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Don't come here. Central Wisconsin has awfule, long, cold winters with an abundance of snowfall. Plan on shlveling snow at least twce per week December through March.
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Stevens Point very racist, very racist, very racis - 2/23/2016
This place is filled with rednecks and racist idiots. Even their school faculty are filled with some very racist people. I've seen some faculty turn a blind eye to kids getting discriminated at SPASH as if they wanted it purposely to happened! I'm sick of the amount of racism I see there. I'm glad I got out of that town. Don't take my word for it, live there and you will find out the amount of discrimination happening.[Comment on this Posting]
Small to Mid-sized Midwest City - 12/9/2011
Nice little town. Just big enough to have some smaller versions of chain stores (Best Buy, Lowe's, etc). Smaller local stores have a hard time surviving, with only a few exceptions.
There are a only a few larger "career" employers: UWSP, Sentry Insurance, Skyward, etc. Paper mills are closing, many other "blue collar" jobs are drying up.
Point is a college town (aforementioned UWSP) and a stop on the way to the summer & winter recreation areas of northern Wisconsin.[Comment on this Posting]
Climate - 4/25/2010
Cold, wet winters. Warm, humid summers.[Comment on this Posting]
A small college town with big city amenities - 1/31/2010
A city of 30,000 with its own symphony? A park system comprising lakes, rivers, playgrounds and safe trails connecting everything. A university with a multitude of activities including academics, public programs, dance, music, theater, athletics, natural science museum, a children's museum, adequate shopping, low unemployment and steady corporate growth, regional transportation and proximity to major cities like Milwaukee and Chicago. Affordable housing, easy access, good transportion, great schools, medical services for all ages.....that's Stevens Point and the entire community.[Comment on this Posting]
Stevens Point - 11/12/2009
good[Comment on this Posting]
Stay away from Stevens Point! - 10/21/2009
They are racist (once quoted from a faculty member of the education system themself) in Stevens Point, WI and not friendly or welcoming.
They enjoy threatening new students from out of town to a degree of expulsion for just being hispanic/african american and/or of any other nationality (other than their own) whatever that might be.
Defending themselves every day and standing up to the bullies of the school, as the children chant to the other race kids...to swim back where they came from, not realizing that their ancestors and decendants too, flew or swam here once upon a time! --- LOL!
If they only new of Christopher Columbus, who brought spanish slaves with him when he discovered America, to BUILD this country, before any one else could dare to threaten others to go back to where they from...the spanish/latinos were one of many foreigners to step foot in the US!
We all come from somewhere, just in case you failed to make your children aware of this in your schools!
*An American to me is -- ANYONE WHO IS A CITIZEN OR BECOMES A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES OR BORN HERE, OF ANY colored RACE!!!
So parents, tell your kids to do a family tree and tell them the truth of where YOU come from and what foreign nationality they REALLY are....give them the knowledge and wisdom to know and accept others. Teach them there is no such thing as WHITE/BLACK/BROWN/YELLOW. Just people of skin and bone and same color blood.
You obviously dont like yourselves which is why you teach and/or allow unfair judgement displayed by your own children. Someone obviously taught this racist way of life to you and your parents.
Life is too short to not take the time to absorb all cultures and learn from eachother and our backgrounds and what makes us ALL unique, yet the same.
Other races spend more energy defending themselves and their kids from insults and slander and dirty looks coming from your teachers and your students all year round until you run them out.
Such a shame how adults are teaching their kids to hate without fact or reason. No morals of decent humanity. Just judgement there. They are blasphemers if believing in any religion that allows anyone to judge, especially children. God does NOT judge.
Bullying is allowed and accepted here. Everyone makes it a point to pre-judge you before getting to know you. If you want your child to be a victim of bullying and perhaps become a statistic of shootings and vengeful acts towards their schoolmates and advisors, such as...(Columbine and Virgina Tech), this is it!
Stevens Point is a place where good and intellegent students from another race, are turned bad and emotionally damaged.
And I would like to add that the curriculum in the schools are way behind the times as well. I understand why the children are suffering of boredom, (getting pregnant and being left alone at home all the time) while their parents drink all day and night at the nearby pubs and talk about what child in the school they will have their kids pick on next.
I am not a racist towards anyone and never will be, but would like to express my sympathy for those who are. Walking though life with blind eyes is no way to live. But you attract into your life what you think and say to and about others. So, good luck with that one, Stevens Point.
For those who have even heard about this small town, drive around it ok and keep going.
You have a better chance of being invited for tea at Satan's Lare before being allowed to even accidentally step on someone's lawn without getting your head bit off by a neighbor.
There are only 3 highschools in this small town, so....I advise that you stay out of the city of Plover and Wisconsin Rapids as well, even though these 2 cities ARE filled with good and decent and welcoming people (nothing like Stevens Point) but only because your kids might just be forced to have no choice but to attend the 3 most unpopular schools in the nearby area.
This information comes from personal experience.
[Comment on this Posting]
It's alright. - 3/5/2009
Stevens Point is a pretty good place to be. However there isn't much to do as we're located quite a ways from Minneapolis/St. Paul, Milwaukee, or Madison. So most of people's free time here is spent in bars. Overall the people are somewhat stand-offish. It's like that in most of our state, and it comes from the long German Heritage.
However, Stevens Point is a nice little community with affordable home prices, and quaint houses with good schools. Great if you're going to be raising a family.[Comment on this Posting]
Fabulous University in Point! UWSP has a world-class College of Natural Resources, and a beautiful campus.[Comment on this Posting]
If you hate winter - 12/30/2007
Don't come here. Central Wisconsin has awfule, long, cold winters with an abundance of snowfall. Plan on shlveling snow at least twce per week December through March.[Comment on this Posting]
A great place to live and raise your family! - 4/19/2007
Stevens Point is a wonderful place to live in all aspects, but it would be even nicer if located 400 miles to the south.[Comment on this Posting]


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Competition in the pensions race begins to hot up
Picking pension provider winners from the auto-enrolment race card is going to be tricky. All agree it is a game changer to create a new market of eight million consumers over five years, but as the starting gun fired last month, forecasting who might break the tape is not straightforward.
The biggest question is how aggressive will be the role of the National Employment Savings Trust, Nest. Set up with a government loan, it was conceived as an answer to market failure, providing a low-cost option for all employers, including those the market would be reluctant to serve – smaller companies with low-paid workers.
But its rivals are now complaining it is not sticking to that remit and is pitching to big businesses, a role for which it was not created.
Adrian Boulding, pensions strategy director at Legal & General, said: "It [Nest] has gone further than it needs to fill the gaps in the marketplace." If that's true, it may indicate that its original market has shrunk as commercial companies have stepped in to service smaller firms.
As well as Now: Pensions, a new offering from Danish provider ATP, there is also the People's Pension by B&CE, which has long provided a similar product for the construction industry, and BlueSky, doing much the same for electrical contractors. All are now explicitly targeting the low-cost, no frills market.
Add to that established players like the Pensions Trust, and some of the big life companies, such as Legal & General, and the Nest market segment is looking very crowded.
Paul Murphy, director of customer development at People's Pension, reckons it is Nest that is the new competitor. He said: "We were in this space first."
It is quite a turn-up, according to the chair of the Work and Pensions Committee, Labour MP Dame Anne Begg: "When Nest was being devised, the industry said there was a whole segment of the market in which companies wouldn't be interested, but, surprise, surprise, as the game has come closer, companies have started to look at that segment."
That is part of the reason the committee suggested last March that the restrictions put on Nest when it was established should be lifted.
These currently prevent Nest from taking transfers, so existing pensions cannot be imported into it, and a cap of £4,200 on annual contributions into the scheme effectively means any business with employees earning more than £53,000 (or less if they want to contribute more than the minimum) cannot use Nest as their sole pensions provider.
Begg said: "The pensions industry is able to fish in the Nest sector, but Nest isn't able to fish in the wider pensions sector."
For now, however, the government insists EU competition laws make it unlawful to remove the restrictions on Nest and, according to Nils Johnson, co-founder of marketing intelligence firm Spence Johnson, for all the warnings from the big life insurance companies, that's unlikely to change. He said: "It's all noise. This government has already used up its political capital for pensions reform."
There is a planned review in 2017, but by then all existing employers will have picked a provider. In fact, given that consultants say it takes employers nine to 18 months to implement auto-enrolment, the window for Nest to catch profitable business is closing fast.
Rudi Smith, senior consultant at Towers Watson, said: "You would really have to be looking at lifting the restrictions in the next six months for it to have any real value in terms of being able to compete for organisations with high levels of contributions."
The result could be that Nest struggles to become self-financing if it cannot build sufficient scale by picking up some large employers.
Dr Debbie Harrison, senior visiting fellow at the Pensions Institute of Cass Business School, said: "I am agnostic about the future of Nest. There will be fierce competition between now and 2018, and it is going to struggle because of the restrictions it works under."
Helen Dean, managing director of scheme development at Nest, rejects this, insisting it is sustainable, with or without the restrictions. It is working with hundreds of firms, she said, and expects to get two to five million members by the final staging dates.
But Dean also argues that employers using Nest, and those considering it, complain the rules are causing difficulties by increasing the complexity and therefore costs to members.
Whether Nest is hamstrung or not, the industry faces a shake up not least because of the growing levels of competition, said Jamie Jenkins, head of workplace strategy at Standard Life.
Nest's low flat fee of 0.5% fees over the long term has also set a new benchmark, forcing some of the traditional players to tailor their prices in response. Boulding said he can undercut Nest's charges at the larger end. Other providers, such as Standard Life, are partnering with Nest or other low-cost providers to cater for sections of the work force – primarily the low paid – that are less profitable.
Technology will also enable fees to fall, argue some providers, while others are hoping to differentiate themselves on member communication and value-added services. Friends Life's new corporate savings platform offers employees access to other savings vehicles such as ISAs and pensions, which it says will appeal to employers looking to make their pension schemes stand out from the crowd.
But overall, with such levels of competition, only the strongest are likely to survive. Morten Nilsson, chief executive of new multi-employer pensions fund Now: Pensions, said: "There are too many providers and I expect in the next three to five years we will see a huge consolidation in the workplace market. If your business model isn't geared up for this, you are going to struggle."
-- Employers get ready for new pensions era: case studies
Auto-enrolment is a big challenge for ISS Facility Services, which provides cleaning, catering and security services. From next year, about half of its mostly low-paid 42,000 staff will be eligible for auto-enrolment.
It will be the first time the company has operated a pension scheme. Fergus O'Connell, UK group financial controller, said: "It's not standard in the industry and to be frank workers are not very interested in pension schemes even when they are offered. Most are more concerned about the pound today rather than the pounds tomorrow."
Nevertheless, he reckons inertia will keep 70% in the scheme – about 15,000 staff.
It chose Now: Pensions, for a number of reasons. First, the low fees. Second, because, while it only offers members a single investment strategy, it has a strong track record; ATP's Danish fund on which Now is based has returned an average of 9.4% a year over the past two decades. Now is also helping the company manage the burden of administration.
O'Connell said: "Nest seems to be set up to make it easy for Nest, not the employer. If we went with their solution, it was all online and if we needed to have more paper it would be an additional cost. Now offered a bit more flexibility."
Meanwhile at Fluidata, a small business near Tower Bridge in London, the online approach of Nest appealed. With about 50 young staff working in technology, administration is manageable. Finance director Nigel Sanders said: "I've always been doubtful about private pension schemes – these companies out to make a profit taking huge fees. Nest seemed to be the right choice for us. It was low admin, low fees and you know it's going to be safe."
Although Sanders admits that the new range of low-cost providers would make it a more difficult choice today, "at the time when we chose it was only Nest".
Nevertheless he is disappointed by the cap on contributions in Nest. Fluidata voluntarily pays a 6% contribution, and by the end of the year some of its staff will be close to the limit. Sanders would like to see it removed.

