalation may cause respiratory distress and possibly death. Sulfuryl fluoride is a powerful, wide-ranging fumigant because of its effectiveness in...
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How to Choose a Pest Control Company...
Once you suspect that you have a termite problem, or any pest problem for that matter, it is important to choose the right pest control company. When looking for an extermination company you can trust, it is important to know the right questions to ask and what to look for in a reliable business. Check that they are Licensed and Insured First: find out about the company's state licensing status. If they are not licensed you should pass on their services even if they are offering a better rate. Second: once you have seen the proof of licensing ask about their insurance coverage. You will want to make sure that their coverage will cover any mishaps or damages that might occur in the termite removal process. It's their insurance that is going to cover any damage they accidentally cause to your home, so be sure they have coverage. Check Reviews and Past Customers Now that you know that they are a legitimate pest control service, do some of your own research to find out the quality of their work. Finding out if they are a member of the Better Business Bureau and/or Chamber of Commerce will enable you to find out if any complaints have been filed against them. Another good way to check the quality of their work is to ask for customer referrals. However, be aware that when a company gives you a referral it is usually a customer that was satisfied with their work. Knowing this be prepared for raving reviews, but be sure to ask specifically if there were any negative aspects with dealing with that service. It may also be helpful to find out how that client felt about the way their questions were answered, if there were any contractual problems, and if they would use the service again. You will also want to ask if this service ended their termite problem. If not or if the pests returned find out how the pest control service handled it. Meet with Them in Person The next step is to find out if they fit your professional expectations. Do this by having the pest control company come to your home. The first thing to take note of will is if they arrived to your home on time or not. This is a good indicator of professionalism and respect for your time. Next, evaluate the representative by noting their appearance and attire. Also, make a point to look at the vehicle...
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Evaluating Different Termite Treatment Methods...
Termite treatment methods vary greatly in cost and effectiveness. Depending on the severity of your infestation you may chose to enlist the help of a professional pest control company, or you may try to take care of the problem yourself. Whichever treat method you choose, it is important to rid your home of the pests completely so there is no more damage done to the structural integrity of your home. Detecting the Problem The first step in the process of extermination is detecting a termite problem. There are a few warning signs of termites to look for such as sawdust or a mud like substance on the wooden surfaces of your home. Termite activity leave subtile signs, but an alert homeowner should be able to spot them when they start to appear. If you suspect a problem, a professional termite inspection by a reputable pest control service is the best way to effectively determine if you do in fact have a termite infestation and to what extent. Treating Wood with Borate Prevention is the best way to eliminate a future termite problem. Treat the structure of your home while it is still being built. You can have your building company use borate to treat the wood. This is a very effective way to prevent termites because the borate kill the protozoa in the termites digestive tract that enable it to turn wood into food. A borate treatment is not expensive and will save you money in the long run. Ground Stakes for Light Problems Ground stakes and baits are a good choice for a mild infestation. While it is more costly than the liquid treatment and can take months to complete, it is a safer choice since it does not release poison into your soil and around your home. A plastic stake with a wooden interior is placed in the ground near where a colony is suspected. When the stake are checked and show signs of termites, the wood is treated with a pesticide. This poison is a slow working one so that a single host can carry it back to the colony. While the termites are grooming and feeding the host will pass the poison along to the colony. Liquid Treatments and Chemical Barriers for Moderate Invasions The quickest way to treat a moderate infestation is to use a liquid treatment. This is ideal for the do it yourself exterminator. You can choose to use a compound made specifically to...
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Termite Swarming Season
Termite Swarmers Termite swarmers are termites that are designated to fly away from the colony and spread the colony to new places. These termites are only capable of spreading the colony and can not cause any damage to your home; it's their children, the worker termites that will eat and destroy the wood in your home. These reproductive termites have a small pair of wings that give them the ability to fly. However, these insects cannot fly very well and often use the wind to carry them long distances. The reason that they are not good flyers is because their two pairs of wings are both of equal length. Insects such as flying ants also have two pairs of wings but the anterior pair are longer than the posterior pair making them more aerodynamic. Flying Ants vs Flying Termites While speaking of these flying ants, many people confuse these insects with the swarmer termites. Here are four simple ways that you can tell these species apart: 1. Ants have bent antennas and termites have straight 2. Ants are sectioned into three body parts while swarming termites have only two body parts 3. The abdomen of an ant is very thin while that of a termite is thick 4. As mentioned earlier, the wings of an aunt are not equal length while the wings of a swarmer termite are. Where to Find Termite Swarms Now that you know how to identify these insects, I will now tell you where to look for them. If you find these insects on the outside of your home or on trees around your home you may not be in much trouble. Because these swarmers cannot fly very well, they are often blown by the wind onto the exterior of your house or onto neighboring trees and plants. If you find these bugs in these locations, generally you will have no problem. However, if you find a swarmer leaving from the structure of a window, door, porch columns, or any wood structure, then you should contact some pest service. Once inside these structures, swarmers have the ability to mate and begin reproducing working termites which will begin to cause damage to your home. Finding only a couple of swarmers inside your home may only be coincidence. However, if you begin seeing many, than more than likely this indicates that a colony has formed somewhere in or near your home. The quicker you take care of...
