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Thursday, January 10, 2008
New Years Resolutions
It's been an interesting year, 2007 flew past my eyes in an instant. Many of my fellow bloggers have been posting their reflections on last year and their hopes for the year to come. I decided to do the same.
So much happened in 2007…I was promoted to a new leadership program in my company, finally made my relationship with the BF official after dating for months upon months…found a hobby I love(makeup in case you didn't notice, he he), and overall learned a lot about myself.
Makeup/Beauty Resolutions: I vow to take better care of myself and fine tune my makeup artistry skills. I only got back into the game in November of 2007 and have this whole year to improve...
1) Apply Ardell brow and Lash growth accelerator every night to try and grow back my puny lashes and over plucked eyebrows
2) Be more active in promoting my skills as a freelance makeup artist
3) Apply makeup to more and more people to familiarize myself with different ethnicities, face shapes and preferences
4) Control my haul purchases…maintain a monthly budget of makeup spending and stick to it
5) Perfect the art of putting on false lashes on myself and others…give another shot at doing individual lashes!
6) Work on the blending of eyeshadows-reach a goal of seamless blending in a short amount of time
7) Try out different looks, broaden my technique…expand beyond my normal 3 colors for eyeshadow, outer v, highlight and blend technique.
8) Apply for that MAC pro discount!
9) Stop being lazy, make sure to properly cleanse and moisturize myself at night…even after going out and getting back at 3am, make sure to remove that makeup properly…and not just with a baby wipe!
10) Work on my skin…find out what's giving me those random rashes on my cheeks and work on the dryness of my skin.
11) Invest in more quality MAC brushes as well as other brands…phase out the fakes
12) Make sure to clean brushes regularly!
13) Take better care of hair…consider more conditioning and rejuvenating treatments.
14) Get to over 1000 subscribers on you tube…market, market, market!
15) Do something different with the hair!
16) Try out new makeup brands, both drug store and high end.
Personal Goals-Ways to make life sweeter and make myself a better person
1) Talk to my brother and dad on the phone more…you never truly appreciate your family until things go awry…life is truly short and one must live life to the fullest every day. My boyfriend has taught me this lesson as he has had to undergo more personal crises than most people our age.
2) Stop being so sensitive! Rise beyond non-constructive criticism, and maintain my beliefs and continue to grow. Understand that people will always have adverse opinions, and learn to accept that and not affect my own self-worth.
3) Grow relationship with BF…continue to keep the romance alive, be spontaneous, and stop being moody for no particular reason…appreciate that I have a good man in my life who supports me completely
4) Oh lord, get back to the gym!
5) Reimmerse myself into a healthy cooking routine-and this time, don't fall off.
6) Find a career that I love…get out of corporate America…stop being depressed about a situation that I can fix myself.
7) Spend more time with my friends…just because I have a BF does not give me the right to forget that I have great friends that have been by my side for years.
8) Be positive! If I don't have anything nice to say…then don't say it!
9) Be a happy person-'nuff said.
10) Truly get me and BF's side venture up and running…
11) Start rekindling my faith…
12) Get my finances back on track...remember that girl last year who was on point with her budget. Pay off the credit card balance and keep it down.
13) Try new things…go out to spots in Atlanta I've never tried…travel more…live life!
***On a different note, is everyone excited about the N Collection released today by MAC? I got my first mailer from MAC advertising this collection...it was so pretty, i'm going to definitely save it. LOL, who would of thought a mailed advertisement would cause me so much excitedment. I'll be going to my nearby MAC freestanding store during lunch...on my list? The mineralized skin finish in charmed...I'm trying to keep my purchases under $100 each time I go, wish me luck! I'll do a post later on what I got.
8 comments:
- yummy411 said...
great list! i can't wait to see what doors will open for you next as you achieve these goals! good luck!
do share your n collection haul!
- January 10, 2008 at 1:45 PM
- christianadivine said...
nice list! :] i should probably do everything on that list too. :P anywho, thanks for being so positive with all your comments love, i really appreciate it. :D you've BEEN linked to my page. ;) and i'm not linked on your list? :P LOL.
- January 10, 2008 at 6:44 PM
- Vanessa said...
I love the paint pot "Soft Ochre", it's gorgeous, but all my money is going perhaps to the FAFI collection!
- January 10, 2008 at 7:20 PM
- Mrs. Lynne said...
This is a wonderful post sister Ren. Reading these posts reassures me that there are real people with real dreams and aspirations behind their blogs and also gives me the added inspiration to keep my flame lit :) Thank you and I look forward to what 2008 has in store for you.
- January 10, 2008 at 9:08 PM
- Ethereal Prey said...
hi babes! Thanks for the add link back. My life is anything but glamorous, I just a free ride sometimes :) share your haul! take pics! Stop teasing us!
- January 11, 2008 at 1:05 AM
- Anne said...
everyone is saving for Fafi!! I'm kinda holding out on the N collection too even though it's more in my color range. I'm hoping to own an MSF though. I saw the swatches and they look really nice. I have to see for myself. I'm also thinking of the Soft Ochre paintpot. Creamstick liners i'm still debating.
Btw, nice resolutions! Good luck on them. I'm with you with the whole career thing. Guhh... I'm still trying to figure that one out. I'm almost graduating this spring and still clueless with what I'm going to do after a changing my major a couple of times. But I'm beginning to realize that corporate America is not all that great like I thought it would be even though that is where the $$$ and good benefits are. I've always been focus towards that direction. But i realized that I actually enjoyed working in a non-profit (my previous job) more. I dont know if it's because I'm a newbie right now at my latest job/internship. But I dont know I think it's still better to enjoy what you're doing than focusing on the money (although it can a big factor). Based on my experience, sometimes despite the good pay, if i really hate the job or dont enjoy it, money cant motivate me enough to make me get up so early in the morning that I end up missing or being late to work (sooo bad!). my old boss had told me once before that if you're good at what you do... money will follow. BE a makeup artist!!! you seem to know a lot and enjoy doing it!
aaaaaand... i just wrote an entire essay. hehehe
- January 11, 2008 at 4:49 AM
- MakeupByRenRen said...
yummy411: thanks for your well wishes...I filmed n collection last night :) video will be up any second now
Christiana: oh my gosh I thought I totally added it..sorry honny...it's there now, lol, i just kept accessing your blog from vanessa's page before...
vanessa: yes...the fafi collection is the next thing to look forward to alright...no more MAC till then (at least not TOO much)
Mry. Lynne: thanks so much for your well wishes...i'm glad to have a forum where we can all inspire each other and keep one another growing...
ethereal prey: he he, no prob, i'll share the haul soon!
anne: I think the n collection would look fab on you...but i understand holding out for Fafi, the packaging is to die for! I'm loving your essay though :) After working for Corporate America ever since i've graduated...I've decided that it's not exactly for me...it's so conservative and a lot of red tape...i was just telling my BF the other day that non-profits are so great in that they're way more flexible, self-fulfilling, and great if you have families...I have to admit...I do like my comfortable paycheck and benefits...but I've had to pay with some mini depression last year over my job...my plan is to save up...then go out on my own...don't worry, you're still young...just follow your dreams and like your boss said...money will follow
- January 11, 2008 at 11:31 AM
- opallife said...
Love the resolutions Ren!!!
Feel free to do my make up when I come and stay with you guys in April!!!
BTW I was getting the random rashes on my cheeks too...I hit up the dermatologist and she gave me some great products that have kept it under CONTROL!!
miss you tons!
- January 13, 2008 at 8:52 AM


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Seattle Postgame: O'Rourke, Mendes Updates
The Columbus Dispatch - May 24, 2012 02:08 AM
I will let Carlos Mendes sum up the Crew's win at Seattle because the veteran defender said it all with 22 words.
"We didn't create too much and it wasn't the prettiest game but to get out of here with a result was nice," he said following the Crew's 2-0 win at Seattle.
Well put. Seattle held possession for 61.5 percent of the match, had 21 attempts on goal to the Crew's 5, a 6-2 edge in shots on target and a 12-1 advantage in corner kicks but came away with bupkus on the scoreboard.
"Before this road trip, there were a lot of worries about how we were going to do because we were going to play against two very good teams who are very hot this year," head coach Robert Warzycha said. "But we almost got three points in San Jose and we got it here. You've got to be proud of the guys. I'm very happy."
With the win, the club returns home to face Chicago this Saturday suddenly riding a four-game unbeaten streak. A west coast trip to face two of the top three teams in the Western Conference had all the makings of a deflating slide, but instead the Crew comes home with four points and one last-minute goal from a pair of wins.
"I think it's a huge confidence booster for the team and obviously a good week," Mendes said. " We still have to play Chicago here on Saturday at home but to come to the west coast and play two of the top teams and get a tie and a win is very good. It's a great result and obviously we've still got work to do because we have a quick turnaround but we're excited about this win."
In its last two games, the Crew was outshot 45-14 and outshot 14-3 on goal but converted each of those attempts on net. Entering the past weekend, San Jose and Seattle were a combined 14-4-4 and sat Nos. 2 and 3 in the standings.
Those are not numbers to sneeze at.
It was not all good news at CenturyLink Field, however, as defensive midfielder Danny O'Rourke went down with what looked like a serious leg injury near the end of the first half. Warzycha said the veteran will have an MRI on Friday to assess his left ankle, which kept him out of action for three games earlier this season.
O'Rourke left the stadium on crutches.
"He's hanging in there," said midfielder Cole Grossman, who made his first career start. "He's probably the toughest person I've ever met so he's hanging in there."
Shuffles: Let's take a look at how differently the Crew lineup looked compared to what we have seen in recent weeks.
Mendes and Grossman made their first starts for the Crew, replacing Eric Gehrig and the injured Milovan Mirosevic, respectively. Kevan George made his MLS debut in relief of O'Rourke. Eddie Gaven started at forward alongside Emilio Renteria, who was benched for the entirety of Saturday's draw with San Jose. Dilly Duka made his first start since the season opener more than two months ago.
And yet, the Crew earned the win despite Seattle holding the edge in every statistical category save for goals. Although Seattle continued to press, both Grossman and Mendes said they never felt their lead was in serious danger.
"I thought they had one really good chance at the end of the first half and one really good chance in the second half where Andy (Gruenebaum) made a great save and I think it was a foul on (Fredy) Montero," Grossman said. "I didn't feel like they were going to score. They definitely controlled possession and had some crosses but I never got the sense they were threatening us in a way that would've led to a goal."
Debuts: Here's what Grossman and Mendes had to say on making their debuts in the Crew starting lineup:
Mendes: "It's great to get back in. I've been out for a long time so it's been months since I really played. It's nice to get the result. I thought physically I'm not there yet but the whole team really gave a good effort and that was the difference. Guys were tired and we had people covering for each other. The MLS is so difficult because you travel across the country, you play two games on the west coast and now we're going back home. You need everybody in this league. Guys are stepping up and that's a good sign that hopefully will carry us forward."
Grossman: "At the end of the day it's still just soccer. Whether it's in Seattle or it's in your backyard, it's still the game I've been playing for a long, long time. We have such a good locker room, I don't think there's anything to be nervous about as long as everyone goes out and gives everything they have. I think we can all be accountable and look each other in the eyes after the game. Really no nerves, just excitement. I really, really believe in my ability and myself. I was just excited before the game, not nervous."
However, Mendes entered the match with 128 career starts. Grossman learned he would be starting the day of the match.
"It's not like I've known for a couple days," he said. "I found out today that I was going to start, but because I knew Milo wasn't playing I did try to prepare myself for the chance that I would start. Every game I mentally prepare myself for the chance that I might play. Most of my career I haven't, but I think that's paying dividends now. I know how to prepare myself for the game."