subset: commoncrawl


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In this tutorial i will show you how to create an Iphone 4 in 3ds Max and VRay. We will cover both parts, modeling and rendering. If you follow this tutorial well you should achieve an image like the one above. At bottom of tutorial you will find link to download sample of this tutorial in .max, .3ds, .obj formats.
Step 1: From Create, Shapes create a new Rectangle with 3 Interpolation steps, the Length of 26.2cm, the Width of 12.5cm and the Corner Radius of 2.0cm. Right click on the screen and Select Convert to, Convert to Editable Poly to convert the shape.
Step 2: In the Modify tab go to Edge selection mode and using the Cut tool create new edges like below. It"s very important that you cut from Vertex to Vertex and not from Edge to vertex or vertex to edge…
Step 3: Again, using the Cut tool make 4 new cuts from the middle vertices to the corner ones.
Step 4: Go in Polygon selection mode and press CTRL A to select all the polygons, Inset the with an amount of 0.1cm.
Step 5: Inset the Polygons again only this time change the amount to 0.08cm.
Step 6: Make another Inset only this time the amount should be 0.04cm.
Step 7: Select the polygons i"ve selected below and Inset them with an amount of 0.03cm.
Step 8: Extrude the same Polygons with an amount of -0.015cm click Apply, change the amount to -0.05cm and click OK. You can press Del to Delete them or you can leave them.
Step 9: Go in Border selection, select the Border and using the Select and Move tool hold down SHIFT and copy the border 2cm in the Y axis direction.
Step 10: In Border selection mode click on Cap to create the back of the phone.
Step 11: Like in Step 2 create new edges using the Cut tool. Also create the edges we"ve created in Step 3.
Step 12: Select the Back polygons and Inset them with an amount of 0.1cm.
Step 13: Make a Ring selection of the inner edges by selecting one and clicking on Ring. After the Connect the edges with 2 Segments and a Pinch of 90.
Step 14: Again, make a Ring selection of the edges and Connect the with 2 segments and a Pinch of 65.
Step 15: Select the Polygons you see selected below and Detach them as Clone changing the name to Frame.
Step 16: Press "H" to select from scene and select the Frame and click OK. Use this when you like to select a different object…
Step 17: From the Modifier list add a Shell modifier to the Frame with the Outer amount of 0.15cm. Convert the object to Editable Poly like we did in step 1. Doing this will Collapse your modifier to the mesh.
Step 18: Now, you will only see the Frame in my printscreens because i"ve hidden the rest of the objects. To do this simply select your object, right click on the screen an chose Hide Unselected, to Unhide them click Unhide All. Now make a loop selection of the corner edges, select one from every line and click Loop. Click on Chamfer, change the amount to 0.04cm, click Apply, change the amount to 0.005cm and click OK.
Step 19: Make a selection of the following edges and Connect them with 2 Segments, a Pinch of -73 and a Slide of 411.
Step 20: Make a Ring selection of the edges and Connect them with 1 Segments.
Step 21: Select the edges and Connect the with 1 Segment.
Step 22: Using the Cut tool create 4 new edges. Remember, use the Cut tool from Vertex to Vertex.
Step 23: Select the middle vertex and Chamfer it with an amount of 0.55cm.
Step 24: In polygon selection mode select
the polygon resulted from the chamfering of the vertex, click on the Inset box, change the amount to 0.02cm, click Apply 2 times and OK after that.
Step 25: Select the polygons and Extrude them with an amount of -0.1cm.
Step 26: Select the below edges and Chamfer them with an amount of 0.005cm.
Step 27: Since the buttons are on the other side just click on Mirror and click OK.
Step 28: Select the polygons and using the Select and Move tool move them outside 0.1cm in the X axis direction.
Step 29: Make new Cuts to create the edges you see below.
Step 30: Using the exact same method create a new button above the just created one.
Step 31: Select the edges from above the new create button and Connect them with 2 segments and a Pinch of 25.
Step 32: Inset the 2 polygons with an amount 0f 0.35cm.
Step 33: Using the Select and Scale tool scale the polygons up to 170 in Z axis direction.
Step 34: Select the edges and Connect them with 3 Segments and a Pinch of 20.
Step 35: Extrude the inner polygons with an amount of -0.1cm like below.
Step 36: Inset the same polygons with an amount of 0.02cm.
Step 37: Chamfer the selected edges with an amount of 0.005cm and 2 Segments.
Step 38: Scale down the polygons to 60 in the Y axis direction.
Step 39: Extude the Polygons with an amount of 0.1cm.<img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-1107″ src="http://www.2d3dtutorials.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/39-1024×590.jpg" alt="" width="614″ height="354″ />
Step 40: Bevel the Polygons with a Height of 0.02cm and the Outline -0.02cm.
Step 41: Chamfer the edges with an amount of 0.002cm.
Step 42: Chamfer the inside edges with an amount of 0.002cm.
Step 43: Using the Select and Move tool and the Select and Scale tool reshape the corners of the button and move it to the side.
Step 44: Chamfer the middle line with an amount of 0.4cm and 2 segments.
Step 45: Move the top polygons of the button outwards in the X axis direction for about 0.1cm.
Step 46: I"ve forgot something on the first created round buttons. Go to them select the top polygons, move them outwards and chamfer the edges with an amount of 0.005cm.
Step 47: Unhide all and select the main body of the phone. Make a ring selection of the edges and Connect them with 3 segments and a Pinch of -30.
Step 48: Again, make a ring selection of the edges and Connect them with 1 Segment and a Slide of -85.
Step 49: Move the edges down in the Z axis direction for about 1.1cm.
Step 50: Connect the edges with 1 segment.
Step 51: Make new Cuts to create edges from vertex to vertex.
Step 52: Chamfer the middle vertex with an amount of 1.35cm.
Step 53: Inset the polygon resulted from chamfering the vertex with an amount of 0.25cm, click Apply 4 times and OK after that.
Step 54: Select the middle vertices and Weld them together.
Step 55: Select the edges and chamfer them with an amount of 0.002cm.
Step 56: Select the middle vertex, check the box for Use Soft Selection, change the Falloff to 1.35cm and the Bubble to 1.0 and using the Select and Move tool move the vertex inwards in the Y axis direction
Step 57: Remove the below selected edges.
Step 58: Connect the selected edges with 1 segment and a Slide of -94.
Step 59: Connect the selected edges with 1 segment.
Step 60: First Inset the middle polygons where the speaker will be with an amount of 0.05cm and after that Bevel them with the Outline of -0.1cm and the Height of -0.1cm.
Step 61: Extrude the Polygons with an amount of -0.1cm.
Step 62: Chamfer the edges with an amount of 0.005cm.
Step 63: By now you should know how to create edges using Connect, so create the line below using Connect changing the Slide amount to move it up.
Step 64: Select the middle edges of the button and Chamfer them with an amount of 1.2cm and 2 Segments.
Step 65: Using Target Weld, weld the 3 vertices to the one about or below. To use the Target Weld tool click on it to activate it, click on the first vertex and after that click on the vertex on with you want to
Step 66: Again using Target Weld, weld the vertices like below.
Step 67: Using Connect create the below edges.
Step 68: Using Select and Scale tool or Select and Move tool reshape the corners like below.
Step 69: To create the inside of the speaker create a NGon with 6 Sides and Convert it to Editable Poly.
Step 70: First in Polygon selection mode hold down SHIFT and using the Select and Move tool Clone the polygons, position it like below and Weld the joining vertices together.
Step 71: Repeat the previous step until you have something like below.
Step 72: Select all the polygons and Inset them with a small amount to create a Border and Delete them after the Inset. The amount of your Inset depends on the size of the first created NGon, in my case will be 2.0cm since i"ve create a big NGon. I will scale the object down to fit the speaker.
Step 73: Add a Shell modifier to the object and change the Outer Amount to something that suits you. Position the object inside of the phone.
Step 74: By now you should have learned how to create the camera next to the speaker. If not, repeat all the steps of this tutorial
Step 75: To smooth down the phone you can check the box for Use Nurms Subdivision with 3 Iterations or you can add a Turbosmooth or Meshsmooth modifier. It"s your choice. Do this to the phone and to the Frame.
Step 76: To create the Camera just make a Sphere from Create, Geometry and position it inside of the camera hole.
Step 77: The button we will create right now it"s very simple like the 3th one we"ve created on the side, so you can do this by your self because by now you should have learned how.
Step 78: Also the hole for the earphones is very simple and you should know how to create it by now.
Step 79: Create the small hole next to the big one.
Step 80: For the bottom of the phone create 3 new holes like we did until now. Also create the grid inside the speakers like we did for the front one.
Step 81: The camera is also a very simple process. Create it like we did with the round buttons. I will not waste to much time on it since the back part of the phone will not be visible in the final render.
Step 82: To create the screen inset the middle polygons.
Step 83: Using Connect create new edges close to the side or move existing ones next to the side.
Step 84: Press F10 to open Render Setup or click on it in the main toolbar.Change the resolution to whatever you like and click the 3 dots, select VRay and click OK.
Step 85: To create the scene just create a Plane and extrude the edges until you have something like below.
Step 86: From Create, Light, VRay create 2 VRaylights with the position and settings like in the below image.
Step 87: Press "M" to open Material Editor, select the first slot, click on Standard, chose VRayMtl and click OK.
Step 88: Select the scene and click on Assign material to selection with the VRaymtl selected.
Step 89: Select the 2nd slot, change it to VRayMtl and change the settings of the material like below to create a metal material.
Step 90: Click and Drag the 2nd material to the 3rd slot to clone it. Change it"s name, and in the Maps rollout menu click on None next to Bump, select Bitmap and Open this Image(click to open). You can also change the Bump amount to a bigger number like 80-100.
Step 91: Select the button polygons, Assign the material to selection, click Show Standard Map in Viewport and add a UVW Map modifier. Change the mapping type to Planar or Box. When everything looks OK right click on the Modifier and select Collapse all, click on Yes or simply Convert the object to Editable Poly.
Step 92: Clone the material again, change the name only this time add this Image(click to open) in the Bump slot, assign this material to the other button.
Step 93: Create a new VRayMtl in the 4th slot only instead of 0.94 in reflection glossiness try 0.98-0.99. Apply this material to the phones polygons except the one for the screen.
Step 94: Duplicate the previous created material, rename it and add this image(click to open) in Diffuse slot.
Step 95: With the button polygons selected Assign previously created material to selection and click the Show Standard Map in Viewport. Add an UVW Map modifier. You can also uncheck the Tile boxes and change the Length and Width for the modifier to something smaller.
Step 96: Create a new VRayMtl/Glass, change the settings like below, and assign it to the screen. You can try the reflection glossiness amount of 0.99.
Step 97: With the screen polygons selected, hold down SHIFT and clone them inwards to create the Display. In Material editor create a new material, this time VRayLightMtl, change the Multiplier to 1.5 or 2.0, click on None, chose Bitmap and open one of these 2 displays: Display 1(click to open) and Display 2(click to open). Assign material to Display object.Use UVW Map modifier to position it if needed.
Step 98: For the camera create a new VRayMtl material with the settings like below. Assign it to it.
Step 99: From Create, Camera create a new Target Camera and position it like below. Also press SHIFT F to Show Safe Frame.
Step 100: Press F10 to open Render setup and change the render settings like below. As it"s not viewable in the below image also change the box for Show calc. phase in Light Cache rollout menu.
Step 101: As you can see in the below image i"ve change the phone position and now it"s facing upwards. So, to have some reflection on the screen create a new VrayLight with the settings like below. It"s very important how this light is position if you want to have nice reflections.
Step 102. If you press F9 or click it on the main toolbar you should have something like this:


