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"From Corot to Monet. The symphony of nature" is certainly one of the most interesting cultural initiative for the spring of 2010 in Rome. The Vittoriano complex hosts an exhibition on the major French painters of the second half of the nineteenth century, who revolutionized the way of considering Art, and went down in history as Impressionist.
As you might infer from the title, the common thread of the exhibition is nature, and the unique way Impressionist were able to represent it, with short and thick strokes that aimed to capture the very essence of the subject.
About 170 works – paintings, vintage photos and works on paper – span a period that goes from the Barbizon school to the outstanding masterpieces by Monet, giving you the chance to see how their concept of art and nature developed across the years.
Such an intriguing collection of Impressionist stunning artworks have never been displayed before in Rome, and who knows when it will happen again. I would seize the opportunity!
Some useful information: 6th March – 29th June, 2010

subset: commoncrawl


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I hope you will be interested to know about this event:-
Event: Scottish Community Drama One-Act Festival- Edinburgh round.
Dates/Times: 14 to 16 February 2013 7pm start.
Venue: St Serfs Hall, Clark Road, Edinburgh
Phone queries: 0131 225 5952
Tickets: £21 3night season, £8 single night.
Book online: http://www.scdaedinburgh.org.uk/page33.html
Additional Info: 8 plays over 3 nights - psychological drama to farce. Professional adjudication for 3 teams to go to next round. Also BESToftheFEST audience award for season ticket holders to choose the play they simply enjoy most - not marking, just voting.


