text:
Submit News
Ford Hits Rock Bottom in Consumer Reports Reliability Survey Thanks to MyFord Touch
Shane McGlaun
October 30, 2012 9:24 AM
Recipient E-mail
Sender E-mail
Woes blamed on less than stellar DCT shifting and MyFord touch
After years of being ranked as one of the most reliable automakers in the industry, Ford's recent use of in-car infotainment systems have caused it to plummet in quality rankings.
Consumer Reports
indicates that only a couple years ago Ford was in the top 10 among brands in its predicted reliability scores with over 90% of its models being average or better. However, in the most recent
Consumer Reports
reliability scores, Ford has dropped to number 27 out of 28 in the survey.
Studies from JD Power
have also noted a drop in Ford's ranking.
Japanese automakers are taking advantage of Ford's decline with Scion, Toyota, and Lexus sweeping the top three spots. Those three Toyota brands were followed by Mazda, Subaru, Honda, and Acura with all models produced by the top seven brands offering average or better reliability.
Multiple factors contributed to Ford's significant decline in
Consumer Reports
Consumer Reports
shown no love for Ford's MyFord Touch technology
and its survey participants obviously agree. Several of Ford's new vehicles -- including the
, and
-- had more problems than normal according to
Consumer Reports
. Another significant contributing factor to Ford's decline in the rankings is three of its historically reliable models, the Escape,
, and
Lincoln MKZ
are not included in the current analysis because they were all redesigned for 2013.
MyFord Touch
Consumer Reports director of testing Jake Fisher notes that despite attempts to improve MyFord Touch, the system, which is featured in many Ford vehicles, continues to confuse customers. Fisher also says that customers continue to
complain about rough shifting on Ford six-speed dual-clutch PowerShift transmissions
"They've put out some updates to try to address some of those problems for both the transmissions and the infotainment controls, but it doesn't seem to be enough," Fisher said.
Despite Ford plummeting in the Consumer Reports reliability rankings, the company posted a massive profit for Q3 2012. Ford racked up $1.63 billion in profit during the quarter, marking a slight decline from $1.65 billion earned the same quarter of 2011. Ford had a pre-tax operating profit $2.2 billion amounting to $.40 per share. Analysts had anticipated a gain of $.30 per share.
"The Ford team delivered a best-ever third quarter, driven by record results in North America and the continued strength of Ford Credit," said Alan Mulally, Ford president and CEO, in a statement. "While we are facing near-term challenges in Europe, we are fully committed to transforming our business in Europe by moving decisively to match production to demand, improve revenue through new products and grow a stronger brand, improve our cost efficiencies and take advantage of opportunities to profitably grow our business."
However, things don't look is rosy for Ford in Europe with the company reporting a loss of $460 million during the quarter marking a loss of about $1 billion in Europe this year alone. Ford has previously announced that it expects to lose about $1.5 billion in Europe during 2012 and 2013. The automaker plans to restructure its European operations and shed workers.
Consumer Reports
Free Press
Detroit News
Detroit News
"I f***ing cannot play Halo 2 multiplayer. I cannot do it." -- Bungie Technical Lead Chris Butcher
Related Articles
Quick Note: 2013 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid Rated at 45 MPG City/Highway
October 15, 2012, 7:52 PM
Ford Uses Carbon Fiber Hood to Reduce Vehicle Weight, Increase Fuel Efficiency
October 9, 2012, 3:37 PM
2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid EPA Certified at 47 MPG (City/Highway)
September 18, 2012, 8:10 AM
Consumer Reports Continues Assault on MyFord Touch, Says it "Stinks"
August 23, 2012, 11:06 AM
UPDATE: MyFord Touch Once Again Hammers Ford in 2012 J.D. Power Rankings
June 20, 2012, 2:04 PM
Latest Headlines
Jaguar I-PACE – Jaguar's New Electric Concept / New SUV
November 16, 2016, 5:00 AM
Car Insurance - The Hidden Discriminatory Practise
October 18, 2016, 5:00 AM
End of the Road for the Audi R8 e-tron
October 15, 2016, 5:00 AM
Paralyzed Race Car Driver Recieves Nevada License
October 12, 2016, 5:00 AM
Take a Glance at the Cars of the Paris 2016 Motor Show
October 4, 2016, 5:00 AM
Automaker Porsche may expand range of Panamera Coupe design.
September 18, 2016, 11:00 AM
More Headlines
Most Popular Articles
What Can You Do with Your New Echo Dot?
December 3, 2016, 5:00 AM
Google has developed Deep Learning Algorithm to detect Diabetic Eye Disease
December 4, 2016, 5:00 AM
Sound Blaster Z SBX PCIE Gaming Sound Card - Superb High Performance Sound Card
December 6, 2016, 1:00 AM
GizmoTab – Verizon's new $80 Tablet for Kids
December 4, 2016, 5:30 AM
Foscam R2 Home Security Camera System – High Quality High FHD Security Video Footage with No Monthly Fees
December 1, 2016, 2:00 AM
Latest Blog Posts
What's in the News?
Saimin Nidarson
Dec 11, 2016, 5:00 AM
Some News
Saimin Nidarson
Dec 10, 2016, 5:00 AM
Today's Talk
Saimin Nidarson
Dec 9, 2016, 5:00 AM
Latest Tech News
Saimin Nidarson
Dec 8, 2016, 5:11 AM
In The News
Saimin Nidarson
Dec 7, 2016, 5:00 AM
e Guide: Mobile Security for 2017
Saimin Nidarson
Dec 6, 2016, 5:00 AM
Apple Car is Not Dead
Saimin Nidarson
Dec 5, 2016, 1:00 AM
More News
Saimin Nidarson
Dec 4, 2016, 5:00 AM
More News
Saimin Nidarson
Dec 3, 2016, 5:00 AM
Top News
Saimin Nidarson
Dec 2, 2016, 5:00 AM
Surface Ergonomic Keyboard
Saimin Nidarson
Dec 1, 2016, 3:01 AM
Chapeconense plane crash: Football rallies around Brazilian Team
Saimin Nidarson
Nov 30, 2016, 1:00 AM
How to Extends Your iPhone's Battery Life
Saimin Nidarson
Nov 29, 2016, 12:49 AM
Top Stories
Saimin Nidarson
Nov 28, 2016, 1:12 AM
News: Fidel Castro
Saimin Nidarson
Nov 27, 2016, 5:00 AM
Top News
Saimin Nidarson
Nov 26, 2016, 5:00 AM
Changes in Social status affect the way genes turn on and off within immune cells.
Saimin Nidarson
Nov 25, 2016, 5:12 AM
Austrian far–right hopeful Hofer may back EU vote.
Saimin Nidarson
Nov 24, 2016, 4:00 AM
Final Fantasy XV Leaked Before Nov 29 Launch Date
Saimin Nidarson
Nov 23, 2016, 1:00 AM
More Blog Posts
Copyright 2016 DailyTech LLC. -
RSS Feed
About Us
Terms, Conditions & Privacy Information
Kristopher Kubicki


text:
Technical Program
Oral Presentations: PowerPoint is the method of presentation. Presenters should bring their PowerPoint files (which should include either the author's name or abstract number) on CD-ROM or USB memory device to be uploaded in the speaker ready room at least one hour before the start of the morning or afternoon session in which you will present. The speaker ready room is in the Warnock Science Building, WSB room 310, and is open 7 a.m.–5 p.m. on Thursday, 8 March and Friday, 9 March 2012.
Poster Presentations: We will supply with six Velcro sticky dots for you to use to hang your poster. Each poster presenter will be provided with a 92" wide x 65" tall posting area. Access to electrical outlets and furniture for poster sessions must be requested well in advance to the Jim Whitford-Stark, Technical Program Chair. Authors of posters for the morning session are asked to have their posters in place by 8 a.m., and should remove their posters by noon. Authors of posters for the afternoon session are requested to have their posters in place by 1:30 p.m., and should remove their posters by 5:30 p.m. Authors are expected to be available at their posters 9:30–11:30 a.m. for each morning session, and 2:30–4:30 p.m. for each afternoon session.
- Big Bend National Park and Vicinity: A Decade of Research.
Don Corrick, Big Bend National Park; Dee Ann Cooper, The University of Texas at Austin; Roger Cooper, Lamar University.
- Big Bend National Park is well known for its spectacular geologic diversity, with rocks spanning in age from the Ordovician to the Quaternary and structures representing three major orogenies (Ouachita-Marathon, Laramide, and Basin and Range). This multidisciplinary session is intended to bring together researchers who have been working in and around Big Bend National Park and to highlight new geologic information and mapping completed since the last meeting in Alpine in 2002. Both oral and poster sessions are planned.
- 1. Tectonic History of the Trans-Pecos Region.
John White, Eastern Kentucky University.
- A billion years of tectonic history are exposed in the Trans-Pecos region of far west Texas and southern New Mexico, from Precambrian Grenville rocks and structures to the Cenozoic Rio Grande Rift. This session will focus on work in petrology, structural geology, and geophysics that has contributed to the understanding of this tectonically complex and controversial region over the past decade.
- 2. The Rio Grande and Its Tributaries in the Big Bend Region: Hydrology, Water Quality, and Restoration Efforts.
Jeff Bennett, Big Bend National Park; Joe Sirotnak, Big Bend National Park
- This session will focus on recent important work in the Big Bend region regarding hydrology and the environment. Presentations should focus on geomorphology, water quality/quantity, and habitat restoration.
- 3. Mesozoic of the Western USA.
Thomas Shiller, Texas Tech Univ.
- 4. Stratigraphy and Paleontology of the Permian Basin.
Emily Stoudt, University of Texas Permian Basin; Robert Trentham, The University of Texas of the Permian Basin.
- The richly fossilifeous Permian strata in West Texas continue to be extensively studied and contain the world standard for the Middle Permian. The Permian Basin is also one of the most prolific petroleum provinces in North America and accounts for over 20% of current US oil and gas production. This session will focus on current research and issues related to paleontology and petroleum geology in the Permian Basin of west Texas.
- 5. Aquifers of West Texas.
James Ward, Angelo State University.
- Nearly 60% of water in Texas is supplied by groundwater. In arid west Texas, recharge rates for the complex aquifers lag behind the amount extracted for domestic, agricultural, and manufacturing use. The guiding principle in Texas for groundwater management is the rule of capture. Bordering states (New Mexico, Colorado, and Oklahoma) and nations (Mexico) demonstrate differing legal and cultural practices. Against this backdrop, assuring an adequate supply of water for irrigation, for industrial and municipal needs, and for the environmental needs of individual rivers, bays, and estuaries is largely a regional question. In spite of the adage — "Whiskeys for drinking; waters for fighting!" — solutions are emerging for addressing the universal need for water, from conservation and conjunctive use to desalination. This session will explore what is known about west Texas aquifers and the challenges and opportunities ahead.
- 6. Geoarchaeological Investigations in the Big Bend Region, Southwestern Texas.
Andy Cloud, Center for Big Bend Studies, Sul Ross State University.
- Recent archaeological and geoarchaeological investigations sponsored by the Center for Big Bend Studies of Sul Ross State University have greatly facilitated the understanding of human occupational zones within late Pleistocene and early to middle Holocene deposits in the Big Bend region of Southwestern Texas. This session will concentrate on findings dated through radiocarbon assays from the Early Paleoindian, Late Paleoindian, Early Archaic, and Middle Archaic periods, roughly spanning 7,000 years (ca. 11,000–4,000 B.P.).
- 7. Issues in Earth Science Education.
Kevin Urbanczyk, Sul Ross State University
- "What is it with kids these days?" The youth of today are both unnervingly familiar with technology and reflecting a vastly different world view and values system than we remember ourselves at their age. The changing demographics of our nation and emerging debates within geology, education, and politics make for a very interesting atmosphere for educators. This session explores successful strategies for attracting and educating the next generation about Earth.
Richard Hanson, Texas Christian Univ.
Joey Dishron, Sul Ross State University