text:
Here's how RW members rated this race in the past (137 votes).
In short: well organised nice steep hill to climb well worth doing Date of review: July 29, 2007
In short: A fantastic 10k on a quiet rural route.In full: A very well organised race with excellent marshalling. The hills add challenge to the course which includes both road and track surfaces. I will certainly do this race again. Date of review: April 13, 2007
In short: Well organised, friendly marshall, not enough loos, thank god for the trees & bushes behind the ski slope!!Date of review: April 10, 2007
In short: my 1st 10k. The hill was a killer! Finished eventually thanks to support and encouragement from marshals.Date of review: April 10, 2007
In short: Very Well organised race. Can You please flaten the Hill out for next year. Good Marshalls and all helpers made everyone feel welcome.Date of review: April 10, 2007
In short: Great timing aswell this time of year we can get great conditions and we were lucky. Great facilities at the norwich Ski Centre aswellDate of review: April 10, 2007
In short: Nice location, the Long hill causes a pain. I'm not a fan of the sharp turn in to finish! Toilet situation needs addressing for next year, Just one toilet Cummon!!Date of review: April 10, 2007
In short: A mildly challenging course with great spectator potential.Date of review: April 10, 2007
In short: My first (but not last) 10k. Quite a harsh introduction to the distance with having to run the hill twice. Great memento, and will be back next year to tackle it all again!Date of review: April 9, 2007
In short: Great race, excellent organisationIn full: Don't let them tell you Norfolks flat! an interesting little hill twice! Well worth the trip. Friendly marshals and a nice mementoDate of review: April 8, 2007
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Realized that I don't craft inspirational quotes as often as I would like to. There is something about reading just a simple sentence that can lift your spirits. Working with a little wooden house, found here, and thought it was a perfect place for a typed quote. Used Word and Consolas type to create this...printed on heavy cardstock. Used a few of my favorite Pink Paislee products, Papertrey Ink stamps and die cuts and topped it off with a few wired Fancy Pants felt pieces. Giving it a whimsical feel. As you know, had to create a little gift set...Used a embroidery hoop, fabric, batting, felt and fabric. The stamped "dream" comes from a Prima mini stamp set. Included both sewing machine stitching and hand stitching. Covered the back in felt, hoop with lace and added ribbon to the top. Created a card as well using the same quote and felt pieces. Used the felt stars and heart with stick pins.One card before I go about my day...Recently had the opportunity to work with Pink Persimmon's Cupcake Party Stamp Set and wanted to use the set in a slightly different way. Created a little apron and hand cut a pocket. Stitched them up, added a little heart from Epiphany Crafts, candles from Papertrey Ink's cupcake set and accented with pom-pom trim and Prairie Bird Boutique wrinkle ribbon. The pocket is from Melissa Frances and used the Button Boutique set from Papertrey Ink. Had a lot of fun creating this card. Perfect for birthday, mother's day and I am sure there are many more occasions perfect for this card. Also, a perfect card to use a bunch of scrap pieces of paper...something that is always supply!
Thursday, April 12, 2012
house of dreams...
6 comments:
- Mandy said...
More beautiful creations Andrea!
- April 12, 2012 at 8:36 AM
- Polly said...
Hola, todo esta muy lindo, pero especialmente me gusta mucho la de la tercera foto del cupcake
- April 12, 2012 at 9:07 AM
- Marlou McAlees said...
super cute!! loving all these creations Andrea :)
- April 12, 2012 at 10:31 AM
- Karey said...
I gave my mom a card last year made by Besty Veldman (for mother's day) with an apron on it. So you know I love your apron card.
- April 12, 2012 at 1:09 PM
- Dyane said...
I Looovee these!^_^ soothing colors too!^_^
- April 12, 2012 at 2:59 PM
- Lisa said...
Such delightful creations Andrea,thanks for the sweet inpsiration.
- April 12, 2012 at 6:14 PM
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Error processing SSI file
2009 Imputed Family Income/Personal Earnings Files
The missing data on family income and personal earnings in the 2009 NHIS were imputed using multiple-imputation methodology. Five ASCII data sets containing imputed values for the 2009 survey year are included in the compressed data file (INCMIMP.EXE), which can be downloaded via the Datasets link below. For analyses involving other variables in addition to family income or personal earnings, each set of imputed values can be merged with other data from the 2009 NHIS to create a single completed data set.
To increase the usability of NHIS income data, the 2009 NHIS imputed income files contain income dollar amount point estimates rather than income dollar intervals. Because respondent confidentiality must be balanced against providing more detailed information, the variables containing the dollar amounts for personal earnings and family income have been top-coded to the 95th percentile of the appropriate distribution. The 95th percentile was calculated separately for each of the 5 imputed family income/personal earnings datasets and then a weighted average of the 5 individual 95th percentile amounts was calculated. The weighted average was rounded to the nearest $1,000 and this weighted average was used to top-code all 5 supplemental imputed personal earnings and family income datasets. The same procedure was used for family income and personal earnings dollar amounts. For all observations which were top-coded, the family income or personal earnings dollar amounts were replaced with the top-coded value. Also, since the 1997 NHIS, poverty ratio intervals have been provided on the NHIS public-use data files. The poverty ratio is a ratio of the family's income to the appropriate Federal poverty threshold. In the 2009 NHIS imputed income files, the Federal poverty ratio has been calculated using top-coded family income and the final calculated poverty ratio value is rounded to 2 decimal places. Note that all top-coded point estimates contained in the 2009 NHIS Imputed Family Income/Personal Earnings files are analogous to the top-coded point estimates contained in the 1997-2008 Supplemental Imputed Family Income/Personal Earnings files. No analogue of the 1997-2008 Imputed Family Income/Personal Earnings files (with categorical income data) was produced in 2009.
Multiple imputation is a technique that allows analysts to incorporate the extra variability due to imputation into their analyses. This is accomplished by analyzing EACH OF THE FIVE completed data sets separately using methods and software that are appropriate for survey data, and then combining the estimates and standard errors using the combining rules described in Section 2.2 and Appendix A of the document available via the Technical Documentation link below. The extra variability due to imputation CANNOT be incorporated by simply analyzing a SINGLE completed data set as if the imputed values were true values. Moreover, analysts SHOULD NOT create a single completed data set using the AVERAGE of the five sets of imputed values. Examples of correct data analyses using SAS-callable SUDAAN and SAS-callable IVEware are provided in Section 4 of the document available via the Technical Documentation link below; the document also provides information on the procedures used to create the imputations.
The Dataset Documentation link below opens to a document containing both the file layout description and the frequency counts (in the last page) of the variables in the data sets containing imputed values for the 2009 survey year. Users interested in data for several years should note that to date, multiple imputation has been carried out for the 1997-2009 NHIS, and that the file layout description is identical for years 1997-2003. Since 2004, there have been several changes to the imputed income file layout:
- Beginning with 2004, the person number variable changed to FPX which is unique within each family.
- For the years 2007-2008, variables names INCGRP_F, INCGRP_I, RAT_CATF, and ERNYRG_I changed to INCGRPF2, INCGRPI2, RATCATF2, and ERNYRGI2 respectively due to questionnaire and response category changes.
- In 2009, the variables INCGRPF2, INCGRPI2, RATCATF2, RAT_CATI, and ERNYRGI2 were removed and the new variables FAMINCF2, TCINCM_F, FAMINCI2, POVRATI2, TCEARN_F, and ERNYR_I2 were added, replacing family income and personal earnings dollar amount intervals with dollar amount point estimates.
Users are also encouraged to check the NHIS website for updates and to subscribe to the NHIS Listserv to receive notices of any corrections/updates.
- Technical Documentation: Methods and Examples [PDF - 366 KB]
- Notice for Data Users – Calculation of poverty ratios using 2009 Imputed Income Files (1/2011) [PDF - 22 KB]
- Datasets [EXE - 3.1 MB]
- Dataset Documentation [PDF - 118 KB]
- Variable Summary [PDF - 19 KB]
- Sample SAS Input Program [SAS - 4 KB]
- Sample Stata Input Program [DO - 3.2KB]
Error processing SSI file
Error processing SSI file