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About the Author: Robert D. Hormats serves as Under Secretary of State for Economic, Energy, and Agricultural Affairs.
Normally, my blog entries are short and succinct. (Or, at least, I hope so!) But I wanted to use this entry to provide a bit more depth about one of the State Department's highest priorities: supporting American jobs.
As President Obama underscored in his address to the nation on August 31, "Our most urgent task is to restore our economy, and put the millions of Americans who have lost their jobs back to work." Under Secretary Clinton's leadership, the State Department is focusing fully on that goal by advancing an international economic policy that promotes opportunity and job growth for Americans.
The primary task of the State Department's international economic policy is to promote American economic success in the global economy. That means crafting policies that help create -- and sustain the growth of -- well-paying, productive American private sector jobs. We do so by using a wide range of tools: promoting exports, protecting intellectual property rights, expanding trade opportunities, attracting foreign investment, supporting a fair business environment abroad and drawing on the successful experiences of other countries.
Secretary Clinton has made our jobs agenda a top priority and is leading our efforts to ensure that our diplomacy supports American workers. As the Under Secretary for Economic, Energy and Agricultural Affairs, this is my central focus -- as it is for our entire team here at the State Department. We also recognize that a strong domestic economy, with high levels of employment and growth, is the fundamental base for a strong foreign and national security policy.
Our overriding aim is to connect with the concerns and aspirations of the American people. While many of us in the Department actively engage with representatives of other countries to promote American interests abroad, we are engaging at least as actively on the home front with leaders of businesses -- large and small -- as well as labor and farm groups. Our international economic policy must earn the support of these groups by delivering tangible benefits to them, or it will not be sustainable -- especially at a time when so many Americans are feeling economic pain. And the most tangible benefit we can deliver is to demonstrate that what we are doing abroad increases the ability of American companies to generate good jobs at home.
To achieve this, we are taking action in several key areas:
Implementing the President's National Export Initiative.
The President has set the goal of doubling American exports over five years to support two million new U.S. jobs. To achieve this goal, we have mobilized senior officials here in the Department and in our embassies abroad. As Secretary Clinton has noted,
"Other businesses from other countries have a strong partnership with their government; whether it's state-owned enterprises from China or private companies from Europe, they often have much more support from their governments than we have in recent years given to our businesses."
The Obama Administration is stepping up its efforts to support U.S. companies competing in global markets -- and the State Department is actively supporting this effort. We believe that American businesses should receive the same enthusiastic and forceful support from the top levels of our government as foreign competitors receive from theirs. This is vital to creating jobs at home. Exports currently support 10 million American jobs. We know that by helping more companies, particularly small and medium sized companies, to export and tap new markets, we can substantially boost that figure. But we also know that many of the largest American companies are our biggest exporters. They frequently must compete against national champions abroad supported by foreign governments. So we work closely with them to actively advocate for their export sales.
The profits our companies make from sales abroad play a key role in funding more research and investment at home. And that will lead to new hiring and additional well-paying jobs for Americans.
Secretary Clinton has mobilized her team here in this Department and all of our embassies to ensure that our businesses are being fully supported overseas. And she personally has been a strong advocate on her trips abroad. Day-in and day-out we work alongside colleagues in the Department of Commerce under Secretary Locke's leadership and with other agencies. Our embassies provide enormous support to American businesses in foreign markets. Our diplomats are also traveling across this nation to help American companies learn how our embassies can provide information and contacts for the development of business opportunities in other countries. In fact, a group of our ambassadors to Middle Eastern nations will visit several American cities in mid-October. And we have similar plans for our Asian, Latin American and Central European Ambassadors.
Opening markets abroad -- and keeping them open.
We pursue reverse trade missions and comparable programs because trade is a contact sport. As President Obama noted, "We have to seek new markets aggressively, just as our competitors are. If America sits on the sidelines while other nations sign trade deals, we will lose the chance to create jobs on our shores."
The President is exactly right. There is a temptation during periods of high domestic unemployment to turn inward. But that is exactly what we should not do. That would cost us jobs, not increase them. Instead, we must take greater advantage of opportunities to increase our exports. With 95 percent of all the world's consumers living abroad, expanding trade must be a central component of any job creation strategy.
Ambassador Ron Kirk and his team at the Office of the United States Trade Representative are leading the effort to further open markets abroad. We, at the State Department provide strong support. The Administration's key priorities include the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement and the Trans Pacific Partnership, which will provide new opportunities in the Pacific for American workers and companies. Completing the Doha trade round with ambitious and mutually beneficial results is another priority. We, and our trading partners alike, need to determine whether we can achieve the greater level of ambition necessary to make an agreement feasible. We are also using forums like Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the Trans-Atlantic Economic Council (TEC), where State plays a central role, to achieve more open markets.
The State Department also supports the efforts of USTR and the Commerce Department to enforce the rights of American companies under the World Trade Organization (WTO) and other agreements. Together, we press governments in myriad ways to end discrimination against American goods, farm products and services. The strong alliance between USTR, Commerce and the State Department on these matters demonstrates to other nations our resolve to defend our interests whenever violations occur.
Protecting American Intellectual Property.
Our greatest assets in today's knowledge-based economy are the ingenuity and creativity of the American people.
President Obama has declared the Administration's commitment to "aggressively protect our intellectual property… It is essential to our prosperity and it will only become more so in this century." Led by Vice President Biden and a top White House team, senior officials of the State Department in Washington and abroad are carrying out the President's commitment to ensure that intellectual property is being protected around the world. My colleagues and I meet regularly with business leaders, union officials, and leaders of the technology, entertainment and pharmaceutical industries to identify problems in this area and forge effective responses.
Protecting our intellectual property -- the patents, copyrights, trademarks, innovative technologies, and creative products that drive our economic growth against piracy, counterfeiting, forced transfer, and discriminatory procurement practices -- is a core interest of the United States. The stakes for American jobs are high. The information and telecommunications sector alone -- one of the many sectors in our country that depend on intellectual property and constant innovation -- employs five million people. And we want to enable American workers and businesses to continue innovating, creating, and designing the products that will ensure our prosperity for years to come. Ensuring that their innovative products are protected against counterfeiting and various other techniques that jeopardize their intellectual property is essential to doing this.
Ensuring a welcoming environment for foreign investment.
From the time of our founding through today, foreign investment has made an important contribution to American economic growth and job creation. The strength of the foreign investment we attract is testimony to the strength of our economy. And investments by foreign-based companies in the U.S. employ a great many Americans: Currently, foreign direct investment in the United States supports roughly 5.5 million American jobs -- in highly unionized and largely non unionized states alike. About 4.6 percent of all American private sector workers are employed by foreign-based multinational companies that invest here; two million of these are in manufacturing jobs. Foreign investments account for nearly 15 percent of the research and development in the United States and 18.5 percent of our goods exports.
We must and will firmly enforce American laws that require the careful review of investments that could have adverse national security implications. But the vast majority of foreign investment does not come under that heading. And through visits by U.S. officials abroad and the work of our embassies and missions we seek to demonstrate that we -- along with governors and mayors throughout the country -- welcome that investment. The State Department, utilizing our embassies abroad, helps foreign investors better understand American laws and regulations. We also emphasize the great opportunities foreign investors have to succeed in our country's very open business environment, highlight the security of investments here, and communicate the benefits of our first-class workforce.
Fairness and transparency in international business practices.
In an effort to achieve a truly level playing field for American businesses overseas and in so doing to sustain and increase the jobs these companies support at home, the State Department and others in the Administration are working to build an effective international anti-corruption regime. We aim to galvanize the world's leading economies to support a clean business environment. Both bilaterally and through multilateral fora, we are encouraging other countries to step up and enforce strong anticorruption measures. We have also strengthened our enforcement actions under the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act; this includes taking measures against foreign companies for actions falling within the scope of U.S. jurisdiction.
In addition, we have pressed for international commitment to a robust peer review of implementation of the UN Convention Against Corruption. With our G-20 partners, we have formed a G-20 Anticorruption Working Group, which will make comprehensive recommendations on international efforts to combat corruption. We have called for enactment and enforcement of transnational anti-bribery legislation among the world's leading economies, in concert with the Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions.
Forging new partnerships.
The international economic geography has changed dramatically over the last decade. New economic powers have become important players in global finance, trade, investment and technological innovation. A key part of our jobs agenda is working with them to expand exports, encourage more investment in the U.S., and strengthen cooperation to promote growth, balance and stability in the global economy. Increased engagement in such forums as the G-20 and in bilateral arrangements such as the Strategic and Economic Dialogue with China, the U.S.-India Strategic Dialogue, the U.S.-Russian Bilateral Presidential Commission, and similar dialogues with Brazil, South Africa and other nations will be important instruments to establish a more solid framework for our bilateral and multilateral economic relationships.
In many of these dialogues, parallel business-to-business commissions meet to strengthen private sector commercial collaboration. These forums also provide vehicles for encouraging the newly rising economic powers to assume responsibilities for the international economic system, and international norms and rules, consistent with their commercial and financial strength and their shared interest in the openness and stability of the international economy. Progress in such areas will significantly improve prospects for American firms and job growth.
Learning from other nations.
As in so many other nations these days, many Americans are unemployed and large numbers have been so for a long time. Several nations are currently struggling with average unemployment of even greater duration than ours -- and some of them have drawn on past experience to craft new policies to address these problems.
Our embassies abroad carefully track the economic problems and policies of other nations. And we work closely with experts in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to share experiences. Working with the Department of Labor -- and using our international outreach -- we in the State Department can inform the U.S. economic debate by distilling the practices and programs of other nations to reduce their levels of unemployment, particularly long-term unemployment, and by convening experts from other nations to identify policies that could be applied here.
We will continue to bolster American efforts and policies to support jobs and prosperity at home. The State Department and the entire Obama Administration are dedicated to promoting, protecting, and enhancing American prosperity in this rapidly changing world.
Faraz J. in Virginia writes:
We need to go after the companies who have and are outsourcing jobs (including R&D) to India and China, make them pay taxes or panelize them for each job lost in US on yearly bases. Enough is enough when will this administration full fill the promises they made during the election that they will stop the job out sourcing!!
Eric in New Mexico writes:
Under Secretary Hormats,
There's a reason I stay away from domestic issues if at all possible, like one would a shunk in the bushes. As it stinks of partisanship.
But I wrote one of my Senators the other day and asked if he's willing to read this on the floor in debate, and whether he is or not remains to be heard.
Folks need gain a little perspective on all this I think, from a foreign affairs standpoint.
And I hope folks @ State will look at this as another fine "lead in" to creating a better world to live in.
"99 weeks" ( an open letter to Congress )
Gentlefolk of the United States Senate,
I shouldn't be one to complain in writing this, for I'm alive to do so thanks to the good graces of Congress sustaining my existance for the last 99 weeks on UI.
Well, assuming you'all are hearing this, it's only safe to assume the good Senator from my state is brave enough to convey my thanks, and regard these thoughts as useful perspective for the rest of you.
I hear folks in Pakistan complain bitterly about how their government can build nukes, but hasn't the hardware, or resources to take care of the people in this current disaster they face.
For the American blue collar construction worker, of which I am one, all reported growth in my sector has been in negative numbers last I checked in general across this nation, with the exception of Alaska, and only there because it was summer.
As for paying for UI, including an emergency funding extention to those facing winter coming and homelessness due to regulatory cut-offs at 99 weeeks, there's a Metalurical and Chemical research facility that is to be built in Los Alamos to the tune of billions of dollars that could be better spent directly with the American people and pay for this UI as well as workforce retraining, immediately, and that should make everyone that wants to "pay-go" happy.
Look folks, if my grandad had the kind of facility los Alamos already has today (back in WW2 building the first bombs that won the war), he would have thought he'd been visited by aliens and they'd given him the research lab of his dreams to work in.
Enough is enough, "we started it here, we can end it here" as has often been quoted on bumper stickers, and I know we can do "reliability" of stock-piles real well for a long time to come without building a new one.
Probably the best thing you folks can do is put this project on hold, re-allocate the money as above, and come to grips with something else here that folks just don't seem to understand.
We can pay for this if we want to, but it's up to you folks to get your priorities strait about what to do with our taxdollars.
So as it concerns some kind of "socialist" program that encorages folks to "milk the system" as some are inclined to opine UI represents, remember that Joe Stalin once starved 7 million Ukrainians to death in less than a year in 32-33 by taking the bread from their tables deliberately.
Who's the "socialist" here?"
Speak now or forever get a grip.
Thank you'all sincerely for all that you've done so far, and all that you must now do to help us, help you get this nation back on its feet.
Best regards,
"An impatient patriot from New Mexico"
O.C. in the U.S.A. writes:
O.C wonders what she should do? I am an American citizen and can't find a job. I have have liver and kidney disease but was rejected for California medical because I'm not an illegal alien. It's easier for an illegal alien with an underage child to get benefits no questions asked than for an ill and dying American under Obamacare. I've tried to get a job but my former employer prevents me from doing so. What can I do?
Steven R.E. in North Carolina writes:
Do you mean jobs that use taxpayer money to rehabilitate mosques like the one in Egypt, or the one in Tanzania in violation of the UCFR?
John B. in New York writes:
Is the Administration planning to bring any WTO cases against China?
Eric in New Mexico writes:
Clarification on "99 weeks";
For the record, I stated,
"For the American blue collar construction worker, of which I am one, all reported growth in my sector has been in negative numbers last I checked in general across this nation, with the exception of Alaska, and only there because it was summer."
The figures I referenced were released in July, for the month of June.
The President of these United States cited "positive job growth" in the nation's construction sector (in his labor day speech yesterday -which was "fired up" in delivery), last month for the first time in almost 2 years...that's for August.
I just wanted to clear this fact up before any confusion arises from my post, his figures are news to me, I have seen no evidence of its effect.
Thing is construction always slows in the winter and this comparitively in my thirty years of construction work, has been like "snowmaggeddon" for two freekin' years in a deep freeze, and this sector isn't going to make visable steady recovery for at least another year that's what any contactor will tell you if you ask, who's able to scrape by now, most of us can't, there isn't the work, and it will take more time to get infrastructure projects moving than I've got time to starve waiting for an economic jump start in the "green economy".
Most of us depend on making the majority of our income in the warm months, as even in good times it's tough to find steady construction work in the winter.
It occurs to me that if my Senator doesn't have the guts to read my thoughts aloud to his peers in debate as his constituent, that I might as well seek his seat the next time he comes up for it, and run as an independant.
That would be justice served cold, on ice..as I'll be tempted to see how he likes being unemployed.
@Steven RE ...If we use taxpayer money to try and change the minds of many, they'll be a lot less terrorism to go around.
So some things as "intangible" as returns on the investment may seem to be, are actually critical investments to make. And "it's who we are and what we do." as the President has stated correctly, or at least a part of that.
America has been in the buisiness of changing mindsets for a long time and I'm sure that will continue regardless of who's elected to Congress.
@John B.
I have a feeling folks at State are talking to the Chinese about the ramifications of their policies at this very moment.
If it were up to me, I'd send them an itemized bill for the last 50 + years of providing security on the Korean peninsula and wipe out any debt we may owe them instantly...and then some.
Then we'll be seeing an "economic stimulus" of the likes of which built our American "middle class" in the first place.
Why? Because we can bro,...because we can.
I've posted the details previosly on other topic threads here if you really want to know.
When "yes we can." becomes "yes we did." folks will better off and have a better world to live in.
Thing is, Mr. Hu is coming to Washington soon I hear and I think we're going to find out just how cooperative China is willing to get with the American consumer, and get a grip on risk management before he loses 100% market share in our economy should "lil Kim" in NK start a shooting war 'cause chickens have a way of coming home to roost.
See the American public can bankrupt China, we are not of a "victim mind" here in any ecomomic regard, and we need to remember that.
Remember "freedom fries" ? That boycot was on a friend of ours, for simply not having our back in dealing with an international terrorist in the form of Saddan Hussein.
It hurt their pride and it hurt their pocket book and it took Sarkozy to speak before Congress to show the American public there was a new attitude in France before things got back to normal.
If a Chinese trade rep reads this, what exactly does he think the boycot will look like for supporting a now nuclear-armed regime that threatens nuclear war in the region?
Well, I know one thing...it will keep the poor fellow up at nights thinking about it, that's a fact. I want results so he better think quick and I'm not just speaking for myself in saying this, I think that much is a "given".
Instant karma is a train wreck in the making.
Eric in New York writes:
If the Dept of State took it's micro-financing programs and redesigned the concept to work on the domestic level and sent it up the hill as a method of applied economic stimulus, then you close the gap in lending that leaves those of us with having no chance of lifting ourselves up, because we may not "qualify" fopr an A-1 credit rating.
You folks make these micro-loans and grants to folks that probably haven't had a bank account in their lives in a lot of cases.
And the record of repayment is better than most major lending institutions have on their books right now, though they claim to be "solid".
There's about a trillion dollars in banks waiting to be lent, but I can't even borrow on the title of my vehicle to secure a loan for a new tranny and clutch for it, it's just too old.
I figure that the programs state uses to lift folks out of poverty have application to our own economic recovery.
The danger of sinkin' billions into large infrastructure projects to create jobs is to be found in my semi-classical experience of working on a state highway dept. survey crew decades ago with 6 people standing around watching one guy do the work, and guess who was working while the rest of the crew played craps every chance they got because they were so bored on the job.
Instead, you could take that same money (50 billion), and send every adult in the nation a check to spend as they see fit, and pay us back for bailing out the "banks of inconvieniance" and AIG (Associates In Greed) and Wall Street buffoons that didn't give a tinker's damn about us.
Well, millions of folks are soon to be without any safety net at all, just because time ain't on our side in a weak economy.
I don't know how the President expects to create hope and a stong economy if folks like myself who "through no fault of their own" are maxed out on the time they have on unemployment insurance; when they are rendered homeless, hungry, and without recorse by drop dead 99 week deadlines.
Since when did any crisis or disaster end on a neat tidy timeline established by "the powers that be" in this government?
You go out and try to apply for a job with no phone to provide contact info or an address to give as a place of residence and try your luck.
See the cut off is going to create conditions of permanent unemployment for a whole lot of folks very soon.
Unless one has been homeless you don't have any idea just how hard it gets to pull yourself back up to be a productive member of society again, because not only do you have to hold on to a sense of self worth , but you have the added stima society put on you for being homeless and outside the normal access of communications and means to pull yourself up by the bootstraps.
I figure the cost of keeping people afloat for a little while longer till jobs are available is a lot less than the strain on social services would be overall.
I maqy be luckier than most, before the meltdown of the economy, I was on a projected income path to graduate off the federal Section 8 housing program that has helped me for the last 4 years overcome homelessness, now since UI is not going to enable me to pay my portion of rent under the program, they are adjusting my rent accordingly to my now non-existant "income level" , but I still have utilities and other bills that I have no idea how they are going to get paid without a job, and so it's costing the Fed. in material ways in other programs inherantly.
Now If I don't pay my utilities (to my landlady directly in this case being on a common meter in this tri-plex) I still run the risk of eviction and defaulting on section 8 for "non payment". Which would disqualify me permanently.
The Prssident said all this was "wearing on folks" if I got this quote right. Well, I'm writing this because I haven't given up yet, and I try to manage my anger in positive direction with intent through these words.
The president needs to know this ain't just "wearin' on us", I've lost just under thirty pounds on unemployment that I couldn't afford to lose, @ one meal per day.
That's reality on a third of normal poverty line income, if anyone suggests living on the "dole" is "easy living", they just need to step into my shoes for a week.
