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How to Handle Holiday Returns Without Hassle
Now it's time for disgruntled gift recipients to find out.
A Consumer Reports survey found that one in five Americans, or nearly 50 million, expected to return a Christmas gift last year. Roughly the same percentage of all adults were stuck with a bad gift the year before, though 18% donated the offending present, 15% re-gifted it and 22% either returned it or just threw it out.
That led to 9.9% of all holiday purchases being returned to retailers last year, up 9.8% from a year earlier and a scant 8.8% back in pre-recession 2007. In all, consumers brought back $46.3 billion in presents last year, a significant increase from the $39.7 billion in products they returned five years ago.
That's a small Christmas miracle, considering how much easier presents were to return half a decade ago. About 83% of retailers aren't tweaking their return policies this year, according to a National Retail Federation holiday survey, but that's only after 25% tightened restrictions in 2006 and another 17% made returns more difficult during the recession-hit 2008 holiday season. Another 7% tightened restrictions this year.
With policies changing, restocking fees increasing and the odds stacking up against consumers with returns, is there any easy way to get rid of a bad gift? With help from consumer experts, we came up with five ways to attack holiday returns and leave with the gifts you actually wanted:
Keep an eye on the calendar
As soon as you leave the store with a present, you start the countdown to its return date.
Target (TGT) , for example, has cut its return window for laptops, e-readers, tablets, cameras and camcorders from 45 days to 30 this year. Sears (SHLD) , meanwhile shortened its regular return window for many items from 90 days to 60 days and cut its extended holiday return period from 120 days across the board to 30- and 60-day categories that can be returned until Jan. 24.
Wal-Mart's (WMT) return policy is 90 days for most items, but the clock doesn't start ticking on goods bought after Nov. 1 until Dec. 26. After that, you have 15 days to return products such as computers, cameras and GPS devices and 30 days for a second-tier category that includes garden supplies, hardware and other goods. Macy's (M) has no return deadline for most goods, but customers have exactly three days to take back a piece of furniture.
This year, some retailers have put time back on the clock and made it worth a consumer's time to give return policies another look. Best Buy (BBY) extended its regular policy 60 days for some members of its Reward Zone program, while Toys R Us now offers its 45-day electronics return policy even if the package has been opened -- which not the case a year ago. The biggest change came from Amazon (AMZN) , which did away with its 30 category-specific return policies and implemented a flat Jan. 31 return deadline for most items shipped between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31.


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Politicians see governor pulling back on taxes as a good thing
MARSHALL – Weeks after rolling out a tax-heavy budget plan, Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton is pulling it back in dramatic fashion.
Public outcry, mainly from business owners in Minnesota, apparently got Dayton's attention, and the result is a massive about-face on business-to-business taxes and almost certainly the same for his proposal of a state sales tax to service transactions. Dropping the business services tax would eliminate the possibility of an advertising tax; it would also spell doom for Dayton's proposed $500-per-family property tax rebate.
A better-than-expected February budget forecast that saw the state's projected deficit shrink by more than 40 percent, along with some trepidation over the proposal from his own party, were indicators that Dayton's original proposed budget was sure to be amended to some point, but on Friday, the Democratic governor took it a step further, which is sure to please businesses owners and Republicans alike.
"It's a good starting point," said District 16 Sen. Gary Dahms, R-Redwood Falls. "We need to get that business-to-business tax out of there, and I applaud him for doing that. We still have a long ways to go on the sales tax, a lot of other things we need to look at."
District 17 Sen. Lyle Koenen, DFL-Clara City, said he's heard more feedback from people on business-to-business sales tax than any other piece in Dayton's original proposal.
"For him to reconsider that doesn't surprise me at all," said Koenen. "It's not just the issue to paying more taxes or what that might do to the business environment, but it's also that it's starting to look fairly complex, too, and there's some confusion on how it would get carried out."
Dahms said with a $600-plus million deficit, now is not the time to raise taxes, but Dayton apparently is sticking with his plan to tax the wealthiest Minnesotans by implementing a fourth bracket to the tax code, which Republicans say will hurt the business landscape in Minnesota. Dahms said not only is that tax not necessary, he sees it eventually trickling down to affect those who fall outside of that proposed bracket.
"You can say we're doing this on the wealthy, but whatever you do to the wealthy, not far down the road the middle-income folks will pay that also," he said. "We just can't have our middle income earners being taxed more than what they are today."
Koenen said the fourth-tier tax bracket proposal has a wide range of support. He doesn't see it as a "soak-the-rich" proposition.
"I think most see it as a fairness issue," he said. "They see this as a way to address an inequity and make the system more fair. And it does raise some money."
He's received mixed messages on the tax-the-wealthy idea – that it would be detrimental for people with small businesses, but from others, including business owners, who think it would be OK as long as it helps get the budget straightened out.
Dayton's proposal to raise the cigarette tax by 94 cents, Dahms said, is a double-edged sword. While it could work to deter younger people from smoking and could be the nudge current smokers need to give up the habit, he's concerned implementing that tax would be another blow to the lower and middle classes.
"It's a two-headed monster," said Dahms. "If you take a look at the people who get hurt most, it's the lower-income people; on the other hand we know very well that tobacco products have had a major impact on health care costs as people get older. If this helps deter people from smoking, it's a good thing."
Koenen was on the same page with Dahms concerning what is considered a regressive tax. He agreed a cigarette tax hike would hurt low-income people the most but said the more expensive it is to smoke the less likely it is that young people would take up the habit.

