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Energy Storage HomeCalculating the Value of Energy StorageUtility Solar Blog: Energy Storage and Solar: "Any More Questions?"
Will storage actually defer the need for new generation and wires capacity?
Will storage be available to meet the California targets at a cost-effective price?
Will other states follow California's initiative?
In 2010 the California State Legislature passed Assembly Bill 2514 directing the California Public Utilities Commission to decide whether the state's electric utilities should adopt energy storage targets.
The bill listed a number of goals to be achieved with energy storage, such as integrating intermittent renewable generation reliably into the grid and allowing renewables to operate at or near full capacity. The bill stated that any storage targets should be "viable and cost effective" and suggested dates by which any adopted storage targets should be achieved.
In response to this bill, the CPUC began a rulemaking process in late 2010. In 2012 the CPUC held a series of workshops to investigate critical issues such as typical storage scenarios, cost effectiveness, procurement policies and capacity targets. In addition to the three large California utilities, a wide range of stakeholders participated and filed comments at various stages of the process.
The CPUC staff and stakeholders developed "use cases" to illustrate how energy storage could be deployed on the utility grid and described operational requirements and potential benefits for each use. The CPUC identified 20 types of storage "use cases."
To develop a framework for cost effectiveness, the CPUC turned to EPRI, which evaluated a number of scenarios using assumptions provided by the CPUC (see SEPA Fact Sheet, "Calculating the Value of Energy Storage"). The CPUC also relied on a study by ENV KEMA Energy & Sustainability. Links to both studies can be found on the CPUC web site.
California is the first state to mandate energy storage, requiring the state's three large utilities (Pacific Gas and Electric, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas and Electric) to obtain 1,325 megawatts of storage by 2020, with installation achieved by 2024. The stated goals of this program include:
Targets. Each utility has separate targets in the three areas where storage can be located (rather than requiring targets according to function), and the order sets increasing targets every two years through 2020. For example, Southern California Edison should obtain 50 megawatts of transmission storage, 30 megawatts of distribution storage and 10 megawatts of customer-sited storage by 2014. The targets increase every two years until SCE's cumulative target reaches 580 megawatts. The first solicitation will occur on December 1, 2014.
The decision sets targets in terms of megawatts of capacity rather than megawatt-hours of energy storage. This criterion provides the utilities with more flexibility in meeting the targets because some storage technologies achieve high megawatt ratings but store relatively small amounts of energy.
This decision gives California utilities permission to install storage on the customer side of the meter. However, the utility can own only 50 percent of the storage in each area, a restriction intended to foster a competitive market. Pumped storage (larger than 50 megawatts) cannot be counted toward the targets.
The utilities must show that storage projects are cost effective. If the projects don't meet benefit/cost goals, utilities can delay up to 80 percent of each target until the next two-year period, but they are still expected to achieve the 2020 goals. The effective goals for 2014 are smaller than they seem because each utility is being allowed to count specific storage projects already under way toward the goals.
Procurement. The CPUC originally recommended that utilities obtain storage capacity through a reverse auction, in which sellers compete rather than buyers. Since almost all participants in the storage proceedings were opposed to a reverse auction, the CPUC turned to a request for offers (RFO) process, which will allow the utilities to tailor a request to meet their specific resource needs and criteria.
Cost Effectiveness. Because the legislation (AB 2514) authorizing the storage proceeding requires energy storage projects to be "viable and cost-effective, the CPUC devoted considerable effort to developing an approach to cost effectiveness. The CPUC will not require utilities to use the cost-effectiveness models developed by EPRI and DNV KEMA (see above), but will require utilities to explore the benefits and costs described in those studies. Further, the CPUC noted that the ability to defer up to 80 percent of their interim procurement targets should make it easier to obtain cost-effective storage by the 2020 target date.
In general, the California utilities urged flexibility in targets and dates to give the storage industry time to mature and achieve more cost-effective pricing and better tools for integrating storage into the grid. The utilities also argued that they should control 100 percent of the storage projects connected to the transmission or distribution grid because they are responsible for its safe and reliable operation. The utilities gained a considerable amount of flexibility in timing, but failed to gain ownership of all grid-connected storage.
One of the major purposes of the storage mandate is to aid integration of renewables, which by law must reach 33 percent of the California energy mix by 2020. The California Independent System Operator (ISO) has highlighted a major challenge of integrating large amounts of solar power with its "duck graph." The graph below illustrates the growing effect on "net load" as reliance on solar power increases. Sometime in the near future, the ISO expects net demand on a spring day to increase by 14,000 megawatts between 5 and 6 p.m., as solar production fades and customers go home and turn on their lights and ovens. Compare that with a typical 6,000-megawatt ramp now. The CPUC is betting storage can reduce the increased ramping of combustion turbines needed with increasing solar penetration.
The decision has been met with a variety of responses. Storage advocates believe the decision will breathe new life into the storage industry, which has been damaged by some high-profile bankruptcies in recent years. They think this decision will foster a robust market in energy storage and lead to manufacturing economies of scale that will lower costs dramatically. The solar industry generally acknowledges the benefits of cost-effective storage in achieving solar's full potential.
Critics of the decision cite the potentially high cost of energy storage and question the wisdom of having regulators with little or no market experience trying to specify a narrow solution to a problem with a wide variety of potential solutions. For example, are customers provided with adequate incentive to reduce their usage during peak periods? Can hydro power be imported as another way to reduce dependence on combustion turbines at peak times?
A key question going forward is this: Will the California decision influence regulators and decision-makers in other states to adopt similar requirements? If the storage industry fails to provide reliable storage at cost-effective prices, what will be the impact on the industry? Answers to these and other questions will be answered before the decade ends thanks to the California decision.
© 2000-2016 Smart Electric Power Alliance. All Rights Reserved.