Well, all I can say to friends and staff here @ Dipnote is that I'll do the best I can to contribute as much common sense as I can untill the phone company flat cuts my line of communication off for "non payment", and makes it impossible to make even a volunteer effort to give something back to the gov. so I don't feel like I'm "living on the dole".
I hate to think that after chasing the American dream all my life, that the reason I have never quite been able to "grab the brass ring" was because I wasn't greedy enough.
I see the greed that got us all into this and it makes a fellow wonder sometimes.
Don M. in New York writes:
American manufacturing should let workers know, jobs that will last in manufacturing will not be created by new investments in our country, knowing that the Federal Government is not seriously addressing, the "economic pass†that has been given to foreign ships polluting our waters with ballast discharges and carbon emmissions as they bring their foreign manufactured products into our country.
With this administration not addressing the issues of one Senator Boxer who objected to historic legislation passed by the House (395-7) in 2008, and then delaying action on ballast water with another study to coincide with a 20 year military plan ,it shows those who manufacture goods that a policy of economic globalization is still being pursued over economic Americanization, and will continue to stiffle the cost of manufacturing in our country. This is especially evident by a report created in 2009 for congress that describes the cost of national ballast water legislation mandating installation of technology. The report suggest the cost would be incurred by, mainly foreign ships, bring foreign imports into our country and this would cause the cost of imports to rise.
Currently our military is offering incentives to foreign ships, importing foreign goods, to install technology to protect our waters. If they leveled the playing field with legislation that protected our water, and our commander and chief directed the military to worry about enforcement, rather than offering incentives to ease the problems that cost, would create for foreign shipping bringing foreign manufactured goods into our country, manufacturing may again decide to investment in America. Back in the 1990's environmentalist were not happy with President Clintons, help to delegate ballast water under the Clean Water Act to the EPA, they knew then with all the new free trade treaties and visions of economic globalization being the way for America's future that his plan had holes in it.
Donald M. in Virginia writes:
My proposal or suggestion is, the President of United States Barack Obama sets a stage at Capitol HIll, welcomes all JOB Agencies, All Major Companies Human Resource people, ALL Temp Agencies, rounding up all business points of contact then offer 12 Million JOBS to people who wants JOBS. This would prove if those people who are sitting at home collecting a check every month, if they are willing to visit Capitol Hill and obtain work. This would also give President Barack Obama a big push in JOBS and the Markets. Treat it almost like WALL STREET, if you have 100 jobs vacancy at Raytheon Systems, the first 100 people with any kind of experience, HIRE THEM get them on the payroll, working again. There should be NO EXCUSES for people not having jobs.
Eric in New Mexico writes:
Let me explain how it is, so you understand.
Do you have any idea what it is like to look for work for 99 weeks strait? No one is sitting around twiidling thumbs waiting for Santa Claus bro...ain't no free lunch.
Trouble is, when the paint store I've dealt with for the last twenty years calls me up at home to ask me if I need a new roller cover , they are hurting to move product out the door, meaning no one is buying paint to maintain their homes.
You think someone is going to hire a professional tradesman to wash dishes in a restaurant knowing I'm outa-there as soon as I get a paint job , because I'll make more money?
OK try and get a job a Ratheon without a BS at the very least..."any type of experience"?
I've lost count of the number of "guilded loos" I've painted for the rich and brain dead, you think that qualifies me? (chuckle)
I've been thinkin' about knocking on a few doors in Washington anyway, care to spot me gas money? I'll bring you some green chile so you can see how it grows there next season.
Just don't be implying anyone's sitting around waiting for hope to spring eternal my friend, or that our government has the answers though I believe they hope they do with all their heart a government can muster, being human in its cogs of beaurocracy.
I see you were spared the wrath of Earl and dodged that bullet by a wisker and a fortunate wind.
Well I try to anticipate miracles too, that maybe what I've said here will make just a little too much sense to ignore, as much as I appreciate the need to rebuild "crumbling infrastructure", that's not by itself going to stand up this economy on its feet again, though it has been tried a few times and we do need an investment in this for obvious reasons with or without an unemployment problem to try and fix in the process.
We're a nation of nation builders on a lot of levels and when we stop building, stuff crumbles.
Lot more than just simple physical infrastructure.
O.C. in the U.S.A. writes:
It's strange. There was a man outside a wlfare benefits office I passed on my way to the doctor's. He was asking illegal aliens if they needed a job. As I passed, he shut up and as I got ten steps away he started to ask again. There was also a poster plastered on a lamp post for a big rally to end Capitalism. Then I got on a Metro bus driven by a Russian. What's really going on here? Hillary stated that there was an insurgency in Mexico.
I think the insurgency is right here in America to end Capitalism. You treat citizens as second class citizens, deny them work, deny them healthcare and let in every illegal alien from anywhere in the world and destroy your education, health and government systems.
Sounds like an insurgency to me.
Donald M. in Virginia writes:
@Eric in New Mexico
I would of taken the storm after what I have been through in the past two weeks. My son blew the engine out of the only car I had running. My computer decided to crash and burn, everything from transportation to a vaccum cleaner, and my lawn mower blew its motor. Its one thing to have bad luck, its another to have multiple things happen at the same time and try to get through it all. I went for a 12 mile hike to get a cheeseburger and drink to think how to solve these problems. Sometimes all you need is a good healthy walk to think things over. I have no magic wands for JOBS, I was trying to come up with an idea to actually get people back to work, that includes painters, plumbers, welders, etc...by changing the concept of offering 12 Milliion JOBS to the public. The Capitol of each state can run this program. Eric, I want you working, earning a paycheck, because then prices of goods would come down. The more people that are employed, it decreases the cost of goods over the long haul, and helps our economy. At times like this, even I have thought about the lemonaid Stand, selling fresh lemon aid on the side of the road, but at present, I'm still plugging away, trying to sell what I can to recoup the costs of everything that has gone wrong. If someone wanted me to say "Uncle" they have it. I did hear on the news that the pastor has cancelled the book burning of the holy quoran. This is wonderful news, and the mosque is being moved in New York. Hostages being freed in Iran. Great news all over the place. Eric you should check with the State Department on getting a tour into Pakistan or on the island of Haiti, because they will need homes painted inside and out. This is the kind of stimilis our country needs, we give aid to these countries, why not hire Americans to help get them back on their feet. I also didn't mean to step on toes saying that all 12 Million people are at home just soaking the US Government but to offer encouragement to motivate our Government in getting Jobs rolling in our Nation. President Barack Obama can take the Lead on this one!
Good luck and keep your spirits, like that old saying, "What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger and wiser"
O.C. in the U.S.A. writes:
If the American people revolt and grafitti the White House then Eric can get a job painting it white again.
O.C. in the U.S.A. writes:
I made your same point on DIPNOTE before. My idea was to employ massive development teams that go in like American gangbusters (a figure of speech) and get the job done. The work can be done by mostly local labor but the overall organization, training, building to standards and opening up new markets is overseen. That's a partnership. It would get talented Americans to work, reduce corruption and have something to show for in the end when we finally pull out of a country. It's like government democracy and development on steroids. Get in, get the wheels turning, take off the training wheels, get out. It's like a franchise. Money comes in the form of increased trade. If American companies want to supply the pipe and water pumps they'll have to compete( not like fake government contracts) but really compete with rock bottom prices, Walmart style. As Americans we can build anything a country needs but not use the existing corrupt channels to get the job done.
If countries want our expertise they need to move out of our way temporarily so we can get the job accomplished.
O.C. in the U.S.A. writes:
One thing the State Departmment should consider is redesigning the government hiring process which is ridiculous. I noticed that there were about 40 unfilled child development jobs in various DOD locations worldwide yet, when you try to apply for any of them you have to read through 5 pages of government speak gibberish no one understands. Then they send out notifications that state do not call, do not email, call this number, don't call that number etc. It's designed to be confusing and all it does is turn off good potential candidates. Are they hiring or not? Do they need excellent teachers or not? No one will ever know because the process makes no sense.
Eric in New Mexico writes:
(chuckle) No magic wands either I agree. Funny that, one might consider it ironic that I have at this moment a higher probability of offering an idea on this blog that might pull millions out of poverty than cast a magic spell in my own life to pull myself out of it.
30 years in construction without a vacation, never on unemployment prior to this, and admittededly I probably could have used a bit of a rest, but this is feeling a bit like "forced retirement".
So I've kind of had to invent a job, a "virtual" job if you will.
I used to have a routine in my life, now I can barely remember what day of the week it is having no point of reference to a "weekend" anymore.
Now admittedly I can toss out some crazy ideas at times on this blog and some might say this situation of joblessness would drive even the best of us nuts.
And some might ascribe my crazy ideas to the fact that it has driven me absolutely bonkers to be like a yo yo on congressional purse string for the better part of this year.
I take the Ranger training school approach.
goes like this here...
" Ruck up Ranger, and suck it up.
It sucks coming and going but we like stuff that sucks.
So let's have a little fun with it since it sucks so much."
Like my cash-for-clunker unemployment restoration project (the antithisis of going green), that is my most important piece of physical infrastructure and I think I invested the time and scrapings of weekly UI payments wisely in the process, so that when there's work I can get to it reliably.
Same can be said for national infrastructure, as long as the projects don't stall trafic, a-la 100 mile traffic jams in China.
Then no one will be pleased.
Speaking of which if it's twin in my drive doesn't get sold to a friend this week, I might be able to hook you up with transportation.
You hear about neigbors helping neigbors get stuff done sans money in exchanges of skills and services, time and effort and maybe the staff at dipnote will help facilitate a "negotiated solution" to solve mutual problems.
I should note this blog is probably not the place to do "craigs list" type transactions, but maybe they can help put us in email contact if we're both agreable to it.
P.S. somewhere in the files of Overseas Building and Operations @ State there might be record of an email I sent in late 2001 or early 2002 when I saw the photos of the interior of the old Embassy in Kabul. Trashed it was. Figured they needed all the help they could get putting it to rights and functioning, so I told them "Have paintbrush, will travel." and they gave me a point of contact with KBH or KBR Haliburton( who can keep acronisms strait anyway?) and no one ever got back to me from that inquery.
But I do know that folks at OBO sure appreciated that email, and the offer still stands.
Donald M. in Virginia writes:
@Eric in New Mexico and O.C.
I have managed to acquire another vehicle, used with over 130 plus thousand miles, seems to handle quite well. I'm still working on removing my Bell Hornet situation, appparently the nest was bigger than imagined. I agree about what your saying O.C., the most important thing Americans need right now is JOBS. People need work, so they can survive. We learn how to adapt and overcome situations. I had to find an old computer out of the closet, hopefully I should be getting back to normal.
I almost think maybe the best way of looking at the United States is starting over. The Ross Periot method of going green might have been a good start. Begin with a small town in the United States and model it, for around the country and the world to see the benefits of going green.
O.C. in the U.S.A. writes:
What's wonderful about Americans is that we're like a shark, we constantly have to be moving forward. I like that you're creating work even when jobs are scarce. That's the American spirit. I work too. I keep cleaning the bathroom and kitchen floor and rearranging the furniture but its starting to become very monotonous. I also grow big worms.
Do you like to fish, Donald?
Eric in New Mexico writes:
"Prince and Pauper" (part 3 of 3)
Day 4-6;
Flurry of phone calls to allies, Russia calls and says July 2045 works for them and the rest of the world as a
goal, many press ops and interviews explaining I have no intention of being drafted to run in any upcoming
Presidential election, as this is a one-off aberation of "the great experiment" and I'm just "passing through" and
not all that ambitious.
Accept position offered by State as intel. analyst and make call to Karzai.
He tells me, " The Afghan people have never laughed so hard in all our history when you put that 'pissed off
preacher' in that glass cage and hung him on high for all the world to ridicule as he sat in his own feces.""Well my friend, I figured it was the least I could do with the time I had to make a difference."
He tells me, " I got a call from bin laden today...apparently from what I could gather in between sobs was that
you've just trashed his whole reason for existance, and he's intending to go home and take care of his mother, and
on top of that calling for the Taliban and the rest of the terrorists of the world to do the same.""You mean he's actually read my posts on Dipnote to this effect?""That's where he claims he found the meaning of life.""Indeed." (it was all I could manage in my state of shock)
Day 7 was a blur...the President had gained a new appreciation for hardship, reconnected with the populace and gained in poll standing for waging a "social experiment" so succesfully. It was "his idea" after all.
Found out in the process he was allergic to cats, so was more than glad to be taking up residence again, with a lot less problems on his plate to deal with, and I was just happy to have gotten my foot in the door and a job at the end of that rainbow.
Just before I stepped into the limo to catch a ride back home, some staffer comes running up with dipnote in hand and it's from the Israelis.
Aparently Hamas, Hisbollah and other terrorist org's are giving up on terror since the Iranian regime is busy at the moment packing their bags, that since they don't have a sponsor to count on and the notion of terror has been boiled down to a lack of empathy, they are now searching to find some to take care of their mothers with.
(Always was a dreamer, figured big dreams being the only one's worth having.)
Eric in New Mexico writes:
"Prince and Pauper" (part 2 of 3)
Day 2; Address UNGA, call for two thirds majority vote to banish Iran from these chambers, as the last peacefull option left on the table.
To bring them to the table.
Set goal timeline of WMD free planet by July 2045 to mark "100 years of insanity" and be done with it forevermore.
Set new parameters of the notion of "protecting populations" by calling for a global "OSHA" standard of occupational safety and living standards to coexist with industry and create working regulatory mechanism in place to combat climate change.
Have heart to heart talk with Mr. Hu of China and present the true meaning of what being a "stakeholder" is, with a 2.6 trillion dollar bill (give or take a half a trillion) for what it cost us to be a responsible nation in keeping the peace in their back yard for the last 50+ years (which I'm beating like a dead horse on this blog for a
reason) and explain to him kindly that America doesn't owe China a thing at this point.
Day Three;
Polish off all the scuff marks I've just put on my Cowboy diplomacy boots on folk's backsides over that last couple days, change socks and invite the Republicans over for tea and crumpets, explain to them that in order to form a "more perfect union" I'm borrowing from the Brits and instituting "the President's question time" every week in Congress and that I figure it's the only solution to taking partisanship out of the legislative process and making entertainment of it.
They agree now that I've just found about 3 trillion dollars they never thought possible which has now resolved the national debt in large measure.
To which I reply, " What about the 'land of No.' do you now accept as being nowhere?"
Again they contemplate navels and tell me they'll "get back to me."
I say, "Well make it quick, I don't have a lot of time left to help you get a grip on that realization, you're looking at living proof anything's possible."
They accept reality because the President is busy at that moment feeding my cat... Somethings in life being undeniably self-evident.
Low and behold Amanutcase from Iran gives me a call, says he's read all my posts about him on this blog and wants to "talk" now that his nation has been booted out of the UN, and I tell him, " The talking is done, what about
diplomatic isolation do you not understand? Now, I strongly suggest you thinkabout 'early retirement' before we all institute "forced retirement". End of negotiations!" and hang up on him.
( this is what I call "negotiating in good faith) and the American people appreciate it, knowing any other methodology is virtually useless. The "green movement" celebrates in the streets as freedom rings out loud and clear from every mosque.
Lil' Kim is waiting on the other line pleading with me to let him give up his nukes since Mr. Hu gave him an estimated life expectancy of his regime if he failed to after a chat with me at the UNGA.
I say, " So we can just drop in and pick them up anytime now?""Oh yes you may, I've been thinking a lot lately about the legacy I wish to leave my son when he takes over, and I've been real stupid thinking America was my enemy all these years when you would rather feed my people than nuke me.""Glad to hear that "lil Kim" now do you think you can convince Amanutcase?""Well, he won't be getting our help any longer that's for sure, and I'll give it a good try Eric.""Right then, I'll arrange for Bob Gates to accept delivery and get the air lift underway to get your people the help they need."
Eric in New Mexico writes:
"Prince and Pauper" (part 1 of three)
I had a dream last night...I guess one would call it one of those "wish fulfilment types".
The President had taken some advisor's good suggestion that he play "Prince and Pauper" with one of his unemployed citizens to up his poll rating numbers before mid-term elections, and my big mouth had gotten me in a world of hurt, as he offered me the opportunity to sit in the big chair for a week.
Litterally stepping into my shoes, feeding my cat, and pulling a few weeds in the yard in exchange for the privilege of being me, just for grins and giggles and anticipated miracles.
Barak was telling me, as he tossed me the keys to the oval, "Just don't touch the "football" else the Marine guard will shoot you, but other than that you're free to use the phone and the power of office 'cause I'm curious to see what may come of your ideas.""You actually think I can make a difference in a week sir?" I asked.
"Well, I've got it on good authority that all you've needed for all this time is to get your foot in the door, so I figured this might work out well for the both of us in the end run. Just don't burn the house down please I'm kind of fond of those digs.""Indeed sir, and a fine challenge you've offered, which I accept in the spirit of this "great experiment".
"Well that's democracy at work for you, Eric.""You know Mr. President, there's a few folks that are a little upset with the fact that you figured the trappings of office should also include the power of it, and putting that in my hands without voter aproval, even if it's just for a week.""Well, now you know how it feels to have to earn people's trust. But don't worry, they think of me like "like a dog" and I still get stuff done.""Well sir, let's see if they'll be a few less problems for you to contend with at week's end, and if we both be cursed with living in interesting times, then we're just going to have to create opportunity out of crisis.""That's why we're trading places to shake stuff up Eric, so go for it!"
( all this is like one of those "waking dreams" you "wake up into" and it's as real as if you can reach out and touch it as we shook hands and I got into his limo.)
This "world of hurt" I'd just stepped into was now on my shoulders for the next 7 days.
Day one; Address joint session of Congress just prior to opening of session, and presenting them with a slew of ressess apointments and a few words I'd asked a Senator to say on my behalf...Congress does a lot of contemplation of navel, as I teach them all how to take deap breaths and learn to meditate on the human condition, not their poll numbers.
Have the White house construction crew over for dinner and lay out design for 8ft plexiglass cube to be hung thirty stories above Wall street as the final place of destination for those who steal from the American public or display terminal stupidity to gain imfamy in their birthday suit and be hung from high places. It's first resident
of the month being an idiot who wants to burn the Koran.
Sign executive order banning the burning of books in America because we don't need a "farenhight 451" mentality alive and well in this country.
Buisness applauds this as massive government regulation becomes unnessesary to maintain fiscal dicipline in financial market places.
Muslims around the world applaud the common sense of it, and greater understanding is reached globally.
Donald M. in Virginia writes:
The answer to whether I like to fish? Sure, one of the best fishing trips I had taken was in Scotland. My wifes nephew knew a captain of a 40 foot ocean going fishing boat. I can remember bringing the "Black Trawler Rum" and we would fish in the North Sea. One evening, I caught the biggest fish, over six pound COD. Keep in mind in the Northern Sea, the waters are very turbulent, and the temps were freezing cold in the winter time. So a nip of the rum kept you warm while fishing. How about you O.C. do any fishing?
O.C. in the U.S.A. writes:
I've sailed the Solent so I know how turbulent the waters are. I love to fish. It's a really good thing for young children to learn because it teaches patience. This is an inexpensive activity that all schools should take up. There is no reason why all American children shouldn't learn to fish, swim, sail, kayak. If there wasn't so much graft in the school system we'd have these kids out and about, travelling the world. When children travel it opens up their fishbowl world and they make better employees. It also improves national security because their lives suddemly become very exciting and they have no use for extremist ideologies. When children are bored and have nothing to do, what happens?..Classroom chaos. The same is true for everyone else. People need to work because work satisfies one's spiritual side. I can't express enough to all governments the magical power of work. Then afterwards of course, we go fishin'.
O.C. in the U.S.A. writes:
Interesting idea your "Pauper and the Prince."
What about "Undercover President" or "Undercover Congressmen" where our elected officials are forced to work on the border for a week or work in a county hospital for a week or teach in an inner city school for a week. I think they'd learn a lot about how their policies are translated in the "Real World of the everyday American".
Eric in New Mexico writes:
OC, It was just a dream. Strange...been fighting off infection in my jaw, I suppose that had something to do with it being so vivid.
I don't suppose it matters, all things considered.
They're going to do what they are going to do.
What? a national "bring a fat cat to work" day?
They might get their suits dirty.
Glad to see you got the show on the road once again.
O.C. in the U.S.A. writes:
You can have your infection looked at but you'll have to wait in line behind all the illegal inmmigrants. Maybe you'll get a diagnosis in another two months.
Donald M. in Virginia writes:
Thanks @Eric in New Mexico
After surviving Carrier Duty, Southern Watch, the Iraq war, Two Earthquakes and plenty of Hurricanes, its always good to come back and feel alive!!!
Eric in New Mexico writes:
Yeah, I guess all that would lend one an appreciation for life.
I'll tell you what's a whole lot of fun though...is when the state's leading nuro-surgeon tells you you'll never use your left hand or arm again and 6 weeks later you make his eyes bug out of his head on the way to a full recovery from wasting paralysis via accupunture.
That was a decade ago.
As hard as things might be for me at the moment, there's a reason I tell folks to anticipate miracles. There's a reason to dream. Life has been a lot tougher.
I don't know what the future is going to bring, but there's a lot of satisfaction in making the experts look like complete idiots when they offer a person no hope of recovery, trust me on this one...
I suppose one could translate that into economics as well.
"I need a miracle every day."
- The Greatful Dead