subset: commoncrawl


text: Wagons remained on display for judging and viewing until 5:00 p.m. Judging takes place, rain or shine. There are three categories, commercial, youth and adult. Entry fee is only $5 and trophies were awarded to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in each category. What are you waiting for? Get out that wagon and start decorating!Wagon Parade Entry Deadline is Friday, Oct. 26. Entry forms are available at the George West Chamber of Commerce or online at www.georgeweststoryfest.org


text:
Unranked St. Mary's Stuns No. 3 Dickinson
from press release
BROOKLANDVILLE, Md. – A third-period surge of six unanswered goals and four players recording multiple-point games propelled the St. Mary's College of Maryland men's lacrosse team to an exciting 12-9 non-conference victory over the No. 3 Dickinson College Red Devils on a blustery Saturday afternoon.
Senior attackman John Dehm (Trumbull, Conn./Middlesex [Mass.]) posted career-highs of three goals and two assists to pace the St. Mary's (1-1) offense while first-year midfielder Will Lerch (Lothian, Md./Calverton School) notched his first career hat trick and added his first career assist to finish with four points.
Junior midfielder Stew D'Ambrogi (Severna Park, Md./Severn School) also tallied four points on a goal and career-high three helpers while junior attackman Patrick Mull (Fallston, Md./Fallston) contributed a goal and two assists to the winning cause.
Junior midfielder Riley Fink (University Park, Md./Eleanor Roosevelt) put St. Mary's on the scoreboard first as Fink completed a pass from Dehm at 7:06. Dickinson responded with back-to-back goals in less than a four-minute span to take a 2-1 lead into the second period.
The Red Devils (0-1) claimed a 3-1 margin at 12:50 before Dehm pulled St. Mary's within one at 7:56. Dickinson regained a two-goal cushion at 4:01 but the Red Devils with a 4-3 lead after D'Ambrogi found the back of the net with an extra-man goal at 2:03.
It was the Seahawk show in the third quarter with six unanswered scores to boast a 9-4 advantage with one period left to play. Six different players scored in the run, including senior long-stick midfielder Peter Windsor (Towson, Md./St. Paul's School) picking up his first collegiate goal at 14:13 to tie up the game at 4-4.
Dickinson rallied in the fourth stanza, outscoring St. Mary's by a 5-3 margin and scoring three in the final five minutes. However, the Seahawk defense was up to the challenge and held off the Red Devils' big guns for the win that snapped St. Mary's two-game losing skid against Dickinson.
Junior face-off specialist Albert Mitchell (Shrewsbury, Mass./Saint John's) went 10-for-23 at the X with a team-best six ground balls while sophomore defenseman Tripp Trainor (Severn, Md./Gilman School) collected four loose ball pickups and caused two Red Devil turnovers.
Seahawk senior Stu Wheeler (Baltimore, Md./St. Paul's School) registered 10 saves on 35 shots faced while picking up four ground balls. Dickinson outshot the Seahawks in the game, 35-28, while owning a 45-33 advantage in ground balls.
St. Mary's will be back in action on Saturday, March 3 as the Seahawks travel to Lancaster, Pa. to take on Franklin & Marshall College (1-1) in non-conference action at 4:00 pm.
comments powered by Disqus


text:
I am looking for a good scale that does not cost an arm and leg to figure out how much milk my 3 week old is getting at his feedings. If anyone knows of a good one please let me know. Thanks
I am looking for a good scale that does not cost an arm and leg to figure out how much milk my 3 week old is getting at his feedings. If anyone knows of a good one please let me know. Thanks
beter way is to count diapars.
has your doctor asked you to weigh the baby?
some places that rent pumps also rent good scales.
No dr has not ask to weight but i am wanting to know how much milk he is getting because he does not seem satisfied after his feedings no matter how long or short his feeding are.
how old is baby? I see 3 weeks thats a prime time for a growth spurt.
how often is baby nursing?
What are his wet and poops like...
growth spurts happen and they want to nurse round the clock
anywhere from 1 1/2 to 3 hours if i put him in his bouncey seat he will go about 3 hours. he has plenty of wet and dirty diapers he gave me one a little bit ago that we all had to change clothes.
try not to worry!
Lots of babies need to eat more often then every 3 hours at that age!
This does cost a lot, but we got it when I got tired of going to the ped's 3x/week for weigh-ins when dd was first born and not gaining weight. It was less expensive than all those co-pays, and helped me regain my sanity.
Health o Meter HDC100-01 "Grow with Me" Teddy Bear Scale for Babies and Toddlers
I still love it, and we use it every few weeks... DD's 9 mo now... BUT, I think I should've trusted my motherly instincts and told the docs she would be OK. Still consistently on the low end of the weight chart--but that's just how some babies are.
I agree with Andrea... You don't really need a scale. Trust your body, and check those diapers. But if it helps your peace of mind, then do it. If there's a Baby Depot/Burlington Coat Factory near you, they may have a less expensive, non-electric type of scale.
for 1-1/2 years...and still going!
My husband was really concerned about my dd during the first two weeks so he went to Babies R Us and bought a scale for like $60. We used it once and then returned it once he was satisfied that she was gaining weight! He didn't like the idea of not knowing exactly how much she was eating and just going by the number of poops and pees she had! She is now 12 weeks old and he is much better!
our baby scale was our best buy! we could weigh baby the same time, same conditions and then we could KNOW he wasn't loosing weight. It's not as good for how much milk they have had but good to see overall weight gain


text:
Honeymoon in Portugal (8D/7N)from €690
Tour Length:
8 days, 7 nights
Tour Themes:
When To Go:
All Year
The most recent hotel of the HF Group, the HF Fénix Garden enjoys a privileged location with a view to Parque Eduardo VII, the central point of the "Lisboa Pombalina". This privileged location in the very heart of Lisbon, is very close to every important thing that happens in the city, whether in terms of leisure, business, culture or shopping. Merely 6 km away from the international airport, the Hotel has accesses to the entire public transportation network right outside its doors. It is also very close to the most important park of the city (Parque Eduardo VII) and, just a few steps away, is the famous Av. da Liberdade and the not less famous Praça do Rossio, Praça dos Restauradores, Praça do Comércio and the Tagus River.


text:
"Thank you for the work that you do. This March will mark my third year back in the Catholic Church. By God's grace, he brought me back using Catholic Answers Live and EWTN. I will be forever grateful."
"O grant that in life's eventide,
Thy light may e'er with us abide..."


text:
Empower Educators. Inspire Learning.™
School Supplies > Instructional Resources
Early Childhood
Education is a lifelong endeavor so start your young students off on this journey with early childhood products designed for beginning learners. Our collection includes such products as letter vests, flashcards, the big box of sorting & classifying, puzzle boards, lacing cards, tactile letters, sort & stack cylinders and cubes, and TAG reading system.