subset: commoncrawl


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Spring 2001
Volume 5 Number 3
Black History Month
Black History Month explored the theme "From Chaos Back to Community: Challenges for the Black Church Today." At the opening worship service, Cain Hope Felder, professor of New Testament at Howard University School of Divinity, dared his listeners to search for the African presence in the Bible and examine its significance.
Walking the labyrinth, having a massage,
eating a "healthy foods" dinner: these were just some of the experiences
PTSers had during the Seminary's fourth annual Festival for Fitness in
The Faces
of Mary
Church musicians, pastors, Christian educators, and those interested in the intersection of theology and the arts gathered on campus in February for "Faces of Mary," a two-day presentation of lectures, poetry, and music in celebration and remembrance of the mother of God.
Future of the Organ
Worship services and recitals by well-known artists formed the heart of "The Organ in Christian Worship," a colloquium held at Princeton February 4-6 for organists, pastors, theologians, liturgists, and organ builders.
Youth Ministry Audio Journal
In January Princeton Seminary's Institute for Youth Ministry published
Cloud of Witnesses, the first volume of an audio journal (on CD) on youth, church, and culture. The journal includes interviews, sermons, teaching ideas, and conversations with young people.
The hot topic of faith-based initiatives and charitable choice was the focus of an April panel and lectureship at PTS. James W.
Skillen, president of the
Center for Public Justice in Washington, D.C., an organization that advised President Bush on the establishment of the new White House Office of Faith-based and Community Initiatives, delivered the annual Abraham Kuyper Lecture, titled "A Kuyperian Moment for the Church in God's World."
Faculty and Staff Publications
PTS Book Sale Helps Overseas Seminaries
The Seminary's annual book sale raised $20,555, which will be donated to seminaries and Christian colleges around the world.
Seeking the Female Face of God
This year's Women in Church and Ministry lecturer,
Elizabeth Johnson, CSJ, distinguished professor of theology at Fordham
University, presented PTS with new ideas for how to speak about God in her lecture, "Women Imaging God."
Trustee News
Rhee-Connecting in Korea and the U.S.
Syngman Rhee, the moderator of the 212th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA), began his visit to the PTS campus in March by recalling the close relationship Princeton has had with the church in Korea.
Creative Preaching
Seventy pastors gathered in Princeton to hear four of preaching's best talk about their art in the second biennial PTS Festival of Preaching in March.
More than 120,000 Japanese Americans (two-thirds of whom were U.S.-born American citizens) were imprisoned in American concentration camps between 1942 and 1946 as a result of Executive Order 9066, which was signed on February 19, 1942.
Faculty and Staff Accolades
Robert Munger
Robert Boyd Munger, PTS M.Div.
graduate in 1936 and Seminary trustee from 1967 to 1970, died February 16 in
Pasadena, California. He was ninety years old.
PTS Corner of History: Princeton's Children and Einstein
William Harris, librarian for archives and special collections
recounts stories of Albert Einstein's interaction with local children.
Land Holy
Palestinian poet Suheir Hammad visited the PTS campus under the sponsorship of the Association of Black Seminarians and the Women's Center to read her poetry. This poem, "Land Holy," concluded the evening.
© Copyright 2001 Princeton Theological Seminary
The URL for this page is http://www.ptsem.edu/read/inspire/5.3/onoff/onoffcampus.htm
firstname.lastname@example.com | last updated 05/24/01


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""My model for business is the Beatles. They were four guys who kept each other's kind of negative tendencies in check. They balanced each other, and the total was greater than the sum of the parts. That's how I see business: great things in business are never done by one person, they're done by a team." "
The Airlines Want You Back
Some commercial carriers are hopping aboard the private jet bandwagon.
With more and more business travelers and high-net-worth individuals fleeing security lines, inconveniently located airports and crowded airplane cabins in favor of private jet travel, a thought has apparently occurred to some airline executives: Why not try to hang onto those passengers by offering them what they want?
No, you still can't fly privately on JetBlue or Ryanair. But some airlines that have long focused largely on the high end of the commercial market now run full-fledged private jet operations, most of which offer basic, pay-as-you-go charter. Chief selling points typically include the companies' reputations, seamless connections to their international commercial flights and use of their VIP airport lounges.
Without question, the carrier with the biggest and oldest footprint in the private jet world is Delta. It has apparently been in this market longer than any other airline and is the only one offering jet cards and a large, dedicated private fleet.
Delta Air Lines started providing business jet service way back in 1984 via Comair Jet Express, a part of its wholly owned Comair subsidiary. The airline rebranded the service as Delta AirElite in 2001 and as Delta Private Jets in 2010. It claims to have been the first private jet operator to introduce a membership card and the first card provider to maintain its own dedicated fleet of managed aircraft. It has about 40, ranging from small models like the Citation CJ2 to large ones like the Challenger 604, and plans to have 50 by the end of 2014.
The carrier—which also has access to more than a thousand airplanes supplied by affiliated charter operators—now sells two kinds of jet cards. The Delta Private Jets Card offers locked-in pricing for up to two years, and has no fuel surcharges and no fees for switching among aircraft categories. You purchase or renew a card by funding it with $100,000, which you can use to pay flight-hour costs that start at $5,250 an hour for a light jet in the U.S. Higher rates apply for larger aircraft, international use and peak days, and there are daily minimums of $7,000 in the U.S. and $15,500 internationally. The highest daily minimum, for international use of a large jet, is $25,900.
Delta's Fractional Jet Card offers the same hourly rates but with lower upfront costs—just $25,000 plus an annual $2,500 fee. The carrier isn't using the word "fractional" the way most private-jet companies use it—it has nothing to do with fractional ownership. Instead, the card allows you to try out Delta Private Jets' offerings for a fraction of the usual cost. You can upgrade to the $100,000 card at any time and if you do so within 60 days, Delta will apply the annual fee to your account balance. Payments are nonrefundable and balances are forfeited if not spent within 24 months. Delta touts such advantages as no fuel surcharges, locked-in pricing and the ability to choose different aircraft for each trip with no interchange fees.
The business jet products are a "differentiator," says Delta Private Jets executive vice president and COO John Daly, who adds that when the airline negotiates with large corporations on travel contracts, "this is something we can offer that nobody else has." He adds that "with a card, customers can not only purchase travel on Delta Private Jets but through our concierge service, they can book airline travel as well. So it provides a very seamless travel opportunity."
When cardholders opt for Delta Air Lines flights (for which they can use their card balances), they receive discounts on some domestic and international flights and enjoy the benefits of the carrier's Sky Miles Diamond Medallion status. (Mileage credit isn't offered, but that's something that has been "looked into for possible future expansion of the program," Daly says.) The company also operates charter flights and, for customers who own their own jets, aircraft management.
While we're not aware of any other airline offering jet cards or any that has been in the private jet business for nearly as long as Delta, it is not the only commercial carrier to venture into the space. Here's a look at five others:
Emirates Executive—The newest kid on the block, this charter operator launched in August 2013 as a subsidiary of Emirates, the Dubai-based airline. Flights are on a customized Airbus A319 bizliner, which has a range of about 3,700 nautical miles and carries up to 19 passengers. (In airliner configuration, it typically holds 124.) The jet, which Emirates says can be booked on short notice, features 10 private suites, a lounge, a dining area and a shower spa. The airline has not revealed pricing but has described it as "competitive."
Korean Air Private Jet Service—Korean Air offers private jet charter flights on its own medium- to long-range Boeing Business Jet and Bombardier Global Express XRS, both of which it bases in Seoul; it also provides transportation in South Korea via a Sikorsky 76C+ helicopter. Within the U.S., it employs the Flexjet Connect service to offer short-range flights on Bombardier Learjet 45XRs and cross-continental flights on Bombardier Challenger 300s. The company does not give private travelers premium status but does provide mileage credit in its Skypass frequent-flier program, according to John Jackson, Korean Air's vice president of sales and marketing for the Americas.
"We have a number of customers whose travel profiles work very well with this [private jet service]," Jackson adds. "A high-net-worth individual or C-level chairman or a CEO will typically fly us first class out of our [international] gateways transpacific. Then they may connect to one of our business jets. Or we'll have a team of developers or architects or maybe a touring band that'll fly business class and then use the business jet to get around Asia."
Lufthansa Private Jet—This division of the German airline has partnered with NetJets, which operates all of its flights. You can book travel on short notice and can fly to more than a thousand locations in Europe, the Russian Federation, North Africa and North America. The airline promises VIP treatment on the ground, including access to its first-class lounges at all departure and destination airports and complimentary limousine service at four airports in Germany and Switzerland. It also touts "effortless" connections to Lufthansa and Swiss first-class intercontinental flights. (Swiss had long operated its own private jet division but closed it as part of a reorganization in 2011.)
Qatar Executive—Qatar Airways launched its own private carrier in 2009 "to accommodate the increasing market demand for luxury travel," says Akbar Al Bakar, the airline's CEO. From its base in Doha, Qatar, it operates seven wholly owned Bombardier aircraft, including three Challenger 605s, three Global 5000s and one Global XRS, and provides charter services worldwide.
In addition to business-jet charter, Qatar offers airliner charter and, for owners, aircraft management and maintenance. Qatar also offers its commercial passengers the option of connecting to a Flexjet private jet via the airline's gateways in Chicago, Houston, New York, Washington and Montreal.
Saudia Private Aviation—Founded in 2009, this division of Saudi Arabian Airlines operates charter flights worldwide on the Falcon 7X and Hawker 400XP. It also offers leasing options (100 to 800 hours per year), aircraft management and ground services.
Of course, these airlines have entered a crowded field of companies that specialize exclusively in private jet travel, and many of those boast more diverse offerings. Still, you may find it comforting to buy your transportation from a subsidiary of a large, well-established airline. Depending on your travel needs, you might also find it convenient to be able to do one-stop shopping for private and commercial flights for multi-leg trips. If so, you may discover that there's still a place in your life for the airlines.
As the article above indicates, some of the airlines now offering private jet services are doing so partly or entirely via flights operated by other companies. Lufthansa Private Jet Services, for example, works with NetJets, while Quatar Executive and Korean Air Private Jet Service farm out flights within North America to Flexjet. Other airlines, while opting to stay out of the private jet business entirely, have formed alliances that make it easier for customers to combine private and commercial travel. Singapore Airlines and India's Taj Air, for example, have partnered with Lufthansa's Private Jet Service to allow commercial customers arriving in Europe and India to continue on to their destinations via private jet. Beijing Airlines, meanwhile, has formed an alliance with OrientSky, a private jet charter firm headquartered in Thailand.
Jeff Burger is the editor of Business Jet Traveler.
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PIxie cut with highlights for African American women
A hip and young crop can just about transform any woman who wants to update her image. The back is cut high up on the nape, and the sides are cut angling on down from the temple to a point just in front of the ears. The factor that sets this hairstyle apart is the uneven feathering all along the hairline, plus the short, short layers farther back in that are styled to stand up a bit. The ones on the crown are lightly streaked in auburn, and provide some height as they are styled to stay up. The look is well-put together and sophisticated.