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What are Flying Termites?
Entomologists have estimated that flying insects may have come around nearly 300 million years ago. Flying insects are the only invertebrates that developed wings for flight. One of the 25 different categories of these flying insects is the winged termite, or Order Isoptera. Often confused with flying ants, termite swarmers are flying termites. Another name commonly associated with termite swarmers is "winged reproductives." These termites have one queen, one king, and secondary reproductives ranging in the hundreds in their colonies. Identifying Flying Termites Whereas flying ants will have three distinct body parts, and look literally like an ant with wings, termite swarmers will have the appearance of a head followed by two long wings, twice as long as the body, and distinctively larger at the base than up by the head. Moreover, the antennas on these insects are straight, not elbowed like the flying ant. Flying termites go through a gradual metamorphosis, from egg to nymph to adult. When a swarm of winged termites are together, they are just starting out as adult females and males. The normal swarming season for termites begins in early March when the temperature begins to increase. It is during this weather that termites begin their social season, and they can be seen in swarms. They will go off in pairs (this makes up the king and queen) to start their own colonies. Once they settle on a location, their wings will fall off, and they will begin reproducing. Flying Termites are a Sign of Local Termite Activity So, while flying termites outside a home, it doesn't necessarily mean they have infested as of yet. These winged termites are attracted to light, so a swarm may not mean anything more than their interest in the atmosphere. Only when there have been repeated swarms in the neighborhood over the course of a couple of years is there a high chance there are termite nests nearby. However, when the wings of a termite are found near a home, then there is a higher probability of their infestation. That being said, it will take years before any damage is actually done to the wood of the...
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What is PET?
PET, the organization, is a faith-based, volunteer driven, non-profit organization that manufactures and distributes PET the vehicle (Personal Energy Transportation) so that recipients may:"In the name of Jesus Christ, arise and walk." Acts 3:6
The PET unit is hand-cranked and grants mobility to people who are unable to walk due to various reasons such as disease and war. The PET is more durable and rugged than regular wheelchairs. They have large wide tires which can grip rough surfaces, making it easier to travel along the dirt paths or rocky terrains commonly found in third world countries. The handles work much like the pedals of a bicycle to provide the power needed for mobility.
The PET is meant to be used as a vehicle for personal mobility, allowing the person to become more independent. In fact, the back of the cart can carry goods and produce, or even allows a disabled parent to carry their small children as you can see here.
The following short video is an excerpt of a feature length story by Sarah Hill of KOMU of a PET distribution in Denang, Vietnam.


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I have a couple questions-
what's better fresh or frozen? Or is there even a difference?
And what veggies/fruit to you get the most food out of?
I have a couple questions-
what's better fresh or frozen? Or is there even a difference?
And what veggies/fruit to you get the most food out of?
ha, that's a confusing answer! If the vegetable/fruit is in season and from a store that has very fresh produce, then fresh. If not, then frozen. If you grow your own food, then always fresh, or if you shop at a local produce market etc. then fresh. I mixed it up with both of my children and used both depending.
Are you asking Volume, or Nutrients? For volume, sweet potatoes make a TON! They are also high in nutrients and recommended for a first food for babies. You can also start with avocado as a first food. With avocado, you don't cook it, so what you see is what you get. Highly nutritious and has a lot of healthy fats that babies need. Foods that do not make much volume are apples & pears. I found that the cheapest items to make were sweet potatoes, carrots and various squashes. They made a good amount and my kids liked them. I always advise to not make much to start with for each food because your baby may hate it. Olivia wouldn't eat green beans no matter what I did! She still wont' touch them!
Total guess, here, and I hope I don't offend, but with twins, if they were premature, be careful about food introduction because their bellies might not be as developed. Wait the full 4 days or more before introducing a new food, beware of any rashes, trouble with poop etc.
have fun!


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Posts tagged 'DMV'
A Textbook Government Solution
Problem: Long waits at the DMV
Solution: Triple the size of the waiting room
God forbid anyone would rethink an incredibly dysfunctional process.