text:
Debates of Nov. 23rd, 2005
House of Commons Hansard #156 of the 38th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was history.
- Question Period
- Aboriginal Affairs
- Veterans
- Pakistan
- Violence Against Aboriginal Women
- Canadian Islamic Congress
- Member for Saskatoon--Rosetown--Biggar
- Order of Canada
- Notre-Dame-de-la-Présentation Church
- Volunteerism
- Royal Canadian Mounted Police
- Team Saint John
- Pay Equity
- Operation Rudolph
- André Cherrier
- Sponsorship Program
- Charles V. Keating
- Air-India
- Government Contracts
- Government Policies
- Air-India
- Public Safety
- The Environment
- Canada Steamship Lines
- Immigration
- Textile and Clothing Industry
- Income Trusts
- Transportation
- Automobile Industry
- Lobbyists
- Terasen Inc.
- Employment Insurance
- The Environment
- Royal Canadian Mounted Police
- Shipbuilding Industry
- Justice
- Taxation
- Justice
- Correctional Service of Canada
- Pointe-au-Père Wharf
- Public Service
- Presence in Gallery
- Canada's Performance 2005
- Air-India
- Certificates of Nomination
- Order in Council Appointments
- Government Response to Petitions
- Canada Elections Act
- Interparliamentary Delegations
- Committees of the House
- Excise Act
- Blood Samples Act
- Parliamentary Librarian
- Ways and Means
- Petitions
- Questions on the Order Paper
- Motions for Papers
- Points of Order
- Business of the House
- Bank Act
- First Nations Commercial and Industrial Development Act
- Ways and Means
- First Nations Commercial and Industrial Development Act
- Bank Act
- Business of the House
- Controlled Drugs and Substances Act
- Old Age Security Act
- Parliament of Canada Act
- Canada Labour Code
- Message from the Senate
- Ukrainian Canadian Restitution Act
Business of the House
Routine Proceedings
4:50 p.m.
Some hon. members
(Motion agreed to)
(Bill C-71. On the Order: Government Orders)
November 22, 2005--The Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development--Consideration at report stage and second reading of Bill C-71, An Act respecting the regulation of commercial and industrial undertakings on reserve lands, as reported by the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development without amendment.
(Bill concurred in at report stage and read the second time)
(Bill C-57. On the Order: Government Orders:)
November 18, 2005--The Minister of Finance--Consideration at report stage of Bill C-57, An Act to amend certain Acts in relation to financial institutions, as reported by the Standing Committee on Finance with amendments.
(Bill concurred in at report stage)
Bank Act
Routine Proceedings
4:50 p.m.
John Williams Edmonton—St. Albert, AB
Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. In my point of order I referred to an order in council. I have it here and would like to table it in both official languages.
Bank Act
Routine Proceedings
4:50 p.m.
The Speaker
Does the hon. member have the unanimous consent of the House to table the document?
Bank Act
Routine Proceedings
4:50 p.m.
Some hon. members
First Nations Commercial and Industrial Development Act
Government Orders
November 23rd, 2005 / 4:50 p.m.
Aileen Carroll for the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians
moved that Bill C-71, An Act respecting the regulation of commercial and industrial undertakings on reserve lands, be read the third time and passed.
First Nations Commercial and Industrial Development Act
Government Orders
4:50 p.m.
Lloyd St. Amand Brant, ON
Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to rise today to speak in support of this bill, the first nations commercial and industrial development act, a logical, sensible and progressive piece of legislation with a wide range of benefits for first nations and for Canada.
I would like to discuss the benefits of the bill in some detail. The bill is intended to remove the impediments that stand in the way of major commercial and industrial projects on reserve for first nations.
The existing barriers to development on reserve come in the form of inadequate federal legislation adopted under a different set of economic circumstances. Today, as first nations pursue complex large-scale commercial and industrial development projects with enormous potential to improve their quality of life and economic prosperity, it is up to us as legislators to facilitate that development.
It is instructive to look at a concrete example of a major industrial development project which is likely to be realized under this legislation. Fort McKay First Nation in northern Alberta is developing a multi-billion dollar oil sands project in partnership with Shell Canada, but the dollars themselves generated through projects like this are not the only benefit to first nations such as Fort McKay. Increased revenue and economic growth lead to other tangible, measurable and positive outcomes.
The projects would, for example, improve the quality of life through ensuring industry-wide standards in environmental protection, public health and safety. They would also create more jobs on reserve. At the same time, such projects offer first nations unprecedented opportunity to build capacity for the future. The new jobs that are created bring along with them education, training and skills development.
All of the short term benefits that first nations citizens will enjoy from new jobs, such as higher incomes and better skills, for example, over the longer term will result in access to other opportunities that would previously have been out of reach.
For first nation communities as a whole over the longer term, revenues generated from large-scale commercial and industrial development projects can be directed to upgrading road, water and sewer infrastructure as well as building playgrounds, schools and medical centres.
It is because first nations themselves see the significant benefits that are possible under this legislation that five partnering first nations have been front and centre in developing and advocating it. They are Fort McKay First Nation and Tsuu T`ina Nation in Alberta, Fort William First Nation in Ontario, Squamish Nation in British Columbia, and Carry the Kettle First Nation in Saskatchewan.
These partnering first nations, all of whom are considering proposals for major commercial and/or industrial development projects, have designed this initiative as an important tool to help them access engines of economic development on their reserve lands. They have all shown their support for this initiative through band council resolutions and they have been engaging other first nations and first nations organizations across the country to build further support. In fact, the flexibility of this legislation will allow first nations in all parts of Canada to enjoy its benefits.
Closing the gap in socio-economic conditions between first nations and other Canadians is the principle objective of this legislation. I call upon all members of the House to support this legislation, which fills the regulatory gap that has to this point hindered first nations economic development for far too long.
First Nations Commercial and Industrial Development Act
Government Orders
4:55 p.m.
Ted Menzies Macleod, AB
Madam Speaker, I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak in favour of Bill C-71, the first nations commercial and industrial development act.
The reason I feel so privileged to speak to this on behalf of the Conservative Party is because of the work the Conservative Party has done to bring the bill forward in the dying days of what has been a very frustrating legislative period.
We had lots of opportunities throughout this Parliament to bring this forward. The critic for the official opposition, the member for Calgary Centre-North, recognized that this legislation had virtually stalled in the House. It was through his efforts that it has been brought forward and we are likely and certainly hopeful to see the bill passed.
I also need to recognize the amount of effort put into this and the background work done by the specific first nations named in the bill. I will read the names out because I think it is most important to recognize the efforts of the first nations in bringing this forward. These are forward-thinking nations who understand that the present Indian Act is not working for them and not working for any of the first nations in this country. Accolades go to the following first nations: the Squamish Nation of British Columbia, the Fort McKay First Nation, the Tsuu T`ina Nation of Alberta, the Carry the Kettle First Nation of Saskatchewan and the Fort William First Nation of Ontario.
I would like to bring it to the House's attention that the Tsuu T`ina Nation, which is within my riding, is a very proud, individualistic group that have put forward some of the best initiatives that, frankly, we have seen. Not only does it have one of the most beautiful reserves within my riding, it has an incredible view to the west of the Rocky Mountains, second to none in this country, of course.
I have spent a great deal of time working with these people and have a great deal of respect for them. I am very proud to say that they were one of the main proponents of bringing the bill to the position it is at today. They recognize that they have great opportunities ahead of them. Therefore I strongly endorse the legislation so they will actually have the opportunity to seek a better future for their children. We all seek that but this old Indian Act that we are dealing with and have been dealing with for years is outdated. It does not allow these people the opportunity to plan for their future.
The other one that needs to be recognized is the Fort McKay reserve with a $4 billion project in conjunction with Shell oil sands. This is one of the shining lights in Alberta, and I am sure the House is well aware of it. However this opportunity will not be within the reserve's grasp if we do not move the legislation forward, which is why we on this side of the House were so concerned that the bill had been stalled and why we are pushing it forward to actually get it to move ahead. Certainly some other pieces of legislation have not made it quite that far.
We would strongly encourage all sides of the House to support this legislation. It is a great opportunity for all of these first nations to actually seize their future and to control the future of their nations and their children.
First Nations Commercial and Industrial Development Act
Government Orders
5 p.m.
Bernard Cleary Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC
Madam Speaker, I am pleased to speak today on Bill C-71, An Act respecting the regulation of commercial and industrial undertakings on reserve lands.
The purpose of Bill C-71 is to correct what the government calls "regulatory gaps". This is an expression it uses to cover up the absence of an appropriate legislative and regulatory framework to encourage and regulate economic development on aboriginal reserves.
The Bloc Québécois is in favour of Bill C-71.
Quebec, like the other provinces, moreover, already has a legal framework governing commercial and industrial activities, but the division of powers under the Constitution means that some of those standards do not apply on reserve lands. This results in inequalities that put aboriginal people at a disadvantage.
The purpose of the bill, therefore, is for the federal government to inaugurate on the reserve, at the request of a first nation, regulations similar to the legislation of Quebec or of the province in which the reserve is situated.
Although the genesis of this bill came from five first nations—the Squamish nation in British Columbia, the Fort McKay first nation and the Tsuu T'ina nation in Alberta, the Carry the Kettle first nation in Saskatchewan, and the Fort William first nation in Ontario—none of the first nations in Quebec were consulted. Bill C-71 will have repercussions on Quebec and it would have been better to consult more with the aboriginal peoples concerned.
