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I'm gonna start this recipe by saying I am nuts about nuts. Alright now, get your brains outta the gutter! I'm talking about pecans and walnuts and macadamia – you name it. But my absolute favorite is the pecan. And if you love pecans like I do, then ooohhh doggie, you are in for a treat!
Did I mention the butter sauce?
1 (15 0z) box Butter Pecan Cake Mix
1 (16 0z) tub Coconut Pecan Frosting
4 eggs
3/4 cup oil
1 cup water
1/2 cup chopped pecansFOR THE SAUCE:
1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
2 tbsp. butter
1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)
- 1 (15 0z) box Butter Pecan Cake Mix
- 1 (16 0z) tub Coconut Pecan Frosting
- 4 eggs
- ¾ cup oil
- 1 cup water
- ½ cup chopped pecans
- 1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
- 2 tbsp. butter
- ½ cup chopped pecans (optional)
- Preheat oven to 350F degrees.
- Spray a 9 x13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a medium bowl (or your stand mixer bowl), combine all the cake ingredients except for the chopped pecans.
- Don't forget to add the tub of coconut pecan frosting.
- That goes into the cake batter too! Mix well then stir in ½ cup chopped pecans.
- Pour batter into greased baking dish.
- Bake for about 40 minutes.
- Oven times vary but cake should spring back to the touch and be golden brown.
- Or insert a toothpick into the middle it should come out clean.
- For the sauce: In a small pot over medium heat, melt 2 tbsp. Butter.
- Pour in can of sweetened condensed milk with the melted butter and stir.
- Continue to stir until heated thoroughly, then add ½ cup chopped pecans.
- Stir again then take off heat.
- Then spoon this deliciously yummy sauce over individual slices of cake.


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SAN FRANCISCO — Chuck La Tournous was about two minutes into his presentation at Macworld 2013, "Tech vs. Wild," when a Boy Scoutish-looking kid in the audience shot up his hand.
"I go camping a lot," he said, "but they won't let us take our tech into the woods."
That sort of anti-geek outdoorsman mentality might soon go the way of analog television. At the 29th annual Macworld this month, the message was that when the going gets tough, the tough get even techier.
"The idea is that tech can be useful in the great outdoors," said La Tournous, a 50-year-old blogger from western New Jersey and founder of TrailCamper.com. "As a kid, you maybe could have taken your Walkman on a campout, but today, there's a lot of good reasons to take tech with you. It doesn't distract from the outdoors experience, it enhances it."
A reporter and photographer decided to take a hike with La Tournous, carrying some of the survival products he has reviewed on his website. But instead of heading for the trails, we joined him on a walk through the urban wilderness a few blocks from San Francisco's convention center, the Moscone Center.
We left Macworld and headed toward Market and 6th streets, where the drug-dealing, Dumpster-diving, panhandling denizens can make an out-of-towner feel like a babe in the woods.
Although some of La Tournous' tech tools, such as stargazing apps and waterproof smartphone cases, are clearly better-suited to the wilderness, others would come in handy in an urban environment gone bad, such as in the face of terrorist attacks, civil unrest, earthquakes and other disasters, he said. He tested his theory after superstorm Sandy knocked out power in his hometown for more than a week last fall.
Walking up Market, La Tournous pulled out one of the survival tools he presented at Macworld. It's a portable solar battery charger the size of a large napkin (Goal Zero, $80 plus a $30 rechargeable battery) that can charge your smartphone with just three to four hours of sunlight. If power goes out, as it did after Sandy, you still can keep your phone juiced up.
And if cell coverage dies, La Tournous recommends SPOT Connect ($170, with a yearly $99 subscription). If you're bumped off the grid, either in the woods or in a post-disaster urban environment, this small device sends a message via satellite to alert the cavalry.
Walking down 6th, La Tournous showed off more tools for when things go bad. There's the PowerPot from Practical Power ($149), a thermoelectric generator that transforms the heat of a fire into electricity for charging devices just by boiling a pot of water — "All you need is fire," he said, "so this will get you power even if the sun's not out."
Then there's the water purifier that uses ultraviolet light (SteriPEN, $99) to clean a liter of drinking water in 48 seconds. "After Sandy, a lot of towns had boil advisories," Tournous said, "so this would have taken care of the problem of getting drinking water."

subset: commoncrawl


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The jet was forced to turn around shortly after takeoff following the bird strike, which knocked out its speed and altitude indicators Full story »
The commuter jet was surrounded on the tarmac by emergency vehicles just before 4 p.m. Sunday Full story »
Police said the plane would be taken to a remote airport location and passengers and bags re-screened. Full story »
So many very rare bronzes from the era of Greek imperial power have never before been assembled in one exhibition. Full story »
Five years following its troubled 2010 marriage with Continental, the airline that boasts of flying the friendly skies continues to find itself in increasingly turbulent ones. Full story »
The Florida woman was charged Tuesday night, after TSA screeners detected a .40 caliber Glock and 10 rounds concealed in the lining of her checked bag Full story »
Group says opening slots dominated by biggies United, Delta and American airlines could lower fares at Newark Liberty, JFK and LaGuardia Full story »
Rides to and from Newark Liberty, JFK and LaGuardia airports could cost a few dollars more if taxi companies and ride sharing apps pass along a fee now being contemplated Full story »
Delays of more than five hours were reported at Teterboro, while nearly 300 commercial flights were scrubbed at Newark Liberty, JFK and LaGuardia Full story »
Move prompted by evidence of additional co-conspirators in the 2001 terror attack that killed 270 people, including 34 from New Jersey Full story »
The U.S. DOT cited incidents in January and in August 2014, when e-cigarettes in checked bags overheated and started fires. Full story »
China Air's service between Newark Liberty International and Beijing International Airports follow JFK-Beijing flights that began in January Full story »
The "chronic understaffing" of certified air traffic controllers could lead to thousands of flight delays nationwide, officials warned Tuesday. Full story »
The Oct. 5 arrest of a Guatamalan man arriving from Mexico City was at least the third incident this month involving the seizure of what officials says was cocaine hidden in food Full story »
The European aircraft manufacturer Airbus has patented a craft that would take off vertically and fly at more than four times the speed of sound 100,000 feet above the Earth Full story »
A spokesman for Alaska Airlines said a credit card reader caught fire in the plane's gally Full story »
CEO of Europe's third largest carrier tells Reuters of plans to fly from Westchester and other small airports with low fees starting in 2017. Full story »
Customs official say 10 pounds of cocaine and 88 Oxicone pills were found stashed in cash and drink mixes in checked luggage from Peru Full story »
While peak period traffic volumes on Sunday are comparable to weekday morning rush hours, more Sunday drivers pay the toll with cash, a more time consuming transaction that contributes to delays Full story »
The licenses do not comply with the federal Real ID Act of 2005, meaning New Yorkers may have to show a passport or other federal ID when flying Full story »


text: Did you hear about this young evangelical couple in Topeka?? Jon and Darla Crocker, who dutifully abstained from sex during their 14-month courtship, have remained abstinent after marriage and plan to do so indefinitely. "If it was holy before, it must be double-holy afterwards," Darla says. They have now completed 25 months of marriage without [Read More…]


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Ningin | GirlyBubble | ZiggyTek | Wirebot | FlauntMe | SwanDiary | Rekuru | CrazySingleLife | HTCYou | OMGHaute | Reelwire.com | Funsauce.com
- Protect your iPhone 5 from getting hurt with this Bubble Wrap case!
- Samsung releases a bright orange Galaxy Pop in South Korea! More »
- Make an espresso within 30 seconds using the Piamo!
- Motorola finally makes the Droid RAZR/MAXX Jelly Bean OTA official! More »
- Make a yummy breakfast for yourself within 5 minutes using the Breakfast Sandwich Making Tower!
- Looks like Ferrari is currently in talks with Apple for an in-car entertainment partnership! More »
Due to increases in royalty rates, Pandora will now be charging you if you listen to radio on your mobile for over 40 hours per month. More »
- This 5-year old kid spent a whooping $1200 on in-app-purchases!
- Check out how JetBlue would put the Google Glasses into good use. More »
Samsung is making managing all of your tickets, passes, memberships and coupons, easy with the Samsung Wallet. More »
Do you find it really irritating when you can't seem to use your phone whenever you're holding an umbrella to keep yourself safe from the rain? You always need to keep your hand steady just so that it won't bend over… More »
- Get some mouthwatering images with this cute donut shaped camera!
- LG reveals the world's smallest charger called the WCP-300. More »
- Manage your tickets with the Wallet mobile app that Samsung has just revealed to everyone.
- Be prepared for an unscratchable phone because Sapphire is coming!
- Thirteen Stadiums will be accepting mobile tickets through Apple's Passbook!
- Rumor has it that the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S4 will be featuring different chipsets in different regions.
- Uh oh! It looks like Apple's iCloud services is currently experiencing some ongoing issues.
Tired of those lame 2D drawings and sketches you always make? Now, have your sketch come to life with the 3Doodler 3D Printing Pen. Sketches can instantly turn 3D with this pen's special ink and heater. More »
- Be able to text and hold the umbrella with one hand using this umbrella!
- These iPad 5 cases with mini-inspired designs can now be ordered in the China market! More »