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As a kid the mother used to have issues with me eating healthy stuff. (she claims she still does). For mom, healthy food included beetroot curry (ugh), carrot sambhar (double ugh), and some equally horrendous concoctions. Needless to say i used to protest. quite vocally at that. But the one thing I never did (and never do) is waste food. There were two reasons for that.
The first was, and this is where parents cause severe trauma to their kids :D, the story of Annapurna – the Goddess of food. Annapurna, loves, so the story my mother told me, feeding children. If children did not' like the food she 'created' and provided, and waste it, she would be heart broken. She would then sit by the banks of the river and sob. And when that happens there will be no food for anyone. This image of the goddess crying was so overwhelming, I ate every terrible green that landed on my plate.
The second was, and used when i went past the stage of being impacted by Goddesses crying, the story of starving children. You can't waste food, my mother would say, think of all the starving children in India. That worked for a good two decades or more. One fine day I grew up. When my mother had cooked something obnoxious -boiled doodhi with basic tadka – i rebelled. Said No. I want tasty food. She said, think of all the starving kids in India (i was 33 or so) … and then the cookie crumbled, the tube light came on, conciousness dawned, and I asked he "if i ate the damn thing, how will they eat it".
This morning, as news filtered in of the successful Agni V launch I had a sense of deja vu. The murmurs began. I almost expect an issue long rant from Arundathi Roy – shouldn't India be feeding her poor? Yes, of course. There are no questions about providing food security for the most disadvantaged. But, IMO physical security is equally important. The best periods of growth have been in an era of peace and stability.
But just because you won't test launch the Agni or not launch satellites doesn't mean you will feed more people. The two are linked the way everything is linked. But, is there a linkage between spending on science and tech and hunger? Are people going hungry because India is spending on moon missions and ballistic missiles? Is hunger about lack of money or is it something else ? People aren't going hungry because there is no food.
People are starving because the PDS system, storage facilities and the supply chain is wonky. NO matter how many curbs you put on expenditure on technology and defence, our people will still starve unless that is fixed. It is glamorous to bleed one's heart over the cost of scientific R&D, but curtailing it will no more impact hunger, than me eating that terrible doodhi…
Bleeding hearts are needed, but leaky brains are quite something else…
Agni – courtesy NYT


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Artistic Direction by Audra Sokol
The age-old story of Tchaikovsky's classic,The Nutcracker, is given a new twist by the talented dancers and choreographers of Ball State Dance Theatre. Ballet, jazz, tap, modern, and ethnic dance combine in a retelling of the story of Clara, the Mouse King, and the Nutcracker Prince. Join us for this unique and unforgettable kickoff to the holiday season.
The Nutcracker is a part of the 2014-2015 Mainstage series.
Tickets go on sale August 25, 2014.
General Public: $18
Faculty/Staff: $17
Senior Citizens: $15
Students: $13
Box office hours are Monday through Friday, 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. and one hour before each performance. For more information call 765-285-8749.
Copyright © 2017 Ball State University 2000 W. University Ave. Muncie, IN 47306
800-382-8540 and 765-289-1241


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Okay gang…here's a little game we can play tonight: Home Run Derby. Pretty straight-forward. Pick one player from either team that you think will hit a home run in tonight's Indians-Red Sox game, and post it in this thread. You get one pick. So just pop in here and post a name. No commentary required, although smarmy remarks about the Tribe's hitting prowess will be accepted. If your guy homers, you get 100 points. Each additional homer nets you another 100 points. And like the old TV show "Whose Line Is It Anyway," points mean nothing. Winner need not be present. Your mileage may vary. No purchase necessary. It's just a little exercise to try to make this god-forsaken baseball season end. Entries close at 6:05 p.m., which is tonight's start time. Plenty of good seats still available.
Tonight's starters: Franklin Morales (L) for them, Zach McAllister (R) for us.
My pick: Jarrod Saltalamacchia
So have at it. Good luck, and please play responsibly.


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I went a bit wild a few weeks (months?) ago and bought a cake of this...
I am new to the world of puerh. I have really enjoyed drinking three cooked puerhs so far and thought it was time to investigate the "proper stuff". Believing in "you get what you pay for" I went for the above expensive stuff (yeah I know you can spend a lot more than this!)
Can anyone recognise exactly what this puerh is? Who makes it? etc?
Anyone have any opinion on what it they would expect from it?
I would appreciate an informed view as I am struggling to like it, and I think some pointers would help.
I have tried brewing it in lots of ways - different brew times, tea quantities etc. but as much as I want to love it, I can't.
The taste is clean but leans to bitterness. I shorten brew times to avoid the bitterness but then the flavour seems to be too light to me. I've tried as much as 8 or 9g in 150ml of water but then the flavour seems too sharp somehow. sort of over saturated like you might get with too much oolong leaf.
It can also be pretty hard on the stomach - I've had a few cramps from this stuff!
Could it be this tea is too young? It feels to me it needs to mellow out - but then I'm just guessing with no experience at all!
I can't believe this tea is just bad tea as this Jing (UK) have always provided extremely good Oolongs and have a very good reputation.
Is raw pu so far away from cooked? Is the mellow, warming, tree bark-nature only found in cooked? This raw stuff is as different from my cooked stuff as oolong is from black tea!
Perhaps this puerh's taste is what you guys all love so much - Its so hard to know!
Two cooked puerhs I adore:
2006 Fu Hai 7576, meng hai
2005 Boyou 7262 - Menghai Boyou tea factory


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DFL to endorse 19A candidate on Saturday
ST. PETER – The DFL endorsement convention for the Minnesota House 19A vacancy will be held Saturday morning in North Mankato.
The candidates
Candidates are teacher and union leader Robin Courrier of North Mankato, MSU faculty member Clark Johnson of North Mankato, hog farmer Karl Johnson of St. Peter and St. Peter Mayor Tim Strand.
The Republican Party chose its candidate last week by overwhelmingly selecting Allen Quist, who was soundly defeated in November by three-term Democratic incumbent Tim Walz in the 1st Congressional District.
The Independence Party has selected area agri-businessman and author Tim Gieseke as its candidate
Robin Courrier
Robin Courrier has taught for nearly three decades in Mankato and is president of Mankato's teachers union. She said she feels her strength lies in her involvement with hands-on leadership role as a union leader and her knowledge on education matters, particularly with pre-K-12.
She serves on the governing body of statewide teachers union Education Minnesota and feels that she has the strongest chance of earning its endorsement. All the candidates have been screened by Education Minnesota and the notes were sent to the group's leadership in St. Paul. Education Minnesota will decide whether it will announce its support today or after the endorsement process.
Courrier feels she can clearly represent the views of the majority that elected President Barack Obama, former 19A Rep. Terry Morrow and U.S. Rep. Tim Walz in November.
Tim Strand
Tim Strand, mayor of St. Peter, feels he can be competitive because of his work in Nicollet County and St. Peter. He said that his leadership roles with the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities and the League of Minnesota Cities gives him hands-on experience and contacts in the Minnesota Legislature.
He decided to run when he saw Allen Quist was likely to be the Republican candidate. He feels the majority of 19A voters would find him preferable option to the divisive positions shown by Quist.
Clark Johnson
Clark Johnson, a faculty member at MSU-Mankato, feels his single-minded drive will make him bullish in guaranteeing work gets done on difficult topics like a four-lane expansion for Highway 14 or a sustainable state budget. He feels he has an advantage over the other candidates in gaining the student votes at Gustavus Adolphus College and in getting the students out to vote.
On running against Quist, Clark Johnson said he feels he can make himself seen as a clear alternative to Quist's "divisive focus on social issues." He feels he can be an unifier, something he has never seen from Quist.
Karl Johnson
Karl Johnson, a hog farmer and former president of several pork producer organizations on the state and national level, feels his strength in the endorsement and in a 19A race against Quist is his ability to reach rural voters. He said he has strong name recognition in the district, making him able to peel away voters from Quist's demographics, as well as being able to run without needing to spend money on introducing himself to voters.
All the DFL candidates previously said they would abide by the endorsement, and party leadership indicated they expected unity in the process.
However, Karl Johnson declined to comment Thursday when asked if he would abide by the endorsement. He acknowledge purchasing ads for his candidacy that started Thursday and will air through the weekend in the Mankato area. He also has ads planned for the middle of next week in a wider area, including KNUJ in New Ulm.
The DFL endorsement convention will be held Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at the North Mankato Fire Department on Howard Drive in North Mankato.
The primary election for 19A is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 29 and the general special election is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 12.
The district includes portions of Le Sueur County and all of Nicollet County, which includes the cities of St. Peter, North Mankato, Nicollet and Courtland.
(Josh Moniz can be e-mailed at firstname.lastname@example.com)