subset: commoncrawl


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A really nice review of The Food Matters Cookbook in the Courier-Journal (Louisville). Makes me very happy.
This Week's Minimalist: Almond-Apricot Granola Bars
Homemade granola bars have much more flavor than the store-bought variety, and are way better for you.
Food Matters Cookbook: Sneak Preview Recipe
Recipe from The Food Matters Cookbook. Pre-order the book today or pick up a copy when it's released on September 21st.
Lemon-Almond Florentines
Makes: About 3 dozen
Time: About 40 minutes, plus time to cool
Many Florentine recipes call for coating the cookies in melted chocolate, which I think is overkill. I really prefer the touch of lemon. Unsalted butter for greasing the pans
2 cups whole almonds
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 egg white
1/4 teaspoon salt
Grated zest and juice of 2 lemons
1. Heat the oven to 300°F. Grease 2 baking sheets with a generous smear of butter.
2. Grind the nuts in a food processor until they are just beginning to form a paste; this takes less than a minute. Transfer the nuts to a bowl and add the sugar, egg white, salt, and lemon zest. Stir, adding some lemon juice, a few drops at a time, until the mixture drops easily from a teaspoon. Save the leftover lemon juice.
3. Use the teaspoon to put dollops of the batter about 3 inches apart on the prepared sheets. Dip a fork in the reserved lemon juice and spread the batter into thin (about 1/8 inch) circles, roughly 11/2 inches in diameter. Bake, rotating the pans once or twice, until firm, golden brown on top, and slightly darkened around the edges, 15 to 20 minutes. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets, then transfer them to wire racks to let them become crisp. Store in a tightly covered container at room temperature for no more than a day or 2.
Orange-Hazelnut Florentines. Use hazelnuts instead of almonds, and orange zest and juice instead of lemon.
The Food Matters Cookbook Chronicles
The Food Matters Cookbook Has Officially Launched
Hardly seems adequate that on the official launch date of The Food Matters Cookbook – that is, today – my "media schedule" includes no more than interviews with a radio station in St. Louis (live, 11:10 Eastern, KMOX's Charlie Brennan Show, and Charlie is a pro) and a newspaper in Pittsburgh. But hey! Yesterday I talked with Paula Crossfield of Civil Eats, and appeared on LX New York. And tomorrow is Today, if you get my drift.
Food Matters Cookbook: Sneak Preview Recipe
Recipe from The Food Matters Cookbook. Pre-order the book today or pick up a copy when it's released on September 21st.
Grilled Turkey Hash with Red Wine Glaze
Makes: 4 servings
Time: About 1 hour
Potatoes and turkey are a good classic combo any time of the year, and this rich hash is a lot easier to prepare than Thanksgiving dinner. With the quick and full-flavored red wine glaze, it's more interesting too. And if it's not grilling season, you can always broil the turkey or use leftovers instead.
1 cup red wine
2 garlic cloves, crushed
3 sprigs fresh thyme, or 1 teaspoon dried
4 large all-purpose potatoes (like Yukon Gold), peeled and cut lengthwise into 1⁄2-inch slices
1 turkey thigh (about 1 pound)
1 red onion, halved
Olive oil as needed
Salt and black pepper
1 ⁄4 cup chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
1. Put the wine, garlic, and thyme in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring the mixture to a boil, then adjust the heat so that it bubbles gently. Cook until the wine is reduced to a syrup, 15 to 20 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, prepare a grill to medium-high heat and put the rack about 4 inches from the fire; keep one part of the grill fairly cool for indirect cooking.
3. Drizzle the potatoes, turkey, and onion with oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Put everything on the cool side of the grill with the turkey skin side up. Cover the grill and cook, turning the pieces once or twice, until the potatoes are tender and the turkey is no longer pink, 25 to 30 minutes. Uncover the grill and move the potatoes and onion so they stay warm but don't burn. Put the turkey over the hotter part of the fire and grill, turning occasionally, until it is browned on both sides and cooked through, 10 to 15 minutes more. (You can prepare everything up to this point a day ahead of time; just gently reheat the vegetables, turkey, and red wine glaze before assembling.)
4. Pull the turkey meat off the bone and roughly chop the potatoes and onion. Toss everything with the red wine syrup and chopped parsley. Serve hot or at room temperature.
Roasted Turkey Hash with Red Wine Glaze. Use sweet potatoes instead of Yukon Gold, and instead of preparing a grill, heat the oven to 375°F. Cut the potatoes and onion into cubes. Follow the recipe through Step 1. In Step 3 put the vegetables and turkey in a large roasting pan, drizzle with the oil, and season with salt and pepper. Roast, turning occasionally, until the turkey and vegetables are browned and cooked through, 45 to 50 minutes. Pick up the recipe again at Step 4.
The Food Matters Cookbook Chronicles
I wake up and start the week with a lovely little review of Food Matters Cookbook on The Daily Beast: "Mark Bittman Will Teach You How to Eat" (you have to scroll to number 12), and then read a fascinating piece by George Monbiot (a personal hero, everyone should read this guy), in which he reviews a book called Meat: A Benign Extravagance (you have to scroll down past "Roundwood Timber Framing, no kidding). More on this as soon as I see the book.
Appearing live today on LX New York (which I'm sure you all watch routinely) at 5:40, and yes that is p.m. Looking forward to dinner tonight too, at a venue to be revealed tomorrow.
The Food Matters Cookbook Is Almost Here
I've been eating like Food Matters – the title of The Food Matters Cookbook's predecessor – for more than three years. During that period I've met scores of people – and heard about hundreds of others – who've either come to similar diets on their own (it's not that complicated, after all) or read Food Matters and been inspired by it to change their diets.
The result of my own and just about everyone else's experiences (as well as most of the research studies that have been published in recent years), have confirmed the conclusion I reached in the first place: If you swap the basic proportions in your diet—increasing unprocessed fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and whole grains—you'll wind up losing weight and improving your overall health while also improving more difficult-to-measure situations like global warming, the environment in general, and animal welfare.
By some calculations, at least 80 percent of the calories most Americans eat come from food that is either animal based or highly processed. That leaves less than 20 percent that come from what we used to call natural or whole foods –meaning fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes. We consume 200 pounds of meat per year (that's about 8 ounces a day, twice the global average), 237 pounds of dairy, and 32 pounds of eggs. That's more than 469 pounds of animal products per capita, over a pound a day.
Sunday Supper: Braised Tofu with Eggplant and Shitakes
A different kind of braising for a lazy Sunday evening. Recipe adapted from How to Cook Everything Vegetarian.
Braised Tofu with Eggplant and Shiitakes
Makes: 4 servings
Time: 30 minutes
A more-or-less traditional Sichuan preparation, creamy and delicious with soft-cooked eggplant, made crisp by the addition of sautéed shiitakes. Substitute green beans for the eggplant if you like.
1 /4cup peanut oil or neutral oil, like grapeseed or corn
1 cup sliced shiitake caps (reserve stems for stock or discard)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
1 tablespoon peeled and minced fresh ginger (optional)
11/2 pounds eggplant, trimmed, cut into 11/2-inch chunks
1 tablespoon Chile Paste (optional)
1 /2 cup vegetable stock or water
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 pound tofu, blotted dry and cut into 3/4-inch cubes
1 tablespoon dark sesame oil for garnish (optional)
Chopped fresh cilantro leaves for garnish (optional)
1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds for garnish (optional)
2 tablespoons minced scallion for garnish (optional)
1. Put half the oil in a deep skillet or shallow saucepan over medium-high heat. When hot, add the shiitakes and some salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms are crisp, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside.
2. Add the remaining oil and, a few seconds later, the garlic and the ginger if you're using it. As soon as it sizzles, add the eggplant. Cook, stirring every minute or so, until the eggplant browns, 5 to 10 minutes. Add the chile paste if you're using it, along with the stock. Stir, scraping the bottom of the pan if necessary to release any stuck bits of eggplant. Cook until the eggplant is really tender, 10 to 15 minutes more, adding a little more liquid if necessary (unlikely, but not impossible).
3. Stir in the soy sauce and tofu and cook, stirring occasionally, until the tofu is heated through, about 5 minutes; stir in the reserved shiitakes and turn off the heat. Taste and adjust the seasoning, then garnish as you like and serve.
Food Matters Cookbook: Sneak Preview Recipe
Recipe from The Food Matters Cookbook. Pre-order the book today or pick up a copy when it's released on September 21st.
Plum Chicken Salad
Makes: 4 servings
Time: 30 minutes with leftover cooked chicken
Firm plums are perfect here, but chicken tastes good with almost any fruit, so if plums aren't available, try peaches, apples, pears, berries, or even tropical fruit. You can vary the nuts too (check out the variation).
About 8 ounces fresh plums, pitted and thinly sliced
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
3/4 cup chopped almonds
Salt and black pepper
1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano, or 1 teaspoon dried
1/4 cup olive oil
2 celery stalks, thinly sliced
1/2 red onion, chopped
8 ounces roasted or grilled boneless, skinless chicken, chopped or shredded (about 2 cups)
6 cups mixed greens (like mesclun), torn into bite-size pieces
1. Toss the plums with the vinegar in a large salad bowl. Cover and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes and up to 2 hours.
2. Meanwhile, put the almonds in a dry skillet over medium heat and toast, shaking the pan frequently, until they are aromatic and beginning to darken, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool.
3. Sprinkle the plums with salt and pepper and add the oregano, oil, celery, onion, and chicken; toss to combine. Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary. (The salad can be made ahead to this point and refrigerated for up to an hour.) To serve, divide the greens evenly among 4 plates and top each with some of the plum-chicken mixture, or add the greens to the salad bowl and toss everything together. Garnish with the toasted almonds.
Fig Chicken Salad. Substitute fresh figs, quartered, for the plums and use hazelnuts instead of almonds.


text: The current aids to navigation design framework needs to be updated to take into account technology advances that allow for better positioning and increased marine information. Therefore, the Coast Guard will review the national levels of service provided to the mariner by the U.S. Aids to Navigation System (USATONS). To determine the appropriate aids to navigation lay down, we must take a systematic and holistic approach that considers stakeholder input, environmental considerations, channel framework, user capabilities, training and carriage, available technology, and available resources. Please assist us by providing your input to a Seacoast Waterways Analysis Management Survey.


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Sheryl Diane Clark
SPENCER, Iowa – Services for Sheryl "Sherry" Diane Clark, 63, of Spencer will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at Faith Lutheran Church, Spencer, with Pastor Lee Laaveg officiating. Interment will be in Silver Lake Cemetery, Ayrshire, Iowa.
Sheryl finished her race and left this world to receive her heavenly reward at 3:30 p.m. in the afternoon on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013. She went home to be with her Savior and Lord Jesus Christ and her father, Bob Bowman; father-in-law, Warren Clark; foster brother, Dale Pomeroy; grandparents; and her numerous aunts and uncles.
Sherry was born in Emmetsburg on June 22, 1949, and grew up in Ayrshire. She graduated from high school in 1967, got her bachelor's degree from Buena Vista in Storm Lake, and her master's degree from UNI. She worked 39 years for Spencer High School as a business, typing, shorthand, computer and careers teacher. In retirement, she volunteered with Atlas of Spencer, and at her church. Sherry enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, shopping, watching sports and volunteering.
She is survived by her husband, Larry; her mother, Marilyn Bowman; her sister, Gayle (Steve); her children, Ryan (Katherine), Ashley Smith (Ryan), Whitney Smith (Josh) and Blake; her seven grandchildren, Hope, Anastasia, Josiah, Joshua, Jordyn, Elijah and Jayda.
She already is dearly missed and her family awaits the Heavenly reunion promised to all who have had their sins washed away by the blood of Jesus.


