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A Christmas Carol is a novella by English author Charles Dickens first published by Chapman and Hall and first released on 19 December 1843. The story tells of sour and stingy Ebenezer Scrooge's ideological, ethical, and emotional transformation after the supernatural visitations of Jacob Marley and the Ghosts of Christmases Past, Present, and Yet to Come. The novella met with instant success and critical acclaim. The book was written and published at a time when Britain was experiencing a nostalgic interest in its forgotten Christmas traditions, and at the time when new customs such as the Christmas tree and greeting cards were being introduced. Dickens' sources for the tale appear to be many and varied but are principally the humiliating experiences of his childhood, his sympathy for the poor, and the Christmas stories of Washington Irving. The tale was pirated immediately, was adapted several times to the stage, and has been credited with restoring the holiday to one of merriment and festivity in Britain and America after a period of sobriety and somberness. A Christmas Carol remains popular, has never been out of print, and has been adapted to film, opera, and other media.
©2011 eChristian, Inc. (P)2011 eChristian, Inc.
There are no listener reviews for this title yet.
"One of the best"
There are so many wonderful recordings of this wonderful book - how could you possibly pick one over another? Simon Vance is one of the most reliable narrators in the business, and he delivers the goods here as well. His voices form a miniature orchestra, taking us through the story with speed and clarity. I often pick up details in one of Vance's narrations that I missed in reading the book or listening to other readers. Here it was an emphasis on the smells of London that I hadn't noticed before; and my mouth watered at the descriptions of the food. I loved it.
"Entertaining And Most Enjoyable!"
I'm so glad I chose this version of "A Christmas Carol" to listen to over the holidays. Simon Vance does an impressive job of making each of the characters distinct and easy to recognize, without overly dramatizing the reading. Even though I've previously read the story, and we've all seen countless film versions, I found this unabridged reading to be quite satisfying and entertaining to listen to! I know it's one I'll listen to over and over again…at any time of year.
"The Best "A Christmas Carol" Out There"
Tragedy, Warmth, Redemption
But of COURSE it's Scrooge! Who else has a lonely boyhood, chooses the security that he thinks only wealth can provide, passes up on love, and seeks a closeness to humanity, damn the costs, at the end?!? Dickens really came up with a character we can all revile, relate to, and hope to become by the journey's end.
Simon Vance is why, in my opinion, this is the best "A Christmas Carol" you'll find. He brings warmth, sensitivity, excellent characterization skills, and a sense of pacing and drama to his narration of this classic. Some male narrators have difficulty with female voices, but Little Fan and Belle are safe in his hands. This is a smooth and heartfelt performance all around, truly a delight to the ears!
Now, now Audible! Everyone knows the story! Don't make us feel like we're undergoing a pop quiz...!
"A Christmas Carol" has always been a part of my Christmas season, and I thought I'd found a good one with Tim Curry's "Signature Performance." Alas, his version was over the top, and he made Little Fan, who's so much a part of Scrooge's history and emotional development, laughable. Simon Vance is perfection here. This is a virtuoso performance of a well-loved classic. I'll listen to it every year. With pleasure!
"The perfect narrator brings out Dickens' best"
Simon Vance is my favorite narrator ever, and he managed to bring out all of the drama and even horror of this Victorian classic without the old-fashioned melodrama that often makes a modern reader squirm.
"Great narration of great literature."
I already gave this audio book to my sister as a gift. Why? It was Christmas! And she was, like me, an English major, and is, like me, a Simon Vance fan.
When Scrooge wakes up and realizes that only a night has passed, and it is Christmas Day, and he is re-born.
He is the best narrator that I have ever heard. He reads books better out loud than I can hear them in my mind when I read them.
When the spirit throws back at Scrooge his words about 'decreasing the surplus population'. I frequently read comments on places like Huffpost and Yahoo by people who believe in the 'population explosion' and population control and who think we have too many children and that more should not be born and many of those living should die. They do not even know that heartless, ignorant people were saying the same things 150 years ago when the world's population was a small fraction of today's.
Any person who thinks they know the real story of Ebenezer Scrooge because they have seen one or more of the many cinematic versions should, nay MUST!, hear the real story of Scrooge as read in this audio book.
Report Inappropriate Content
If you find this review inappropriate and think it should be removed from our site, let us know. This report will be reviewed by Audible and we will take appropriate action.


text: With all due respect, every reasonable NBA follower knows that LeBron will a) resign with the Heat or b) return to Cleveland, with the odds of approximately 20% for the latter. IMO it's also way too early to say who we'll be after during the 2015 free agency. I'd say if both Melo and Chandler resign, we should be looking for a star point guard and Rondo is the very first player that comes to mind.

subset: commoncrawl


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Assignment: Education - Grimm Visits Sparta High School
2012 American Idol Contestant Reed Grimm Works with Sparta Jazz Ensemble
Vocal music teacher Janette Hanson loves working with the Sparta High School women's jazz ensemble.
"These are kind of the king-of-the-hill here at Sparta when it comes to music," said Hanson. "And they've worked their tails off. And they've auditioned to be in this group. They really have some great musical skills."
And these five young ladies are getting a rare opportunity to work with someone who may have a familiar face.
"Everybody Welcome Reed Grimm," said Hanson.
You may remember, Wisconsin native and former UW-La Crosse student Reed Grimm from the reality show American Idol last season. The high school students did.
"I'm star struck," said Halla Ortery, Sparta jazz ensemble member.
"I thought it was insane," said Brooke Granahan,Sparta jazz ensemble member.
Reed was a former student of Janette Hanson's while she was faculty at UW-L about eight years ago. He came to Sparta High School to work with some of her students on stage presence.
"A lot of times kids in school are shy and they're reserved," said Grimm, singer/songwriter. "And when we're doing music we want to be as free as possible. And just breathe and be alive."
"Reed's going to be able to infuse some of that energy into their performance," said Hanson. "A lot of that has to be visually right here. They don't have to do a lot of gesturing, a lot of movement, but right here they have to be able to draw the audience in and he's the man at that."
"You want to set up a certain energy, a certain atmosphere and you have to bring that to this room," said Grimm.
Reed worked with the students on visualizing and portraying the emotions of the music.
"It's like setting the scene so to speak," said Granahan. "If you can picture New Orleans, like he had said, then you can picture being there. You can feel the vibe of the music that origianlly came from there."
"As an artist, you want to create something," said Grimm. "So, you have to know what you're creating. As many pieces of the puzzle that you can put together. You know just to get that vision as concerete as possible."
And in just one short hour with Reed, the students no longer looked bound by the chords of their music.
"You have to prove or preceive that you're confident even if you're not confident," said Ortery. "So, the stage presence is probably the biggest part of it."
"Everybody kind of came out of their shell, and it really clicked with him today," said Granahan. "It was awesome."
Copyright 2013 by WKBT News8000. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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By Jennifer Lipman, November 3, 2010
William Hague is in Israel on an official government visit. The foreign secretary had a meeting with his Israeli counterpart Avigdor Liberman, after which he signed a film deal between the two countries.
Mr Hague also visited the parents of the kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, and called for his immediate and unconditional release.
Photos: Mati Milstein / British Embassy
Last updated: 11:06am, November 4 2010


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Worlds Apart
Mark Teixeira at work today:
I know, I know… things could always be worse:
Go ahead. Don't be shy. Click on the picture to get a better view. Trust me, you'll feel better about yourself if you do.
Hate me 'cuz my pants are down, hate me 'cuz I whine about Tex's big paycheck, but don't hate me 'cuz I'm right.
8 Comments
What's with the Visa/Mastercard/Amex symbols atop the computer? Are you selling Snuggies, Sham-Wows and Kevin Trudeau's Mega-Memory and Debt Cures? Cold calling for Bernie Madoff?
Great – now we have to PAY to visit your site! Can I get a frequent visitor discount? And I was wondering – is that you or Allen hanging from the ski lift?
No, Prince, Trudeau has nothin' on me. We sell Asian antiquities: Zhou Dynasty ancient ritual bronzes, Song lacquerare, Yuan era scholar's objects, etc. — Madoff was a client. Not anymore, obviously.
Julia — That is definitely Allen.
Forget the dude with his pants down I love the person in the yellow jacket, "uh yeah my buddy uh yeah he uh fell and is hanging from his pants….I uh told him not to take the schnapps up the lift with him, but uh hey hey you're not taking pictures are you. Are you ski patrol or something.." and the person still on the lift "Dude I grabbed the schnapps just in time man, whew that was close…dude?"
Two, Jane. I wear one on each pinky. They have stories…
Real men always where pinky rings don't they Jeff Like Father Like Son as the old saying goes Tell them some of the other habits u picked up from us bald headed, tatooed, ear ring wearing old farts.
I love how I've known you my whole life and still don't know what in the world you're saying most of the time, Baba.


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May 2, 2011 —
On Sunday, May 1, 2011, the New York State Police at Middletown announced the arrest of Walter W. Hinds Jr., 37, at the Alexander Motel, 139 Berme Road, Port Jervis, NY, for rape 1st degree, a Felony and Kidnapping 2nd Degree, a Class B Felony.
On that day, the New York State Police received a phone call from the Ellenville Regional Hospital regarding a sexual assault.
The investigation revealed that the sexual assault occurred at the Alexander Motel in the Town of Deerpark. Hinds met his victim, a 41-year-old female, at the T West Bar located at 130 Canal Street in Ellenville at approximately 11:00 PM on April 30.
He then brought her back to his room at the Alexander Motel, bound her wrists and ankles and sexually assaulted her. Hinds was processed at State Police headquarters in Middletown and was arraigned in the Town of Deerpark Court.
He was remanded to Orange County Jail, with bail set $100,000.
The Orange County District Attorney's Office and the Ulster County Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners, assisted with the investigation.
Anyone with additional information is asked to call the New York State Police at Middletown, (845) 344-5300.