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Seeking Alpha provides some great information on individual stocks. This discussion is about how many readers are interested in that information. Seeking Alpha has about 500,000 visitors each day, with over 3 million page views.
As you probably know, when you set up a portfolio here on the Seeking Alpha website, you can elect to get an email update every time a new article is posted about one of the stocks in your portfolio. You may have noticed pages about individual stocks list the number of email subscribers. A look at the universe of stocks based on the number of Seeking Alpha subscribers paints an interesting picture of what interests investors on this site and, to me of more interest, the stocks which draw very little interest.
I directed an assistant to go through a listing of stocks and note how many email subscriber there were for each individual stock. The list ended up covering basically the Russell 1000 list of largest companies trading on the exchanges plus the major L.P. and REIT stocks not included in the major indexes. I think the results are interesting and a reflection on the interests of the mass investing public.
Of the roughly 1,000 stocks, the number of email alerts range from well over 30,000 readers for Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) at the top of the list to American National Insurance Company (NASDAQ:ANAT) with 9 investors interested enough to receive email notices. Mega-stock Apple adds 300 to 500 email subscribers per day.
Here are some of the numbers:
- Five stocks: AAPL, Citigroup (NYSE:C), Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:CSCO), Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) and General Electric (NYSE:GE) have more than 10,000 subscribers. Citigroup is at about half of Apple's level and Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) is very close to the 10k number and will be there soon.
- 26 stocks have more than 5,000 email subscribers and about 150 companies have news distributed by email to more than 1,000 subscribers.
- At the other end of the list, 350 out of 1,000 stocks have less than 100 email subscribers. The median number of SA email subscribers is 188.
These numbers show the majority of investors follow a handful of stocks, leaving hundreds of possible investments off their list of potential investments.
Taking a look at the sectors populated by popular stocks, investors are interested in tech stocks, telecom stocks, more tech stocks, durable goods manufacturers, pharma stocks and energy companies. Outside of the two large-cap banking companies, the only other financial with high interest is mortgage REIT Annaly Capital (NYSE:NLY). Consumer goods are a reasonably popular sector with investors more interested in cigarettes -- Altria (NYSE:MO) -- than books -- Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN). Yes, I put Amazon in the consumer goods sector.
Surprising stocks -- for me -- near the top of the list are Comcast (NASDAQ:CMCSA) at number 10 and near to smallcap pharma company Dendreon Corp. (NASDAQ:DNDN) at number 68 with over 2,000 subscribers.
Seeking Alpha reading investors are not at all interested in insurance companies. Dow 30 component Travellers (NYSE:TRV) is 320 rungs down the ladder with less than 400 email subscribers. The next least favored Dow 30 stock is United Technologies (NYSE:UTX) at position 122 with 1,200 subscribers.
Down at the bottom of the rankings live a host of small and mid-cap companies few investors have ever heard of but some names stick out. Morningstar (NASDAQ:MORN) is well know to investor, but not as an investment with less than 50 subscribers. Energizer Holdings (NYSE:ENR) sells well-know battery and razor brands and has 65 subscribers. Cooper Industries (CBE) has a $10 billion market cap and 99 Seeking Alpha email subscribers.
Besides some interesting data to discuss, the point I would like to make is that the majority of investors -- using the Seeking Alpha interest numbers -- follow just a handful of stocks in a few market sectors. There is a whole lot of untapped potential out there for stock investors looking for hidden gems. I plan to dig out a few of those gems in future articles. If you like, list one or two of your favorite stocks in the comments and the number of SA email subscribers. Here's a chance get some more investors interested in your stocks.
Disclosure: I have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours.


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By Jim Hilgen 9:00pm, November 16, 2012 - Updated 10:45am, November 17, 2012
Sen. Chris Coons (File)Senator Chris Coons is hoping he's found a way to improve the process of voting.
Coons says reports of voters waiting six or more hours to vote led him to try to find a better way.
He's doing that with a measure that would offer some financial incentives.
"That would be given to those states that show the greatest promise of improving early voting, absentee voting, days of voting, accessibility of registration and opportunities for preparation for natural disasters."
Coons says this is really the only way the federal government can hope to influence how the states manage elections.
Coons' measure offers challenge grants to states, similar to Race to the Top, for election processes.
"It's a way to encourage and incentivize states around the country to make policy changes, to review and sort of audit what sort of happened in this most recent election. And then to invest in making significant improvements before the next election."
Coons hopes to avoid another election in which the public is not sure of the final outcome for several days.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


text:
Kristen Stewart's New Short Red Hairdo - Hot Or Not?
Kristin Stewart cut her hair and dyed it red and showed it off outside the Ed Sullivan Theater Monday before taping her appearance on "The Late Show with David Letterman."
Perhaps K-Stew was trying to take a little weight off her feet as she recently complained that all the promotion time going into her latest film, "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse," has taken its toll on her feet.
"I feel like my feet are really p**sed off at me, just because of the shoes. That's been the biggest problem," she said.
"Eclipse" opens Wednesday, June 30. The love triangle involving Bella (Stewart), Edward (Robert Pattinson), and Jacob (Taylor Lautner) heats up in the latest film.
At the "Twilight Saga: Eclipse" New York City Screening Hosted by The Cinema Society and Piaget:
More: Celeb Photo Features | Fashion Photo Features
Click for more great Kristen Stewart pictures:


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Mental Health Officials Protest Drug Proposal
Stacy M. Brown | 3/5/2014, 3 p.m.
About 35,000 adults in Washington, D.C., receive mental health treatment or counseling each year while 14,000 are diagnosed annually with serious mental illness.
What's more, an additional 23,000 adults in the District report thoughts of suicide every year because of mental health issues and 3,000 youth in D.C. have reported various episodes of depression and other related illnesses.
Those statistics have served to bolster the fight some are waging against a proposed rule that would limit access to certain psychiatric medications under Medicare Part D.
"I can assure you that it is an insane idea," said Carole Lieberman, a District-based radio and television talk show host and board certified psychiatrist and author.
"Patients, of all ages, need these medications in doses that are unique and specific to each patient," Lieberman said.
Further, the proposal to limit the drugs would put lives at risk and health plans should not be allowed to restrict access to a medication that a person urgently needs for effective recovery, said Bob Carolla, a spokesman for the Arlington, Va.-based National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the nation's largest mental health organization that advocates for access to services, treatment, support and research for the millions who are affected by mental illness.
In January, the Federal Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in Baltimore proposed a rule that also would eliminate access for patients to six classes of medications, including antidepressants and antipsychotic drugs.
The rule proposed by the CMS would take effect in 2015.
"NAMI currently is mobilized in opposition to the proposed rule," Carolla said. "We're hoping to deliver 10,000 signatures as part of the formal comment process."
Under the proposal, choices
of medications would significantly narrow for individuals with depression, schizophrenia and other mental illnesses.
Jonathan Blum, the principal deputy administrator for CMS, said the Part D changes are part of the agency's ongoing effort to strengthen the program, while giving its 38.5 million beneficiaries better choices.
Friday, March 7, will be the final day for public comment on the proposal. CMS hasn't provided a timeframe for when final regulations would be issued.
Critics of the proposal also have pointed out that African-Americans are likely to be affected most by the change because blacks are 20 percent more likely to report having serious psychological distress than whites, health officials said.
Taking away medication options could further damage efforts to encourage African-Americans to seek help for mental illness.
"We know that African-Americans have a disproportionate number who are also in poverty and a higher jobless rate. Women are less likely to be coupled or in supportive relationships and so those factors into why African-Americans may have higher numbers of psychological disorders," said Janet Taylor, a New York-based psychiatrist who frequently appears on television shows including CBS' "The Early Show" and NBC's "Today."
Also, Taylor said health care providers can be insensitive to the cultural experiences of African-Americans.
"There are some health care providers who assume that ... strife in black people or having a difficult time are [what's] to be expected," she said


text:
Natco readies handmade line
December 29, 2004-- Home Textiles Today,
WEST WARWICK, R.I. -- Natco Home, a supplier of area and accent rugs, announced it will for the first time add handmade varieties to its line, with the launch slated for January.
The company will debut these new handmade rugs, made in India of hand-tufted wool, at its showroom at the AmericasMart during the Atlanta International Area Rug market. Not yet formally named, the handmade collection will debut with 12 designs. A 6-by-9 is set to retail for $299. "Our customers were asking us for handmade rugs," Michael Litner, president, told HTT. Natco's core line consists of heat-set synthetic rugs.
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text:
File photo The CCC Spring Commencement is scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday at the Clovis Civic Center.
Liliana Castillo
About 150 students will graduate Friday from Clovis Community College.
Of those, 101 will graduate with a diploma and 55 will be awarded a certificate.
Clovis resident Kristie Hawk, 20, was chosen as the student speaker. She is graduating with an associate's degree in liberal arts.
After graduation, Hawk plans to enroll in the CCC nursing program in the fall.
When she began classes at Clovis Community College, Hawk was planning to become an elementary teacher. A semester before finishing her degree, she decided to make the switch.
"I want to be a nurse," she said. "I've seen a lot of nursing students have success in the nursing program and heard they all get jobs as soon as they graduate so that was my motivation. And I like helping people, so I decided to do that."
Hawk said she has always wanted to help people in her career.
"As a teacher, I'll only help one age of children. Being a nurse, I'll be helping people of all sorts of ages," she said.
Hawk said she feels like it's the right thing to do to help others.
"I've always had my mom there to support me my entire life. I hope to be a good helper like she was," Hawk said. "I want to be able to support a patient when they're really sick and there's no one to visit them."
Eight students were nominated and each submitted a speech to the board of trustees. The board chose Hawk based on her speech.
"I wrote a lot about things that other students can relate to, mainly just my experiences at CCC," said Hawk, whose family moved to Clovis to be closer to family after her parents retired from the military.
CCC Executive Vice President Becky Rowley said the speaker for graduation will be Jackie Ingle, who works for the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions.
Rowley said Ingle was chosen because she's from the Portales area and therefore knows the area and the students.
"And she works with employment and employment abilities, which is good for students to hear about," Rowley said.
The board will also award emeritus status to two former CCC faculty members, Mike and Michelle Schmidt. They worked at CCC for a combined 54 years.
Rowley said she enjoys graduation.
"It's really nice to see students that you've worked with in different capacities finish," Rowley said. "Sometimes students don't just come through with an associates in two years, they take four or five. Seeing them finish, you really kind of understand why we do what we do."