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Meet the new-look team at UBS's investment bank
Andrea Orcel today unveiled his leadership team for the revamped investment bank at UBS, a restructure that will see David Soanes take on the top role in Europe and Simon Warshaw step down from the unit's executive committee to focus on clients.
Orcel, chief executive of UBS's investment bank, sent out a memo to staff this morning detailing the management line-up for the division's two new principle divisions: corporate client solutions and investor client services.
Corporate client solutions, or CCS, will be made up of coverage, advisory, capital market solutions and financing solutions for corporate, financial institutions and sponsor clients, according to the memo, and will for the most part be organised by region.
Investor client services will include all trading and post-trade services, and will be made up of equities, foreign exchange – which will include precious metals – and rates and credit.
Two of the most critical moves concern Soanes and Warshaw, but the bank has also appointed a new chief of staff, a role that has typically carried considerable weight at UBS, with Beatríz Martín Jiménez starting at the firm today. She previously worked in fixed income at Morgan Stanley.
Here, Financial News profiles the bankers at the heart of the new business.
• David Soanes, head of CCS in Europe, the Middle East and Africa Soanes is a UBS lifer, having joined the debt capital markets business at what was then SBC in 1991 after studying at Cambridge. Since then he has risen swiftly through the ranks. He has in the past been head of debt capital markets for financial institutions in Europe, and led both FIG and global markets in Emea. His promotion to head of CCS in that region is his second prominent promotion in a little over 18 months, having been named global head of capital markets in March last year.
• Steve Cummings, head of CCS in Americas Cummings is a more recent addition to UBS's ranks, having joined the bank last year as chairman of Americas investment banking. He had previously been head of corporate and investment banking at Wachovia since 1998, leaving in early 2009 when he elected not to join Wells Fargo, which acquired Wachovia. He began his career in 1979 in New York, working in corporate finance at broker Kidder Peabody. He joined Bowles Hollowell in 1984 and was elected chairman and chief executive officer in 1993. He is a graduate of Colby College and has an MBA from Columbia University.
• Matthew Grounds, head of CCS in Asia Pacific Grounds, considered one of Australia's top investment bankers, was named joint global head of investment banking in 2011 alongside Simon Warshaw. Since joining UBS from Schroders in 1994, Grounds has worked on many of the largest deals in his home country, including the mergers of miners BHP and Billiton, Westpac and St George bank, and the Australian Stock Exchange's proposed tie-up with the Singapore Stock Exchange.
• Simon Warshaw Warshaw, who was most recently global head of investment banking with Grounds, will step down from the investment bank executive committee to take on a role focusing full time on clients, reporting into Orcel. He will, according to the memo, "work on certain initiatives focused on further development of the Emea Corporate Client Solutions business".
• Rajeev Misra, global head of financing solutions Financing solutions will be led globally by Misra, according to the memo, an exception to the regional leadership resulting from "the importance of risk [management]". Misra was global co-head of fixed income, currencies and commodities until last week's revamp. He joined UBS in 2009 after more than 10 years at Deutsche Bank. His co-head of FICC, Roberto Hoornweg, left the bank last week. Misra first moved to the US from India on a scholarship to study mechanical engineering and spent two summers designing satellites for Nasa before entering finance.
• Mike Stewart, global head of equities
Stewart joined UBS in July 2011 as global co-head of equities based in New York, but found himself as sole head just a few months later after the departures of Francois Gouws and Yassine Bouhara in the wake of the Kweku Adoboli trading scandal. Stewart joined from Bank of America Merrill Lynch, where he headed equities globally. He has previously worked for Barclays Global Investors, Schwab Capital Markets and Epoch Partners.
• Chris Vogelgesang and George Athanasopoulos, global co-heads of foreign exchange and precious metals Vogelgesang and Athanasopoulos will continue in their roles leading foreign exchange and will take on additional responsibility for precious metals. The two were appointed co-heads in March 2011, following the departure of Arie Adler. Both, like Stewart, previously worked at Merrill Lynch. Vogelgesang has been with UBS since 2009, having earlier spent more than a decade at the US bank before taking a three-year break from the industry to focus on a real estate development project in Turkey. Athanasopoulos joined a year later, having previously been with Barclays and before that, Merrill Lynch.
• Chris Murphy, global head of rates and credit Murphy joined UBS in 2009 as global head of rate derivatives and swaps trading, having previously spent 14 years at Morgan Stanley, where roles included head of European rates trading. At the time, he had reported into Roberto Hoornweg at the Morgan Stanley. Hoornweg later joined UBS and last week left as part of the reshuffle.
• Beatríz Martín Jiménez, chief of staff Jiménez starts at UBS today as chief of staff at the investment bank, a role which has historically carried considerable weight. She joins from Morgan Stanley, where she was named managing director in 2007, and was, according to a 2011 presentation, head of interest rate sales for banks.
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JEDEC, an industry-standard setting organization, has announced the publication of release 4 of the DDR3 serial presence detect (SPD) document. The updated specifications supports several new memory module types, including new versions of UDIMM, RDIMM, CDIMM and LRDIMM.
"Application specific memory modules are widening the variety of options for system designers, and the serial presence detect is a reliable and consistent way to document the features of these new modules so that system software can tune system performance," said Mian Quddus, chairman of JEDEC's JC-45 committee for dynamic random access memory (DRAM) modules.
JEDEC's JC-45 committee for memory modules developed the SPD specification in conjunction with the development of the new module types with the objective of enabling performance optimizations based on the characteristics of the DDR3 memories used on each module. SPDs are present on all JEDEC DRAM modules. Parameters such as storage capacity, speed, voltages supported, and the presence of thermal sensors allow systems to configure systems dynamically by reading the SPD on each module at initialization time.
"This release of the DDR3 SPD specification adds support for Load Reduction DIMMs used in high end computing platforms and also for 16b-SO-DIMMs and 32b-SO-DIMMs used for embedded applications such as printers," added Mr. Quddus.
Modules using the new parameters in DDR3 SPD document release 4 will be released by manufacturers in the next year.


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A brilliant assessment of where we are. (HT: American Orthodox Institute Observer).
Subject to the governor of the universe: The American experience and global religious liberty
March 1, 2011 – Most Rev. Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., Archbishop of Denver, addressed the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs at Georgetown University.
A friend once said – I think shrewdly — that if people want to understand the United States, they need to read two documents. Neither one is the Declaration of Independence. Neither one is the Constitution. In fact, neither one has anything obviously to do with politics. The first document is John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress. The second is Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Celestial Railroad.
Bunyan's book is one of history's great religious allegories. It's also deeply Christian. It embodies the Puritan, Protestant hunger for God that drove America's first colonists and shaped the roots of our country.
Hawthorne's short story, of course, is a very different piece. It's one of the great satires of American literature. A descendant of Puritans himself, Hawthorne takes Bunyan's allegory – man's difficult journey toward heaven – and retells it through the lens of American hypocrisy: our appetite for comfort, easy answers, quick fixes, material success and phony religious piety.
Bunyan and Hawthorne lived on different continents 200 years apart. But the two men did share one thing. Both men – the believer and the skeptic — lived in a world profoundly shaped by Christian thought, faith and language; the same moral space that incubated the United States. And that has implications for our discussion today.
In his World Day of Peace message earlier this year, Pope Benedict XVI voiced his concern over the worldwide prevalence of "persecution, discrimination, terrible acts of violence and religious intolerance."i In reality, we now face a global crisis in religious liberty. As a Catholic bishop, I have a natural concern that Christian minorities in Africa and Asia bear the brunt of today's religious discrimination and violence. Benedict noted this same fact in his own remarks.


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A world premiere about famly and belonging.
Westport Country Playhouse stages the world premiere of "Oblivion" by Carly Mensch, a writer for Showtime's "Weeds" and "Nurse Jackie." A touching and funny—and very modern—tale of parents, children, and the gulf that sometimes exists between them, the new play, commissioned by Playwrights Horizons and developed by Steppenwolf Theatre Company, will be directed by Mark Brokaw.
(203) 227-4177
We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of this information. However, you should always call ahead to confirm dates, times, location, and other information.


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We can reduce pressure by consuming less and by reproducing less. We all know how to consume less. Anyone concerned about our rate of reproduction can (as well as limiting their own families) support the population charities, such as IPPF, Marie Stopes International, Interact Worldwide, and there is more information on the website of Optimum Population Trust and of United Nations Population Fund
New Data Shows Humanity's Ecological Debt Compounding
At the current rate humanity is using natural resources and producing waste, by the mid-2030s we will require the resources of two planets to meet our demands, according to figures released today by Global Footprint Network. The data comes at a critical time, as the economic crisis felt around the globe has made it painstakingly clear: Debt and overspending can continue for a while but ultimately have dire consequences.
Our demand on nature, just as the economy, is reaching a critical tipping point. Two years ago, Global Footprint Network data showed humanity on track to reach the two-planet mark by 2050. Now it appears we are set to this critical threshold much earlier, at around the time children born today are entering the workforce. Meeting this level of demand is likely to be physically impossible, and would likely cause ecosystem failures that would threaten the economic underpinnings of our society.
"Continued ecological deficit spending will have severe economic consequences," said Dr. Mathis Wackernagel, executive director of Global Footprint Network. "Resource limitations and ecosystem collapses would cause food and energy costs to skyrocket, while the value of long-term investments would plummet."
The information is part of comprehensive new data from Global Footprint Network exploring the changing state of human pressure on the planet and how it compares across 200 nations. A summary of the findings are presented in the Living Planet Report 2008, produced with WWF and the Zoological Society of London. Complete country-by-country graphs, data tables, sources and methodology are available in The Ecological Footprint Atlas 2008.
Living Beyond our Means
The Living Planet Report 2008 reports that in 2005, humanity's Ecological Footprint was 31 per cent larger than the planet's capacity to produce these resources. This ecological 'overshoot' means that it now takes about one year and three months for the Earth to regenerate what we use in a single year. Overshoot has increased by 5 per cent since the last Living Planet Report, which was based on 2001 data. The carbon dioxide Footprint, which accounts for the use of fossil fuels, is almost half the total global Footprint, and is its fastest growing component, increasing more than eleven fold from 1961 to 2005."Humanity is living off its ecological credit card," said Dr. Wackernagel. "While this can be done for a short while, overshoot ultimately leads to liquidation of the planet's ecological assets, and the depletion of resources, such as the forests, oceans and agricultural land upon which our economy depends."
How Countries Compare
Three quarters of the human population today live in countries that are "ecological debtors," demanding more biocapacity than they have within their borders.
Comparing Ecological Footprints across countries and cultures offers some revealing insights. The average person's Ecological Footprint in the United States is 9.4 global hectares (23.3 acres) – the equivalent of about 10 soccer fields. The country with the largest Footprint per capita, slightly surpassing the U.S., is the United Arab Emirates, with a per-capita Footprint of 9.5 global hectares (23.4 acres). The average per capita footprint among European Union countries is 4.7 global hectares, exactly half that of the average American. But it is still well above the 2.1 global hectares Global Footprint Network calculates to be available per person.
Conversely, Haiti, Afghanistan and Malawi are the countries with the smallest Ecological Footprints, under 0.5 global hectares (1¼ acres) and, in most cases, too small to meet basic requirements for food, shelter, infrastructure and sanitation. In many poor, low-Footprint countries, increasing population is contributing to high overall resource consumption, posing clear risks to those countries' ability to pull their citizens out of poverty.
China is now on parity with the U.S. in terms of its pressure on the world's resources. China and the U.S. each require 21 percent of global biocapacity – together almost half of all human demand on nature's services. China's resource use is rising at a much faster rate due to population growth, suggesting it will soon surpass the U.S. in total consumption, although the U.S. remains much higher per person.
Balancing Our Budget with Nature
The effects of ecological overshoot are already being keenly felt in a way that is beginning to cause economic shifts. Climate change, deforestation, water and food shortages are all results of our ecological overspending.
But despite these challenges, there are key opportunities to reverse these trends: creating resource-efficient cities and infrastructure, fostering best-practice green technology and innovation, and making resource limits central to decision making – of which ecological accounting plays a crucial role. In just three years, Global Footprint Network has initiated projects in 23 nations, including Switzerland, Japan, Belgium, and France to evaluate the ecological bottom line. And the government of the country with the largest per capita Footprint, the United Arab Emirates, has launched a national initiative to understand and reduce its resource consumption.
"As we look toward an increasingly resource constrained future," Wackernagel said, "the societies that fare the best will be those that invest in the green economy – like renewable energy and compact urban development. Investing in women is another strategy to slow down or even reverse population growth while increasing the health and educational outcome of our children. Such efforts can not only help the nations that adopt them, but can begin the pivotal process of reducing our global Footprint and securing human well-being and the natural resources on which this depends."
Download the Living Planet Report 2008
Download The Ecological Footprint Atlas 2008
Ecological Limits, Footprint for Government, Footprint Standards, Human Development
I think Global Warming is a myth!
Hi, is not Prince Philipp still at the head of the WWF?
If yes, please be so kind and confirm this to me.
Thanks a lot
Abu Salem