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November 8, 2013 —
The old-timers in Sullivan County say that the county died as a tourist destination because of the three "A"s: airplanes, automobiles and air conditioning. Now, Governor Andrew Cuomo and many local leaders are betting that a casino or two can breathe new life into the tourism sector of the Catskills and beyond.
On election day, voters state-wide easily approved Proposition One, the ballot measure that will allow for the creation of up to seven casinos in the state, with one or two in Sullivan County and perhaps one in Ulster County. The statewide vote was 1,496,781 in favor and 1,123,939 against.
In Sullivan County the vote was much more lopsided, with 13,729 or 76.41% of voters in favor and 4,238 or 23.59%, opposed, which means it passed locally with a better than three-to-one margin.
Cuomo, who judging by his remarks the day after the election clearly saw this as an historical event, chose to mark the occasion with a surprise visit to Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, which drew many of the local elected officials and business leaders.
Among the speakers at the gathering was Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther, who has been working on getting a casino in Sullivan County for many years.
After lavishing praise on the Governor, she said, "It's the beginning of a new chapter for upstate, New York. We are on our way to creating tens of thousands of well-paying jobs across the state and securing millions of dollars of revenue for our schools and our local governments."
The theme of Cuomo's remarks was that a casino in Sullivan County is something that could have and should have been done long ago.
He said, "This is a huge, huge win for the state of New York and especially the Catskills and the Hudson Valley. It will fundamentally change the trajectory of the Catskills. It means economic activity, it means jobs, it means business, it means getting the economy running. We project ten thousand jobs, we believe this means hundreds of millions of dollars coming in."
He continued, "It means we finally have a magnet to attract the tourists from downstate in New York City. You have 50 million tourists coming into New York City every year, just get them to come north. Just put up an attraction that gets them to come north."
He said the conversation about reviving tourism in the Catskills has been going on for decades. "We just need something to be an engine to turn that switch again, and it is casinos. It was talked about it for decades and nothing happened." He said other states moved ahead of New York, "and we saw our future passing us by. And why didn't we do anything? It's hard, it's complicated, it's risky, it's scary.
"Casinos are prohibited by the state constitution, technically," the Governor said, "So what did we do? We came up with something called racinos. What is a racino? It's a casino with an 'r'.
We have Native American casinos, we signed compacts with the Indians and the compacts were complicated, and they fell apart, and the Indians never paid. There's about a billion dollars in revenue that the Indians never paid because they said the state was in violation of the compact.
"And meanwhile taxes kept going up, young people were moving out, the economy is slow, the other states were moving forward. New York was stuck in the mire.
"Yes, it's risky to try, but getting out of bed in the morning is a risk, getting in a car is a risk, everything is a risk, the alternative is to do nothing. If you do nothing, for sure you will lose."


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I have another wrench in my bottle weaning plans. I just got back from 2 weeks off work and I wasn't pumping at all. My son was very not interested in nursing either except first thing in the morning and before naps and bedtime, so only 3-4 times per day. I was only able to pump 3 ounces total today. Considering i was pumping 10-12 ounces before break, this is a huge hit. I was planning on using my freezer supply to aid with the bottle weaning but not to this extent.
We have been sending breast milk in a sippy along with 2 bottles. Maybe it is time to cut down to one bottle and a sippy.
We have also been trying to get him to drink some cows milk, too, but his is not very interested only taking a few sips then done. The pediatrician we saw last time suggested mixing some breast in for a while to get him used to the new flavor. I don't know if this is a good idea because I am afraid of wasting my pumped milk.
BTW, he started drinking from a soft mouth sippy completely on his own on his first birthday. Yay! (previously we had to hold it up and he would grab it). And yesterday he was drinking water like a champ from his straw cup. Double yay!


text:
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Kuta, Indonesia Attractions
Elephant Safari Park of Desa Taro
Rescued from deforestation in central and southern Sumatra, the elephants in the Safari Park of Deso Taro offers visitors a unique opportunity to get up close and personal with these peaceful giants. Visitors can enjoy sightseeing expeditions on the back of one of these gentle pachyderms through Taro's jungles.
The facilities at Elephant Safari Park include a reception center with graphic displays of elephant history and physiology, a gift shop, snack bar, and a restaurant and bar with views over the lake and park. A museum in the Park includes 1,000 exhibits, including a 15,000 year old mammoth skeleton.
view all city hotels view all hotels on the map


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#210634 - 04/25/13 09:41 PM Re: Unfair handicap III [Re: A C Bowden]
Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 06/23/06
Posts: 5295
Loc: Netherlands, the Hague
Yes, I'm slightly overworked and a full year older so I overlooked the duel
But at home 't was a different duel
Where the ladies became downright cruel
Fierce tirades that stuck
Left the athletes dumbstruck
And it drained them of all of their fuel
#210655 - 04/28/13 02:48 AM Bring on the grub! [Re: BranShea]
old hand
Registered: 05/10/10
Posts: 954
Loc: Alaska
The buffet looked enticingly lavish,
Which I planned rather quickly to ravish.
The main dish, which looked marvie,
Turned out to be larvae,
So I gagged, and decided to have fish!
#210659 - 04/28/13 02:37 PM Re: Brave resistance [Re: Tromboniator]
old hand
Registered: 10/22/10
Posts: 753
Loc: London, UK
At Thermopylae, doubters were thinking
That the Greeks' battle fortunes were sinking.
But by their exertions
They held off the Persians
For two entire days without blinking.
#210665 - 04/29/13 09:27 AM Re: Brave resistance [Re: wofahulicodoc]
Registered: 02/22/10
Posts: 655
Loc: Florida, USA
When tasked as the day's hallway monitor,
Little Willie might say, "I'll get on it," or
Since it was Monday
(Which isn't a fun day)
He might reply, "Heck, no! Gosh darn it, Sir!"
"I don't know which is worse: ignorance or apathy. And, frankly, I don't care." - Anonymous
#210667 - 04/29/13 12:07 PM Re: Brave resistance [Re: beck123]
Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 06/23/08
Posts: 8541
Loc: Land of the Flat Water
Long time, no see.
Great to have you back. How's Florida?_________________________
----please, draw me a sheep----
#210671 - 04/29/13 10:19 PM Long time no Beck [Re: beck123]
Registered: 06/05/10
Posts: 1554
Loc: Lower Aberdeen, Mississippi
The great Beck is back both sagacious and classy
A prude is Beck; salacious and somewhat sassy
Beck's prime rule is safety first
But boring poems he finds worse
He marks his poems [Oh my Eyes!] only if they're trashy
#210673 - 04/29/13 11:28 PM Re: Papal diplomacy [Re: jenny jenny]
old hand
Registered: 10/22/10
Posts: 753
Loc: London, UK
When Attila the Hun met the Pope,
The Pontiff applied the soft soap:
"If you take your troops home
And don't attack Rome,
Then...hum...God will save you, I hope."
#210709 - 05/01/13 10:44 PM The Lime of the Ancient Sailor [Re: A C Bowden]
Registered: 06/05/10
Posts: 1554
Loc: Lower Aberdeen, Mississippi
The giant Kraken haunts the seas from Iceland to far Thailand
A crack at disguise; mates not et argue its proper phylum
My kudos to the Kraken
And if I'm not mistaken
It's a squid, it's a dragon, a whirlpool, a small island
#210767 - 05/05/13 05:39 PM Under the doctor [Re: jenny jenny]
old hand
Registered: 11/13/11
Posts: 1075
Loc: Lancaster, UK
Whilst supposedly under hypnosis,
I heard the doctor's diagnosis;
"When he's out of his dream,
Give him some ice-cream -
He'll be just fine: that's my prognosis."
I'm immortal until proven otherwise
#210848 - 05/09/13 02:36 AM Bellyaching [Re: Rhubarb Commando]
old hand
Registered: 05/10/10
Posts: 954
Loc: Alaska
The Greek scholar descried an omission
From her stocking: a Christmas tradition.
There was no citrus fruit;
In her soul, destitute,
For an omphalos orange she's wishin'.
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text:
While chanting Psalms at Church my mind dwelled on the Biblical outlook on physical geography. Themes of fallen and redemption are applied to the Earth. Also, physical features both natural and man-made are given importance.
The Biblical view on the world can be examined vertically. If the surface represents the status quo, normal good and bad then the higher the elevation the better. The lower on goes the worse things become.
Openings in the Earth are bad. Pits and other interiors are frequently mentioned as places where people and nations become stuck and lost from God. They are blasted lands to be avoided.
- "The nations fall into the pit they dig; in the snare they hide, their own foot is caught. The LORD is revealed in this divine rule: by the deeds they do the wicked are trapped. " Psalm 9:16-17
- "Therefore, as I live, says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Moab shall become like Sodom, the land of Ammon like Gomorrah: A field of nettles and a salt pit and a waste forever. The remnant of my people shall plunder them, the survivors of my nation dispossess them." Zephaniah 2:9
- Pope John Paul II's service on the Scriptural Way of the Cross mediates about how Jesus' tomb was in Earth's "womb" away from the sight of God.
- "He will take pity on him and say, 'Deliver him from going down to the pit; I have found him a ransom.'" Job 33:24
- "What gain is there from my lifeblood, from my going down to the grave [pit]? Does dust give you thanks or declare your faithfulness?" Psalm 30:10
- "They had as their king the angel of the abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon and in Greek Apollyon [the destroyer]." Revelation 9:11 (Yeah)
Why such a negative view of the inside of the Earth? Genesis 1:1-3 help explain.
- "In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters. Then God said, "Let there be light," and there was light."
Next post in the series: Peaks- Monuments of the Lord