The Chief of the Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador asked the chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development that the Quebec communities be consulted so that they might examine the bill and analyze the specifics of applying such legislation. It is regrettable that the government once again broke its promise to consult the first nations.
Several years ago, Quebec adopted an approach based on respect for aboriginal peoples. The Bloc Québécois is proud of this direction and recognizes aboriginals as a distinct people entitled to their culture, language, customs and traditions and their right to develop their own identity their own way.
The Bloc Québécois recognizes that in order to do this, aboriginals must have the tools they need to take charge of their own economic development. That is why the Bloc Québécois hopes to review Bill C-71 with the first nations of Quebec, since it affects this important aspect and needs to be analyzed thoroughly with the first nations.
Although passing this bill will engender improvements, the federal government must do a lot more for aboriginals. The housing conditions, education and health of aboriginals are inferior to those of the rest of population.
On the reserves, most families—65%—live in substandard housing. The Bloc Québécois deplores the fact that the lack of affordable housing of adequate size and quality for aboriginals has consequences beyond simple housing standards.
Various medical and social problems are linked to poor housing conditions and quality of life. The Government of Canada must make the effort needed to correct the situation without simply handing over the problems to the first nations.
Ways and Means
Government Orders
5:05 p.m.
Aileen Carroll Minister of International Cooperation
Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 83(1), I wish to table a notice of ways and means motion to amend the Income Tax Act and descriptive documents pertaining thereto. I ask that an order of the day be designated for consideration of the motion.
The House resumed consideration of the motion that Bill C-71, An Act respecting the regulation of commercial and industrial undertakings on reserve lands, be read the third time and passed.
First Nations Commercial and Industrial Development Act
Government Orders
5:05 p.m.
Libby Davies Vancouver East, BC
Madam Speaker, I am pleased to represent the position of the NDP in the House today. Our critic and spokesperson for aboriginal affairs, the member for Winnipeg Centre, was not able to be here as he is at the aboriginal conference. I know he has worked very hard on the bill, as he has with all other initiatives, to pursue equality and rights for aboriginal people in Canada.
We support the bill. The fact that it is being given speedy passage through the House is necessary and important. We want to ensure there are no barriers or obstacles to economic and industrial development for aboriginal people on reserve. From that point of view, the bill is important and we certainly want to see it go through.
I would also make a note that from our perspective it is important to provide aboriginal people with the tools and the resources that are necessary. As others have noted, the socio-economic status, the environment in which aboriginal people live is appalling. The government's record of not dealing with the abject poverty that exists is appalling.
We have many issues before us in terms of the aboriginal peoples who have not been dealt with. However today we have an opportunity to at least get this bill through to provide some support, the resources and the necessary tools and regulations. On that basis, the NDP of course is supporting the bill as are other parties.
First Nations Commercial and Industrial Development Act
Government Orders
5:05 p.m.
The Acting Speaker (Hon. Jean Augustine)
Pursuant to order made earlier today, the question is deemed put and the motion is deemed carried on division.
(Motion agreed to, bill read the third time and passed)
Bank Act
Government Orders
5:05 p.m.
Aileen Carroll for the Minister of Finance
moved that Bill C-57, An Act to amend certain Acts in relation to financial institutions, be read the third time and passed.
Bank Act
Government Orders
5:05 p.m.
Etobicoke North
Roy Cullen Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Madam Speaker, I am thankful for the opportunity to speak to Bill C-57 at third reading.
In budget 2005 the government committed to introduce the proposals in this bill, which now fulfill our government's commitment to bring the governance standards for financial institutions up to the levels adopted in 2001 for other federally incorporated companies. Bill C-57 also proposes to update certain governance standards that are unique to financial institutions.
I am told by my colleague, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance, that the members on the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance worked very constructively and collaboratively on this initiative. We want to thank them for doing that.
There is little doubt of the important role that financial institutions play in the lives of Canadians. They provide services above and beyond what we most often think of as banking services, services such as chequing and savings accounts, and mortgages.
Financial institutions, though, are much more than that. For example, they provide the capital necessary for new or existing businesses. They sell insurance and can administer estates, trusts and agency contracts. In addition, they play a key role in helping governments and corporations to raise capital, as well as offering individuals an opportunity to invest in stocks, bonds and other securities.
The financial services sector is more than a provider of services. It is a critical part of the infrastructure of our economy, employing over 600,000 Canadians with a yearly payroll of over $35 billion. I can say that where I come from in Toronto, the financial services sector is a hugely critical employer in the business activity in the area. Let us not forget also that the financial services sector contributes approximately $13 billion in taxes to all orders of government.
I think everyone would agree that for Canada to continue its economic success, we must think beyond our borders. The same is true of Canadian businesses such as financial institutions. Let us face it, the reality is that we are operating in a global context and in global capital markets, but in order to compete in such an increasingly competitive global marketplace, the financial services sector needs to have a modern and up to date regulatory framework.
It is in this spirit that the government has taken action in recent years to ensure that financial institutions have the up to date regulatory framework they need to compete in today's global economy. In fact, this framework is reviewed every five years. Bill C-57 builds on those initiatives. It equips financial institutions with the modern governance tools that they need to compete in a global economy.
I would like now to quickly outline the five main elements contained in this bill. First, the financial institutions statutes recognize the importance of an effective board of directors. Bill C-57 contains proposals to clarify the role of directors in carrying out their important functions, for example, by explicitly allowing for a due diligence defence and clarifying the conflict of interest rules. I am particularly proud to see that. My first private member's bill called for the defence of due diligence for directors of corporations in Canada incorporated under the Canada Business Corporations Act.
Second, shareholders have certain rights, such as the right to participate in the major decisions of a financial institution in which they have an interest. The proposed legislation enhances those rights. For example, once this bill is passed, shareholders would be permitted electronic participation in meetings using technology such as video conferencing.
Third, Bill C-57 recognizes the importance of good governance in the well-being of a financial institution. As such, the government's framework needs to be kept up to date with best practices in this area.
Fourth, the legislation proposes to strengthen a number of governance elements in the regulatory framework, including improving the flow of information to the regulator. It also harmonizes various governance standards within and across the financial institution statutes.
The fifth element relates to changes in the policy holder governance framework for insurance companies. These changes would work to increase disclosure in respect of participating in adjustable life insurance policies.
We do not have time to go into any more detail on this particular piece of legislation, but it is an important piece of legislation that would affirm the importance of our financial institutions in Canada and would give them the tools necessary to compete in this global economy.
Bank Act
Government Orders
5:10 p.m.
Charlie Penson Peace River, AB
Madam Speaker, it is a pleasure to rise today to speak to Bill C-57. The Conservative Party will be supporting this bill. We believe in strong corporate governance and rules around that sector. We believe they are essential to ensuring that shareholders' rights are protected, that consumers are served properly, and that Canada's financial sector is able to be strong and vibrant.
The Conservative Party will continue to look out for the best interests of consumers and shareholders while ensuring that the regulatory environment contributes to a strong financial sector.
This bill would bring the financial sector under the same rules as other business corporations that are currently under the Canada Business Corporations Act which took effect in 2001.
However, this Liberal government should walk the talk. While it is busy bringing in Bill C-57 on corporate governance, cleaning it up and making it transparent, what do we see from the government itself? Canadians have been subjected to another year of false projection, junk accounting and misleading government spin. The Liberals continue to hide behind phoney numbers and false forecasts.
The Liberal budget of 2005 projection of $3 billion was a lowball figure, as we now know. The government would have presented a budget surplus of $6 billion if it had not been engaged in unbudgeted spending and junk accounting which served to reduce the surplus numbers close to what the budget projection then was.
Parliament's numbers, the work done by the four forecasters hired by the finance committee to check on what the projections were from the finance department and, more important, the finance minister, revealed early on that the Liberals were sitting on billions of dollars more than the budget 2005 projections that were claimed.
In April Parliament's numbers projected a surplus of $6.1 billion and most recently, in July, a surplus of $.64 billion. Now those same fiscal forecasters are continuing on and we hope to get a budget for them to continue their work.
This points out the Liberal government's questionable budgetary practices that underscore the need for a parliamentary budget office, as was presented in the new Conservative federal accountability act. Canadians deserve honest and independent forecast projections, so that Parliament can engage in a debate as to how surplus money should be allocated and in fact, whether those kinds of surpluses should be allowed to build up. In any event, maybe we need to lower tax rates, so we do not run those massive surpluses. We see sometimes that the government gets carried away just before elections and all kinds of crazy spending is coming out most recently.
We are in agreement with this. It would help several sectors. It would help The Co-operators, I know, which is a big cooperative financial institution. We have some concerns for other sectors, like the chartered accountants. We are willing to explore those further. I think it is important to get the financial sector under the same rules that other corporations are under in this country and that shareholders have the transparency they need to make investments in the sectors that are involved under this legislation.