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(3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)
Nashbar should stop selling this tool
By Stew
from Philly
About Me Avid Cyclist
See all my reviews
Comments about Nashbar Torque Wrench:
If you read through the reviews you will find that when this tool works as advertised, it's great, and when it doesn't, you break off a bolt. I took a chance and when it arrived I set it for the lowest torque setting to tighten a seat bolt clamp rated at 6 NM. Broke it. The torque adjustment is defective. Given the multiple complaints of this tool failing and the damage you can do to your bike with it, I suggest that Nashbar stop selling it.
Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Was this review helpful? Yes / No
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Comment on this review
Torque Wrench
By Al
from St. Paul Mn
About Me Casual/ Recreational
Seems to work fine for me
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
Great tool
By Paul
from Montclair ca
Does everything it is designed for
A complete torque wrench kit
By George
from La Mesa, Ca.
Fills all my repair, adjustment and maintenance needs.
(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)
Doesn't work
By Biker/Kayaker
from San Juan, PR
When it arrived it looked like a great deal with bits included. First time trying to use it never clicked/broke away. Set the nm all the way to the bottom (least resistance)..still will not break away/click.
Torque Wrench doesn't work.
By Outside Guy
from Pittsburgh, PA
Purchased the torque wrench two weeks ago. When it arrived it looked like a great deal with bits included. First time trying to use I set it to 6nm to adjust bolts on a carbon stem. Seemed to get tighter and tighter - never clicked/broke away anything. I stopped using it. Set the nm all the way to the bottom (least resistance)..still not working. Luckily I didn't break the carbon piece. I tried the wrench on an additional piece of equipment (this time steel with no fear of having anything break). Wrench was set at the least level of resistance...still will not break away/click. Contacting Nashbar customer service.
As described
By Andy
from Scottsdale, AZ
About Me Competitive Cyclist
Perfect, just what I was looking for. Price was a bonus.
Junk! Do Not But. Total garbage
By Disappointed
from Atlanta, GA
I own two torque wrenches and was looking for a smaller one. I've being using torque wrenches for 20 years. The first one I received did not work at all no matter how low I set the torque setting. Replacement did the same exact thing. Sorry to say it, but stay far, far, far away from this particular item.
A super deal
By pbs
from Santa Rosa, CA
The best combo I found on the web. Multiple uses and I was able to build up my bike almost completely with this tool kit. The only thing I couldn't use it for was the bottom bracket and cranks.
A must if you work on a Carbon Bike
By Bob
from Las Vegas
If you are working on a carbon bike you won't find a torque wrench that works at 2nm at the auto parts store. This wrench works very well and appears well made.
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text:
N.Y. Power Authority Trustees Approve Further Spending On Security
December 13, 2005
ALBANY—The New York Power Authority (NYPA) Trustees Tuesday approved $15 million in expenditures for the second phase of an ongoing security enhancement program, which is part of the statewide public power utility's continuing efforts for the safety and security of its generating and transmission facilities and administrative offices.
The Power Authority stepped up those efforts after 9/11, in consultation with the appropriate state and federal agencies, such as the New York State Office of Homeland Security, the New York State Division of State Police, New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, to ensure that its facilities are well protected. This corresponded with increased investments under Gov. George E. Pataki for safeguarding the state's key infrastructure.
Additional physical barriers, perimeter fence and gate modifications, and changes to access control and lighting were among the enhancements under the first phase of NYPA's security enhancement program, for $13 million in expenditures. The second phase augments those measures with further redundancies, as the Power Authority continues to bolster its security systems in 2006 and 2007, and assesses the benefits of additional improvements.
About NYPA:
■The New York Power Authority is the nation's largest state-owned electric utility, with 17 generating plants in various parts of the state and more than 1,400 circuit-miles of transmission lines. ■ NYPA uses no tax money and no state credit. It finances its operations through the sale of bonds and earns revenue from proceeds of its operations, which stems largely from the sale of electricity. ■ NYPA is a leader in promoting energy-efficiency, new energy technologies and electric transportation initiatives.


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How Do I Serve Cheese?
Serve all cheeses at room temperature! Remove cheeses from the refrigerator at least 1 hr before serving. Hard cheeses take longer to reach room temperature. Cheese displays well on wood or marble or stone boards, surrounded by fruits, nuts, crusty bread and wine. Try to avoid cubing or slicing in advance, and put out one cheese knife per cheese.
After dinner cheeses would typically start with a fresh cheese (chevre) or bloomy rind (camembert); then a semi soft or medium cheese (morbier or cheddar); then a harder cheese (an aged gouda ); finally a blue (Roquefort): As a hors d'oeuvres, avoid sweet triple creams (which are more for dessert). Stick to bloomy rinds, medium washed rinds or semi softs.
A cheese plate is arranged in clockwise fashion with the first cheese at 12 o'clock on the plate. It's a good idea to vary the milk types as well (cow, sheep and goat) don't be afraid to experiment!


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Rebellious Rockabilly
Well the 60's are officially back and who better to bring it than the beautiful new comer Vali with this gorgeous new age rockabilly look with curled up pink bangs and a cool and rebellious black bandanna! The combination of straight hair on the side and curled brown hair at back just works so well and give this retro look such a new up to date style. This look is obviously for the more bold and daring women out there who really like to go all out and really stand out.


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Ann Curry To Deliver the 2014 Salant Lecture *** Registration Closed ***
Category: Speakers & Lecture Series
*** Registration is Closed for this event ***
The Salant Lecture will take place in the auditorium at New Canaan Country School.
Ann Curry, NBC News National and International/Anchor, will deliver the 2014 Richard Salant Lecture on Sunday, February 9, 2014, at 5:00 p.m. in a location to be announced.
The Richard Salant Lecture series was founded to honor the memory and values of Dick Salant, President of CBS News for much of the 1960s and 70s and one of the founders of "60 Minutes."
Ann Curry is the NBC News National and International/Anchor for all the platforms of NBC News. She also anchors NBC News primetime specials and is the chief substitute anchor for "NBC Nightly News."
Ann has distinguished herself in global war and humanitarian reporting, having traveled to some 40 nations 15 years, frequently traveling to remote areas of the world for under-reported stories. She has traveled six times to Sudan and neighboring Chad, to report on the violence and ethnic cleansing taking place in Darfur. She has broadcast live from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to report on war crimes against women and children. She has revealed deplorable conditions of Serbia's mental institutions and was the first network news anchor to report on the humanitarian refugee crisis caused by the genocide in Kosovo and the first network anchor to report on the tsunami in southeast Asia, in addition to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. She covered 9/11 and the killing of Osama Bin Laden.
Ann has interviewed the Dalai Lama, Benazir Bhutto, George Clooney, Angelina Jolie and the Presidents of the US, Sudan, South Sudan, Chad, Liberia, Syria, Pakistan and Iran. Most recently, she was granted the first worldwide exclusive interview with Iran's new President Hassan Rouhani.
For 15 years, Ann delivered the news on a program called the Today show, during which time, she jumped out of airplanes and off bridges, and also climbed Kilamanjaro and planted the NBC flag in the South Pole.
She has more than 1.4 million Twitter followers and was named Twitter's #1 in its list of top 10 most powerful tweets of 2010, for a 50-character message asking the Air Force to allow physicians to land in Haiti to administer aid to the injured and dying.
In 2011, she was named in Forbes magazine's 100 most powerful women in the world. Her awards include a Medal of Valor from the Simon Wiesenthal Center, five Emmy Awards, four Golden Mikes, Certificates of Excellence from the Associated Press, four Gracie Awards, an International Matrix Award, and an award for Excellence in Reporting from the NAACP.


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10 Worst Industries for Small Businesses
NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- What's happening in small business today?
1. What are the weakest sectors for small business? Before starting a business, make sure you have done research on your industry. From dry cleaning and laundry to office supplies and stationery to death-care services, The Washington Post identified 10 industries with the slowest growing sales and, in one case, shrinking sales.
2. Fast-food workers protest across the country. Earlier this month, hundreds of fast-food workers in New York City protested low wages and the inability to unionize, adding to the growing list of franchise employees across the country who are bring attention to what is perceived as unsatisfactory work conditions, according to QSR Magazine.
While the protests may not find much traction, major operators like McDonald's, Taco Bell and Chipotle should still take them seriously in order to curb negative public sentiment that might drive away customers, experts tell QSR.
3. Top small-business blogs. BizPenguin created a list of the top small-business blogs for 2013. Add them to your daily reading list if you're looking to catch up on trends, resources or just some really cool inspiration.
-- Written by Laurie Kulikowski in New York.
To contact Laurie Kulikowski, send an email to: firstname.lastname@example.com.
>To submit a news tip, email: email@example.com.