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New Forest Planning Rule seeks to restore nation's forests: Final Environmental Impact Statement by US Forest Service released
January 26, 2012 —
WASHINGTON — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today signaled the U.S. Department of Agriculture's intent to issue a new planning rule for America's 193-million acre National Forest System that seeks to deliver stronger protections for forests, water, and wildlife while supporting the economic vitality of rural communities, by releasing online a Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for the National Forest System Land Management Planning Rule. (See the PEIS at www.fs.usda.gov/planningrule).
USDA and the Forest Service considered nearly 300,000 comments received on the proposed rule and draft environmental impact statement issued last February, to develop the agency's preferred course of action for finalizing the planning rule. This is included in the PEIS released today as USDA's preferred alternative. A notice of availability for the PEIS will be published in the Federal Register on February 3, 2012, and the Secretary will issue a record of decision selecting a final planning rule no less than 30 days afterwards.
"The most collaborative rulemaking effort in agency history has resulted in a strong framework to restore and manage our forests and watersheds and help deliver countless benefits to the American people," said Secretary Vilsack. "Our preferred alternative will safeguard our natural resources and provide a roadmap for getting work done on the ground that will restore our forests while providing job opportunities for local communities."
The preferred alternative emphasizes collaboration and strengthens the role of public involvement and dialogue throughout the planning process. It also would require the use of the best available scientific information to inform decisions.
Highlights of the preferred alternative include:
• Plans must include components that seek to restore and maintain forests and grasslands.
• Plans would include requirements to maintain or restore watersheds, water resources, water quality including clean drinking water and the ecological integrity of riparian areas.
• Plans would be required to provide habitat for plant and animal diversity and species conservation. These requirements are intended to keep common native species common, contribute to the recovery of threatened and endangered species, conserve proposed and candidate species, and protect species of conservation concern.
• Plans would provide for multiple uses, including outdoor recreation, range, timber, watershed, wildlife and fish.

subset: commoncrawl


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Boo! Ba-humbug!
I'm just a cranky jerk who hates fun, basketball and the whole college experience!
Let's all form a posse and round up all the college students who want to enjoy a victory and put them in camps with straight jackets on so they can't even hi-five!
All of that couldn't be further from the truth—I love a good court rush. Hell, I've taken a tumble down a stairwell during a court storming and still hobbled out onto the hardwood to freak it out.
Why? Because court storming is (bleep)ing awesome.
But not all storms are created equal, and some make you want to apply a palm to your face and cry "No! Not in this situation! NOW IS NOT THE TIME! Think of the children!!"
The following are some of the most illogical and uncalled for court rushes we've seen.
I only ask that you take a moment to prepare yourself. Because we're about to get way too caught up in the moment.


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SPV Popul Vuh reissues are ace
Two thoughts this morning:
The SPV remasters of the entire Popol Vuh catalog are beautiful, and sorely needed given the utterly confusing state of the band's CD catalog — what with various twofers combining albums in a nonsensical way, or worse, CD reissues that don't correspond to original albums at all, containing tracks taken from completely different records. And they sound fantastic. However, I do really wish they'd put more effort into the booklets. Every single reissue appears to have the exact same booklet, with a brief history of the band and bios of Florian Fricke. Would it have killed them to have added in a page or two of info about each specific album?
There's been an announcement circulating that the famed Cathedral, that American one-shot band that released Stained Glass Stories, is reuniting with all original members and recording new material. I haven't heard their first album and after this announcement don't have much interest in the new one, thanks to this totally idiotic statement from one of the band members…
"Our newest collections will place you back in the past, where PROG BELONGS. Don't get too comfortable! You're going to be selected to land where the future of Progressive Music should have planted it's heels not long ago!"
Maybe this is tongue-in-cheek, but somehow I don't think it is. This represents just about exactly the opposite mentality of what I have, so at least now I can cross something off my want list.


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They do it to mark their territory (including you as their property ). Smell is a very important feeling for cats. Sometimes it is even more important than sight. The whole cat body is covered with glands. On the face, they are around the eyes, ears and under the chin. When cats rub against legs or furniture, they leave there a unique odour. When another cat passes by, it will surely stop by and smell it as well, and perhaps will also rub against this object to leave the odor of its own.
Have a question?
People are waiting to help.


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Westchester Yoga plus so much more.
We have become and are becoming a center of certifications.
We currently offer the RYT 200 Yoga Teacher Certification and are a registered yoga school with Yoga Alliance.
We also offer Reiki Certification Courses from Reiki 1 to Master (please stay tuned for the dates for 2014 our courses for 2013 are complete).
Within the next 6 months we will be offering a Belly Dance Teacher Certification Course. Over the course of a number of years we have noticed that being a 'great' belly dancer and being a 'great' teacher are 2 different things. Bina has been performing and teaching for 20 years, she has learned through experience. She is distilling this experience to Belly Dance Basics Teacher training. Again more on that when we are closer to the date. She is offering a workshop on September 28th for only $10 per person see our workshop page for details.