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Power Authority Appoints Regional Manager for Western New York, Niagara Project
December 15, 2003
The New York Power Authority has announced the appointment of Randy D. Crissman as Regional Manager for Western New York and the top local official at its Niagara Power Project in Lewiston.
He succeeds Ronald W. Ciamaga, who retired. The appointment is effective Jan. 5, 2004.
Crissman's appointment, and that of Allen D. Schriver, were announced by Robert A. Hiney, executive vice president of project operations.
Schriver will succeed Crissman as Regional Manager for Northern New York. He will be based at the St. Lawrence-Franklin D. Roosevelt Power Project in Massena.
"Randy Crissman and Allen Schriver provide a wealth of knowledge about our hydroelectric plants and enormous experience in all aspects of their operations," said Hiney. "They have been deeply involved with ongoing life extension and modernization programs at both projects."
The Power Authority is investing about $500 million in upgrading and modernizing the two facilities.
Crissman returns to Niagara Falls after 2 ½ years as the Power Authority's Regional Manager for Northern New York.
He joined the Power Authority staff in 1986 as a senior hydraulic engineer, residing at the Niagara Project and reporting to the Power Authority's Energy Control Center in Marcy, NY. He was promoted to general maintenance superintendent at the Niagara Project in March 1999. Prior to that he served one year as a senior engineer in the Power Generation Engineering Division located in White Plains, while still residing at the Niagara Project. He was project manager for the design and construction of the icebreaker William H. Latham, and also manager of a multi-year evaluation of measures for reducing ice jamming in the upper Niagara River, a project that resulted in a new design for an ice boom at the entrance to the river.
He has served as the Power Authority's representative on the working committee of the International Niagara Board of Control and has coordinated NYPA's responsibilities with Ontario Power Generation for the maintenance of jointly operated facilities on the Niagara River and the St. Lawrence River.
Crissman earned B.S. and M.S. degrees in civil engineering and also an M.B.A. from the State University of New York in Buffalo.
He and his wife Karen, an interior designer, are the parents of two adult daughters, Erin and Lindsey.


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The Thermoskin Arthritic Gloves are anatomically shaped and secured with a velcro fastening. They provide warmth and even compression. A velcro closure allows for added comfort and fit and the outer layer is textured to provide additional grip. Sold in pairs.
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Apple Poised to Move Higher as Wall Street Takes Notice
NEW YORK ( TheStreet) -- There may be a few winners under the Christmas tree this year and it looks as if Apple (AAPL) might be one of them. Wall Street is starting to take notice.
A couple of Wall Street analysts recently released research notes saying that Apple is poised to move higher, particularly as the holiday shopping season continues in full force. The iPhone 5, iPad and iPad mini are seeing healthy demand and supply is improving, particularly for the iPhone 5, noted Sterne Agee's Shaw Wu. He rated Apple a buy with an $840 price target.
"From our latest supplier checks, we continue to pick up improving yields and availability on iPhone 5 and thus improving profitability," Wu penned in a research report. "In addition, we have noticed much better availability in AAPL's retail stores, online store, as well as third-party partners," he said later. He now believes Apple could sell more than the 45 million to 46 million iPhones this quarter, particularly as Apple enters China. Wu raised his iPhone unit forecast from 46.5 million this quarter to 47.3 million.
A look at Apple's Web site confirms this, as ship times have improved from two to three weeks in mid-November to just two to four business days for all models and all carriers. On the other hand, demand for the iPad mini is still outstripping supply. A look at Apple's site shows that ship times for the smaller iPad are at two weeks.
Apple iPad Mini: First Impressions
Apple recently announced that the iPhone 5 would be coming to China Dec. 14 and the new iPad and iPad mini would be coming Dec. 7.
UBS analyst Steven Milunovich said he believes Apple is poised to move higher as earnings growth moves the stock higher, helped by new products and increased gross margins.
"Although we don't expect much multiple expansion, new products still have the potential to drive earnings growth and create value by earning cost of capital," Milunovich wrote in a research note. He rated Apple buy with a $780 price target.
As Apple builds out its ecosystem of products (iPod, iPhone, iPad, Mac), users tend to remain with one brand, making it "sticky." Hedge fund manager David Einhorn noted this fact earlier this year at an investment conference, thanks in large part to iOS and iCloud, Apple's mobile operating system and cloud computing offering. Einhorn recently pared his position in Apple, but still holds a good chunk of the Cupertino, Calif.-based Apple.
The recent increase in optimism is evident elsewhere on Wall Street, as some believe Apple's recent selloff was vastly overdone. Topeka Capital Markets analyst Brian White called the selloff in Apple shares "insanely insane" given the valuation at which Apple shares were trading.


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With two weeks between games, the Bears are taking a hard look at the last two months to determine how they can improve.
There are strengths to fortify (running and special teams). There are areas that need strengthening (safety play and the passing game).
Here is one assessment of the 4-3 team with nine regular-season games remaining.


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5' Sorensen Upholstered Sofa
- No Longer Available -
Danish mid-century modern designers like Ole Wanscher often found their muse in the classical forms of Egypt, Greece and China. We've given his work new expression in our spare and elegant sofa, which has the slightly flared arms and self-possessed style of its forebears.
Show Details +
- Comfortable sanctuary for smaller sitting areas
- Built of kiln-dried hardwood
- Double-doweled frames reinforced with corner blocks
- 1 loose seat cushion/1 attached back cushion
- Includes 2 attached side pillows
- Seat cushion padded with a standard fill (polyfiber wrapped around a 4½" foam core); coordinating back and sides are all polyfiber
- Square-cut wood legs
- Graphite, charcoal and black fabrics feature a black oak drifted wood finish
- Coffee, aubergine and port fabrics feature a brown oak drifted wood finish
- All other fabrics feature a weathered oak wood finish
- Also available in leather
- Classic: 60"W x 33"D x 27"H
- Luxe: 60"W x 39"D x 27"H
- Clearance needed for delivery: 27". Learn more.
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It's the vacation of your dreams!
In 2014, we awarded three grand prize winners one night of lodging FREE at each of more than 300 Select Registry inns, bed and breakfasts, and small boutique hotels for an entire year. This opportunity can only be described as a "Vacation of a Lifetime"!