text:
Fresh Frankfurt strikes ground flights
AFP/The Local · 21 Feb 2014, 14:59
Published: 21 Feb 2014 14:59 GMT+01:00
- Green light for Munich airport expansion (20 Feb 14)
- Lufthansa expands in-flight electronic usage (14 Feb 14)
- Merkel jet gatecrasher: I don't remember anything (13 Feb 14)
Passengers were advised on Friday not to bother turning up for flights at Frankfurt airport because of a one-day strike by security staff.
"We have asked passengers not to travel to the airport for now. As things currently stand, the legally required security checks cannot be carried out," said a spokesman for airport operator, Fraport.
The spokesman said that in total 65 flights had officially been cancelled so far, out of a total 1,300 scheduled for the entire day.
Service industry union Verdi called on members employed by private security contractors to stay away from work. A spokeswoman confirmed on Friday that this would be between 2am and 11pm.
Fraport and Germany's biggest airline Lufthansa said they could not estimate the total extent of delays and flight cancellations.
Verdi is fighting for an hourly wage rise to €16, calling an offer by employers of €10 - €13 euros "far too low".
For more news from Germany, join us on Facebook and Twitter.


text:
full size
Product Details
This sultry wool crepe dress is impeccably tailored to fit and flatter in all the right places. We love the folding detail at the neck and the flattering cap sleeves. Our go-to dress for the season, it's perfect for work and beyond. Online only.
Size & Fit Details


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Fees on Debit Cards Fade Into Past, Survey Finds
NEW YORK -- A survey from Bankrate.com, an Internet site that tracks card trends and their impacts on consumers, has found almost none of the card issuers surveyed still charge the cardholders a fee for using their debit cards, no matter whether they sign to validate transactions or use a personal identification number.
Bankrate researchers surveyed the 10 largest banks and thrifts in 10 top markets and gathered their check card policies and fees. Only seven of the 100 surveyed institutions charge a point-of-sale, or POS, fee for PIN transactions. Five of these charge per transaction and two charge a monthly fee, the site reported.
Bankrate called the rise of the debit card "very good news for consumers" and said that consumers have embraced check cards as their preferred purchasing plastic. Since 2003, check cards have been used to make more purchases than credit cards, according to the Federal Reserve.
"The competitive environment for banks demands that they position themselves to the consumer as offering low-cost checking accounts," the study quoted Tim Sloane, director of the Debit Advisory Service at Mercator Advisory Group, a payments-industry research firm. "Core to the value proposition for consumers is debit cards. The once-common practice of charging transaction fees on debit cards has disappeared."
Greg McBride, CFA, senior financial analyst at Bankrate, agreed.
"Point-of-sale fees for PIN-based debit card transactions appear to be more myth than reality," says McBride. "Nonetheless, cardholders should always verify the terms with their issuers to avoid being surprised."
The study found that only one bank, Wells Fargo, charges a $1 per month fee to some customers for signing to validate their debit card transactions. A spokesman for Wells Fargo explained that the bank charged the fee on only some accounts that did not carry a certain balance and was not charged on a per transaction basis.
"The fee is charged for unlimited PIN-based and signature-based point-of-sale transactions and is only charged if either card has been used for point-of-sale purchases during the statement cycle," explained Lisa Westermann, spokesman for the bank.
Bankrate attributed the rise of the debit card usage to an improved focus on money management, combined with convenience and more trust in the security of the cards.
"Significant awareness was raised about the high interest rates charged by credit cards and the fees for late payments," Sloan told the survey. "Consumers have been educated about the benefits of debit cards. Consumers see it was a way to budget their money more effectively."
In the 2005/2006 Consumer Payments Usage study, the most important things to consumers were convenience and security," Bankrate said. --firstname.lastname@example.com


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Texans are filing for bankruptcy protection in increasing numbers despite the recovering economy and improved job picture.
Filings for the Northern District of Texas, which includes Amarillo, were up for each quarter of 2003 over 2002.
The courts reported that for 2003, the Northern District had 31,461 personal and business filings. In 2002, the court showed 28,080 filings.
The Southern District of Texas, headquartered in Houston, has the dubious honor of having the highest percentage increase of bankruptcy filings in the country, with 22.2 percent.
Nationwide, bankruptcy filings broke the record for 2003. Total bankruptcies filed in the 2003 calendar year totaled 1,660,245. That is 5.2 percent more than 2002, which totaled 1,577,651.
"Bankruptcy reached historical filings in 2003 and had been going up dramatically in the last 10 years or so," said Ronnie Walker, a lawyer who practices bankruptcy law.
Southern states always have had higher bankruptcy rates than New England with its frugal traditions, he said.
Southern states also have more liberal exemption laws, and its residents have lower income per capita, he said.
Despite evidence the economy is recovering - improved job figures, more factory orders, continued low interest rates and no inflation, Walker said consumers still struggle with financial issues.
He noted rising prices of health insurance, college education, real-estate taxes and gasoline.
"We are told there is zero inflation, and there seems to be a huge disconnect between what we're told and what the average consumer is experiencing," Walker said.
He added another factor to the bankruptcy equation - easy credit.
"The underlying cause of all these bankruptcies in the last 15 years or so can be explained simply - availability of credit through credit cards," Walker said.
People and businesses file for bankruptcy protection under the federal Bankruptcy Code. Different chapters pertain to certain situations.
Chapter 7 - For individual and business debtors. The purpose is to distribute nonexempt assets to creditors. Discharges unsecured debts.
Chapter 11 - The chapter provides for reorganization of a person's or business's debt.
Chapter 12 - Gives debt relief to a family farmer with regular income from farming.
Chapter 13 - This is for people with regular income and provides for budgeting some earnings to pay unsecured creditors.
The Federal Reserve Board backs Walker's observation. It reported in October that consumer debt - credit cards and car notes - hit $1.98 trillion, up from $1.5 trillion three years earlier.
Cathy Jacobson, manager of Consumer Credit Counseling Service, said sometimes potential clients have so much debt, they can't be helped.
In that case, CCCS suggests people seek legal advice, she said.
"They wait until they are so far behind, that it's just impossible. They don't have enough income compared to their debt," Jacobson said.
"We see a lot of people who want to pay their credit cards but don't want to pay their house payment or car payment because the credit card companies are calling them. We try to re-educate them that their house and car payment are their priority debts," Jacobson said.
Even though bankruptcies are rising, Jacobson said the CCCS caseload is remaining steady.
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text:
A suicide bomber killed at least 25 civilians and wounded another 30 at a funeral for a village elder in a remote part of eastern Afghanistan late on Tuesday, local officials said.
Ahmad Zia Abdul Zai, a spokesman for the provincial governor, said the attack took place on Tuesday in the village of Shagai in the Durbaba district.
Hoshang Hashimi / AP
More than ten years after the beginning of the war, Afghanistan faces external pressure to reform as well as ongoing internal conflicts.
Initial reports said at least 10 civilians were killed. Officials later said more than a dozen people died of their injuries.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but there has been fighting against Taliban and other insurgents in the mountainous region located just across the border from some of Pakistan's lawless tribal areas.
Latifullah, the local police chief's secretary who goes by one name, said the target was apparently district chief Hamisha Gul, who was attending the funeral and survived the attack.
The Taliban often target government officials at public functions, including funerals and weddings.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
In Afghanistan, local forces have turned their arms on U.S. troops, with whom they are supposed to be partnered. At least 45 international troops have been killed. NBC's Jim Maceda reports.
More world stories from NBC News:
- Chinese media: 'Many Chinese people dislike Hillary'
- Pistorious sorry for timing, not content, of Paralympics outburst
- 77-year-old Japanese man asks US mayor to look for items lost in tsunami
- Sun Myung Moon, founder of Unification Church, dies at 92
- Girl accused of blasphemy in Pakistan may have been framed by Muslim cleric
- 'Big enough for all of us': Clinton says US can work with China in Pacific
- Assad stays cool amid reports of bread-line slaughter
Follow World News from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook


text:
Akira and Yuujirou, who are childhood friends, both love to surf, and both have an unrequited love for each other. This is because after Yuujirou kissed Akira a year ago, she slaps him! Now all he does is bully Akira and Akira has feelings of regret for slapping him!
- No comments posted so far, be the first one!
- 8 years agoAh! Itoshi no Caramel Boy 1: Oneshot
- 5 years agoAh! Itoshi no Caramel Boy 0
By editing this manga you will earn the editor title for this manga!


text:
Red Wine Cooler
Total Time
Prep 2 mins
Cook 0 mins
I'm not really a big red wine drinker but can handle it when mixed like this. One for my fellow cooler Queen chef #296809.
Ingredients Nutrition
- 90 ml red wine
- 30 ml white wine
- 15 ml sugar syrup
- 15 ml orange juice
- 15 ml lemon juice
- soda water
- ice
- Build ingredients over ice and top with soda.
Most Helpful
This was deliciously fizzy, tart, and sweet. I really enjoyed it. One thing I would do differently next time is NOT use a shiraz for the red wine. My mistake; it was too spicy.
This was the 1st *pressie* I chose for the Dec Aussie/NZ Recipe Swap after seeing your reference to *cooler Queen twissis* in the intro. I literally had to talk DH out of the red wine for it, esp since he knows I do not favour red wine. *Mr Wine Purist* cringed as I made it using his Aretey Coupage Seleccion Reserve from Catalonia, Spain for the red wine, my Guntrum Riesling from Germany for the white wine & Sprite Zero as a sub for the soda water. Then he mumbled something in Icelandic that I am glad I could not understand for a half hr after that. Thx for sharing this tasty & very cool cooler w/me, but I am in seriously big trouble now & it is all your fault! I cannot get enough of these coolers or find that d**n 10 * button! *Hic* ! :-)