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I love Grand Rapids, MI and West MI in general. It's beautiful, low crime (for the most part) and Grand Rapids has a lot of appeal due to cultural opportunities. However and unfortunately, the economy is not good! I feel that it is time for a move. If it weren't for the job situation, I wouldn't move because I do like it here.
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i got to go!!!!!! - 2/19/2016
grand rapids is cool been here 35 yrs and looking to relocate and start over[Comment on this Posting]
Mostly good, BUT.... - 2/12/2015
Lived in Grand Rapids 6 years (moved here for school and stayed for the job I got after graduating). For the most part, GR is great - when I first moved here I was absolutely in love. It's generally a very friendly and down-to-earth city, with a fair amount of culture and local activities (and many free downtown activities!). ArtPrize brings thousands of people in; great farmer's markets; several really nice museums; Van Andel Arena hosts great shows and hockey games; Frederik Meijer Gardens; outdoor ice skating downtown in the winter; neat old houses; distinct neighborhoods that each have their own "feel" and activities. Beer drinking is big here. And coffee. You do have to make a bit of an effort to discover what's going on, because things can be spread out, but if you just subscribe to the local newspaper or follow a few groups on Facebook it's not hard.
Stuff I don't like: It's an extremely Christian city. If you're a strong Christian, you'll love it here. If not, you'll never really feel you belong. It's inescapable. I used to work at a coffee shop and people were hosting Bible study and singing regularly. That kind of thing.
There's not a large variety of people. Most everyone can be classified as conservative Christians or liberal Christians/hipsters.
If you don't like snow, you'll hate the weather. Summers in west Michigan CAN be beautiful, but know that as the temperature rises, so also does the humidity.
The best way to experience Grand Rapids / West Michigan is on the Lake Michigan beach in the summer, or in a local brewery in the winter. [Comment on this Posting]
Once was enough... - 10/27/2014
If you've never been to Grand Rapids, I can't say I suggest taking the effort to visit there unless your required to do so. After 15 minutes of arriving on a business trip, I was counting the minutes to my departure. One central theme dominates this entire region: God. Now, I've had the opportunity to travel to many corners of the globe, and have friends from many countries. What we have in Grand Rapids is more akin to a isolated bible camp that is hostile towards outsiders. It dominated every portion of my trip, from the bar, to the mall, to the Sunday drive. I was choked in bible stores, mini bibles in the office, prayer hands at the hotel room, I could go on. This hostility towards anything not conservative is obviously hurting the city both economically and demographically. No right minded college graduate would dream of staying in this region. Once was enough, and yes I made it out alive.[Comment on this Posting]
grand rapids . What Fun! - 12/14/2013
Hello, I recently moved to Grand Rapids from Detroit to live with my girlfriend who needed the financial help at the time. Now, being an artist from Detroit and also once living in New York, London and Philadelphia, I was hopeful to find a small yet interesting art scene. Wrong, the city is very very slow, un-stimulating and closed minded. And, I'm not comparing G.R. to the big city's I've lived in (well, maybe unconsciously). Although, I was truly looking for a small and humble scene and was very open to the smallest treasures. ZILCH ! My (now wife) and I have decided to find a real city with like minded, educated, creative young professionals like us to share the place with. I did come in with all the best intensions and truly searched for an interesting bar or gallery or....yeeesh anything. So, if you are thinking of moving here and you love factory work, mega churches, no urban community participation, low residential education levels, and no original art or music then come on down. Did I mention the lake effect weather .. No? I think I've said enough. God bless. Joey Matrone[Comment on this Posting]
<3 - 8/5/2013
Love this town[Comment on this Posting]
heath care growth - 5/19/2013
Health care and health jobs are growing in this area with the expansion of "medical mile".[Comment on this Posting]
Clean, Beautiful, and Friendly - 4/8/2013
I have lived in Grand Rapids for four years. Grand Rapids is the most friendly, clean, and beautiful city I have ever lived (compared to Pittsburgh,PA and Nashville TN). Grand rapids is covered with beautiful art, from sculptures to paintings to live performances that occur constantly in the city center where a large outdoor open auditorium is located. There are hidden lakes and trails through out the city which is interesting because even if you live there for years you will continue to find new natural beauty at your doorstep. The air is clean and always either smells fresh and crisp or of food that is being prepared at any of the amazing restaurants and breweries located through out the city. The community has established several amazing farmers markets where the best quality local produce and meats can be purchased. While living there you get a sense that you are a part of the community and that everyone who lives there makes it a better place in their own way. Grands Rapids has a vast and effective recycling program! While living there I was able to recycle 2/3 of all my garbage at no extra cost or effort to myself; their recycling trucks arrive every other week to collect the contents of my city provided recycling dumpster. I recently moved to Pittsburgh, PA for work and currently live there (1year) and am very happy to say that I recently found a new much higher paying job as a medical technologist back in Grand Rapids and am heading back at the end of this month. If your looking for a healthy clean and beautiful place to live out your days then give the great city of grand rapids a shot, you will be very pleasantly surprised.[Comment on this Posting]
Beautiful natural areas/clean city/DELICIOUS BEER - 3/12/2013
Having not grown up in Grand Rapids, I knew very little about the area when I first moved there for college. I was blown away. May through October, Grand Rapids is wonderful. It is within a 45 minute drive to either of the beautiful beaches at Holland or Grand Haven. The Meijer Gardens are unparalleled in their scope of art or quality of greenspace in the state and arguably the midwest. Downtown is very clean and has a nice park with a bandshell in the heart of the city that offers great concerts in the summer and ice skating in the winter. a decent number of restaurants that offer outdoor seating and patio space. The new downtown urban market (opens this spring) will be a year round contribution to the city which will hopefully be similar to Pike Place Market in Seattle. Artprize in the fall is a brainchild of Grand Rapids and is one of a kind in scope and in the number of differing mediums of art. Quite the experienced!
The city recently tied for the title of Beer City USA. It is well deserved. To a beer lover, there is no dispute that this area is a paradise and a mecca for amazing craft. Founders, Vivant, Hopcat, Perrin, The BOB, Grand Rapids Brewing Co, Harmony, and Hideout. Not to mention New Holland in Holland and two other micro breweries coming to Muskegon later this year. If you love good beer, you will be happy here.
That being said, winter in the area is cold and very snowy with not much to do in terms of outdoor activities. Also, the job market is not the best which means I will probably have to move away after I graduate this August. [Comment on this Posting]
Great Place for families - 12/2/2012
Having lived and raised a family in Lansing, Mi and the Detroit area I was delighted to have the opportunity to move to the "West coast" of Michigan. After 14 years I can readily say that, for family life, the Grand Rapids area is undoubtedly the best place in Michigan and a contender for the best in the country.
A blend of the best of both worlds, city and small town, Grand Rapids offers a friendliness that can be found in no other comparable city and availability of arts, sports and intellectual stimulation only expected in a cosmopolitan area. All this combines with an area where you can drive from downtown to countryside in 15 minutes or less or to the beaches of Lake Michigan in under an hour.
Schools vary among districts but there is affordable housing in the best districts and good education to be found with committed teachers and staff in more affordable neighborhoods and suburbs.
In addition to all this the excitement of Chicago is available for a day trip or weekend visit by a 3 hour drive or by train on Amtrack.
The only negative, if you really dislike cold weather stay out of Michigan. But, if you enjoy cold weather events, there is no better place than Michigan to enjoy all four seasons and the changes from one to the next.[Comment on this Posting]
West Michigan - 3/6/2012
I love Grand Rapids, MI and West MI in general. It's beautiful, low crime (for the most part) and Grand Rapids has a lot of appeal due to cultural opportunities. However and unfortunately, the economy is not good! I feel that it is time for a move. If it weren't for the job situation, I wouldn't move because I do like it here. [Comment on this Posting]
Grand Rapids Area - 5/10/2011
Though you hear lots of negitive about Michigan in general, the Grand Rapids area though is an area of in my mind growth. I have never needed more than two copies of my resume to find a job in this town. Even my son who moved from Columbus (when the factory he worked at closed), found a job right away.
Michael[Comment on this Posting]
Grand Rapids (Too Conservative, Not Diverse Enough - 4/28/2011
Grand Rapids is a very strange, conservative, and slightly backwards city. Although the downtown is becoming a little more vibrant than its ever been, the area's quality of life is not all that great. The people here are friendly, but however a lot of them seem to be very close- minded. The city is fairly diverse, but its so segregated, and the metro area isn't exactly the most diverse place. Also if your minority, especially being a middle class African American like myself, there is not a whole lot of opportunities here. So if your cheap, extra conservative in politics, overly religious, or Dutch, then Grand Rapids is the city for you !![Comment on this Posting]
Overrated Blue Collar Town - 3/4/2011
Grand Rapids owes its "resurgence" if you wish to term it that, to the Devos family who for the most part has provided the funds for making the city look halfway decent by erecting various buildings and funding improvements. Economically, the city is stagnant with shrinking population and a very narrow band of economic growth, particularly in health care. Demographically the city has a very low rate of educated residents for its size, also making it an undesirable place for larger firms and more educated residents. The feel of the city is very blue collar, as a large percentage of the population is employed in the service industry, or small parts manufacture for various industries. The city has taken blows recently with the closure of large manufacturing plants with GM and other companies. Grand Rapids is extremely conservative and the population is largely very religious, as mega churches are a common sight in the urban belt. Culturally, the area (even for the Midwest) is rather bland with only minimal options to choose from, including a few musical halls and botanical gardens.
It is my experience that the residents are mostly singular and very closed minded, most believe that they are living in the best place on earth (and most have never stepped foot outside of Grand Rapids proper). Many people who live on the west side of Michigan have the delusional (another poster mentioned this) thinking that it is far better than another other location in Michigan. Although all one has to do is consult the latest date to find that west Michigan has historically always had the highest rate in Michigan.
Having traveled extensively in the Midwest as well as the US, if your looking for a mid-sized city that offers a large array of cultural opportunities, educated residents and a good balance of life...i would stay clear of Grand Rapids. Ann Arbor, Madison, WI, Pittsburgh, or Minneapolis are far better options.
Now, if you are an ultra conservative, or enjoy a gritty blue collar urban area, Grand Rapids will become more appealing. [Comment on this Posting]
tough economy - 7/1/2010
tough economy[Comment on this Posting]
Grand Rapids - 6/18/2010
I have lived in most areas of this city. I have enjoyed most. Good,bad who knows, I'm blinded by time. I've been here off and on for most of 35 years.[Comment on this Posting]
A gem in a troubled state - 10/4/2009
The economic troubles of Michigan and, in particular Detroit, tend to overwhelm non-Michiganders. Yet the "west coast" is comparatively free from all the ills that stereotypically damage Michigan. Grand Rapids is the vibrant capital of west Michigan and its renown as "a great place to raise a family" is well-deserved. Now that may be damning it with faint praise to the younger single set. Yet the cost of living, the vibrant downtown, a diversified economy including a rapidly healthcare expansion, and the burgeoning arts community, not to mention the amount of private investment in the city from major corporations make this city a gem to explore.[Comment on this Posting]
Grand Rapids is an ever increasing cool place cult - 9/29/2009
I have lived in Grand Rapids for 11 years now. I always thought is was just an average city in an average state, until now. I have grown to love and appreciate and be very impressed by my city.
We have an event going on for a couple of weeks which is the coolest thing I've ever seen, and I am not even that big of an art officianado. It's called ARTPRIZE (www.artprize.org) and it is making our downtown area a thriving, bustling, exciting, fun atmosphere. It felt like we were in Manhattan but a little cleaner, safer, and a perfect temperature! (last time we were in New York we melted for days in 95 degree heat).
Grand Rapids is only going to grow, improve, and attract more people. The outlook is very bright, as compared to Detroit especially. Grand Rapids doesn not depend nearly as much on the auto industry. The "Medical Mile" has been underconstruction and is close to being ready if not all ready up and running on a new Michigan State School of Human Medicine, and the VanAndel Medical research facility.
Grand Rapids has the perfect blend of attracting new industry, great culture (museums, shows, thriving downtown, ARTPRIZE, etc), affordable housing, innovative schools, industrious and friendly people, and a perfect blend of all 4 seasons, except sometimes winter just seems a little long. But that makes us appreciate spring, summer and fall so much! And they are beautiful, green, and colorful! And we have no earthquakes, hurricanes, etc. The worst we have is an occasional blizzard which makes us shut everything down and cozy up to the fire at home. Bummer.
Maybe I shouldn't be telling you these things, it's pretty much an unknown secret haven, maybe we don't want people coming here in droves. We like it just the way it is.[Comment on this Posting]
Grand Rapids is taking off - 7/13/2009
Grand Rapids is host to numerous locally owned restaurants and businesses starting. Despite Michigan's terrible economy, GR is a little bit of a bright spot.
If you can survive the winters, you can make it here. Summer and fall are gorgeous with heaps of trails, biking, and art activities to keep you busy![Comment on this Posting]
Love my hometown, hate our economy - 6/26/2009
Here are some negatives and positives about Grand Rapids:
-Employment is hard to come by, the job market is flooded with qualified
people that are willing to take any job to make money, so employers can
be picky.
-Grand Rapids Public Schools are in horrible shape. We have a high drop out
rate, many teachers just do not care about the students, and honestly--
gangs, drugs, and violence are a real problem on top of the poor teaching.
-The weather isn't that great. Winters are harsh. Wear a really good coat,
and be prepared to drive in snowy, icy conditions a LOT...
-Michigan roads are to potholes and Florida is to retirees...it's where all
the potholes across the US go to retire.
-Grand Rapids has a beautiful downtown. New Art Museum, and a
great place for anything medical. We have medical mile right downtown,
which is filled with hospitals and nursing schools.
-We're close to Lake Michigan (about 45 min away).
-Summers are nice.
-Good churches.
[Comment on this Posting]
Great place for the Arts! - 6/19/2009
Grand Rapids has traditionally fostered the arts, with a wonderful ballet company, symphony, opera company, and several theater and music options. Now we have the brand new Grand Rapids Art Museum, a gorgeous (and green) home for a great collection and a venue for many fantastic exhibits. We also have Frederick Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park, which truly has something for everybody, whether it's the children's garden, the indoor or outdoor gardens, the temporary art exhibits, or their ever-expanding outdoor sculpture collection. This attraction is definitely worth a full day's visit.
The first full weekend in June is the Festival of the Arts, now simply called "Festival" by the locals, that showcases local performing and visual talent in free venues. The food is attraction enough, but there are many great kids' activities, too!
Later in the summer is Celebration on the Grand, which is a music festival that culminates in a fireworks show above the Grand River.
Coming soon is an international competition called Art Prize. The winner receives $250,000, so the competition will be fierce!
[Comment on this Posting]