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Comprehensive DescriptionRead full entry
Comprehensive Description
Vesicomyid clams are bivalve mollusks that are found in sulphide-rich reducing environments such as cold seeps at continental margins and hydrothermal vents along mid-ocean ridges, as well as in association with organic remains such as whale falls. Many (possibly all) vesicomyid species live in symbiosis with sulphur-oxidizing bacteria in their gills. These clams range in size from much less than a centimeter to more than 30 cm. Various species have been collected throughout the oceans at depths ranging from around 100 m to more than 9000 m. Krylova and Sahling have reviewed the taxonomy and distribution of the Vesicomyidae. (Krylova and Sahling 2010 and references therein)


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ive been there a few times anyone elts
all starr paintball
Started by pb24, Jul 13 2011 09:48 PM
1 reply to this topic
Posted 13 July 2011 - 09:48 PM
Posted 20 January 2012 - 01:28 PM
I have been to their store, but, not their field yet. If it's anything like the store then it should be fun.
Posted 17 March 2012 - 09:07 AM
AllStarrPaintball will be open April 1, $25 per person BYOP, all day air and co2.
Posted 02 April 2012 - 09:40 AM
I play there for the first time yesterday, it wasn't bad we had a small group of people. There was a group of new players who I think didn't understand some of the rules. All in all I had a good time and would go back again.
Posted 30 April 2012 - 09:50 AM
I have been talking with the owners and I know they have plans on putting in area for speedball. Can't wait to see how it looks.
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The increase of performance and capabilities of modern microprocessors and various electronics on their base is remarkable to say at least. What a supercomputer could provide just about fifteen years ago now fits into a slim notebook and in ten years time even a mobile phone will have performance comparable to today's desktops, according to a well-known high-performance computing specialist. Moreover, all the supercomputers in the Top 500 list will have petaFLOPS performance.
"By 2020, every system in the top500 list of supercomputers will offer petaFLOPS performance or better. Cellphones will have teraFLOPS performance, and laptops will have 10 teraFLOPS performance. Having solved the myriad problems inherent in creating an exaFLOPS machine, researchers will focus their efforts on designing and creating a zettaFLOPS supercomputer," said Jack Dongarra, the director of the innovative computing laboratory at the innovative computing laboratory and the director of the center for information technology research at the University of Tennessee, in an interview with Next Big Future web-site.
Even though many researchers and even executives of semiconductor companies claim that the
"end" of Moore's law is near, the professor at the University of Tennessee believes that the amount of transistors per advanced chip will continue to double every eighteen or so months, which will drive performance upwards.
"Most hardware researchers predict that silicon CMOS can continue scaling for the next ten years. Moore's law – performance doubling every two years – should continue for the next decade. So the hardware path, unlike the software path, is clear," said Mr. Dongarra.
Researchers as well as hardware designers are known for making bold, yet rather logical predictions. For example, a specialist from Imagination Technologies recently promised that handheld game consoles will have the "power" of PlayStation 3 in the coming years. The statement sounds rather interesting considering the fact that handhelds by definition do not support high screen resolutions or truly high-end games. Nonetheless, just ten years ago gigahertz processors were a milestone for desktop computers, whereas today they can be found even in advanced mobile phones. Somehow, developers of software for mobile products easily find ways to utilize increased performance and so even a teraFLOPS performance in a pocket may still be required.
Tags: AMD, ATI, , Intel, Nvidia,


