text:
Dara Torres is ageless. She has competed in four Olympics spanning three decades. She has never failed to bring home a medal. She has also been a Sports Illustrated model, Tae Bo pitch-woman, NBC commentator, and an advocate for resolving eating disorders and competing drug-free. Every four years, she seems to reappear, but rarely has her Olympic metamorphosis been chronicled in one place. So here is a roundup of where Torres has been every four years since her Olympic debut in 1984, and how she's seizing the chance to become the oldest swimming medalist in history, at 41.
At the 1984 Los Angeles Games, Torres was a Beverly Hills teenager who had just completed her junior year at Westlake, a private girls' school in L.A. whose alumnae include Bridget Fonda and the astronaut Sally Ride, and where one of Torres' classmates was Richard Pryor's daughter. But Torres, 17, was making a name for herself in swimming. One month before the LA Games, she set an American record in the 50m freestyle but the event didn't exist for women at the Olympics yet. So instead, she helped the US win gold in the 4x100m freestyle relay in her Olympic debut.
In 1988, Torres had just finished her junior year of college at the University of Florida. Her major was public communications. Her minor was education. And her mission was to win medals in Seoul. Little did the public know, she had been battling bulimia since her freshman year of college. All told, she said, "I had it for five years." Despite its effect on her performance, she was one of just five female veterans returning from the 1984 US Olympic swim team and helped the US capture bronze in the 4x100m free relay. When she came home from South Korea, however, she hung up her goggles. She was done. She even joined Florida's volleyball team.
Torres stayed in Florida after graduating, began working for NBC Sports, then decided 11 months before the 1992 Olympic swimming trials that she wanted to try for a third Olympics at age 25. It motivated her to end her eating disorder, she said, and quit bingeing and purging "cold turkey". By then, she had also undergone two (of six) knee surgeries, but she made the Barcelona team and was named the US team's co-captain and its self-proclaimed "grandma." In Spain, she won another gold medal in the 4x100m free relay. Back in the States, she hung up her goggles once again. Finished.
In 1996, Torres was married and went to the Atlanta Olympics as a spectator and Reebok spokesperson. "I was just so used to getting passes and going everywhere. It was different being a regular person." She attended gymnastics and track and field events, but not swimming. "I don't know why," she says. "When you're retired, either you have some interest or none whatsoever."
By 2000, she was 33, divorced, had done the Tae Bo thing, and had four Olympic medals, all from relays. She decided she wanted more. But the sport had changed in the seven years since she left it. So she altered her stroke, modified her diet, shimmied into a newfangled bodysuit, again qualified for the Olympics, and earned five medals in Sydney (gold in two relays, and bronze in three individual sprints) - her biggest cache at a single Games. Then she quit. Again.
At the 2004 Athens Olympics, Torres worked as a swimming commentator for NBC's Hi-Definition broadcasts. "I was fine with it," she said of her second retirement. "It's not like I had the Olympic itch." Nor did she seem to have the "itch" in the immediate aftermath of those Games.
"It only hit me," Torres said, "after I had given birth and was swimming fast." She qualified for the 2006 Masters World Championships at Stanford, Calif., just three months after delivering her first child, Tessa.
"There were about 5,000 swimmers there and it felt like 5,000 people said to me, 'I'd love to see you go for another Olympics.' Even going into that meet, I had no interest," she says. "I was still breast feeding between events."
Now, Torres has qualified for her fifth Olympic team. On Friday night, at the US Olympic Swimming Trials, in Omaha, Neb, she secured an individual berth in the 100m freestyle event as well as the 4x100m free relay, and may qualify for another event this weekend in the 50m freestyle. In Beijing, she will be the first American swimmer to compete in five Olympics and the oldest female swimmer in the history of the Games.
Which isn't to say all has gone swimmingly in Torres' latest comeback.
"I have my bad days even though I'm swimming fast," she said.
Four months after Torres swam a lifetime best in the 50m freestyle (24.53) at age 40, she had surgery in November 2007 to remove a bone spur in her right shoulder. As recently as this spring, she said, "I was in my coach's office saying, I don't want to be here. I'm exhausted. Not everything's peachy."
Her fast times, coupled with her age, have also prompted suspicion of steroid use to which she replies: "I like talking about it. I met with the CEO of [the United States Anti-Doping Agency] and said, 'Please, DNA-test, blood-test me, whatever. I want to be an open book.'"
"So to anyone out there that doubts me? To me, that's just a compliment. I now take that as a compliment that I'm doing that well."
What Torres will be doing in 2012 is anyone's guess. But her latest comeback has taught her one thing: "I thought that maybe competitiveness would dissipate as you get older. But it doesn't. I'm probably more competitive now than I've ever been in my life. Why? I don't know. It's just how I'm made up."
Aimee Berg is a freelance contributor for teamusa.org. This story was not subject to the approval of the United States Olympic Committee or any National Governing Bodies.


text:
Consumer Information
I want to know about...
- Personal Finance Education
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- Home Mortgages
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Consumer Protection
- Federal Reserve Consumer Help
Find information on consumer credit, consumer protection, credit reports, foreclosures, frauds and scams, home mortgages and more.
- 5 Tips for Improving Your Credit Score (FR Board)
Helps consumers understand how a credit score is determined and provides steps to improve it.
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Provides a basic guide to navigating the credit card process.
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Helps you get a good start in establishing credit, avoid hazards and know where to go and what to do if you have credit problems.
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Explains the key measures of economic well-being and what to watch for in the news media.
- What's a Dollar Worth? (FRB Minneapolis)
CPI inflation calculator lets you find out how much a product or service purchased in one year would be worth in another.
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- A Consumer's Guide to Mortgage Refinancing (FR Board)
Contains useful tips and answers to frequently asked questions about the refinancing process
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Helps consumers make informed decisions when shopping for home loans.
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Information and links to agencies and organizations that may be able to help you if you are having difficulty making your mortgage payment.
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explains the different kinds of mortgages, what to do if you're behind in your payments, how to avoid default and foreclosure, and how to avoid predatory scams.
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Helps consumers understand this important and complex mortgage option available to homebuyers.
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Explains where to look, what to look for and what takes place when you apply for a mortgage.
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Extensive resources for shopping for, refinancing and understanding the various types of home mortgage loans.
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What you should know about home equity lines of credit.
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Know what a mortgage servicer does and what your rights are.
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Explains home equity lines of credit, where to look for one and the costs of maintaining it.
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Keys to understanding what identity theft is, how it happens, how to protect yourself, and what steps to take if your identity is stolen.
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What to do and who to contact if you think your identity has been stolen.
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How to identify and protect yourself from the latest Internet scam—phishing, a high-tech scam that uses spam or pop-up messages to deceive you into disclosing your credit card numbers, bank account information, Social Security number, passwords, or other sensitive information.
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Learn the basics of interest rates: what they are, how they're determined and what they do.
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Walks you through the basics of calculating the most common types of interest.
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- Take It to the Bank: Your Guide to Opening a Bank Account
Developed for the Bank on Dallas campaign, this guide provides information on why a bank account is needed and advice on how to open and manage an account. Also available in Spanish.
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Federal Government's website dedicated to helping Americans understand more about their money—how to save it, invest it, and manage it to meet their personal goals.
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What you can do to avoid bouncing checks and suffering the often high-cost assciated with it.
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Explains how electronic check conversion works and what your rights are as a consumer.
- Currency Information (Bureau of Engraving and Printing)
Information on the newly designed currency notes as well as designs of past U.S. notes.
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Find out about newly minted coins, the new state quarters and commemorative coin sets.
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ETA informational brochure available in English and Spanish
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Operated by the Bureau of Public Debt, TreasuryDirect allows you to buy Treasury securities—T-bills, notes, and bonds—directly from the government.
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Complaint about a Bank?
If you have a problem with a bank or other financial institution, contact the Federal Reserve for help.Go now
Receive a Suspicious Email?
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Topic: Tricky Association Setup
Hi All,
If anyone had a couple of recommendations I would certainly be interested to hear how you might go about this.
Trying to set up an internal messaging/task system for a web app.
So basically a User can Send a Message/Task to be Received by another User.
I was trying to create an association that would allow for two has_many :through relationships.
I wanted to allow a user to send a message to another user or many users but then also that person can forward on the message and become a sender. I was thinking of sender and receiver as two channels / sets of data.
The code that I did have..
class User < ActiveRecord::Base
devise :database_authenticatable, :registerable,
:recoverable, :rememberable, :trackable, :validatable
attr_accessible :email, :password, :password_confirmation, :remember_me
has_many :senders
has_many :tasks, :through => :senders
has_many :receivers
has_many :tasks, :through => :receivers
class Task < ActiveRecord::Base
attr_accessible :title, :body, :location, :start_time, :end_time, :system_id, :task_type_id
has_many :senders
has_many :users, :through => :senders
has_many :receivers
has_many :users, :through => :receivers
validates :system_id, :presence => true
validates :task_type_id, :presence => true
class Sender < ActiveRecord::Base
attr_accessible :user_id, :task_id, :sent, :sent_time
belongs_to :user
belongs_to :task
class Receiver < ActiveRecord::Base
attr_accessible :user_id, :task_id, :read, :completed, :opened_time, :read_time, :replied_time, :completed_time
belongs_to :user
belongs_to :task
I couldn't figure out how to tell rails which avenue to get to tasks from.. ideally I would be able to use
Or a very similar notation. Changing to a single has_many :through relationship with a type field isn't working the way I was hoping to either.
Thanks for any thoughts.