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More than a taxi account
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text:
After 162 Games, It's All Tied
October 1, 1978
John Gaffney came in around noon today, plopped himself down on his usual bar stool, and said to me, "You're gonna have the Patriots game on, right?"
I barely had my middle finger up – in jest of course – when he laughed and said, "Yeah, I didn't think so. Just teasin' ya Jimmy ol' boy, don't get yer bloomers in a bunch."
When Louie Carbala pushed his way through the door a few minutes later, he says, "Hey Jimmy, why didn't the skeleton cross the road?"
"I don't know, Louie, why?"
"He didn't have the guts."
He's had better, but we let him off the hook because everyone was a little on edge leading up to the Red Sox game.
Naturally, Danny Fitzgerald was already in the joint before those two, and before everyone else who ended up comin' down today. Danny's always in here first, and it's not like he has to be, because no one is gonna take his stool or anything crazy like that.
By the time Luis Tiant threw the first pitch over at Fenway, me and Nora were already bustin' our humps tryin' to stay on top of all the drinkin' that was goin' on. Big crowd for a Sunday afternoon, but that's what I was expectin' 'cuz this was a pretty big day for the Sox.
It was do or die, and what really sucked is that even if we did, we might still have died. We needed to beat the Blue Jays, but we also needed the crappy Indians to somehow beat the Yankees. That's what had to happen if we were gonna get into a one-game playoff for the AL East title tomorrow.
We were all ready to settle in for an afternoon of nervous tension, because why would it be any other way? These are, after all, our beloved Red Sox, and they can't ever do anything the easy way. So imagine our surprise with how things played out today.
What I did was I had the radio tuned into the Yankees game, and I turned the sound down on the TV and we watched the Red Sox game. So they started the game down at Yankee Stadium, and before two innings were played, the Indians had knocked Catfish Hunter out and they were ahead, 6-2, and we were whoopin' it up. Everyone, that is, except for Danny.
"Don't mean Jack if these guys don't start doin' something," Danny pointed out, referrin' to the fact that into the fifth inning over at Fenway, the Sox and Jays hadn't scored.
And then it happened. Butch Hobson singled to lead off the bottom of the fifth, and George Scott stepped in. He's been in a slump all year, and has had some pretty lousy luck, but he caught a great break today, and it sent the Sox on their way. He hit a grounder to second that should have been a double play ball, but it took a funny hop, rattled off Dave McKay's, ankle and went into the outfield as Hobson chugged over to third.
So instead of nobody on and two out, we had first and third and no outs. The joint jumped to life, so I turned down the radio and turned up the TV so we could listen to Dick Stockton.
"Gotta get something here," Louie said, and everyone nodded in agreement.
And they did. Jack Brohamer dribbled a grounder that brought home Hobson for the first run, and we were still celebratin' that when Jerry Remy ripped a double that bounced into the Blue Jays' bullpen and chased home Scott to make it 2-0.
No one had the stones to say it at the time, 'cuz we Sox fans are trained in the art of never takin' anything for granted, but this game was over. There was no way the Jays were gonna score a run off Luis Tiant, let alone two to tie or three to win.
So it was just a matter of playin' this thing out and hopin' the Indians didn't gag down there in the Bronx.
And they didn't. They piled it on some more and ended up winnin' 9-2, and the Sox tacked on a few more runs and won, 5-0, and that was that.
"There was no question that we'd win, but after the Yankees won the first two games I figured there was no way they'd lose the finale, not with Catfish," Scott said on the post-game show.
Thankfully he was wrong, and so, after 162 games, and more than six months of going at it, the Yankees and Red Sox are dead even at 99-63. Kinda unbelievable.
"There is no way any of us right now can appreciate or even understand how it came to this," Rick Burleson said. "But what we do know is it's going to be the biggest day of our lives."
Gonna be a big day for me, too. Lotsa business today, probably gonna be lotsa business tomorrow. I might just be able to buy Irene those damn Ginsu kitchen knives that they advertise on TV all the time that she's been bugging me about.
Yankees update: Hunter tried to pitch on three days rest for the first time since 1976, and it proved to be a mistake. "I just didn't have it," he said. "I knew as soon as I got out there, I knew I had no pop."
Hunter gave up a two-run homer to Andre Thornton, a solo shot to Gary Alexander, and his teammates couldn't overcome the deficit because Cleveland starter Rick Waits, who had lost three times to the Yankees this year with a 5.40 ERA, wouldn't let them.
And so it comes down to this: Ron Guidry against Mike Torrez on an afternoon at Fenway Park that no one will ever forget.
"I can't wait," said the ex-Yankee, Torrez. "I like a one-shot deal to determine the best club."
"No one deserves to lose," said Carl Yastrzemski.
But someone will.