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Within the lawFebruary 08,2013
We are a long way from the days of exploding cigars. Those were the cigars the CIA schemed to provide to Fidel Castro in the early 1960s as part of its campaign of assassination and sabotage against the Cuban revolution.
Revelations that the CIA had conspired with Mafia figures to kill Castro shocked the nation and led to reforms aimed at preventing officially sanctioned assassination and keeping the CIA within the bounds of the law.
Now the CIA is involved in the targeted killing of individuals by means of drone aircraft, a campaign that is far more menacing than what we know of the slapstick capers in Cuba. It was obvious then that the U.S. government ought not to send Mafia hit men to kill foreign leaders. Now the drone campaign is being waged at the direction of the president on murky legal terrain for the purpose of national security.
Lately, President Obama has authorized the release to members of Congress of secret documents said to form the administrations legal justification for the drone strikes. Many people have been uneasy about the liberties Obama has allowed himself in targeting people in Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia, sometimes U.S. citizens, who are alleged to be terrorists.
The issue is a legal and ethical minefield. The Bush administration had earned the worlds disdain through the flimsy legal justifications it offered for the torture it was practicing as part of its war on terror. Obama was critical of Bushs torture policy and its justifications, which were flagrant violations of U.S. and international law.
Now Obama finds himself in the position of justifying something more extreme than torture: the intentional killing of specific people. It is justified as self-defense. Al-Qaida attacked the United States in 2001, and ever since the United States has been waging a war of self-defense against those who attacked us. The war in Afghanistan was justified as a war of self-defense because the Taliban government there had provided safe haven for al-Qaida. As our drones fire rockets at Yemeni rebels in pickups in the Yemeni desert, the killing is construed as part of the same battle.
But is it the same battle, and can we be justified in roaming the world killing at will whatever extremists we perceive as a threat? What is the level of threat that justifies a drone attack? Jihadists in Mali say they are part of al-Qaida, and they are behaving with brutality, threatening stability in West Africa. Conceivably, a band of terrorists in Mali could mount a terrorist strike against the United States, but is that threat imminent enough to warrant targeted killing?
Is instability and insurrection, which are always in progress somewhere in the world, enough of a justification? As far as we know, we have not launched drone strikes in Mali, but is there a reason why we couldnt?
Obama is said to take the targeting of drone attacks with great seriousness, personally reviewing the list of targets to ensure that U.S. forces are not launching rockets willy-nilly. That is admirable in a leader, but we are a nation of laws. It is important that the policy for ascertaining threats is clear enough that U.S. citizens and the citizens of the world know that America does not believe it can act with impunity to kill whomever it pleases.
Members of Congress have been proceeding with caution on the issue of drones, partly because the program itself has, officially, been a secret and partly because they dont want to remove a valuable weapon from American hands. But our weapons must be wielded within the strictures of U.S. and international law. The shame of the torture practiced under the Bush administration was that it flouted the canon of decency in the Geneva accords and in U.S. democratic values. Acts of self-defense must not flout those standards of decency.
If our drone strikes are legitimate acts of self-defense, then the Obama administration need not fear discussing its policies. If they are straying into the territory of lawless behavior, then we need to know about it before our policies, like those cigars, blow up in our face.MORE IN EditorialsProtesters converged on a bank in Montpelier early this week to show their solidarity with the... Full StoryPhil Scott will take office next month after winning with a margin of 51.11 percent to 43. Full StoryIdeologues and partisans work from the outcome backward. Full Story
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text: Stunning: Farmer shocked after goat is born with human face Hoaxhunter posted:12/29/2013 7:48:59 PM A farmer in Kenya, was shocked to see that his goat gave birth to a kid with a human face, according to photos and videos uploaded to the Internet.... See here: Farmer shocked after goat is born with human face Wow!!! This is one of the most disgusting thing I've ever seen. malachi the prophet posted:12/30/2013 12:32:44 AM it looks like it is 1/3 angel of death 1/3 shadow demon 1/3 cat demon and 1/3 full of shit kid sun of a bitch (cheach and chong) looks like a fat goat with high blood pressureKatSin13 posted:12/30/2013 4:30:24 AM How bout sayin shit to my face wannabe prophet dont test me if you dont know me I dont give a shit bout you so dont think I wont kill you its no threat its a promise & I keep my promisesmalachi the prophet posted:12/30/2013 6:19:32 AM call me in a few years when you get your drivers lic . oh wait your picture will not show - so you cant :) can you fly over = ill meet you at the OCTAGON HOUSE IN FRANKLIN KY - MAYBE YOU CAN DRAW SOME POWER FROM THERE the dead still walk there daily .bobprin posted:12/30/2013 9:44:23 AM Easy boys, nobody wants to see a cat fight. The question is does the goat resemble the farmer? Maybe his neighbor? Has Gary been in Africa lately?KatSin13 posted:12/30/2013 9:50:43 AM That thing looks like a mix between a goat, president nixon, J-leno and shaquil onielmalachi the prophet posted:12/30/2013 1:12:20 PM I second a black j=leno - maybe the farmers son- in porter co jail IND this kid was housed because he used to rent motel rooms and fuck chickens - he even broke the neck of a 80 pound pit bull (his next door neighbor dog )- and fd-it clayton beseionoLincolnGenghis posted:12/30/2013 2:04:55 PM In Reply To:bobprin posted:12/30/2013 9:44:23 AM Easy boys, nobody wants to see a cat fight. The question is does the goat resemble the farmer? Maybe his neighbor? Has Gary been in Africa lately?Lol yeah I guess prophets and demons don't mix well. I think the gary angle might be a possibility, that goat looks like it does have Some possible pictish features.malachi the prophet posted:12/31/2013 5:36:19 PM boy I hope the lovecraft - show is better then the documentary I saw on him :) I could not keep my eyes open = but I will keep an open mind to all .... it was 20 minutes in and they where still talking about his bad childhood I BELIEVE HE WAS CHALLELING THE OLD GODS AND -REAL DEMONS OF THE DEEP = THAT ARE UNDER THE SEA IN THE ABYSS - THE BIBLE SAYS THESE THINGS WILL ESCAPE WHEN THE CRUST FRACTURES DURING TIME OF BIRTH PAINS (2014-2021) OH LOOK ITS 2014 EACH YR WILL GET WORSE AND WORSE but fell asleep again lolKatmirStone posted:1/3/2014 4:15:19 PM It's not the first, and it won't be the last goatboy on this planet.bobprin posted:1/3/2014 5:25:10 PM Are there any goat girls? I'm hetero ya know. Please log in or become a member to add a post.


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'Oh, the weather outside is frightful!'
Unwilling (unable?) to remember much of what had transpired in 2012, I let my mind wander to the last few hours, and recalled that I had run into some interesting folks before the storm hit. Sullivan West (www.swcsd.org) students Raina Bowers and Jessica Ellsworth were in Callicoon (www.cafedevine.com) last Saturday, displaying what they described as "Abandoned Art," which piqued my interest. "All of these pieces were left behind by students," Bowers explained, "and our teacher, Mr. Layman, had this idea. I just took the ball and ran with it." Drawings, paintings, sketches and the like were spread on a table and the "suggested donations" collected support the Parent Teacher Student Organization (PTSO) at the school. "We don't have a website for the project yet," Raina said, "but hope to soon," so I will be sure to follow up on their worthwhile endeavor.
Hearing live music, I turned my attention to another duo-in the form of "Campfire" Jones and Drew Kelly, who were also in the place, entertaining the art lovers with their bluegrass pickin' and winning smiles.
Handing me their card, (570/877-3085) the boys informed me that they will be "opening up the New Year's eve party at Mel's (www.melsplacepa.webs.com) in Greeley, PA" and suggested that I check it out. Right. New Year's. Sigh. Turning their card over in my hand, reverie shaken (not stirred), I surveyed the landscape and shook my head. Momentarily present, I buttoned up the overcoat and grabbed Dharma's leash. "When we finally kiss goodnight," I whimpered, "I'll hate going out in the storm." She cocked her head and scampered off before hearing my final, pathetic (yet lyrical) proclamation: "But if you'll hold me really tight," I sighed, "all the way home, I'll be warm."


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Parking veto stands in cityBy Gordon Dritschilo
Staff Writer | March 19,2013Parking will remain free on Saturdays for the foreseeable future.
Mayor Christopher Louras' veto of a measure to enforce the parking meter ordinance stood at the close of Monday's Board of
Aldermen meeting. Alderman Gary Donahue made a motion to sustain the veto, but that motion failed for lack of a second and, it turns out, was unnecessary.
"We didn't do anything," Donahue said Tuesday. "By not doing anything, we sustained the veto. We didn't take any action and it just died right there."
Donahue said Alderman Jon Kiernan attempted to have the issue sent back to committee, but that motion failed for lack of a second.
Even without the veto, City Attorney Andrew Costello had said the board's action was likely invalid as it was based on a misunderstanding of the ordinance.
When the board met March 4, the members voted unanimously to support what they believed was the current policy of the police chief, who they believed had authority over the subject, to enforce the parking ordinance Monday through Saturday.
Shortly after that vote, however, Mayor Louras said that the police chief had no such policy and blamed the belief to the contrary on a miscommunication. A review of city records found that the board has the authority to set the times of enforcement and voted in 1994 to enforce it Monday through Friday.
For the complete story, see Wednesday's Rutland Herald.MORE IN This Just InMONTPELIER A new report from a commission that studied the cost, availability and quality of... Full StoryVermont fish hatchery changes focus, looks inland
BETHEL, Vt. Full StoryHONOLULU (AP) A group of Hawaii musicians and a Hawaiian Airlines flight attendant provided... Full Story
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Kelly Clarkson And Clive Davis Butt Heads Over Book Allegations
It's a he said, she said affair between Kelly Clarkson and Clive Davis when it comes to the claims Davis made in his recent book.
Davis' memoir, The Soundtrack of My Life, was sold on the revelation within that he is bisexual. However, the producer also makes some big claims when it comes to Kelly Clarkson. He says that Clarkson "sobbed hysterically" when he demanded that she put Since You Been Gone on her new album. The tune went on to sell 2.5 million copies.
"I refuse to be bullied and I just have to clear up his memory lapses and misinformation for myself and for my fans," Clarkson said on her personal blog. She says of Since You Been Gone, "His stories and songs are mixed up. I did want more guitars added to the original demo and Clive did not. Max, Luke and I still fought for the bigger sound and we prevailed and I couldn't be more proud of the life of that song. I resent him dampening that song in any way."
She continues, "But, yes, I did cry in his office once. I cried after I played him a song I had written about my life called 'Because Of You.' I cried because he hated it and told me verbatim that I was a 'sh*tty writer who should be grateful for the gifts that he bestows upon me.'
"...But I continued to fight for the song and the label relented. And it became a worldwide hit. He didn't include that in the book." Because of You would sell 1.5 million copies.
Clarkson also claims that Davis belittled her in front of his company. "But, again, what's most interesting about his story is what he leaves out: He doesn't mention how he stood up in front of his company at a convention and belittled me and my music and completely sabotaged the entire project."
Davis has since responded in a statement, saying "As anyone who has read "The Soundtrack of My Life" knows, I think Kelly Clarkson is a tremendous vocal talent and performer. In the book, I provide an in-depth look at our years together during which we shared major multi-platinum success, as well as a few creative differences. I am truly very sorry that she has decided to take issue with what I know to be an accurate depiction of our time together. Before the book was published, I had every fact checked with five independent individuals who were present on a daily basis throughout it all. The chapter as it is written was thoroughly verified by each and every one of them. I stand by the chapter as written in my book. At the same time I wish, and will always wish, Kelly's talent and her career to soar to ever new heights."