text: Hand raised! Still have the "faster red" '95GPZ. John -----Original Message----- From: gpzlist-bounces at micapeak.com [mailto:gpzlist-bounces at micapeak.com] On Behalf Of vince stone Sent: Thursday, February 11, 2010 8:19 PM To: GPZ List Subject: Re: Getting Old? Raised! Ride it everyday, rain or shine. And we have been getting alot of rain lately. Needs a few things here and there but would trust it to run coast to coast! LOVE THE GYPSY! On Thu, Feb 11, 2010 at 5:56 PM, William K Denton <wkdenton at verizon.net>wrote: > I still have my fast black '96 and ride it often, although it has been > sharing serious time with the '80 CB-X for the last two years since I got > the latter running well. > > All those who actually still have a GPz on the GPz list raise your e-hand! > > Bill Denton > Yardley, PA > wkdenton at verizon.net > Lazarus Cycleworks, LLC > We Breathe New Life into Old Bikes > > ----- Original Message ----- From: mrgilmore at aol.com > > Yes, the List has seen better days, but some of us are still out here. I > still ride my GPz, only not as much<...> >


text:
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
That guy in the video looks to be using regular white flour or some blend of WW. If you folllow my latest recipe and use the Gold Medal WW flour you'll find that 82% hydration handles very eaisily and stretches better than some white flour recipes.Preferment:100 gm Gold Medal WW flour82 gm water (82%)1/64 tsp IDYMain dough:Preferment from above400 gm Gold medal WW flour328 gm water (82%)7 gm sea salt (1.4%)5 gm olive oil (1%)1/16 tsp IDYI made the preferment at 6 pm the night before. Just mix all ingredients in a small bowl, stir again in about 30 minutes, cover and let sit for 12 hours at room temp.Put all ingredients (water first) including the preferment into the mixer bowl. I used a KitchenAid K5SS with a spiral hook. Mix for 1 minute to combine. Let rest for 30 minutes then mix on low for 3 minutes. Turn out onto counter and cover with a large stainless steel bowl. Perform a stretch and fold every 3 hours. Scale and ball dough at 10 hours, let rise about 2 hours and cook at 700 degrees for 3 minutes in the LBE. Use 180 gm of dough to make a 10" pizza. Recipe makes 5 pizzas. Villa Roma
what is IDY


text:
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text:
Here's how RW members rated this race in the past (83 votes).
In short: Ok but not great!!In full: First time I've competed in a multiple lap race and didn't particularly enjoy it. However very nice setting and enjoyable drive to Blenheim palace! The event had a very clubby feel to it, i'll give this event 5/10 and doubt i'll run this event again.Date of review: September 21, 2011
In short: Challenging route, nice small field, great scenary Date of review: September 18, 2011
Date of review: September 28, 2010
In short: A great way to spend a saturday afternoonIn full: Good weather, lovely scenery and fantastic support from the marshals, visitors to the park and other runners. At my slow pace, I found myself lapped by about 20 of the front runners between 6 and 8 miles, which added to the enjoyment for me. A great way to spend a saturday afternoon. I'll definitely do it again.Date of review: September 20, 2010
In short: Definitely a race to come back to, either as a runner or a spectatorIn full: Great race. I hadn't done this for a while but had been to spectate because of the laps and scenery. Really pleased to have been back to race it this year. Fab organisation - Woodstock is such a friendly club. Marshals v supportive (ok, I'll pick out the guy on the bridge for special mention too as he really encouraged me but there were other friendly and encouraging guys and ladies out there too). Hills in the 1st 2 miles of each lap were tough but the rest of each loop was lovely!Date of review: September 19, 2010
In short: stunning scenery, traffic free + well organisedIn full: really well organised, route undulated all the way round - I knew that before hand - Could be a quick route, if you're up to the challenge ! the downhills are fast, uphill bits smooth + predictable, and the scenery was so good it was really good to be able to run somewhere that nice, and no traffic to worry about.Marshall on the small bridge was great, he must have run miles encouraging people over "his" bridge :-) mind you, the other marshalls were great too, looked happy ( and who wouldn't be, in that location ) and cheered us on. As this was the first 12miles+198 yard run I've done, I think it must be a PB ?Well Done Woodstock ! Date of review: September 18, 2010
In short: Scenic, hilly, great atmosphere In full: A great run. Very scenic around Blenheim Palace. Challenging hills - but in the first half of the 4 mile loop, and the long descent in the second half of the loop was WONDERFUL. Well organised, and wonderful Marshalls. And yes, the guy at the bridge does deserve a special mention. Fab comments - and he really did make me speed up to the end on the last lap... Definitely not a PB-course - where else would you run 12 miles and 198 yards? So - a lovely challenging run, time didn't matter, atmosphere was great - will definitely be back!Date of review: September 18, 2010
In short: Hilly but humble!In full: Just got back from Woodstock 12. What a great race. 3 laps around Blenheim Palace with some challenging hills.Went off a bit too fast and paid for it on the last lap but everything was very well organised and there was a real 'local feel' to the race which is always nice in these times of big, sponsored events.Rated as a bronze and you can really see why - loads of really friendly marshals (the guy on the little bridge was fantastic) and plenty of water on all three laps.Medal was good quality and goodie bag included some refuelling food.Quite a clubby race but beginners would be welcomed too.Anyone who has never seen Blenheim Palace would love this scenic course. I'm from the area so know it well but definitely appreciated it.REALLY sunny - shades were a must and pretty hot in places (roll up your vest and run in your sports bra heat) but trees provided some shade in places.The descents were fun - wheeeeeeeee all the way down yet you really had to pull out all the stops on some of those hills which seemed everlasting at times!Not a PB course but fun nonetheless :)Date of review: September 18, 2010
In short: Great Day, beautiful scenery and fantastic marshalls!In full: Fantastic setting!! Most scenic race I have done in a long time. OK - so it is challenging on the hills, slightly more than the described undulating! Well organised and contact with club (James Bolton) afterwards to find out about results was great, especially when you find out you'd won your first ever individual prize! I would highly recommend it and want to come back next year (hopefully without the 3 hour journey round the M25!)Thanks for a great race!Date of review: October 8, 2009
In short: Challenging, but great sceneryIn full: Despite it being very warm day and despite THAT hill (!), a scenic run round the grounds of Blenheim. I mostly enjoyed it, just the heat got to me on 3rd lap so slowed down somewhat. Nevertheless, Mr Motivator on the bridge got me going for the final stretch so thanks to him and thanks to all the organisers/marshalls.Date of review: October 8, 2009
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text:
Pros: Crystal clear vocals, neutral, lightweight, cheap, LOTS of detail, amazing Imaging, good soundstage, forward mids
Cons: Slightly rolled off highs, lack of bass to some, needs amp, coiled cable, requires burn-in
I've tried about two dozen pairs of headphones and I'm always looking for the absolute best pair for vocals. I also want forward sounding mids, but not too bad. My preference is also for highs that are not harsh or fatiguing. Being somewhat rolled off is ok. I find the SRH-840 is what I like in this area.
The best thing about this headphone is the quality of vocals. It just sounds amazing with both male and female vocals. This headphone is absolutely perfect for Jpop, Cantopop, Imogen Heap and Radiohead. The strange thing about this headphone is that the sound feels like an IEM. You feel like you're right there.
The highs are somewhat rolled off, but not as badly as the HD-600, but slightly worse then the k240 (55om) and SRH-840. This and the overall sound signature makes them a VERY non fatiguing headphone in every way.
Overall, this is a very neutral souding headphone. The only exception is that the mids are slightly forward, but not too badly. About the same as the Grado SR-80 or a tad more.
Here's the strange thing. Koss labels them as having "extreme" bass. They sound like they have a lot more bass out of the box, but after burn-in it gets reduced. I don't find these to be bass light or anywhere near that. The bass is VERY well controlled and perhaps people mistake them for being bass light because of this. It has just slightly less bass then my burned in k240 on an amp. Don't buy these if you like a ton of bass. Overall I find they have about the same amount of bass as the SRH-840 or maybe slightly less.
Second best thing about these is how natural and accurate everything sounds. Basically, everything sounds pretty similar to what they sound like on my HD-600. These are extremely picky about the source quality. They're VERY revealing of lower bit-rate and poorly mastered CDs. With my HD-600 I feel they can make anything sound good.
Soundstage is very good for a closed headphone, but not great. What really impressed me is the imaging of these headphones. I basically feel as if I can pinpoint every single tiny thing. Even more impressive then my HD-600. I think it has to do with the closed design, but i'm not sure. My k240 has fairly poor imaging and that's semi-open. Instrument separation is also very good.
The problem with these headphones is that they NEED an amp. I use them with my E5 and Nuforce mobile and they don't sound as good. Despite the low ohm rating I don't suggest them without a GOOD portable amp. I use them with my Total Airhead and they sound great! With a good amp they also have a bit more bass, but not much.
Another negative is that my first pair broke due to my own fault. I bought another and they sounded bad out of the box. The mids were very recessed and they just sounded wrong. The mids are nowhere near being recessed normally. I burned them in and after the 1st night they sounded better, but not quite. On the 3rd night they were perfect and just like my last pair. My first pair didn't seem to need burn-in to sound good.
I also found out these work with the Pearstone Velour pads. They need to be stretched out though and they look a bit goofy, but not too bad. They're now extremely comfortable. Out of the box I gave the comfort a 7.5/10, but now it's a 9.5/10! Luckily they don't degrade the sound quality.
Another nice thing about these is that they're extremely small. I think they're only 6.5oz without the cable. The build quality is also excellent. The cups are 50% metal along with the internal band and one other part.
Two other headphones sound very similar in some ways. These sound almost like the Maxell DHP-II, but those are far less neutral and have more bass and mid-bass. The vocals and mids on the DJ100 are far better. The build quality on the DHP-II is also not good. I'm almost positive they share the same drivers or something close. For anyone that cares, Koss has told me that they drivers on the DJ100 are titanium. They're 40mm when I checked my pair.
The Koss Pro3aat also sounds similar, but has way too much bass for me and too much clamping force.
These headphones are not for everyone. If you focus on vocal quality and good mids, get these. If you want sparkly and very bright highs or massive amounts of bass, look elsewhere. If you love any kind of Jpop or Cantopop, these are an absolute 100% must have. I would also skip these for rap, classical or metal. Classical isn't bad on them. My k240 are far better for classical.
My 2nd favorite is the k240 Studio. Those are better for more genres, but the vocals are not as forward and clear. The overall level of detail is also just not as forward. For me, the DJ100's level of detail is a step down from the DT-880 and AD700, but not by much. The mids are like my Grado SR-80 in some ways but without the fatiguing highs (un-modded). The DJ100 has far more bass though, but less mid-bass.
So, as you couldn't tell, this is my favorite headphone i've ever owned!