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Talkin' Blues with John Scofield
JS: Right, Right! And they did "More." Great stuff.
AAJ: If you think back to the jazz guitarists from your parents generation, it is nearly impossible to imagine them sitting in with a rock band, especially because they tended to play with very little treble and volume. You, on the other hand, have a tone and energy that allows you to not only play with the Allman Brothers Band, Soulive, or Government Mule, but you bring the house down when you do. With jazz players like you, and blues rock players like Derek Trucks and Jimmy Herring, do you think that labels and genres, like race, aren't as important to young people as they once were?
JS: I would hope so, I think I have a lot in common with Jimmy Herring and Derek Trucks, and I'm sure they see it that way too. First of all, those guys are really serious about blowing, and like jazz players they are serious about getting something happening in their solos, even though they aren't straight ahead jazz beboppers. So in that way, we do have a lot in common.
And what you said about the older generation, I think it's true that Herb Ellis, Jim Hall, and Wes Montgomerywell, in a way, you know there weren't groups like the Allman Brothers back then. But yes, they really were worlds apart. But my generation, we all started in the '60s with what has become this classic musicwho knew it was going to stick around.
And blues seems to be part of the guitar in a way. Of course Wes Montgomery and Jim Hall played blues, but it was coming from a mellower place. I really started out with the B.B. King style blues, serious blues, you know, the let's-turn-our-amps-up-so-they-distort kind of blues. So that's always been something that's really been part of my thing, as a matter of fact I've had to tame that in order to play with acoustic instruments. I think in a way I'm somewhat of a rare bird, because now there are lots of young guitar players who've learned to play jazz without being into the blues. So they don't have that in their background.
And of course there are lots of blues rock guitar players who are playing Stevie Ray Vaughan style guitar and aren't into straight ahead jazz. But I really did start with that B.B. kind of thing, that was my favorite music when I started out, and that swing element of it led me to jazz. So when I got into jazz it all made sense, and I saw that it was all coming from the same kind of place.
AAJ: Watching you with the Allman Brothers at the Beacon made me think about the similarity between comedy and musicand I mean this is a good way. Both involve improvising and rely on things like timing, rhythm, dramatic pauses, changes in volume,and of course the most important aspect of comedy, the power of the unexpected.
As you were soloing, Warren Haynes, Derek Trucks, and Oteil Burbridge were frequently breakingout in smiles because you were surprising them with how you approached something that's routine to them. A unique way of approaching something is the hallmark of a great comedian, do you see that as one of your strengths as a musician that you come at things from a different angle?
JS: You know I do think I come at things from a different angle, especially from guys who set out to play Southern blues rock. I never did that, it just so happens that the little blues shit that I learned as a kid, I've kept with me.
They're such nice guys, and Oteil, Warren and Derek have been supportive of me for years. I think what you said is probably true, you know those guys are playing night after night with the Allman Brothers Band, which, by the way, is a very good band. And the way they work together is really musical, and all of those guys are so good. But they play the same stuff, so throwing me in there mixes things up a bit.
But I think what you said about the surprise element in the music is really profound, it's those little surprises that keeps it fresh.
AAJ: Right, someone like Monk, his take on things was just so different, and that aspect of him was so special.
JS: Oh yeah, exactly. What a special, special musician. And yes he was playing jazz and the same kind of music everyone else was playing, but it was just so special. And we learned that lesson from Monk, that there's always another way.
AAJ: Warren sang and played slide on a track from your That's What I Say: John Scofield Plays the Music of Ray Charles (Verve, 2005) CD. I understand you've occasionally been treating your audiences to a bit of slide playing, did Warren turn you on to slide?
JS: [Laughing] It's been great for me to meet and listen to Warren and Derek over the last few years, because they've helped me to get back into my blues roots. I even bought a Warren Haynes Learn to Play Slide DVD. So I was doing it for a while, but I gave up because it's pretty hard to play slide. Actually here's what it was. I was listening to Derek and how great he is, and Warren too, and I was thinking, well maybe I can get back into string bending again, like Albert King. It's the same thing, you get a vocal quality like a slide when you bend the strings a certain way. So I kind of put down the slide and started to reevaluate string bending a la Albert King. I've really been taking a look back at blues guitar, and Warren and Derek have been a big part of that.
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Rancho extends contractual services
RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA – The Rancho Santa Margarita City Council unanimously approved extension of the following contractual services during Wednesday's meeting:
- The city will continue to pay Mike Linares Inc. $80 per hour to administer its Community Development Block Grant program. The new contract, which limits the payment to $30,000 per year, expires on June 30, 2015.
- Bucknam & Associates Inc. will continue to provide pavement management consulting services through June 30, 2015. The new agreement maintains the current rates, and allows the city to spend up to $66,800 in two years.
- Hartzog & Crabill Inc. will continue to provide traffic engineering and traffic signal management services for another two years. The extension has a spending limit of $198,000, while maintaining the current hourly rates.
The council also approved the Bell Tower Foundation's request to use office space at the community center. The nonprofit group used to run the community center and operated all programs at the facility until the city assumed the responsibility in 2008.
The agreement will not cost the city anything because the foundation will reimburse the city for phone and Internet expenses, according to staff reports.
Contact the writer: 949-454-7347 or email@example.com
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Moris needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 291 designs submitted by 59 freelance designers.
Build a logo to convey our company message and make sure it appeals to our audience.
We sell video games and electronics only through our web site eXuby.com. We are making shopping easy and convenient for consumers by providing customer service and product support through all communication channels including text SMS, Facebook, Twitter etc. Our ability to provide this kind of support is our edge and that is what you need to communicate with the logo. Our company slogan is "We got your back"
Organization name in a stylised type/font becomes the logo.
Black, red or dark charchol


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This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page.
If you've been following me on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook, you probably know by now that I'm currently in the Maldives at the Conrad on Rangali Island. I'm staying on pre-devaluation Hilton points and also two free nights from the sign-up bonus on the Citi Hilton Reserve card.
Bottom line: Yes, this place is far away and expensive, but it is absolutely magical. I paid an extra ~$500 a night to upgrade to an over-water bungalow that has a spa treatment room and I'm very happy I did so.
I don't want to spoil my detailed hotel reviews that are coming, but bottom line is that I now understand what the hype is about.
The internet here is painstakingly slow, so I'm going to keep this post short.
To follow me on this trip (I'm also off to India and Dubai later this week) so make sure to check out my pictures and videos so far on Instagram and Twitter. Apologies in advance if they are over the top- hard to take low-key pics here!
Citi® Hilton HHonorsTM Visa Signature® Card


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This building used to be a school, but has been transformed into an art museum. The image has some focus issues, but I wanted to share it anyway. I'll update it as soon as I figure out how my new camera really works...
Taken from atop the hill on the practice football field.
Escuela de Caballeros in Bogota Colombia - The Horseman training school for the military. Search for 'Colombia' for all the areas around Colombia that I have taken pictures.
Sunrise Elementary School view from the SW corner. K-5, 1,200 student capacity.
Sunrise Elementary, Home of the Seastars! Pre-k through 5th Grade. Designed to hold 1,200 students.
Avenida principal de Vysoká Pec. La casa blanca de techo rojo, es un restaurante, y antigüamente era llamado "Justinesklause" Vysoká Pec main avenue. The white house with a red roof is a restaurant and long time ago it was called "Justinesklause" www.wix.com/elpavi/elizab ...
The front part of the campus of Upper Columbia Academy near the Men's Dorm. From this location you can see the Women's Dorm, Administration Building, Cafeteria, and Church. Can you find someone running?
The film school at Chapman University. Shot with the beta imager, this is my first "big" image, comprised of 180 2-second exposures. There were constantly things moving in the scene, cars coming and going, students walking around, but none of them interfered with the shot. It was like it had all been choreogr...
At the Playground. This is the first Gigapan the Bowling Green City Schools STLP groups created at W.R. McNeill Elementary.