text:
Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz
On The Death Of That Most Excellent Lady, - Poem by Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz
Mueran contigo, Laura, pues moriste,
los afectos que en vano te desean,
los ojos a quien privas de que vean
hermosa luz que a un tiempo concediste.
Muera mi lira infausta en que influiste
ecos, que lamentables te vocean,
y hasta estos rasgos mal formados sean
lágrimas negras de mi pluma triste.
Muévase a compasión la misma muerte
que, precisa, no pudo perdonarte;
y lamente el amor su amarga suerte,
pues si antes, ambicioso de gozarte,
deseó tener ojos para verte,
ya le sirvieran sólo de llorarte.
Let them die with you, Laura, now you are dead,
these longings that go out to you in vain,
these eyes on whom you once bestowed
a lovely light never to gleam again.
Let this unfortunate lyre that echoes still
to sounds you woke, perish calling your name,
and may these clumsy scribblings represent
black tears my pen has shed to ease its pain.
Let Death himself feel pity, and regret
that, bound by his own law, he could not spare you,
and Love lament the bitter circumstance
that if once, in his desire for pleasure,
he wished for eyes that they might feast on you,
now weeping is all those eyes could ever do.
Comments about On The Death Of That Most Excellent Lady, by Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz
Souren Mondal (11/17/2015 11:44:00 PM)
A wonderful poem depicting the death of someone in a very poignant manner.. However, I wonder how many of us can actually LIVE in such a way that when we die DEATH has to shed tears for us.. (Report) Reply
Rajnish Manga (11/17/2015 10:50:00 PM)
Very serene and poignant poem. Death takes away all the mortal remains which once were the cynosure of the loved ones. You have beautifully portrayed the scene. Thanks.
now weeping is all those eyes could ever do. (Report) Reply
Aqeeb Nazir (11/17/2015 11:27:00 AM)
Absolutely amazing I heart the poem! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! (Report) Reply
Susha Strauss (11/17/2015 9:53:00 AM)
This is wonderful! I can't wait to read more of your poems! (Report) ReplyKim Barney (11/17/2015 8:32:00 PM)
You are talking to someone who died in 1695!
Ratnakar Mandlik (11/17/2015 3:04:00 AM)
Glowing tribute to the memory of the most excellent Lady paid by the poetess. Enjoyed reading. Thanks for sharing.8 points. (Report) Reply
Susan Williams (11/17/2015 12:15:00 AM)
It just didn't resonate with me- I reread several times but it still didn't get into my heart. Hopefully it is just a matter of the impact getting lost in translation. (Report) Reply
* Sunprincess * (10/3/2015 9:20:00 AM)
.........beautiful tribute and very nicely penned ★ (Report) Reply
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Read poems about / on: pain, death, light
Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz's Other Poems
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Maya Angelou
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The Road Not Taken
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If You Forget Me
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Caged Bird
Maya Angelou
Rudyard Kipling
Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening
Robert Frost
A Dream Within A Dream
Edgar Allan Poe


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Unemployment and job creation remain relatively stagnant. U-3 unemployment was reported at 7.8%, the same as during the month of December. It was reported that only 155,000 jobs were created in December, with an average of 153,00 per month for both 2011 and 2012.
The division that exists between the Right and Left is now the saving grace that will keep the United States of America from suicidal destruction.
Any Republican compromise would weaken Conservative efforts and give strength to Barack Obama and his Progressive Democrats.
Eleven years ago our nation was attacked in a violent act of war by an evil force of darkness intent on the destruction of our nation and its Judeo-Christian foundations.
Mitt Romney will make a great President. I predict Mitt Romney will go down in history on the level of Washington and Reagan because Romney will begin the Great Cleanup of the Great Socialist Mess the Progressive Left created and Barack Obama greatly intensified.
It apparently does not occur to the Progressive Left Elite that Democrats, like Republicans and most Independents, are simply rejecting Barack Obama as the leader of our great and free nation. The fact that Barack Obama's father was an African Black man has little to do with the vote of the American people. The Liberal Elite cannot imagine that anyone would not want to have all aspects of their lives controlled by the tyrannical rule of the Progressive Left controlled Federal government.
When we compare the voice of Conservative reason with the voices of the Progressive Left, the experience can be a dramatic and life-changing experience.
"The whole gospel of Karl Marx can be summed up in a single sentence: Hate the man who is better off than you are. Never under any circumstances admit that his success may be due to his own efforts, to the productive contribution he has made to the whole community. Always attribute his success to the exploitation, the cheating, the more or less open robbery of others. Never under any circumstances admit that your own failure may be owing to your own weakness, or that the failure of anyone else may be due to his own defects - his laziness, incompetence, improvidence, or stupidity."
The above was written by American economist and philosopher Henry Hazlitt. Hazlitt understood Socialism and its evil foundations.
Ronald Reagan warned us that we could lose our freedom very quickly,
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free."
We now realize that we could lose our freedom and progress from Liberty into bondage during the time of a single Presidency. The Progressive Left has attacked and greatly weakened our freedoms and our Constitution for a century, and President Barack Obama has doubled the damage in less than three years.
The Progressive Left claims that because the United States spends more money on defense than any other country, this is a reason to cut our military spending. The Left wants to drastically cut our military funding and use the money to fund Liberal political expenditures. Such is not a logical approach to our national security funding.
The United States spends more money on our military than do other countries for several reasons.
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Illegal or not, on-demand car service Uber is good for DC
New car service Uber launched in DC in December, but has already run afoul of the Taxi Commission. Whether they're doing anything illegal is unclear, but the service is definitely good for transportation in DC.
Uber allows people to book a trip in a for-hire car, without an advance reservation, using a mobile app. It offers an alternative to current taxis, but doesn't compete directly for the vast majority of taxi rides because it costs significantly more than a cab, particularly for short trips.
To say that Uber competes with cabs is like saying McDonalds competes with Bourbon Steak because they both serve hamburgers.
The concept is a positive step for an urban DC. It offers yet another transportation option besides driving a personal car. Transit isn't for everyone all the time, and if Uber lets a transit skeptic leave the car at home or get rid of it altogether, it's a big win.
What's more, Uber can actually improve the efficiency of "black cars," the for-hire sedans which spend a large portion of the day idling. While the Uber founder says they discourage drivers from accepting Uber trips while they are on a job, it is distinctly feasible to do with their system.
I used to live in Foggy Bottom, and when major summits came to town, the neighborhood would be covered with Town Cars and Tahoes with Virginia "For Hire" license plates. With the IMF, World Bank, and numerous upscale hotels in the area, the vehicles would sit idling all over Foggy Bottom and the West End. The cars often took up parking spaces for hours, double parking at times.
Uber gives them the ability to provide some trips instead of blocking lanes of traffic and every conceivable parking space. This would be good for everyone.
Ironically, the limousine industry should be the one that is more concerned about Uber. Their business is likely to change as long is Uber is around. If someone can book a black car on-demand, pay a mileage-based rate, and then book another one for a return trip, without having to pay for time in between, why, except for the most demanding situations, would anyone bother to hire a car service?
What's more, the taxi industry actually stands to benefit from the presence of Uber. At peak times, such as New Years' Eve, there are not enough cabs to go around, period. Uber maintains their reliability by using "surge pricing" to price out many people and find those customers who are desperate, or well heeled, enough to pay for that reliability.
At high traffic times, Uber takes some people who would have otherwise tried to hail a cab, leaving fewer people to fight over the limited cab supply, and ultimately making traveling by taxi cab easier and more reliable.
Lawyers, Uber, cabbies, the Taxi Commission, and possibly DC councilmembers will debate the legality of Uber's operation in coming weeks. Residents should hope they come to a conclusion that lets the service, and others like it, keep running.
The "surge pricing" turned into a PR fiasco for Uber. As with all pricing, information matters. Even super-sophicated drunks with cell phone get screwed with that.
Given how often my GF begs me to take a cab, there is clearly a market for a more upscale transit option.
Surge pricing, good. Ineffectively communicating surge pricing at the moment of purchase, especially to first-time customers, not so good.
Huh? How? You certainly didn't explain any benefit to the taxi industry -- perhaps to taxi riders, but to drivers and fleet owners?
You may be correct in pointing out that Uber is more of a threat to the limo industry, than the taxi industry, but I see no way this benefits taxis.
Red Top is usually at my house within 510 minutes of calling, and it's half the price. They also have an iPhone app (in Taxi Magic)
I don't see the advantage Red Top in Arlington. DC maybe. The goal isn't taxi replacement, just car service replacement.
DC cab drivers don't follow rules - if they did, I wouldn't need Uber. I've been stranded around Dupont or Columbia Heights a number of times when a cab driver refused to take me to Ballston (which really isn't even that far away). I also don't want to deal with a half broken car, a driver that can barely speak English, or someone that tries to take advantage of me by going "his" way home.
Also - why should I carry around wads of 20s? This is the 21st century. When I go to NYC for work, I can hop in any cab knowing that it has a CC machine. That's simply not the case here.
Uber is far more convenient and pleasant - if DC cabs can't handle the "competition" they should focus on making their service better.
Except for the fact that you didn't know what your price was going to be, even approximately. "This trip will cost $100" is how you decide whether to book plane tickets, not, "plane tickets are 5x their normal price, and we'll charge you after you deplane."
Their algorithms also had no backstop, unlike the rest of the travel industry, where one accepts that at ultra-peak periods, there will be a shortage and even the expensive services will be doled out by the luck of the draw.
But, to their credit, it does sound like Uber was going through their audit logs and refunding customers who did get hosed. So perhaps we're just looking at some code problems rather than a devious "tricked you, drunky" scheme.
How is it a compelling government interest to protect the jobs of these guys, 90% of whom aren't even DC citizens?
On demand car service is good for those in DC who can afford it. Or we'll get in a taxi.
BTW, I do believe that a number of these sedans we see are actually on the clock and not riding around looking for passengers.
Uber cars are still licensed and regulated by the commission, they are just regulated as for-hire cars rather than taxis. This means they can't pick up street hails but can pick you up if you call them.
You still can't just call yourself a taxi and start picking up street hails and calls.
The cars and drivers are not unregulated, they're all regulated already as for-hire livery drivers in this region.
The adjective "DC" before "citizens" is probably superfluous.
The city isn't even really obligated to regulate cabs. Residents would be better off if they did less regulation of cabs. Buses, Metro, personal driving, Amtrak, MARC, and even walking are actually regulated, too (stop signs, anyone?)
Where exactly does the author of this article propose drawing the line? I really don't see how this could be legit without opening you up to scenario like I just explained.
This starts from the premise that existing regulation is good and anything that undermines it is not "legit."
In 20 years, I've had one bad experience -- a cabbie that refused to take me back to Virginia.
Strikes me as a oversupply problem. Too many cabbies in a few corridors, and not enough elsewhere.
However, cracking down on Uber just sounds like a bunch of rent-seeking on the part of cab drivers.
All of the arguments that "DC cab drivers will be driven out of business" or that "DC cab drivers have families" or that "many immigrants get a start driving cabs" is irrelevant.
The only question that is relevant is "If we impose regulation X, will a DC resident be able to get a cab cheaper/more frequently/etc..." DC cab service is the shittiest of the three regional jurisdictions, and MD/VA cab drivers actually *live* in MD/VA.
DC cab service is so shitty because of regulatory capture: the DC government is small enough that a well-organized special interest like the cab driver lobby can buy it off. Not so in MD/VA.
I do want to go out of my way to be callous.
I don't have a clue what your problems are and I don't care.
I care about service and price.
Owners of restaurants, liquor stores, meter maids, and other professions all face difficulties. They aren't my problem. This is all irrelevant when considering the question of whether or not allowing Uber is good public policy.
None of the problems of taxi drivers change the fact that DC's regulatory scheme is bad for taxi cab riders.
I would use this service if I hadn't learned to call friends or just lug my luggage onto the bus and trains. As long as they are guaranteed to actually show up to ALL areas of DC I would have no problem forking over the money to make it to a red eye on time and let my friends stay warm and cozy in their beds.
Add a Comment
- In defense of "political theater" for Metro
- Should a "historic gas station" keep new housing units from going up in Dupont?
- Where is Falls Church, exactly?
- Is new housing, most of it for low-income residents, worth giving up an acre of park space?
- Are public spaces really public when not everybody can use them?
- Think you know Metro? It's whichWMATA week 96
- A developer has agreed to build shorter and less dense than the law allows, but neighbors are still fighting it