text:
Libraries today are dynamic places. They also serve as places of retreat and reflection. Baylor's Central Libraries attempt to balance these needs by designating areas as "Active," "Quiet," and "Silent" zones*.
You may also want to try the Armstrong Browning Library or The Texas Collection. Both of these beautiful special libraries offer quiet places for research and study.
If you have a complaint about excessive noise or other inappropriate library behavior in these quiet study areas, please call or text 254-265-2874
* We cannot guarantee perfect silence in the "Silent" zone, or constant quiet in the "Quiet" zone. Employees may need to talk to each other in these spaces for business reasons, sound may bleed through walls from adjacent "Active" areas, and people (like you!) using this space will generate some gentle noises (keyboard clicks, pages turning, an occasional cough, etc.). Please be patient with these minor interruptions.


text:
Frederic A. Bolling
Frederic A. Bolling, age 73, of Dunkirk, N.Y., passed away peacefully with his family at his side on Sunday, March 2, 2014, at Brooks Memorial Hospital.
Born January 21, 1941 in Dunkirk to the late Glenden and Mildred Bolling, Fred grew up in Fredonia and graduated from Fredonia High School in 1958.
He was a steelworker having worked for many years at Roblin Steel and also later AL Tech where he retired.
Fred loved music and dancing. In the late 1970s he brought his records in for the DJ to play at "The Time Machine." He was an avid collector of many things, including Elvis and John Wayne memorabilia, but his real passion was collecting records and playing his favorite songs. Fred was also an avid genealogist who loved sharing his photos and articles with his family and friends.
He is survived by his children: Timothy Bolling, Patsy (James) Klemens, Catherine (Stanley) Childs, Tammy Bolling Ploetz, Wendy (Daniel) Cassidy, and Cindy (Ronald) Krystofiak; and stepchildren Elizabeth Bonasera, Scott Bonasera, and Michelle Bonasera.
Also his grandchildren, Amanda Bolling, Mark Klemens, Ryan Klemens, Shanon Odebralski, Timothy (Sparkel) Odebralski, Crystal Odebralski, Jonathan Skrok, Richard
Bailey II, Hannah Bolling, Scott Harrison, Gavin Cassidy, Seamus Cassidy, Chelsey Krystofiak Tauber, Mitchell Krystofiak, Matthew Krystofiak and Michael Krystofiak;
step-grandchildren: Nicole (Josh) Jones, James Klemens, Jr., Michelle (Dan) Dankert, Kyle Klemens, Amber Childs, Amanda Childs, Matthew Childs, and Kaitlyn Bonasera; Great-grandchildren: Alissa Ferguson, Jace Bolling, Tristen Peck, Kayin Odebralski, Nyasia Odebralski, Andre Mendez, Oz Odebralski, Pepper Odebralski, Mekhi Odebralski, Abbigale Gonzalez, Ethan Krystofiak, and Eli Tauber; also his step great- grandchildren: Genielle, Jeffrey, Sara, Daniel, and Alexa; and a brother David (Miriam) Bolling; a nephew Jonathan (Donna) Bolling; a niece Jennifer (Chris) Laggini; and 2 great nephews.
Fred was preceded in death by his parents Glenden and Mildred (Cave) Bolling and also the love of his life, Marybeth Dunlop.
Calls may be made Thursday from 3-7 p.m. at the LARSON-TIMKO Funeral Home, 20 Central Avenue, where funeral services will follow immediately at 7 pm.
Flowers would be appreciated as Mr. Bolling enjoyed his garden and loved his flowers. A private interment will be in the Willowbrook Park Cemetery.
On-line condolences may be made at larsontimkofuneralhome.com.
Arrangements by David J. Dengler.


text:
Introducing Jill Lebbin!
May 22, 2013 by Ellen
Filed under Core Blog, May Arts Ribbon
Who's having fun this week???
Today we are welcoming Jill Lebbin! If you have been with us the last week or so make sure you check out the winner list HERE. You might see your name there and don't want to miss out on your Core Prize pack.
Here is a little bit about Jill:
Hello! My name is Jill and I share my crafts on my blog Every Day is an Occasion. I am so ecstatic to be on Core'dination's Design Team! I absolutely LOVE designing and creating projects! Within the last five years I have learned that I am happiest if I am able to carve out a little bit of time to live creatively every day, whether it is by decorating my house, making a card, or working on a scrapbook. I guess I could say, it is in blood…I attribute all my craftiness to my mother.
Most of my time is spent with my loving family. I have a wonderful husband who is very supportive of my endeavors and two sweet and spunky kids whom I get to spend my days with. I am so blessed!! We enjoy traveling together, whether it is to zoos, museums, or lakes…but our very favorite spot to travel to is The Cayman Islands.
When I'm not spending time with the fam or crafting I am working on my fundraiser that I created and direct called Craft for a Cause. We raise money to help buy Automated External Defibrillators (AED's they help restart a heart).
Here is the inside scoop in Jill's layout:I chose a picture of my family as the focal point in my layout because they are my main focus. They are my life. Everything revolves around them and I wouldn't have it any other way. This is a picture of the four of us at a zoo. My son absolutely LOVES zoos, so we have been to 7 different zoos around the country within the last year.
Supply List
Main turquoise cardstock piece: Core Impressions: Fancy Pants
White Core'dinations Cardstock: David Tutera -Lace Doily Assortment
Purple Tag: Core'dinations Tags-Brights Assortment
Ribbon: May Arts
Photo Corners: Martha Stewart Crafts
Thickers: American Crafts
Flowers: Paper Studio-Spare Parts
Thanks for stopping by and learning a bit about me!
To find out all the latest with me, we can stay in touch by Blog Facebook Twitter Pinterest Instagram
Anyone up for a WINNER from yesterday's Brights collection pack??????????
The Brights collection have such bright & cheery colors! I'd love to try them!
And today we have a pack of the gorgeous Neutrals Cardstock! Every single crafter MUST HAVE this in their stash! Same great Core but in a neutral color palette.
Please note we will only be posting Monday through Friday. We will pick a random winner the following morning (or Monday if it is the weekend) to win a pack of Core'dinations Cardstock. The cardstock pack may vary due to availability. Winners must email firstname.lastname@example.com by June 7 to claim their prizes with the cardstock they won in the subject line. Please include address and phone number in the email.


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The manually focusable Carl Zeiss SLR lenses are available with EF bayonet (ZE), F bayonet (ZF.2), K bayonet (ZK) and the M42 screw threads (ZS). The possibilities of using scene programs, different types of exposure metering and individualized functions can be varied depending on the camera model.
SLR lenses with M42 screw thread to use with adapters on different SLR camera models.