text:
Hi Bellas,
I'm back with another Celebrity Inspired Tutorial. Today i'm using Kim Kardashian as my inspiration. I saw a picture of her rocking bronzey smokey eyes and red lips, a hot combo! The best part of this look is that it's so simple, I actually just used 3 eyeshadows and some black liner. In this look, I'll again be featuring products from one of my favorite professional makeup lines Graftobian.
To see the look, click here!
Pretty much everybody I know loves Kim Kardashian's makeup. She's teamed up with some amazing makeup artists who have definitely taken her makeup to the next level. As I was browsing the internet, I cam across a picture that made me stop for a second. It was for some ad campaign, and Kim was rocking some red lips and a smokey eye. Pretty, but done before right? After some examination, I saw that the eyes mainly consisted of a brown shadow on the lids and smudged black eyeliner. From afar though, it looks so technically complicated and intricate. I thought that this would be a great tutorial for my viewers who want to pull out a flawless smokey eye but don't have a pro handy. The look is super easy!
Unfortunately, I couldn't find the original picture of Kim that was the source of my inspiration. Believe me, I looked for hours, lol. Here's a similar look but it's not exactly the same.
To see my video tutorial, click here!
The final look!
Here's What I Used:
Bare Escentuals Prime Time Primer
Eve Pearl Salmon Concealer in Medium
MAC Studio Sculpt NW35
MAC Fix Plus
Graftobian HD Pro Powder in Healthy Tan
Graftobian HD Pro powder in some darker shades from Warm Palette to contour, lighter shades to highlight
Graftobian Blush from Warm Palette
Graftobian Golden Opal e/s as cheekbone shimmer
NYX eyeshadow base in skin tone
Graftobian FantasEyes Palette: Golden Opal e/s, Brown Cafe e/s
Bobbi Brown Gel Liner in Ink Black
Black Smoke ultrasilk Matte Eyeshadows
Black Velvet Kohl Pencil
Shisem False Lashes
MAC Brick Lip Pencil
Red lipstick from Graftobian lipstick palette
Jaguar Luxury Cosmetics Red Gloss
I have a few more videos coming up featuring Graftobian Cosmetics, stay tuned! Meanwhile, I'm going to be on a mini blogging Vacation through Monday as I'm on my way to Houston for a wedding. I'll return on Tuesday and share with you the winners of the Circle Lenses Giveaway. Ciao Bellas!
FTC Disclosure: Graftobian products provided for review. I am not affiliated with the company and have not been paid to make this post. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.
Atlanta Makeup Artist
Friday, May 21, 2010
Kim Kardashian Red Lips Smokey Eyes
Posted by MakeupByRenRen at 12:01 AM
Labels: graftobian, red lipstick, SMOKEY EYE
5 comments:
- Astrid Brisson said...
i love this look! it really suits you!
i'm a new follower and i have a new makeup blog, if someone want to have a look :) i have a kim kardashian inspired coming soon!
- May 21, 2010 at 8:37 AM
- Leah ♥ said...
I looooovvvveee this look!!! Very sexy!
- May 21, 2010 at 5:25 PM
- MakeupByAlice said...
This look totally suits you! Love all your work!
- May 21, 2010 at 6:32 PM
- Amina said...
you look beautiful!
- May 21, 2010 at 6:55 PM
- Indian_view said...
Great post, Kims a diva who can pull off the smokey eye look like no one.
Smokey eye makeup
- October 7, 2011 at 2:24 PM
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The Medical Laboratory Technician coursework is delivered through traditional classroom lecture or distance learning with scheduled on-campus laboratories and clinical experiences.
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Medical Laboratory Technicians are employed by hospitals, clinics, doctor's offices, research facilities, public health centers, veterinary offices, clinics, colleges, industry and the Armed Forces. Salaries throughout the United States range from $30,160 to $36,400.
MLT is a selective admission program. In addition to MCC's general admission requirements, candidates to the program must attend MLT preadmission conference. Contact firstname.lastname@example.com for more information.
This program is 2 years in length. Upon graduation from the MLT program, you can increase your employment opportunities by transferring to a university and applying your credits toward a bachelor's degree in medical technology, environmental science, forensic medicine, genetics, biology, chemistry, microbiology or pre-med. Vast opportunities are available to you in this area of study.
Karol Conrad
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This information should not be considered a substitute for the KCTCS Catalog. You should always choose classes in cooperation with your faculty advisor to ensure that you meet all degree requirements.