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Arctic Oil & Gas Symposium – Conference Agenda
Day 1: Wednesday, Mar. 16, 2016
Registration Opens and Refreshments are Served
Opening Remarks from Conference Chair
- Doug Matthews
Energy Analyst/Writer
Matthews Energy Consulting
Opening Keynote Addresses
- Stephen Van Dine
Assistant Deputy Minister
Indigenous and Northern Affairs
Update from the Ministry of Indigenous and Northern Affairs
Update from Government of Yukon
- The Honourable Scott Kent
Minister of Energy, Mines & Resources, Minister of Highways & Public Works, MLA Riverdale
Government of Yukon
Update from Government of the Northwest Territories
- The Honourable Robert (Bob) R. McLeod
Government of the Northwest Territories
Arctic Opportunities – A U.S. Perspective
- Mead Treadwell
President, Former Lieutenant Governor, State of Alaska, Former Chair, U.S. Arctic Research Commission
Pt Capital
- An in-depth look at U.S. policy on Arctic development
- The view from Alaska – what key projects are moving forward?
- Exploring Arctic investment opportunities
- Overcoming perceptions of high costs and regulatory risk
Networking Refreshment Break
Market Outlook: Staying Ahead in an Era of Lower Oil Prices – An Economic and Geopolitical Analysis of Potential Industry Activity in the Long Term
- An in-depth look at key international players in the Arctic
- Forecasting oil and gas supply and demand trends for North America and beyond – how will they shape Arctic opportunities?
- Capitalizing on opportunities in Canada's North – what projects are underway and what is on the horizon?
- Exploring potential investment growth areas, including Asia's interest in the North
Exploration Update from C-NLOPB: Activities and Opportunity
- Craig Rowe
Director of Exploration and Information Resources
Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (C-NLOPB)
- An overview of the scheduled land tenure system for offshore exploration in the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Area.
- Current activities and opportunities
Networking Luncheon for Delegates and Speakers
Panel: Navigating the Regulatory Framework – Taking Necessary Steps for Oil & Gas Development
- Pauline de Jong
Senior Advisor, Legislation and Policy, Office of the Regulator of Oil and Gas Operations
Government of the Northwest Territories
- Ron Sumanik
Director, Oil & Gas Resources
Government of Yukon
- Identifying points of contact and understanding approximate timelines typically experienced in each phase of the process
- How to increase transparency in regulatory processes
- What to expect in the future – insight into regulatory changes
Opening Remarks: Thought-Leaders' Perspectives on Arctic Oil and Gas Development
- John Hogg, P.Geo.
Skybattle Resources Ltd.
- Menzie McEachern
Director, Petroleum Resources
Government of the Northwest Territories
- Aaron Miller
Northern Canada Manager
Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP)
- Richard Wyman
Northern Cross Yukon Ltd.
- Looking at how various Arctic communities view oil and gas development
- Exploring positive examples of relationship-building and engagement between industry, local communities and businesses
- Examples of policies and regulatory frameworks that have led to successful outcomes
Networking Refreshment Break
Roundtable Discussions: Building Consensus and Working Collaboratively to Achieve Results
Led by representatives from industry, government and First Nations, these interactive roundtable discussions are designed to educate and build consensus around sustainable project development in Canada's North.
Key Themes to be Explored Include:
- Creating transparency in the regulatory framework – how can the process be enhanced?
- Understanding local sentiments around Arctic development and finding ways to address key areas of concern
- Stakeholder engagement and social licence issues facing industry
- Community engagement and project awareness initiatives – what are the most effective approaches?
- Exploring the potential socio-economic benefits stemming from specific projects
Collaborative approaches hold the potential for heightened support for a project, better certainty around timelines and costs, and an effective regulatory review process. Gain insights from the experiences of roundtable discussion leaders that can be integrated into an actionable plan for your organization.
Closing Remarks from Conference Chair and Conference Adjourns
Day 2: Thursday, Mar. 17, 2016
Refreshments are Served
Opening Remarks from Conference Chair
Infrastructure Support Activities – Examining the Most Pressing Needs Required to Move Resource Development Forward
- Trevor McLeod
Director of the Centre for Natural Resources Policy
Canada West Foundation
- Matt Vickers
G7G Railway Corporation
- Ensuring sufficient infrastructure capacity for the development of resources – project updates and next steps
- Progress report on transportation – an overview of current and future projects
- An in-depth look at
pipeline infrastructure,
- Exploring some of the current challenges recently experienced with getting pipelines approved
- How do current delayed projects impact the progress of development in the North?
Leveraging the Northern Advantage – Update from Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor)
- Matthew Spence
Director General, Northern Projects Management Office
Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor)
- Current initiatives at the Northern Project Management Office (NPMO)
- An overview of strategic investments in the North as well as economic development initiatives
- Advancing relationship building – government cooperation and coordination initiatives
Networking Refreshment Break
Geological Framework – Mapping Unconventional Resource Potential in the Northwest Territories
- Brad Hayes
Petrel Robertson Consulting Ltd.
- Assessing resource potential in Canada's North – current initiatives and geological findings
- Examining how a proper mapping of the area can create new opportunities and attract investment
Innovation in a Challenging Price Market – Using Technology to Manage Costs in Oil & Gas Production
- Key trends and significant breakthroughs in oil and gas technology
- Exploring cost-efficient processes that make a difference in projects moving forward
- Ways that the oil and gas sector is leveraging renewable energy technologies
Closing Remarks from Conference Chair and Conference Concludes
Lunch Will be Served to Delegates Attending the Afternoon Workshop
- Send to a Colleague
- Join Mailing List


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FORT SMITH, AR (News release) - Joe Ostaszewski, a finalist on "The Biggest Loser," says the show* saved his life. Now he's teaming up with the National 4-H Council for a cross-country bike ride to save kids from the dangers of childhood obesity.
Ostaszewski and his Wear Your Soul project will be making a stop at Fort Smith on Saturday, Aug, 23, as part of his "Ride it Forward" fitness campaign. Staging for the ride will be at the top of Garrison Avenue in the parking lot in front of the Immaculate Conception Church.
Riders may begin arriving at 2:30 p.m. At 3 p.m. Ostaszewski will join the riders for a trip down Garrison Avenue. The ride will end at the National Historic Site where Ostaszewski will talk with riders about the National 4-H Healthy Living Initiative, healthy eating and exercise habits, and will ask riders to take the Healthy Living Pledge.
The former Florida State lineman tipped the scales at nearly 370 pounds. He told the Ocala (Florida) "Star Banner" newspaper in 2013 that he and his twin brother Henry, who weighed about 360 pounds, began getting back in shape and applied for the "The Biggest Loser." Joseph got the casting call. In the end, the effort was worth it. He lost 147 pounds in six months.
Story by Dave Edmark, Cooperative Extension Service, U of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
*The Biggest Loser is seen on NBC and KARK 4.
Copyright 2016 Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