I am Pretty Sure Bastiat Figured This Out 150 Years Ago: Cash For Clunkers Even Worse Than First Thought
In a National Bureau of Economic Research working paper this month, economists at Texas A&M return to Cash for Clunkers, the 2009 stimulus fillip that dispensed vouchers worth as much as $4,500 if people turned in their old cars for destruction and bought a new set of wheels. Mark Hoekstra, Steven Puller and Jeremy West report their "striking" finding that the $3 billion program's two-month run subtracted between $2.6 billion and $4 billion from the auto industry.
The irony is that the goals were to help Detroit through the recession by subsidizing sales and to please the green lobby by putting more fuel-efficient cars on the road. By pulling forward purchases that consumers would make later anyway, the Obama Administration also hoped to add to GDP. Christina Romer, then chair of the Council of Economic Advisers, called Cash for Clunkers "very nearly the best possible countercyclical fiscal policy in an economy suffering from temporarily low aggregate demand."
The A&M economists had the elegant idea of comparing the buying behavior of Texas drivers who owned cars that barely qualified for cash (those that got 18 miles per gallon of gas or less) and those that barely did not (19 mph). Using state DMV sales records, this counterfactual allowed them to isolate the effects of the Cash for Clunkers incentives and show what would have happened without the program.
The two groups were equally likely to purchase a new vehicle over the nine month period that started with Cash for Clunkers, so the subsidy did not create any extra auto business. But in order to meet the fuel efficiency mandate, consumers who got the subsidy were induced to purchase smaller vehicle models with less horsepower that cost on average $2,500 to $3,000 less than those bought by their ineligible peers. The clunkers bought more Corollas, and everybody else more Chevys.
Extrapolated nationally, auto revenues may have plunged by more than what the government spent. And any environmental benefits cannot be justified under the federal social cost of carbon estimate of $33 a ton. Prior research from 2009 and 2013 has shown that the program cost between $237 and $288 a carbon ton.
Police Officers and Patents of Nobility
I read this today in our local paper. It is written by a local police sergeant and is entitled "Safety tips: How to talk to an officer if you're pulled over"
First, be polite. No good will come of the situation if you are immediately argumentative or uncooperative. Tell your passengers to do the same. You may not agree with the reason for the stop or the outcome, but the side of the road is not the place to debate this. If issued a ticket, you will have your time in court to present your case to a judge or hearing officer....
Do not address the officer with any slang terms or comments. Treat the officer as you would like to be treated, with respect.
Being polite is a nice thing to do. But no one would write a "safety tip" article about being polite to your Starbuck's server. Everyone knows the above guidelines are good safety tips (though Chris Rock said it better), but no one mentions the real elephant in the room: That if you are not polite or not obeisant or somehow "disrespect" an officer, he may well arrest you on a trumped up charge or even physically abuse you. The stories of this are ubiquitous, and everyone has heard them. Essentially, the officer writing this is saying to the rest of us that "beware, some police officers are thin-skinned, short-tempered jerks and will abuse you if you do not kowtow to them like some Mandarin emperor."
I guess there is something to be said for the truth in advertising here. Next week I suppose the DMV will write an article on getting a drivers license that emphasizes bringing a book because their process is so slow and horrible that you are likely to be there all day.
More Arizona DMV Madness
My daughter is ready for her final (in-car) driving test to try to get her driver's license. But it turns out that the AZ DMV only gives driving tests before 3PM each day.
This is yet another policy designed for the pleasure of government workers (who want to get home nice and early) and not customer-citizens. Ask yourself: Who are 99% of the people who take the in-car driving test. Answer: 16-year-olds, also known as high school sophomores. And what are they doing up until 3PM weekdays? Why, they are going to school!
So I have to pull my daughter out of school to take the driving test. But it is worse than that, because we can't just show up at 2:30, missing perhaps her last class. The AZ DMV has this insane process that is essentially a series of chained queues. One waits in line for the receptionist, who gives the "customer" a number based on what task they want to complete (license, tags, etc). One then waits endlessly for this first number to come up, only to find that the person who calls you up can only complete half the task (at best), so you then have to wait in line for the next person to complete the next task, etc.
Well, reports from all the other parents tell us that if you show up two hours early (e.g. at 1PM), there is a very good chance you will not get the driving test. If all the prior queues one must work through cause one to show up at the driving test queue even at 3:01 -- Sorry! You have to come back another day and start all over.
This is obviously insane. The chained queue process is nuts. The fact that the one portion school age kids must complete ends before school is out is nuts. The fact that the person who performs the last step in the chained process goes home first is nuts.
Until last year, and with my previous kid, we did not have to do this. AZ had a very sensible law that allowed private licensed driving schools to give the driving test. You could still go through the DMV, but for a $100 or so one could get this done via a high service, no-queue, work-on-the-weekend private company. But of course our legislature ended this sensible service last year, ostensibly over concerns about quality, but likely because the DMV folks didn't like competition from outsiders who actually gave a sh*t about customer service.