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If you log in, you can comment on buildings, submit new photos or update photos that you've already submitted.
We need to upgrade the server that this website runs on. Can you spare a quid to help?.
Description: Former Grenville Barrack
Grade: II
Date Listed: 28 September 1990
English Heritage Building ID: 462544
OS Grid Reference: TQ7680169524
OS Grid Coordinates: 576801, 169524
Latitude/Longitude: 51.3972, 0.5401
Location: S Road, Gillingham, Medway ME4 4AG
Locality: Gillingham
County: Medway
Country: England
Postcode: ME4 4AG
Incorrect location/postcode? Submit a correction!
TQ7669NE CENTRAL AVENUE, Pembroke
686-1/2/91 (South side)
28/09/90 Former Grenville Barrack
(Formerly Listed as:
CENTRAL AVENUE, Chatham Maritime
(South side)
4 Barrack Blocks Grenville, Anson,
Nelson and Blake)
Barracks, now offices and laboratories. c1902 by Sir Henry
Pilkington. Red brick with Portland stone dressings, brick
gable and ridge and lateral stacks and slate cross-gabled
STYLE: Free Edwardian Baroque.
PLAN: single-depth axial.
EXTERIOR: 3 storeys with attics to end cross ranges; 25-bay
Long symmetrical ranges have a plinth, banded rustication to a
ground-floor plat band, second-floor impost band becoming
corniced frieze on end gables, and a modillion eaves cornice,
the 8-bay intermediate ranges divided by shallow paired
lateral stacks to the first- and second-floor with a central
downpipe. 3-bay end gables have clasping pilaster strips, with
scrolled ends to raking coping, and thin lateral stacks
flanking central windows to a tall gable stack with a central
rib; deep, full-height central canted bay.
Segmental-arched 6/6-pane sashes have large split keystones to
ground and first floors, brick and stone voussoirs to the
second; ground-floor windows to the intermediate sections
wider with side lights.
Return gables have an outer blind bay, with a central porch
with blocked Tuscan columns to an entablature with GRENVILLE
in raised letters and a segmental pediment and a half-glazed
double door, and a bay above with entablature and parapet,
paired 4/4-pane sashes in a keyed architrave and 4/4-pane
sashes to the sides; above is a round-arched 8/8-pane sash
with architrave and brackets to a round-arched pediment set
forward from the cornice over a cartouche with flanking fish.
Rear elevations plainer, with square latrine towers at each
end with pyramidal roofs connected to the barrack by a
ground-floor arch and 1-light range above. Good cast-iron
dated hoppers and square downpipes.
Roofs have banded ridge and lateral stacks, some truncated,
with late C20 dormer louvres and air conditioning units.
INTERIOR: plain with axial corridors and stairs in ends and
central projecting sections.
HISTORY: one of 4 matching barracks at the former HMS
Pembroke, and part of a carefully planned group with the
Officer's Mess, Captain's House, Motor Depot (North Rd),
(qqv), and other ancillary buildings.
Listing NGR: TQ7680269540
This text is a legacy record and has not been updated since the building was originally listed. Details of the building may have changed in the intervening time. You should not rely on this listing as an accurate description of the building.
Source: English Heritage
Listed building text is © Crown Copyright. Reproduced under licence.