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What differentiates a flashlight Peli of the other? Here are several reasons for why we recommend you choose one when you need a flashlight Peli professional. As with our products, we can secure each of the following. Contact us for more details.
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Speaker: Maureen Panella, RN
PH Clinic Mid America Cardiovascular
Saturday, June 8, 12 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Melina's Trattoria & Lounge
940 N. York Road, Elmhurst, IL
Please limit one guest per patient. Space is limited, must RSVP to secure a spot.
RSVP by 6/5:Dianne Reed, 708-780-0404
Lunch provided by Gilead.
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Ruffle Trim Dress
Style: 570070224
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Enchanting coming and going, this soft and flowy knit dress has cascading ruffles at the neckline, a stretchy smocked waist and keyhole back. Add the Oh My Gorgeous® Cami Bra for a peek of lace.
- Double-layered bodice for soft support.
- Surplice V-neck with double row of knit ruffles is especially flattering for smaller busts.
- Smocked elastic empire waist with gathers to relax the fit over waist and hips .
- Approximate length 36.5".
- 95% Polyester, 5% Spandex. Machine wash, cold; cold. Imported.
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The Take Down Belt will compliment your MMA Training when used with the Resistance Training Cables.
More effective at building muscle, developing size, strength and power than free weights.
Training Station weighs just over one pound. The Perfect Home Gym.
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Liv Tyler
Most people recognize Liv Tyler as the beautiful elf-princess Arwen, from the blockbuster 'Lord of the Rings' movies. Considering her background, it is perhaps surprising that she should end up as a world famous actress and model.
Daughter of Aerosmith's lead singer Steven Tyler, and model and singer Bebe Buell, her stepfather was another rocker, Todd Rundgren. It's hardly surprising that her childhood was full of music: "My mom was always in bands when I was growing up and I was very excited when I got to go to her gigs. On the weekends I would watch her rehearse in friends' basements and garages. It was really fun. I always dreamed of being a singer as a child, but I started modelling at 13 and then when I was 16, I was bitten by the acting bug. I would love to make a musical one day, I dream of it."
" Liv's striking looks and assured, independent style perfectly embodies the RAW Elegance of the modern G-Star woman "
Her modelling career may have had to share top billing with her acting, but fashion has always remained important to Liv: "I love fashion. I enjoy it so much. It is a wonderful way of expressing how you are feeling at any given moment. Fashion is playful and enjoyable for me, and watching fashion shows is like going to the theatre."
It was no surprise, therefore, when G-Star approached her about becoming the face of the Spring/Summer 2010 collection, that she was interested: "I was very curious about G-Star because I love everything they do. The brand is so original, you can tell they really love what they are doing. It is brave and very raw."
The advertising campaign features Liv in a series of shots by the celebrated photographer and film director, Anton Corbijn. Liv's striking looks and assured, independent style perfectly embodies the RAW Elegance of the modern G-Star woman – tough and controlled, yet not afraid to be sensual.
The campaign's success led to Liv returning for the Fall/Winter 2010 collection shoots, with Anton Corbijn behind the camera again. "It has been such a fun collaboration so far. When I am dressed in G-Star I feel a little bit tougher with a slightly masculine edge, which is so fun because I am usually so feminine!"


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Should I hold off on your first formula and wait until you have the new one together before I start making the Mack dough?
I was just wondering if there was some way I could mix this dough by hand and get the same results?I also wanted to say while watching the piemen make the pizzas, it did seem like they added more cheese than I had originally thought. I couldn't really tell how much, but it looked to be about 14 oz.
I plan on using a 24hr fermentation, cold-rise. Perhaps I should up the yeast amount to 0.3% then, instead of 0.2%?
Norma, BTW, I read in a couple of places that Mack's adds olive juice to their sauce. Maybe you should have your Mack's sauce undergo spectral analysis to see if that is true .Peter


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I have decided that Berylleb King Tea is excellent. I finally put in another order with them last week. Either they chose a very fast variation of EMS shipping, or I am incredibly lucky. After only five days the shipment is already in NY. Ironically, it had more problems going the last five miles than the first 10,000 miles. The post office didn't deliver because of the blizzard. I will have to arrange pickup tomorrow.
How many other people have ordered from them? I knew of them because of the recommendations of people on this forum, thanks.


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Botanics Skin Brightening Cleanser won't brighten skin, but it can be a good cleansing lotion for normal to very dry skin. The mineral oil doesn't rinse easily without the aid of a washcloth.
Cleansing your face is the perfect opportunity to encourage cell renewal for a brighter complexion. This gentle cream not only melts away daily grime and make up, it also contains hibiscus extract which helps to remove dead skin cells to leave a fresh radiant complexion. It's gentle formulation ensures that it doesn't over dry so is perfect for even the driest skins.
Water, Paraffinum Liquidum (Mineral Oil), PPG-15 Stearyl Ether, Sorbitan Stearate, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Propylene Glycol, Methylparaben, Sucrose Cocoate, Fragrance, Propylparaben, Sorbitol, Citric Acid, Dipropylene Glycol, BHT, Butylparaben, Ethylparaben, Isobutylparaben
Boots At-A-Glance
Originating in England, Boots is named after founder John Boot, and it already had a worldwide presence before its 2004 pilot launch in the U.S. retail market through select Target and CVS drugstore. (Note: Boots is no longer available at CVS.) Its success in these stores led to a full-scale launch in spring 2007. Boots has been part of England's cosmetic history since 1839, and now over 1,500 freestanding Boots stores dot the British landscape. Of course, history has its place, but Boots, on the basis of their longevity, believes that it offers consumers the best products full of quality ingredients and also at a value price. Although it's true that Boots' price point is lower than many drugstore lines (at least those whose products make similar claims and have the same target audience), their line consists of some impressive options, but also contains some areas that left us wanting for more.
Boots' sunscreens tend to be good, but be aware that some have SPF ratings below the benchmark SPF 30+. Although there are dozens of moisturizers available, you'll find that many are indistinguishable from one another in terms of their formulas. While there are many great options for sensitive skin among the Boots' line, there are much fewer choices for those seeking impressive anti-aging formulas due to the lack of beneficial ingredients.
Boots does feature antioxidants, peptides, and retinyl palmitate (a form of vitamin A not to be confused with pure retinol) in many of its products, but they tend to be present at less than impressive, or jar packaging compromises their benefits to skin due to light & air exposure.
You'll find some great options for cleansers, scrubs, sunless tanners, and treatments for dry, chapped lips, all at fair prices, and that's good news. (There are also quite a few impressive makeup products at surprisingly inexpensive prices.) Check our reviews for the products that shouldn't be missed (as well as the less-than-impressive options).
For more information about Boots, call (866) 752-6687 or visit www.boots.com.
Note: Boots No7 and Botanics brands (only) are sold in Canada at Shoppers Drug Mart stores. In the U.S., most of the lines can be found at Target, Walgreens, and Ulta. As of August 2015, Boots has been acquired by Walgreens.
Strengths: Inexpensive; outstanding options for sensitive skin; good sunscreens; some impressive makeup products.
Weaknesses: Occasional use of jar packaging; some formulas with limited amounts of beneficial ingredients.
The Beautypedia and Paula's Choice Research teams have one mission: To help you find the best products for your skin, whether they're from Paula's Choice or another brand. By combining efforts, we're able to share scientific research and remain committed to the highest standards based on our decades of experience objectively reviewing thousands upon thousands of skincare and makeup formularies in all price ranges.
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Prelude to treason
In February 1779 Joseph Reed, President of the Pennsylvania Executive Council, presented eight charges of misconduct against Brig. Gen. Benedict Arnold to the Continental Congress. Congress referred the charges to Gen. George Washington, who appointed a court-martial to hear the case. In January 1780 the court dismissed the most serious charges and recommended that Washington reprimand Arnold for two minor offenses. Arnold felt he had been falsely accused, and his bitterness helped lead him to his infamous betrayal of the American cause.
National Archives, Records of the Continental and Confederation Congresses


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Trump takes charge: Sworn in as nation's 45th president
EHS gymnastics now self-funded
ESCANABA – The Escanaba Area Public Schools Board of Education voted to allow the district's gymnastics program to become a self-funded sport during Monday's school board meeting.
The action was taken after the board chose to eliminate gymnastics from the district's sports program for the 2013-14 school year due to budget cuts, which had been estimated to save the district $24,833.
Gymnastics now joins hockey, baseball, and bowling as the district's fourth self-funded sport.
The board voted against a recommendation made by Escanaba Superintendent Michele Lemire to not approve self-funding gymnastics in a 5-2 vote, with only trustees Natalie Clouse and Marilyn Noble voting in support of Lemire's recommendation.
The board then voted 5-2 in support of approving gymnastics as a self-funded sport, with only Clouse and Noble opposed.
According to Lemire, the board's finance committee reviewed and discussed a proposal to self-fund the sport at its previous meeting.
"I have additionally reviewed the potential impact of allowing the self-funding of gymnastics with the committee and in my opinion, I believe the legal and financial liabilities outweigh any potential benefits," she said. "I do not recommend the board approve the self-funding of gymnastics, however, the proposal may be considered if a motion is made."
Lemire noted if the board voted to allow gymnastics as a self-funding sport, it would be overseen and supported by a gymnastics booster club which would need to gain 501C status. Seven potential booster club members have already expressed an interest.
Trustee Will Carne spoke in opposition to Lemire's recommendation.
"I feel that's discrimination," he said. "We allow three other sports to self-fund."
Trustees Noble and Clouse expressed their concerns in allowing gymnastics to be self-funding. The biggest concern discussed was that gymnastics head coach Theresa Pascoe, who primarily put forth the proposal, owns the business Triple A Gymnastics, which could be viewed as a conflict of interest.
According to Board President Jim Hermans, the self-funded sport would be kept separate from the business and would follow the same rules as the other three self-funded sports.
"I think that we should probably allow this and then evaluate it at the end of the year," he said.
Board Vice President Nicole Dewar-Braun said she believes the superintendent sometimes must recommend the safest option to the board, but then the board should make its own decision by weighing the risks and rewards.
"For me, I feel like the risk is small enough and the reward big enough that I'm willing to take that," she said.
In other business, the board:
– heard an update on the success of Escanaba's partnership with Berrien Springs Public Schools for the Escanaba Virtual Career Center. According to Center Director Danielle Wotchko, the center has 40 students enrolled, 10 of which are shared with Escanaba High School. Twenty-four classes have already been completed by students. The students taking advantage of the Escanaba Virtual Career Center include at-risk students, teen parents, students experiencing anxiety, home-schooled students, gifted students, and students who need credit recovery.
– adopted school board meeting dates for the 2013-14 fiscal year to be on the third Monday of each month, with the exception of the February meeting which has been scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 18 since that Monday falls on President's Day.
– approved Cathleen M. Niles to fill the open crossing guard position at Lemmer Elementary and Escanaba Senior High School.
– approved Jeslyn Erickson to fill the open crossing guard position at Webster Elementary and Escanaba Senior High School.
– approved substitute bus driver Jerry Pineda to fill a bus driver position for the district's new Gladstone route.
– approved a leave of absence request for a member of the Escanaba Education Association for the first semester of the 2013-14 school year.
– certified Gagnier and Dewar-Braun as delegates to the Michigan Association of School Boards and to attend the Delegate Assembly on Oct. 24 in Lansing. MASB members meet to consider, debate and adopt resolutions on issues affecting public education and Michigan's schools