Sequester Madness
If the Republicans are supposed to be the voice of fiscal responsibility in Washington, then we are doomed. They are absolutely as bad as Obama, running around in panic that the trivial cuts required by the sequester (not 8% this year or 5% or even 2% but 1% of Federal spending). I have never seen a private organization with a large administrative staff that could not take a 5% reduction and generally be better off for it. I absolutely guarantee that I could take 5% or more off the top of every agency's budget and you would never notice it.
This includes the military. In fact, this includes the military in particular. The military is never asked to prioritize. We still have armored divisions in Germany. It is always incredible to me that Republicans, who doubt that the government can ever manage or spend wisely, suddenly cast aside all these doubts when it comes to the military. I understand the honor that folks accord to front-line soldiers vs., say, DMV workers. But they are not the ones spending the money. I am tired of such honor for the troops being used to bait and switch me from a very reasonable focus on DOD spending and waste.
When it comes to the military, Republicans use the same "closing the Washington Monument" tactics that Democrats use for social programs, essentially claiming that a 5% (or 1%) spending cut will result in the cessation of whatever activity taxpayers most want to see continue. This process of offering up the most, rather than the least, important uses of money when spending cuts are proposed as a tactic to avoid spending cuts is one of the most corrupt practices imaginable. No corporate CEO would tolerate it of his managers for a micro-second.
About two years ago at Forbes I imagined a hypothetical budget discussion at a corporation that followed Congressional budgeting practices.
Insane Reverse-Privatization at the Arizona DMV
Arizona has always had a pretty intelligent rule that driving schools that have been certified by the state can actually give kids their written and driving tests. They get a certificate they take to the DMV where they then get issued the physical license. Kids who can't afford the school can certainly go into the DMV to take the tests, but since our DMV is swamped with insane waits, it is nice to have an alternative.
Until now. Apparently, for reasons that entirely escape me except perhaps to pander to state employees' unions, all kids must now take their tests, written and driving, at the DMV. So, the DMV's solution to insane waits is to... increase demand on their services. Awesome. Sounds eerily similar to Obamacare's solution to ER waits.
David Brooks Big Idea: Learning About Self-Reliant Productive Culture in the DMV
Apparently, the gap between the productive and hard-working and those with less productive habits is growing larger. David Brooks suggests that the productive be forced into a couple of years of government servitude. The idea, as I understand it, is for the productive to teach the less fortunate how to be more diligent and productive in the context of a shared experience in an unproductive government make-work program. Sort of like teaching your teenager good work habits by putting him in DMV internship.
Seriously, I suppose I understand how class-mixing at the point of a gun might expose the wealthy to classes and cultures they have never encountered. But how is working together in some service brigade with a post office-trained manager on a government paycheck going to teach the welfare-and-food-stamp set anything new about productive work and self-reliance?
Public vs. Private Privacy Threats
I am always fascinated by folks who fear private power but support continuing increases in public / government power. For me there is no contest - public power is far more threatening. This is not because I necesarily trust private corporations like Goldman Sachs or Exxon or Google more than I do public officials. Its because I have much more avenues of redress to escape the clutches of private companies and/or to enforce accountability on them. I trust the incentives faced by private actors and the accountability mechanisms in the marketplace far more than I trust those that apply to government.
Here is a good example. First, Kevin Drum laments the end of privacy because Google has proposed a more intrusive privacy policy. I am not particularly happy about the changes, but at the end of the day, I am comforted by two things. One: I can stop using Google services. Sure, I use them a lot now, but I don't have to. After all, I used to be a customer or user of AOL, Compuserve, the Source, Earthlink, and Netscape and managed to move on from those guys. Second: At the end of the day, the worst they are tying to do to me is sell me stuff. You mean, instead of being bombarded by irrelevant ads I will be bombarded by slightly more relevant ads? Short of attempts of outright fraud like identity theft, the legal uses of this data are limited.
Kevin Drum, who consistently has more faith in the state than in private actors, actually gets at the real problem in passing (my emphasis added)
And yet…I'm just not there yet. It's bad enough that Google can build up a massive and—if we're honest, slightly scary—profile of my activities, but it will be a lot worse when Google and Facebook and Procter & Gamble all get together to merge these profiles into a single uber-database and then sell it off for a fee to anyone with a product to hawk. Or any government agency that thinks this kind of information might be pretty handy.