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I don't remember how I stumbled onto it, but about a year ago I first heard of guanciale via this article. I was immediately intrigued — a better bacon? Is that even possible?
Thus began a fixation. I was desperate to experience it for myself, but chances seemed slim unless I could finagle a trip to Italy. I even begged Mark's parents to send some back from their Italy vacation — they sent me a tiny photo instead:
Then, a few months ago here in Houston, Revival Market opened in the Heights. Their philosophy is to offer organic local meat, raised humanely and sustainably. Their meat case would make any carnivore salivate. We have had their Mangalitsa bacon and sausage, and it is incredible.
We happened to be buying some bacon there in April when I noticed that the pig diagram on the chalkboard included guanciale. "Do you cure your own guanciale?" I asked. The man behind the counter said "We have some curing now; it will be ready next month." I could hardly believe my luck. Christmas was coming to Houston!
Finally the day arrived that guanciale and I were in the same place. I knew it would be coming home with me! Since we had never cooked it and it was priced the same per pound as the beef tenderloin we buy from Whole Foods, we decided half a pound of paper-thin slices would make a good test run. Look at this beautiful meat:
It was rich and delicious, but I wasn't entirely sure I could have distinguished it from Revival's standard amazing bacon. I wanted to try something different for the second half of our stash.
Come back Thursday to find out how we got our $25/lb worth!


text: Ingersoll Rand Offers Intelligent, High-Powered Cordless Tool Line 11/14/2012 New tool line offers the power of a pneumatic with the convenience of a cordless DAVIDSON, N.C. — Nov. 14, 2012 — Ingersoll Rand, a global leader in professional tools and equipment, is redefining the cordless tool with their latest line of IQV20 Series cordless tools and 20-volt lithium-ion batteries. This power-packed product line offers the versatility, convenience and performance rarely seen in cordless tools. The IQV20 Series 20-volt lithium-ion battery platform allows for all the tools in the line to run longer between charges — giving technicians the ability to complete a full shift on a single charge. Technicians no longer need to worry about a dead or dying battery, but can instead spend more time working and less time recharging. Product engineers designed the system so all current and future cordless tools in the line share the same batteries and chargers, ensuring technicians will always have access to a freshly charged battery. Cordless tools offer freedom from electrical cords and air hoses, but rarely are they capable of producing enough power to complete the difficult jobs professional technicians face on a daily basis. With 20 volts of power, all tools in the IQV20 Series —W7150 1/2" High-Torque Cordless Impactool™, W5130 3/8" 20V Mid-Torque Impactool and L5110 Cordless LED Task Light — are designed, built and tested for this purpose. "We're being selective about the tools we engineer on this platform," said Steve Jenson, global portfolio manager of cordless tools, Ingersoll Rand. "We're creating tools with a purpose — designed specifically for technicians. As a result, we've created all the tools a technician needs — built and tested to get the job done quickly and efficiently." The first Impactool of the series, the W7150 rates best in its class for power-to-size ratio with an impressive 1,100 ft-lb torque and 780 ft-lb reverse torque, is 9.4" from tip to tail and weighs 6.8 pounds. The chemical-resistant, patent-pending metal reinforced housing gives this tool maximum durability, while the lightweight, ergonomic design reduces operator fatigue. Unveiled at the 2012 SEMA show, the new W5130 3/8" 20V Mid-Torque Impactool is modeled after the W7150, and offers the same high performance and durability, with even more versatility and accessibility for those tighter work spaces. Measuring 6.6" from tip to tail, the W5130 combines its 190 ft-lb torque and small size to accomplish everything from brake repairs to drivetrain jobs with maximum power. Rounding out the latest tools in the series is the L5110 LED Task Light. Casting 180 lumens and lasting up to 20,000 hours, this LED light will illuminate any dark work space while offering technicians hands-free versatility with a multi-position head, standing base and hang hook. Additional tools will be added to the IQV20 Series portfolio in 2013. The IQV20 Series tools from Ingersoll Rand give technicians convenient, powerful means to get their jobs done quickly and easily. To learn more about the IQV20 Series, visit ingersollrandproducts.com/iqv20. # # # About Ingersoll Rand Ingersoll Rand (NYSE:IR) advances the quality of life by creating and sustaining safe, comfortable and efficient environments. Our people and our family of brands — including Club Car®, Ingersoll Rand®, Schlage®, Thermo King® and Trane® — work together to enhance the quality and comfort of air in homes and buildings; transport and protect food and perishables; secure homes and commercial properties; and increase industrial productivity and efficiency. Ingersoll Rand products range from tools and complete compressed air systems to material and fluid handling systems. The diverse and innovative products, services and solutions enhance our customers' energy efficiency, productivity and operations. Ingersoll Rand is a $14 billion global business committed to a world of sustainable progress and enduring results. For more information, visit ingersollrand.com or ingersollrandproducts.com.


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|05.04.2013 - Indian expatriates drive Dubais property growth
|Indian expatriates are among the top investors in Dubais property market, which is expected to grow 10-12 per cent this year, company officials and analysts say. Expatriates, mainly from India, Russia and Saudi Arabia, are leading the growth. Indians are among the top five investors in Dubais property market, Ziad El Chaar, managing director of Dubai-based Damac Properties, said. He said Dubais real estate sector witnessed around 10 per cent growth in 2012 and this was likely to further accelerate this year...............................................Full Article: Source


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Australia's Tradesmen Directory | Get Up To 3 Quotes From Great Tradesmen FAST
Use ATUG to find the best Plumbers & Gasfitters in Central Coast, NSW.
The aim of Licensed Plumbing Pty Ltd is to provide an excellent plumbing service to our clients.more
At AWP, we are a family run local business servicing the Central Coast and surrounding regions and based on the Peninsula.more
Rolla Plumbing is one of very few who are honest and reliable for service and price. So call today and experience our unlimited plumbing solutions for all your plumbing needs. Domestic and commercial.more
Experts in renovations, hot water heaters, drainage problems, leaking taps & toilets. No job too small. Quality workmanship and peace of mind at the right price.more
If you are in need of plumbing services, the company that you should contact is 24/7 plumbing.more
Principal Plumbing - Covering Central Coast and Northern Sydney areas.more
Dripping taps, leaking toilets, toilets that just wont flush. We can help solve your problems! A full service plumbing company, with exceptional service and workmanship. Call us now!more
Copyright © 2011-2012 www.atug.com.au - All rights reserved.


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Does greatness equate to eternity?
Using the practices of today's greatest companies to guide our business strategies is something we all do. After all, that's why they call them "best practices." Many spend their days analyzing each and every move of their industry leader to discover what makes them great in hopes of becoming great themselves. Others idolize them and are convinced that every move they take is the right one. According to Walter Kiechel, author and former Editorial Director of Harvard Business Publishing and Managing Editor at Fortune magazine, there is a concern that some are taking it too far.
In his February post, Kiechel speaks of the myth of corporate persistence. We all assume that the most successful companies provide "ever-instructive lessons in how to do things right." Why not learn from the best? "Learn from it, be like it, and you'll be smarter, stronger, more likely to survive the tempest." Despite the fact that "study after study has shown that exemplary corporate performance"¦doesn't last," we've been conditioned to think of these great companies as heroes. Many of us follow them blindly. This is Kiechel's major gripe. "Even in the face of overwhelming evidence, authors of management books and articles continue to feed our gullibility."
Mr. Kiechel has a point. Worshiping a corporate entity to the point where you are blindly copying their every move is not smart. However, done in moderation, the ideas and best practices of the great companies in your space can provide a sound launch pad for testing and optimization.
Now, as far as gullibility is concerned… If your gullible enough to think that today's most successful companies will remain the most successful forever, you may want to get something checked out. In the mean time, refer to Kiechel's post for a few best practices of his own on how to avoid following your heroes off a cliff.
Drew is responsible for strategy and execution of marketing initiatives for Compete.com, including affiliate, blog, email, lead generation, paid search, and social media. Before Compete, Drew worked for office supply giant, Staples, Inc. where he had the opportunity to manage multiple online marketing channels for Staples.com, including affiliate, SEO/SEM, and comparison shopping engines. Follow Drew on Twitter or link him on LinkedIn.


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Concerns about water usage by Ohio's growing shale industry is the latest false alarm raised by oil and gas opposition groups and a viewpoint highlighted in the Tuesday Dispatch article, "Is there enough water for 'fracking' boom?"
Ohio is blessed with ample water resources that are replenished by an average of 37 inches of precipitation a year. Water is so readily available that communities throughout the state are selling water to oil and gas producers for hydraulic fracturing, a water-intensive process used to release oil and gas trapped in tight shale formations.
As mentioned in the article, the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District is temporarily selling 6 billion gallons of water — enough to fracture 1,000 oil and gas wells — from two lakes to increase capacity for winter thaw. Though the "drawdown" process would continue without buyers for the water, some groups remain unreasonably opposed to the sale, even though revenue could be reinvested into the lakes and nearby campgrounds.
It should also be noted that more oil and gas producers are beginning to recycle fracturing fluid to stimulate other wells, and that energy from shale requires far less water to produce than energy from other sources, including coal, nuclear and solar.
Executive vice president, Ohio Oil and Gas Association


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- Town/Country : Not specified
- Title : Miss
- Birth Date : Thursday 9 January 1992 (24 years old)
- <3 status : Not specified
- Number of visits : 714
- Number of comments : 1
- Number of FMLs : 0 confirmed out of 1 posted
About SarahVallo : Somewhat addicted to FML. I became a nationaly certified EMT-B at the beginning of March and am going to be taking Paramedic classes hopefully in the fall. I'm also going to be volunteering at a local fire station to get experience and I know a lot of firefighters scattered from around my area. So those little facts kinda explain why I have added several FMLs to my favorites about CPR or firefighters or ambulances. Haha


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Prague Castle 2.5-Hour Tour Including Admission Ticket
Explore spectacular Prague Castle and visit St. Vitus Cathedral, St. George's Basilica, and Golden Lane. Take a tram ride up to the castle from the…
Explore spectacular Prague Castle and visit St. Vitus Cathedral, St. George's Basilica, and Golden Lane. Take a tram ride up to the castle from the…
PragueSee all 469 tickets & tours
Want to discover all there is to do in Prague Lesser Town? Click here for a full list.
Misha was very knowledgeable and funny. She did a great job and her English is perfect.
Brilliant guide (Eva?) who gave us lots of additional useful information and was very interesting and clear in her information. Would highly recommend this tour.
Brilliant tour - guide (Eva) was fantastic nothing was too much trouble and without her knowledge we would not have seen all the things we did. Her english was also brilliant. would recommend to anyone going to Prague to do this tour as Eva knew all the best routes to take
Very enjoyable tour. It was exactly what we were after. A very small group (just me and my girlfriend by chance.) with a very knowledgeable guide that took us through all the history of all the sights we visited. Highly recommend, a perfect tour in our opinion.
I liked the tour very much. It was informative, and a lot of fun. I would recommend the trip to other people. The guide was great. She has a lot of knowledge on Czech history, and her English is excellent. She was happy to share with me all of her knowledge. I think her name is Mikaela, but I am not sure that that is her name.


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PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y. -- Some 72% of Americans polled by the NPD Group said they were concerned about mad cow disease after U.S. officials announced the first case recorded within the country on Dec. 23. The firm's twice-monthly tracking poll had reported only a 57% concern rate at the beginning of December, prior to the disclosure. Nevertheless, the latest poll also found nearly three out of four U.S. consumers said they are confident the foods they buy from supermarkets are safe. That's up ...
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Police investigate Hilo robbery
Big Island police are investigating a reported robbery that occurred early Thursday in Hilo.
Around 12:30 am, a 63-year-old Hilo man reported that he was walking along Puueo Street when he was confronted by a man who pushed him to the ground and stole his wallet, according to the Hawaii Police Department. The suspect fled the area on foot toward Downtown Hilo.
The Hilo man not injured in the incident, according to police.
The suspect was described as being Polynesian, about 5 feet 2 inches tall, weighing about 180 pounds with a stocky build, according to police. He was possibly wearing a light colored "hoodie" over his head.
Detectives are continuing to investigate the incident as a second-degree robbery.
Anyone with information on this case or who may have witnessed the incident should call Detective Ernest Matsumoto at 961-2379 or firstname.lastname@example.com.
Those who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 329-8181 in Kona or 961-8300 in Hilo. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.


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Answer by Mrs Jeanine Jue
Hi Ashley, I'm so sorry to hear about your illness. Software engineering would be the perfect field for you giving you opportunities to work from home. For example, I have done contracting work on the side for iOS development and Web application development. Although some companies are outsourcing, they would prefer working with someone in the US then outsource the rest of the work overseas. I'm not familiar with other areas of engineering - but in the software sector this is definitely a possibility. Are you passionate about writing code and developing applications whether it be web applications using Ruby on Rails or iPhone/iPad applications using iOS? Remember, if the passion is not there, then it will be more challenging. I love writing code. I also love managing teams of engineers. In my opinion, when you write your first application (for example, an iPhone application), you code it, you build it and you see it run on an iPhone, it is such a great feeling thinking that Hey, I built that!. Feel free to contact me if you would like additional information. Many blessings to you! Kindest regards, Jeanine Swatton
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Release Date: January 1st, 2007
R|1 hr. 30 min.
Plot Summary
A middle-class man tries to buy a gun from a crackhead to kill his wife's lover. When he runs into Hoodwink, a macho drug dealer, the two begin a deadly game of cat and mouse.
Cast: Sharon D. Clarke, Adam Deacon, Steven Mackintosh, Ashley Walters, Andy Serkis, Ade,
Director: Gary Love
Genres: Crime drama


text:
Gift Premium Subscription To aoiya
Join Date:07-14-2012
Last Activity:02-25-2013 6:36 PM
Posted in thread: Fermentation and duration - saison on 10-06-2012 at 08:35 PM
Thought you might want an update - my final gravity was 1.004. Very peppery from the coriander
at first but that mellowed over the 4 weeks I had it kegged. The orange peel was light but
noticeable. I ...
Posted in thread: Spiced pear ale on 10-06-2012 at 08:12 PM
Wondering when to add the pear - here are my options:1) add to primary, on day 8Or 2) move into
secondary then add , on day 15 Pear has a light flavor and I dont want it overpowering (more
than just a...
Posted in thread: Fermentation and duration - saison on 07-17-2012 at 03:28 PM
I mashed at ~149 deg F. Dok, by "dry out," you mean let it rest awhile in ferm 1 or move to
ferm 2 for a few weeks? I have it sitting out in a dark corner in my hallway so it can ferment
warmer - at 7...
Posted in thread: Fermentation and duration - saison on 07-14-2012 at 07:59 PM
Hi all - I'm making my first Recipe. I've used bel pils as my base with white wheat rahr as a
major grain (28% of mixture) - which is heavy on that side but I wanted something a bit
different (and whe...


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In this episode I play in the snow to test out the new DZR H2O shoes I have in for review, and discuss why I am doing this vlogging thing a bit more.
Fashion, Style and Clothing
My new favorite cycling and running wind vest is the Pearl Izumi Women's Elite Barrier vest. It doesn't hurt that it is neon pink to add safety for night runs or foggy winter rides.
It isn't everyday that a camera / messenger bag gets over $1.8m of funding on Kickstarter (with 38 days to go). Perhaps it is because The Everyday Messenger bag is epic in an understated kind of way.
A rundown of the new Mechanic shoe from DZR. Does this shoe hold up to the standards of it's name? Find out!
I love skirts, but I don't wear them enough. I blame working in a bike shop for a solid part of my life. Now, if this lovely bicycle wrap skirt on Kickstarter might change my whole world!
CommutingCyclingFashion, Style and ClothingProducts
Road Holland Breukelen Mid-Weight Long Sleeve Jersey
There aren't many well fitting women's wool jerseys on the market, so this mid-weight wool blend jersey from Road Holland called The Breukelen caught my eye.
This jersey is a great staple in your cycling wardrobe and will become a go to for me this spring.
It's exciting to see more flattering women's apparel hitting the market. The new AETHER W Union cycling jacket is form fitting and very functional but doesn't scream "CYCLIST!"
A new lifestyle clip-in shoe from DZR is bridging the gap of style and function.
Many brands over the past 4 years have taken the euro route for their new urban lines, Pure Fix follows suit with 5 models being launched today.


text:
\\n\\t\\tCBM Asia Clarifies 15 Tcf Resource Target
\\r\\nCBM Asia wishes to clarify certain statements made in its news release of January 2, 2013 recapping its operations for 2012. The Company stated that based on recent acreage acquisitions and well testing it was increasing its target of establishing net recoverable gas from its existing acreage positions to 15 TCF (2.5 billion barrels of oil equivalent).
\\r\\nThe Company wishes to clarify that such figure represents the Company\\u2019s target goal and does not constitute an actual estimate of resources for its current acreage. Furthermore, such target should be expressed in terms of \\u201crecoverable unrisked prospective resources\\u201d rather than \\u201cnet recoverable gas\\u201d.\\t<\\\/p>\\n<\\\/div>\").dialog({\ntitle: 'January 09, 2013',\nautoOpen: true,\nresize: 'auto',\nresizable: false,\nwidth: 680,\ndraggable: false,\nposition: ['center', 50],\nmodal: true,\nshow: {effect: \"fadeIn\"},\nhide: {effect: \"fadeOut\"}\n});"}


text:
Top Apps
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Simple map
Site map generator compatible with Google, with a graphical user interface. Build the map of your site in five minutes and register the generated file at Google for a complete referencing of your site.1 weekly downloads
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Configure any program providing an XML file of options if furnished. The program to configure must have a ".ini" file or XML configuration file. A file of options is included for the PHP program for example.1 weekly downloads


text:
Nitro NCG Reloaded is an extremely powerful pre-workout supplement. This potent product will not only help you gain muscle size, but it will also increase the strength of these new muscles.
The use of Arginine Alpha-Ketoglutarate provides Carnosine precursors for maximizing ATP levels which provide your body with a boost of energy. Nitro NCG Reloaded will also provide your body with amino acids before each workout to give your muscles the energy they need. The unique energy boosting blend in Nitro NCG Reloaded will give you energy like you have never experienced before.
N-Carbamylglutamate (NCG) will increase your performance and give you the edge you need. Recent studies have shown that NCG will allow stored Arginine to be released from endothial cells and into the blood stream. NCG has also been shown to cause a release of HGH into the blood stream and activate protein synthesis. With that being said, Nitro NCG is a safe product with no side effects. Even in large quantities there have been no adverse effects shown from Nitro NCG. Nitro NCG Reloaded has been shown to dramatically increase results in the gym from an increase in muscle size to strength, and protein synthesis.
Supplement Facts
Serving Size: 1 Scoop (6.9 Grams)
Servings Per Container: 30
Amount Per Serving
Total Carbohydrate - 1g <1%
Dietary Fiber - 1g 4%
Niacin - 25mg 125%
Sodium - 108mg 5%
Beta -Alanine - 1500mg
Creatine Monohydrate - 1000mg
Fibersol - 1000mg
L-Ornithine Aphaketoglutarate - 500mg
N-Carbamylglutate - 500mg
Caffeine - 150mg
L-Norvaline - 100mg
Theobromine - 61mg
Evodiamine - 5mg
R-beta-methylphenylethylamine - 5mg
Apha Yohimbine - 2mg
Arginitrate - 1000mg
(Sodium Nitrate, L-Arginine, L-Arginine Alphaketoglutarate)
Other Ingredients:
Natural & Artificial Flavors, Silica, Citric Acid, Sucralose, FS&C Red #40
Add 1 scoop of Nitro NCG Reloaded to 4-8 oz of water and consume 15-30 prior to workout, on an empty stomach.


text:
JCPenney records a taxing fourth quarter
February 22, 2007-- Home Textiles Today,
Plano, Texas -- Paying a sharply higher tax bill this year, up by more than 50% from last year when it reaped a fistful of one-time tax benefits, JCPenney said fourth-quarter profits fell by 13.4%, to $477 million from $551 million last year.
All of the decline was accounted for by the increase in taxes, which pulled $92 million away from the bottom line. But even without the skewing effects of the tax bill, Penney earnings would have risen only modestly during the all-important Christmas quarter, up about 3.2% to $569 million.
Penney sales increased by 7.4%, to $6.7 billion from $6.2 billion last year, helped by an extra week of sales, 14 compared with 13 in last year's Christmas quarter. Without that extra week, overall sales would have climbed more slowly, the retailer said, by 4.1%, compared with the actual gain of 7.4%.
But the acid test measure of same-store sales in its department store business couldn't keep pace with last-year's Christmas quarter. Measuring same-store sales on like 13-week periods, excluding the extra week, same-store sales rose by 2.2%, lagging the 2.6% growth rate of 2005.
Penney's catalog business continued to act as a drag. The retailer didn't break out dollar figures, but said that while internet sales shot up by 24.2%, overall sales in the direct-to-consumer business advanced just 4.4%, pointing to a continued decline in catalog sales.
In a prop to the bottom line, private label brands helped the retailer score a big advance in average gross margin, up 180 basis points, or 1.8 percentage points, to 38.0% from 36.2% last year.
But acting as a partial offset, costs climbed higher as well when measured as a percentage of sales, rising by 90 basis points, or nine-tenths of a percentage point, to 24.9% from 24.0% during last year's Christmas quarter.
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text:
Pretty certain Matt had his op done privately
matty nicho
Started by fozzie, Jul 29 2013 06:45 PM
22 replies to this topic
Posted 30 July 2013 - 07:44 AM
Posted 30 July 2013 - 03:47 PM
Our club is a great club, but at this moment in time, Featherstone is a better club.
I don't think thats an outrageous comment.
So are Sheffield, Halifax, Leigh, Batley, Whitehaven, Dewsbury, Workington, Doncaster and Keighley. AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME.
At the end of a rather frustrating season, it would be nice if things remained the same.
Posted 30 July 2013 - 04:25 PM
at this moment in time, i would happily accept another club to that list, come the end of the season
sometimes you have to take a step backwards to move forward