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Celebs react to first presidential debate
Published On: Oct 04 2012 05:02:26 AM PDT Updated On: Oct 04 2012 08:48:28 AM PDT
See what some of the biggest names on Twitter were saying about the presidential debate on Wednesday night.
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It is heartbreaking to see so many innocent lives taken, and we stand with the people of Belgium today. Terror groups and Islamic terrorists value death above life, and we have seen the manifestation of their values over the past six months in San Bernardino, Paris and now Brussels.
We must redouble our efforts to build partnerships around the world to tackle the scourge of terrorism, and to keep innocent people everywhere safe.
Barry Faile, in my time, has been one of the best sheriffs Lancaster County has had.
He is just like his father, Sheriff Williford Faile. He has done a lot in cleaning up Lancaster County.
He is a good Christian man and treats people with dignity and respect. I pray for him and his force.
I think the world of Barry, and hope he remains sheriff of Lancaster County. God bless Barry, his family, his force and the citizens of Lancaster County.
Carl M. Miles
Hate crimes. Who would have thought that our society would stoop to this unimaginable Orwellian rubbish. I shudder to think that this farce could even be thought of as sensible, never mind being inputted into our justice system.
So I'm supposed to believe that Hillary Clinton is very spiritual and a Christian, according to professor Jack Bass' column in your Feb. 28 paper.
Are you kidding me? She lied straight to the faces of the families of the four brave men we lost in Benghazi. At the returning of their bodies to our country, she told them the attack was the result of a video. On the same day of the attack, she emailed her daughter stating it wasn't. Now she's running for POTUS and she's saying the families are lying. That's a Christian?
I think it's really sorry when you put flowers or other things on a loved one's grave and somebody steals them.
I put angels on my daughter's and husband's graves last summer. I walk at Memorial Park most days, and I go by their graves. I missed one day, and the next day the angels were gone. So I called the office, and they said they didn't know what happened to them. The angels were wired to the vase, so why take them?
Bobby E. Bailey
Lancaster County Education Hall of Fame
I've always been proud of how Lancaster County residents support their schools.
It's one of the reasons I love this county and its people. We believe in the power of a good education to help children rise to their potential, and we know that quality school facilities are an important part of providing a good education.
Your March 11 article on the S.C. Senate's passage of the roads bill was very informative, as was the photo of the pothole on Page 3.
The unrelated photo on Page 2 of an overturned truck also shows what can happen because of bad roads. I think the driver may have moved to the side of the road to avoid the large pothole visible in the photo just in front of the truck.
Politics always gets involved when it comes to the S.C. Department of Transportation. Those self-serving officials seem to have reelection in the back of their minds.
Donald Trump doesn't need any help from me to defend himself. But some of the stuff that's being tossed at him by those old-line imbedded politicians is getting under my usually thick skin.
I think they're just worried about the possibility that they may have to return to their roots and scrape around for a living like the rest of us.
We need a big suggestion box in Washington where the citizens could offer ideas for improvement. Us Americans used to depend on congressmen to do the thinking for us, but boy did we get that wrong.
Isn't health care among the biggest and most costly item to us and the government? I guess we need to nudge the Russians to come up with a better health care program. We just about did flips when they bested us in the space race. America was so embarrassed we just ran full speed ahead and got to the moon first.
An important deadline is approaching for Lancaster County taxpayers – the closing of the county's 2015 tax books, which takes place March 16. This is an important step in the annual fiscal budgeting process for Lancaster County government, as it allows those who serve on county council, the school board and the town and city councils to determine how much tax revenue they will have to work with as they finish their 2016-17 budgets.
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The Lancaster News is your source for local news, sports, events, and information in Lancaster County and Lancaster, South Carolina, and the surrounding area..


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Solving the pensions crisis across the globe
In 2014, it will be the 125th anniversary of the pension scheme. Otto von Bismarck, the Chancellor who unified Germany, introduced the world's first state pension in 1889 – but the concept has not aged well.
The basic design of the Bismarckian contributory pension – you pay into a fund throughout your working life, which entitles you to a guaranteed income from the age of 65 onward that is closely related to your previous salary – has been undermined by radically shifting demographics.
Ageing societies in the west can no longer afford these pensions, and most people in the world's poorer countries have never had one anyway.
Yet something must be done to finance the world's old age. Global policymakers, together with private-sector leaders, have finally accepted that they can no longer delay.
Larry Fink, the chief executive of BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager, has been among those urging action. He told Financial News: "The fact is, a lot of national pension plans often don't pay enough to fund a satisfactory retirement, and the problem is compounded by many of them being underfunded.
"Just as individuals have to be more proactive, so do governments. The current structures in place in most countries are simply insufficient to address retirement needs, especially in light of increased longevity."
The demographic challenge is, in the words of Indian pensions expert Kavim Bhatnagar, "awe-inspiring". He points out that population ageing is not just a western problem. About 100 countries, including India, Bangladesh and Venezuela, are set to double their populations of older people in the next couple of decades, he said. European nations such as France or the UK took more than a century to make the same transition.
He added: "These are also the countries where the coverage of old-age social security is almost missing, with 80% to 90% of the current working populations with no social security or pensions. The majority of older women are either widowed or deserted."
Michael Herrmann, economic adviser to the UN Population Fund, said: "In countries like these, ageing is typically financed through informal family transfers. But people are moving into cities and those traditional family structures are breaking apart. That system won't be sustainable."
Hundreds of millions – if not billions – in rural areas and the informal economy in much of southern Asia and Africa are outside western-style financial systems. Many do not even have bank accounts, let alone pension schemes.
Economies in east Asia are often more developed, but the demographic challenge there is even more pressing. Robert Palacios, senior pensions economist at the World Bank, said: "Much of east Asia is in a race against time; a race to expand coverage of pension systems as the population ages. Japan has obviously a very high pensions coverage. But if you look at China, Thailand, Vietnam… when they converge on the demographic profile of Japan, and you look at how fast they have to expand coverage, it's a monumental task."
In China, the world's most populous nation, a looming demographic crunch is unlikely to be alleviated by the government's recent "rather mild" relaxation of its one-child policy, according to Stuart Leckie, chairman of Hong Kong-based consultancy Stirling Finance and an expert on the Chinese system.
He explained: "Previously, if two only-children married, they could apply to have a second child. Now what they are saying is that if only one of the parents is an only-child, they can apply. Over the last few years, about 16 million children have been born in China every year. People say that this new policy might encourage an extra one million births a year.
"Going from 16 million births to 17 million, in a country of 1.35 billion, is not going to solve the problem."
In many developed economies, meanwhile, the guaranteed pension payable after 65 – the contributory defined-benefit scheme – is under severe pressure, if not already abandoned.
A contributing factor to DB's demise has been that many nations have operated state DB systems on a pay-as-you-go basis: contributions into the system from current workers are paid directly to current pensioners. The workers build up a paper entitlement instead of an actual fund, and their pensions are then paid out of the contributions of tomorrow's workforce.
Nick Sherry, a former Australian pensions minister, recently addressed an industry conference on pensions reform in Hong Kong, organised by the World Pensions Council.
Speaking at the sidelines of the conference, he told Financial News: "There is nothing wrong with pay-as-you-go in principle, if you are able to keep the cost manageable.
"Most countries have failed to do this. When retirement ages were set 100 years ago, they were set at the early to mid 60s, and most people did not live far beyond this. Countries like Greece, Spain and Portugal have got into trouble because the level of promise was much too generous and applies to most people.
"Clearly, Italy and France and ultimately Germany and Japan have similar promises that have been made. Demographics is creating enormous cost pressures on government."
In the UK and US, he said, these same pressures apply to schemes in the public sector. In the private sector, DB promises tend to be funded, and have now been withdrawn because the funds were insufficient to pay for rising longevity. Sherry added: "I predict that public-sector DB in the US and UK will be gone in five to 10 years."
Radical pensions reforms have a political cost and can lead to strikes and demonstrations.
Nevertheless, the demographics are inexorable. Last week, the UK set out new plans to raise the retirement age to 70 in the long term – putting it at the vanguard of international efforts to tackle rising life expectancy. Denmark and Italy have raised it to 69 in recent years; Ireland, the Czech Republic and Greece (see boxout) to 68.
Reforms can have immediate benefits. Last week the ratings agency Moody's said Spain's plan to decouple state pensions from inflation – announced in September – was "positive" for its outlook on the country's debt, which it rates one notch above junk. The agency did not upgrade Spain, but it did shift its outlook from "negative" to "stable".
The response to these twin challenges – reforming systems in the rich world, and extending them to the global poor – is taking a variety of forms, but a couple of outline trends are increasingly discernible.
The first and clearest is that most pension systems, whether public or private, will be based upon the principle of defined contributions. Unlike DB, DC schemes do not promise a guaranteed pension income.
Instead, contributions are saved up in a personal account for each worker, which is swapped for a pension upon retirement.
From its beginnings in Chile, Sweden, Australia and the US in the 1980s, DC has spread around the world in the past couple of decades. Latin American nations such as Mexico, Peru and Colombia followed Chile's lead in the 1990s and early 2000s, shifting from public social security systems towards private DC funds. Following the collapse of Communism, many eastern European states followed this model as well. Meanwhile, the Anglo-Saxon nations have replaced private DB systems with private DC systems.
Today, both India and China are in the process of developing DC-based public systems and extending them to broad swathes of the population. Brazil is planning to introduce a DC top-up for its federal employees.
A shift toward investing pension contributions in the financial markets is often – but not always – coupled with the move from DB to DC (see accompanying article: "Private sector eyes increased role").
However, some observers now detect a new trend emerging, especially in the global south. Chile, the test-bed for privatisation in 1981, embarked on a fresh reform in 2008, introducing a new public "safety net" pension, funded out of general taxation.
Palacios believes that such non-contributory systems, or contributory systems where the state matches payments-in from people without formal employment, will play a large role in extending pensions to the world's poor.
He said: "In Mexico this year, the government has declared that it's going to have a universal, non-contributory pension. In China, you have this expansion of the rural pension system, which is probably the most ambitious and rapid expansion of pensions coverage in history. It will be partly financed by matching contributions from federal and local government, and contributions from the individual.
"Globally, there is an increasing shift away from dependence on the old Bismarckian system; on payroll taxation and contributions, and the link to formal-sector employment."
• Greek woes lead to 'drastic' remedy
During the past few years of crisis, bailout and political upheaval, at the behest of its international lenders Greece has implemented probably the most radical pensions reforms undertaken by a developed country. And there may be more to come, writes Mark Cobley.
Georgios Symeonidis, a board member at the Hellenic Actuarial Authority and adviser to the Greek Labour Ministry, describes the redesign of Greece's state system – which accounts for about 99% of all pensions paid – as "drastic".
In 2010, payouts were cut, with the earnings-related portion of the state pension linked to career-average salaries instead of final salaries, which tend to be higher. A cap on increases in public pensions spending: 2.5 percentage points of GDP between 2009 and 2060 was also introduced that year. The Hellenic Actuarial Authority is to run projections every two years and if it estimates that the increase is exceeding that limit, pensions will be adjusted.
Symeonidis said: "This clause makes the system a self-correcting one."
In 2012, the system of additional public occupational schemes, which overlies the state system, was converted to "notional defined contribution" – meaning that its payouts can be reduced if life expectancy climbs. The state pension age was lifted from 65 to 67, with further increases in this also tied to longevity. The OECD predicts 68 by 2050.
Launching the OECD's global pensions report in London last month, Stefano Scarpetta, director of the organisation's employment, labour and social affairs directorate, said: "In our last publication [in 2011] we were forecasting that public pension expenditure in Greece would rise to 24% of GDP by 2050. Following the troika reforms, we now think this will be 15.4%."
The current OECD average is 9.3%, predicted to rise to 11.7% by 2050.
This year Greece has overhauled its pensions administration and data systems, and there has been a crackdown on contribution evasion – commonplace in previous years. The government has also convened a "special committee" of pensions experts to recommend further reforms, with a possible implementation date of 2015.
Nick Sherry, a former Australian pensions minister, is preparing a survey of 15 pension systems worldwide for the Bank of Greece.
Symeonidis said there were discussions between policymakers, politicians and pensions experts over a defined-contribution reform of some elements of the Greek system. He said: "One part of the system will have to change to DC, because we are all living longer."
--Additional reporting by Alkman Granitsas in Athens
--This article first appeared in the print edition of Financial News dated December 9, 2013