The last part is key. Because the worst P&G will do is try to sell you some Charmin. The government, however, can throw you and jail and take all your property. Time and again I see people complaining about private power, but at its core their argument really depends on the power of the state to inspire fear. Michael Moore criticizes private enterprise in Capitalism: A Love Story, but most of his vignettes actually boil down to private individuals manipulating state power. In true free market capitalism, his negative examples couldn't occur. Crony capitalism isn't a problem of private enterprise, its a problem of the increasingly powerful state. Ditto with Google: Sure I don't like having my data get sold to marketers, and at some point I may leave Google over it. But the point is that I can leave Google .... try leaving your government-enforced monopoly utility provider. Or go find an alternative to the DMV.
A great example of this contrast comes to us from Hawaii:
There may be some trouble brewing in paradise, thanks to a seemingly draconian law currently under consideration in Hawaii's state legislature. If passed, H.B. 2288 would require all ISPs within the state to track and store information on their customers, including details on every website they visit, as well as their own names and addresses. The measure, introduced on Friday, also calls for this information to be recorded on each customer's digital file and stored for a full two years. Perhaps most troubling is the fact that the bill includes virtually no restrictions on how ISPs can use (read: "sell") this information, nor does it specify whether law enforcement authorities would need a court order to obtain a user's dossier from an ISP. And, because it applies to any firm that "provides access to the Internet," the law could conceivably be expanded to include not just service providers, but internet cafes, hotels or other businesses.
Americans fed up with Google's nosiness can simply switch email providers. But if they live in Hawaii, they will have no escape from the government's intrusiveness.
Kudos to the AZ DMV
No, that headline is correct -- some crazed hacker has not taken over Coyote Blog. Having been relentlessly critical of government organizations in general and the DMV in particular, I think fairness demands I post exculpatory evidence when I have it.
This morning we thought my son lost his driver's license (later found). Dreading the all day trip to the DMV to get it replaced (and no, nothing has changed my opinion that that experience sucks), we checked online for the procedure. It turns out that we could have applied for a new license over the Internet, and, best of all, if we got the application in by 3:00 today we could have had the license in our hands by noon tomorrow, on a Saturday no less, via express delivery. That's better than my credit card company does.
Yes, such service is a virtual necessity given how central the government has made the driver's license in so many routine activities (except voting of course, that would be racist!). But it is still a breath of fresh air to see any state institution match their service to such necessities. Now, if we could only get the passport process sorted out, but that one is just getting worse.
I Am Sure We Will Be Seeing These Civil Rights Suits Any Day Now
I try not to get into the voting rules arguments between Republicans and Democrats because at their heart, most of these are totally political. However, I am fascinated by the claim by Democrats that producing an ID to vote discriminates against blacks, presumably because obtaining such ID puts an undue asymmetric burden on African-Americans vs. whites.
This seems like a crock to me -- I am not sure why obtaining an ID is harder for blacks than whites, though I will observe that the highest profile black man in the country had trouble producing his birth certificate so maybe there is some racial thing here I don't understand.
But if we take the claim at face value, why aren't the TSA and airports being sued by the NAACP? After all, there is an ID entry requirement and if that is discriminatory for voting, isn't it also discriminatory for flying. Why isn't the DMV, or the highway department being sued of its ID requirement? Ditto the federal government, which required ID to enter a federal building.
Update: James Taranto has similar thoughts. He thought of several I missed, including requirements to show ID (part of the I-9 form) in order to get a job.
Public Employee Compensation Packages
I am with Megan McArdle in confirming that the non-pay portions of the typical public employee compensation package is at least as important, and as potentially expensive, as the money itself. In particular, two aspects of many public employee compensation packages would be intolerable in my service business:
- Inability to fire anyone in any reasonable amount of time
- Work rules and job classifications
From time to time I hire seemingly qualified people who are awful with customers. They yell at customers, or are surly and impatient with them, or ruin their camping stay with nit-picky nagging on minor campground rules issues. In my company, these people quickly become non-employees. In the public sector they become... 30 year DMV veterans. Only in a world of government monopoly services can bad performance or low productivity be tolerated, mainly because the customer has no other option. In my world, the customer has near-infinite other options. And don't even get me started on liability -- when liability laws have been restructured so that I am nearly infinitely liable for the actions of my least responsible employee, I have to be ruthless about culling bad performance.
The same is true of work rules. Forget productivity for a moment. Just in terms of customer service, every one of my employees has to be able to solve customer problems. I can't automatically assume customers will approach the firewood-seller employee for firewood. All my employees need to be able to sell firewood, or empty a trash can when it needs emptying, or clean a bathroom if the regular cleaner is sick, or whatever.
For those who really believe state workers in Wisconsin are underpaid, I would ask this question: Which of you business people out there would hire the average Wisconsin state worker for their current salary, benefits package, lifetime employment, work rules, grievance process, etc? If they are so underpaid, I would assume they would get snapped up, right? Sure.