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January 24, 2008
Lauder letter to Olmert urging Disapora role in Jerusalem negotiations stirs passions
The president of the World Jewish Congress (WJC) has roiled the organization's branch in Israel by writing to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert with a plea to allow Diaspora Jews a voice in any decisions on Jerusalem's future.
Ronald Lauder, in his Jan. 8 letter on WJC letterhead, wished Olmert success during President Bush's visit to the region and expressed the hope of world Jewry that Israel can attain peace.
Lauder closed the letter urging Olmert to take into consideration "the prayers, the hopes and the views of Jews around the world when you discuss the future" of Jerusalem.
"While recognizing Israel's inherent prerogatives as a sovereign state," Lauder wrote, "it is inconceivable that any changes in the status of our holy city will be implemented without giving the Jewish people, as a whole, a voice in the decision."
Among those complaining about the letter was Shai Hermesh, chairman of the WJC's Israel branch, which was listed at the top of the letterhead, along with the WJC's world headquarters in New York. Hermesh said the letter was sent without any consultation with the Israeli branch and contradicts the WJC's longstanding policy of keeping out of Israel's political affairs.
"Ronald Lauder is allowed to print a letter or do whatever he wants, but he should take into consideration that never, never, never in the past did Jews in the Diaspora make decisions for Israel," Hermesh said last week.
"We feel that Jews around the world are our brothers, and their support is very important to us, but political decisions should be taken only by the Knesset and no one else, including the Israeli branch of the World Jewish Congress," he said. "That is totally unacceptable by us. Decisions should be taken only by the elected government and no one else."
The flap over Lauder's letter comes as right-wing and Orthodox groups in the United States are waging a campaign to keep Israel from sharing or dividing Jerusalem in any future deal with the Palestinians. The effort has reignited the argument over what role, if any, Diaspora Jews should have in deciding Israeli policy.
Lauder said he sent the letter without consulting the WJC's governing body, though he did run it by the WJC's secretary-general, Michael Schneider. Schneider said he approved of the letter, as long as Lauder made it clear that Israel is a sovereign state with the ultimate right to make its own decisions.
The goal of the letter, Lauder said, was not to pressure Olmert or Israel into taking a hard-line stand on Jerusalem but to foster debate on what he sees as the most important decision facing the country. Lauder added that he would not have taken a similar step regarding other territory up for discussion, including the Gaza Strip, West Bank or Golan Heights.
"The letter simply states that it was important to discuss Jerusalem with the Jews of the Diaspora, because we all play a role and Jerusalem is a key factor," Lauder said.
The WJC was not going to take an official position on Jerusalem, he added.
"I was speaking for both the World Jewish Congress and the Jews of the Diaspora, and saying please listen to the Jews of the Diaspora," Lauder said.
Lauder said he was unaware of any protocol for sending out such a letter on WJC letterhead but believed he had to act quickly.
"That is the job of the World Jewish Congress," he said.
The spat could signify a clash of personal political differences among WJC officials. Lauder has been a longtime supporter of hawkish factions and leaders in Israel, including Knesset opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu. Hermesh is a member of Olmert's Kadima Party.
The feud that ultimately led to years of scandal and turmoil at the WJC began with a fight over the decision by Edgar Bronfman, Lauder's predecessor and a supporter of left-wing Israeli politicians, to send a letter on his own stationery to Bush urging him to pressure Israel to cease settlement construction.
Hermesh and Lauder dismissed any suggestion that a political fight was brewing, saying that the WJC's policy is to avoid jumping into Israel's political fray as an organization.
Lauder, who took over in June as WJC president after a contentious battle with Bronfman's son, Matthew, has long been an outspoken critic of any plan to divide Jerusalem.
In 2001, when he was the chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, Lauder sought permission from the umbrella body to speak at a rally in Jerusalem that was organized to head off the reported willingness of then-Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak to make concessions on the city's status in talks with the Palestinians.
After failing to secure approval, Lauder proceeded to speak at the rally anyway, saying he was doing so as a private individual. His decision to speak at that event pushed the Presidents Conference to adopt a policy forbidding its chairman from speaking publicly, unless he or she has a clear mandate from its member organizations.
Matthew Bronfman, who ultimately became chairman of the WJC's governing board after deciding last spring to run on a joint ticket with Lauder, was in Latin America and unavailable for comment, Schneider said.
Contacted about the issue, Mendel Kaplan, chairman of the WJC's executive, a separate body from the governing board, was vacationing in Cape Town, South Africa, and said he was unaware of the letter. Kaplan, a South African steel magnate, was the primary opponent of Lauder and Bronfman in the leadership election last year.
Lauder's letter comes after Olmert took heat in November for telling reporters that Diaspora Jews should not have a say in what Israel does regarding Jerusalem. Those remarks came as right-wing groups tried to put pressure on the prime minister in the lead-up to the peace gathering in Annapolis, Md.
Olmert later clarified that he welcomed comments from Diaspora Jews but never rescinded his position that Israel alone is sovereign in conducting negotiations.
The issue of Lauder's letter was raised on Jan. 14 in a conference call Olmert held with members of the Presidents Conference. Olmert, according to one member involved in the call, said he agreed with Lauder that Diaspora Jews should have a voice and Israel should at least listen to it before acting.
JewishJournal.com is produced by TRIBE Media Corp., a non-profit media company whose mission is to inform, connect and enlighten community © Copyright 2016 Tribe Media Corp.
JewishJournal.com is produced by TRIBE Media Corp., a non-profit media company whose mission is to inform, connect and enlighten community
© Copyright 2016 Tribe Media Corp.


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|Artist: Kandinsky, Vasily 15 of 27
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Small Worlds IX, 1922
Vasily KandinskyRussian, 1866-1944
Drypoint on heavy wove paper
comp: 9-3/8 x 7-7/8 in. (23.8 x 20.0 cm); sheet: 12 x 10-1/2 in. (30.5 x 26.8 cm)
Norton Simon Museum, Museum Purchase
© Norton Simon Museum
Not on view
Kandinsky's first contribution to the Bauhaus printing workshop was a portfolio entitled Small Worlds. This group of twelve prints included lithographs, etchings, and woodcuts. Ten years later, Kandinsky reminded Scheyer of the portfolio's high quality: "All copies were printed under my continuous guidance. . . .the entire execution is first class."
|Artist: Kandinsky, Vasily 15 of 27
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Things to do in Montréal: December 2 to 8
That festive holiday glow hits the streets of Montréal this week – a massive Christmas tree and an interactive art installation illuminate downtown's Place...Read more
That festive holiday glow hits the streets of Montréal this week – a massive Christmas tree and an interactive art installation illuminate downtown's Place...Read more
Is Montréal a good place for foodies? Mais oui! Our local artisans and fine food shops offer tempting treats and sinful little jars of goodness—which travel well and make for great gifts for all your foodie friends. #nouveauté ! Nous sommes heureux de vous...Read more
In 2017, the spotlight will be on Montréal as the city...Read more
In neighbourhoods across the city, Montréal's food and nightlife scenes continue to grow and diversify, from chic bistros to trendy bars and everything in between. Here are some of...Read more
Montréal in the cold months is like living in a snow-globe....Read more
In excited anticipation of Montréal's 375th anniversary, this winter holiday season feels even brighter and more festive than usual, with activities for kids – and parents – in ever corner of the city. Noël à l'intérieur @complexedesjardins #Christmas #ChristmasLights #Montreal #MTL #MontrealLife #Quebec #Canada...Read more
This holiday season, the Casino de Montréal is getting all dolled...Read more
Montréal says goodbye to November and hello to December with glittering outdoor entertainment and indoor magic kingdoms, Cirque du Soleil's OVO, designer Christmas markets, amazing new films, dance and...Read more
It's so nice to have things to remember a trip by,...Read more
For many a voyaging soul, yours truly very much included, the holidays – winter, summer, you name it – are synonymous with train travel both to and from Montréal. From convenience to comfort to cost, the train is as unbeatable as the age-old experience...Read more
'Tis the season to be jolly, and as usual there's no...Read more
The beauty of a sunny, Montréal winter day can't be denied, but it can be hindered, to say the least, when the wind's whipping through your non-puffy jacket and...Read more
As Montréal waits for its first snowfall, Santa Claus arrives in...Read more
From September 24 to October 28, 2016, the 18th season of the Red Bull Music Academy visited the Phi Centre and injected a jolt of excitement into Montréal's creative scene. The event brought together 70 producers, singers, beatmakers, DJs and visual artists, coming from...Read more
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Check in from 14h / Check out prior to 11h
Hotell Skona Rum: Find photos, reviews, information, amenities and compare prices for 3 stars hotels in Uddevalla, Sweden.
Situated in Uddevalla, Hotell Skona Rum offers 3-star accommodation, as well as a Jacuzzi, outdoor tennis courts and free wireless internet access in all areas. It also provides a sauna, free bicycle rental and a bowling alley.
Hotel description
There are a range of facilities at Hotell Sköna Rum that guests can enjoy, including luggage storage, room service and a golf course. In sunny weather, an outdoor terrace provides a nice place to relax. Guests can also enjoy miniature golf, canoeing and hiking.
The modern rooms at Hotell Skona Rum Uddevalla offer a mini bar, a private bathroom and a refrigerator. Each provide a flat-screen TV, a DVD player and a CD player.
Guests can sit down to breakfast served each morning at the hotel.
The position of Hotell Skona Rum permits convenient access to many tourist attractions. The hotel also provides parking for those travelling by car.
Hotel features
Room Service, Mini Bar, Refrigerator, Cable / Satellite TV, Hair Dryer, TV, CD Player, DVD Player, Shower, En suite, Private Bathroom
Multilingual Staff, Bicycle Rental, Shops, Photocopier, Luggage Storage, Shops in Hotel, Self Laundry
Fitness Room/Gym, Tennis Courts, Golf Course, Sauna, Garden, Water Activities, Bowling Alley, Jacuzzi
High-speed Internet, Internet Connection (wireless)
Golf (miniature), Canoeing, Hiking, Private Toilet, Souvenirs/Gift Shop, Shoe Shine
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486 m


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David Hookes may have a grandstand named after him at Adelaide Oval. At a meeting this week, the South Australian Cricket Association board will discuss the best way to honour the former state cricket captain.
Association president Ian McLachlan told the Sunday Mail: "All of the board says that there's got to be a Hookes memorial somewhere, somehow, some time, whether it's this year or next year. "But we'd love to have these stands named after our heroes."
The other options are for a bar to be named after Hookes or a statue erected - similar to one of friend and former captain Darren Lehmann, which was unveiled at the ground during the week.
The names Bradman and Chappell - which are on existing stands - are expected to be used when the new oval development is completed. Football stars will also be honoured in the new dual-purpose stadium. Mr McLachlan said a decision on naming oval features was unlikely to be made immediately.
"I don't think we'll solve it all but we're starting to go through the names," he said. Lehmann supported the idea of honouring Hookes, who died after being hit by a bouncer outside a Melbourne hotel in 2004.
Meantime, the Stadium Management Authority has finalised a timeline for the redevelopment, which will get under way as soon as the cricket season is finished:
THE Bradman and Clem Hill stands will be the first to go, with a completion date around October, 2013;
THE eastern stand is expected to be completed by the 2014 football season;
NEXT summer's capacity will be restricted to about 22,500, and;
IN EARLY 2013, the playing surface will be relevelled and lowered so that the front seats are on ground level.
The preserved part of the members' western grandstand - the middle part - is likely to again be called the George Giffen Stand.
Source & More: www.adelaidenow.com.au


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November 1997
Motherless Child
Delmark Records
It is always gratifying to see unsung heroes persevere and finally get their turn at bat. Such is the case here with this semi-legendary Memphian, who has labored in the trenches of academia for nearly 50 years (mentor to Booker Little, Harold Mabern, Frank Strozier, Charles Lloyd, et al.) at levels from grade school to university. At long last Goodrich was afforded this opportunity, polished up his alto sax-though from the sounds of this disc either he was born to that ax or he has diligently kept the chops up-and hit the studio under the supervision of homeboy and dedicated Memphis flame keeper, pianist James Williams.
What results is an exposition of an alto player with the veteran's sense of relaxed swing and droll wit. Goodrich has a sweetness to his sound that never overflows. That sweetness is realized on several tracks, notably his essay of "You Must Believe in Spring." "Quasimodo" is not taken at Bird's supersonic tempo, rather in a swell mid-tempo comfort zone. The thematic counterpoint between Goodrich and trumpet partner Eddie Henderson on the extended (13:40) "Stranger In Paradise" is another of the charms here. In addition to Williams and Mabern, who alternate the keyboard, Henderson, Buster Williams and Billy Hart are on board this fine disc.


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Japan Takes Humpbacks Off The Menu For Now
Contributing Monkie Sarah Backhouse
Published on December 25, 2007
Filed Under G Living, Nature / Non Human Stories
I'm pleased to announce that in Japan, humpback whales are officially off the menu — I mean, off the research list, as the country has euphemistically termed their annual slaughter. At least for a year. Surely, Hayden will be pleased.
Unfortunately, the same can't be said across the board.
Bowing to pressure from Australia, Japan will stop slaughtering humpback whales — at least for this season. The country's leading spokesman, Nobotaka Machimura, confirmed: "Japan has decided not to catch humpback whales for one year or two, but there will be no change in our stance on research whaling". Japan had originally intended to kill 50 humpback whales, which prompted a furious backlash down under, where an estimated 1.5 million tourists take part in whale-watching excursions each year.
While a spokesman for the Australian foreign minister Stephen Smith welcomes the move by Japan, he added, "The Australian government strongly believes that there is no credible justification for the hunting of any whales, and will vigorously pursue its efforts […] to see an end to whaling by Japan."
This key cultural difference of the two countries could prove costly, as Australia is close military ally and trading partner of Japan.
Meanwhile, Japan's whaling fleet — now en route to the southern ocean's whale sanctuary — will proceed with plans to kill 900 minke whales and 50 endangered fin whales. Greenpeace spokesman Dave Walsh, on board the group's ship Esperanza says, "We don't think that one particular type of whale should be singled out. We'd like to see an end to the hunt altogether. Remember, Japan is still going to kill about 1,000 other whales this season."
The International Whaling Commission banned commercial whaling back in 1986 but made an exception for Japan under the premise of "scientific research". Critics would argue that it is in fact commercial whaling in disguise, and that the whale meat often ends up at the Tsukiji fish market before being distributed to supermarkets and restaurants.
Whaling has been practiced in some parts of Japan (like Wakayama) since the 17th century. It gained popularity after WWII as an inexpensive source of protein. Since then, however, as incomes rose, that protein has been replaced by beef, pork, tuna, salmon. The underlying concern for Japan — one of the biggest consumers of seafood the planet — is that other fish may start to be regulated in same way as whaling. (That and a sense of pride about not being told what to do.)
As a half-Japanese Australian passport holder, it's clear that Japan has to face facts: fishing is simply not sustainable at its current rate, and no amount of tradition or pride can change that.


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10 December 2016
News and Views
Links and Services
Showcase Journal
The most recent issue of Gut investigates new therapeutic avenues in ulcerative colitis
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic idiopathic inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract that affects the mucosal lining of the colon.
Professor Jean-Frédéric Colombel and colleagues from Portugal reviewed new therapies for ulcerative colitis.
Recent epidemiological data show that its incidence and prevalence are increasing in many parts of the world, in parallel with altered lifestyles, improved access to health, improved sanitation and industrialisation rates.
Current therapeutic strategies for treating ulcerative colitis have only been moderately successful.
Despite major recent advances in inflammatory bowel disease therapeutic resources, a considerable proportion of patients are still refractory to conventional treatment.
The team noted that less than half of all patients achieve long-term remission, many require colectomy, and the disease still has a major impact on patients lives.
Recent data point to slightly raised mortality. While these outcomes could be partly improved by optimising current therapeutic strategies, they clearly highlight the need to develop new therapies.
The researchers report that currently, a number of promising and innovative therapeutic approaches are being explored, some of which will hopefully survive to reach the clinic.
Professor Colombel's team concludes, "Until such a time arrives, it is important that a better understanding of the clinical particularities of the disease is obtained."
"In addition, an improved knowledge of the host-microbiome negative interactions and of the environmental factors beyond disease development is required to obtain the final and desired outcome, to provide better treatment and quality of life for patients with this disabling disease."
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These days some of the best genre movies are found on VOD/ Direct-to-DVD. While your local Cineplex carries an endless stream of focus-group friendly, big budget spectacles, the home video market has been quietly churning out low budget horror and action movies that take chances and give fans the genre thrills they demand. One of the best examples of these impressive Direct-to-DVD movies was Steve Barker's 2008 film Outpost.
Outpost followed a group of present day mercenaries, lead by Ray Stevenson (Rome, Punisher: War Zone), hired to protect a scientist as he searched an abandoned underground Nazi outpost looking for a mysterious German machine. What seems like a simple mission turns into an all out fight for survival when the mercenaries are forced to fight off undead Nazi soldiers, reanimated by the mysterious machine, lurking in the shadows of the outpost (think Alien meets Wolfenstein 3D).
Outpost was a hit with genre fans and last week its sequel, Outpost: Black Sun, was released on VOD, Blu-ray, and DVD. In Black Sun a woman, Catherine Steadman (Salmon Fishing in the Yemen), hunting the last remaining Nazi war criminals finds herself caught in the middle of a secret, and bloody, NATO battle to destroy the mysterious Nazi machine and its growing army of undead Nazi soldiers. This week we had an opportunity to quickly speak with director Steve Barker about the challenges of making a sequel.
Fans of the original movie will immediately note the larger scale, deeper narrative, and an emphasis on action in the sequel. Steve said this all came from a place of not wanting to simply make the same movie over again. Originally Barker had no plans for a sequel. "If I'd actually intended on doing a sequel I wouldn't have written myself into a corner and killed everyone in the first movie" he said with a laugh.
Steve was working on another project when he was approached to do the sequel. "I wasn't really sure I'd be any good at it to be honest (but) when I started thinking about it seriously, I realized there was a chance to do something completely different. With independent film you're in a potential scenario where whatever movie you make could be the last movie you make and I didn't want to ever look back and think 'I made two movies and they were both exactly the same'".
Given the high body count and intimate, location specific story in the first film, building off the world established in Outpost wasn't easy. After re-watching the first film the director found the seed of inspiration in an unlikely place. "The main villain (in Black Sun) is based on an extra in the first movie. He was a guy that, on the day, we gave him a lab coat and said 'you're the dude who invented the machine (that reanimates the Nazi soldiers)'. When we were re-watching it we spotted him and went 'we could build a whole movie around him!" Btw, if by any chance you are, or know that extra from the first film and are wondering why you weren't re-cast in that role; Barker said due to the tight production schedule on the first movie they never had a proper list of extras names so they regrettably weren't able to track you down.
As the story came together, Steve was keen to navigate the sequel with a female protagonist (the first film's cast was all male) and address things people didn't like about the first movie. "There were absolutely no women in the first film. (During) one of the first discussions with me and the producer in a pub we both agreed on a female lead mainly because it would completely force us to look at everything differently." Another change came in the treatment of the undead Nazis from the first film. Some people didn't respond to their stoic, monolithic behavior. "I pretty much got a note from the start that they got to be much more of the running about, 28 Days Later, rather than the Romero type. That by its very nature lent us more toward action. In doing so it meant that tonally (it was going to be) a slightly different movie because I think a thing that runs after you isn't as scary as a thing that doesn't have to." Barker was up to the change partially because he "didn't how many ways I could make scary sequences in corridors anymore".
Fans of Outpost and Outpost: Black Sun will be pleased to know there is already a prequel in post-production but it came about so fast that Barker wasn't directly involved. "The great thing about that is I'm really looking forward to seeing one of these as a viewer as opposed to what I normally do which is sit and sweat my way through them going 'oh you should have done that better, oh you f—ked that up so badly'. Now I can relax and sit back and watch it."
Outpost: Black Sun is available now on VOD, Blu-ray, and DVD.