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What's Hot: September 2013
From ancient Egypt to colonial America, artists have used plaster, one of the world's most versatile materials, to make intricate sculptures and architectural ornaments. In the 20th century, designers such as Frances Elkins and John Dickinson became renowned for producing whimsical white plaster furnishings and light fixtures.
The material isn't without drawbacks, most notably its fragility. Today, manufacturers use plaster as well as similar looking but more durable materials to create objects and furniture with the signature chalk-white look. Such pieces are popular for good reason, says designer Barrie Benson: "They can make a stiff room feel a lot more casual."
Plaster-like pieces usually have a strong handmade quality and a heavily textured finish—appealing elements for almost any interior, traditional or modern, says designer Stefan Steil. "They can bring a touch of nature into a room," he adds, "without hitting you over the head."
Known for mixing periods and styles while adding splashes of color and pattern, Benson designs residential and commercial spaces in her native North Carolina as well as in New York and Los Angeles. barriebenson.com
Since establishing his smartly named design firm, Steilish, last year, the German-born, New York–based designer has crafted modern interiors peppered with surprising natural elements. steilish.com
Made of stucco over iron, this chair earns Barrie Benson's praise. "It's a little work of art," she says. "The petite scale would make it perfect for a vanity." Stefan Steil appreciates the item's nod to nature. "It looks like twigs growing out of the ground," he says, and suggests setting it off as a focal point. "It would be unexpected in a stark living room." 32" h. x 17" w. x 16" d.; $3,400; demiurgenewyork.com
Home Endeavors


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Great kit, comes with good workbook!
By Math Matt
from Dallas, TX
About Me Education Oriented
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Comments about Learning Resources Cash Pax® Money Briefcase:
The coins and bills are full size and the colors are good on the set I have. This is one of the best sets I have used, and I like the briefcase feature to secure the coins.
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
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Greetings from the 66th Session of the UN General Assembly. Yesterday, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton spoke with distinguished leaders from the government, civil society and the private sector about "Women and Agriculture: A Conversation on Improving Global Food Security." In a discussion moderated by New York Times columnist Nick Kristof, she was joined by Jakaya Kikwete, President of Tanzania; Kathy Spahn, President and CEO of Helen Keller International; Paul Polman, CEO of Unilever; Reema Nanavaty, Director of Economic and Rural Development for the Self-Employed Women's Association of India (SEWA); Jose Graziano da Silva, Assistant Director-General of the FAO and former Brazilian Extraordinary Minister of Food Security and Fight Against Hunger; and Rajiv Shah, Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development.
Secretary Clinton convened this panel to review the evidence for investing in women farmers, and targeted global leaders who are involved in agriculture (sourcing, training, farming) already, but who may not consider women as explicit targets of their investments. Women make up 43 percent of the global agricultural workforce, 50 percent in parts of Asia and Africa, and are the outright majority in over 30 countries around the world. However, there are well-documented gender disparities in access to credit, seeds, fertilizers, and other modern technologies. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that equalizing access to productive resources between female and male farmers could increase agricultural output in developing countries by as much as 2.5 to 4 percent, and although it doesn't sound like much, this could reduce the number of hungry people in the world by as many as 150 million. The more than 13.3 million people at risk of starvation due to drought and famine in the Horn of Africa -- primarily in Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia -- are a painful reminder of the urgency of meeting the challenge.
Under the U.S. Feed the Future initiative, Secretary Clinton also announced a call for proposals under a $5 million USAID research program on women in agricultural development. USAID Administrator Shah emphasized that this is just one piece of our efforts to unleash the potential of women as agricultural producers and entrepreneurs -- but crucial for understanding what works.
The discussion served its purpose too. Paul Polman, CEO of Unilever, discovered in the course of preparing for the panel that women are often his firm's most productive agricultural producers. However, after reviewing some preliminary evidence and listening to the discussion yesterday, he explained that "I was looking at the report we were writing […] the "Business 20" input into the G-20. And again, I'm ashamed to say we look at all the recommendations we make on increasing investments in agriculture, R&D, making it more sustainable, looking at nutrition as a driving factor, all the things that I'm sure you're all well familiar with. But again, we failed to look at it from the angle of women."
Polman continued, "So one of the commitments I made this morning to someone -- and I'll make it here publicly -- that I'll take this report back [… ] with these statistics that the Secretary shared with us -- if we could make that come alive, indeed it will go a long way to filling the gap of the 70 percent that we need in production to meet the world's projected food needs in 2050."
That's exactly the kind of outcome the Secretary and the Feed the Future team were hoping for.
Zharkov in the U.S.A. writes:
There is no "food security" as long as genetically-modified crop experiments continue to be permitted.
It's junk science to believe that changing a gene or a few genes will produce only one change in result.
Changing a single gene could produce thousands of changes in DNA not only in humans, but in other animal species, and even insects such as honey bees could suffer grotesque changes in genetic makeup.
Imagine a honey bee that produces a deadly poison instead of honey, and you might be able to imagine what kind of accidents could happen.
Genetic experimentation on the entire human population should be considered a "crime against humanity", but that is exactly what is happening today. These GM foods are not tested long term, and no genetic damage evaluation has been made for all species that come in contact with those crops, so it is one big experiment on all life forms on earth.
I would like to see a huge wave of lawsuits filed in courts to stop genetic experiments with the food supply - the danger far outweighs any conceivable benefits derived from genetic experimentation.
It's the same as throwing darts while blindfolded except chance of injuring multitudes of people is far higher.
Zharkov in the U.S.A. writes:
Every woman who wants to feed her baby some genetically-modified, experimental food substance, raise your hand.
What? Nobody?
How about vaccinating your child with vaccine containing live cancer virus, AIDS, Mercury, and God only knows what else?
Any support for that?
It's all well documented that this is happening today. Some things the drug industry doesn't want you to know.
The question every woman should ask herself is, do I want to risk my child's life upon some UN recommedations?
Are our recommendations outdated?
Do we really know very much about what the UN recommends to others? What don't we know?
Why do we not read more to discover our lack of information? What are the odds that we are wrong and how many lives are at risk from our lack of knowledge?
Joanne D. in California writes:
I am an American female farmer, and what you are trying to do is wonderful on a global scale. I am a caretaker; not an owner of my own land, however I want to be an owner and start raising cows; alongside grow and cultivate Orange, and Olive Orchards. Can someone please e-mail me in how I can apply for land for my farming future and the future of others? I can also align my company with several local colleges in their agricultural programs. I can teach and help other farmers; male and female the trade of building, and maintaining a wonderful farm. I am also four courses away from my Master of Arts Degree in Organizational Management; with an emphasis on Leadership.
Thank you for your time, and I will look forward from hearing from you.
Dr. Diane S. in Washington, DC writes:
Right on! And when women make more income, they are more likely to spend it to support their families.
John in Canada writes:
@ Zharkov in the U.S.A - chances for human error are very high in all fields.
The question is if we act or don't act to a certain situation - will it make any difference at all?
Take global warming - I for one think we should avoid dirtying our world. Will our pollution destroy us though?
Imagine if all pollution was stopped, we drove electric vehicles - would we be any safer from global catastrophe?
I think not. 5 extinctions have taken place without our help. Our world heaves and hoes in ways we neither understand or can stop. Even if all 7 billion people became devout disciples of environmentalism we would be in as much danger as we are in right now.
Its like health issues the experts constantly study and revise healthy lifestyle issues. If we all exercised and ate what the experts say - would we stop illness, would we stop dieing? No - what would the experts say when things don't change that much - just a shift in what will kill us and when?(which creates a whole new set of problems)
Food production is imperative these days but old methods of farming and GM crops will prove to be a big let down at times they are needed most.
Frankly it would be nice if the experts could not only acknowledge the problems we face in real common sense terms but devise solution to succeed and thrive what ever the case maybe.
To date they are in my opinion failing in both areas.
The failure to put problems into real perspective and not some artificial half @ssed way does lead us to creating bigger problems for ourselves in every facet of what we do. Sometimes the solutions we devise becomes a much bigger problem.
Example - Would it not be better to develop a solution for the pollution, while at the same time ensuring are survival and success through disaster we cannot control? I would add to this at the same time creating more food and better health?
Monolithic ideas lead to monolithic failures.
Reducing our problems to simplistic unrealistic data sets while ignoring what may be inconvenient and obvious is a costly way of failing and failing big.
We need Ideas that deal with issues in a much more synergistic way - forget about killing 2 birds with one stone - kill a dozen.
I would add that we have along way to go at stamping out corruption - (more or less its what you are saying in a broad sense - given the need for the UN is born out of our collective ability not to do the right thing, its easy to view them with suspicion -corruption kills people, our ideas and our future)
Have a great day
keep slugging away madam secretary and remember the best solutions start with the most creative Ideas from those that have vision and believe anything is possible.
Zharkov in the U.S.A. writes:
@ John in Canada:
Human errors can often be fixed but genetic accidents are irreversable. Genetically- unintended consequences are forever, unless contained within a laboratory. Once released into the environment, there is no stopping genetic mutations.
I try not to mix global warming with global pollution, as they are quite different issues.
Global warming is a solar event, not human-induced. Solar output far outweighs everything we do on earth. Prehistoric earth had at least 30 times more CO2 than we do now, and the plants loved it. Nocturnal CO2 emissions from plants and trees help us to sleep at night. Plants need CO2 to survive.
Pollution is a different issue. The Plutonium pollution from Fukushima, and from over 1042 atomic tests by the US and hundreds of others around the world, are definitely government-made and need to stop.
Industries in China, Japan, and India, have polluted their nations to a disgusting extent, and their governments should be concerned about their own future.
Fake maps showing Greenland melting, fake temperature data, exaggerated models, bogus claims about polar bears drowning, all have produced global hysteria over a natural change in the climate.
The UN's false claims about global warming have been revealed over the past few years and are no longer credible. They've been fully exposed as frauds perpetrated to enable public acceptance of carbon taxes. What the world needs is a climate of truth in government, not another tax to lower the world's populations deeper into poverty.