Bonus advice to young people: Think long and hard before you take that government job right out of college. It may offer lifetime employment, but the flip side is that you may need it. Here is what I mean:
When people leave college, they generally don't have a very good idea how to work in an organization, how to work under authority, how to manage people, how to achieve goals in the context of an organization's goals, etc. You may think you understand these things from group projects at school or internships, but you don't. I certainly didn't.
The public and private sector have organizations that work very differently, with different kinds of goals and performance expectations. Decision-making processes are also very different, as are criteria for individual success within the organization. Attitudes about risk, an in particular the adherence to process vs. getting results, are entirely different.
I am trying hard to be as non-judgmental in these comparisons as I can for this particular post. I know good people in government service, and have hired a few good people out of government. But the culture and incentives they work within are foreign to those of us who work in the private world, and many of the things we might ascribe to bad people in government are really due to those bad incentives.
It is a fact you should understand that many private employers consider a prospective employee to have been "ruined" by years of government work, particularly in their formative years. This is simply a fact you will need to deal with (it could well be the reverse is true of government hiring, but I have no experience with it). That is why, for the question I asked above about hiring Wisconsin government workers, the answer for many employers would be "no" irregardless of pay.
Forced Invasions of Privacy
I was navigating around the Kentucky property tax forms site (one of the really tedious tasks for our company this year is to fill out zillions of personal property tax forms listing virtually every pencil we own in any number of counties and states).
While we run campgrounds, we do not run long-term trailer parks, but this requirement caught my eye as fairly onerous. Apparently trailer park owners must fill out this form and report on the detailed description, owner, and address of every trailer renting space on their land, so that the state can come after these folks easier for property taxes on their personal property.
For those who may shrug their shoulders, this is not materially different than the owner of an apartment complex reporting on all the large assets his tenants own, or walking through his parking lot taking down car descriptions and tag numbers so the DMV can make sure there are no violations by any of his tenants.
I don't like when the government forces me to be their busybody.
Single Best Reason To Live In Arizona
Well, maybe the second best reason... the first best is that it was 75F today. But the second best reason is that my son got his driver's license today, and it expires in the year 2059. I kid you not -- get your license at 16 and there are no more renewals until you are 65 years old. Have fun at the DMV.
Let's Make Sure To Put These Guys In Charge of Health Care
I suspect many of my readers also read Megan McArdle, but in case you missed her story, its pretty funny (as long as you are not the person experiencing it):
While consuming my one (1) beer, I was apprehended by agents of the
Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. They called my parents, fined me,
and made me attend a class on the horrors of underaged drinking (did
you realize that drinking can lead to uncontrollable vomiting?) It was
during that class, with the errors of my ways now readily apparent,
that I made a pledge to myself to quit underaged drinking with all due
speed. And on January 29th, 1994, I honored that pledge....
problem, you see, is that at the time of my conviction, I did not have
a Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Driver's License. Indeed, I had no
driver's license at all, being one of those benighted city people who
get their first driver's license at the age of 23. The laws of the
State of Pennsylvania, however, say that the Department of
Transportation is entitled to suspend the driver's license of anyone
arrested for underaged drinking. And the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Department of Transportation is, apparently, determined to exercise
this privilege. Thus, the spectacle of a 35 year old woman being
informed that she is about to have her driver's license suspended for
underaged drinking.
To add insult to injury, I am expected to
fill out a form and, at my own expense, mail it to the DOT in order to
commence this suspension.
This would be funny and mildly
annoying if it were not for the fact that until they clear the
suspension, I cannot get a DC driver's license, because states are
required to scan for violations from other states before they issue a
new license. (No word on how I got one out of the State of New York).
And until I get a DC driver's license, I cannot register the car I just
bought. The DMV here, after much wrangling, gave me temporary tags,
but it looks like I'm going to have to garage the thing for three
months unless the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania relents. Which, at this
time, they show no evidence of doing.
Just When You Thought the DMV Couldn't Get Any Worse
Arizona required emissions inspections of vehicles, but only for vehicles in the cities of Phoenix or Tucson. So, as you can imagine, they only have testing stations in Phoenix and Tucson.
Our company is headquartered in Phoenix. That is our legal address and the address on all our titles and registrations and licenses and such. Because all of our vehicle registrations show the company headquartered in Phoenix, then the state of Arizona treats all our trucks as being located in Phoenix. As a result, we are required to get emissions tests each year on about 20 vehicles.
