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Skip to comments.Democratic aide: Fiscal 'cliff' deal reached
Posted on 12/31/2012 6:16:05 PM PST by bd476
click here to read article
call GOP Congressmen , tell them not to vote for this nor any deal , go over the news medias stupid cliff(which is not a cliff):
Congress switchboard number: (202) 224-3121.
I wonder why the Democrats are leaking it now through an anonymous spokesman rather than officially announcing it.
...and like good little sheep, the GOPe will fall for it.
I'm calling my congresspeople but my hopes are not high.
Probably because it's a lie.
Let Ubama drive us over the imaginary "fiscal cliff."
Let him own it.
If true, and the Republicans have shafted those with incomes above $450,000.00, they are dead as a party.
You might want to think about calling RATs too.
Because that is who will carry this bill over the finish line.
Yep. Rinos and Rats.
That's a good idea, except if the deal is already done.
They might be leaking this now to increase the pressure.
So, now they will hit the week after next?
Cause that's how they officially announce everything.
Phony cliff, phony deal.
Then too the President probably already has his
jammies on and is ready for bed.
It's the liberal Dems that are upset with the deal and holding it up. The Obama cheerleaders on CNN don't know what to make of a Commie Senator from Oregon who'd rather go over the cliff than accept this deal.
I'm not in that income arena however I know doctors who are and who will cut back on services and hours to avoid getting tax raped.
Me: We don't make over $450k, do we?
Wife: No but the man I passed up to marry you makes that much.
Me: (stares at her across the room)
"Yep. Rinos and Rats."
Is there a difference?
"If true, and the Republicans have shafted those with incomes above $450,000.00, they are dead as a party."
That was the media's plan.
Since the election the news media has been blasting this "fiscal cliff" BS all over in a massive propaganda campaign. It's all to get Republicans to agree to raise taxes. THEN the media/democrats can tell conservative voters "see Republicans raised taxes" so then conservatives give up on GOP and then the Democrats take the House and then pass Amnesty , gun control etc.
this "fiscal cliff" is all a media fabrication , a plan to destroy the GOP ( oppossition to democrats).
The media/democrats did this to Bush 1 "read my lips no new taxes".
Most of the Dr's I know make less than $300k taxable income because they shelter income.
Of course but there's always hope that they'll change ... in the next century... or two. ;)
The Vote in Congress hasn't happened yet though. That's what matters. the deal means nothing.
At this point it's difficult to figure out what their plan is. New Year's Eve when most are getting ready to enjoy a night of celebration and not watching the news... sounds like the Democratic aide got his marching orders from BHO with the blanks filled in while people are watching football tomorrow.
a deal was reached with the congressional Republicans and the ayatollah?? i thought congress was adjourned until tomorrow at 1PM?
Right, spending cuts?
ROFLOL! Thanks AppyPappy for my first big laugh of the day.
I seriously needed it. :)
So, this "deal" won't even pay for the added year of unemployment payments they're tossing in there... and we're hitting the debt limit today.... how the heck are we paying for this wonderful "deal"?
None. They are apart of what I like to call The DC Party
or The Federal Party...the party of big spending and no REAL cuts.
Can't wait to see the Rinos that form a coalition with the Rats to pass
this in the House.
I am certain u won't hear the GOP leadership threatening committee
assignments or chairmanships to these Rinos who vote for this sham.
Instead, they will strong arm many conservatives.
What a farce.
Next up: Conversion of the country to full-blown, central-management Marxism.
I hear ya.
Get real. Bonehead will provide some Rino's.
Pelosi will provide the rest.
Done deal.
It should be called the Rino/Rat Bill.
...that we're going to like
(1) Dems get permanent higher taxes, but only over $450k, a higher threshold than they wanted; and
(2) expense reductions get put off until the debt ceiling negotiation in two or three months.
So the Reps preserve their leverage, on expenses, but hand over a partial win to the Dems now on taxes.
The problem with this is that the Dems can demagogue this all Winter, backed by the media, weakening the Reps prior to the debt ceiling battle.
It is probably better to go back to the Clinton rates and suffer two years until a new Congress might be able to override Obama. That would take courage, sacrifice and a different Speaker to take the battle to the Dems.
This will come down to whether the Tea Party caucus can stymie this deal or whether the House Dems and Rino Reps can form an unholy alliance to pass the deal. If the latter occurs, then look forward to a Speaker Pelosi in 2014.
I used to say that the best way to make millions is to have been dumped by me.
Was watching Fox Business Network and a GOP "Aide" has said "This deal is done" Oh goodie..higher taxes AND no spending cuts..just what Obama wanted..the GOP once again bends over and kisses Obama's smelly behind
So, this deal wont even pay for the added year of unemployment payments theyre tossing in there... and were hitting the debt limit today.... how the heck are we paying for this wonderful deal?
We will continue to borrow 46 cents out of every dollar we spend.
The cliff is pushed back two months.
That means the RINOs and Dems will own it if it passes and at the least, the RINOs will pay for it in the 2014 primaries.
An unholy alliance between Rats and Rinos.
the Republicans in the House aren't even there to do your deal, Tokyo rose, they are home right now
I'm sure if his party's leaders tell him to, he will vote for this deal. He doesn't wipe his butt without instruction from his party leadership.
Does it include a cost of living increase for Social Security recipients and federal and postal retirees, configured the same way as before, meaning no monkeying with the formula so as to deliberately decrease the COLA - please provide details when known.
So why did u post a Capital Telephone number to call GOP Congresscritters
If they are all home. What was that about?
Great. So now, we get to go through all of this AGAIN in a very short time.
Thanks GOP! What a great political party!
Now that the GOP has given Bath House Barry (who clearly demonstrated what a street punk he really is today) and the Democrats 85% of what they wanted (higher taxes, $200 Billion for the perpetually "unemployed", tuition tax credits for Obama's perpetual "students", etc - the GOP is left with very little leverage. The debt ceiling debate will be more of the same, and they will cave, because they have proven 100% incapable of reforming what is really breaking the back of this nation - ENTITLEMENTS.
67% of the Federal dollars spent direct payments in the form of Entitlements. And it is getting worse by the day.
It looks like in just days or weeks we will now have to endure Sequestration, because it cannot be stopped.
The DoD will have to cut Operations and Maintenance much, much more than the 9.4%. They cannot touch troop strength (Obama will cut that soon and pay no political price for it anyway), so they will cut O&M, probably by 25% or greater. That will devastate the military.
And it won't stop there.
10 Devastating Sequestration Cuts That People Are Afraid Will Happen Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/10-devastating-sequestration-cuts-that-people-are-afraid-will-happen-2012-12?op=1#ixzz2GgfCoA9H
"The military is already contending with a $487 billion cut over the next ten years as a result of existing budget cuts. Since the existing funds for the war and military pay are exempt, the remainder of military funding will take a harder hit as well. The sequestration would lead to an additional $55 billion cut from the military over nine years, and some analysts think this could national defense to the bone. General Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, says that the cuts will leave the armed forces hollowed-out.
Every military contract may need to be completely renegotiated
Small, local contractors could be forced out of business
The entire defense industry could be thrown into chaos
Massive rises in unemployment in a number of states
"Several states have an abnormally high proportion of employees who work for the government. As a result of sequestration, there will be firings, furloughs and hiring freezes in many agencies, depending on how each individual agency may decide to implement different cuts. Here are the five states that may be hit the hardest as a result of their high levels of federal government employment:
And here is the best part! The cost of delaying the Sequester for the next 2 years is less than the cost of extending "unemployment" benefits to the layabouts, but the Sequester is going to take place but the "benefits" to the lazy 99ers is already agreed to! Isn't that great!!!
We don't need enemies with "friends" like this.
where's Rand Paul on this??
>Then too the President probably already has his jammies on and is ready for bed.
I'd bet real money that after the wookie's kids go to bed he will be tooling around with one of his buddies while the wookie gets all sweaty with some serious Shaft.
the House is not even there ,they adjourned , so they haven't agreed to any deal
I'd say let Obama own it, but there is no way the media would allow that. The GOP and conservatives will be pilloried if they allow the country to go over. That's just reality.
so, just to be clear, this deal has no impact on raising the debt ceiling, and that will be whole nother separate issue in a couple months?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.


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skatingtripods wrote:rebelwithoutaclue wrote:Take a fucking chance because the same old shit ain't getting it done. This is pup's point.
We took a chance.
It pitches erratically every five days.
Look, I'm fine with taking chances. To me, Hanley's not the one to take a chance on. Again, nobody has been able to give me any reason to believe that he'd come here and play like he cared. If he was manageable in the clubhouse when times were tough and wouldn't demand a trade the second things went south, sure, try to acquire Hanley in hopes that he gets back to his old self.
Why that would happen with a change of leagues, I don't know.
I'd much rather go after somebody who may be struggling, but is going to play hard regardless of where he's playing. Wanting to play and having the work ethic to play are two big factors when you're talking about a guy who had tons of previous success and has fallen off the map. I don't see him being that guy in Cleveland.
That's my point. Which pup can't seem to grasp.
I grasp your point just fine. Just think it is a losing mentality.
If nobody wants to play here, then the only way to acquire talent is trades. If he doesn't work out, what have you lost? Profit $?

subset: commoncrawl


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as a First Name
English form of the name of a saint martyred at Alexandria in 307. The story has it that she was condemned to be broken on the wheel for her Christian belief. However, the wheel miraculously fell apart, and so she was beheaded instead. There were many elaborations on this story, which was one of the most popular in early Christian mythology, and she has been the object of a vast popular cult. The earliest sources that mention her are in Greek and give the name in the form Aikaterinē. The name is of unknown etymology; the suggestion that it may be derived from Hēcatē, the pagan goddess of magic and enchantment, is not convincing. From an early date, it was associated with the Greek adjective katharos 'pure'. This led to spellings with -th- and to a change in the middle vowel (see Katharine). Several later saints also bore the name, including the mystic St Katherine of Siena (1347–80) who both led a contemplative life and played a role in the affairs of state of her day. Katherine is also a royal name: in England it was borne by the formidable and popular Katherine of Aragon (1485–1536), the first wife of Henry VIII, as well as by the wives of Henry V and Charles II.
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Nutella rocks, although I've never made a dessert pizza with it. Check Costco for great pricing.Jack
They have it on the menu at the Neapolitan Pizzeria 'Amano' in Rdgewood NJ. I've also enjoyed a pear based Dessert pizza in the past,in Italy.It sems that Nutella is to Italians as Marmite is to the English and Vegemite is to Australians.
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Eliminated Round 1:It Is "He" (Jai Sri Krishna)
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Aug 05, 2011
Mobility's Next Challenge: 8 Steps to a Secure Environment
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Feb 22, 2013
Developing a Strategy for Enterprise App Security
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Our Integrated Lead Management System allows dealers to electronically track Internet Leads, Phone-Ups, Floor-Ups, and Be-Backs while measuring the effectiveness of Sales People and Advertisers.
We have built a sophisticated Content Management System that gives our dealers the ability to manage certain parts of their Dealership's website without having to call us for website changes.
In addition to tracking your most profitable Sales People, best Acquisition Specialists, most effective Advertisers, our powerful Analytics Suite also helps you decide which Inventory to buy and which Inventory to avoid.
Efficiently and professionally prepare your Dealership's Inventory for sale with our state-of-the-art Custom Window Stickers, Federal Buyer's Guides, Photo Overlays, QR Codes, CarStory® Market Reports, Custom Video Creator, with up to 60 Photos of each vehicle.
Our CRM tools give your Dealership the ability to build a complete database of leads, worksheets, customers, and deals you accumulate allowing you to close prospective customers and market to sold customers for repeat and referral business.
The auction lane is not the only place to acquire a piece of Pre-Owned Inventory for your Dealership, especially when you need a specific vehicle for a customer. We give you access to thousands of qualified front row ready wholesale units.
Leave emotion out of the pre-owned inventory acquisition equation. These tools empower you with insightful analytics for acquiring pre-owned inventory by telling you exactly which models sell the fastest for the most profit.
We create Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube accounts for every new customer. We also install an Inventory Module on your Facebook page that displays your Dealership's Inventory that will click directly back to the VDP on your website.
SEO will put your Dealership's website on the map. We will build your website with proven SEO architecture that ensures consumers will be able to find your Dealership's website when they are searching all of the major Search Engines.
We provide professional consulting in the areas of: Inventory Acquisition, Internet Pricing, Price Reductions, Inventory Turn, Inventory Merchandising, Speed-to-Market best practices, Reputation Management and much more.


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Cat Life Stages - Adult (1-6 years old)
Adult Tips
Your cat's gums are good indicators of overall health. Pale gums may imply anemia, bluish gums suggest a cardiac or respiratory problem and yellow gums could indicate liver disease.
If you live in a warmer climate (with ever-present mosquitos) your cat may require heartworm medication all-year long.
If you have an indoor cat, it's important that you help her exercise. Leave toys around for her to play with, purchase a "kitty condo" to climb and play together whenever possible.
Adult Paws Wellness Plans
Right now, your cat should be running, jumping, cuddling, eating well and enjoying life. Our Adult Paws wellness plans includes diabetes testing for early detection, doctor recommended core vaccines, and more. Cat health care is important. Keep your cat healthy with regular visits to the vet.
Learn more about this special package, or call us at 310-473-2951 to make an appointment today.
Cat Alley
If your furry pal is anywhere from 1-6 years old, this is the spot to find tips, tricks, advice and the latest news on taking care of a cat.
Basic Care
Annual exams are a must for a healthy adult cat. If you're interested in what you can do at home to keep your cat healthy, check out these links.
- Cat Bathing 101
- Is It OK to Pick My Cat Up by the Scruff?
- 10 Common Cat Behavior Myths Decoded
- Why Does My Cat... Cry at Night?
In addition to nutritious food, a 10-pound cat needs ¼ liter of water daily. Want to learn more about your cat's nutritional needs? Read more here.
- Food Isn't Love: Why Dogs and Cats Shouldn't Pack on the Pounds
- Want Happier, Healthier Cats and Dogs? Use Food Puzzles
- Help Your Overweight Pet Slim Down
- 10 Things You Should Know About Feeding Your Pet
Would you know what to do if your cat had a medical emergency? Be prepared. These links will give you tons of advice on the right way to deal with the unexpected.
- 5 Myths About Feline Heartworm Disease
- Getting Serious About Your Cat's Dental Health
- Why Vets Don't Think Fat Cats Are Funny
- Video: Get Your Cat to Swallow a Pill
- Cat Vaccine Recommendations
If you think training a cat is a waste of time, think again. There are a lot of methods that can help change your cat's behavior. Take a look at these links to find out how.
- Cat Exercise
- Four Games That Tap Into Your Cat's Animal Instincts - Plus the Best Times of Day to Play
- Cats and Dogs Can Live Together - With Some Careful Planning
Adult Cat to Senior Cat
As your adult cat matures into a senior cat, he may choose to spend long stretches in the sun instead of chasing critters out in the yard. And that's completely normal. Though your senior cat may need more frequent vet visits, chances are, with proper care, he can enjoy many more happy and healthy years. Learn about the "Senior Cat" Lifestage »


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... this video has no religious hook. But a friend of mine found it on DevilDucky, and it's pretty funny. If you can last through the first 90 seconds, you'll see why someone might think there's a spirit moving through Josh Silberman.
Here is an additional link to the reel for "the craziest kid in Hollywood."


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On Top of the World - Page 2
"By far the best part of Leadville is the support I get from my family and friends," says Tiernan, who grew up in Aspen, Colorado, not far from Leadville. "The spirit of my crew is contagious and it helps fuel me from aid station to aid station."
Clark, who lives in Fort Collins, Colorado, finished third in 17:11:15.
Tina Lewis of Boulder, Colorado, executed a similarly thrilling race strategy, passing eventual second-place finisher Liza Howard late in the race and holding a narrow lead: both runners were in the Fish Hatchery aid station, near mile 76, at the same time.
"I was running a lot of the race by myself, so there was no pressure; no one was pushing me," says Lewis. "I passed Liza before Half Moon [aid station], but she stayed on my heels. After that I just tried to hold onto the lead and I had no idea how far back she was."
Lewis continues, "I had stomach problems, I was throwing up and I was hyperventilating from Fish Hatchery to the finish." That did not stop her, however, from pulling away to win by over an hour with a time of 19:33:45.
Howard of San Antonio, Texas, held on to finish second in 20:44:08. Ashley Nordell of Sisters, Oregon, was third in 20:47:58. Aliza Lapierre of Williston, Vermont, fell to fourth after leading during the early stages of the race, finishing in 21:14:32.
"To win, it's amazing," Lewis says. "I'm still in complete shock. It's surreal."
Complete results from the Leadville Trail 100, once posted, can be found here.


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Whether you are moving across the world or taking an extended vacation across the country, bringing your canine companion along usually means shipping her or checking her in as cargo on a plane. If she is not small enough to take into the cabin with you, airplane travel with your dog might seem like an upsetting prospect, and for good reason - according to VCA Animal Hospitals, temperatures in the cargo holds can drop or rise to extremes, and it may be frightening for the animal.
While it's a good idea to avoid shipping your pet if possible, airlines and governments have many rules and regulations in place for traveling with your dog to ensure that pets can fly safely and arrive at their owner's destination.
You have to follow all the rules
According to Animal Planet, the number of rules and regulations for shipping a pet are enough to make any human's head spin. While this is a good thing - it means someone is making sure animals are safe and comfortable during their journey - it might be overwhelming. The news source recommends owners check out the Independent Pet and Animal Transportation Association to find a reputable pet shipping company that will take care of all the details.
You will also want to familiarize yourself with the United States Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, which enforces acts related to animal welfare - such as shipping in a humane manner. However, if you are traveling to another country with your dog, you should check with that nation's embassy consulate about laws relating to bringing animals into the country - some might require vaccinations or a quarantine period.
You need to schedule a vet visit
Most airlines (or embassies) will require that dogs traveling as cargo have notes from veterinarians stating that they are in good enough health to travel. To get such a note, your dog will most likely need a full examination, and might have to get additional dog vaccinations, depending on her status and the requirements of your destination. VCA Animal Hospitals recommends owners take written documentation of their dogs' vaccinations with them on the trip.
What can I do to ensure my dog is safe during the flight?
It's always a good idea to book direct flights at non-peak hours when you are traveling with a pet, according to VCA. Avoiding layovers means there are fewer chances for your dog to get lost in transit, and means she will spend the least amount of time possible in her crate. Plus, traveling at non-peak hours gives the airline personnel more time to handle your dog.
Although it is tempting to give your dog a nice big meal and maybe a sedating medication, Animal Planet advises owners to avoid any type of sedative drugs for their dogs before a flight, because they can have unexpected effects when the animal is in the pressurized cargo hold. Feeding a dog is required before a flight, but avoid a massive meal to prevent dog vomiting during the trip. Mark the time of your pet's last meal on her crate, since airline personnel are required to give pets food every 24 hours and water every 12 hours.


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Gradysmanldy wrote:Dear Lars,
Without mentioning pork products or Cedar Point, what do I put on a wedding website that will convince my out of town friends that coming to Cleveland for my wedding is a sweet idea, since ive been telling them the place ROCKS for better than 10 years?
Also....Great columns, i've enjoyed the reads.
Dear Grady,
Just announce that it will an open bar b/c you're NOT some retard from the east coast or Martha's Vineyard that insists on a cash bar. You'll have the time of your life...and CONGRATS!1!


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How to Save Yourself From the Foreclosure Fraud Epidemic
NEW YORK (BankingMyWay) -- Even though U.S. home foreclosures are in decline -- they're down almost 7% from August to September, according to RealtyTrac -- foreclosure scams are still a big threat to delinquent U.S. homeowners.
According to the U.S. Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, suspicious activity reports were way up in the first six months of 2012.
By "suspicious activity" FinCen means potential scams such as requiring homeowners to transfer the titles of their homes to foreclosure repair firms, or having consumers fork over regular monthly payments to those firms. According to FinCen, "victims may lose thousands of dollars in fabricated fees and risk losing their homes as well."
According to the agency, financial institutions reported 2,360 "foreclosure-related SARs" in the first half of 2012, and that's almost as many as the 2,782 incidents reported in all of last year. FinCen says California is far and away the state with the most reported foreclosure scam activity.
What can struggling homeowners do to minimize or even eliminate the odds of being entangled in a foreclosure fraud situation?
The Better Business Bureau has some tips:
- Avoid any firm that guarantees it can halt the foreclosure process. In the foreclosure prevention business, there are no guarantees.
- Steer clear of any firm that tells you not to contact your lender, lawyer or credit or housing counselor. Firms that shell out that advice know those professionals will spot a scam right away and warn you.
- Avoid any foreclosure prevention service that wants to charge a fee before helping, especially payments by cashier's check or a wire transfer.
- Stay away from any firm that encourages you to lease your home so you can buy it back over time.
- Reject any firm that recommends that you make your mortgage payments directly to it, rather than your lender.
- Avoid a foreclosure firm that demands you transfer your property deed or title to it.
The U.S government offers a hotline for victims and potential victims of foreclosure scams at 1-888-995-HOPE.
There's really no reason to fall victim to foreclosure scams. With a decent amount of due diligence, spotting a fraud situation should be a no-brainer -- and a no-win situation for potential fraud artists looking to separate you from your money.


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Italian Greyhound
Basic Italian Greyhound Information
- Lifespan: 12 - 15 years
- Height: 13 - 15 inches
- Weight: 7 - 14 pounds
Medical Conditions Seen in Italian Greyhounds
- Polydontia
- Epilepsy
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy
- Cataracts
- Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease
- Corneal Dystrophy
- Fractures
- Pattern Baldness
- Periodontal Disease
Italian Greyhound Traits
- Jogging Partner
- Lap Dog
- Good with Children
- Warm Weather
- Cold Weather
- Grooming Requirements
- Shedding
- Barking
- Ease of Training
Italian Greyhound History
- As early as 2000 years ago, artwork dating from Turkey, Greece and other areas around the Mediterranean depicts small greyhound-like dogs that may be Italian reyhounds.
- By the Middle Ages, miniature greyhounds could be found throughout southern Europe. Italian courtiers especially favored the little dogs.
- They came to England in the 1600s, where they also became favorites of the upper class. Their popularity in England was at its peak during the reign of dog enthusiast Queen Victoria, but by the early 1900s the Italian greyhound's popularity was on the decline.
- After World War II, the breed almost disappeared in England. The few specimens that remained were not very good quality because the emphasis on breeding had for so long been on diminutive size rather than type or soundness. The breed, though small in numbers, was high in quality in America, and these American dogs formed the basis of the Italian greyhound revival.
- The Italian greyhound is now one of the more popular of the greyhound-like breeds.
Italian Greyhound Behavior Concerns
- Makes a loyal and loving companion.
- It is one of the most demonstrative and obedient of the greyhound-like breeds.
- Often described as "clingy."
- Sociable with children, strangers, and other dogs and animals.
- Extremely gentle.
- Can be easily intimidated.
- Learns quickly, but is easily bored.
- Does best with reward-based training involving food or play. Very sensitive.
- Tends to be difficult to housetrain.
Italian Greyhound Suggested Exercises
- Makes a very quiet housedog as long as its exercise needs are met.
- Requires a moderate walk or a sprint in an enclosed area every day.
- Games and tricks provide needed mental exercise.
- Its short coat provides virtually no protection against cold weather.Acoat or sweater may be beneficial for Italian greyhounds exposed to colder temperatures.
- The Italiangreyhoundis extremely swift. When raised with access to free running its bones are strong, but when raised without a chance to run and jump, it may be susceptible to broken bones when finally allowed to jump off things.
Italian Greyhound Grooming
- Coat is short and thin. Italian greyhounds do not do well in cold weather.
- The coat needs weekly brushing.
- Shedding is below average.
Suggested Italian Greyhound Nutritional Needs
- Italian greyhound conformation is for a naturally thin build, but owners often overfeed them. You should be able to feel the ribs, but they should not be too noticeable.
- Very young or small puppies should be fed frequently to avoid low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
- Adult dogs should be fed a balanced diet, with restricted calories if the dog starts to gain too much weight.
Did you know?
- Grapes and raisins are harmful to dogs.
- Some dog parasites are transferable to humans.
- Many common pet ailments may be detected early and prevented by visiting your veterinarian twice yearly - saving both time, money, and most importantly, ensuring the best quality of life for your dog.
Come visit us, we would love to see you!
We are here to help! Book an appointment today to continue your pet on a path to great health and wellness
Ask the Vet
Have unanswered pet health questions? Dr.Donna Spector, with 10+ years of hands-on Internal Medicine experience, is here with your answers every Friday.


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If you're looking for fabric supplies and fabric crafts for less, come shop at Walmart. We've got you covered.
At Walmart, you can choose from a number of quilting fabrics, fleece fabrics, flannel fabrics, apparel fabrics and fabric kits to help you get the job done right. We also carry fabric quilt backing, fabric patches, fabric bundles, fabric stabilizer and needleworkfabrics to help meet the needs of you and your family.
We stock fabric supplies from many top brands, such as Butterick, Crayola, Creative Cuts, Kwik Sew, McCall Pattern, Simplicity, Vogue Pattern and more. Be sure to also browse our additional sewing and quilting accessories, party supplies and wedding party supplies to find other items that you may need.
It's easy to shop for fabric supplies at Walmart.com. You can search by material, pattern, color, brand, category, character, top sellers, top rated, price, keyword and more to help find the items that are right for you.Be sure to look for free in-store pickup for many products when you shop at Walmart.com.
Come to Walmart for fabric supplies and fabric crafts at our Everyday Low Prices. Save money. Live better.


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Basic Rottweiler Information
- Lifespan: 8 - 11 years
- Height: 22 - 27 inches
- Weight: 80 - 135 pounds
Medical Conditions Seen in Rottweilers
- Addison's Disease
- Hip Dysplasia
- Anterior/Cranial Cruciate Ligament Injury
- Aortic Stenosis
- Seborrhea
- Elbow Dysplasia
- Osteochondrosis Dissecans
- Patellar Luxation
- Panosteitis
- Cataracts
- Entropion
- Hypothyroidism
- Osteosarcoma
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy
- Subaortic Stenosis
Rottweiler Traits
- Jogging Partner
- Lap Dog
- Good with Children
- Warm Weather
- Cold Weather
- Grooming Requirements
- Shedding
- Barking
- Ease of Training
Rottweiler History
- In ancient times, Roman drover dogs guarded and drove the cattle that accompanied Roman troops on long marches. Some of these dogs were left behind in southern Germany, where they remained valued as cattle drovers.
- The town of Rottweil became a center of cattle commerce, and the drover dogs played a vital role driving the cattle to town, protecting them along the way, guarding the money earned from their sale, and even pulling carts of supplies back from town. Some dogs lived in town as butcher's helpers, a job at which they especially excelled. They became known as Rottweiler metzgerhunds (butcher dogs).
- In the mid 1800s, cattle driving was outlawed and dog carts were replaced by donkey carts and railroads, forcing the Rottweiler into near unemployment.
- Realizing the breed was on the brink of extinction, fanciers set about to revive it in 1901. Little by little the Rottweiler regained its footing, and by 1931 the AKC recognized the breed.
- In the early 1990s, the Rottweiler rose to become the second most popular breed in America. It has since fallen dramatically in popularity.
- The Rottweiler has been a target of breed specific legislation in some communities.
Rottweiler Behavior Concerns
- Makes a loyal and protective companion.
- Playful and generally good with children, but may be overly protective of them when around strangers.
- Tends to be aloof toward and even suspicious of strangers. Early socialization is essential.
- Not friendly toward strange dogs, and may not be good with small pets.
- The Rottie learns quickly, but can be stubborn. It tends to rebel against forceful methods.
- Does best with a firm owner who can combine reward-based training with good control and leadership.
- Some owners train their dogs in Schutzhund, a sport that combines obedience, tracking, and protection.
Rottweiler Suggested Exercises
- Makes a calm and alert housedog.
- Requires daily exercise in the form of a long walk, jog, or energetic games.
- The Rottweiler enjoys cold weather and may overheat easily in warm weather.
- Obedience training is essential not only for control, but for the mental exercise it provides.
Rottweiler Grooming
- Coat is short, straight, and dense. Rarely, a long coated Rottweiler occurs.
- The coat needs only occasional brushing, once every week or so, to remove dead hair.
- Shedding is average.
Suggested Rottweiler Nutritional Needs
- Rottweilers tend to stay in good weight.
- Adult dogs should be fed a balanced diet, with restricted calories if the dog starts to gain too much weight.
- Puppies should be fed a large-breed growth food, which slows their growing rate but not final size. This has been shown to decrease the incidence or severity of hip dysplasia in adults.
Did you know?
- Grapes and raisins are harmful to dogs.
- Some dog parasites are transferable to humans.
- Many common pet ailments may be detected early and prevented by visiting your veterinarian twice yearly - saving both time, money, and most importantly, ensuring the best quality of life for your dog.
Come visit us, we would love to see you!
We are here to help! Book an appointment today to continue your pet on a path to great health and wellness
Ask the Vet
Have unanswered pet health questions? Dr.Donna Spector, with 10+ years of hands-on Internal Medicine experience, is here with your answers every Friday.


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2009 Fundraiser-Turtles
Sand Dunes
Hurricane - What To Do!
Cozumel Reef Map
Jam Cruise Postive Legacy
Real Estate
About Dolphins
Mangroves - Incredible Salt Water Trees that Give Life Every Day
Cozumel is a beautiful island in the Caribbean that probably would not exist as it does today without mangroves along its shore. Mangroves are tropical, salt tolerant trees found throughout the equatorial seas and scientists are now beginning to make us fully aware of the critically important roles they play in our global eco-systems.
Mangroves Worldwide
Mangroves are found along tropical and subtropical coastlines between 25 degrees north and south of the equator. These ecosystems support many essential ecological functions, so significant losses of mangroves can and do have serious consequences.
At one time, 60-75% of the earths tropical coastline and semi-tropical regions were lined with mangrove forests, but not any longer. In the past two decades, it has been recorded that 35% of mangrove forests have been lost. These losses exceed the rate of destruction for tropical rain forests and coral reefs. This makes mangroves one of the most threatened habitats in the world.
Destruction of mangrove forests is occurring globally. The concern is that the loss of mangroves is a loss to the adjacent ocean ecosystems. Potential effects range from the damage or destruction of coral reefs to the decline of food fish populations. Mangroves are not only an ecosystem in and of themselves, but they often occur in conjunction, and have strong interactions, with coral reefs, sea grass beds, and the surrounding terrestrial areas.
Mangroves are critically important because they intercept land-derived nutrients, pollutants, and suspended matter before they have the chance to reach deeper water and other ecosystems such as coral reefs and sea-grass beds. For example, mangroves and sea grass beds filter fresh water discharges from land promoting the growth of coral reefs offshore. The high sediment loads from coastal erosion would be detrimental to coral reefs, but mangroves prevent the sediment from reaching the reefs. Usually, the fine sediment under mangroves act like a sink space for a variety of heavy (trace) metals from the seawater. In areas of the world where mangroves have been removed for development purposes, the disturbance of these underlying sink space sediment often creates problems of trace metal contamination of seawater and the total destruction of organisms living in and near the disturbed area.
Mangrove disturbance effects can be lethal to all dependent organisms given enough contaminants however, more frequently the effects are sub-lethal. This means the mangrove dependent organisms arent killed by an uprooting of mangroves but instead the exposure to disturbed contaminants result in effects such as immunosuppression, temporary illness or hormonal interference through chemical mimics, such as biocides and industrial chemicals.
Mangroves can better endure such human assaults than coral reefs, however, there is a large and essential community of decomposers and consumers resident in the mangroves, many of which migrate to the reefs as adults. These, especially juvenile forms, can be impacted or destroyed by chemical or other forms of pollution.
Life In A Mangrove Forest
Once established, roots of mangrove plants provide a habitat for oysters and other organisms which help to impede water flow, thereby enhancing the deposition of sediment in areas where it is already occurring. Mangrove forest productivity is based on the microbial breakdown of plant matter by bacteria and fungi. This decaying organic matter serves as the basis for a very elaborate food chain. Mangroves intricate root systems provide habitats for a host of invertebrates such as mussels, sponges, tunicates, hydroids and oysters, as well as the juvenile stages of many fish. So the roots themselves, the mud, the branches and the brackish water around mangroves all play host to literally thousands of different living organisms.
Regardless of species or adaptations, mangroves share important characteristics that make them the basis of marine ecosystems. The combination of protection and food gives young animals a better chance for survival than they would have in the open sea. Mangrove swamps are imporant to the environment because they act as nurseries for adjacent marine ecosystems like coral reefs. Many of the species they nurture are commercially and economically important such as shrimp and prawns.
Because they are large plants, mangroves hold the soil well, protecting the habitat and coast from erosion from storm surges, waves and weather. This is especially important in a tropical setting where violent storms are frequent. Many tropical islands like Cozumel simply would not exsist if it werent for the combination of coral reefs and mangroves protecting them from erosion caused by ocean waves and currents.
Mangroves also create great homes for a wide array of bird species. Cozumel Island off Yucatan's eastern coast is home to three bird species found nowhere else on Earth: the Cozumel Emerald, Cozumel Vireo and Cozumel Thrasher. It is also home to the Caribbean species of Western Spindalis, found nowhere else in Mexico, as well as the Smooth-billed Ani. There are a number of interesting endemic subspecies on the island as well, including Cozumel Wren, Golden Warblers, Rufus-browed Peppershrike and the Bananaquit.
Mangrove Life Cycles
Mangroves are non-homogeneous; meaning that in most cases several different species of mangroves and other vegetation co-exist. Mangroves are also highly interactive with their surroundings including the land, the sea, and the atmosphere above. Therefore, the various vegetation, tidal inundation zones, and adjacent marine and terrestrial areas should be included in the conservation of mangroves. In fact, under the correct conditions, mangroves can grow and thrive in a variety of coastal environments and only take two decades to reach the biomass of other natural forests.
In a harsh environment, mangroves have evolved a special mechanism to help their offspring survive. All mangroves have buoyant seeds suited to dispersal in water. Unlike most plants, whose seeds germinate in soil, many mangrove plants seeds germinate while still attached to the parent tree. Once germinated, the seedling grows either within the fruit or out through the fruit to form a seedling which is ready to produce its own food via photosynthesis. When the seedling is mature it drops into the water where it can then be transported great distances. Seedings can survive drought and remain dormant for weeks, months, or even over a year until they arrive in a suitable environment. Once a seedling is ready to root, it will change its density so that it is weighted toward the broad root end and they float correctly oriented in the water. In this position, it is more likely to become lodged in the mud and root. If it does not root, it can alter its density so that it floats off again in search of more favorable conditions.
Red mangroves grow above the waterline on stilt-like roots. They obtain fresh water by filtering seawater through its adapted roots, which remove the salt by reverse osmosis. Black mangroves have roots that grow in the sediment below the waterline. These mangroves aerate their roots with snorkel-like tubes which carry air from above the surface to the roots. Some of these eliminate salt through sacrificial leaves or have special salt glands in their leaves. White mangroves lack specialized adaptations. They are very saltwater tolerant but thrive high on the tideline where they dont need special root adaptations. These mangroves receive sufficient fresh water runoff to survive. Buttonwood or grey mangrove is generally found near salt water, but cannot tolerate completely waterlogged soil conditions as those occupied by the other mangrove species. It is usually found growing in association with the white mangrove forest, but may also occur in low spots within the coastal zone. Typically the red mangrove forms a fringe along the waters edge and black and white mangroves generally grow inland from the red mangrove.
The mangrove plant family is valued for its protection and stabilization of low lying coastal lands and its importance in coastal fishery food chains. Mangrove forests protect uplands from storm winds, waves, and floods. Mangroves can help prevent erosion by stabilizing shorelines with their specialized root systems. Mangroves provide protected nursery areas for fishes, crustaceans, and shellfish. The relationship between mangroves and their associated marine life cannot be overemphasized.
In summary mangroves are important to worldwide marine ecosystems because they provide:
Water filtration of nutrients and sediments
Shoreline stabilization
Fish Habitat (over 75% of commercial fish need mangrove wetlands as nursery habitat)
Bird Habitat
Animal Habitat
Carbon Dioxide Sequestration
Cozumel Mangroves in Peril
With this better understanding of how critical mangroves are to an islands health it becomes clear that Cozumel has enjoyed thousands of years of healthy mangroves. From the crystal clear sea water that surrounds it to its beautiful coral reefs, Cozumel owes a huge debt of gratitude to the mangroves yet they are in constant danger of extinction on the island.
The major threat to mangroves is human impact, including fish farming, agriculture, urbanization, and forestry. Mangroves are also taken out as the land is converted to salt flats or used industrial or urban development.
In 2007 and 2008 Cozumel has seen serious threats to this valuable resource, most notably the controversial Trump Project which would bury half the virgin east coast of Cozumel under asphalt destroying a sanctuary for turtles and migratory birds. Also the Caleta (Marina Fonatur) project in front of Paradise Reef would destroy mangroves and fill underground caverns thereby impacting the water table from which Cozumel obtains its water. These mangroves are located at the proposed entrance of the new marina. Supposedly this project at the Caleta marina has been delayed until modifications to the building plan can be put in place to avoid damaging the environment. However, environmentalists on the island are maintaining a "wait and see" vigilance over the matter.
UPDATE: March 2009 this development project got underway. Environmentalists were powerless as acre after acre of mangrove and virgin jungle were felled to make way for the mulit-million dollar marina.
Another development threat to mangroves exists at Rancho Chaká which is located in front of Palancar Reef and is the site of a planned subdivision with roads. Mangroves were devastated months before Profepa finally decided to act and close down the project so that the mangroves can be replaced. The delicate ecosystems were destroyed with power saws under the guise that they were clearing dead vegetation left in the wake of Hurricane Wilma. Experienced divers have reported the proliferation of algae and coral bleaching in the areas where mangroves have been damaged or destroyed. Hundreds of meters of mangroves have been destroyed in the Marine Park without intervention by the authorities and two new hotels are planned in the area of Nachi Cocom and San Francisco Beach.
Yet another threat for some of Cozumels mangroves is the grounded vessel Princess Maya which ran aground during Hurricane Dean. This is a very old boat used for tours, and the company which owns it has no interest in investing time and money in removing it from the border of the mouth of Laguna Ciega. Over time, swells have rotated the boat on its axis and now represents a threat to the mangroves in the area around it. It also represents an ecological danger from the fuel and lubricants leaking from the boat. The boat could spend years stranded there unless authorities apply pressure by official sanctions against the owners of the boat.
According to a study by the University of Mexico, if the state loses its mangroves all of the coastal cities will suffer even more from devastating floods and without defenses in case of a hurricane. After the recent devastating effects of tsunamis and other sea storms on world coastal regions, more research is being done to investigate the potential of mangroves ability to protect coastal regions from these storms. Little research and documentation has been done previous to the recent tsunami in the Indian Ocean so much of our current information comes from comparing areas with strong mangroves systems and those where they have been depleted. It was found during interviews of people who live where mangrove forests are strong, the trees saved them from the fury of the storms and the associated flooding events versus areas that had been converted to shrimp farms. In more than one area of the world, it has been proven that mangroves offer protection and are able to stay rooted during tropical storms and re-grow leaves shortly after.
What can you do to help conserve mangroves in Cozumel ?
Those living part time on the island can help conserve Cozumel mangroves in these ways:
Volunteer to work with local conservation organizations
Participate in the recycling and cleanup efforts of the island
Speak out against developments planned in environmentally sensitive areas
Minimize your environmental impact by following the guidelines for visitors below
Those vacationing in Cozumel for a short time can help conserve mangroves in these ways:
Make NO Wake!
If you are near a mangrove area in a boat, make sure the boat moves slowly so the boat wake will not cause erosion and undermining along the banks. It also disturbs crocodiles and other life that is harbored near the banks. Loud noise, music, loud laughing, whistling or any other noise will disturb birds and wildlife.
Use Alternative Methods to Visit
View mangroves from kayaks or canoe. From this vantage point, one can simply peer down into the mangrove waters to get an idea of these diverse systems in addition to viewing the emergent part of the ecosystem. Snorkelling among mangrove roots can be very rewarding, but it is best done without fins and with great economy of leg movement or fine bottom sediments will be disturbed. These may bring stinging hydroids, detached tentacles and other uncomfortable residues along with it, besides diminishing the visibility considerably. The fine sediments may also interfere with respiration of filter-feeding organisms.
Avoid Walking Amongst Mangroves
Walking too freqently in the perennially waterlogged soils of mangroves and other wetlands causes compaction of the mud as well as smashing any small organisms such as crabs. Soil compaction also results in excess pressure on the roots. But if walking cannot be avoided, try not to step on or damage the soft, tubular roots, which stick up out of the mud. Mangroves use these to breathe.
Don't Litter & Do Pick Up After Others.
Litter and other forms of pollution can make nutrient levels in the mangrove ecosystem too high for mangroves to prosper and may even threaten their survival. By damaging the health of mangroves, careless littering can also affect the species that depend upon the mangroves for habitat, and food... fish, prawns, and crabs, which people love to eat. These animals all depend on mangroves in some way for habitat or food.
Know your Dinner!
Because even your choice of food items may have an implication for mangroves. For example, those luxurious giant tiger prawns now featured prominently on menus in Europe and North America cost the planet many precious mangroves. Because these tiger prawns often come from intensive farming that takes place in clear-cut mangrove areas. Nearly 40% of all mangrove loss worldwide is attributed to prawn farming.
Maintaining mangroves is essentional for Cozumels future.
Thank you for doing your part to protect and conserve Cozumels mangroves.
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Zhadan A, Atroshchenko M (2012) A new species of Fauveliopsidae (Annelida) from the North Sea ZooKeys 181: 1–10
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text: Hello out there, cupcakes. If you are reading this article, there is a good chance that it's because you dyed your hair in a bathroom that does not belong to you. Now you have to erase the evidence of having gotten hair dye all over the tub, shower, counters, or sink. See full article.


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Embossed Ivory Animal Robe
Style: 1570059393
Out of Stock
Trust your animal instincts. You'll love this ultra-soft embossed robe in subtle leopard markings —and so will all the women on your list. It's like sending a warm embrace. Add a pair of our Embraceable™ ultra plush slide-on slippers.
- From our Embraceable™ collection. The softest, most luxurious in the world.™
- Cozy shawl collar.
- Generous wrap front and cuffs you can roll back.
- Pockets lined in soft satin charmeuse.
- Plush removable belt with satin charmeuse loops.
- Inside tie secures the wrap.
- Locker loop.
- Length: 37.5".
- 100% Polyester. Machine wash, cold. Imported.
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Lux Trellis Rug - Creme
- Overview
Diagonal stripes of silky cut pile add luxurious texture to our Trellis Rug. It's beautifully woven from a blend of Indian and New Zealand wool, which naturally reduces shedding.
- Handcrafted of a blend of Indian and New Zealand wools by our artisan rug makers.
- Richly textured with both cut and looped pile.
- Self bound for quality that endures.
- Yarn-dyed fiber has incredibly rich color that holds its vibrancy over time.
- Backing is made of canvas fabric with odorless synthetic latex adhesive.
- Use with our Rug Pad (sold separately).
- For more information regarding construction and care, view our Rugs Glossary.
- Imported.
- Dimensions & Care
- Woven of 100% wool.
- Self binding results in a rug that resists curling and maintains its shape.
- Wool is naturally stain-resistant, making it ideal for kids' spaces.
- Pottery Barn Kids' rugs are not treated with any flame-retardant or stain-resistant chemicals.
- For more information regarding construction and care, view our Rugs Glossary.
- 3' wide x 5' long (36" wide x 60" long)
- 5' wide x 8' long (60" wide x 96" long)
- 8' wide x 10' long (96" wide x 120" long)
- Vacuum regularly and/or shake to remove dust. For best results, use a low-power vacuum or a vacuum that does not have a beater brush.
- Keep away from excessive moisture.
- Blot spills immediately with a white cloth.
- Professional rug cleaning is recommended as needed.
- Harsh chemicals may damage or fade rug.
- Use rug protectors under heavy furniture.
- Shedding of loose fibers is normal during initial month of use.
- For indoor use only.
- Woven of 100% wool.
- Shipping & Return Info
This is a general shipping item.
View Our Shipping Information
Return Policy
At Pottery Barn Kids, we take great pride in the quality and craftsmanship of our products. Attention to design, materials, safety and construction is our priority. We carefully inspect your order prior to shipment; upon receipt, please inspect your purchase and notify us of any damage. We will arrange for a prompt replacement. If, within 7 days for Quick Ship upholstery and 30 days for all other products, you are dissatisfied for any reason, you may return your purchase for a refund of the merchandise value.
If your return for Merchandise Credit Cards is greater than $10,000, we will issue $10,000 in Merchandise Credit Cards to you that day, and then mail additional Merchandise Credit Card(s) for the amount in excess of $10,000 to you.
We cannot accept returns on monogrammed, personalized, special-order items, or on items damaged through normal wear and tear. We also cannot accept returns of final-sale items, which are identified by a price that ends in $0.99.
For returns of items purchased from your Pottery Barn Kids registry, we will gladly provide a refund or exchange for the merchandise within 90 days of your event or within 90 days of purchase, whichever date is later.
For assistance, please contact Customer Service at 800.993.4923
International Returns: Online returns are available only for items that were shipped to the United States. If you would like to return items that were shipped outside the US, please see International Returns and Exceptions.


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Signature Cotton Hipster
Style: 560000755
Out of Stock
The perfect blend of supersoft cotton and shape-retaining spandex combined with the Soma fit you love—so incredibly comfortable, you'll want one (at least) in all your favorite colors.
- Sits below the waist.
- Full back coverage.
- Soft, flat waistband.
- Breathable 100% cotton liner.
- 95% Cotton, 5% Spandex. Machine wash, cold. Imported.
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Green Bay Packers Autographed Memorabilia and Collectibles
The Green Bay Packers have historically been one of the best franchises in all of football. The Packers started the tradition of winning in the NFL as they claimed the first two Super Bowl titles in 1966 and 1967 under legendary head coach Vince Lombardi. The Packers have claimed four Super Bowl titles and nine league championships prior to the Super Bowl era, resulting in a league-record 13 championships.
The Packers were a successful franchise before his arrival, but the hiring of Vince Lombardi in 1959 resulted in the team's ascension into greatness. Under Lombardi the Packers became the team of the 1960s, winning five titles in a stretch of seven years. Lombardi led the team to wins in the first two Super Bowls while coaching future Hall of Fame quarterback Bart Starr. With this iconic picture, Green Bay fans can capture two legends, Starr and Lombardi, and keep their legacy's alive within their NFL memorabilia collection.
After Lombardi, the Packers struggled to return to glory but like any iconic franchise, the team would not stay down for long. In 1992, the Packers hired Mike Holmgren to be their next coach. One of his first decisions as a coach was to acquire Brett Favre to be the starting quarterback of the team, a move that paid off greatly. Favre, who was a perennial MVP candidate, led the Packers to the playoffs consistently and even led them to a Super Bowl XXXI victory over the New England Patriots in 1996.
The Packers prepared for Favre's retirement by drafting Aaron Rodgers in the 2005 NFL Draft. Rodgers spent three years as Favre's backup before getting a chance to lead the team in 2008. Rodgers instantly clicked on the field and the Packers embraced his ability to perform in high-pressure situations. Rodgers led the 2010 Green Bay Packers to Super Bowl XLV where they defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers and became the NFC's first No. 6 seed to win a Super Bowl. For his stellar play, Rodgers was named Super Bowl MVP. Fans and collectors can add a signed Aaron Rodgers helmet to their collection in order to obtain a classic display piece that will complement any NFL memorabilia collection.
The Green Bay Packers served as the NFL's first successful franchise, winning the first two Super Bowl titles in league history. It's easy to see why the Packers have built a national fan base and their memorabilia is collected worldwide. The Packers have been on top of the NFL world like few other teams have ever been able to duplicate. With a future Hall of Famer in Aaron Rodgers and impact players like Clay Matthews, the Packers provide collectors with a number of options as to where to turn to add depth and uniqueness to a memorabilia collection.
- Aaron Rodgers Autographed Footballs: Aaron Rodgers is among the most elite quarterbacks in the NFL and is one of the most efficient quarterbacks to ever play the game, his career 104.9 passer rating is the highest all-time among quarterbacks with a minimum of 1,500 passing attempts.. As a three-time Pro Bowler and 2011 NFL MVP, Rodgers has solidified himself as the face of the franchise for the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers led the team to a Super Bowl victory in 2010, marking the franchise's first title since 1996. Invest in Aaron Rodgers collectibles before this future Hall of Famer hangs up his cleats for the last time and items with an Aaron Rodgers autograph skyrocket in value. Fans and collectors can add this an Aaron Rodgers autographed football to their collection to honor the great quarterback and all of his achievements. Each Aaron Rodgers signed football feature the quarterback's rare signature and many honor his historic feats such as his Super Bowl XLV victory.
- Brett Favre Signed Jerseys: Favre made a name for himself during his streak of 297-consecutive games started as one of the toughest players to ever to grace the game. Brett Favre wasn't just playing in consecutive games, though; he was playing at an extremely high level. During a three year span from 1995-1997, Favre became the only player in NFL history to win three-consecutive MVP awards. No football collection is complete without a signed Brett Favre jersey to commemorate the NFL legend. Green Bay Packers fans can show their team pride with an autographed Brett Favre jersey while honoring the franchise icon. All Brett Favre autographed jerseys feature the official Packers design and many celebrate his achievements, like his three-consecutive MVP awards, with unique inscriptions to preserve such a historic moment in NFL history.
- Reggie White Autographed Helmets: Reggie White was one of the best defensive players in NFL history and left his mark while playing for the Packers. White played in the NFL for 15 years, but while he enjoyed great individual success, his lone Super Bowl triumph came as a Packer in 1996. As a 13-time Pro Bowler, White was a defensive menace who offenses planned entire game plans against. At the time of his retirement in 2000, White was the NFL's all-time sack leader with 198 career sacks, which led to the rise in demand for Reggie White memorabilia. A Reggie White autographed helmet would be a fantastic addition to any NFL memorabilia collection as is commemorate one of the game's former stars. Packers fans can show their team pride with a Reggie White signed helmet that comes in official Green Bay design and invest in sports memorabilia that will continue to rise in value.
- Eddie Lacy Signed Mini Helmets: Eddie Lacy is one of the premier young talents in the NFL today. As an intimidating running back, Lacy rushed for 1,178 yards and scored 11 touchdowns for the Green Bay Packers as a rookie. Lacy, a second-round pick out of Alabama, is a physical runner who can also flash breakaway speed to get out of the reach of defenses. An Eddie Lacy autographed mini helmet is a great way to secure a piece of memorabilia that will only increase in value as his career continues to flourish. Get your hands on these collectibles before too much hype begins to surround this Pro Bowl running back, which will make his collectibles nearly unattainable.
- Vince Lombardi Signed Photos: The legend of Vince Lombardi is still alive and well in the NFL today. Lombardi was the legendary coach of the Green Bay Packers during some of the most successful times in franchise history. Lombardi led the Packers to victory during the first two Super Bowls in NFL history, an accomplishment that would forever put his name among the all-time greats. As a head coach, Lombardi sported a 105-35 career win-loss record and was named NFL Coach of the Year twice. Lombardi's legendary impact on the game of football was so monumental that the trophy given to the Super Bowl winning team is now called the Lombardi Trophy. Die-hard Packers fans can keep Lombardi's legacy alive by adding this signed Vince Lombardi photo to your memorabilia collection.


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Cerebral_DownTime wrote:Hikohadon wrote: I thought it was Cersei and Tyrion looking all pissy after their dad just told them "You'll marry who I tell you to marry and like it!"
Well your opinion is very wrong then.
You're both wrong. Ygritte getting naked was the best part of the show.
Yeah, Boobs!!!


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Nov 15, 2012
Strategy: Writing and Enforcing an Effective Employee Security Policy
Security policies are designed to communicate all the ways in which a company protects its assets. Companies require that employees read and sign off on these policies, but they are all too often misunderstood or just ignored.
Why do companies continue to struggle with something that has been around for so long? Experts agree that policies are often confusing to the very people who are required to adhere to their tenets. Companies also often use standard compliance regulations as their security policies, leaving big holes where issues specific to their own businesses are not covered. It is also common, say experts, for a company to write a security policy once, then never (or rarely) touch it again. Again, this leaves gaping holes as new technologies and computing models come to the fore. Finally, even if a security policy has been well-developed, companies have not proved to be very good at communication or enforcement.
In this Dark Reading report, we will look at all of these challenges and more, and provide some recommendations for overcoming them. (S6141112)
Research Report