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A luxurious, charming hotel with a long history of elegance, the Royal Tulip Grand Hotel Yerevan dates back to 1926 when it was constructed by the famous architect Bunatian. Having recently undergone a full renovation, the hotel now features an outstanding range of amenities and stylish rooms for the modern traveller. Explore the best of Armenian culture with a hint of Italian style in top notch surroundings, whether you're visiting for business or leisure purposes. The hotel is conveniently located in the heart of Yerevan's city centre, providing instant access to sights like the Cinema Moscow and National Art Gallery.
There are 104 comfortable rooms to choose from in the Royal Tulip Grand Hotel Yerevan, including Single Queen, Double, Double Superior, and various Suites. Newly outfitted with modern furniture, all rooms feature a flat LCD Satellite TV, air conditioning, a minibar, slippers, bathrobe, and complimentary toiletries. Suites also come equipped with a coffee and teamaker for a fresh brew at your convenience.
The Royal Tulip Grand Hotel Yerevan was constructed with your relaxation and entertainment in mind, and to this end you'll find a wide range of stylish facilities to enjoy. Enjoy world-class Italian and Armenian cuisine in Rossini Restaurant, pay a trip to the Bar Dolce Vita for a nightcap, or order from the 24-hour room service menu. Update your look before hitting the town at the hotel's hairdressing salon which also offers manicures and pedicures. Relax by the open air pool or take advantage of the modern exercise equipment in the Fitness Centre. Guests can also enjoy air conditioned, non-smoking surroundings, laundry service, and an ATM and currency exchange conveniently located within the hotel lobby.
Walk out the doors of the Royal Tulip Grand Hotel Yerevan and you'll find yourself only steps away from the city's Republic Square. The hotel's central location makes it easy to explore top sights like the National Art Gallery, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and a number of commercial destinations including banks and major international office buildings. Shuttle service is also provided to and from the Yerevan international airport for a smooth arrival and departure.


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Conflict in Chicago
Win, Chicago Can Win
Composer: Chuck Colbert
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In 1983, Harold Washington, then a U.S. Congressman representing Chicago's South Side, became Chicago's first Black mayor. He had resisted running for mayor, until he was promised a drive to register 50,000 new Black voters, and $250,000 in the bank. Jesse Jackson's Operation PUSH (People United to Serve Humanity), many other African American activists and organizations -- and soon, a larger multi-racial coalition -- began a major voter registration campaign: "Come Alive October Five" (Oct. 5 1982 was the date registration closed before the Congressional elections that preceded the mayoral primary.) The newspaper and radio campaign included a lively, and danceable, commercial with the lyrics:
Come Alive October 5, Make a Plan to Make a Move,
Come Alive, Come Live, Come Alive;
Get with the voters registration booth;
Get with it, come on, Come Alive, Come Alive
Washington's election campaign song was "Win! Chicago Can Win!" which began with "Let's All Feel Good about Chicago Again with Washington for Mayor."


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Even though Nvidia Corp.'s Fermi graphics architecture has a number of advantages over competitors, the company's flagship solution GeForce GTX 480 was too power hungry and noisy amid insignificant performance gains versus rivals. On Tuesday Nvidia unleashed its new flagship GF110 graphics processing unit (GF110) that not only brings increased performance, but also addresses power consumption and noise issues.
The Nvidia GF110 graphics chip is fully-fledged and refined version of the GF100, the first GPU in the Fermi family of products, which was released earlier this year. The GeForce GTX 580 graphics board features GF100 graphics chip with 512 stream processors, 64 texuture units (with improved FP16 filtering performance), 48 render back ends, 16 geometry/tessellation engines, 384-bit memory controller, 768KB unified L2 cache and so on. The chip itself functions at 772MHz, while its compute stream cores operate at 1544MHz. Nvidia recommends its partners to clock 1.5GB of GDDR5 memory at 4008MHz.
In order to make the GF110 faster than its predecessor, Nvidia re-architectred texture filtering units to enable two times higher FP16 filtering performance as well as implemented certain new tile formats to boost performance of Z-culling unit to improve general efficiency of the chip in complex scenes.
Furthermore, in order to trim power consumption and at the same time increase clock-speed of the GF110 versus GF100, Nvidia re-engineered numerous blocks at transistor level. In particular, Nvidia implemented lower-leakage transistors on less latency-sensitive paths, at the same time utilized higher-speed transistors on more timing sensitive circuits. In addition, certain blocks within the chip can now completely switch off when not needed, which lowers power consumption in idle mode. Finally, even the reference design of the GeForce GTX 580 sports advanced vapor-chamber-based cooling system, which allows to cool down still pretty hot chip more efficiently and thus quietly. All in all, in spite of being made using the same 40nm process technology, the GF110 is faster, cooler and quieter than the GF100.
Nvidia GeForce GTX 580 graphics card supports all the modern technologies that the industry and its developer have to offer, including acceleration of physics effects using PhysX techn in select games, Nvidia 3D Vision stereoscopic technology, SLI multi-GPU technology and so on. One thing the product missies is ability to plug more than two displays to one card, something that is still exclusive to competing products with ATI Eyefinity support.
The GeForce GTX 580 is available starting today from the leading add-in card partners, including ASL, Asustek Computer, Colorful, ECS, EVGA, Gainward, Galaxy, Gigabyte, Innovision 3D, Jetway, Leadtek, MSI, Palit, Point of View, PNY, Sparkle, Zotac and others.
The recommended price of the GeForce GTX 580 is $499.
Tags: Nvidia, Geforce, Fermi, gf110, 40nm


text: The Khaki Pilot gives the wearer the feel of an early American pilot with its classic aviator design. It features a large, easy to read dial, day and date function, and superluminova hands. The Khaki Pilot is an essential piece of form and function for any pilot. The model exists in 46 and 38mm to fit all the wrists.


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Four nights of Kneebody w/ Special Guests Jan. 26 – 29Posted by s21concerts in Concert Announcement, tags: busdriver, daedelus, kneebody, Manhattan new music project, mark guiliana, mnmp, search and restore, wayne krantz
Four nights: January 26 to 29 at 8:30pm
Soutpaw, 125 5th Ave. Brooklyn, NY
Subway: 2,3,4,5,D,M,R,B,Q to Atlantic Terminal
January 26: w/ Wayne Krantz » tickets
January 27: w/ Busdriver » tickets
January 28: w/ Busdriver & Mark Guiliana » tickets
January 29: w/ Daedelus » tickets
$40 four day pass- Available through Ticketweb
Search & Restore and Manhattan New Music Project (MNMP) are proud to co-present a four-night residency with the Grammy-nominated ensemble Kneebody. Each night will consist of two sets featuring special guests: guitarist Wayne Krantz, indie-rapper Busdriver, drummer Mark Guiliana, and experimental music producer Daedelus.
Founded in 2001, Kneebody has built upon an impressive array of individual resumes and conservatory training to create a truly singular voice within the instrumental world. The group released an album of works by Charles Ives in 2009 last year, which received a Grammy nomination in the crossover field. During the four-night run, Kneebody will perform from their follow-up 2010 release You Can Have Your Moment (Winter & Winter).
Described by The New York Times as "a resolutely unpin-downable band," the L.A./Brooklyn based quintet can be measured as "a band that inhabits the borderland abutted by post-bop, indie-rock, and hip-hop, without seeming to give much thought to the borders." All About Jazz references their dynamic scope of "M-Base funk, post-rock futurism, Sabbath-inspired thrash, bittersweet pop and chamber-esque introspection," while trumpet player Shane Endsley affirms he "[tries] to avoid stylistic references" and that the group "has had many labels thrown at it, but none seem to fit." Whatever the case may be, come experience first hand how this ensemble is
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Dear new DSU student:
WELCOME to the Department of Biological Sciences at Delaware State University!
We look forward to helping you achieve your career goals by working with you to optimize your college experience and building a strong academic foundation for your future. During orientation we will provide you with important departmental information and learn about your career goals so that your academic schedule for the upcoming year can be established. You will be regularly advised by the CMNST Advisement Center and /or a Departmental Faculty Advisor so that your courses are adjusted to complement your career goals, and any curricula changes as you progress through the program. We regularly provide students with presentations on the exciting opportunities and resources available within Biological Sciences, on the DSU campus, and on professional opportunities external to DSU.
The Department has a commitment to providing all undergraduate students with the scientific knowledge and research opportunities that are essential components of a strong education as you prepare for a professional career. Our philosophy is to provide the opportunity and support so that each student develops integrative thinking, hands-on operational skills, and the broad-based knowledge needed for success in the global society. One of the key components of your success will be your own commitment to the academic program and we will encourage you to take full advantage of the opportunities available here at DSU from the very first day. We utilize a variety of teaching styles ranging from larger lectures in the first year to smaller class sizes with integrated laboratories in advanced courses. The common focus in all courses is to develop problem-solving and critically thinking through an understanding concepts, fact learning, and interactive discussions. Our faculty is dedicated to supporting your goals and helping you succeed.
The Department has recently upgraded its curricula into two majors – BS in Forensic Biology and a BS in Biological Sciences. The BS in Biological Sciences has three tracks:
- Health Professions (typical for Medical, Dental, professional schools)
- Biomedical Research (typical for research careers – graduate and professional schools)
- General Biology (technical jobs and includes a sub-focus to prepare for teaching high school biology)
As the faculty in Biological Sciences have continued to expand their research programs, this allows participation in research projects, the centerpiece of successful scientific careers. All students are required to do a Capstone research project, and are encouraged to become involved in research projects as early as possible to develop a strong scientific foundation. A key component of becoming an effective biologist and critical to successful preparation for a career is curricular enhancements. The Department hosts scientific seminars by outside experts, workshops on learning, a Heath Professions Advising Committee that includes career information, mentoring and tutoring.
Welcome and best regards,
Charlie Wilson, PhD
Chair, Department of Biological Sciences


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Digital Arts Engineering student, Christian Lucas, spent the summer working in the Engineering, Simulation and Animation Lab (ESAL) at Cogswell and successfully connected the NeuroSky headset to the Torque 3D game engine. Christian is set to complete his studies and earn his Bachelor of Science degree this summer.
Lucas happened to join a group of students who were touring Cogswell College as Albert Chen, Director of Cogswell's Game Program and Associate Director of ESAL, demonstrated the headset to them. This was a few days before he began working on the project and when he saw how intrigued the students were as they experimented with the headset he was even more excited to be involved in the work for NeuroSky.
"Alternative video game controls really grab people's attention especially if it stems from a novel concept," said Lucas. "The headset creates an interesting new experience and adds a surreal new complexity to software interactivity. The way it works by taking how you are thinking as input. It has the side effect of inducing you to learn to control your own thought patterns, namely how to focus and relax. Simply put, the wearer of the device learns to start using their mind as a virtual replacement to manually pressing buttons. Controls become as passive as thinking."
Chen was originally approached by NeuroSky in the company's university relations outreach. He told them about the work ESAL is doing and thought the brain control interface (BCI) technology would be an exciting avenue for our continuing research into serious application development using game engines.
"Cogswell College, and particularly the ESAL program, were a perfect fit for exploring the boundaries of new technology applications," said Tansy Brook Head of Communications for NeuroSky. "Their focus on both the artistic and technical aspects of game development gave them a unique perspective. We look forward to seeing the direction that Albert Chen and his students take in the evolution of game development."
NeuroSky is a worldwide leader in mass-market biosensor technology. Their ThinkGear technology allows the recording and processing of brainwaves that can power user-interface operations in games and medical devices. Industry partner Mattel used NeuroSky's technology to create Mindflex and Uncle Milton's Force Trainer. NeuroSky is based in San Jose.
Torque is the most licensed engine middleware in the games industry. The Torque community is now home to 150,000+ game developers and artists with additional licensees of more than 200 universities and schools for computer science and game design curricula.
For more information about ESAL, check out the new promotional video.
-Bonnie Phelps, Dean of Institutional Advancement


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Seahawks re-signed DE Michael Bennett to a four-year, $28.5 million contract, including $16 million guaranteed.
Chargers hired Gus Bradley as defensive coordinator.
Sports Illustrated's Mike Silver reports the 49ers are still pursuing Gus Bradley for their vacant defensive coordinator position.
Sammy Watkins underwent foot surgery on Friday, January 20.
Aaron Rodgers admitted to reporters that he felt under the weather on Friday.
Per ESPN Boston's Mike Reiss, Malcolm Mitchell's (knee, questionable) availability is "trending in the right direction" for Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the Steelers.
SI's Greg Bedard said he noticed Chris Hogan (thigh, questionable) had a "solid limp" in the locker room on Friday.
Updating a previous item, the Falcons listed Julio Jones (toe) as "limited" in Friday's practice.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports the Browns have reached a "stalemate" in extension talks with restricted free agent Isaiah Crowell.
Free agent Johnny Manziel says he achieved sobriety without professional assistance.
Ladarius Green (concussion, illness) returned to practice on Friday.
Coach Mike McCarthy said all three of Jordy Nelson (ribs), Davante Adams (ankle), and Geronimo Allison (hamstring) could be game-time decisions for the NFC Championship game.


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Make bath storage beautiful with our fluted mercury-glass accessories, designed to shimmer and shine as they catch and reflect light. A sparkling holiday accent, they're perfect homes for everything from soaps and perfume to brushes and jewelry.
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Drug war in the U.P.
GWINN – In an effort to reduce illegal drug use in the Upper Peninsula, a police agency is heightening awareness of growing drug problems by educating people. The Upper Peninsula Substance Enforcement Team, more widely known as UPSET, is getting the word out about the reality of drug abuse in the region.
Representatives from UPSET have been presenting PowerPoint presentations at municipal meetings, at schools, for companies, for senior citizens and anyone else who wants to be informed, said UPSET Commander Det. Lt. Tim Sholander.
"I would like to heighten awareness of drug problems such as the growing meth, heroin, and cocaine problems," he said. "I think awareness could reduce drug use in communities."
In 2011, a total of 21 methamphetamine labs were reported to UPSET in its 12-county service area. Last year, that doubled to 42 meth labs being reported to the agency, the majority of them being in Marquette County, said Sholander.
Another example of the growing drug problem, specifically for heroin, is in the northern Lower Peninsula and northern Wisconsin, he said. The city of Menominee has had a huge increase in heroin abuse, Sholander said, adding he's concerned this trend will come further north.
UPSET has been enforcing drug laws as a regional agency since 1988. It covers 12 counties in the U.P. with the exception of Chippewa, Luce, and Mackinac counties which are served by the Straits Area Narcotics Enforcement Team, also known as SANE.
"The purpose of UPSET was to basically try to enforce the drug laws and assist other agencies with major cases such as armed robberies and homicide," explained Sholander.
"UPSET helps out agencies throughout the U.P. by coming together with them to share information, pull our resources together, and provide undercover officers for other areas," he added.
The UPSET team is made up of officers from the Michigan State Police force and one officer from each of the following local agencies: Escanaba Public Safety, Delta County Sheriff Department, Marquette County Sheriff Department, Marquette City Police, and Menominee City Police.
Each member of the team is specially trained to investigate drug crimes and conduct undercover surveillance, said Sholander. Officers execute search warrants in drug busts. Fugitive sweeps – widespread arrests of criminals – are also conducted by UPSET in cooperation with local agencies.
Members of the UPSET team are also certified to clean up meth labs which can cost between $3,000 to $10,000, he said.
UPSET conducts flyovers across the Upper Peninsula in search of illegal marijuana grows, Sholander said. The team uses helicopters from the Michigan State Police and the National Guard.
With the growing drug abuse and the rising number of crimes, UPSET has been stretching its budget with its staff and resources, said Sholander who would like to have more members on the team.
"UPSET needs to have sustainable future funding to remain in the U.P.," he commented, adding the region's drug problem is only escalating as new synthetic drugs are developed like K2, Spice and Bath Salts.
UPSET's funding is allocated on a yearly basis. The agency currently has a $188,000 operating budget to fund vehicles, travel costs, the Gwinn office building, cell phones, equipment, and other expenses, said Sholander.
In addition to some state funding, the agency receives monies from grants, forfeitures, private donations, and local community contributions. Even though UPSET is considered a non-profit organization, it cannot apply for all grants, he added.
"We do need that public funding to come in so we can continue to operate… and give back to help those communities in need," said Sholander.
An annual Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant – reduced this year to $248,000 – helps reimburse local police agencies for the wages of their employees who are members of the UPSET team, he added. Byrne was a New York cop who was killed during a drug investigation.
Sholander said UPSET is looking for funding sources and accepts donations which can be mailed to P.O. Box 364, Gwinn, MI 49841.
The agency is always open to anonymous crime tips as well, he added. The tip line can be reached at (906) 346-9289. The same number can be used to arrange for public presentations on drug abuse in the region.
Sholander has been commander at UPSET since September. He replaced Det. 1st Lt. George Sailer who was promoted to the Michigan State Police District Headquarters in Marquette where he overseas criminal investigations throughout the U.P.
Sholander previously served on the Huron Undercover Team in Alpena after working four years on the governor's security detail.
– – –
Jenny Lancour, (906) 786-2021, ext. 143, email@example.com


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iHerb Customer Reviews
Savings of: $3.00 (30% off)
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Stevia, NuNaturals
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I bought these to carry around when I'm in a restaurant so I don't have to use the one in the pink or yellow packet. If it is as good as the liquid I'll be very happy.
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from BG
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This is a healthy sugar substitute. I'm glad there is finally a stevia powder that tastes similar to sugar for my cofee and my tee
Posted by Reviewer2661072 on Jul 28, 2011
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Posted by Reviewer1969671 on Aug 04, 2011
Good product. No after taste. Useful in cooking & making tea.