But wait. None of our vehicles are actually in Phoenix. In fact, none have ever even crossed into this county. They are all in places like Flagstaff and Sedona and Payson that have no emissions requirements, and therefore, no testing locations. As a result, I am apparently required to, once a year, have all of our trucks driven to Phoenix for an emissions test that they are not actually required to have based on where they operate. In additions to the cost of the test itself, and any repairs mandated by the test, it costs us 400 miles x $0.55 per mile gas and depreciation plus 8 hours x $12 hour labor for the driver or $316 per vehicle to get them to the test site and back. A sort of annual pilgrimage to worship at the alter of mindless bureaucracy.
Recognize that none of this was obvious to me at 8AM this morning. I spent my entire morning not worrying about my 500 employees and not improving productivity and not pursuing some projects we are considering for expanded customer services, but trying to figure this situation out. All because some state legislators didn't realize that maybe corporate vehicle fleets are not necessarily registered in the location in which they are used.
I still think there must be a legal way to show my vehicle domiciled at one physical address but have the mailing address be my corporate office in Phoenix. But if there is, I have not found anyone who will admit it.
Due Process? Not When There Is Money in it for US
One of the worst violations of due process on the books today is law enforcement's ability to seize cash and assets from people only suspected to be drug dealers, with no due process whatsoever. In fact, the only process involved is that, once seized, the private citizen from which the assets were taken must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the money or assets are legitimately theirs, rather than the other way around. This was a great case in point.
Along the same lines, the city of Washington DC has decided that all that due process stuff is getting in the way of their harvesting the maximum amount of cash from drivers:
In an attempt to stem the loss of revenue from motorists contesting
parking tickets, cities are effectively eliminating the traditional due
process rights of motorists to defend themselves at an impartial
hearing. By the end of next year, Washington, DC's Department of Motor
Vehicles (DMV) will not allow anyone who believes he unfairly received
a citation to have his day in an administrative hearing.
will complete the phase-out of in-person adjudication of parking
tickets in favor of mail-in and e-mail adjudication by December 2008,"
the Fiscal Year 2008 DMV plan states.
The move is intended to allow automated street sweeper parking ticket machines
to boost the number of infractions cited well beyond the 1.6 million
currently handed out by meter maids. As one-third of those who contest
citations in the city are successful, the hearings cut significantly into the $100 million in revenue tickets generate each year.
the DMV's plan, motorists will only be able to object to a ticket by
email or letter where city employees can ignore or reject letters in
bulk without affected motorists having any realistic recourse.
Thanks to Radley Balko, who also found this little gem:
In Boston and other cities in Massachusetts,
motorists cannot challenge a $100 parking ticket in court without first
paying a $275 court fee. If found innocent, the motorist does not
receive a refund of the $275.
Getting the Government's Permission to do Business
As I mentioned in an earlier post, we recently won the concession for Elk Creek Marina on Blue Mesa Lake, Colorado. For the last week, I have been scrambling to take the steps necessary to take over this business without disrupting service to customers. There are a lot of things to do from a customer service standpoint to get the business up and running, but there is a staggering list of permissions and licenses we need from the state of Colorado and other government bodies to be able to conduct this business, particularly since this is our first entry into Colorado. Here is what we know we need so far, though I caution that this list continues to grow at the rate of 2-3 more items a day as we learn more:
- Our corporation must register with the Colorado Secretary of State as a "foreign" corporation, foreign in this case meaning that we are registered in another state.
- To register as a foreign corporation, we need to hire a person to be a "registered agent" to be a contact with the state. The only real purpose of this person I have ever found is to provide an avenue for mail to get lost
- We have to register to pay Colorado unemployment insurance tax
- We have to register to withhold Colorado income taxes from our employees
- We have to register to pay state corporate income taxes and franchise taxes
- We have to register to collect sales taxes
- I think we have to get a special license for collecting electricity taxes, since we sell power to boats at some of the docks
- We need to go through an extensive application process to transfer three current liquor licenses into our name. I wrote about liquor license hassles here.
- The person on the phone today told me a corporation in Colorado cannot own more than two liquor licenses. If this is true, we will have to form a second company in Colorado, repeating all the tasks above plus the initial work just to form the company
- I need to fly to Colorado to get fingerprinted for my FBI background check that is needed for the license. This despite the fact that I have been fingerprinted and background-checked for liquor licenses in several other states.
- Since the company will hire out fishing guides from the marina, the company has to have a Colorado outfitter license, which includes a 13 page application and very detailed regulations and required contract terms I must use to provide the life-and-death service of helping people find fish.
- The outfitter license requires that I post a bond, which in turn requires I submit detailed financial and background information to get the bond approved
- Our managers need to attend food handlers training in Colorado. Of course, they have attended the exact same course in California, but Colorado wants them to sit through it again within their state's borders
- We need to fill out a pretty elaborate application to sell Colorado fishing licenses, and may need to post another bond to do so. (Update: Confirmed, we need a $4000 bond).