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"Your online radio shows have aided me in my journey back to the Church this past year. No matter which program I listen to, I am bound to learn more concerning our beautiful teachings and traditions."
~ Jim, Chicago, IL
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"It is the peculiarity of progress for a thing to be developed in itself; and the peculiarity of change, for a thing to be altered from what it was into something else."
~ Vincent of Lerins, Saint, noting the essential difference between development and alteration of the deposit of faith, over 1,000 years before Protestantism radically altered the face of Christianity. (Commonitorium, I, 23; see P.L., L). (see "Science and the Church")


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Famous celebrity feuds
Published On: Oct 05 2012 01:19:14 PM PDT Updated On: Mar 08 2016 09:16:20 AM PST
With Kim Kardashian taking on Bette Midler and other celebs over a nude selfie she tweeted, take a look at their online feud and some other notable celebrity feuds.
The views expressed are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. By posting your comments you agree to our Terms of Use.


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Get ready for a night on the town! This new gem from Michael by Michael Kors wraps the ankle in a nude patent leather emboldened by gold heel and accents. 'Michela' is sure to turn some heads this season!
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Best. Bat. Ever.
An unexpected gift was recently sent to me by way of my family's book store here in New York City. This is what it looked like in the packaging…
…and this is what I saw when I unwrapped it:
Here's a closer look:
Um, wow?
(That ball, by the way, which I placed in the photo in order to give you a size perspective, is Robinson Cano's grand slam from 9/28/09 at Yankee Stadium.)
Here's an even closer look:
As you can see, the bat was "branded" with my name — along with the word "ballhawk" — in Scrabble tiles. For those who don't know, I used to play competitive Scrabble (check out my old tournament results) and still visit the NYC Scrabble club on occasion. So yeah…very cool.
Here's a photo of the bat's trademark…
…and here's one more shot that I took of the bat in its entirety:
You know who made this bat?
A friend, father, Mariners fan, and fellow MLBlogger named Todd Cook.
(I ran into Todd and his son Tim several times this past season. You can find a photo of us in this entry from the day that Randy Johnson SHOULD HAVE won his 300th game in Washington, D.C.)
Todd sent me some photos of the bat being made.
Here's the wood…held in place on the machine…in its original cylindrical form:
Here's the bat starting to take shape:
Here's Todd working on it:
Here's his son Tim holding the near-finished product:
Here's how Todd initially thought of arranging the lettering:
Here's how his final design took shape:
As for my signature, Todd grabbed it from a photo of a ball that I'd signed for my Watch With Zack clients on 7/26/09 at Yankee Stadium. Check it out:
My handwriting is much neater on paper. You should see how nicely I write "Zachary B. Hample" when I sign my checks. Baseballs, however, are another story. I think I've mentioned it a few times in the past here on the blog: if you've never tried to write anything on a ball, you'd be amazed at how tough it is. Not only is it round, but there's nothing to lean on. But I digress. The fact is, the bat looks in-CRED-ible. Here's a little of what Todd later said about it in an email:
Let me give you a little background. As you might notice, I make wood baseball bats. I'm also sort of an "idea" guy. I get an idea and I dwell on it until I make it happen. When I noticed all of your Scrabble comments/occurrences on your blog, I just got this vision of a Scrabble-themed bat. I kept thinking about it for a month or two. I had no clue if you'd want such a bat or think it was just weird, or what. But I decided I had to make it just to see how it would turn out. Once I made it, I liked it. Still, I felt a little strange sending it up your way because I didn't know what you would think about it...I'm glad I got the [Scrabble tile] values right. Truthfully, I don't know if I've ever played Scrabble. I went online and downloaded pictures of Scrabble tiles. Then I realized there were different values for different languages. But I felt pretty sure that I had the right values.
And that's pretty much it — the story of one of the coolest gifts I've ever received. Again, here's the link to Todd's blog. (He recently posted some entries about older games.) If you have a few minutes, check it out…and if you're lucky, you might run into him and his son at a game next season.
10 Comments
I have no words – Scrabble or otherwise – to communicate what a great, creative object the bat is! Biiiiiig props to Todd for conceiving and fashioning it – and to you for inspiring it. It is a MARVELOUS, LIFE-AFFIRMING GIFT!
P.S. Tell Todd he could probably (if he doesn't already) increase his business by fashioning custom-designed bats for bat-addicted folks to buy for themselves – or as special gifts for birthdays (You're a hit with me. Happy Batday!) and other celebrations.
That is AWESOME. And for some reason I know how hard it is to write on a baseball. Apparently when I was about 5 years old I wrote on a baseball, declaring my love for Derek Jeter. My dad found the baseball and even though I am 100% Mets fan, I keep the Derek Jeter baseball in my room.
But that really is an awesome bat. I like how he ended up arranging the letters. In the first one it looks like it says Hample Hawk Zack Ball. That really is the coolest personalized bat ever.
Very cool gift Zack!
Great job making the bat Todd!
My old blog was addingabseballs.blogpsot.com but I will be making a mlblog!
My new blog is http://accumulatingbaseballs.mlblogs.com
I can't wait until the 2010 season starts so I can become a rookie ballhawk!
Did you start looking at schedules yet Zack?
Zack, signing a ball is definitely tricky. But your signature looked pretty good on that ball. I thought about asking you to sign your contact card at a game, but it seemed weird and I figured it would be a more interesting surprise if you saw your signature on the bat without ever giving me your signature.
Thanks to everyone for your kind comments about Zack's bat. Glad you enjoyed seeing it. And…a "Life-Affirming Gift"? WOW – that's quite a compliment. Thanks, bradfordbatboy. And, Zack, you're welcome (for affirming your life). ;-)
Wow, Z. What a cool looking bat! Now all you need is a ball. : )
I suspected you were batty.
This confirms it!
Zack…Todd has got some serious skills-WOW..I love that bat. Now I want a Ranter bat…D
Wow…thanks. Yes, I agree, it's quite a bat.
That Jeter story is too funny! Thanks for sharing/admitting that.
Thanks for checking it out.
Yup, I've taken a few peeks at the schedule…already thinking of a few places I need to visit in 2010.
Well, this was definitely quite a surprise.
Hmm, yes, where can I get one of those?
You should see if you can commission him to do one for ya.