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The Fueled By Ramen Weekly Contest:
This week we are offering a Gym Class Heroes prize pack! This includes: a limited edition vinyl pressing of The Quilt, a copy of The Papercut Chronicles II CD, a Gym Class Heroes New Era fitted cap and FBR stickers!
How To Enter: To win this prize package reblog this photo HERE on tumblr, retweet the tweet HERE or share the post HERE on Facebook. Then send a link or screenshot of your post to firstname.lastname@example.com with your mailing address. We will edit this post with the winners name later today.


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Topic: Sessions Question
I'm a new convert to Rails from Java, and I also don't have much experience with web programming, other than HTML/CSS/JS. I want to write a game where player data such as inventory and personal stats need to persist over several months. Would Sessions be a good place to store the models that hold this data?
In my head, it looks like the User Profile will hold the SessionID, which will have hashes to Inventory, Stats, whatever. I'm just wondering if this is an obviously bad idea before I start coding (ie - do Sessions auto-delete, or are they notoriously inefficient, or is this just not the right track for some reason). Thanks very much for any advice!


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Japanese Social Networking: Can mixi survive Line, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.?
Long under siege from Facebook, Twitter
Long under siege from Facebook, Twitter
From Muji, file box-shaped Bluetooth speaker MJFSP-1 for ¥13,000 is now out.
The speaker looks like a file box that you keep documents in so that it looks very natural when you place it on a book cabinet.
Two of these speakers can be connected through an accompanying cable so that you can listen to them in stereo.
It support Bluetooth 3.0, SCMS-T (Serial Copy Management System), SBC (codec), and FM radio.
Panasonic is going to release new optical 30X zoom compact digital camera LUMIX DMC-TZ60 with electric view finder built-in. It will be available for about ¥48,000 on February 13.
Olympus is going to release the Micro Four Thirds System standard mirrorless camera OM-D E-M10 in late February.
OM-D E-M10 is a premium entry model of Olympus's mirrorless camera series "OM-D". Even though it has a compact slim body (119.1x82.3x45.9mm, 396g including the battery and memory card), it has a feature set that is almost the equivalent of its flagship models.
It was approaching 4pm on a Monday afternoon in December last year, and I had just finished an interview with a company in Kawaguchi City, Saitama Prefecture, just outside Tokyo. It was time to head back into the city, but when I arrived at Nishi-Kawaguchi train station and saw the mass of emergency vehicles lined up outside, I realized that one of those all too common delays, a Jinshin Jiko (人身事故), a "human accident," had likely occurred. It's a curious euphemism.
docomo Healthcare, combined company of NTT docomo and Omron, continues to pursue the wearable tech space, releasing the wristband-shaped activity monitor Move Band for about ¥9,500 on January 29.
Move Band was originally planned to be out in December 2013, however, the release was postponed because the Move Band's original clips were found to be too weak.
Yamaha is going to release the stylish headphones HPH-M82 in mid-February. There are 6 colors available: Jewelry Gold, Bordeaux Brown, Urban Navy, Sophis Black, Pure Red and Active White.
It has a square-shaped design and nice vivid color so that you can bring HPH-M82 with you like a fashion accessory.
Driver size: 40mm in diameter
Impedance: 46Ω (1kHz)
Playback frequency: 20Hz~20kHz
Plug: 3.5mm L-shaped stereo mini
Weight: 150g
Oh Family Mart, you care so much about steamed buns…
Family Mart is going to release cute nikuman versions of Gachapin and Mukku. They were born in the old-school Japanese TV program for children "Hirake! Ponkikki" and are still much loved characters.
NEC is going to start selling 10.1 inch business-oriented tablet LifeTouch L on February 20.
This 7.9mm-thick 590g tablet supports Android 4.1, WXGA LCD display (1280x800), 1.5GHz dual core OMAP 4460 HS, microSD/microSDHC memory card slot, USB, HDMI terminal, 1GB memory, 16GB ROM and Bluetooth. The 8,200mAh battery runs for 15 hours.
Estimated price: ¥56,300


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Product Details
These quirky socks come from Happy Socks®, a Scandinavian brand that was started in order to bring some sunshine to dark Swedish winters. We love that this brand turned something boring into something kids want to show off. Plus, we made sure the special combed cotton won't get holes.
Size & Fit Details


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About the Author: Karen Hall is a Foreign Affairs Officer and head of the Administration of Justice Team in INL's Office of Afghanistan/Pakistan.
I first visited the Kabul Women's Detention Facility in 2006. A little boy with an open sore on his face stared up at me with huge brown eyes. He was incarcerated with his mother, which is the practice in Afghanistan due to the lack of social services or other custody mechanisms. I remember other women detainees smiling, despite the crumbling building they lived in. The environment was austere, but the mothers and corrections officers were clearly trying to make the best of it: They had formed an ad hoc nursery school, and the few literate women in the group were teaching the children to read. I was visiting the detention facility as part of my assignment with the State Department's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL). My Afghanistan posting was supposed to be temporary -- two months, which stretched into two years. I couldn't go home yet; we had too much work to do.
Some people in government jokingly call INL the "thugs and drugs" bureau, and I like to tell my parents I work for the "thugs" part. I'm the "Administration of Justice" team leader in INL's Afghanistan/Pakistan office. Before I joined the State Department, I used to work for a K Street law firm and enjoyed a plush office and a higher salary. Though I now find myself in a cubicle in the basement of a State Department annex contending with sometimes overwhelming paperwork, you couldn't convince me to change jobs. INL is on the frontlines of working with our in-country partners in promoting human rights, transparency, and accountability, defending our national security, and securing the constitutional rights of citizens in nascent democracies. My team receives funding from Congress for criminal justice reform, including corrections reform, which is specifically for foreign assistance projects. That means we can go beyond doing assessments and writing reports, and do the operational work to help solve the problems we identify.
I think that in the time that INL has been running these programs, we've learned some valuable lessons about working with local governments to build justice systems. We've learned it isn't enough to train legal practitioners; we must also create the capacity for their organizations to plan, budget, communicate, and delegate responsibility. We've learned that process reform is just as important as legislative reform -- if a criminal case gets stuck in the system and can't swiftly move from police to prosecutor to courts to corrections, then it doesn't matter how elegantly crafted the legal codes are. We've learned that education is paramount: educating the public is an effective way to inspire them to demand good governance and rule of law, and educating attorneys and judges sets up a framework that provides benefits for generations. And through it all, attention to culture is key. Assistance programs that respect Afghan culture produce far better results, especially with regard to sustainability, than those that try to impose foreign values.
The projects we're implementing in Afghanistan right now recognize and incorporate the lessons we've learned. We've hired twice as many Afghan lawyers as Americans, and are proud to work closely with them, recognizing the risks they take to help build their country's future. We help justice institutions put modern personnel policies in place, ensuring that the most qualified candidates are placed in appropriate jobs. We work with police and prosecutors engaged in preventing and punishing domestic violence. We hire American corrections professionals to conduct nationwide training and mentoring of Afghan corrections officers, not just in basic skills but also in specialized skills such as emergency response, leadership, and record-keeping. We're starting public education programs, and have grant agreements with universities and NGOs across the United States to develop more rigorous law school curricula, to give graduate-level training to law professors, to help improve prison conditions, to develop linkages with some aspects of the Afghan tribal justice system, and to build civil society organizations in Afghanistan.
If you were to take a tour of the Kabul Women's Detention Facility today, you wouldn't get the same tour that I did in 2006. Two years ago, international donors funded a new building. INL provided the day-to-day training and mentoring of the Afghan staff at the facility. The new building is airy and well-lit, and the women and children are living in clean and safe conditions. There is a large bright room set aside that serves as a school for the children. The officers are well-trained, the facility is secure, standard operating procedures exist and are followed, and the atmosphere is calm. I love my job.
O.C. in the U.S.A. writes:
With just a little money those children could have a wonderful,inspiring classroom. Surely with all of the drug money being made someone could find some money to properly outfit that classroom so those children have fun activities to do. When children are inspired, their whole outlook on their world changes. These children deserve all the happiness in the world even if it is in prison. Where's the art and science table, dramatic play and listening center? This is where you change a nation's mindset. This is where all the money should be invested in the beautiful children of Afghanistan. If you save a child you can heal the world!
Marina C. in Washington, DC writes:
Well done and inspiring. Thank you!
O.C. in the U.S.A. writes:
There are many currriculum ideas on the internet that can be googled so that these children have something to do. You can give them recycled paper to color on. Throw a small ball and have them shout out the answer to a math question, do some circle time songs etc. Training these mothers to be early childhood teachers would allow them to use their skills once they return to their villages. That's the perfect environment to train new teachers. It's just so sparse and the kids look bored. Can the military send over some crayons and markers or something?
Michael writes:
Ms. Hall,
Your experience and that of thousands of others in the conflict and post-conflict areas we have been engaged in over the last decade must be captured and conveyed to current and future Foreign and Civil Service Officers training for deployment. The State Department and USAID have long neglected an invaluable tool for institutionalizing our experience and best practices. It is long past time for a lessons-learned division within our foreign policy apparatus for reasons of efficiency and common sense. While the Foreign Service Institute and National Defense University would convey the information, the resident capability should reside within the the Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization as an essential adjunct of the Conflict Response Corps. Other locations are possible, such as the Management Bureau to ensure personnel opportunities to transfer the information, the Policy shop to highlight the long-term public policy value of the information, or the Office of the Secretary itself. Your Dip Note is the type of feedback that makes others' jobs easier in the future and our tax dollars more effective. I hope you will pursue, and encourage others to pursue, such a lessons capturing capacity at State and USAID!
Eric in New Mexico writes:
@Karen Hall cc Dipnote Bloggers,
I think the Iran desk would like to see this, perhaps you could pass this on for their attention? I figure folks will know what to do with it.
News Item;
Seven Baha'i leaders in Iran have each received 20-year prison sentences, according to reports received by the Baha'i International Community, the group said Sunday.
"If this news proves to be accurate, it represents a deeply shocking outcome to the case of these innocent and harmless people," said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
Word of the sentences came from an Iranian-based group called the Committee of Human Rights Defenders, according to Diane Ala'i, another Baha'i U.N representative. The Baha'i International Community is working to confirm the reports, she said.
The leaders were accused of espionage, propaganda activities against the Islamic order, and the establishment of an illegal administration, among other allegations, according to the Baha'i International Community. The group denied all charges.
"We understand that (those sentenced) have been informed of this sentence and that their lawyers are in the process of launching an appeal," Dugal said in a statement Sunday.
The Baha'i leaders–two women and five men–have been held in Tehran's notorious Evin prison since they were arrested in 2008. They are considered the nation's top-ranking Baha'is
Source; BBC News
Ed C. in Massachusetts writes:
Hi, I totally respect the work that you are doing. From 1995 to 1998 I was the director of an INL funded program called the Domestic Violence Community Partnership Program to the Former Soviet Union. ( Russia, Ukraine and Georgia)
It was a tremendous opportunity to train police and communities and assist in organizing local tasks forces to combat domestic violence.
I would love to do this type of program again in a Muslim setting. I spent one year in Cairo at the U.S. Embassy and have deep respect for the people of Islamic countries.