text:
Around Town
Charles Town Ghost Tours set
CHARLES TOWN – Charles Town Ghost Tours is pleased to announce its spring schedule for 2013. Saturday will be opening night and open to the public. It will be a traditional tour, perfect for those that have never heard any of the haunted history of Charles Town. On April 20, join the ghostly group for a public "Cemetery Stroll" full of folklore, history and chilling tales. On May 25, the Ghost Tours will hold its first benefit for the year and owner, Ann Khiel Fern is accepting suggestions for a local non-profit business to raise money and awareness for.
In addition to the scheduled public tours, private tours are available on Tuesday through Saturday evenings. There are also three field trips planned for this year. All public tours begin and end at the Jefferson County Courthouse and the cost is $12 for 12 and above and $6 for those under 12. Reservations are required for all tours and cameras are welcome.
For more information, visit Charles Town Ghost Tours on Facebook or call Ann Khiel Fern at 304-724-6741.
Buckles exhibit opens at museum
CHARLES TOWN – The Jefferson County Museum has opened for the 2013 season with a new exhibit on Frank Buckles, America's last World War I veteran. On display are his uniform, great coat, identification tag, and other items lent to the museum by his daughter, Susannah Buckles Flanagan. Family photographs illustrate the timeline of his life from 1901 to 1911. The museum is also hosting an exhibit on the Wainwright Baptist Church, established in 1868 as a place of worship for African-Americans.
Our permanent exhibits contain an amazing collection of objects, documents, and photographs telling the history of the county from prehistoric times to the mid-20th century.
The museum is on the ground floor of the Charles Town Library building, at 200 E. Washington St. Musem hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Admission is $3 for adults and free for children, students and Charles Town Library patrons.
For more information, call 304-725-8628.
'Partners and Pairs' ballet on tap
CHARLESTON – The Charleston Ballet will complete its 57th season with a mixed bill program called "Partners and Pairs." This program will take place at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Charleston Civic Center Theater.
"SQUAREDANCE" is a ballet choreographed by K. R. Pauley to some of your favorite Appalachian fiddle tunes played and sung by our own Senator Robert C. Byrd. This ballet will have you tapping your toes and clapping your hands.
Tickets purchased in advance are priced at $20 for adults and $15 for students and seniors. Group discounts for 10 or more are also available by calling the Charleston Ballet office at 304-342-6541. Tickets at the door will be $25 and $20. They are available at the Civic Center Box Office, Backstage Bodywear and at the Charleston Ballet Office at 100 Capitol St. Suite 302. You can also make your purchase online at tickets @thecharleston ballet.com.
Line dancing set for Saturday
WAYNESBORO, Pa. – The Hagerstown Country Western Dance Association will sponsor a dance from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday at the Quincy Gym, 7888 Anthony Highway. Line dancing for singles and couples. Admission is $15 per person.
For more information, email firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
3T3 Neutral Red Uptake Phototoxicity Assay Applications
The 3T3 NRU phototoxicity assay is generally used to test the phototoxic potential of chemicals and ingredients, rather than final products and formulations.
Test Material Compatibility
The assay is best suited for water-soluble materials; however, test materials may be dissolved in intermediate solvents so that they are compatible with the test system. At IIVS, an initial solubility test is performed to find the most suitable solvent when the solubility of a test chemical is unknown.
Test materials that are found to be insoluble or otherwise incompatible with this test system (3T3 NRU Phototox) may be tested using our 3-D Reconstructed Human Epidermis Phototoxicity assay.
Specialized Protocols
Test article concentrations may be adjusted as necessary to accommodate specific physical characteristics or client needs. Specialized protocols may be prepared as requested through consultation with the Study Director.
Alternate assays measuring the potential for phototoxic action may be employed using 3-dimensional reconstructed human epidermal tissue models. Please contact us for more information.
Validation Status


text:
Home List of Titles Coherent vibronic coupling in light-harvesting complexes from photosynthetic marine algae
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.3/213336
- Title
- Coherent vibronic coupling in light-harvesting complexes from photosynthetic marine algae
- Author(s)
- Richards, G. H.; Wilk, K. E.; Curmi, P. M. G.; Quiney, H. M.; Davis, J. A.
- Abstract
- Observations of long-lived coherences in photosynthetic light-harvesting complexes utilize short pulses with broad spectral bandwidths to coherently excite multiple transitions and coherent superpositions. In order to identify the role that such quantum effects might play in efficient energy transfer, however, an alternative approach is required. We have developed a technique for two-color photon echo spectroscopy to selectively excite the pathway of interest and measure its evolution in the absence of any other excitation. We use this technique to excite a coherence pathway in phycocyanin-645 from cryptophyte algae and measure the dynamics of this coherence. A decoherence time of 500 fs was measured, and clear signatures for strong coupling between the electronic states and phonon modes were observed, allowing coherent coupling between otherwise nonresonant transitions. This provides detailed experimental evidence of the long-lived coherences and the nature of the quantum mechanical interactions between electronic states and phonon modes in phycocyanin-645 from cryptophyte marine algae.
- Publication type
- Journal article
- Research centre
- Swinburne University of Technology. Faculty of Engineering and Industrial Sciences. Centre for Atom Optics and Ultrafast Spectroscopy
- Source
- Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, Vol. 3, no. 2 (Jan 2012), pp. 272-277
- Publication year
- 2012
- FOR Code(s)
- 02 Physical Sciences; 03 Chemical Sciences
- Keyword(s)
- Coherent vibronic coupling; Energy transfer; Light-harvesting complexes; Marine algae; Photosynthesis; Quantum effects
- Publisher
- American Chemical Society
- 1948-7185
- Publisher URL
- Copyright
- Copyright © 2012 American Chemical Society.
- Additional information
- The authors acknowledge supoprt from the Australian Research Council.
- Peer reviewed


text:
Vt. residents head to town meeting
MONTPELIER Vermonters will elect municipal officers, approve budgets, examine zoning bylaws, authorize long-term capital borrowing, decide the operating calendar for the town and debate issues like energy this Town Meeting Day.
Executive Director of Vermont League of Cities and Towns Steven Jeffrey said in an email that school budgeting issues are usually a major focus.
As property taxes go up, the issue of school budgets takes more of a center stage, Jeffrey said.
Besides concrete items like spending and bylaw revisions, many towns also take up nonbinding resolutions and poll questions.
Jeffrey said the items have little place on the agenda when the purpose of the meeting is to actually govern ourselves, but supporters of resolutions and poll questions believe its a way for citizens to voice their opinions on big topics and discuss broader issues.
Energy is also a hot topic for towns in the path of a new gas pipeline. At least two towns, Shoreham and Cornwall, will be taking up nonbinding articles in the matter. In Lowell, a tiny northern town with a population of 738 people, a nonbinding anti-wind power article was added to the town meeting agenda this year by court order after it had been passed over at a Town Meeting Day two years ago without discussion.
Lowell resident Ed Wesolow, who took the issue to the Vermont Supreme Court, said the ruling to put it back on the agenda was a win for democracy.
All this is, is asking the minority to have a voice to express the fact that we dont like the tactics that have taken place or the ramifications that will hurt this town in the long run, Wesolow said in January.
Lowell is home to Green Mountain Powers Kingdom Community Wind project. In 2010, before it was built, 75 percent of residents at Town Meeting Day voted in favor of the project. Now it supplements the town budget. However, the Lowell wind project generated fierce opposition, like the 2012 anti-wind resolution from opponents who felt it would scar the ridgeline and provide no environmental benefit.
There certainly is some talk about it being back on the warning and I dont know what to expect, Lowell Town Clerk Karen Clinger said.
Select Board Chair Richard Pion said in January that it makes no difference how people vote, theres nothing to become of it.
GMP spokeswoman Dorothy Schnure disagreed strongly with the language of the anti-wind question, which says the project threatens to turn the town into a slum and could cause clinical depression.
Were good neighbors in the community, Schnure said. She also noted that right after that article would be discussed, the town would move on to deciding how to use the money theyve received from Kingdom Community Wind.
Some items also stand to potentially oppose existing law, like Burlingtons town meeting items on gun control.
The three articles on the agenda would allow police officers to confiscate guns, ammo or weapons from suspected domestic abusers, ban firearms from locations with liquor licenses and require firearms to be locked when not with the users.
The measures spurred spending from groups on both sides of the issue. Pro-gun organizers like Vermont Federation of Sportsmens Clubs Vice President Llewelyn Evan Hughes III say the articles would violate a Vermont statute passed in the 1980s.
Ann Braden, president and co-founder of Gun Sense Vermont, said the Burlington gun measures were common-sense ideas to make the city safer and only came up because residents were dissatisfied with a lack of state and national action on gun control.
Vermonts long tradition of town meeting stretches back to 1762 when the first recorded town meeting was held in Bennington, according to the Vermont secretary of states website.MORE IN This Just In
BARRE TOWN — Firefighters faced a collection of adverse conditions as a house... Full StoryWILLISTON Police are asking for help identifying the man who tried to steal roughly $800 worth ... Full StoryNEWBURY Police said somebody stole booze and change from a Welch Road residence. Full Story
- Most Popular
- Most Emailed


text:
Facing up to spring
By Daralyn Danns, February 6, 2012
We love it when the new season's colours arrive.
Cynics may say they are a way to force us to splash our cash on new make-up, but they are the way we face the world and show we know that make-up colours and techniques change from season to season. And if we want to add some va-voom to our look, there's no faster or cheaper, (if you ignore shopping in Primark) fix than that acquired with a meltingly gorgeous new lipstick or a bang-on-trend eye shadow.
We speak to the experts and reveal what's new on the beauty counters for spring, including the new skin-care products which become ever more effective as research throws up brilliant, new non-invasive anti-ageing solutions.
Last updated: 12:24pm, February 6 2012