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Layouts, Layouts and more Layouts!
April 17, 2013 by Ellen
Filed under Core Blog, Queen & Co., Tim Holtz
Design Team Member Debbie Standard uses Core in the most magical ways! Did I say layouts only? ooooops…I am going to squeak in a card there, too. 🙂
Check out how she used the Tim Holtz Kraft Core Shattered Collection today.
First up: Embossed AND Sanded 🙂
See sketch for this card here.
And a bit of everything on this layout…some sanded die cuts…some embossing and sanding….edge distressing…you name it! It's perfection.
And another layout from Debbie using some of the scraps from the card above on here and some Tim Holtz KRaft Core Seasonal Impressions…love how these core'dinate, don't you?


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Release date: 8/26/2013
Raleigh: Attorney General Roy Cooper today offered tips to help parents get their children back to school safely and ready to learn as the traditional school year begins.
"Giving our children a safe and successful school year means more than buying the right pencils and backpacks," Cooper said. "A few simple steps can give parents some peace of mind so they can focus on helping their kids learn."
Cooper's office offers parents the following safety tips:
Media contact: Noelle Talley (919) 716-6413


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Oscar de la Renta
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Out of Stock
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- Gathered silhouette floats away from the body. From Oscar de la Renta.
- 100% Polyester. Machine wash, warm. Imported.
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iHerb Customer Reviews
Savings of: $9.06 (28% off)
Glass container
like Nutiva better
Posted by imadoxaholic on Apr 18, 2012
I found that this barely detectible coconut scent and taste. I liked the scent and taste of Nutiva much better.
Posted by Reviewer1873605 on Mar 10, 2012
I tried this because of the glass jar. I am disappointed in the lack of taste and fragrance. I usually like raw living food. I will not buy this brand of coconut oil again.
This oil is the best!
Posted by Reviewer1889273 on Mar 28, 2011
My skin is very dry. I use it on my body. This oil is the best I have ever used is good.
Items 1-3 of 3 total


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....because the only time i've watched him play was in the opener, and I was surrounded by 25 mouth breathing WVU fans that made me want to stab him.
I know he plays in a garbage conference, but so did RGIII and Luck. I also see that he's played truly crappy teams. Anything that jumps out at you? He's listed as 6'3 and he doesn't run much.....he's also had a few consistent years at this point, so it's surprising to see him start out like this.
I'm throwing this out in case anyone has seen much of his play or has an insider read on him.....and you know why its being posted here.


text: Wrangler jeans are a staple of the western lifestyle. Wrangler Rock 47 jeans boast that country life with a contemporary flair! These Women's Wrangler jeans from the Rock 47 Collection flaunt cowgirl attitude and style. Jeans feature an ultra low rise. Convenient button waist with zipper fly. Authentic five-pocket construction; back flap pockets flaunt embellished accents. Women's jean is made of 98% cotton/2% spandex. Imported.


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An Indian family in NJ (where else?) is suing an "exotic" Indian restaurant for serving them samosas with meat, even though they were vegetarians. [NJ Ledger via HuffPo]
For an India Day celebration in Edison on Aug. 10, 2009, the group placed an order for vegetarian samosas. The restaurant assured them it didn't make the pastries with meat. Indeed, there was no meat-filled samosa on the restaurant's appetizer menu, and the court's decision said the tray of pastries given to the group was labeled vegetarian.
But soon after eating a few samosas, some in the group grew concerned the pastries might contain meat. According to the decision, the restaurant eventually acknowledged it had confused the order with one for meat-filled samosas and gave the group the non-vegetarian pastries.
The family proceeded to sue the restaurant "alleging negligence, negligent infliction of emotional distress, consumer fraud, products liability and breach of express warranty". This part also caught my eye. [link]
In their complaint, the plaintiffs outlined their injuries and damages in the following manner: "'Hindu vegetarians believe that if they eat meat, they become involved in the sinful cycle of inflicting pain, injury and death on God's creatures, and that it affects the karma and dharma, or purity of the soul. Hindu scriptures teach that the souls of those who eat meat can never go to God after death, which is the ultimate goal for Hindus. The Hindu religion does not excuse accidental consumption of meat products. One who commits the religious violation of eating meat, knowingly or unknowingly, is required to participate in a religious ceremony at a site located along the Ganges River in Haridwar, Uttranchal, India, to purify himself. The damages sought by plaintiffs included compensation for the emotional distress they suffered, as well as economic damages they would incur by virtue of having to participate in the required religious cleansing ceremony in India.'"
This story has me torn. Being raised in a Hindu vegetarian family myself, I'm can envision members of my family, particularly the elderly reacting in a similar manner (but we TamBrams are too pacifist to get involved in court cases). I've not read the doctrine for consuming meat and don't know what the diktats for "Accidental Consumption of Meat" are. On one hand, I feel this family's reaction (suing for money) is disproportionate to the incident.
On the other hand, longtime readers of this blog know my disdain for "exotic" Indian restaurants particularly their marketing, food and above all, service. This one fits in the last two. The restaurant certainly was wrong on the following counts:
- Serving food not on the menu
- Getting the food order wrong
- Serving food specifically the client demanded they did not want
- Not cross checking the order with the kitchen, despite repeated questions from the clients
And this kind of service is unfortunately not uncommon in "exotic" Indian restaurants. It's disappointing to see the NJ Ledger, Huffington Post and other news outlets play up the "he he dumb Hindoos won't eat meat" angle. Customers often ask for customized orders at restaurant, not just for religious reasons, but also for health reasons – food allergies, digestive issues. It is the duty of the restaurant to get it right, failing which they open up themselves to the consequences. Although, none of the customers were affected health-wise, I'm with them on suing, at least on principle.
What do you think?


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'Stay refreshed at our Pool Bar, where a comprehensive selection of drinks and cocktails is served right in the heart of Hillside Beach Club. Guests are welcome to hang out with friends or lounge with a book in comfy couches during the day, and to enjoy Pool Bar's lively environment in late summer evenings.'
Lounge on a deckchair with a colourful cocktail or your favourite drink in hand under the golden sunshine at Beach Bar… The fun continues after sunset in this breezy outdoors spot with comfy patio seating, perfect for kicking back as great music completes the beautiful moonlit setting.
PASHA ON THE BAY BARbars
One of the best ways to take a break is to join us at the Pasha on the Bay Bar. Enjoy the sun, or find a place in the shade, relax with a drink, chat with your partner or meet new friends while enjoying the beautiful scenery of the Mediterranean. With our daycare you can give yourself some "you-time" without any worries.Learn more
Abacco - Our Romantic Beach Resort Bar Find a spot for just the two of you at Abacco Bar, a magical place for candlelit romance. Choose something you fancy from our extensive drinks menu, and snuggle up in this cosy enclave. At this very moment, nothing else matters. There are live performances several nights a week and you'll always find a soft symphony of waves lapping on the shore.Learn more
One of the new venues of Hillside Beach Club... We'd like to invite you to enjoy the amazing sunset, as you sip your cocktail by the sea and pamper yourself with the magical view and nature. Blue Bar will make you forget time ever existed.


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The Maryland Terrapins are one of the oldest programs in the Northeast. The Terrapins first started playing football in 1892, and have won over 10 conference championships and had 5 undefeated regular seasons since then. The Terrapins also claim the 1953 national championship as the crown jewel in a long list of program accomplishments. Despite being an old, and established program, the Terrapins are some of the new kids on the block in the BIG-10 and look to expand on their winning traditions against the Midwest's best programs. Before the Terrapins players run out onto the field, each one rubs the nose of the 300 pound statue of Testudo, one of the most recognizable mascots in college football. Testudo roams the sidelines not far from the players, and along with super fan Special K, get the crowd roaring for another Maryland victory. Score with TicketCity - the place to go for Maryland Terrapins football tickets.
1. Scan through the 2017 Maryland Terrapins Schedule and select the game that you would like to attend, or use the opponent or date filters beside the Maryland Terrapins ticket listings to find the perfect matchup. 2. Click "Select" to reveal all available Maryland Terrapins tickets, the Maryland Stadium interactive seating chart, ticket quantity, and ticket price filters. Use the ticket price filter, and ticket quantity filter to quickly refine your search to the available Maryland Terrapins tickets that are in your price range. You can also utilize the "eTickets Only" filter to find all Maryland Terrapins tickets that will be delivered electronically. The Maryland Stadium interactive map can be employed to reveal all tickets available for a preferred section. Select the perfect tickets and click "Go" to proceed to checkout. 3. Review the checkout page to ensure that the Maryland Terrapins tickets have been selected, and read through any ticket notes or delivery information. If everything looks correct, fill out the checkout information, and purchase your Maryland Terrapins Tickets!
Our Sales are Service team is available 7 days a week at 1-800-880-8886.
Check back for a preview of the 2017 Maryland Terrapins football season.
Check out our Maryland Terrapins Season Preview History page for previews of previous Terrapins seasons.
The Maryland Terrapins play their home games at Maryland Stadium, in College Park, Maryland. Maryland Stadium has been home to the Terrapins since 1950, and seats over 50,000 fans. 2.5 hours before game time players, coaches, cheerleaders, the band, and thousands of fans take part in the "Terp Alley," where fans cheer, high five, and get riled up as the players and coaches walk from the bus to the locker room. Once inside Maryland Stadium be prepared to pull out your keys and make some noise for "key," plays during the game. Maryland Stadium is also home to one of the best super fans in all of college football. Keith "Special K" Moore has been leading the Terrapin faithful in energy for over 2 decades. The Maryland Terrapins home bench is on the Maryland Stadium sideline with sections 20-28. Maryland Stadium parking information is covered in our Terrapins event guide.
Navy Midshipmen, West Virginia Mountaineers
Known as the Crab Bowl Classic, this is biggest inner-state rivalry in Maryland. The two teams first played each other in 1905, and have been playing for the Crab Bowl Trophy since 2010. The Midshipmen dominated the early years of the rivalry, but the Terrapins have clawed back and hold an edge in the series since 1950. The rivalry is currently suspended on the field, with football fans in the Old Line State hoping it is brought back very soon.
When the Terrapins and Mountaineers compete on the gridiron it can mean only one thing, really good football. The two schools have played over 45 times since their first meeting in 1919, including a span of consecutive games from 1980-2007. The proximity of both schools to each other means that they compete for many of the same recruits, coaches, and students. This game is usually played earlier in the season, and is often the first major test for both schools.
TicketCity offers a big selection of Maryland Terrapins football tickets which include some of the lowest priced seats on the market. Maryland tickets fluctuate based on demand and opponent. Marquee BIG-10 opponents like Ohio State, Michigan, and Wisconsin can drive up home game prices. While cheap tickets are more plentiful for unranked, non-conference opponents. Those early season games may offer best opportunity to purchase Maryland tickets near face value.
The Terrapins 2017-2018 football schedule is listed as soon as it is announced by the BIG-10. Maryland plays in the BIG-10 East Division, which means games against Rutgers, Penn State, Ohio State, Michigan, and Michigan State. Game times are announced by the BIG-10 as soon as the TV schedule is set. Maryland's home opener is typically one of the most popular games. They also play Navy in the Crab Bowl Classic. If you are looking for Terrapins news or scores, then visit our partners at CBS Sports. They are also a good source for the official Maryland Terrapins team roster.
Maryland Terrapins season tickets are available to buy until kickoff of their home opener. Check our listings above or call us if you would like to purchase Maryland football season tickets. Let us know if you want a particular section at Maryland Stadium.
Whenever Maryland and Navy play it is truly a special game. Maryland and Navy are the two biggest programs in the State of Maryland, with fan bases that split the state in half. While the Terrapins have plenty of great out of state rivals, it is always hard to beat the passion displayed when two historic programs from the same state are on the field together.
For many third downs, fourth downs, or other key plays, much of the Maryland fan base will pull out their keys and jingle them around to make noise and signify "key" moments. It doesn't sound like much when just one person does it, but when you have over 50,000 loud Terrapins all doing it at once, it is loud, high energy, and a lot of fun.


text: Rocky Boots are built to outlast, outperform, and flat out impress! The Rocky Blizzard Stocker Pro boot features a Mossy Oak camo break up, Cordura nylon and leather construction. 9" lace up shaft. Quick and easy speed hooks. Insulated and waterproof ready to take on the winter. Breathable mesh lining. Broad round toe. Block heel. Secure footing rubber sole. Imported.


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Is anyone else a tad queasy about the just-announced Bruce Springsteen benefit tribute concert being mounted by MusiCares? I'm picturing Elton John hunched over on his piano stool skewering "Thunder Road," and it's not a pleasant image. For some reason I'm reminded of that time Elton sang "Bohemian Rhapsody" with Axy Rose, which still shows up in my nightmares from time to time.
But Neil Young and Mumford & Sons will probably do justice to Springsteen's catalog (excuse me, "Mr. Springsteen's catalog," to quote the New York Times), and personally I'd love to hear Mavis Staples tear into "Tenth Avenue Freeze Out." Not that I'll necessarily get the chance; there's no word of a broadcast, so we'll have to count on the mucky-mucks who could afford tickets to shoot clips with their iPhones. Do mucky-mucks do that kind of thing? [UPDATE: Rolling Stone is now saying the concert will be broadcast on CBS, so set your DVR!]
Here's the rundown, via the MusiCares release:
Alabama Shakes, Jackson Browne, Kenny Chesney, Ben Harper, Emmylou Harris,� Faith Hill, Jim James, Elton John, Juanes, John Legend, Natalie Maines, Tim McGraw, Tom Morello, Mumford & Sons, Patti Smith, Mavis Staples, Sting, Eddie Vedder, and Neil Young will perform at the tribute concert in honor of 2013 MusiCares Person of the Year Bruce Springsteen. The sold-out gala will take place Feb. 8, 2013, two days prior to the 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards. Additional performers will be announced shortly.Meanwhile, here are some other recent Springsteen-related developments and links to help you kick off 2013:� How are you celebrating Clarence Clemons Day in N.J.? It's officially Jan. 11, thanks to the Jersey legislature.� A UK poll of 1,037 Springsteen fans rates his Top 100 all-time songs — and I happen to agree with No. 1.� Friend of Blogness @dslifton marks the 31st anniversary of Springsteen's "Nebraska."� Bruce Springsteen photobombs Usher in an NYC antique shop (right), because why wouldn't he?� Stevie Van Zandt and David Chase discuss the film "Not Fade Away" and its music on NPR — and in case you missed it, check out Anne's review of the soundtrack here.� From Ultimate Classic Rock,"Hand Fart Master Tackles Bruce Springsteen�s �Born to Run.�" Otherwise known as a slow news week.� Finally, if you aren't itching for Bruce to get back on tour yet, you will after watching this terrific concert clip compilation by @JerseyDeb. It's feeling like an E Street 2013!Fast Tube by Casper


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|How to get to Baldacci Family Vineyards
|Top Quote Block
Contact Us
Baldacci Family Vineyards
6236 Silverado Trail, CA 94558
Open daily from 10am to 4pm by prior appointment
Directions from San Francisco
Take Highway 80 east towards Sacramento. As you enter Vallejo, take the Highway 37 exit and proceed west until you intersect Highway 29.
Follow Highway 29 north (signs indicate Calistoga/Sonoma) through the town of Napa. You will go through three signals, at the fourth signal, turn right onto Oak Knoll Avenue. Head east on Oak Knoll Avenue for one and one-half miles, then stop, jog left on Big Ranch then turn right and continue east on Oak Knoll Avenue for two more miles until you reach the Silverado Trail.
Turn left onto the Silverado Trail and head north approximately four miles until you reach Baldacci Family Vineyards at 6236 Silverado Trail (there is a taupe and black house at the driveway). Turn left into the driveway and proceed to the Tasting Room.
Get Directions


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Narrow Square Exterior Escutcheon Item # C8541
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Narrow Square Exterior Escutcheon
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For young rodeo roper, a bittersweet legacy
As Dakota Shipp competes in the International Youth Finals for team roping, the memory of his rodeo-loving father, lost to suicide, will be with him.
By DAWN REISS
Published July 7, 2006
HERNANDO - Dakota Shipp's right arm rotates. His wrist snaps quickly, deceivingly, for it is his forearm that truly controls the lasso above his head.
The movement slices the morning heat as wooden rope and air make contact. The whipping noise is commonplace here, where horses, donkeys and cattle roam on 52 acres.
Behind Shipp is a 300-by-100-foot fenced rodeo arena that he helped build with his father.
It's that arena that has shaped the 18-year-old Shipp into a four-time National High School Finals Rodeo qualifier, his practice there taking him to Shawnee, Okla., where he will compete in the International Youth Finals on Monday.
It is also where Shipp grew up quickly, dealing with the loss of his father, who committed suicide when Shipp was 13, and his juvenile diabetes.
"Before I never had to do anything," Shipp said. "I just had fun. If anything broke, my dad fixed it. Now if something breaks, I have to fix it. It's all the little stuff you never think of until you have to do it. "
But Shipp has persevered.
Sometimes, he says, he thinks about what life would be like if he still had his father, what life was like when they both trained as team ropers.
Shipp remembers that August morning when his father, Gary, died.
"We were having severe financial problems at the time," said Shipp's mother, Kathy. "People don't believe this, but I do believe men go through a type of menopause through their body and depression sets in. When you get real depressed your mind makes you think things that aren't so. You can't see the light at the end of the tunnel. He thought, 'I'm 50 years old, I can't start over again.' "
But Shipp knew he had to go on - and he has.
The youngest of five, Shipp started team roping as an 8-year-old, after seeing one of his father's friends in action. It sparked something inside Shipp and rejuvenated his father, an amateur team roper, who had stopped roping when Shipp was born.
"Whenever I started, I knew I was going to do it for a long time," Shipp said. "I didn't know how good I was going to get."
He learned how to "head" and "heel" - tying up the steers on both ends - practicing on motorized models between school and farm chores.
He began homeschooling in seventh grade so his parents could monitor his insulin levels - and to allow more time for team roping.
For the next year, Shipp and his father roped daily, until he died.
Then everything became tougher. Shipp began repairing fences, mowing pastures and picking up the horse manure.
Still he hung in, and found a way to excel at the sport he and his dad both loved.
Shipp said says quitting was never an option. The pain of his father's death lessened after a Christian-based Joshua Cowboy Ministries Young Pro Tour team invited Shipp to travel with them, despite his age. Shipp was three years younger than the normally mandated age of 16.
"Because I couldn't drive, I always had to stay up to keep everyone else awake," Shipp said about the eight-week tour. "So I never got a lot of sleep."
During the next three summers, Shipp traveled around the country with Young Pro, competing as a team roper and teaching rodeo clinics.
"It was tough, big part of my life," he said. "Touring helped me a lot, because it didn't let me think about it as much and dwell on it. My father is still a big part of my life even if he's not here."
Dawn Reiss can be reached at email@example.com or 352 860-7303.


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Topic: Query Performance
I come from a background of writing my own DB queries for web applications, and I'm still not entirely comfortable with Rails doing SELECT * on everything.
A couple questions:
* If I know in advance that I will only be using a specific column or two from a model, is there a find() syntax that allows that without resorting to custom SQL? I'd also be curious to know if there's a way to grab just one column from a second table through eager loading. Or will a model freak out if it is only partially populated with data?
* MySQL caches queries. So if two of the same query are submitted in a short time, the second query result will come out of the cache. Has anyone done any testing/experimentation to see if a complicated join query created by eager loading is really faster than multiple simple queries without eager loading? Eager loading could be faster for the first query, but might not be advantageous if other pages would execute the same simple queries, but a completely different eager loading-style query.
I was thinking it would be cool if Rails had some sort of built-in optimizer which would examine controller/model/view code to see which data columns are being used and only query the DB for those columns.
I'm just thinking out loud. My Rails app is too new for me to worry about much optimization, but I'm starting to look where I might be hitting the DB too hard.