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AS A SENIOR IN 2012All-WWPA Second Team ... WWPA All-Tournament First Team ... Team tri-captain ... Led the Tritons in assists with 49, seventh on UCSD's single season list ... Finished career with 134 assists, second in program history ... Posted three goals, three assists, three steals and one ejection drawn against Air Force (10/18).
AS A JUNIOR IN 2011ACWPC Division II All-America ... All-WWPA First Team ... WWPA All-Tournament First Team ... Led the Tritons with 43 assists ... Second on team in field blocks (10), third in goals (33) and steals (26) ... Recorded a season-high five steals against Santa Clara (11/4), the most in a single game for a any Triton player ... Matched a team season-high with four assists vs. Air Force (10/1) and UC Davis (10/28) ... Had four goals, five assists and two steals at the WWPA Tournament ... Scored five goals during the Triton Invite ... Had at least one goal in nine consecutive games between Oct. 12 and Nov. 18 ... Held a .403 (33-for-82) shooting percentage.AS A SOPHOMORE IN 2010Amassed a team-high 29 assists while scoring 19 goals and adding 16 steals ... Drew 27 ejections, second-most on the team ... Registered three assists in three consecutive matches against Navy (9/19), Chapman (9/23) and Stanford (10/2) ... Also dished out three assists against UC Irvine (11/5) ... Tallied four goals and four assists at the WWPA Championships ... Accounted for a pair of goals and had an assist in a win over eventual WWPA champion Loyola Marymount (10/3).
AS A FRESHMAN IN 2009WWPA All-Freshman Team ... Scored five goals and added 13 assists.HIGH SCHOOLAttended St. Ignatius College Prep in San Francisco ... Also a member of the Stanford Water Polo Club team for seven seasons ... Stanford won a bronze medal at the 2009 Junior Olympics and placed seventh in 2008 ... Earned All-America Honorable Mention honors in 2008 ... At the CCS swimming finals, finished 14th in the 200 and 500 freestyle events.PERSONALBorn March 26, 1991 ... Parents are Chris and Tina Butler ... Both parents are University of San Francisco graduates ... Has two sisters named Jennifer and Danielle ... A history major and business minor in Roosevelt College ... Favorite pro teams are the San Francisco Giants, San Jose Sharks and San Francisco 49ers.