text:
Backgrounder #2541 on National Security and Defense
April 5, 2011
April 5, 2011 | Backgrounder on National Security and Defense
Abstract: The Obama Administration's FY 2012 budget request suggests that the Administration has subordinated the nation's defense needs to budget goals. The proposed budget continues the trend of reducing defense spending below safe levels while allowing entitlement spending to grow unchecked. To begin correcting the underfunding of defense, Congress should add $27.6 billion to the core military budget for FY 2012 and ensure that funding for "overseas contingencies" is sufficient. Congress should also look for savings in the defense budget that can then be redirected into procurement.
Providing for the defense of the United States is the federal government's most important responsibility, and it is predominantly a federal responsibility that in most areas should not be delegated to lower echelons of government or to the private sector. Yet these truths seem to be missing from the Obama Administration's fiscal year (FY) 2012 budget request.[1]
The Administration has requested a $702.8 billion defense budget for FY 2012, which is at least $36.5 billion below the estimated FY 2011 budget—a reduction of roughly 5 percent in nominal dollars or 6.4 percent in real (inflation-adjusted) dollars.
The Administration's five-year budget projection makes the misplaced priorities even more evident. In real dollars, the FY 2016 defense budget will be 13 percent below the estimated FY 2011 budget. This contrasts with a 17 percent increase in Medicare and a 16 percent increase in Social Security over the same period in real dollars. (See Chart 1.)
This pattern of fiscal restraint on core defense programs, but fiscal profligacy on entitlement (or mandatory) spending has been evident since the federal government took a "peace dividend" after the fall of the Soviet Union. Yet in today's budget debates against the backdrop of ballooning national debt and deficits and the tight economy, people too often point to defense spending as the culprit. It is not, as Secretary Robert Gates has explained:
Defense is not like other discretionary spending. This is something we've got to do and that we have a responsibility to do. And so the two shouldn't be equated. They have not been equated in the past. I mean, that's why they call it non-defense discretionary spending and so on.
…I got it that we've got a $1.6 trillion deficit. But defense is not a significant part of that problem. If you took a 10 percent cut in defense, which would be catastrophic in terms of capabilities, that would be $50 billion on a $1.6 trillion deficit.[2]
Yet too many Members of Congress are not listening. There are growing calls on both sides of the political aisle to cut defense across the board, just like other discretionary programs.
The Pentagon can undoubtedly find places to save money. There are many examples of waste and duplication in its line items.[3] But defense spending is not out of control. In fact, in FY 1992, the first year of the post–Cold War era, defense accounted for 25.2 percent of all federal programmatic outlays, excluding interest on the debt, while non-defense accounts accounted for 74.8 percent. Since then, defense spending as a percent of total outlays has decreased significantly while non-defense spending has increased.[4] (See Chart 2 and Chart 3.) Not surprisingly, the major entitlements, including Medicare and Social Security, have experienced the greatest growth. Over the next five fiscal years, they will continue to be among the fastest growing components of the federal budget.[5] (See Chart 1.) Thus, defense spending has not been a primary cause of out-of-control government spending and the expanding national debt.
Drastically cutting the military, which is already stretched too thin and using aging equipment, is deeply misguided. It would weaken the U.S. military forces at a time when the threats to U.S. security are mounting, and such cuts would create budget fault lines that could become fissures down the road. In the upcoming budget resolution, Congress should:
The Administration-proposed defense cuts would unavoidably harm overall U.S. military capacity, as is apparent from the internal components of the defense budget proposal. The Administration's FY 2012 request for the overseas contingency operations (OCO) account is $41 billion below the current estimated cost of $118 billion for FY 2011. (See Chart 4.) This is a 25 percent reduction in a single year. The Administration argues that the reduced OCO funding is the result of a responsible drawdown of forces in Iraq.[6] The Administration has requested $585 billion for the FY 2012 core defense budget, less than a 1 percent increase in current dollars over $580 billion for FY 2011, but a 0.5 percent reduction in inflation-adjusted dollars. Accordingly, the proposed core defense budget in FY 2012 is at least $46 billion below the budget authority needed to meet U.S. national security requirements. Underfunding the OCO account would only exacerbate the shortfall in the core defense budget. Even without the complications of OCO funding, the Department of Defense cannot recover from this funding shortfall in the core program in a single year. Recovery will require consistent increases over the next several years.
The large reduction in the OCO account raises two questions about the Administration's defense policy. First, is the Administration acting responsibly in drawing down forces in Iraq or is it drawing down the forces to achieve its budget goals? The evidence suggests that the Administration has subordinated military goals in Iraq to budget goals. Second, is the Administration shifting some costs of the operations in Iraq and Afghanistan to the core defense budget accounts? In other words, is the Administration asking the core defense budget to absorb some costs for contingency operations that properly belong in the OCO account? This appears to be the case, particularly in "resetting" the forces used in Iraq. If so, the cost shifting would more than offset the modest nominal increase in the core defense budget and would harm the military's ability to prepare for future conflicts.
The core defense budget includes the accounts that fund the basic building blocks of the military: military personnel, operations and maintenance, procurement, and research and development (R&D). These accounts are intended to sustain the U.S. defense posture over the longer term. However, the Administration's core defense budget of $586 billion for FY 2012 inadequately funds these key accounts. Given that Secretary Gates has announced that portion of the overall core defense budget under his purview (the vast majority of the core budget)[7] will not grow through FY 2016, each of the core defense program building blocks will be weakened.
The Obama Administration has been clear about certain aspects of this weakness. Secretary Gates has announced plans to reduce Army personnel levels by 27,000 positions and the Marine Corps by 15,000 to 20,000 positions beginning in FY 2015.[8] These are roughly a 5 percent reduction for Army and up to a 10 percent reduction for the Marine Corps from FY 2012 requested manpower levels. Secretary Gates's announcement omitted additional manpower reductions, particularly in the Air Force and the Navy. While the services have considerable room to improve management of military personnel, the more likely outcome is that a smaller military will lead to a weaker military.
A military that is significantly smaller than today's military will have difficulty responding to the future operational demands that will likely be placed on it. The military's high operational tempo in recent years has created significant problems by requiring military personnel to deploy repeatedly for long periods. The Army has been working toward increasing the time at home to two years for every year deployed, as opposed to recent rotations of just one year at home for each year deployed. Reducing manpower levels will make the rotation goal difficult to achieve if unforeseen circumstances, such as Iranian aggression in the Persian Gulf, lead to the resumption of high operational tempos.
The military fights as units, not as individuals. These units include Air Force tactical fighter squadrons, Army brigade combat teams, and Navy carrier task forces. While the man power reductions clearly imply a smaller and less capable military, these units of force structure require more than just personnel. They require operating funds, weapons, equipment, and new technologies.
The Administration's inadequate core defense budgets through FY 2016 will almost certainly lead to a force structure that is at least 10 percent smaller. The proposed manpower reductions in the Army and Marine Corps already point in this direction. This would return Marine Corps force structure to a level slightly higher than during the "peace dividend" years of the 1990s.
If internal savings to the core defense budget are not achieved and reinvested into defense, the force structure could be reduced by up to 15 percent. This would mean 65 active-duty Army brigade combat teams (BCTs) (down from 72 now), 18 Air Force tactical air wings (down from 20), 254 Navy ships (down from 282), and 186,300 active-duty Marines (down from 202,100). This force structure could handle just one medium contingency operation and an array of smaller peacekeeping and humanitarian relief missions.
A significantly smaller force structure will lead to vulnerabilities in responding to significant challenges in multiple regions of the world. For example, if the U.S. needed to commit major forces to respond to a North Korean threat in East Asia, it would find it very difficult to continue operations in Afghanistan and maintain sufficient response forces in the greater Middle East region.
The Obama Administration's budget request for the core defense program in FY 2012 would fund today's military at the expense of tomorrow's military. Specifically, the core defense budget for FY 2012 would dedicate 62.8 percent to the military personnel and operation and maintenance accounts, an increase over the already unbalanced 61.7 percent in the FY 2011 request. Consequently, the procurement and R&D accounts would decline from 34.4 percent of the core defense budget in FY 2011 to 34.0 percent in FY 2012. This problem in the core defense program will likely be exacerbated by the 50 percent reduction in procurement funds in the OCO budget between the FY 2011 and FY 2012 budget requests.
Shortchanging modernization is already forcing the Administration to back away from several important programs. For example, the Marine Corps variant of the F-35 fighter has been put on "probation," raising the question of how the Marine Corps will obtain a next-generation air superiority capability. Further, the Administration is curtailing future U.S. participation in the Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS), a joint air and missile defense program with Germany and Italy. This decision complicates the command and control needed to protect U.S. and allied forces against air and short-range missile threats during expeditionary operations and undermines the policy of expanding allied participation and cooperation in missile defense.
The Obama Administration has requested just $75.3 billion for defense R&D in the core FY 2012 defense budget, down from $80.9 billion for FY 2011. Thus, the Administration is proposing to cut R&D by 6 percent in nominal dollars and 8 percent in real dollars. This will further shrink the pool of technologies that the military can use in the future.
For example, future reductions in R&D funding raise the question of how the U.S. will modernize platforms and delivery vehicles in its strategic nuclear force. During the Senate debate over the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), the Obama Administration specifically committed to pursue this much-needed modernization. A significant cut in R&D funding over the next five years would make it extremely difficult for the Administration to fulfill its commitment to the Senate.
The R&D account was too large relative to the procurement account until the past two years due to severe procurement cuts. This created a circumstance in which the procurement account was too small to efficiently absorb the technologies that the R&D account was making available. The proper solution to this problem would be to increase the size of the procurement account, but the Administration has chosen instead to reduce the R&D account. The requested procurement budget for FY 2012 is a fraction of a percent increase in nominal dollars over the requested level for FY 2011, but it is a reduction in inflation-adjusted dollars.