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On March 12, 2013, President Obama hosted His Majesty the Sultan of Brunei for a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office to affirm the relationship between our two countries that dates back more than 160 years.
The two leaders discussed their shared interest in a strong, peaceful, and prosperous Asia-Pacific region, and continued cooperation between our nations on a range of issues.
With Brunei set to host October's ASEAN East Asia Summit meeting, President Obama said they would be working together on "everything from how we deal with issues of energy and climate change to how we expand commerce, potentially through the Trans-Pacific Partnership that has the opportunity of creating jobs and prosperity here in the United States but also throughout the region."
President Obama also said that His Majesty has shown great leadership around maritime issues in the Asia-Pacific region, and noted his work to help youth in Southeast Asia learn English, which can help expand commerce and strengthen ties between the United States and the area.
Read full remarks from the meeting here.
Editor's Note: This entry originally appeared on the White House Blog.


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TravelSafe recognizes that traveling Solo is often a rite of passage for young people becoming adults. However, depending on where you travel it can be dangerous and that's why we offer the following Top 10 Tips to help keep you safe. Solo travel can create the most exhilarating and proud moments of your life. In fact, solo travelers account for 11 percent of all American vacationers according to the U.S. Travel Association. So if you're thinking about making your way across Europe solo or visiting the Virgin Islands by yourself, we've got the top 10 tips to keep you safe, happy and ready to hit the road … solo.
- Trust your gut. If something doesn't feel right, don't do it.
- Avoid appearing like a tourist. Leave the "I LOVE NY" shirt at home and don't walk around with your face in a local guidebook. You'll save yourself from appearing vulnerable.
- Carry identification with you. It is also important to make copies of your driver's license and passport and leave them in safe place with a trusted person.
- Walk in well-light, public places, especially at night.
- Double check your directions and public transportation routes before leaving your hotel.
- Send a copy of your itinerary with a friend or family member. It's also important to stay in touch by email or phone.
- Talk up your travel plans on social media. You don't have to giveaway your exact travel dates or any personal information, but sharing ideas and experiences with other solo travelers can provide important insight.
- You may be able to bargain room rates. Most hotels base their rates on double occupancy. Simply try asking if a discount is available since you're the only person staying in the room and that you'll be using less electricity and water and eating less breakfast than two guests. In the end, it can't hurt to ask.
- Take lots of pictures. When you return home and want to show off all of the great places you traveled, you'll be glad you have the pictures to go along with your stories. Don't forget to share them with the people that helped you on #7, too!
- Safety should be your top priority. Traveling solo means you have to look out for yourself even more. Carry travel insurance to make sure your belongings, travel investment and medical needs are covered. If your bag is lost, travel insurance can cover your costs to replace the lost items. If you fall ill in a foreign country, travel insurance can make sure you are seen at an English-speaking hospital and cover the costs of your treatment.
Now it's your turn to tell us – what's your best tip for someone traveling solo? Share your tip in a comment below, Tweet us using the hashtag "#TravelSafeSolo" or post on our Facebook page. We look forward to hearing from you!


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Gorgeous Classic to Teased out Hairstyle
Joanne O 'Neil surely knows how to blend various styles together! What an outstanding look created on this gorgeous hairdo. Going from some cool retro classic waves to a crazy teased out coily lower portion of the hair. All that with such a cool transition in color going from brown down to a flawless ombré red mixed in with subtle purples and yellows! Bravo Joanne on this beautiful creation of yours!
Joanne o Neil Photo jim crone


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In order to have a Family Kite Day, you need open spaces, good wind and kites.
But that list doesn't include the most important ingredient, according to Keith Merritt, founder of Family Kite Day.
"What's important is the time you give your children. The kite's just a tool," he said. "You share your time with your kids outdoors. Anything we can do to encourage family life is a good thing. That's my view."
The 2009 event will be 10 a.m. until everybody leaves on Saturday at Veterans Park in Tupelo. Merritt will provide free hot-dogs, chips and drinks, and he'll award prizes for worthy fliers.
"When we started, adults kept winning the prizes," Merritt said. "About two years ago, we had a girl who came out early. I mean, she worked and worked to get her kite in the air, so we gave her the First Kite of the Day award."
Drop by
Attendance is fluid, with people visiting the park throughout the day. Tupelo Department of Parks and Recreation, a co-sponsor, helps to get the word out to the community, but some people stumble onto the fun.
"Every year," Merritt said, "there are people on Veterans Drive who see the kites and say, 'Hey, that looks like fun. How much does it cost?'
"'It's free.'
"'It's free? I've got a kite at home. I'm going to get it.'
"'You do that. We'll be here. The more the merrier.'"
Out of the gray
The origins of Family Kite Day can be traced back to a coffee shop on a gray January day in 2005.
"I was thinking about more beautiful times, Merritt said, "and I realized this town had never had a kite day for kids."
The tradition that got its start that day will continue on Saturday. Everyone's invited to bring their kites and their families to Veterans Park.
"I always felt like kite-flying was about the most fun thing in the world," Merritt said. "There's something whimsical, something childlike about it."
Contact M. Scott Morris at (662) 678-1589 or email@example.com.
Family Kite Day will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 11 at Veterans Park. Prizes for best kites. Free. (662) 213-6696.
M. Scott Morris/Daily Journal


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Number of Required Coins
: 23
Current Finest Possible Set Rating
: 67.951
View Set Composition
( Shop )
I like Ike! The political buttons of the 1950s became the coin collectors' cry of the 1970s, and it's still true today. This popular series remembers the U. S. president and military general on the obverse and commemorates the moon landing and/or the bicentennial on the reverse. Examples were struck in copper-nickel clad and silver clad.


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Poohblah wrote:I would expect that part of the chop is a reign name, since that is the method used to identify the year when China was still an imperial nation.
(edit: didn't look at the last page before posting, looks like MarshalN already answered the question)
MarshalN wrote:大明宣德
At least that's what it is attempting to say, the outlines are very fuzzy
brandon wrote:Fill with water, spent tea leaves, baking soda 2 days.
tst, these characters read from right to left.tst wrote:Any ideas on this? I'm trying to figure these out on my own first from now on (figure I'll learn much faster that way). I got something along the lines of ........ 佬杳 ? 辷山杳


text: "Most of the lessons that I've learned in life, candidly, came through athletics and I think particularly football," he said. "The great thing about football is it's the ultimate team sport. No matter what position you play, if you don't do your job, you're going to let the team down. Candidly, that's the way life is, that's what business that we play in, and you've got to count on everybody on your team."


text:
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text:
I'm in the process of switching routines at work, which is giving me a lot more free time -- and I've been thinking about what I want to do with it: a blog, a record of exploration, a guide, etc (and not necessarily about tea).
On a whim, I was looking through some tea blogs, and I ran across one that absolutely shocked me -- the author did a complete copy-and-paste of published scientific articles without any citation (only a vague mention of finding the information on the web). The only reason I was suspicious was that the prose suddenly turned very erudite for this particular author.
I understand that somebody copying-and-pasting another's work is not exactly a rare crime on the internet, but I guess I am just as surprised that nobody has apparently called out this bad behavior. Well, it's more than that, from my academic upbringing, we called it plagiarism.
When I get in a mental conundrum like this one, I usually take a pause and ask, is it just me? So that's why I'm writing here to see what other people think about the practice of copy-and-paste with no citation. If you have a blog, have you done it? Or have you had somebody do to you? I would just appreciate some general feedback and discussion here on the topic. Thanks!