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Good morning, Asia!
The weather is still not good here. Dark clouds and soon we'll have rain again..
Anyway, today I login to my FaceBook and see that my mafia friends share the hidden stash rewards on my wall.
I quickly click to open the rewards.. and got surprised!
There are 2 of hidden stash rewards! Yippppeee!!!
I'm so happy, not because of the loot stats.. you know sometimes we're not lucky when we open the hidden stash.
Sometimes I open one and got nothing!
So now, have fun sharing the rewards with your beloved mafia! Hope you got more than 1 reward too!
|Article written by Ade,
Creator of the Mafia Wars Maniac Blog.
All material is protected by copyright law


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Property name: Hotel & Restaurant Bei Hölzchen
Type: Hotel
Minimum rate per night: USD 86.59
The cosy rooms feature a Bavarian country-house design. They include all modern amenities such as high-speed internet and WLAN access.
Make yourself at home in the restaurant's tasteful rustic ambience. Treat yourself to the kitchen's wide range of regional specialities, or sample one of the fine international dishes. Make sure to try the delicious venison creations.The romantic beer garden invites you to enjoy fragrant coffees or refreshing beers in tranquil green surroundings.The hotel also offers several rooms for celebrations of all kinds.
This family-run hotel and restaurant is situated in Hanover's district of Döhren, just a short drive from the heart of the city and the exhibition grounds.For more than 20 years, the Hotel & Restaurant Bei Hölzchen has spoilt its guests with its cosy accommodation, hearty regional cuisine and friendly atmosphere.Take advantage of the rooms' WLAN access, or attend to business in the nearby city centre.The hotel's tranquil green surroundings and beer garden are ideal for relaxing after a busy day. As a guest of the hotel, you are entitled to use the Aqua Laatzium wellness facilities for free.
Guests that arrive later than 18:00 are kindly asked to inform the hotel about the approximate arrival time prior to their arrival day.
Services and facilities
General facilities
|Luggage Storage, Fax/Photocopying, Garden, Shoe Shine, Laundry, Ironing Service, Terrace
|Room Service, Non-Smoking Rooms, Safety Deposit Box, Heating
|Internet Services, Wi-Fi/Wireless LAN
|Parking, Free Parking
|Pets Allowed
Food and drink
|Breakfast Buffet, Restaurant
Hotel & Restaurant Bei Hölzchen
1.9 mi
Hotel Gold Spring Hannover
2 mi
Hotel Hubertus Hannover
2 mi
Designhotel Wienecke XI.
2 mi
Median Hotel Hannover Messe
2.1 mi
Pension Leipziger Hof
2.2 mi
Hotel Bischofshol
2.4 mi
Hotel Pro Messe Hotel Hannover


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In today's world there are constant threats to your infrastructure, your information and your employees' personal data. Social engineering, sophisticated hacking attacks, and phishing emails are all methods employed by criminals trying to get your information. A successful attack to your company could have serious and long-lasting consequences for your company. So, what are the best ways to protect yourself and your company? Over the next few weeks we will cover the most basic techniques to ensure these are secure.
Choosing a Secure Password
A strong password for every user is a good first line of defense. Choosing a poor or obvious password (like "password") is a common mistake a lot of users make. People often use passwords that are easy to remember, such as, their address or their child's name.If a password is easy to remember it is probably easy to guess, especially with the proliferation of social media outlets today. How many times has an end user posted a Facebook status saying their dog Happy ate the couch again? So, using "Happy" or any of your pet's names would be a bad password choice. In addition, users should try to avoid using obvious patterns, such as an exclamation point in place of an I or a 1. All of these poor password choices can be easily avoided by following simple password guidelines:
Should be a minimum of eight characters long.
Should not contain your user name, real name, or company name.
Is completely different from any current or past passwords used for this or any other account.
Contains a combination of uppercase/lowercase letters.
Contains a number.
Contains a symbol (@,%,#,>)
Every company should have a policy for passwords similar to the guidelines above. This will help users select appropriate and secure passwords. After having a secure password, you also want to make sure that the password is set to expire at some point. The longer you go without changing the password the less secure it becomes. Some common password expiration lengths are 60 days, 90 days, and 6 months. Remember when choosing a password guideline and expiration, it is your first line of defense when it comes to attacks.
Computer Locking
This is a fairly basic principal every company should have. If you walk away from your computer, you should lock it. People step away from their computers for longer than planned or forget to lock it before walking away. Prevent this problem by enabling password protection (or auto-lock) to lock the computer after a specified amount of inactivity. These policies can be set up quickly and simply on a domain controller or individually on each machine. For each operating system enabling password protection is different, however a user can manually lock their computer by:
Pressing CTRL+ALT+Delete.
- Select Lock this Computer.
(Or) Press the Windows key.
AntiVirus and Mail Filtering
This may seem obvious however many users if given the incorrect rights will uninstall this for various reasons or excuses. It is never acceptable for a machine to be without antivirus. This is part of the "layered security" concept. Antivirus backs up any other security measures you already have in place. If one of your other security measures misses a threat the idea is that your antivirus will block it before any harm is done.
Mail filtering is more of a preventative measure than a defensive one. The goal with mail filtering is for it to catch and stop any harmful email containing viruses or other bad attachments from being delivered. Thousands of viruses are stopped everyday by this simple measure.
End User Awareness
All of the measures we have discussed today have to do with end users and their computers. End users are one of the weakest links in the security layer. It is important to educate them so they can make good decisions to protect their computers, the company, and important information. A few things to discuss with them are:
The reasons it is critical they choose good secure passwords and the importance of changing them every so often.
If a policy is in place, remind them of it frequently.
Make sure they don't overlook little steps, for example, they should never write their passwords down or keep them near the computer.
Make sure the users know about antivirus and what should be installed, so if by chance they receive a pop-up for Norton when your company uses MacAfee they won't click on a potentially harmful link.
Inform them to refrain from opening suspicious email from someone they do or don't know.
Remind them no company, bank, or tech support department will ever ask them for personal information (username, password, social security number, etc.)
Don't click a link or an attachment that does not look reputable.
In the second part of this we will discuss the other basics for keeping your company's information safe, your infrastructure protected, and explore the most common method used to steal identities and other information: Social Engineering.
Follow the author Amanda Lewis, Service Coordinator for LimeLeap, on Twitter: @Tiny_Techie


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DALLAS – The first week in Texas featured several impressive matchups all over the state.
Top Texas talent in focus
Premium Content
Subscribe today to read the full article and get everything Rivals has to offer.
- Member-only message boards
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Melissa Joan Hart Pregnant With Third Child
Actress Melissa Joan Hart is pregnant with her third baby.
The former Sabrina The Teenage Witch star, who turns 36 on Wednesday, recently told Life & Style magazine she and husband Mark Wilkerson were interested in adopting a child -but it appears they're going the natural route first.
She told the publication, "We definitely want to add to our family. We're interested in adopting as well. We're just starting to explore that."
Hart and Wilkerson wed in 2003, and they had their first child, Mason, in 2006. They welcomed their second son, Braydon, in 2008.
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The National Cotton Council created a stir last December when it released a series of articles examining the latest proposal for restarting the Doha Round of World Trade Organization negotiations.
While the articles may have ruffled some feathers among free trade proponents, Council officials felt they had little choice considering the damage the proposal offered by WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy could have done to U.S. cotton.
"If we had dropped down to the levels of support in the Lamy text, the practical effect is that we would not have a cotton program," said NCC Chairman Larry McClendon. "It would dismantle cotton, and it would dismantle most of agriculture as far as the support levels the commodities have."
McClendon's comments came at a press briefing on the status of the WTO negotiations at the NCC's Beltwide Cotton Conferences in San Antonio. The talks have been at a standstill since the United States and the European Union refused to agree to language providing increased tariff protection for China and India last July.
The WTO's Lamy tried to schedule a meeting of trade ministers in Geneva in December, ostensibly to try to work out a new agreement before the Bush administration left office. Some observers say they believe the Obama administration will be less willing to compromise on trade issues.
McClendon, a producer and ginner from Marianna, Ark., acknowledged the U.S. cotton industry has been roundly criticized for its unwillingness to give more ground on government support for U.S. cotton producers.
Oxfam International, a British and U.S.-based charity organization, has waged a public reklations campaign to lay the blame for the impoverishment of cotton farmers in the African C-4 countries – Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali – at the feet of U.S. cotton producers.
"The reality is that the U.S. cotton industry has already agreed to give up some of its support," said McClendon. "We operated for many years with a cap on support of $48 billion. Under the 2005 proposal offered by the United States, we carried that down to $22 billion. We were asked to go to $14 billion in the most recent discussions, which we never agreed to."
Cotton industry leaders have been asked why they wouldn't agree to a lower cap since the United States has not been spending all of the money it could The answer is in the arcane rules that govern the WTO.
"The government may not be writing checks for that much, but we also receive support that has an assigned value to it, such as market or import restrictions," he said. "But there's a lot of soft support, too, such as the cost of running a Farm Service Agency office or the cost of putting cotton in the marketing loan that counts against the spending cap."
When U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab attended the WTO negotiations in Geneva last summer, she said that U.S. farm program support had exceeded target levels six out of the past 10 years.
"This is something that is very important that we all need to understand," he said. "We've made concessions, but we are utilizing all the support that's being offered to us in six out of the past 10 years. We don't believe we should give up anymore."
The U.S. cotton industry has already felt the negative effects of trade agreements that were developed and ratified with the best of intentions. He cited the textile agreements the United States has signed with China, Vietnam and other countries in Southeast Asia.
"One of the unintended consequences of those agreements is that over the past 10 years we have lost 60 percent of the U.S. textile industry," he said. "That was the U.S. market; that's where our growers sold their crop. It was our bread and butter, and we exported the difference.
"This has all flip-flopped now, and 70 percent of our production has to go to the world market. The leverage you have in the world market is cheap prices. Other issues come up such as quality or phytosanitary issues, but really it comes down to who is the cheapest guy out there."
McClendon said the Cotton Council agreed to support the 2005 U.S. proposal to reduce the so-called aggregate measures of support or AMS because its leaders were told it was needed to persuade other countries to provide increased market access for U.S. products, including agricultural commodities.
During last summer's negotiations in Geneva, however, China, India and other developing countries tabled proposals that would have allowed developing countries, which China and India continue to declare themselves to be, to exempt up to 5 percent of their tariff lines from increased market access.
"What happens is that agricultural products make up a large portion of the exemption," said McClendon. "So we saw zero evidence of increased market access. We're sitting here ratcheting down our support and getting nothing in return."
Lamy announced in mid-December that the ministerial meeting would not be held and that the Doha Round negotiations would remain suspended after members of Congress said they would not support an agreement based on the Lamy text.
Cotton Council leaders, while pleased with the announcement, are not breathing a sigh of relief. "The Doha Round may be in a coma, but it will be resuscitated," said McClendon. "Believe me it will be back, and the Lamy text will probably be at the top of the list."
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