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October 9, 2013
Penn Medicine Names First Leader of Precision Medicine to Speed Delivery of Tailored Treatments to Patients
D. Gary Gilliland Named Vice Dean and Vice President for Precision Medicine; New Role Aims to Synthesize Personalized Medicine Efforts Across Specialties
PHILADELPHIA — D. Gary Gilliland, MD, PhD, has been named the inaugural Vice Dean and Vice President for Precision Medicine, a newly created role to position Penn Medicine as the nation's top leader in the delivery of individualized medicine.
Dr. Gilliland, a cancer genetics expert and pioneer in the development of targeted therapies, will synthesize Penn Medicine's research and clinical care initiatives across all disciplines to create a national model for the delivery of precise, personalized medicine to patients with diseases of all kinds. He will work with the institution's top leaders in cancer, heart and vascular medicine, neurosciences, genetics, pathology, and many other specialties.
"We are proud to be among the first institutions in the country to create a position to oversee the tremendous opportunities and challenges that face us as our physicians and scientists work to hone the promise of the burgeoning and exciting field of precision medicine," says J. Larry Jameson, MD, PhD, Executive Vice President of the University of Pennsylvania for the Health System and Dean of the Perelman School of Medicine. "Dr. Gilliland's experience as a leader in both academic medicine and the pharmaceutical industry will help Penn Medicine forge a roadmap for the most effective and efficient ways to conduct research and deliver care in this new field."
The establishment of the new role builds on such existing Penn Medicine efforts as the Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics and the newly launched Center for Personalized Diagnostics.
"Penn Medicine already has a strong base in this new field, and Dr. Gilliland's background and accomplishments will provide experienced leadership to take us to the next level of excellence," says Ralph W. Muller, Chief Executive Officer of the University of Pennsylvania Health System. "No matter what it's called – precision medicine, personalized medicine, or individualized medicine – this extremely promising approach will better equip physicians to match the most effective treatment to each patient's specific disease."
Gilliland joins Penn Medicine from Merck, where he was recruited in 2009 as Senior Vice President of Merck Research Laboratories and Oncology Franchise Head, following a long career at Harvard Medical School. At Merck, he was responsible for end-to-end research and development of its Global Oncology Programs. He oversaw first-in-human studies, proof-of-concept trials, and Phase II/III registration trials, and managed all preclinical and clinical oncology licensing activities.
Prior to joining Merck, Gilliland was a member of the faculty at Harvard Medical School for nearly 20 years, where he served as Professor of Medicine and a Professor of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology. He was also an Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Director of the Leukemia Program at the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center, and Director of the Cancer Stem Cell Program of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute. He saw patients at numerous top Boston hospitals, serving as an attending physician in the Bone Marrow Transplant Service of Children's Hospital; attending physician in medical oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute; and senior attending physician at Brigham and Women's Hospital.
As an investigator studying hematologic malignancies, Gilliland made seminal discoveries that have contributed to the understanding of the genetic basis of leukemias and other cancers that affect the blood and bone marrow. He has worked to help apply these findings into the development of new investigational cancer treatments, including molecularly targeted therapies, and has advanced this research into all phases of clinical development.
His work has earned him numerous honors, including the William Dameshek Prize from the American Society of Hematology, the Emil J. Freireich Award from the MD Anderson Cancer Center, and the Stanley J. Korsmeyer Award from the American Society for Clinical Investigation. He is an elected member of the America Society for Clinical Investigation and the American Association of Physicians.
He received his Ph.D. in Microbiology from the University of California, Los Angeles, and his M.D. from the University of California, San Francisco. He completed his internship and residency, including serving as Chief Medical Resident, at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School. He completed his Hematology and Medical Oncology training at the Brigham and Women's Hospital and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, respectively.
Penn Medicine is one of the world's leading academic medical centers, dedicated to the related missions of medical education, biomedical research, and excellence in patient care. Penn Medicine consists of the Raymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (founded in 1765 as the nation's first medical school) and the University of Pennsylvania Health System, which together form a $4.3 billion enterprise.
The Perelman School of Medicine has been ranked among the top five medical schools in the United States for the past 17 years, according to U.S. News & World Report's survey of research-oriented medical schools. The School is consistently among the nation's top recipients of funding from the National Institutes of Health, with $392 million awarded in the 2013 fiscal year.
The University of Pennsylvania Health System's patient care facilities include: The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania -- recognized as one of the nation's top "Honor Roll" hospitals by U.S. News & World Report; Penn Presbyterian Medical Center; Chester County Hospital; Lancaster General Health; Penn Wissahickon Hospice; and Pennsylvania Hospital -- the nation's first hospital, founded in 1751. Additional affiliated inpatient care facilities and services throughout the Philadelphia region include Chestnut Hill Hospital and Good Shepherd Penn Partners, a partnership between Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network and Penn Medicine.
Penn Medicine is committed to improving lives and health through a variety of community-based programs and activities. In fiscal year 2013, Penn Medicine provided $814 million to benefit our community.


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Home List of Titles Brief depressive symptoms in patients with bipolar disorder: analysis of long-term self-reported data
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.3/240064
- Title
- Brief depressive symptoms in patients with bipolar disorder: analysis of long-term self-reported data
- Author(s)
- Bauer, Michael; Glenn, Tasha; Keil, Michael; Bauer, Rita; Marsh, Wendy; Grof, Paul; Alda, Martin; Sagduyu, Kemal; Murray, Greg; Quiroz, Danilo; Baethge, Christopher; Whybrow, Peter C.
- Abstract
- Objective: Most patients with bipolar disorder experience depressive symptoms outside of an episode of depression as defined by DSM-IV criteria. This study explores the frequency of brief depressive episodes, lasting 1 to 4 days, using daily self-reported mood ratings. Method: Mood ratings were obtained from 448 patients (281 bipolar I, 167 bipolar II) using ChronoRecord software (91,786 total days). Episodes of depression and days of depression outside of episodes were determined. The intensity of depressive symptoms (mild versus moderate to severe) was compared. Results: Using the DSM-IV length criteria, 61% of all depressive days occurred outside of a depressed episode. Decreasing the minimum length criterion to 2 days, both the number of patients experiencing a depressed episode (128 to 317) and the mean percent of days spent in a depressed episode by each patient (7.9% to 17.8.%) increased by about 21/2 times, and 34.3% of depressed days remained outside of an episode. Depending on the episode length, the proportion of days within an episode with severe symptoms varied from 1/3 to 1/4 for episodes lasting from 14 to 2 days, and 1/4 for single-day episodes. There was no significant difference in the frequency of brief depressive episodes between bipolar I and II disorders. For all episode lengths, patients taking antidepressants spent 4% more days within an episode and 6% more days with depressive symptoms outside of an episode than those not taking antidepressants. Conclusion: Brief depressive episodes lasting 1 to 4 days occur frequently in bipolar disorder and do not distinguish between bipolar I and II disorders. Symptoms of moderate to severe intensity occur on 1/4 to 1/3 of the days in brief depressive episodes. This study did not address brief depression in those without bipolar disorder. Patients taking antidepressants experienced more brief depressive episodes. Controlled trials are needed to assess the impact of antidepressants on subsyndromal depressive symptoms.
- Publication type
- Journal article
- Research centre
- Swinburne University of Technology. Faculty of Life and Social Sciences
- Source
- Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, Vol. 46, no. 11 (Nov 2012), pp. 1068-1078
- Publication year
- 2012
- FOR Code(s)
- 11 Medical and Health Sciences; 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences
- Keyword(s)
- Bipolar disorder; Brief depressive episode; Depressive symptoms; Subsyndromal symptoms
- Publisher
- Sage Publications
- 0004-8674
- Publisher URL
- Copyright
- Copyright © The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists 2012.
- Peer reviewed


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The Knicks are sitting on a lot of expensive $$$ ONE year contracts in the offseason.
NBA wizard Phil Jax wont have any problems moving any if not all of the Knicks 15 player roster.
Why do reporters keep writing it will be hard to move Knicks players?
The Phoenix Suns 48 win season without making the playoffs would welcome Amare 1 year contract back.
The Denver Nuggets 36 win season would trade for Bargani 1 year contract.
The NBA has a few teams that would trade for Tyson 1 year contract.
Carmelo Anthony is a complicated problem a lot of NBA GM want no problem dealing with.
ISO-Melo is not a coachable-player