- We will likely need an occupancy license from the county
- We will need a health department inspection and license for the two retail stores, since they sell packaged foods, and a more detailed inspection for the restaurant
- We will need a fire inspection of the restaurant
- We will need Coast Guard inspection and certificate for the docks
- We will need to change the registration of all 45 boats that are kept at the marina for boat rentals (imagine standing at the DMV to register 45 cars).
- We will need Coast Guard inspection of all the boats
75 days until we open. Eeek.


text:
Libraries to present 'Wild World of Animals'
Wild World of Animals will be presented at the Moundsville-Marshall County Public Library on Tuesday, July 1 at 11 a.m. and at the Benwood-McMechen Public Library at 1:30 p.m. the same day.
Live wild animals, from small to large, will be present, including "exotic" animals that aren't native to this area.
Wild World of Animals specializes in entertaining and educational wildlife shows. The company has over twenty years' experience working with wild animals in front of the public. They have appeared on national and local television shows including "David Letterman," "Good Morning America" and "Pittsburgh Today."
Call the Moundsville Library at 304-845-6911 and the Benwood-McMechen Library at 304-232-9720. These events are sponsored by the Evan G. Roberts Trust through BB&T Bank. They are free and open to the public.


text:
Dolores Stockwell
Dolores Stockwell, age 88, of Salem, died at 5:45 p.m. on Tuesday, December 31, 2013 at the Hospice House in Poland, Ohio. She was born March 16, 1925 in Salem, Ohio, a daughter of the late John I. and Mercedes (Snyder) Shepard.
Dolores was an L.P.N. at the Salem Community Hospital and Salem Central Clinic for 47 years, retiring in 1990. She was a 1943 graduate of Greenford High School and Baptist by faith.
Survivors include a daughter, Marilyn Carlisle of Salem; a son, David (Debra) Stockwell of Sylvania, Ohio; a sister, Violet Sanders of Venice, FL; two brothers, Jack Shepard and Don Shepard both of Salem; 2 grandchildren, John Carlisle and Jennifer (William) Walker; and two great-grandchildren, Nicole and Megan Walker.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Alfred Stockwell in 1994; three sisters, Carolyn Dusenberry, Phyllis Snyder and infant Shirley Shepard; three brothers, Dallas, Dean and infant Donald Shepard.
Services will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, January 4, 2014 at the Stark Memorial Funeral Home. Calling hours will be held on Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. at the funeral home prior to the services. Interment will be at Hope Cemetery in Salem.
Dolores' obituary may be viewed and condolences sent online at www.


text:
Maggie Nichols / Caroline Kraabel / Charlotte Hug: Transitions
This recording session was only the third occasion that the trio played together, coming just a month after their live debut at last year's Freedom of the City festival. Given this, they are remarkably sympathetic and coherent, the equal of far longer established groupings. Each of the three, in their own way, has a certain theatricality about them. Kraabel performs solo mixed-media performance art pieces, as well as leading Mass Producers, a twenty-strong female saxophone group (not eligible as the answer to the quiz ). Hug has explored performance in unusual spaces such as dungeons and underground Roman Baths. Nichols' use of snatches of familiar melody and coherent phrases has long delighted audiences. Although this CD was recorded in Conway Hall (venue of Freedom of the City) there was no audience present, so the listener here is not missing out on the interaction between performers and audience (often a frustration with recordings of live events). Nonetheless, this is music of such drama that it cries out to be performed live; to listen to a recording is fine but it does have an incomplete feeling to it.
Track Listing: Undercurrents (for Paddy Ben Pan); Lullaby for Clement; Broken Bridges; No Now; Hymn Indoors; Coming Out; Up to Earth.
Personnel: Maggie Nichols, voice; Caroline Kraabel, alto saxophone, voice; Charlotte Hug, viola.
About Maggie Nichols
CD/LP/Track Review
- Transitions by John Eyles


text:
Precimax Men's Stark Automatic Watch
- Catalog #: 1681898131
- Automatic Movement
- Case diameter: 44mm
- Sapphimax Crystal
- Stainless Steel case with Stainless-Steel band
- Water-resistant to 100 Meters / 330 Feet / 10 ATM
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- Display
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- 100 Meters / 330 Feet / 10 ATM Water-resistant
- Case
- Round Shaped Stainless Steel
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- 44mm Wide (without crown)
- 14mm Thick
- Band
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- 26mm Wide
- Mens Standard Length
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- Manufacturer
- Precimax Brand
- Stark Automatic Collection
- Precimax model PX13219
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- Unique Product Number: 1681898131
- Precimax Men's Stark Automatic PX13219 Black Stainless-Steel Automatic Watch