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Debates of Feb. 14th, 2001
House of Commons Hansard #13 of the 37th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was crime.
- Curling
- Suzanne Wilson
- Canadian Flag
- Markham
- Regional Economic Development
- Heating Fuel Rebate
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Young Offenders Act
- Niagara Centre
- Trade
- Hazel McCallion
- Black History Month
- Liberal Government
- Valentine's Day
- Shipbuilding
- Grants And Contributions
- Telefilm Canada
- Trade
- Foreign Affairs
- Ethics Counsellor
- Budget Surpluses
- Ethics Counsellor
- Summit Of The Americas
- Grants And Contributions
- Games Of La Francophonie
- Foreign Affairs
- Canada Elections Act
- Business Development Bank Of Canada
- Ethics Counsellor
- Official Languages
- Ethics Counsellor
- Foreign Affairs
- Aboriginal Affairs
- Organized Crime
- Veterans Affairs
- Health
- Veterans Affairs
- Presence In Gallery
- Points Of Order
- Privilege
- Sustainable Development
- Interparliamentary Delegations
- Marriage (Prohibited Degrees) Act
- A Day For Hearts
- Canada Marriage Act
- Pest Control Act
- Canada Well-Being Measurement Act
- Petitions
- Questions On The Order Paper
- Motions For Papers
- Youth Criminal Justice Act
- Points Of Order
- Youth Criminal Justice Act
2 p.m.
The Speaker
As is our practice on Wednesday we will now sing O Canada, and we will be led by the hon. member for Sackville—Musquodoboit Valley—Eastern Shore.
Statements By Members
2 p.m.
Joe McGuire Egmont, PE
Mr. Speaker, it was a great weekend for female athletes from Prince Edward Island. Lorie Kane winning on the LPGA tour is becoming a regular occurrence, including her most recent win last Saturday after setting a tournament record in Hawaii with an 11 under par. Lorie has become the best female golfer in the world today.
However, history was made last weekend when Summerside native Suzanne Gaudet led her team to victory at the Canadian Junior Women's Curling Championships. It was the first time an Island team has secured the junior women's title.
I should like to take this moment to congratulate skip Suzanne Gaudet, mate Stefanie Richard, second Robyn MacPhee, lead Kelly Higgins, and coach Paul Power.
They have brought credit to their community and their province with their performance and their grace under pressure. I wish them all the luck as they represent Canada at the 2001 World Junior Curling Championships from March 15 to March 25 in Ogden, Utah, where all of Canada will be cheering them on to win the gold medal.
Suzanne Wilson
Statements By Members
2 p.m.
Canadian Alliance
Ted White North Vancouver, BC
Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate North Vancouver resident Suzanne Wilson on the completion of her millennium photo project, Your House/Our Home.
Here is something that will shock the Liberals: she completed her project without using a single cent of taxpayer dollars. It was done entirely with her own money and donations from supporters.
In Suzanne's own words "The purpose of my year 2000 photo project, Your House/Our Home, is to leave a photographic and written record of the homes of families of the city of North Vancouver in the year 2000".
In this she has succeeded. Her more than 2,000 photographs and stories stand as a testament to individual initiative and creativity. I am proud to be recognizing her today in this House.
Suzanne's exhibit gets my vote as the best millennium project in Canada, way ahead of the concrete dinosaurs, herb gardens and papier mâché pigeons that were approved for funding by the Liberal government's millennium bureau in 1999 and 2000.
Canadian Flag
Statements By Members
2:05 p.m.
Alex Shepherd Durham, ON
Mr. Speaker, everyone knows that today is Valentine's Day, but I rise today to reflect on another truly loved symbol of Canada and Canadians, our Canadian flag. Tomorrow marks the 36th anniversary of the first day that the flag became our country's distinctly Canadian national symbol.
Much more than a piece of coloured cloth, it is the symbol of a nation that is recognized around the world. It was 36 years ago tomorrow that the flag was raised over this building and became our official symbol for a great nation.
A number of years ago I promoted flag day with a number of our elementary schools to provide young Canadians with the opportunity to better understand the significance of our flag. I am happy to say that this initial undertaking has taken root and is now an annual tradition for me.
Tomorrow I will celebrate this day with the staff and students of the Good Shepherd Catholic Elementary School and the Gordon B. Attersley Public School in my riding. I hope all Canadians can and will take a few minutes tomorrow to reflect on our flag, which is the embodiment of our common heritage.
Statements By Members
2:05 p.m.
John McCallum Markham, ON
Mr. Speaker, I would thank the citizens of Markham for according me such a splendid electoral victory over the Canadian Alliance on November 27 and for giving me the opportunity to work on their behalf in years to come.
I will work with others to preserve and promote Markham's position as Canada's high tech capital which, roughly translated, means, look out Ottawa. I will also work with others to alleviate problems relating to immigration and transportation gridlock.
More than half of the people of Markham are new Canadians and the town enjoys a very rapid population growth. As a result, we have many citizenship celebrations. I will be going to one such celebration tomorrow, and I look forward to many more in years to come.
Regional Economic Development
Statements By Members
2:05 p.m.
Georges Farrah Bonaventure—Gaspé—Îles-De-La-Madeleine—Pabok, QC
Mr. Speaker, on February 5, the Minister of National Revenue and Secretary of State for the Economic Development Agency of Canada announced that our government will be investing in 11 projects in Gaspé and Îles-de-la-Madeleine.
This injection of close to $2 million in the regional economy will result in overall investments of some $7 million. In addition, our government's action will make it possible to create and maintain some one hundred jobs in Gaspé and the Islands.
These contributions are a concrete example of our government's commitment to the people of Gaspé and Îles-de—la-Madeleine. They are a clear illustration of our desire to provide the proper support for economic recovery in these regions.
Heating Fuel Rebate
Statements By Members
2:05 p.m.
Canadian Alliance
Philip Mayfield Cariboo—Chilcotin, BC
Mr. Speaker, the government's attempt to buy popularity with Canadians by issuing energy rebate cheques has been an abysmal failure. All Canadians are directly affected by high energy costs, but only a handful are eligible for the newest Liberal slush fund. It is totally irresponsible to issue rebate cheques to prisoners and the dead while hard pressed millions are left out in the cold.
What are the priorities of the government? While Canadians freeze, hepatitis C victims still await money promised them by the government; our brave merchant marines have waited decades for compensation and routinely turn to food banks to survive; and farm families are being driven from the land by a lack of fair government compensation.
However there is one quick solution to high home heating costs: remove the GST from all home heating fuels and give all Canadians a break this winter. Home heating, like food and clothing, is essential to all.
I urge the government to stop buying votes and start providing legitimate government services to desperate Canadians.
Cardiovascular Disease
Statements By Members
2:05 p.m.
Sue Barnes London West, ON
Mr. Speaker, cardiovascular diseases impose a devastating burden upon Canadians, accounting for 37% of all deaths annually and placing a significant hardship and a diminished quality of life on those who survive and live with these conditions.
The cost of cardiovascular diseases due to direct health care expenditures, disability, work loss and premature death is estimated to be over $20 billion annually to the Canadian economy.
The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada and the Canadian Cardiovascular Society are calling for us to look at a concerted strategy to address such common debilitating conditions as heart disease and stroke. This strategy would be a first step toward the creation of a common and integrated nationwide approach to the prevention and the tracking of these chronic conditions.
I applaud the energy and the efforts of these fine organizations and urge all my colleagues in parliament to look at their documentation and support this very fine effort.
Young Offenders Act
Statements By Members
2:10 p.m.
Jocelyne Girard-Bujold Jonquière, QC
Mr. Speaker, today is the day we celebrate love, and last night I had a lovely dream. I dreamed of Cupid. In this strange dream, he wanted to give me chocolates.
He could not afford to, however, overtaxed as he was with the GST and an insidious tax on employment.
Then he wanted to express his love, but his ability to express himself was limited by a gag and by this arrogant bill.
He persisted, however, and wanted to shout his love out loud. Brave fellow, his heart full of hope, he succeeded in doing so. He managed to get it out, but there was no one in the unilingual capital who could understand him.
Poor depressed Cupid, away he went. It seems that he was then arrested for carrying a bow and arrows when he got stuck in a traffic jam on one of the bridges. Now he could go to jail, though he is just a kid. Fortunately, that is when I woke up.
When I got to the office this morning, the second reading of Bill C-7 was announced. I felt like crying.
Niagara Centre
Statements By Members
2:10 p.m.
Tony Tirabassi Niagara Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my congratulations to my colleagues on their successful election or re-election to the House. I am looking forward to working with all members in this 37th parliament.
I wish to thank the citizens of my constituency for placing their stamp of approval on my candidacy on November 27. I give special thanks to my family, friends and supporters in my home town of Thorold for the dedication afforded to me over 15 years as a city councillor. Their past renewed confidence has allowed me to gain the experience and political footing required to begin my service to the larger constituency of Niagara Centre.
The government has brought forward an agenda that speaks to the issues. I intend to dissect from that agenda those issues of interest to my constituents, which in turn will allow me an opportunity to evolve a national perspective so that all Canadians may be the benefactors of my work and decisions.
Statements By Members
2:10 p.m.
Canadian Alliance
Gary Lunn Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
Mr. Speaker, yesterday Canada sent a team of scientists to Brazil to determine if there is any justification for banning Brazilian beef. I have no doubt that this is not about beef but about the illegal subsidies which the Brazilian government has provided to its aircraft manufacturer, Embraer.
The Government of Canada has been granted the right to impose countermeasures against Brazil but Canada refuses to act. Yet it insists on hiding behind the veil of mad cow disease, forcing Mexico and the U.S. also to ban Brazilian beef, which they object to.
If the government continues in this vein, it will permanently damage our reputation as a fair trader. To accuse another country of mad cow disease without any justification could only be characterized as being deceitful, dishonest and a cheat. I ask the government to table today all documents that it relied on to accuse Brazil of the threat of mad cow disease.
I am afraid our trading partners are beginning to think it is the Canadian government that has mad cow disease.
Hazel McCallion
Statements By Members
2:10 p.m.
Steve Mahoney Mississauga West, ON
Mr. Speaker, Hazel McCallion, the mayor of Mississauga, turns 80 years young today.
Hazel, born on the Gaspé coast, worked in business for 20 years and entered politics in 1967. Living in Streetsville with her beloved Sam, she became chair of the planning board, deputy reeve and then reeve. In 1970 she was elected mayor of Streetsville.
In 1974 the region of Peel and the city of Mississauga were created. Hazel fought this tenaciously and tried to retain the identity of Streetsville. She lost the battle but won the war. Streetsville lives as a vibrant part of Mississauga.
In 1978 she was elected mayor of Mississauga. We all came to appreciate and respect her dedication and incredible work ethic.
Tonight Mississauga will throw its biggest birthday party ever, a tribute to a woman who loves her people and her city, a party thrown by the thousands of people who truly love her. I wish Hazel a happy birthday and many, many more.
Black History Month
Statements By Members
2:10 p.m.
Wendy Lill Dartmouth, NS
Mr. Speaker, in 1996 parliament declared February Black History Month. I am honoured as member of parliament for the Prestons and Cherrybrook to salute the contributions black Nova Scotians have made to the country.
Since the first black loyalists arrived to eke out a living on our rocky shores, black Nova Scotians have battled and still battle racism, poverty, injustice and ignorance in their struggle to raise families and build strong communities.
On behalf of the House I salute the many souls past and present who have tirelessly led the way: artists such as Sylvia Hamilton, Jerimiah Sparks and Walter Borden; the Happy Quilters of Cherrybrook; the Nova Scotia Mass Choir; teachers such as Ruth Johnson; religious leaders like Donald Skier and William P. Oliver; politicians such as Gordon Earle, Wayne Adams and Yvonne Atwell; athletes like George Dixon, Ray Downey and Kirk Johnson; and civil rights activists such as Rocky Jones and Calvin Ruck.
Black Nova Scotians have much to teach all Canadians about the importance of family and faith as we move forward to create a better world.
Liberal Government
Statements By Members
2:15 p.m.
Benoît Sauvageau Repentigny, QC
Mr. Speaker, I offer the House a variation on a theme by Jacques Brel:
Insufficient is love As something to share When patronage tales Are afloat in the air
Insufficient is love From the Liberal side When stories of scandals Float in with the tide
Insufficient is love When promises die While taxes like GST Climb to the sky
Insufficient is love When the help you would bring Concerns only bridges Not one other thing
Insufficient is love When Heritage flags Are plastered about The better to brag
Insufficient is love When you turn a deaf ear And gags are the order Our pleas not to hear
But love will create Our own promised land The future is ours Let us just take a stand
Valentine's Day
Statements By Members
2:15 p.m.
Diane St-Jacques Shefford, QC
Mr. Speaker, today is Valentine's Day, a day to celebrate love in all its forms, a day when one realizes that love is something vital to every human being.
I would like this day to include those to whom life has been less kind. I would like us to give a special thought to those who are alone and have no one with whom to share their love, to children living in violence and deprived of tenderness, hugs and affection, to our seniors, who are too often forgotten and left on their own.
Let us make this a day of peace and love. Let us send our wishes Canada-wide in the hope that Cupid's arrow will bring all Canadians closer together.