text:
Last October 2010, our blogpost titled "Why Do Patients Dislike Pain Care Providers?" [here] reported that patients have low levels of satisfaction with their pain care providers, the care they receive, and the outcomes. In general, patients felt disrespected and distrusted, suspected of drug-seeking, and having their self-reported symptoms dismissed as trivial and/or not warranting medical attention.
To examine perceptions from the "practitioner side of the stethoscope," researchers gathered healthcare provider perspectives on caring for patients with chronic pain. A qualitative study used open-ended, in-depth interviews to survey 20 primary care providers. Participants had clinical experience ranging from 5 to 20+ years and were employed at the Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, Indiana; half were male, and there were 15 physicians, 4 nurse practitioners, and 1 pharmacist (PharmD) representing 5 different clinics at the Center.
Three broad themes emerged from the analysis of survey responses:
- Providers emphasized the importance of the patient–provider relationship, acknowledging that productive relationships with patients are essential for good pain care;
- however, they detailed many problems encountered when caring for patients with chronic pain, including (a) feeling pressured by patients to treat with opioids, (b) the believability of patients' reports of pain, (c) worries about patients seeking medications for uses other than pain control or to divert for financial gain, and (d) dealing with hostile, abusive, or otherwise difficult patients; and
- they described the emotional strain they sometimes experienced in caring for chronic pain, including feeling frustrated, ungratified, and guilty if treatment outcomes were less than expected or desired.
In their comments, providers noted how they want to be liked by patients and respected by their peers; being "fired" by a patient who believes he/she has not received adequate pain care is personally demoralizing and professionally detrimental. Some providers expressed having inadequate training and poor guidelines to follow for treating pain, and they regretted being perceived as cruel when they could not relieve a patient's pain. As one remarked, "Of course you want to relieve their pain, so I beat myself up. I feel guilty when these people end up yelling at me, and they do!"
The study authors conclude that strategies are needed to ease frustrations and defuse hostility in clinical interactions, and such approaches would improve pain management from the perspectives of both patients and providers. However they note that solutions to difficulties in chronic pain care extend beyond the individual provider. The organizational culture in which healthcare providers practice — for example if there is pressure to prescribe or not to prescribe opioids for chronic pain — can play an important role in shaping their experiences and ultimately make a difference in their relationships with patients.
COMMENTARY: This small study was funded by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the VA Medical Center from which primary care providers were sampled serves about 30,000 patients per year; 38% are over age 65, 94% male, and 89% Caucasian. Furthermore, this population included a high prevalence of financially disadvantaged patients with coexisting medical and psychiatric disorders. So, the experiences and perspectives expressed in the survey may not completely generalize to other healthcare providers, nor to other settings apart from the VA system in the U.S.
It is interesting and of some importance that many of the challenges expressed by practitioners in this study directly parallel those typically stated by patients. Unresolved issues of trust, frustration, misunderstandings, and failed expectations on both sides lead to negative interactions that take an emotional toll from practitioners and patients alike. In patients this may incur anger and hostility, while practitioners may develop what Matthias and colleagues call "compassion fatigue" brought on by repeatedly disappointing or negative encounters. Yet, healthcare providers are expected to effectively manage patient-practitioner relationships just as they are expected to successfully manage pain via appropriate interventions.
Matthias et al. believe that the clinical implications of their findings are two-fold. First, practitioners needs cannot be ignored when considering pain care; they require appropriate training along with emotional and institutional support as they care for sometimes difficult patients with chronic pain. Second, improving practitioners' patient-centered communication skills — including demonstrating empathy and encouraging shared decision-making — holds promise for alleviating some of the strain and burden reported by providers, ultimately leading to improved patient care. Actions steps for achieving these important goals, however, still need to be determined.
REFERENCE: Matthias MS, Parpart AL, Nyland KA, et al. The Patient–Provider Relationship in Chronic Pain Care: Providers' Perspectives. Pain Medicine. 2010(Nov);11(11):1688–1697 [abstract here].


text:
Spring Training: My Coming of Age
There's good news and there's bad news. The good news is obviously that spring training–in its most basic form–is here. The bad news is that UNC Chapel Hill was not my pitch either. Another strike, but I am neither out nor in the hole: for I have been accepted into both Marquette and the University of Maryland. I have not been lucky when it comes to the crapshoot that we call the college admissions process, but hard as it has been, I have done my best to keep some degree of faith. As J.R.R. Tolkien says, "Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens." My road has darkened considerably, but I'm hoping that I'll end up in the right place. Having two strikes is certainly a precarious and uncomfortable position to be in, but it ain't over 'til it's over.
Tolkien also says, "All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us." No matter where I end up going to school, I figure as long as I take advantage of my resources and spend my time wisely, I will still achieve my goals.
Baseball is a bizarre game, and college admissions is a bizarre process. You can look at and measure statistics, but you can never truly predict the end. You can't try to figure out what the next pitch is going to be. Baseball players have to adapt. Sometimes a pitcher's curveball isn't working, so they have to make an adjustment. Similarly, I'm adapting to what is being thrown at me.
Let's focus on the good news, though: baseball officially returns today. Baseball fans are crazy because not only do we get excited over games that don't even count, but we also get excited over workouts. For the rest of February, we will get excited over essential, but otherwise monotonous fundamental drills, batting practice, and bullpen sessions.
Spring Training has been a sort of coming-of-age process for me. My intentions seem to change ever year. I'm pretty sure my first spring training game ever was a Red Sox vs Marlins game at Roger Dean Stadium in 2005. I had not yet developed a passion for minor league baseball, so I was only looking forward to seeing the big-league stars. That being said, I was really disappointed when, after a two hour rain delay, I had no idea who was in the lineup.
Then spring training became more about getting autographs. I would always get to games early to watch batting practice, but then I started to realize that I could spend that time getting autographs. And then I became more interested in the minor league players than the regulars. And I think that this interest actually stemmed from my pursuit of autographs.
Once you begin to collect autographs, you realize that it's an art–especially during spring training when the jersey numbers are between the 50s-90s, and there are new ones everyday. It was always necessary to have a roster at hand to match the number with the name. The guys that were the best about signing were the non-roster invitees. Spring training for them is obviously quite a different experience than it is for the regulars: it is their chance to make an impression. Not only do they go above and beyond on the field, but also off the field. I really appreciated as small of a gesture as a signature, and it made me want to know more. I got especially excited when they came up to bat because they had signed my ball.
The non-roster invitees may not have secured a spot on the 25-man roster, but they had certainly succeeded in making a lasting impression. I wanted to continue to follow them in the minor leagues, so I started my project program. Essentially, if a player impressed me during the spring, he became my project: a guy whom I thought could have an impact on the club come September or injury.
And what if I had the opportunity to talk to one of my projects? I never anticipated that opportunity, but in the summer of 2009, when I was in Pawtucket, I spent an entire baseball game talking to my favorite pitching project, Michael Bowden. That conversation literally changed my life. If Bowden had not been so friendly and willing to talk to me, I don't think I would have the confidence that I have today in approaching other players. I learned more about the game in those three hours with him than I had learned in a whole lifetime of watching the game. He literally changed the way I watched the game.
Again, what may have seemed like a small gesture to him changed everything for me. I became even more enthralled with minor league baseball than I already was. I took more interest in the draft, and especially the lower levels of baseball.
Last year during spring training, I decided to go to the minor league complex instead of going to watch the regulars take batting practice before the game. I realized that I had been missing something. Sure, these games are even less relevant than the major league ones are, but there was still something that absolutely enthralled me. I would not have left had I not had tickets for the major league game. The ability to simply walk and talk with players after their workouts was thrilling for me because I could ask whatever I wanted. So that experience not only inspired me to seek opportunities with the Pawtucket Red Sox and Portland Sea Dogs this past summer, but also inspired me to approach spring training from a completely different angle this year.
This year, I have decided that I do not want to go to any major league spring training games at City of Palms Park. I am resolved to attend exclusively minor league spring training games at the player's development complex. I plan on making my first pilgramage tomorrow: for the first official workouts for pitchers and catchers that is open to the public.
I want to share with you a few of the minor league prospects I plan on focusing on this spring that will not be in big league camp: Alex Hassan, Anthony Ranaudo, Brandon Workman, Bryce Brentz, Chris Hernandez, David Renfroe, Derrik Gibson, Drake Britton, Felix Sanchez, Garin Cecchini, Jason Garcia, Kolbrin Vitek, Jeremy Hazelbaker, Lucas Leblanc, Madison Younginer, Pete Hissey, Ryan Westmoreland, Sean Coyle, Swen Huijer, and Will Middlebrooks.
Of course, I can't forget about the guys who are lucky enough to be in major league camp. I know they will be working hard to leave an impression. From the 40-man roster, I suggest you keep an eye out for Michael Bowden, Felix Doubront, Stolmy Pimentel, Luis Exposito, Lars Anderson, Jose Iglesias, Yamaico Navarro, Oscar Tejeda, Ryan Kalish, Darnell McDonald, Daniel Nava, and Josh Reddick.
From the non-roster invitees, I suggest keeping an eye on all of them. The ones I am already familiar with are Andrew Miller, Jason Rice, Kyle Weiland, Alex Wilson, Tim Federowicz, Ryan Lavarnway, Nate Spears, and Che-Hsuan Lin.
Anthony Ranaudo is a guy whom I am really excited about because his 2009 campaign at LSU was incredible. He is a guy that is getting a lot of hype right now, but I don't think that we should set our expectations too high simply because this will be his first year in professional ball. Same mentality applies for Brandon Jacobs.
Drake Britton is certainly a name to start getting familiar with. He had a fantastic campaign in Greenville last year (Single-A affiliate). Again, we should not set the bar too high because he will be advancing to another level. It is possible that he could go straight to Portland, but I would like to see him dominate Salem for at least a bit because after speaking with Kyle Weiland this past summer, it seems very hard for a pitcher to skip levels.
I think Madison Younginer is going to break onto a lot of people's radars this season. He posted pretty decent numbers for his first professional season in Lowell (shortseason, Single-A affiliate), and I think he will continue to adjust
this season. Drake Britton won the Sox Prospects Breakout Player of the Year Award last year, and I predict that either Younginer or Ranaudo will win it this year.
Garin Cecchini, Sean Coyle, and Will Middlebrooks are the infielders that I look forward the most to covering this spring.
I think that this will be Kyle Weiland's season to break onto everyone's radar. When I was in Portland, not only did I get to interview him, but I also got to cover one of his starts, and it was one of the best pitching performances I have ever seen. I'd like to see him dominate in Portland a little bit more, get promoted to Pawtucket, do some work there, and then I hope to see him up in September.
This spring, I plan on taking Tolkein's advice. "All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us." I have decided to spend my time pursuing minor league spring training, and I hope that this will be my best spring training yet. And I hope especially that those of you that read this blog can live vicariously through my experiences. If you have any specific requests for what you would like me to cover during the spring–whether it be particular questions for particular players–please let me know by either leaving a comment below or e-mailing me.
And for real time updates while I'm at the complex with quotes, pictures, and more, please follow me on Twitter.
5 Comments
Sorry to hear that UNC didn't work out for you! But it sounds like you have quite the full list of projects to keep your mind off it this spring. Looking forward to reading your ST coverage!
Rants, Raves, and Random Thoughts
Tolkien also says 'Not all who wander are lost'. I don't know if you feel like you're wandering, but I seem to get that vibe. Don't feel bad. I think you'll be fine. 'Never let your schooling interfere with your education' (Mark Twain). You're not. Keep plugging away at what you're good at … writing and fearless pursuit of your goals. It's gonna happen for you … you're too talented and tenacious for it NOT to happen. God, I sound like a box of cliches. I'll shut up now. Though I'm curious: Given your affection to the BoSox, did you apply to any New England area colleges?
~ Will
I'm really excited to see Gonzo and Crawford on the Red Sox this year. Should be a good season for your Sox in the AL East!
– Anders (http://chisoxboy.mlblogs.com/)
I'm really excited to see Gonzo and Crawford on the Red Sox this year. Should be a good season for your Sox in the AL East!
– Anders (http://chisoxboy.mlblogs.com/)
I'm glad to see you focusing more on the Minor League guys. I've always found them to be a lot friendlier with the fans and more willing to sign autographs, too. My kids have always been treated well by the players.


text:
Holy Schit, the Rockies are Too Legit to Quit
6/11/09 Eight straight ain't it great
It's Hammer Time
Finally,… a chance to blog. Rockies win eight in a row and I'm just now writing about it.
I sincerely apoligize for my lack of entries. I'm back up to five days a week at work again and still spending any available time at the other house trying to get it ready to rent.
The Rockies are back at Coors Field tomorrow and I know a bunch of people who are more than ready. We wanna see some of that "Road Trip Magic" at home. I'm not bitch'n but the home crowd has witnessed it's share of losses this season and we wanna personally watch the Rockies play like they've been playing.
I mentioned in my last entry that it was my 300th entry. The Rockpile Rant has had over 107,000 visits since October 2008 and over 1500 comments so far.
Thanks to all of you who read my ramblings about the Rockies and life. I'm digg'n what I do and I can't wait until I'm able roll like I used to roll. Soon folks, very soon.
I'm not really a baseball draft guy. A fella only has so much time to devote to stuff and I tend to start to pay attention to players once they hit AA and AAA. I do wish them all luck though.
I have to give props to the Rockies and to Jim Tracy. The Rockies are looking and acting "Too Legit to Quit".
What was/is the spark?
Does part their success stem from the guilt of contributing to Clint Hurdle being fired?
Is it the fear of what Jim Tracy will do to players who don't perform.
Or is it just out of respect for our new coach and each player wanting to show him they deserve the right to play at Coors?
Now that I think about it it's probably best not to over analyze it. Let's just roll with it. A win is a win and we desperately need them.
Maybe if the Rockies make it to ten in a row the rest of the country might start to take notice. There is a serious lack of recognition for this team and any of it's accomplishments.
I'm a realist, so I can't wait for the day the Rockies win their first World Series because that's what it will take to get some respect. Well that and a few winning seasons 🙂
Ian Stewart
This guy is a future superstar and there is more to him than his .229 batting average suggests. Stewart had a lead-off home run in the 4th inning against the Brewers tonight.
How about Huston Street? The dude already has 12 saves this season. Remember back in Spring training when he was struggling just to get a spot?
Nice job Huston, keep it up brotha.
With Huston pulling his weight and Carlos Gonzalez beginning to make a name for himself all of a sudden the Matt Holliday dump doesn't seem so bad.
That's ok with me because if you happened to listen to Matt Holliday on the Jim Rome radio show today you wouldn't have heard Matt say anything nice about Colorado.
Just remember Matt, the fans loved you here. It was you who stopped caring at the end.
Rockies are 19-18 on the road. Seems odd but I'm not complaining.
Props go out to Aaron Cook.
Cook is now the first pitcher to complete 1,000 career innings in a Rockies uniform. Cook has only allowed two runs in his last 14 innings. Nice job Cookie!
Rockies have now won eight in a row which ties a team record from you know when.
Friday is almost here, and then I'll be there…You know where.
Go Rockies
Show us why we should never stop believing..D
4 Comments
Yeah, I don't wanna over analyze the sudden win streak, either. All that does is start me thinking that it won't last for whatever reason, and right now I just can't think that way! :0)
Huston Street is a RoxStar, man. And if I hear any more talk of trading him, I am going to frakking scream! UGH!!
I feel the same about Who-liday, and it's just plain sad. Who is Jim Rome, and is his radio show recorded? I wanna hear what was said.
Still hoping to get to one of the weekend games.
Hey man whats up! Thanks for the tips! The Rockies were really nice and threw me a ton of baseballs!
JULIA-Mee too, so far so good🙂
LUVMYROX-Jim Rome..Just google him. We're at ten now. I'm enjoying this.
SHAWN-You're welcome. Glad to hear they worked and you had fun.
Heading out to the Rockies game shortly. Finally a beautiful day…D


text:
Join us for our Tast of Gay Days event. Click here for more information on Taste of Gay Days.
If you are looking for advice on dining in Orlando be sure to visit Scott Joseph's Orlando Restaurant Guide. Scott Joseph has been reviewing restaurants in Orlando and Central Florida for over 20 years. The Orlando Restaurant Guide is the most comprehensive source of restaurant information in the region.
When you visit Orlando be sure to check out the discounts and offers from Orlando Convention Aid. Their website provides deals on restaurants, bars, attractions, transportation and more!


text:
Aaron Rodgers was in the second grade at Oak Manor Elementary School in Ukiah, Calif.
"And my teacher was …" the Green Bay Packers quarterback said, racking his brain for a moment before giving up. "That's going to bother me now."
Mike McCarthy was working as a graduate assistant at the University of Pittsburgh. His days as a graveyard shift toll collector on the Pennsylvania Turnpike were behind him.
"That was a summer job, OK? I worked there for four weeks," the Packers coach said when asked about his infamous make-ends-meet job that has been told ad nauseam. "I can't remember what year it was. I think it was '89, actually. Yeah. The summer of '89. Sounds like a song."
Packers general manager Ted Thompson was working in the financial sector in Houston. President Mark Murphy was a trial attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice. Wide receivers coach Edgar Bennett was a senior at Florida State. Offensive line coach James Campen was the Packers' starting center. Starting left tackle David Bakhtiari, who celebrated his 22nd birthday this week, was 2 1/2 months old.
Yes, the list could go on and on – just like the Packers winning streak over the Detroit Lions in the state of Wisconsin has. Since the Lions won, 21-17, at Lambeau Field on Dec. 15, 1991 – when Mike Tomczak was the Packers starting quarterback, Lindy Infante had one more game left in his tenure as Packers coach and new GM Ron Wolf had already made up his mind to fire Infante, leading to the Packers' renaissance under Wolf, coach Mike Holmgren and quarterback Brett Favre – the Packers have won 22 straight in Wisconsin against their division rivals, including one playoff victory following the 1993 season.
The streak includes victories over the Lions at Milwaukee County Stadium in 1992, 1993 and 1994 and spanned the entire NFL career of retired Lions kicker Jason Hanson, who was a rookie on the 1992 team and hung up his kicking shoes after the 2012 season having never won a game on Wisconsin soil. It is the longest streak of consecutive road losses by one team to another team in NFL history.
And what will it mean Sunday when the Lions (3-1) and Packers (1-2) face off at Lambeau Field?
"I don't acknowledge the streak," McCarthy said Wednesday. "Really. I understand how long it's been. But it ain't going to help us Sunday.
"Last year is last year. The last two decades is the last two decades. I mean, I get it, it's good to write about. It won't show up in our power points. It won't show up in our team meetings."
In fact, McCarthy said the subject of the streak wasn't among the potential media topics he presented his team with in advance of Wednesday's open locker room period.
But the Lions are aware of the streak – in part because they just got done ending the second-longest such streak in NFL history. Before their 27-20 victory at FedEx Field on Sept. 22, the Lions had lost 21 straight road games to the Washington Redskins. While the previous games had no bearing on that outcome – and no one was suggesting that they would – it was one less thing the Lions had to hear about once the streak was snapped.
The Packers' streak, meanwhile, is slightly different to the Lions.
"It kept being brought up that we had never, ever won in Washington. In the history of the National Football League, the Lions had never won in Washington. We were asked a million questions about it," Lions coach Jim Schwartz, who took over as the Lions coach after their 0-16 season in 2008, said during his conference call with Wisconsin reporters at Lambeau Field Wednesday morning. "I don't know how really fair that is to Matt Stafford or Reggie Bush or Ndamukong Suh or Lou Delmas or anybody else that hadn't been part of that.
"But I think just about everybody on our team – other than our rookies – has been part of losing games at Lambeau. They know the reasons we've lost them, they know how close we've been and how we've been a play away. I think that stuff rings a lot truer and is a lot more relevant than some other streaks.
"We've broken a lot of streaks here. We had the longest losing streak in the National Football League; we broke that one. We had the longest road losing streak; we broke that one. We've had a lot of these things. I don't know that it means anything more to the team other than just winning a game, particularly a division game like this. But it does free guys up from having to take those questions and things like that."
Questions like the one Stafford, the Lions' starting quarterback, answered in his conference call.
"It is kind of for you guys to write about and talk about. If we sat there and tried to focus on that we wouldn't be doing ourselves justice in trying to prepare for a team that's talented," Stafford said. "We've got to go out there and spend all of our time preparing to play the 2013 Green Bay Packers and not the ones from '94, '95. That has nothing to do with what we're trying to do this weekend."
And how old was Stafford the last time the Lions won in Wisconsin?
Stafford laughed. "I was 3 years old."
Listen to Jason Wilde every weekday from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on "Green & Gold Today" on 540 ESPN, and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/jasonjwilde.


text:
"The future of the school district will be decided on the second Thursday of every month between now and April," said Eldred Central School (ECS) superintendent Robert Dufour during a recent interview exploring the long-term impacts of the contingency budget now in place at ECS. "The community's attendance is crucial."
"Each meeting will be more important than the one before," added Dufour. "Every decision reflective of the running of these schools is made at the board meetings."
ECS is now operating under a contingency budget, following the proposed budget's defeat in May by 18 votes. Dufour detailed some of the impacts. "We can't purchase any equipment costing more than $1,000, can't give raises to anyone not covered under a collective bargaining agreement, must eliminate non-essential maintenance and not pursue capital projects except in case of an emergency."
The defeated $18 million budget has been stripped of $1.2 million dollars, resulting in a final budget of $16.5 million. Most of the cuts are coming from necessary repairs that were slated for the George Ross Mackenzie Elementary School in Glen Spey. A full-size school bus and van, part of the long-term vehicle update plan at the district, have also been eliminated.
Community groups that seek to use the buildings after hours or on weekends will now have to pay a facilities use fee of $150 for a 2-hour minimum usage, as established last month by the board at its monthly meeting.
Additional discussion about the fitness center will take place due to operating costs for salaries, electricity, air conditioning and heat. "The board will discuss whether it should be spending approximately $40,000 annually, even though it benefits the community, when we're looking to possibly discontinue programs because we're on a contingency budget," said ECS board president Douglas Reiser.
"Our primary charge is to provide education," said Dufour. "There are a lot of things people are used to the district doing that we may not be able to do any more. The fitness center is a great service for the community, but we have to balance what that expense would buy if we reapplied it educationally."
While developing the 2011-12 budget, Dufour and ECS school business administrator William Thornton realized that a more serious set of issues is on the horizon with the approach of the 2012-13 budget.
When voters rejected a referendum to establish a repair reserve fund of $2 million for the third time, the board decided that the money would be returned on the tax levy. "We had cautioned the board that with what was going on in Albany and the potentiality of a tax cap, we could be facing the perfect storm, having to return two million dollars on the levy, and then being restricted by what can be raised in taxes.
That perfect storm has come together and we're looking at a significant budget shortfall for the 2012-13 school year.
Currently, Dufour and Thornton are working to reduce expenditures without reducing staff and programming. "But we also need to do what's fiscally prudent, so we're looking at every program to see that they're necessary, beneficial and cost-effective," he said. "We're going to be faced with a lot of very difficult decisions as we go through this budget process.
Potential outcomes include elimination of classes that don't reach enrollment standards. "If we don't meet the minimum numbers for a class, we won't be able to run it," said Dufour. "Enrollment in the Pre-K program is down by half. We've started discussing the possibility of reducing our Pre-K to a half-day program and that would have corresponding personnel reductions. It's not something we want to do, but aid is tied to the number of students in the program and we're losing half the aid."
"Had the budget passed, we had earmarked where we could move forward without the potential of program or staff cuts," added Reiser. "Where we're at now, I don't see any alternative. Our staffing levels are currently back down to the levels they were in 1999, and that was done through attrition."
Under scrutiny will be things like driver's ed, field trips and the sports program. "These are all important," said Dufour. "Ultimately it's the students that are affected."
According to Reiser, there may be discussions about Kindergarten, which is not mandated, transportation (inside of a mile is not mandated), extracurricular activities and more. "The board is trying to be fiscally responsible by looking at any conceivable measure that will have the least impact on our children," he said.
At the next board meeting on August 11, the tax levy will be set. Dufour will present a graphic that shows the 16.5 million budget, and the impacts of the tax levy, property tax cap and state aid. "A short presentation will be given to explain where that will leave us with regard to this budget so people can see what we're facing. Subsequent meetings will lead to discussions on how we're going to address that." Dufour can be reached at email@example.com [2] or 845/456-1100.


text:
An Inconvenient All-Star
I really haven't had that exciting of a life. There
are a lot of things I wish I would have done, instead of just sitting
around and complaining about having a boring life. So I pretty much
like to make it up. I'd rather tell a story about somebody else.
— Kurt Cobain (1964-1994)
Instead of complaining about who isn't going to the All-Star Game, I'd like to tell you a story about someone who is going to the All-Star Game:
Luckily, one of my best friends is a Cardinals season ticket holder. And besides being the proud owner of Quincy, IL's finest bar and grill (a place where even Mike Shannon has been known to drink) he also has a kind heart and agreed to take me along for all of the All-Star thrills, including acting as my official wing-man in my misguided quest for Erin Andrews glory. Yes, that is still going on. Admittedly, overcoming such built-in adversity will not be an easy assignment; it will be easier than overcoming the struggle against Nazi Germany (don't tell Al Gore) but, dear readers, it will not be easy — especially since so many deserved, albeit inconvenient, All-Stars will not be present.
Yet that does not mean they should not be recognized for their All-Starredness, no matter the capacity… so here are your RSBS All-Star snubs of 2009 whom I will proudly represent in St. Louis next week:
Mark Reynolds
Just like that frat guy named Hunter and his impervious flesh pursuit at the bar on $5 pitcher night, yeah, he strikes out an awful lot. But he also surprises you every once in a while and hits some big-time bombs… or bombshells, whichever the case may be.
Mark Sanford
Stealing bases is one thing. Stealing taxpayer money to bankroll an 8-year long international affair? Now that's All-Star material… because, well, it takes balls. Balls of steel.
Stephen Strasburg
Being the most popular man in Major League Baseball without ever having played a Major League Baseball game is certainly something to tip your cap towards. Just wait until you see the kind of velocity he can generate with those ears! I promise you: he is the best pitcher EVER in the HISTORY OF THE WORLD!
Sarah Palin
No one likes a quitter, but unlike Manny Ramirez, at least Palin looks good while doing it.
And finally…
Milton Bradley
As an unabashed Cardinal fan, there are about about 30 million reasons why this guy is a true All-Star. Obviously, not one of them includes playing good, fundamentally sound baseball.
Don't hate me 'cuz I'm right.
Something on your mind? Want to see Jeff and Al sweat (separately, not together, eww)? Think you got a real stumper? Send us your Filibuster question(s) by commenting or emailing them to us at firstname.lastname@example.com.
***Pictures of Allen shot-gunning Old Styles also welcome.
20 Comments
Good luck with Erin! We want pictures and if it comes to it – the copy of any restraining orders you might be served with!😉
Yeah, too bad Milty won't be there…he could toss you an All-Star one-out-runner-on-third fly-ball.
Milton Bradley: Gatekeeper of "Souvenir City".
I can't get over the fact that Bradley is batting third in the Cubs' order, and it's only because everyone else is so much worse. What in the heck happened to that team, didn't they have the best record in the NL last year? I guess everything he touches really does turn to sh!t.
You should add Aroldis Chapman to the list with his "100-mph fastball", the lefty defecty has been compared to Strasburg by the (think of a good word, think of a good word…overenthusiastic) media, none of whom have ever seen him pitch nor would know what they were looking at if they did.
I made the all-star post like 2-3 weeks ago before Hanley really started heating up with that RBI streak he had. Tejada has really good numbers, he's leading the league in singles AND doubles and I still feel he should have gotten a serious look to be the starter, but Hanley probably deserves it now that it's all said and done. Both of them are having monster years but Hanley is indefinitely a better player. Plus Miguel is one big ball of luck… his BABIP is like .345
Lucky duck, I wanna go to the All-Star game. Ok, I wanna go to any game.
Wish I was going too :O( Well, have a great time and take photos!!
If you do get served with a restraining order and possibly arrested. I for one would love you to only speak in chinese to the police and then write all about it. I want to hear they bring in this chinese interpreter that took like forever and a day then the minute he or she gets there you talk in english… Like Picard used to say "Make it so"
The fact that you are going to the all-star game makes me want to bite your face off I'm so jealous haha. That should be a ton of fun. You gotta take some pics and put them up here. And the Mark Sanford comment was hilarious, very good post.
http://payoffpitch.mlblogs.com/ I just posted a very cool video along with some pics on why Shane Victorino deserves to be an all-star.
How exciting! I am totally jealous! Yes…pictures, video and a detailed recap. We want it all. But if you score with Erin…remember, no kiss & tell. Gentlemen don't do that!😉
Now that's just not right, telling us all your going to the All Star Game, that's like taking candy into the classroom and not having enough for everyone….. I'd tell you to enjoy yourself, but thats like telling someone in a bar to have a drink, or a casino goer to place a bet…..
Outside the Phillies Looking In
Have fun! "Just wait until you see the kind of velocity he can generate with those ears!" niceeee!
Julia – I'm bring a lawyer along with me just in case.
Jonestein – I'll see if Ichiro is game for taking Milton's place.
Erin – Indeed. But in his defense, it's been 100 years + of sh!t on the Northside.
Prince – Makes me wonder: what is their agenda and why do they care so much?
Eatsleep – Tejada is nowhere near the player Hanley is… but good lookin' out for the little-big guy.
Moneyball – I'm sure there's a little league game somewhere in your neck of the woods. Guaranteed to be better played than a Nats game.
Jenn – I will! Won't be Phillie Phollower quality, but I'll do my best.
Tom – Wo hui a! Wo zhi yao geng tamen jiang guoyu bei!
Payoff – Shane did a nice job of solidifying his place last night but I don't like the ads with him begging for our votes.
Lori – You have my word… on all of it (for the most part😉
Devilbrit – Your URL name has got me extremely curious. I picture you as Simon Cowell with horns. LOL.
FBC – He can make the ball fly. Believe it.
Great post! Have fun at the All Star Game. I wish I could some how muster up a few tickets of my own but that's not gonna happen.
Dillon — Will do. Unless you are willing to sacrifice your dignity, yeah, gonna be a hard ticket to snatch up. I was lucky — in the right place, right time… and I know people😉
You saw this, right?
Twins Limey
OK Let me try again…
You saw this right?
Twins Limey
Yep! We saw it, TL… and breathed a sigh of relief… ahhhhh. She's okay.
Heya superb website! Does running a blog such as this require a massive amount work?
I have virtually no understanding of coding but I had been hoping to start my own blog in the near future.
Anyway, if you have any ideas or techniques for new blog
owners please share. I know this is off topic however
I simply had to ask. Appreciate it!


text:
Find Your Passion: A Hospitable Leader
By Kim Eaton
Mary Hogan loved to cook.
She spent numerous hours engrossed in The Food Network, learning as much as she could from the featured celebrity chefs. She even started a collection of cookbooks. It seemed only natural that after high school she would pursue a career in the culinary arts.
Surprisingly, while following one dream, she discovered another.
During her time at Faulkner State Culinary Institute, the 21-year-old University of Alabama junior participated in different events catered by the culinary students.
"I learned how to set up, break down, run an event, and I started realizing that I also liked that aspect of the culinary world," Hogan says. "I decided I didn't want to just work in a kitchen forever. I wanted to broaden my horizons, expand my skills and see what else I could do."
After graduating from the institute in 2012, the Spanish Fort resident transferred to The University of Alabama. Initially, she didn't know what she wanted to pursue, but she chose the restaurant, hotel and meetings management program in the College of Human Environmental Sciences because "the classes looked interesting."
She jumped into the program and campus life with both feet running and, shortly after arriving, was involved with several organizations and volunteered for some career-enriching experiences.
"The hospitality industry is unlike many fields in that it really focuses on the experience rather than the GPA," Hogan said. "So, I decided to get that experience."
She joined the Hotel and Restaurant and Convention Association, or HARACA, and UA Meeting Professionals International, two student organizations that provide networking and educational opportunities for hospitality majors. Her first career volunteer experience was the annual Hangout Oyster Cook-Off in Gulf Shores last fall. UA MPI members helped set up and break down the event, they assisted the Food Network Star finalists in the kitchen, aided the chefs in preparing their oysters and bringing them to the judges' table and more.
Not only did Hogan gain a better understanding of what it takes to pull off such a "high-profile event" and the amount of work put in behind-the-scenes to help that event run smoothly, she had an opportunity to meet some talented and well-known chefs.
"I have always admired a chef's creativity, hard work and talent, so to be able to work alongside of these individuals was surreal," she said. "The most challenging part of the experience was trying not to eat my weight in oysters."
Coming back from her Gulf Shores experience, Hogan was eager to continue expanding her skills. She served as guide to UA alumna and Southern lifestyle expert Rebecca Gordon during a visit in March, and then was asked by the Tuscaloosa Tourism and Sports Commission to help with the Druid City Arts Festival in April.
As Hogan gained more experience, she also expanded her leadership role during the volunteer events. She first served "lead" in a project for the LA Gumbo Festival in Orange Beach. In addition to helping during the event, she was also responsible for group's volunteer operations, from arranging transportation to and from and finding accommodations in Orange Beach to monitoring and assisting the students' roles throughout the festival.
"It was different than just volunteering in that I was responsible for others' work schedules, making sure they had food and drink when they needed it and helping them face challenges such as being hot or tired or confused about tasks," Hogan said. "But, I love being a leader because I have such a passion for helping others."
That passion for leading will continue as the next president of UA MPI. While that role will challenge her as a student, she knows the skills and experience she has garnered at UA so far have prepared her for her future career endeavors.
"My social skills have blossomed, and I have learned the key requirements it takes to land my dream job – networking, hard work, a radiating passion for the hospitality industry and always helping others achieve their goals," Hogan said. "I am building the foundation of my career right now."
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
This story is part of the Find Your Passion series. To learn more about how you can find your passion at The University of Alabama, please visit UA Undergraduate Admissions.


text:
Hey, grads! The world is about to fucking crash in on you.
I'm not trying to scare you or discourage you; I like adult life way more than college, and hopeless cynicism is an automatic loser. But you're about to enter a system that is so rigged against you that you'll think it's all an elaborate prank. I don't care how cynical you are, or how radical a Marxist your last professor was -- it still takes years to fully understand all of the devious little ways the deck is stacked in favor of people who aren't you.
So buckle up, because here's what's coming:
6 There's a Good Chance Your Degree Is Useless
Comstock/Stockbyte/Getty Images
Let's just get this out of the way: As a whole, our society is horrible at getting human beings into the jobs they're most suited for. Look around you -- you'll find yourself under managers who shouldn't even be trusted to manage a stuffed animal tea party, and you'll meet brilliant creative minds who are stuck spinning signs while dressed as Little Caesar. I'm no expert, but this might be because we demand that teenagers decide what they want to do for the next 50 years and then lock them into it by imposing massive financial penalties if they decide to change course.
So, Mr. College Graduate, want to know your odds of landing in a career that actually uses the education you just paid six figures for?
About 1 in 4.
Digital Vision./Photodisc/Getty Images
"Sweet -- my major is so obscure, there's actually only one other dude doing it."
Yep, only 27 percent of graduates wind up in a job that requires their specific degree. (That's not counting graduate degrees. The success rate is higher for people who went to law or med school ... as is their level of debt.)
"Then why the hell did I just pay $100,000 for a bachelor's degree?" asks Mr. College Graduate.
Well, you hardly had a choice, considering your name is College Graduate, but also, as bad as things look for someone with a degree, you are absolutely fucked without one. This is the first way in which the system is rigged against you, and it's something that wasn't really true of your parents' generation.
You've wound up in a world where a college degree is a base requirement that's priced like a luxury extra. So, for the first time in history, in order to get a job as a secretary making $30,000 a year, you need a bachelor's degree that costs three times that. Even worse, the vast majority of you had to borrow to pay for that degree, and all told there is an astonishing $1.2 trillion in outstanding student loan debt in the USA alone. And of course, much of that debt is owed by people who are using their expensive knowledge to roll burritos at Chipotle, a job that itself exists only because the robot they built to do it got too depressed.
Ociacia/iStock/Getty Images
"I came from MIT for this bullshit?"
"Well, why the hell doesn't somebody do something about this? That can't be good for the economy."
Because the show is being run by Cranky Old People From Another Time (or COPFAT, from here on out), and if you complain about college debt, they'll say it's your fault. They'll talk about how they "worked their way" through college, paying tuition with nothing but a summer spent on a whaling boat and a weekend job mucking horse stalls. And they're better for it, by gum! They don't realize that the cost of college has gone up over 1,000 percent since then, while salaries for whale impalers have not. It's now impossible to pay for a university degree without some kind of help, in the form of either borrowed government money or rich parents. So, in 2014, you're not allowed to be a computer programmer unless you first take out a mortgage-size loan in order to attend a university that will require you to also take classes in medieval literature.
Antonio_Diaz/iStock/Getty Images
"I came to MIT for this bullshit?"
Then, at some point down the road, you may find yourself in a cubicle reading a memo reminding you that you're required to dress up as Cupid for Valentine's Day (because this office is all about fun!), and you'll think, "If I don't change careers, I'm going to flip out and murder all these motherfuckers." And then you find ...
5Trying to Change Careers Later Is a Nightmare
shironosov/iStock/Getty Images
Hey, when you were in school, did you notice how ... you know, old some of your classmates were? Well, there's a good chance that'll be you a decade from now. About 4 million students are over age 35, many or most of them people who graduated, went out and got dick-slapped around by the world for a few years, and then came back to try again. The average person will change jobs more than 10 times by age 42, and will change careers entirely multiple times. In a world where every career requires a degree, well, you know what comes next.
And if you're expecting the world to offer any assistance whatsoever in trying to get you back on course, think again, punk. Once again, the COPFAT will declare it's purely your own fault for picking a "worthless" major in the first place.
shironosov/iStock/Getty Images
"Have you considered a major in whining? You could double with entitlement."
As for how exactly a 17-year-old was supposed to go about figuring out the right one, well, it's not clear. If you follow the advice of the COPFAT above and simply pick whatever major pays the most, by the time you graduate, you may find that the hiring landscape has changed radically (thanks to the sudden glut of people doing the same thing) and that, oh yeah, you don't actually have a talent for it. But what else do you have to go on when picking a direction in life? Television? Because shows tend to portray every aspect of life except the actual work people do (how much time do those people on Grey's Anatomy spend doing doctor shit?). The obvious answer would be to pursue what you love doing, but you're making that call based on what you love doing at age 17, and if you try to go to college to be a professional masturbator, you find out that oh God this isn't a college, is it?
audioundwerbung/iStock/Getty Images
"No, we shoot those scenes next week."
So, five years out of college, you try to change course, and right off the bat you find you're automatically cut off from government aid for low-income students -- sorry, that's a one-shot deal. You can get a student loan, maybe, if you qualify and your credit rating is good enough.
"But doesn't the economy need more educated people and fewer unemployed people and/or meth dealers? Why would they make it harder to be a productive citizen?"
Well, the problem is that somebody has to pay for your education or adult job training -- specifically, the COPFAT -- and you'll find their favorite hobby is kicking away the ladder they themselves just climbed. That's why the government recently made cuts in student aid and slashed nearly a billion dollars off of its job training program. "I didn't need no handout, damn it! If you want to learn another trade, just apprentice with a haberdasher, like I did!"
Speaking of which ...


text:
Take Hallsmith seriouslyFebruary 24,2014
Why we should take Gwen Hallsmith seriously.
That is something that has not been discussed much in the current campaign for mayor. Here are some reasons to do so:
First, Gwen is a forward-looking, imaginative thinker. The district heat project now touted by the mayor and council came about because Gwen saw the long-term fuel-cost savings and environmental benefits to the city. Gwen spearheaded writing of the grant proposal that won the $8 million core funding for the project; worked effectively and collaboratively with engineers and planners to develop details for implementing the project; and patiently promoted and defended it when most of the city council and all the leaders of the so-called Vibrant and Affordable Montpelier group opposed it.
John Hollar, when he ran for mayor in 2012, did not endorse the project. When he finally came around for which I applaud him and announced his support of the project at the crucial City Council meeting on Aug. 22, 2012, he failed to convince a majority of the council to follow him. The voice of disappointed citizens of Montpelier finally helped save the project; but we should remember that the inspiration and securing of core funding for it was Gwens work from the beginning.
Second, Gwen is one of the few people who has publicly promoted and continuously defended the content and use of the community developed, publicly endorsed, and formally adopted (Sept. 8, 2010) master plan to guide the citys development into the future. It was Gwen who designed and implemented the process for gathering public opinion, holding neighborhood discussions, and drafting the plan.
One key element of that plan, Goal C: Housing and Buildings, has proven to be especially controversial. Yet implementation of that section of the master plan is one key way that Montpelier residents can achieve sustainable stabilization or reductions in their property tax bills. Gwen has continued to assert publicly that by carefully adding infill and affordable housing, we will accommodate current residents, attract new residents, increase the number of children in our schools, and add new property owners and taxpayers, thereby spreading and lowering the tax burden for all of us.
We hear a lot about a vibrant and affordable Montpelier, and about sustainable budgets. Without resorting to empty phrases and clichés, Gwen has contributed ideas and plans for accomplishing that. The budget cuts for which the current mayor and council are being applauded in some quarters are not being subjected to the question of whether they are sustainable reductions in costs, personnel, and services. I think we should be asking those questions as well.
Finally, one hears quietly the question, How will Gwen work with the council? In fact, one newspaper in our community inappropriately asked candidates for the council which candidate for mayor they were supporting. We should remember that the council and mayor work together and have an obligation to work together. We see at the national level that personal and party disagreements and, to be candid, dislikes, disable constructive and creative thinking and effective governance. Whatever the outcome of our election, we must not allow that infection to spread in Montpelier.
In my opinion, the contest for mayor is not a grudge match. It is an expression of differences in frameworks for planning for the future of our city. I think we should take Gwen Hallsmith seriously.
Michael Sherman lives in Montpelier.MORE IN LettersA sixth-offense DUI gets plead down to a misdemeanor. A breathalyzer is refused. Full StoryBurr Morses recollection (Whats good for the goose, Nov. Full StoryMSNBC news analyst Rachel Maddows report on the election of Republican Rutherford B. Full Story
- Most Popular
- Most Emailed