Even this likely understates the problem of failing to restore procurement funding to appropriate levels because the FY 2011 and FY 2012 budget requests would effectively halve the procurement account in the OCO budget. This draconian cut makes it highly likely that the procurement account in the core defense budget would be asked to pay for procurement that should be in the OCO budget, such as resetting units with weapons and equipment that were worn out or broken during operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The overall U.S. deterrence posture needs to shift from a posture based on threats to retaliate against strategic attacks to a "protect and defend strategy" more suitable to the threat environment of the post–Cold War world.[9] Accordingly, the U.S. needs to modernize its deterrence forces so that they can hold at risk potential enemies' means of strategic attack against the U.S. and its allies, regardless of where those means of attack are located. Further, this force must consist of a balance of offensive and defensive weapons, including ballistic missile defenses.
During Senate consideration of New START, President Obama specifically committed to increase funding for modernizing the nuclear weapons complex, particularly $7.6 billion for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) in the Department of Energy. The NNSA request for weapons activities in FY 2012 is in keeping with the Obama Administration's commitments in December 2010, but still fails to address four important problems:
The core defense budget request includes $10.7 billion for missile defense programs in the Missile Defense Agency and the services. This compares to a $9.9 billion request for FY 2011.[11] While this request increases the missile defense budget, it will not redress the damage caused by budget reductions and programmatic decisions by the Obama Administration and Congress during FY 2010. For example, The Heritage Foundation recommended that the missile defense program receive $1.3 billion more than what the Obama Administration requested for FY 2011.[12] While Congress has not yet set the defense budget for FY 2011, it is unlikely that the missile defense program will receive anywhere near what Heritage recommended. Thus, the missile defense program is still being held back by the Obama Administration's budget request.
The Obama Administration is bluffing when it asserts that a U.S. military capacity that is sharply curtailed by budget reductions can adequately meet the nation's security commitments to itself and its allies around the world. Bluffing is a dangerous approach to national security.
To keep the federal government's commitment to defend the American people against strategic attack, the U.S. needs a strategic posture that consists of a thoroughly modernized mix of offensive and defensive capabilities as well as nuclear and conventional strategic weapons to hold at risk potential enemies' means of strategic attack. These strategic forces also serve the purpose of allowing the U.S. to operate freely in space and cyberspace and on the high seas. The Administration's strategic policies and inadequate budget request for strategic forces exhibit a preference for threatening to retaliate for such attacks over directly deterring strategic attacks by defending against them. This "minimal deterrence posture" is less expensive than a protect-and-defend posture, but wholly inadequate to meeting U.S. security needs in a proliferating world.[13]
The U.S. needs general purpose forces primarily to protect U.S. interests and meet security commitments to friends and allies in three key regions: East Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. However, the Administration's longer-term core defense budget would force reductions of at least 10 percent below the level necessary to protect its interests and meet its regional security commitments. Effectively, the Administration is using the defense budget to change U.S. foreign policy by forcing the U.S. to abandon one of these regions. From outward appearances, the Obama Administration may be preparing to abandon Europe.
Not only is the Obama Administration looking for budget cuts in the wrong places, but it is overlooking areas in the defense budget where savings could be obtained and reinvested into higher defense priorities. For example, the Administration is already looking at manpower reductions and reduced modernization to produce budget savings consistent with its budget outline. Logistics, military health care, and military retirement are better places to look for savings in the defense budget, which then can be reinvested into modernization.
Using the concept of performance-based logistics, the military could eventually realize more than $30 billion in annual savings.[14] These savings would come primarily from the operations and maintenance accounts and could be added to the R&D and procurement accounts. Performance-based logistics will use public–private partnerships to permit contractors, primarily those that built the weapons in the first place, to help maintain the weapons. Further, adding funding to the procurement account will permit the services to reduce the average age of weapons in their inventories. This will also lessen the maintenance burden on the logistical system.
Military health care will cost a projected $52.5 billion in FY 2012, reflecting a doubling in costs since FY 2001. Military health care coverage (TRICARE for Life) is organized around the principle of providing defined benefits to service members, their dependents, and retirees. The Obama Administration is proposing to offset the costs of these benefits mostly by increasing the enrollment fees and co-payments for prescriptions filled in retail pharmacies.
This piecemeal approach to military health care reform would prevent making the military health care system more flexible, enabling military members to tailor the program to meet the needs of themselves and their dependents. A systemic approach to health care reform, which would convert the existing defined-benefit system into a defined-contribution system through access to the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) on a gradual basis, would provide expanded options and advantages to military servicemembers at significant savings. These savings could total $21 billion between FY 2012 and FY 2016, and the reform could achieve larger-scale savings over the longer term. These savings would be realized primarily in the military personnel and operations and maintenance accounts and could then be used to maintain existing manpower numbers and to increase the modernization accounts.
Like the military health care system, the military retirement system is organized around a defined-benefit approach that suffers from the same lack of flexibility. Converting the system to a defined-contribution plan, even gradually, would give servicemembers more flexibility to provide for their retirement. It would also save the Defense Department up to $11 billion for FY 2012 to FY 2016 and significantly larger savings over the longer term. Some of these savings in the military personnel account should remain in the account to maintain manpower numbers and permit special pay and bonuses for reasons related to the structure of the retirement reform, while the rest could be applied to modernization.
Congress will soon take up the budget resolution that will set defense spending levels for FY 2012 and the next four years. If Congress fails to provide adequate resources to defense in the budget resolution, the two armed services committees will be unable to repair the damage in the National Defense Authorization Bills drafted later in the year. Accordingly, Congress should use the budget resolution to:
Both retrospectively and prospectively, the assumption that the federal government's spending can best be restrained by cutting defense is misplaced. Defense is not the source of the federal government's fiscal woes. This is not to say that the Defense Department spends every dollar wisely and efficiently. Indeed, the department will need to find savings within its budget in addition to receiving additional funding from Congress to remain sufficiently strong to fulfill its vital missions. However, Congress would be wrong to underfund the Department of Defense and just assume the military will continue to fulfill its missions. Congress needs to fulfill its own constitutional responsibilities.
While late in doing so, Secretary Gates was correct to state that a 10 percent cut in defense spending would be catastrophic to military capabilities. Congress should recognize defense as a necessity, not a lesser item to be traded away in a budget game. The federal budget includes many lesser, expensive items that could be cut to resolve the spending crisis facing the federal government.
—Baker Spring is F. M. Kirby Research Fellow in National Security Policy in the Douglas and Sarah Allison Center for Foreign Policy Studies, a division of the Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Institute for International Studies, at The Heritage Foundation.
Show references in this report
[1]U.S. Office of Management and Budget, Budget of the United States Government, Fiscal Year 2012 (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 2010), at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/Overview (February 24, 2011).
[2]Stephen F. Hayes, "Robert Gates on Libya, Afghanistan, Iraq and the Defense Budget," The Weekly Standard, February 23, 2011, at http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/robert-gates-libya-afghanistan-iraq-and-defense-budget_552349.html (February 28, 2011).
[3]Baker Spring, "Performance-Based Logistics: Making the Military More Efficient," Heritage Foundation Backgrounder No. 2411, May 6, 2010, at http://www.heritage.org/Research/Reports/2010/05/Performance-Based-Logistics-Making-the-Military-More-Efficient, and James Carafano, "A 'Rucksack' for U.S. Military Personnel: Modernizing Military Compensation," Heritage Foundation Executive Memorandum No. 1020, February 14, 2007, at http://www.heritage.org/Research/Reports/2007/02/A-Rucksack-for-US-Military-Personnel-Modernizing-Military-Compensation.
[4]This comparison is not designed to assign responsibility for the deficit or surplus across the federal budget for any particular fiscal year because some elements of the federal budget are excluded from this comparison. These elements include the effect of revenue levels on the deficit and the compounding effects of the national debt on interest payments.
[5]See also The Heritage Foundation, 2010 Budget Chart Book: The Federal Budget in Pictures, pp. 10 and 34, at http://www.heritage.org/budgetchartbook/ (March 21, 2011).
[6]U.S. Department of Defense, United States Department of Defense Fiscal Year 2012 Budget Request: Overview, February 2011, pp. 6-4–6-5, at http://comptroller.defense.gov/defbudget/fy2012/FY2012_Budget_Request_Overview_Book.pdf (March 4, 2011).
[7]Robert M. Gates, "DOD News Briefing with Secretary Gates and Adm. Mullen from the Pentagon," U.S. Department of Defense, January 6, 2011, at http://www.defense.gov/transcripts/transcript.aspx?transcriptid=4747 (March 4, 2011).
[8] Ibid.
[9]Baker Spring, "The Nuclear Posture Review's Missing Objective: Defending the U.S. and Its Allies Against Strategic Attack," Heritage Foundation Backgrounder No. 2400, April 14, 2010, at http://www.heritage.org/Research/Reports/2010/04/Nuclear-Posture-Review-Missing-Objective-Defending-US-and-Allies-Against-Strategic-Attack.
[10]Thomas P. D'Agostino, testimony before the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies, Committee on Appropriations, U.S. House of Representatives, March 1, 2011, at http://nnsa.energy.gov/mediaroom/congressionaltestimony/fy12hewd3111 (March 1, 2011).
[11]Baker Spring, "The Obama Administration's Ballistic Missile Defense Program: Treading Water in Shark-Infested Seas," Heritage Foundation Backgrounder No. 2396, April 8, 2010, at http://www.heritage.org/Research/Reports/2010/04/The-Obama-Administrations-Ballistic-Missile-Defense-Program-Treading-Water-in-Shark-Infested-Seas.
[12] Ibid.
[13]Spring, "The Nuclear Posture Review's Missing Objective."
[14]Spring, "Performance-Based Logistics."
[15]The Heritage Foundation, "Solutions for America," November 3, 2010, at http://www.heritage.org/Research/Projects/Solutions-for-America.
[16]Portions of this fall under the core defense budget, but outside the Department of Defense.


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This brush offering, is a modification of the Bobbo Super Quad. We are using the same mixture of hair that is offered in the Bobbo, which is a black synthetic and blue squirrel blend, but with extended hair lengths of 1 ¾ in. to 2in. We have had great success with the Bobbo brush, and have had requests for a longer hair length version. We offer this brush in four different sizes which are 000, 00, 1, and 2. With the mixture of hair that is used, this provides medium versatility for enamels as well as urethanes without compromising performance. The smaller sizes offer intricate design work capabilities coupled with very tight cornering. As you progress to the higher sizes the brush will allow you to do longer line work with thicker consistent line quality. These brushes will offer the individual a high quality striper, outliner, and scroller.
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