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Offer hardworking families a chance to take their first step out of poverty. Learn more.
Support World CouncilWith Amazon Smiles!
Download World Council Core Capabilities Overview
World Council of Credit Unions is the leading international trade association and development agency for credit unions. Since 1971, World Council has increased access to high quality financial services worldwide by strengthening credit unions using a well defined and thoroughly tested development model.
Member-owned and established at the grassroots, credit unions are
sustainable financial intermediaries that serve a broad base of members
from all income and wealth levels.
In addition to offering innovative technology solutions, World Council's technical assistance programs equip credit unions and other types of financial cooperatives with the tools and techniques necessary to strengthen their financial management and deliver fairly priced financial services to large numbers of poor and low-income people. Unlike many microfinance technical assistance providers that focus exclusively on credit, World Council's approach emphasizes the mobilization of member savings as the primary source of financing. This savings-based approach allows credit unions to reach great scale in financial service provision and instills a level of financial discipline that ensures long-term sustainability.
At the second-tier level, World Council builds national credit union networks that enable safe and sound institutions to reach greater efficiencies of scale, employ new technologies and provide a broader array of services and service points to members. World Council also works closely with credit union leaders, national government officials and policy makers to create appropriate and effective regulatory environments for credit unions.
World Council has a long and successful history working with multinational, bilateral and private partners to develop and strengthen member-owned credit unions and their national/regional systems around the world. World Council has implemented more than 275 long- and short-term technical assistance programs in 71 countries with funding from various donors, such as:
World Council's technical assistance methodology achieves results in a variety of operating environments, placing high priority on employing innovative technology solutions and transferring knowledge to local credit union staff.
World Council's model for strengthening credit unions and increasing access to financial services on a mass scale results in the provision of affordable, available and accessible financial services.
Instills the disciplines, efficiency and structure to keep costs low and protect member savings.
Creates the appropriate mix of financial services to mobilize savings as the core source of financing and dramatically expand outreach.
Broadens and deepens outreach by enabling credit unions to pool resources to procure new technology and create a wide network of service access points.
World Council's core capabilities are grounded in its drive to provide millions of poor and low-income people access to the array of financial services they need through credit unions, regardless of challenges posed by the surrounding environment. Most recently, World Council has proven its capabilities meet this mission in eight key areas:
World Council combines the fundamentals of financial services with new technology to help credit unions reach poor people in rural and remote areas often ignored by other financial institutions. In all cases, World Council assesses the local climate and develops an outreach strategy based on local demand and available resources.
In Bolivia, World Council helped credit unions establish profitable new branches in remote areas and worked at the sector level to bring ATM access to rural areas and advocate for a sound regulatory framework for microfinance.
In Mexico, World Council developed a successful methodology to take both group-based and individual savings and loan products to poor members in some of the most marginalized areas of the country, so that members no longer have to travel long distances to access savings and loans.
World Council worked with rural credit unions in Peru to introduce financial products tailored to the needs of small producers and vendors along value chains to help bring products to market and encourage fair commercialization.
In Afghanistan, where World Council built a credit union system from the ground up, credit unions offer members financial products and services compliant with Islamic Law.
Recognizing the critical role credit unions play in reaching the underserved, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation awarded World Council funding to establish and test an application service provider (ASP) for small credit unions in Kenya. The ASP, or data center, provides back-office software solutions to credit unions that cannot afford it on their own.
In addition to strengthening individual institutions, World Council helps credit unions band together to build national business networks that enable them to reach greater efficiencies of scale, employ new technologies and provide a broader array of services to members. In countries such as Bolivia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Rwanda, the standard-driven networks create a unified national presence for credit unions.
The technology-driven networks developed by World Council in Bolivia and Ecuador provide the architecture for centralized data storage that enables services such as liquidity pooling, reinvestment and deposit insurance among credit unions, as well as bill payment, national and international shared branching, remittance distribution, ATM networks, card services and mobile services for members.
World Council's international remittance network offers credit unions in the United States, Kenya and Latin America access to money transfer networks for originating and distributing remittances. Transactions flow through the infrastructure of established money transfer operators with which World Council has partnered. Credit unions offer the services on both the sending and receiving sides in regions with high levels of migration.
Credit unions do much more than offer more affordable options for sending money. Recognizing the potential of remittances for attracting unbanked clients as future savers and borrowers, credit unions invite both members and non-members to send and receive remittances. World Council has worked with partner credit unions in Latin America to develop remittance-linked savings and credit products.
In communities torn apart by conflict, the community-based credit union may be the only institution that people still trust because of its ability to meet their basic needs for access to finance. World Council's approach to technical assistance has proven to be adaptable and successful in conflict and post-conflict areas.
In Afghanistan and Colombia, World Council has increased credit union outreach in areas still experiencing fighting. In Sri Lanka, World Council is strengthening credit unions in areas affected by the conflict with the intent of restoring financial stability and a broader sense of security. In Macedonia and Rwanda, World Council improved credit union financial performance while bringing people of different ethnicities together to rebuild their communities through credit unions.
As trusted organizations in their communities, credit unions are effective vehicles for supporting communities at risk. In Kenya, World Council worked through credit unions on peer-to-peer training to raise awareness, share information and mitigate the spread of HIV/AIDS through prevention. Taking an integrative approach to stemming further spread of the disease, World Council provided vulnerable and affected households with labor-saving devices and offers education savings accounts for adolescents affected by the disease.
When disaster strikes, access to financial services is critical for people to rebuild their lives; credit unions provide that access. In Sri Lanka, World Council worked with local credit unions to rebuild after the 2004 tsunami. World Council also supported disaster relief and rebuilding through credit unions after Haiti's earthquake in 2010.
Experienced with both grassroots organizing and engaging in dialogue with national governments to ensure that credit unions are permitted to operate, World Council has built credit union systems from the ground up in countries like Afghanistan and Uzbekistan. Taking local customs, religious beliefs and traditional practices into account, World Council helps credit unions develop products and services tailored to the local environment to meet the needs of members and potential members. In countries where credit unions do not exist, World Council begins by building strong individual institutions and then links them together via a national business network to achieve economies of scale.
World Council works directly with credit unions and national governments to develop laws and regulations that support safe and sound credit union systems. To that end, World Council has developed a model credit union law, an international comparative analysis of credit union legislation and model regulations that are available online and by request.
World Council has worked directly with governments in countries as diverse as Ecuador, Kenya, Mexico, the Solomon Islands and Uzbekistan to provide technical assistance in legislative reform and regulatory system development. World Council also supports healthy regulatory environments by helping credit unions develop the capacity to advocate for appropriate legislation on the national level and comply with standards once established.
World Council's dual function as a development agency and trade association provide it with a unique ability to continue supporting partner credit unions in their efforts to increase access to financial services long after technical assistance programs end.
Many of World Council's technical assistance programs are carried out with credit unions and their associations that are already World Council members, while other national associations become World Council members as a result of participating in World Council development programs. Whichever the case, World Council members have continued access to new technologies, educational forums, best practices, peer networking at the global level and World Council's technical expertise.
World Council supports the exchange of knowledge and skills through networking and education at international events such as its annual World Credit Union Conference, Regulators' Roundtable and regional technical congresses.
As part of its exit strategy in development programs and as a member benefit, World Council facilitates international partnerships between developing credit union systems and U.S. state and Canadian provincial credit union leagues to encourage the direct transfer of technology, skills and experience among peers across borders.
World Council of Credit Unions Services Group (WSG) is a wholly owned subsidiary of World Council, established to strengthen national credit union systems by offering credit unions access to sophisticated financial products such as shared branching, debit/credit cards, long-term lending and remittances in countries where World Council has had or currently has development programs. WSG offices also provide fee-for-service technical assistance beyond the length of a donor-funded program. World Council currently runs WSG offices in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Kenya, Mexico and Peru.
For detailed information about program results, visit the "Financial Inclusion" section of the World Council website at www.woccu.org/financialinclusion. For information on how to fund a World Council technical assistance program, contact email@example.com.


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Insightful Cavs fans get strategy to build & compete for long run.Young,athletic guys & great picks.NEVER gonna waiver.Like Manny?! Yep!
Real strategy
1) Proclaim the Cavs just as good as Heat in angry letter following LeBron's decision
2) Write another just before season's tipoff stating "We will play to win. Every season. Every game. Every minute."
3) After winning opener against Boston, tweet Byron Scott's quote asking why everyone was so surprised b/c Cavs expected to win.
4) Following back-to-back road wins in early November, tweet that the Cavs are in first place and that you are "more excited than ever".
5) After fourth win of season on Nov. 9, tweet " Halfway to our "8 win total" the herd of 'me-too' experts had us at this year:)Team will love yur supprt & get rerun win tmr nite"
6) Find yourself at eight wins two months later, proclaim in just second tweet of 2011 that coincides with best Manny Harris has played that the youth movement strategy which only smart and insightful Cavs fans get was the plan all along.