text:
U.S. Men Fall to Poland in Three Sets; Russia Up Next
B.J. Evans
Manager, Media Relations and Publications
Phone: 719-228-6800
ANAHEIM, Calif. (July 13, 2007) - The U.S. Men's National Team found Friday, July 13th to be unlucky indeed as it fell to Poland, 0-3 (22-25, 34-36, 23-25) in an FIVB World League, final-round, pool-play match before and estimated crowd of 12,000 at Spodek Hall in Katowice, Poland.
The loss drops the U.S. Men's record to 1-1 (11-3 overall in World League) and they will face Russia, winner of Pool F, in the semifinals on Saturday (8 a.m. PDT). Poland (2-0) will play four-time World League defending-champion Brazil (1-1) in the other semifinal match at 11 a.m. PDT.
The United States' Clay Stanley (Honolulu, Hawai'i) led all scorers with 15 points on 12 kills, one block and two aces. Reid Priddy (Richmond, Va.) added 12 points on 11 kills and one ace. Riley Salmon (League City, Texas) scored 10 points on eight kills and two blocks. Ryan Millar (Palmdale, Calif.) picked up nine points on seven kills, one block and one ace.
Mariusz Wlazly led Poland with 12 points on 10 kills, one block and one ace. Michal Winiarski scored 11 points on nine kills, one block and one ace and Daniel Plinski added 10 points on nine kills and one block.
"It was a matter of a couple of points at the end of the sets," U.S. Head Coach Hugh McCutcheon (Christchurch, New Zealand) said. "The atmosphere in Spodek Hall is something completely unique in the world, so I'm very happy we could have this experience, learn from it and play better tomorrow."
The U.S. Men held leads in all three sets, but did not have an answer for the Polish hitters, who out-killed Team USA, 54-47. The U.S. Men could only manage five blocks with 46 faults and 31 rebounds in 82 attempts.
McCutcheon (Christchurch, New Zealand) adjusted his starting lineup from the night before, putting Tom Hoff (Park Ridge, Ill.) in place of David Lee (Alpine, Calif.) at middle blocker and putting Stanley in place of Gabe Gardner (San Clemente, Calif.) at opposite.
Priddy and Salmon started at outside hitter, Millar started at the other middle blocker position, Kevin Hansen (Newport Beach, Calif.) started at setter and Rich Lambourne (Tustin, Calif.) played libero.
Sean Rooney (Wheaton, Ill.), Lee and Gardner all came in as substitutes.
The U.S. Men held a 16-13 lead in the first set, but Poland ate away at it and a Wlazly back-row kill tied the score at 18-18. Sebastian Swiderski's ace increased Poland's lead to 21-18.
With Poland leading 23-20, the U.S. Men scored two points to pull to within one, but Poland scored the next two points, including another kill from Wlazly, to win the set.
The U.S. Men held a 16-12 lead at the second technical timeout of the second set. Poland eventually pulled to within one point at 18-17, but the United States held the Poles off until they were able to tie the score at 19-19. Poland Head Coach Raul Lozano pulled Swiderski, who was struggling to get past the U.S. block, and sent in Piotr Gruszka.
The U.S. Men held off six match points while Poland held off five before finally winning, 36-34.
Team USA still had some fight left in set three and came back from a 7-10 deficit to take a 14-12 lead. But the second set battle started to catch up with the United States and it was hurt by reception and attack errors. With the U.S. Men leading 23-22 Poland scored the next three points for the victory.
"The statistics show that it's a couple of points at the end of the sets. This shows that the game was made was made of small, crucial fragments," Hoff said. "Tomorrow we play Russia and we have to improve in those elements if we want to win. Poland executed better at the end of the sets. That's the sign of a winning team."
View the box from this match at http://www.fivb.org/vis_web/volley/wl2007/pdf/P2-102.pdf.
All World League matches played in the United States and the World League finals are scheduled to be shown on ESPNU.
Results, statistics and photos are available on the FIVB World League Web Site at www.fivb.org/EN/Volleyball/Competitions/WorldLeague/2007.
The 2007 U.S. Men's media kit is available at www.usavolleyball.org/media/national/us_men_mediakit07.pdf (please note that this is a large PDF file).
2007 FIVB World League
Final Round Schedule
Pool E
July 11: Poland def. France, 3-2 (38-36 19-25 21-25 25-21 15-11)
July 12: USA def. France, 3-0 (25-21, 25-20, 28-26)
July 13: Poland def. USA, 3-0 (25-22, 36-34, 25-23)
Pool F
July 11: Bulgaria def. Brazil, 3-2 (21-25, 25-20, 21-25, 25-23, 15-12)
July 12: Russia def. Bulgaria, 3-0 (25-23, 25-21, 25-21)
July 13: Brazil def. Russia, 3-1 (22-25, 25-23, 25-20, 26-24)
July 14
SF1: Russia vs. USA, 8 a.m. PDT
SF2: Poland vs. Brazil, 11 a.m. PDT
July 15
Loser SF1 vs. Loser SF2, 8 a.m. PDT
Winner SF1 vs. Winner SF2, 11 a.m. PDT
U.S. 12-Man Roster
No. Name (Position, Height, Hometown, College)
2 Sean Rooney (OH, 6-9, Wheaton, Ill., Pepperdine)
3 Jim Polster (OH, 6-6, Laguna Niguel, Calif., Long Beach State)
4 Brandon Taliaferro (S, 6-5, San Clemente, Calif., UCLA)
5 Rich Lambourne (L, 6-3, Tustin, Calif., BYU)
7 David Lee (MB, 6-8, Alpine, Calif., Long Beach State)
8 Reid Priddy (OH, 6-5, Richmond, Va., Loyola Marymount)
9 Ryan Millar (MB, 6-8, Palmdale, Calif., BYU)
10 Riley Salmon (OH, 6-6, League City, Texas, Pierce College)
12 Tom Hoff (MB, 6-8, Park Ridge, Ill., Long Beach State)
13 Clay Stanley (OPP, 6-9, Honolulu, Hawai'i, Hawai'i)
14 Kevin Hansen (S, 6-5, Newport Beach, Calif., Stanford)
15 Gabe Gardner (OH, 6-9, San Clemente, Calif., Stanford)


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For a Hot New REIT, Go to Chambers Street
Like many of the other leading freestanding REITs such as Realty Income
With operating fundamentals that compare favorably with W.P. Carey and Lexington Realty Trust
The majority of Chambers Street properties are located in the U.S. and no market represents more than 10% in the company's portfolio. Many of the properties are located in gateway markets such as metropolitan New York City and the Washington, D.C., metro area.
In addition, Chambers Street has around 9% exposure in Europe -- 4.1% in Europe and 4.9% in Germany (the combined European portfolio has 13 properties valued at around $335.8 million). Chambers Street's largest tenant (by exposure) is Amazon
Chambers Street has many nationally recognized tenants that conduct operations in 25 distinct industries. This diverse tenant base provides for an attractive mix of defensive industries including pharmaceutical and health care, consumer products, and defense and aerospace.
It's important to recognize that Chambers Street is not a new REIT. The company has actually been around since 2004 when it operated under the name of CB Richard Ellis Realty Trust. The initial capitalization was commenced when the company was an externally managed REIT with an initial $55 million private placement (common shares placed by Wells Fargo
Since that time, Chambers Street has grown from $47 million to over $3.14 billion today. Most of the growth (89%) occurred after 2007 when the company acquired around $2.8 billion in assets (as a non-traded REIT).
I like Chambers Street and I believe the management team, led by founder, President and CEO Jack Cuneo, will be a fine addition to the public REIT space.


text:
The Cult of Amazon.com
I was wrong. It rose substantially in after-hours trade.
Betting against Amazon has become a mug's game. Since the market bottom in late 2008 it has risen steadily from a low of less than $50/share to its present high of $265. This has not been accompanied by a rise in earnings, although sales have more than quadrupled. Like an old school dot-com start-up (and .com is still part of its formal name) the company seems to think it's losing money on every transaction but making it up on volume.
This drives conventional analysts batty. In When will the Madness End? asked The Motley Fool after the company's last earnings release.Paulo Santos compares betting on the stock to buying a bad lottery ticket.
There are measures by which Amazon stock has a reasonable price. Compare its market valuation to its annual sales rate and you get about 2.5, well below the numbers for other technology companies including Apple (AAPL) or Microsoft (MSFT) , and not terribly higher than Intel's (INTC) 2.21.
But look at the same ratio in comparison to other retailers such as Wal-Mart (WMT) and Costco (COST) and you get a different story. Wal-Mart's figure is .59, Costco's .44.
Because Amazon is so technologically intensive it's hard to tell how to value it. Is it a retailer or a tech company? The price says tech company but the numbers say retailer. The "smart money" is selling Amazon, according to the Market Daily News , and the smart money is getting clobbered.
Chris Gaun of Gartner Group recently tried to uncover Amazon's cloud revenue number -- it's broken out only as part of "other" on the balance sheet -- and came up with $1.5 billion for 2012, far from the $3.8 billion figure offered by Australia's Macquarie Capital, which most Amazon bulls are betting on.
Still, assume Macquarie is right. Cloud remains a very tiny portion of the company's business, less than $1 billion/quarter this year when the whole firm averaged quarterly sales of $15 billion. Just like 24 times before, Amazon has lowered its cloud prices again, even on its fastest processing systems.
Of course, cloud computing is just one part of the Amazon technology story. It's also one of the leading streaming media companies, competing with Netflix (NFLX) . Rocco Pendola says Amazon could squash Netflix "like a bug" and, even with Netflix' recent explosive run up, its one-year performance still trails that of AMZN, 41% to 30%.


text:
Extremely Short Pixie
This hairstyle is short and refreshing. The look is very chic and easy to maintain. The style is very short in the back and around the ears. At the front, the full fringe is styled unevenly over the eyes.Using a circular technique and continuing with a balance of fringes â?? short, rounded, long or asymmetricâ?"the looks use an Introverted graduation of technique.A Hidden colour technique was used to add movement to blondes and rusted redsâ?" Up to 4 shades of blonde fused together to achieve a rich baby blonde.
Sanrizz International Salon Hair: Sanrizz Artistic Team Make up: Kasia Dziadel Photography: Stephen Kearney Styling: Eliza Heinezen