text:
I am interested in progressive politics, citizen participation, real democracy and a full range of public policy issues from an Albertan and Canadian perspective.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Peter Kent Steps In It Over Oil Sands & It Will Stick to Him
Here is a very important story out of the Hill Times about Minister of the Environment Peter Kent that is worth reading and reflection. It is about the simplistic opening comments by Peter Kent the newly minted Harper Minister of the environment. Mr. Kent is a seasoned and competent journalist but as a politician, not so much.
It appears that the primary briefing book for Mr. Kent in his first foray on to the Harper front benches was Ezra Levant's oil sands book "Ethical Oil." The Hill Times story says Mr. Kent was staking out his position on oil sands to align with the uber-conservative Mr. Levant before he even considered the larger picture of the challenges and opportunities inherent in the oil sands. Don't get me wrong, Ezra's book makes a good point but one that is insufficient to justify free market unfettered development of the oil sands. Being the best of a bad lot is not good enough. Geopolitical issues around oil production and marketing are significant to Albertans and Canadians. But that does not absolve Albertans as owners of the oil sands from our responsibility to be concerned for the environment, social, habitat and other consequences of oil sands development beyond getting rich quickly.
I am a big fan and supporter of oil sand development but recognizes we can and must exploit this resource more responsibly and in so many ways. I have no problem with the Minister of Environment quoting from books written on themes within his jurisdiction. Might I suggest (by way of shameless plug) that he also read Green Oil by my business partner Satya Das or Peter Silverstone's "The World's Greenest Oil" for a broader deeper understanding of the problems and positive possibilities of responsible and innovative oil sands development. Full disclosure, I published Green Oil. I admire the initiative of super-citizenship Dr. Peter Silverstone. He is a psychiatrist who takes time to be an active Albertan and is one person who realizes his personal responsibility as an owner of the oil sands. By writing his book, he has shown what engaged informed citizenship really is all about and what a difference one person can make.
So why would a guy with Mr. Kent's credentials, experience and journalistic ethic be caught taking an obvious pre-emptive political strike position in his new portfolio that is purely ideological and tactical? Why would he be caught commenting the way he has on the oil sands before having the advantage of a full briefing on the topic? why would he not give himself a chance to grasp the complexities and nuances of his portfolio, especially relating to oil sands?
Is this a cost of doing business that if you want to sit in the Harper Cabinet, you have to toe a line? Is this just the most recent example that a Cabinet Minister's Job #1 in the way Harper rules is about pursuing political positioning and running roughshod over any aspiration of good governance? Was that homage to Ezra's "Ethical Oil" the price Kent had to pay to be in Cabinet? Was this the initiation test of his allegiance to the Prime Minister and a condition of his appointment? Makes you wonder what other explanations there could be for such a misstep by a sophisticated experienced journalist must know a thing or two about abuse of power.
Good government is always good politics. Pure politics is hardly ever good government. I wonder if this kind of political push by the Prime Minister for propaganda over policy is the real reason the former Progressive Conservative Jim Prentice prematurely quit politics. We will never know but we ought not to be so naive that we don't consider that as a real possibility. Sad isn't it!
Mr Kent first utterances has to be a serious disappointment to the oil sand industry too. His political and governance missteps may impact his future in the next election but so what. Politicians are notorious for thinking short term and for personal political advantage. Industry, however, has billions of long-term dollars invested. They are at risk over volatile prices, world-wide recessions, environmental policy uncertainty and the rise of alternative energy sources. Uncertainty and risk management are facts of life for the oil sands industry, now and well into the future. They also realize the depth and breadth of their struggle to justify their social license to operate in this complex social, economic, ecological and political culture.
The oil sands industry, like politicians, are charged, tried and convicted in court of public opinion. Industry has more at risk as I see it. There is an allure of short-sighted expediency but they realize they have to take a more complex world view in what they do and how they do it. Industry must take a long-term perspective to justify the large up-front investments and taking on inherent duties like reclamation. That is a complex current responsibility but decades away from being delivered and that is even more uncertainty. The oil sands operating culture is more complex and controversial than superficial gamesmanship artificial chaos of power politics that we see as core characteristics of too many of our so-called political "leaders."
Being cozy, co-operative and collusive with the federal and provincial governments has worked for the industry up to now but it is an obviously mistaken and insufficient industry strategy going forward. My work with the industry tells me they get this. They are adapting appropriately, and cautiously, to appeal directly to the citizens as owners of the oil sands as they attempt to justify their social license to operate and exploit this valuable resource for the benefit of employees, shareholders, suppliers, citizens and future generations.
My betting is behind industry to do the right thing on their social license sooner than later. Unless we change governments or our government change their political culture I despair that they will ever do the right things for the right reasons in the right way at any time soon. Citizens have to insist that our industry tenants and our government property managers start doing a much better job of serving the greater good and not just serve their self-interests as they develop our oil sands property. Time for Albertans as owners to raise the expectations bar on themselves too. We have to get better informed, effectively active and unshakably insistent that the oil sands development is done right. After all it is all being done in the name of Albertans and Canadians.
4 comments:
- Anonymous12:17 pm
Peter Kent may have been a competent journalist, I don't know and that is a matter amongst his peers. I only remember him as somewhat cocky and a bit full of himself as is not unusual when one gets into the public eye. Getting into politics was a step up in his social ambition game plan. It is not surprising he gets into a little trouble soon after his latest promotion. He is naive to accept Ezra as his muse. This self inflated Foxist is a grenade with the pin out.ReplyDelete
- Anonymous12:50 pm
I'm just curious, Ken. Do you know for a fact that Mr. Kent didn't read Satya's book? Do you know for a fact that he doesn't know enough about the oil sands to have an informed opinion? Or, is it simply that you don't like his opinion, therefore, he must be illiterate on the issue? Having followed your blog for some time, I suspect it is the third of these three questions that is relevant. You shouldn't assume that he's taking marching orders in terms of forming an opinion from Harper or from industry. In fact, wasn't it just last month that a federal Environment Minister released a critical report on oil sands water monitoring? In your Brave New World, led by Big Brother Stephen Harper, that never would have happened. Maybe, just maybe, Mr. Kent was saying what he believes, which, thanks be to whomever, we all still have a right to do in this wonderful country.ReplyDelete
Anon @12:50 - I don't know that Kent has not read Green Oil - do you know that he has? Please confirm. If he did read Green Oil there was no evidence in his comments to make one believe he had.ReplyDelete
It would be nice to know who you are so we can place some credence in your comments too.
Kent may have an informed opinion about the oil sands bit to have the first words on it as Minister of the Environment being a political framing of the oil sands and not an environmental one.
As for releasing the critical report on oil sands monitoring, that was not on his watch but John Baird's on work ordered by Jim Prentice. Nice try at green washing Minister Kent.
Of course Mr, Kent has every right to say what he believes. And citizens get to judge and assess his competence and character and worthiness for our consent to govern us based on those statements. That is what is happening.
Citizens have a right of free speech too even in the face of a bullying and intimidating government.
- Anonymous7:16 pm
Seems like an alarmist headline to me.ReplyDelete
Peter did not step in anything other than do what he was elected and paid to do.
Maybe you are just acting out over the fact that "Ethical Oil" is outselling "Green Oil" and the fact that it is more influential in shaping public policy.


text:
Interest Level
Grade 5
Reading Level
Grade level Equivalent: 3.8
Lexile® Measure: 750L
Guided Reading: Q
- Series
- Country Life
- Farm and Ranch Life
- Pioneers
- Moving
About This Book
This new addition to the popular question-and-answer history series invites readers to step back in time and see what it was like to grow up on the Great Plains more than 100 years ago.
What kind of house would you live in? What kind of clothes would you wear? What would you do for fun? Would you go to school? The answers to these and 34 more questions give readers a vivid idea of a pioneer child's day-to-day life as well as the hardships the pioneering family faced as they attempted to settle in the vast and often harsh prairie lands.
Items Added to Cart:
1 Paperback
2 Hardcover
1 Teacher's Edition
$48.99 Subtotal


text:
John F. Kennedy's famous
Houston speech on church and state during
the 1960 presidential campaign elicited Rick Santorum's after-the-fact disgust. Though Santorum
misrepresents the speech in some ways--Kennedy didn't say anything about
limiting religious institutions and leaders from speaking on public issues--he
is right to find the speech theologically lame.
A "model minority" blends in
Mormons are in the familiar situation of being on the
defensive theologically and politically. But they are also
in terra incognita: they are viewed as
leading the way in preserving family values.
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