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Our shooting let us down. Deflated us. It wasn't rebounding.
11-33 from 3. 15-21 from FT line.
Shooters can't get into groove when we're chucking low pct shots. No wonder we the brick 7-12 foot shots.
This Carmelo-Dantoni bball is unwatchable. I can't stand it. I long for the Eddy Curry days.
Shumperts in that game and we win why because he plays hard and never backs down. Why was he on the bench he better have had cramps again because if was fine then MDA should be gone.....immediately
This **** is painful to watch.
As great as Melo was in the 4th quarter and in OT, he freaking stunk it up in the first 3 quarters. If Melo makes a few more shots instead of taking a plane to Chuck City for the first 36 minutes, we might have won this game.
More than ever we need a PG. Toney Douglas's foul on Gallo was the nail in the coffin for us...why the hell he was charging at Gallo and trying to hack him to pieces, I have no idea.
D'Antoni might have thrown the game so his godson could win.
No Shumpert? No Walker?
Sig made by Sons of Thunder
6-10. We've had the easiest schedule in NBA. We're 3-6 at home.
When schedule gets tough, we'll play under .500.
We'll be lucky to win 30 games this year.
28-38 to 30-36. I bet we finish in this range. This means we'll be fighting for the 8th seed, and a first round sweep to MIA.
I would root for lottery, but we don;t have a draft pick until 2018 anyway.
Lol at ex Knicks combining for 77 points
Now its time to watch MSG announcers to blame the players.... F**k you alan hahn for selling out. Also Stop talking to players on the other team. MSG is not NBA tv we don't want to hear from the bald chucker.
Is it time yet?
Wow, I've never seen a thread with this many replies. Danilo Gallinari got a career-high against the Knicks. How ironic. I gotta give it to him. He knows how to get to the free throw line.
Carmelo Anthony needs to learn how to pass the ball. 30 field goal attempts is unacceptable. Stoudemire got no touches in overtime.
Jeremon Linbury
Everyone and their momma knows Melo was off and after EVERY D'Antoni timeout, the playcall is to have a triple teamed Melo chuck it up. From benching a hot Walker for the ENTIRE game to not getting the ball to Stat in TWO OVERTIMES, to running Jeffries and Douglas in overtime over our starters. COME ON MAN... REALLY?
Dolan better fire D'antoni now, this is getting ridiculous! I'd rather watch paint dry.


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Easy Cheesy Dinners
5 Fast, Easy, and Seriously Cheesy Dinners
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5 Fast, Easy, and Seriously Cheesy Dinners
Every once in a while, the only thing that can curb my comfort-food cravings is a decadent recipe starring cheese. Whether I'm out and about at work or play, a little indulgence can go a long way — especially if it's a fast and easy meal to put together! For five tasty meals that are fast, easy, and seriously cheesy, just keep clicking and prepare to be hungry.


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Dairy farmers oppose the new Farm Bill; ignores plight of dairies
WASHINGTON, DC — Dairy farmers across Pennsylvania, New York, Wisconsin and California—the biggest milk-producing states—are opposing the new Farm Bill as miserably inadequate in addressing the pressing dairy farm crisis.
"The new farm bill should liberate dairy farmers from being the dairy industry's cash cow," said dairy farmer Brenda Cochran. "This farm bill can be the means by which the dairy farmer citizen is once again allowed to operate his dairy farm as all other businesses are, by being able to cover his cost to produce milk, but that's not going to happen. My family and I have been victims of these irresponsible and unconscionable government policies that destabilized hundreds of thousands of dairy farming families like ours, driving them into insolvency and forcing them out of business."
Arden Tweksbury of the Progressive Agriculture Organization, an affiliate with the National Family Farm Coalition, said that "the farm bill that was recently passed by the Senate fails to correct the financial inequities that are being experienced by dairy farms all across the country."
The Senate bill that was just passed continues to use very questionable insurance programs as their method to solve the dairy farmer's financial dilemma, Tweksbury said, adding that "the undersigned organizations and support groups in our coalition clearly oppose these types of insurance schemes."
Tweksbury points to the recent results of a survey reported on National Public Radio that over 40 California dairy farms have gone bankrupt over the past few months. "The number of dairy farms in the United States has decreased from 600,000 in 1976 to 51,481 today," he said. "Something has to be done and done soon. It is unthinkable that Congress continues to formulate policies or dairy bills that, in all probability, will be responsible for a continued decline in the number of dairy farms in the nation."
Brian Smith, a Wayne County dairy farmer and the chairman of the Wayne County Commissioners, said, "No matter what the business you are in, you have to be able to make more money than it costs you to make your product. The present pricing structure does not apply this rule to dairy farmers. It's elementary. Farmers are powerless. You're at the mercy of the people who are the only source of processing your product—the milk producers." He believes that the evidence shows that dairy farms are going to go out of business much faster than we have seen up to now.
According to Tweksbury, there is a bill currently on the Senate docket (S-1640) that will help dairy farmers almost immediately. The biggest advantage offered by this bill is the provision that the farmer's cost of production be used to determine the pricing of milk on the market, but so far, he said, there has not been a lot of interest in this bill by legislators.


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I have a bunch of new, sealed plastic 80 ml Medela storage bottles. I recently opened them up, and they have a very strong plasticy smell. I'm worried it will affect the taste or smell of my bm if I use them. I've already washed them with dish soap and hot water and sterilized them in my Ameda microwave sterilizer.
Has anyone else experienced this? Does anyone have any suggestions on getting the smell out?


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Shawn Regan
Thu, 02/05/2015
As the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge debate heats up again, Shawn Regan, writing for Reason, looks at how The Aubudon Society has managed to earn mineral royalties while also protecting bird habitat.
Terry Anderson, Carson Bruno
Tue, 05/20/2014
When it comes to hydraulic fracturing, market-based solutions are much more efficient and effective than top-down government regulations.
Terry Anderson, Carson Bruno
Wed, 04/16/2014
According to scientific research, the environmental costs are real but rare.
Shawn Regan
Thu, 03/13/2014
Imagine if the government were responsible for looking after your best interests. How well would this work? Just ask Native Americans.
Shawn Regan
Tue, 01/07/2014
When industry and environmental groups claim that a regulation will solve all problems, consumers beware. It's probably crony capitalism in disguise.
Terry Anderson, Shawn Regan
Sat, 10/12/2013
In the Wall Street Journal, Terry Anderson and Shawn Regan explain how Washington rules prevent tribes from developing resources that could help lift them out of poverty.
, Matthew Denhart
Fri, 09/13/2013
Our nation continues to pile precautionary energy policies onto a struggling economy, but we're bumping into an inconvenient truth.
Sun, 09/08/2013
PERC and the George W. Bush Institute will host a conference on energy regulation on September 12, 2013 at the George W. Bush Center in Dallas, TX
Roger Meiners, Andrew Morriss
Fri, 07/19/2013
Recent developments in domestic energy production have shifted the political debate about energy independence. Get the facts about energy independence.
Shawn Regan
Fri, 03/08/2013
As America's energy production reaches record levels, it's time for a new system of public land management that promotes cooperation instead of conflict.


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Am I eligible for unemployment insurance even if I have been fired from a job?
Under California law, an employee who is discharged ("fired" or "terminated") from a job is eligible to receive unemployment insurance (UI) benefits unless the former employer shows that the employee was fired for "misconduct connected with the work." "Misconduct" has a very specific legal definition. Although employers often say they fired a person for "misconduct," simply calling it "misconduct" is not enough to disqualify the worker from receiving UI benefits. The former employer has to show that the worker knowingly broke an important rule or failed to perform an important job duty, in a way that could be harmful to the business.
What if I wasn't given a reason for being fired?
Whether or not you were given a reason for being fired, your eligibility for benefits will be decided based on the "triggering incident" for your termination, meaning the last incident involving you and your former employer before the former employer made the decision to fire you.
In many cases, the reason for losing a job is unknown or unclear to the employee. An employer may deliver the bad news about being fired in a way that leads the employee to believe he or she has been laid off for lack of work. Or, an employer may use a recent minor violation of duty by an employee as an excuse to fire him or her for some other reason, including a more important violation of duty that occurred in the distant past. Bottom line: Your former employer's actual reason for firing you, not just its stated reason, governs your eligibility for UI benefits.
What is (and what is not) misconduct?
To prove misconduct, an employer must show that an employee:
- broke a work-related rule or failed to perform a job duty;
- the rule or duty was important;
- the employee knowingly broke the rule or intentionally failed to perform the duty; and,
- the employer's business could be harmed by this kind of conduct.
An employer must show that all of these elements were present in the "triggering incident" to disqualify a worker from receiving unemployment benefits. If the triggering incident that caused you to be fired did not involve an important rule or duty, then no misconduct has occurred. If your actions were accidental rather than knowing or intentional, then no misconduct has occurred.
Some common reasons for termination that are usually considered misconduct include:
- repeated tardiness or absences from work in violation of the employer's policy;
- mishandling of cash, including intentional and certain unintentional acts;
- violations of known employer rules, including telephone use, customer service, and behavior towards co-workers;
- deliberate acts of insubordination or a refusal to obey the instructions of the employer without good cause for the refusal.
Many reasons for termination, however, do not meet the legal standard for denial of benefits, even though an employer may report to the Employment Development Department (EDD) that the termination was based on misconduct. Common situations in which an employee has been fired and the employer tries unsuccessfully to disqualify the worker from benefits for misconduct involve:
- poor job performance, or an unintentional failure to meet the employer's standards;
- personality conflicts.
Defenses to a misconduct charge
Under certain circumstances, a person claiming unemployment insurance may not be disqualified even though his or her termination from the job has some of the elements of misconduct. To prevent disqualification, a claimant must use one of four established defenses to misconduct: (1) the incompetence defense; (2) the single, isolated incident defense; (3) the employer condonation defense; or, (4) the causal connection defense. These defenses are discussed briefly below.
Incompetence Defense
Although an employer may have the right to fire a worker for poor work performance, inefficiency in performing work or failure to meet the employer's standards is not considered misconduct because it is generally not considered to be intentional. Therefore, you may avoid a misconduct disqualification in such a case by arguing that what your former employer perceived as misconduct was not intentional but, rather, a result of incompetence. The incompetence defense, however, will not prevent a misconduct disqualification if you were terminated because you were regularly sloppy and negligent or admittedly stopped caring about the quality of your work.
Single, Isolated Instance Defense
This defense can be used when the triggering incident for the termination was a first-time offense, involving conduct that was unusual, uncontrollable or motivated by a momentary lapse of reason. You may avoid a misconduct disqualification in such a case by arguing that you never made such a mistake or error in judgment in the past and did not understand the consequences. The single, isolated instance defense will not, however, be helpful if you were previously warned by your former employer for similar conduct. (See Section 6 below, Example A.)
Employer Condonation Defense
If an employer terminates an employee for an obvious act of work-connected misconduct immediately or shortly after the misconduct occurred, the employer has a strong argument for a disqualification. If, however, the employer waits a long time before deciding to terminate the employee, the employer may lose the opportunity to challenge an unemployment insurance claim based on misconduct. You may avoid a misconduct disqualification in such a case by arguing that your former employer knew of the actions and did nothing to indicate that such actions are considered misconduct worthy of termination. Your position is that your former employer condoned the actions by ignoring or accepting your behavior and by not informing you that continuing the conduct may result in termination. The employer condonation defense will help only in situations where it is clear that the employer knew of the conduct but remained silent about how wrong it was for an unreasonable period of time. (See Section 6, Example B.)
Causal Connection Defense
This defense emphasizes the importance of the "triggering incident" for the termination. The employer may use incidents of misconduct from the distant past as a reason to terminate an employee. To disqualify a person from receiving unemployment benefits, however, the employer would have to show that the triggering incident also meets the legal standard for misconduct. You may avoid disqualification in such a case by arguing that there was no misconduct involved in the triggering incident and, therefore, no connection between your earlier misconduct and the loss of the job. (See Section 6 below, Example B.)
What if my employer says I was fired for misconduct when I think I quit or was laid-off?
When applying for unemployment insurance, you will be asked to describe how you left your last employment. Your last employer will also be contacted and asked for his or her description of how the job ended. This is a subject on which claimants and employers often disagree. How the job ended, however, is extremely important in determining eligibility for employment insurance.
When claiming unemployment insurance, there are only three ways to describe how the last job ended: "discharge," "quit," or "lay-off." These terms have specific meanings that identify whether it was the claimant or the employer who caused the employment to end:
- Discharge ("Fired" or "Terminated") A "discharge" is any situation in which the employer refused to allow a worker to continue working while there was still work available. A worker who has been discharged will be eligible for unemployment insurance unless the employer can show the discharge was for misconduct.
- Quit ("Resignation") A "quit" is any situation in which a worker refused to continue working although there was still work to be done. A worker who quit may be eligible for unemployment insurance only if he or she can show that the quit was necessary and for "good cause" according to the law. See our Fact Sheet Unemployment Insurance: Eligibility after Quitting a Job for more information.
- Lay-Off ("Lack of Work") A "lay-off" is any situation in which a worker is unable to continue working because the position or work has been eliminated and no further work has been offered by the employer. A worker who has been laid-off automatically will be considered eligible for unemployment insurance unless, or until, the employer protests.
Sometimes, what seems to be a quit is really a "discharge," and what seems to be a discharge is really a "quit." For example, if you are told you will be fired or laid-off—but you leave the job before the date the job is supposed to end—you may be disqualified from unemployment insurance because you "quit" your job. On the other hand, if you tell your employer you intend to quit your job on a certain date—but your employer makes you leave the job before that date and does not pay you for all the days you planned to work—you may still be eligible for unemployment insurance because you will be considered to have been "discharged."
Using the wrong term when filing an unemployment claim to describe how the last job ended can result in serious consequences. Saying you were "laid-off" if you actually quit or were discharged can be considered a "false statement" and may result in a denial of benefits, or a determination that benefits you already received must be returned. The EDD may also assess further penalties if it believes a false statement was made "knowingly." In most cases, these penalties increase the amount of repayment of benefits by 30% and result in 2 to 15 weeks of disqualification for benefits. If the EDD finds that the false statements were made with the "intent to defraud," the penalty is disqualification from receiving benefits for 3 years, and may result in criminal prosecution.
Example of cases involving termination
Below are three examples of cases that illustrate (A) a discharge for reasons that lead to a disqualification from unemployment insurance based on misconduct; (B) a discharge for reasons that do not lead to a disqualification from unemployment based on misconduct; and (C) the importance of identifying the moving party in determining eligibility for unemployment insurance:
Example A: Discharge for "misconduct"
Keith worked for a moving and freight company that used a point system to track employee tardiness and absence. Any time an employee was late or absent, the employee would be given points. Once an employee reached 8 points, the employee could be terminated. Keith had collected 7 points over the past year. He collected most of these points because of absence related to occasional illness or lateness because of problems with childcare arrangements. The "triggering incident" happened when Keith showed up at work 1.5 hours late because he mistakenly thought his start time was 10 am on a day that it was actually 8:30 am. Typically, in the afternoon, the employer would post the schedule for the following day on a bulletin board near the dispatcher's office. If the schedule was not posted by the time a worker left work, the worker was expected to call the dispatcher later and ask. The schedule had not been posted on the evening before the triggering incident, but Keith failed to call the dispatcher to confirm his start time.
Because he had been warned by the employer about his tardiness and absence record and he knowingly failed to call the dispatcher to confirm his start time and avoid another incident of tardiness or absence, Keith was found to have been discharged for "misconduct." In this case, the "single, isolated instance" defense did not apply because of prior warnings. Keith is not eligible for UI benefits.
Example B: Discharge for reasons other than "misconduct"
Lucy worked as a nanny for a couple, caring for their infant. Lucy had injured her back at a previous job, and needed surgery. The employer allowed Lucy to take time off for the surgery and to recover. During the middle of the time off, the employer contacted Lucy and said that they no longer needed her services. The employer did not give Lucy any specific reasons, except to say that the child was currently being cared for by a family member and that seemed to be working out better. However, the employer challenged Lucy's ability to receive unemployment benefits, saying that they had fired her for intentionally disobeying certain instructions concerning the care of the infant and the cleanliness of the infant's environment.
Because the employer did not show a connection between the timing of Lucy's termination and the specific, intentional misdeeds they say she committed, Lucy was found to have been discharged for reasons other than "misconduct." In this case, the "employer condonation" defense, the "causal connection" defense and the "incompetence" defense all applied. Lucy is eligible for UI benefits.
Example C: Identifying the moving party
Kim worked for a computer software design firm as a graphics engineer. She had reached a point in the company where she felt as though there was no further room for advancement. She decided to resign and give her employer two-week notice of her plan to leave. Although the employer understood her desire to move forward with her career, the employer informed Kim that it would be better and safer for the company for her resignation to take effect immediately. The employer paid Kim the wages she was owed up through that day. Security escorted Kim to her desk and watched her pack her things to leave.
Because Kim was ready, willing and able to perform work for the company for another 2 weeks but the employer refused to allow her to do that work, the employer was the moving party in the separation. Since the employer was the moving party and the employer did not accuse Kim of any acts of misconduct, Kim was found to be eligible for UI benefits. (However, if Kim had been paid by the employer through the end of her two-week notice period, she would have been considered the moving party and the case would be considered a voluntary quit.)
For further information about your employment rights, contact the Workers' Rights Clinic.
This Fact Sheet is intended to provide accurate, general information regarding legal rights relating to employment in California. Yet because laws and legal procedures are subject to frequent change and differing interpretations, the Legal Aid Society–Employment Law Center cannot ensure the information in this Fact Sheet is current nor be responsible for any use to which it is put. Do not rely on this information without consulting an attorney or the appropriate agency about your rights in your particular situation.


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Okay, so we started out BF'ing and all was fine until my milk came in at 3 days and once again I start having OALD. This didn't happen to me with my first one until around 5 weeks into BF'ing the OALD started. Well with DS this time, he was choking and it was just too much. I couldn't stand it anymore. I broke out my new medela pump and started pumping for bottle feedings last night. He was also very colicky like leading up to tonight since we have just been bottle feeding.
DS will be a week old on Monday (10/5). He weighed 8 lbs 6 ounces, so a good size baby and latched on like pro the very first time.
My concern is, should I be doing this and how much should I be getting each time I pump? I am feeding DS 10-12 times a day 2 ounces from a bottle. I am pumping each time after I feed him for the next feeding. I was making 2 - 2 ounce bottles each time I pumped and now the last 2 pumpings I am only getting 2 ounces total. I don't want to lose my supply and my thought is here in a week or two I would start BF'ing exclusive DS again once I think he can handle my OALD.
I am also not opposed to exclusively pumping, because I feel BM is so important. I will have to pump when I go back to work in 3 months anyways.
Anyone out there that has done this and any ideas or thoughts? Am I doing this right?


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The Pettus Lady Eagles were up against the visiting Annapolis Lady Warriors on Tuesday evening and were able to rally late to capture a 3-0 victory in the best of five varsity match.
Annapolis played competitively in all three sets but could not topple or shake the confidence of the Lady Eagles. The Pettus girls earned a 25-15 win in the first set. Annapolis kept after the Lady Eagles, but the hosts' return of serve, defense and service game was too much for the Warriors. Pettus captured set two, 25-17, with a late run for a 2-0 lead.
"We played pretty good. It was a definite improvement from the two earlier scrimmages we had," said Pettus head coach Erica Garza.
"We still need to jell as a team."
The third contest was close in the early going. Both teams put together small runs to keep things interesting and the winner in doubt. Annapolis led late, but a few serves and defensive stands by the Lady Eagles put them over the top for a 25-20 victory in set three for the match.
Librero Destiny Carrillo, Madi Garza and Randi Arrisola return this year to bring a little experience to the team.
The Pettus girls are hosting their own varsity tournament on Thursday and Saturday with teams from Nordheim, McMullen County, Agua Dulce, Skidmore-Tynan, Runge, Ben Bolt and Prairie Lea all competing. Pool play was played on Thursday to seed the teams for Saturday's finals. The championship match is set for 7 p.m. Saturday.
On Tuesday, the Lady Eagles will travel to Skidmore to tangle with Bee County rivals the Lady Cats. The JV girls get things started at 5 p.m. with the varsity match to follow.