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CNN Can Come Alive With Chris Christie
Four years ago the President and I put aside politics during one of the most important elections of our time. We united and did what was right for America. If you elect me President of the United States, that's exactly what I'll do for the next four years..
If Time Warner (TWX) -owned CNN is smart it will rally behind not just the man and potential candidate, but the notion of Chris Christie.
The guy appeals to most Americans, Democrat or Republican. He's overweight. He says what he thinks. He's doesn't come off as elitist, but he's hardly stupid. He loves Springsteen, but he can fall back on calling himself a Republican.
Christie looks like a diehard union card-carrying plumber, but he's pretty conservative.
And, out of what was probably genuine sadness and concern for his state -- in the interest of doing his job well -- Christie put politics aside and, whether he wanted to or not, helped Barack Obama whip Mitt Romney in the election.
CNN's ratings stink. Today, Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes, speaking at a Business Insider conference provided some lame rationale for why ratings don't really matter to CNN.
Lame rationale, but brilliant move. Bewkes has a way with words. He belongs in the pantheon of top CEOs that includes Jobs, Bezos and Schultz.
There's nothing better than the occasional punkslaps Bewkes throws at Netflix (NFLX) and its CEO, Reed Hastings. He owns, in the slang sense, Netflix. Netflix is Bewkes' ... what do they say on the streets of urban America?
Bewkes threw out the line about ratings not mattering much at CNN to take pressure off of the network's new president, former Comcast (CMCSA) / General Electric (GE) -owned NBCUniversal CEO, Jeff Zucker. Give the guy and his beaten-down staff some breathing room.
I was looking at television ratings a couple weeks ago. Both News Corp's (NWSA) Fox News and MSNBC absolutely crush CNN. It's embarrassing. However, what's worse is how close CNBC comes to CNN in some dayparts and demographics.
That's not a knock on CNBC. But, bottom line, a network that serves a niche audience, relative to CNN, should not even come close ratings-wise.
It's mostly an outcome of CNN's ineptness, although CNBC has done an excellent job broadening its scope. For instance, it offered easily the best election coverage of any major network, cable or otherwise. And it delivers financial news that strikes a mass appeal accord all day long.
It's recent Rise Above campaign illustrates how CNBC gets it and CNN doesn't.


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Frances Rigoli Gatto
Frances Rigoli Gatto, 87, of 318 Colfax St., Jamestown, passed away peacefully Thursday, June 20, 2013, in WCA Hospital, surrounded by her family.
A lifelong Jamestown resident, she was born March 27, 1926, the daughter of the late Sebastiano and Maria Conti Rigoli.
Fran was best known for the subs she made in her amazingly tiny kitchen at Rigoli's Grocery, which she started in 1972. Along with her late husband Frank, they fed hungry patrons and treated the public like family through their retirement in 2003. She was also a communicant of St. James Catholic Church.
In earlier years, Fran was active in the Jamestown school system, serving as president of R.R. Rogers and Jefferson Jr. High PTA, where she was well-known for her spaghetti suppers. She was also director of the Southwestern PTA district for several years as well and was an administrator with the Girl Scouts of Western New York.
She is survived by her daughter and best friend Kathleen (Bob) Rizzuto of Jamestown; her loving and caring son, Joseph Gatto of Goldsboro, N.C.; grandchildren: Robert (Eric Loomis) Rizzuto of Springfield, Mass., Jon Erik (Kellie) Svensson of Jamestown, Hilary Maready of Wilmington, N.C., Celeste (Dean) Glover of Clayton, N.C., Christopher Gatto of Goldsboro, N.C., and Anna (Justin) Marino of Alexan-dria, Va.; great-grandchildren: Adam, Kristen, Michelle and Jordan Svensson, all of Jamestown, and Meredith and Harrison Glover, both of Clayton, N.C.; two brothers: Ross Rigoli of Jamestown, and Thomas Rigoli of California; and two sisters: Mary Lou Scherer of Wisconsin, and Josie Brian of Florida.
Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Frank Gatto, whom she married July 6, 1946, at St. James Catholic Church, and who died Dec. 2, 2006; a sister, Jenny Gagliardo; and two brothers: Anthony and James Rigoli.
A private service will be held at the convenience of the family. Visitation will not be observed.
A public celebration of her life and legacy will be announced at a future time.
In lieu of flowers and gifts, the family is request-ing memorials be made to The Frances A. Gatto Memorial Scholarship fund in care of the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, 418 Spring St., Jamestown, NY 14701.
You may light a candle in remembrance of Frances at www.lindfuneralhome.com.


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Thanks for supporting Carson
To the editor:
When you become a parent, your vision immediately fills with dreams and aspirations for your child. As you watch your children grow, you can't help but to do whatever it takes to carry them beyond each struggle and fix whatever you can along the way. Sometimes life can change completely and take you on an entirely new journey.
Our vision for our son Carson, who has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair for mobility, is to live a life without limits; to fully participate in the community, in school, and in his family. Our only wish is for him to be happy. His happiness is participating among his peers, like playing baseball. The joy Carson shows each time he zips across home plate at the Miracle Field in Mankato is beyond measure.
As he grows, having a handicap accessible vehicle will break down a huge barrier in allowing Carson to continue to participate in activities like Miracle League and so much more. We are so very fortunate to be part of a community full of great, supportive people including the four wonderfully caring ladies, Jean Geistfeld, Missy Marti, Barb Faerber and Tammy Johnson, who made up Carson's Crew and dedicated their entire summer to lead an effort to raise money to fund an adaptive vehicle for our family.
Their fundraising efforts, the help they recruited and the response received has been nothing short of amazing. We have been overwhelmed by the support and are truly blessed to be surrounded by such great friends and to call this community home.
Although it is easy to see and understand their primary goal was to raise funds, their effort and the Cruizin' for Carson Celebration event on Aug. 4 did so much more. It raised awareness about children with disabilities, taught about diversity and acceptance and allowed Carson to feel supported and included like never before.
We will never be able to thank everyone who was involved in making Cruizin' for Carson a success and for what it did for Carson's confidence. We appreciate every single gesture that was made big and small. To those who organized, volunteered, donated, attended, performed, spread the word, or simply kept us in your thoughts and prayers, we are forever grateful.
We know there are so many people who have their own struggles and are every bit as deserving of additional help and support as we are. We are humbled to have been chosen as the recipients of this incredible effort and are determined to find ways to pay it forward.
We are blessed to have Carson as a son, whose best gift is to challenge us to live each day to the fullest and stay focused on the big picture. And most importantly, to do as Carson does and wake up with a smile each and every day.
New Ulm, thank you for being such an incredible community for Carson and for all kids!
Mitch, Maria, and
Carson Lewis
New Ulm


text: Our Destinations Malawi, the warm heart of Africa invites you to come on a holiday that will afford you a life time of memories Malawi is a country in Africa, bordered by Mozambique to the south and east, Tanzania to the north, Zambia to the west. Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi), the third largest lake in Africa, runs along most of its eastern border. English is the official language, but Chichewa is more commonly spoken. Lilongwe is the capital city to Malawi. The "Warm Heart of Africa", Malawi is home to the friendliest people in Africa. It's rich lakes, woodlands, steep plateaux and charming inhabitants make for Unforgettable travels. With the lake 100 kilometers from the Capital City Lilongwe will guarantee you the best time. Lake Malawi full of fresh water and covering almost a third of the country is a paradise to those who like swimming in calm crystal clear waters and walking on the beautiful and safest beaches. Malawi is also blessed with beautiful mountains like Mulanje Mountain standing tall in the southern region of the country. From Blantyre, you only have to go 60 kilometers to get to this magnificent beauty which is surrounded by the carpet green tea plantations of Mulanje and Thyolo Districts. Come and see for yourself excellent landscapes highlands and plateaus of the Central and Northern Regions. Here are the largest of Malawi's national parks and nature reserves, home to a large variety of wildlife, and offering accommodation in charming lodges. Steep yourself in a rich blend of African cultures and colonial heritage while also benefiting the local population by supporting their tourist and visitor Driven initiatives.In the heart of the Rift Valley, Malawi's wet season runs from November to April and a dry season from May to October when the weather is cool thus enjoying a Subtropical type of climate. Malawi beckons you, urges you to take time off and come on a holiday that will afford you a lifetime of memories


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Rules of the Game Planked Art
- Overview
Send the right message to sports fans with this exclusive wall plaque. Solid wood is printed with upbeat, multicolored messages about playing fair and having fun.
- Phrases reminding kids of good sportsmanship are printed onto planked fir.
- Vertical hang only.
- D-ring mount; mounting hardware included.
- All sides are finished.
- Dimensions & Care
- Overall: 20" wide x 28" high x 1.75" thick
- Weight: 7 pounds
- Dust using a soft, dry cloth.
- To protect the finish, do not apply abrasives or household cleaners.
- 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
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