text:
It's What I Do
January 2, 2008. Posted by Michael Bourne.Add new comment | Filed under: 23 years, birthday tribute, compliment, december 31, edifices, fbi, january 1st, jazz station, jock, law school, milt jackson, newark, nice thing, pledges, radio station, raymond blvd, rhonda, Riff, tempus, train station, wbgo
"It's what I do ..."
I never know what to say when I get a compliment. I've always been amazed that people actually like me and like what I do -- and that I get paid to do what I do. I've sometimes felt that if I say "thank you" I feel as if I'm acknowledging that whatever nice thing someone is saying to me is true.
"I love your interviews!"
"It's what I do ..."
"You got so many pledges that last hour!"
"It's what I do ..."
I've been "doing" for 35 years on the radio, and it was only after 25 years that I felt that apparently I'm good at this, good at ... what I do.
New Year's Eve was my 21st coast-to-coast broadcast and my 23rd anniversary as a jock on WBGO. My first shift was filling for Rhonda in the afternoon, December 31, 1984. January 1st is the birthday of Milt Jackson, and so I played a day-before birthday tribute. Phone rang, and the voice said "This is Bags. Thanks." And in that moment I knew that I was a jazz jock in the jazz capitol of the world.
Even though we broadcast from Newark, and there's considerable Jersey pride at WBGO, I usually tell people elsewhere in the world that I'm from the jazz station in New York. We apparently, last I heard any numbers, have more listeners and more members in New York than in New Jersey -- although, really, I say New York mostly because I live in New York.
I only recently realized that I'm a commuter.
Back before the various large edifices that have gone up in Newark since I first came to the station -- law school, arts center, FBI, and now the Rock -- the walk on Raymond Blvd twixt train station and radio station was darker. I never felt especially in danger. I've always been quite grizzly, and I've seen folks on the street fear me. What was weird in the 80's was when folks in New York asked me if I carried a gun to protect myself in Newark.
Tempus fugit ...
23 years ...
I knocked the station off the air 20 minutes before I first came on the air. I was expected to record myself on a cassette. Remember them? Various plugs and wires were involved, and I somehow plugged the entire on-air signal into the cassette recorder. Nobody knew what was happening and the phones started ringing about the dead air. I didn't know what was happening, but I thought maybe I should un-plug the cassette recorder, and at once WBGO was resounding loudly again.
I'm still the clumsiest jock on WBGO. I'm not kidding when I get crabby about "too many buttons!" I've pushed the wrong buttons and played the wrong CDs countlessly. We didn't have CDs when I came to the station. We played music from a wall of LPs. Remember them? I remember when the first CD player came in. There was what looked like a spice rack in the studio with four CDs. One was "Glenn Miller in a Digital Mood" -- which I never played even once. I was afraid that if I endeavored to play a CD I'd blow the station off the air again.
I'm proud to say that since that first clumsiness, I have knocked the station off the air only one other time. Readings said our power was too high for the FCC max, so I pushed the button that lowers the power and the power lowered to zero. After a scramble of engineers like the code blue for a heart attack, we came back.
We now have an all-new computerized system for on-air spots, calendars, produced programs, and IDs. It's been working for almost a month now, and I've only screwed up a half dozen times. I once said to Josh Jackson, who's a whiz at working all this new tech and was so quickly and seeming effortlessly editing a special we were producing on a machine with a screen full of multi-colored squiggles, "I feel like a baboon looking at a rocket ship ..."
I'm much more technologically adept than I used to be. I'm helpless about the squiggles, but I sometimes can get through an entire shift without pushing a wrong button. Even a monkey can learn how to ride a bike.
I've actually never learned how to ride a bike -- but that's another story. Now comes ... blogging.
E-mail, I can do.
Googling, I can do.
Porn, any baboon can do.
I've owned a computer for two years, and by now I'm not as cyber-challenged as I first was.
I've actually been able to listen to baseball on my computer.
I've finally been able -- without help -- to buy stuff on my computer.
Now comes ... blogging.
I've been asked and encouraged to blather about ... whatever.
Baseball. Batman. Musicals. Traveling. Why I think of myself as Dutch. Why I've lately become obsessive about "Pride and Prejudice" and Jane Austen. And other things I love. And also ... love.
When I was initially asked to blog about what I think about, my immediate answer was "Who cares?" I'm blogging now only because my loved ones have insisted that listeners who like me might like to know ... what I do when I'm not doing what I do on WBGO. And also how I do what I do. I've been requested to explain how I program Singers Unlimited -- which will involve confessing a variety of eccentricities I've heretofore never talked about -- when the easiest answer is nonetheless
"It's what I do ..."
I'm Michael Bourne.


text:
The U.S. Olympic Team for Women's Field Hockey held a scrimmage against the Korean Olympic Team Thursday at the Olympic Sports Center Hockey Stadium. The sides fought to a 2-2 draw, with U.S. goals delivered by strikers Tiffany Snow and Dina Rizzo.
The USA scored first, with an early goal from the combination of Tiffany Snow and Kate "Tiki" Barber.
"We had some really nice movement across the midfield," said Snow, a native of Escondido, CA. "Tiki received the ball outside of the circle, hit across the base of the goal, and I got the tip-in."
Crisp passing by the USA brought the ball from midfield to the attacking front, where Lauren Powley connected with Dina Rizzo for the second goal.
"I got an excellent pass from the top of the circle from Jesse Gey," said Powley, "and I heard Dina screaming, 'Far post! Far post!" and after all those years of people screaming at me to go far post – I finally executed it."
"Powley hit it far post and I was just there to tip it in," added Rizzo. Rizzo and Powley both attended the University of Maryland.
The Korean side responded with two goals of their own to knot the contest, including a field goal in the first half. In the second half, a penalty corner shot by Korea was blocked by goalkeeper Amy Tran, but Korea collected the rebound and scored goal number two.
The team was relieved to finally compete against another team rather than scrimmage amongst themselves.
"It feels amazing," said Powley. "It's our last tune up before we get out there and finally play."
"It's awesome to be out on the field competing in this environment," said Snow, adding, "especially after the last time we played Korea."
In their final international preparation before the Olympics, the U.S. Olympic Team for Women's Field Hockey set out on a European tour last month to face some the world's most formidable teams. Their contest against Korea resulted in a 5-3 defeat, so Thursday's draw was seen as positive progress for the Americans.
"Definitely," said Powley. "They're one of the top teams [in the world], and that's where we want to be. We know we can play with them. It's definitely a good confidence booster."
"We're very, very happy with our performance," said Head Coach Lee Bodimeade. "We've trained really well for the first three days since [arriving in Beijing], and that helped our performance against a very good Korean side."
Bodimeade did not think there was much difference between the team the USA faced in July and the one Wednesday night.
"They looked extremely similar," said Bodimeade. "Korea played with a similar intensity. Our side was a bit different. We've brought our game up to where we're a lot happier now."
The team has two remaining training sessions before competition begins.
"At this point in time, we're very solid," said Bodimeade. "The finishing touches over the next two training runs should put us right where we need to be."
The U.S. Olympic Team for Women's Field Hockey practices tomorrow from 9:30am to 10:00 am at the Olympic Sports Center Hockey Stadium, and daily through the start of Olympic Games competition. Players and coaches will be available for interview following practice.
The U.S. Olympic Team opens Olympic Games competition on Sunday, August 10 against 2007 Pan American champions Argentina. The United States is slotted in Pool B with Argentina, Germany, Great Britain, Japan and New Zealand.
Korea is slotted for competition in Group A. Korea qualified for the Olympics in the same fashion as the United States: with a championship in one of three WorldHockey Qualifying Tournaments. Korea outscored the pool 29-1 en route to victory in Victoria, Canada.
For media and interview requests in Beijing, contact Jeff Gamza at 13910824442.
For more information about the U.S. Olympic Team for Field Hockey, visit fieldhockey.teamusa.org.
For more information on USA Field Hockey, visit www.usafieldhockey.com .