text:
[Intro: Jay-Z]
They call me King Hov, copy?
They call me King Hov, copy?
They call me King Hov, copy?
[Hook: Usher]
I'm like Woah Kemosabe
Your body is my hobby
We freaking this ain't cheating as long as we don't tell nobody
Tell your girls you leaving, I'll meet you in the lobby
I'm so cold yeah I need that hot toddy
Hot toddy, hot toddy
[Verse 1: Usher]
I see you like it tough
I hear you baby
Claiming you a bad bitch
Show me baby
I'm a wild boy you tryna tame me baby
The way I get it from the house
Can you keep me faithful
Got a lot of girls
Got a lot of flava
That's why when I hit em they want me to return the favour
Girl I hear what you sayin
But hear it babe
That you be whippin' to the point where I'm screaming your name
[Hook: Usher]
Said that I'm tryna get your clothes off
From what I'm seeing you look so soft
Its your braggin' what I'm going off
Say you gon' ride, aight just don't fall off
Yeah I done had a lot of women that tell me what they do
But can you show me babe
Yeah you got me right
[Verse 2: Usher]
Im a choosy lover
I pick em up
Talk a lot of, I hope its good as you putting out
Yeah you fancy huh
I'm tryna pull you out
I see there's a lot of girls standing round
She say…
[Break: Ester Dean]
You think you're the best
And I only want the best
[Hook: Usher (2X)]
[Interlude: Usher]
I'm so cold, I'm so cold, I'm so cold
[Verse 3: Jay-Z]
They call me King Hov, copy?
They call me King Hov, copy?
They call me King Hov, copy? copy? copy?
They call me King Hov, copy?
Big ballin is my hobby
So much so they think I'm down with the illuminati
My watch do illuminate
My pockets are naughty
But I'm God body
Ya better ask somebody
I was born a God
I made myself a king
Which means I downgraded to a human being
You was born a Goddess I made you my queen
Which mean we upgraded to Louis the thirteen
Hot toddy her body like cognac
Her momma like earth tea
We birthed a couple of sacks
And as the tea steeped I creeped all in her teepee
We did it Indian style had the girls speaking in tongues
She like young, you hung
What you done done
Stop it before you wake up my mom, I might (ahhhh)
And now that I've arrived it's time that I go…
I'm so cold, I'm so cold…
[Hook: Usher]


text:
This study is provided by ICPSR. ICPSR provides leadership and training in data access, curation, and methods of analysis for a diverse and expanding social science research community.
Studies in International Integration, 1967 (ICPSR 5507)
Principal Investigator(s): Haas, Ernst B.; Schmitter, Philippe C.
Access Notes
These data are available only to users at ICPSR member institutions. Because you are not logged in, we cannot verify that you will be able to download these data.
ASCII + SAS Setup SPSS Setup Stata Setup
Study Description
Haas, Ernst B., and Philippe C. Schmitter. Studies in International Integration, 1967 . ICPSR05507-v2. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 2008-11-24. http://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR05507.v2
Persistent URL: http://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR05507.v2
Export Citation:
- RIS (generic format for RefWorks, EndNote, etc.)
- EndNote XML (EndNote X4.0.1 or higher)
Scope of Study
Extent of Processing: ICPSR data undergo a confidentiality review and are altered when necessary to limit the risk of disclosure. ICPSR also routinely creates ready-to-go data files along with setups in the major statistical software formats as well as standard codebooks to accompany the data. In addition to these procedures, ICPSR performed the following processing steps for this data collection:
- Created variable labels and/or value labels.
Original ICPSR Release: 1984-06-27
Version History:
- 2008-11-24 SAS, SPSS, and Stata setups have been added to this data collection.
Metadata Exports
- Citations exports are provided above.
Export Study-level metadata (does not include variable-level metadata)
If you're looking for collection-level metadata rather than an individual metadata record, please visit our Metadata Records page.


text:
"G'day to all the good folk at Catholic Answers. Words cannot express the invaluable service you provide to the world. Your faith tracts are fantastic and should be a must-read. Catholics need to be equipped with the history and the truth."
~ Douglas, Mittagong, Australia
0 results
Subscribe to Catholic Answers Magazine
"We call sacred orders the deaconship and priesthood, for we read that the primitive Church had only those orders."
~ Blaise Pascal, scientist, Christian apologist, anointed and died Catholic


text:
2013/01/21 Minutes Economics Working Group
1. Joined by members of the Royal Court Theatre exploring protest for a play. Introductions.
2. Following CEJ meeting with Treasury officials – sent papers to them; one on implementation; Tax based on the land; Separating land from capital; rent due to the community which created the land value; replacement rather than an additional tax; other taxes are on production; better to tax that which doesn't deter production. Political obstacles: 65% owner occupiers but social housing and private tenants would benefit; implementation could be both local and national; separate buildings from land – tax on land only; efforts to upgrade the buildings are not taxed; location value rises as a result of communal action and the benefits should be shared accordingly – ie. given back to the community. Could be passed on to tenants in inflated rents? Rents determined by market which should limit them; current rents are driven by mortgage lending – LVT should reverse the trend of rising rents; possibility of rent controls to limit abuses. Can't avoid LVT through tax havens; 800,000 properties currently vacant in the UK, LVT would bring them back into use. North/South divide; urban v countryside; number of issues to be examined. A recent survey revealed only 1 in 8 know what LVT is. Incoming government would introduce a National Land Rent Bill to establish the concept, ownership recording and valuation of land would take a year; only have to establish the value of land not buildings which is more complicated – think of Council Tax valuation; Tax would be based on rental not capital value; National Non-Domestic Rates (NNDR) moved on to Site Value Rate (SVR) basis – national and local taxes; phasing out of other taxes as LVT rate increased; could be implemented quickly; Mirrless Report. Recommends NNDR to SVR;
3. Commons and land should be shared for the common good; land registry records are poor and incomplete and demands to have comprehensive land records would be a good start. LVT is additional cost on production leading to inflation and possible migration of production overseas? Henry George LVT tax expressly not on production – income and corporation tax – dead weight losses. Taxing annual rents (rather than capital) would act as a limit on production? Time related cost/return could lead to short term expediency giving rise to ecological concerns; relies on land ownership rights rather than careship (stewardship); measures needs to be transformative – ownership of land is usury. How would this impact rents and what is the community? Government? Planning law impact; tax on leaseholder or freeholder;
4. See banking paper for answer to Summary point 4) in the CEJ Implementation plan. Not a tax on production, property taxes are on the owner, not additional to existing taxes/instead of; easy tax to collect; income and corporation are more complex/costly to collect; needs a strong and sensible planning regime; optimal best use – ecology – got to protect the green belt; speculation on land will diminish diverting investment elsewhere; time value law of dynamics; tax may not be entropically neutral; raw material + energy = profit + pollution. Would encourage the best use of sites; would be transformative – 0.1% of people owning 50% of the land – politically significant to tax the rich; would be a wake up call for the Duke of Westminster Henry George wrote over 100 years ago and American – globalisation is a different challenge; agree with recovering land value for the community but is this the best way to achieve it; would need to be implemented global think of development in Africa for example. Chinese are in africa. Policy could be seen as anti-royalist which may dilute support; value of land is subjective or according to the market; need information on land ownership – database. Henry George: land should be in common ownership; need a full frontal assault on the current system; not trying to achieve goals by Blairite stealth; tax on productivity? 65% in occupation; 0.6% owns 70% of land; paper not stark/bold enough; Land tax/ownership reform is one part of the solution; people will may off their land into common ownership leading to alternative models eg. Cooperatives. Paper addressed to the Treasury – not a silver bullet – one of many things to be done – banking system reform; social housing; short term and long term measures required. Land ownership is the issue. It's about winning the argument. Banks are significant stakeholders in the housing market through mortgages; would reduce intergenerational conflict – move towards equality; Spirit Level; first target for reduction/removal would be income tax and national insurance; replace taxes on production – eg. VAT hits the poorest hardest; UK need to be an example to the world; South America could be a potential target for LVT; global strategy; land is a gift from nature/god – capital is derived from land and labour. LVT is not elitist; Widely discussed at the recent Quilligan related economics conference on the commons – water and energy for the people rather than private gain – LVT is very much about returning land to the commons. Is the ambition to get to 100%? Some think yes others want to see how it develops. Other LVT advantages – encouraging lending to business – home loans will decline; reduce money creation by banks (mortgage loans); improve empty properties; discourages speculation on land; impossible to avoid; £400bn pa potential for public benefit ; if land values fall it's reflected in tax unlike council tax; encourages best use of land; gradualist approach but needs to be national; cuts on income tax benefits employer; LVT is a paradigm shift but suggesting incremental implementation; if implemented land owners may want to sell, would the government buy? Poor widow – don't pay until you re-mortgage, sell or die. LVT is condoning private ownership; should be part of the commons.
5. Vote on capturing land value for the common good: 10 in favour, 2 against with 1 abstention
Vote on LVT 7 in favour, 5 against with 1 abstention.