text:
Fair ~
High: 68°F
Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017
New federal agency: Needed or not?Posted Wednesday, January 4, 2012, at 1:55 PM
President Obama's appointment of Richard Cordray as director of the new Consumer Protection Bureau allows the federal agency, which oversees what the Associated Press lists as "mortgage companies, payday lenders, debt collectors and other financial operations" to go to work.
Republicans are expressing outrage, Obama's sounding defiant and, as happens so often the issue has become politicized. The president made his appointment while Congress, with many members opposing the agency;s potential power, was away.
It's the perfect issue in an election year: Another federal agency added, and more controls over business.
But sometimes protecting others should come first over political ideology. Is this one of those cases, considering so many victims are mistreated and misused financially by some of these types of companies?
And I'll grant that it could be argued that no one's forcing customers to do business with them.
Showing most recent comments first
[Show in chronological order instead]
The free market determines what workers will be paid. If no one was willing to do minimum wage jobs for minimum wage pay, those companies would be forced to pay a higher wage.
If the concept of a living wage has any merit, why don't we make $25/hr the minimum wage?
History shows that every time there is a hike in the minimum wage there are layoffs of entry level workers that offset those expenses.
-- Posted by quietmike on Sat, Jan 7, 2012, at 9:03 PM
Facts compared and proven right or wrong is exactly what the voters of this country need. Regardless of which side you take, dem or rep, we all can agree this is not the country or the path we want for a successful future. Government has outgrown our country and become such a part of everything we can do -- there is barely any real freedom left. Please get out and vote for the best path for all of the country. The freedom and priviledge to vote is precious. It no longer is about political parties but about the American people and our cherished way of life. Not one person in this rich country should be without a job or the means to provide food and shelter for a family. The government has taken away the need and desire for a person to have integrity and feel accomplishment about success in a job with all the "entitlement" programs they offer. The jobs would be here -- if long ago our American citizens had been taught to have American jobs "you must buy American-made products" -- not products "made in Japan, China or Taiwan". It's on almost everything you pick up. Just sayin'
-- Posted by decorate1956 on Sat, Jan 7, 2012, at 4:44 PM
A living wage is the min needed for a family to survive on. Right now min wage does not even qualify the worker to be at poverty level. While there should be entry level jobs for students and we need to take into account the size and profit levels of small companies, they do need to be able to make money, there are companies out their who make billions and pay employees such low wages they are on public assistance. In reality them that means WE are helping that company pay for their employees. That is not right. An interesting site to look at is http://www.livingwage.geog.psu.edu/. I t shows the min wage by locations that is needed to just get by. It figures that for a family of 4 in Bedford county to be at poverty level they need to make at least 9.83 pr hour - that is more than 2 dollars over min wage and they calculate that to have a liveable wage they should have 23.81 pr hour. They show the break down of what expenses they used to come to those figures. Now mind you they only figure in 630.00 for housing. That seems to include utilities since there is not any other figures that include that. So they do not include goodies like cell phones and vacations.
NOw while a small company can not and should not be expected to pay those wages, as the profit rise and they are able to they should be expected to raise the wages paid to those who do the WORK to provide them the profits they enjoy. There in no way a company like Wal-mart should being paying wages that are so low their employees can get food stamps. A 630.00 housing allowance is far from greedy.
If dem's were responsible for slavery why are the republican fighting so hard to have that mentality returned/ What happened 100 years or more ago should be a lesson to help our country become better not an excuse to destroy it. Earning a decent living and getting a decent wage for our work is not class envy it is decency. WHy Mike are you so horrible fearful of people being paid good wages for the work they do? Why do you think it is class warfare for them to be treated fairly? We do not live in the old south, it not the days of plantations and slaves.
-- Posted by wonderwhy on Sat, Jan 7, 2012, at 11:42 AM
What exactly is a "living wage"?
You already have "protection from the unlimited abuse of corporations"....no one is forcing you to work for them or buy from them.
Democrats were responsible for slavery, old south plantations and such.
Sorry, but the tired old class envy is falling on deaf ears, even some hardcore democrats have seen through Owebama, and are jumping ship.
-- Posted by quietmike on Thu, Jan 5, 2012, at 6:01 PM
I agree the voters must get out and vote. But they need to vote in the best intrest of the CITIZENS and NOT the corporations. WE THE PEOPLE need to take back America from big business. That is not Socialism even if the fear mongers would have you believe it. Unless we are able to have a living wage and protection from the unlimited abuse the corporations want we the middle class will cease to exist. Yes this is our last chance - if those who want to destroy the middle class for the profits of the corporations and 1% are allowed to get in office we will fall into the equivalent of a rabid right dictatorship. And to allow them to have unchecked and the absolute power that they are manipulating the constitution ( such as saying corporations are people) and people to give them will turn us back into the old south where you had the plantation owners and the slaves and servants. Do not be fooled anyone not in their income level will be reduced to their slaves - even those who voted and helped them take over.
-- Posted by wonderwhy on Thu, Jan 5, 2012, at 12:12 PM
Can I please hear a big AMEN! People, please get out and vote. Our country is going to hell in a handbag!!! We have to stop this now. We all have heard forever how this could be our last chance --- PEOPLE "THIS" IS OUR LAST CHANCE!!! DO SOMETHING NOW --- VOTE TO TURN OUR COUNTRY AROUND FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE FOUGHT FOR OUR FREEDOM NOT FOR US TO BECOME A SOCIALIZED NATION.
-- Posted by decorate1956 on Thu, Jan 5, 2012, at 8:17 AM
Name a federal agency that works like it was supposed to?
Why will the next one be different?
If the government wouldn't have forced the community reinvestment act, and would enforce the border,the collapse probably wouldn't have happened.
-- Posted by quietmike on Thu, Jan 5, 2012, at 7:14 AM
There seem to be enough regulations, so I would rather see them spend some money on a publicity campaign to educate how to avoid predatory deals.
Require a basic personal finance class in high school before graduation or before they are allowed to leave school.
After that, I have to agree with others, buyer beware, so no, we do not need another oversight agency.
-- Posted by stevemills on Thu, Jan 5, 2012, at 6:45 AM
Yet another example of how socialist policy makers are marching forward, almost unchecked and not the least bit deterred in their desire to control and manipulate to their satisfaction, every single aspect of your life.
By and large, high risk loan applicants are not being taken advantage of. Their poor credit rating due to their own irresponsibility quite often results in their getting everything they ask for in the "too good to be true" lending packages offered by so-called "predatory" lenders.
-- Posted by Tim Lokey on Thu, Jan 5, 2012, at 12:41 AM
Absolutely not needed~! There are already more than enough laws, rules and regulations in place to protect the consumer. There will ALWAYS be the unscrupulous lender so therefore you must be a well informed consumer, read the fine print and and above all if it "Sounds too good to be true" walk away.
-- Posted by justwanaknow on Wed, Jan 4, 2012, at 5:19 PM
"If only" the voters of this United States would come together for the good of our country. We all are in desperate times and need help in Washington DC not games played like this. I can only hope the right thing will be done. The voters will speak in November!
-- Posted by decorate1956 on Wed, Jan 4, 2012, at 2:28 PM
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Promoting Military Cultural Awareness in an Off-post Community of Behavioral Health and Social Support Service Providers
Due to U.S. military Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) efforts and ongoing Overseas Contingency Operations, the number of military servicemembers and veterans seeking civilian-based services has increased. As the military presence grows in previously underrepresented areas, the need for culturally competent providers will also increase both on and off military installations. The purpose of this article is to promote military cultural awareness, while suggesting ways to enhance existing community behavioral health and social support services. It builds on a review of the extant literature and findings from a community assessment to introduce civilian providers to some specific issues affecting servicemembers and their families. A framework describes ways to increase military cultural competence and build community capacity to enhance civilian-based services. In addition, two appendices list some common military terminology and multiple training resources available through military organizations and websites.
Military cultural competence, community capacity building, resources
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text:
No holiday break from worries
December 8, 2012
It is just a couple of weeks before Christmas and we are all grateful for the season. For this brief time we can shed our concerns, bask in the holiday spirit. It is the one time of year we can relax and forget our woes.
As 2012 nears the end of her flight, much like a 727 trying to land in 100 mph winds, your humble correspondent has put his worries behind him. Like, as a young friend of mine would say, I am totally not worried.
Except for the fact I am heading for a fiscal cliff. I don't even know what to wear. An inner tube? Does Amazon sell economic parachutes?
I am not quite sure what a "fiscal cliff" is, although I love the name. I expect the "fiscal cliff" is a result of our "irrational exuberance" fostered by the policies of "dumb-butt politicians," "bonehead bureaucrats," and "greedy bankers."
I especially enjoy mentioning "greedy bankers" because that is the only group less popular than "weak-kneed liberal mainstream media sheep."
A survey of 347 articles interviewing learned economists revealed no two of them agree on how to best avoid the fiscal cliff although most agree the worst that can happen is the government will confiscate every dollar in your bank account and give you two weeks to move.
I personally think the economy is in pretty good shape and I don't need some Harvard pinhead spouting unintelligible statistics to the contrary.
Here's a simple tool. Drive past your local Ford dealer. If he has loaded the front row with $40,000 trucks, as is the case in my town right now, go ahead and buy her the diamond. When he is pushing $15,000 Fiestas, don't spend a dime of that savings.
But, hey, it's that time of year and maybe I should just simply wish you "happy holidays" and be done with it. But, whoops, that gives me something else to worry about.
This is the time of year some folks get all uptight when someone says "happy holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas."
Let me be clear on this: I believe Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Period. That's what I believe. You believe what you want to believe. That's how it works in a country blessed with freedom to worship as we wish. Or not.
No, I won't be boycotting any big box stores whose banners omit the word "Christmas," nor when gift shopping will my spirituality be threatened by a saleslady who offers a cheery "season's greetings!" I don't think the country is headed for a "Christmas cliff." I am not under the illusion Target or Wal-Mart is going to throw a midnight mass. I have somewhere else to go for that.
That's the entire catalog of my worries for now. Like, totally. Except, wait a minute. Guns.
I have picked up a couple of journalistic heroes in recent days. They are two: Fox News columnist Jason Whitlock who said Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovar Belcher and the mother of his infant daughter would be alive today if it were not for lax guns laws. And Bob Costas, who had the guts to endorse Whitlock's comments on national television.
Stop! Don't write. What if Belcher had been having a peaceful breakfast with his girl, a thug broke into the home, and he used the handgun to protect himself? I get it. But that is not what happened, and is not what happens repeatedly in our society when unstable people go over the edge.
The odds would seem heavily stacked in favor of guns gone wild rather than guns used for protection.
OK, I am now, like, totally exhausted with all these weighty ideas. So let me end by simply wishing you a blessed Christmas.
Ned Cantwell welcomes response at: