text:
Weissbluth raiding Wall Street advisers for his Chicago firm
With Wall Street under fire, Elliot Weissbluth is trying to build a new style of brokerage in Chicago using talent snatched away from the titans of finance.
A United-Continental merger would cement Chicago's status as a top aviation hub.
Baxter International Inc. investors are clamoring for a payoff from Robert Parkinson's years-long R&D spending spree.
Even as he closes in on his goal of playing the top 100 golf courses in the U.S., local venture capitalist Keith Bank and partners are taking a big swing at the latest fad in golf equipment.
With Wall Street under fire, Elliot Weissbluth is trying to build a new style of brokerage in Chicago using talent snatched away from the titans of finance.
Wintrust Financial Corp., one of the area's largest banks on the strength of a suburban franchise, is taking its act downtown.
State officials and consumer advocates accuse Nicor Inc. of overcharging and misleading hundreds of thousands of customers who purchase gas-pipe repair insurance from the utility.
McDonald's Corp.'s franchisees fear the coming health care overhaul will take a big bite out of their profits and force them to either raise prices or spend less on their restaurants.
A swarm of real estate firms and contractors led by Jones Lang LaSalle Inc. and Turner Construction Co. have filed claims for unpaid bills totaling $4.4 million against six cash-strapped office towers controlled by Tishman Speyer Properties L.P.
Dr. Kris Alden held guests rapt recently in the same dining room where Gertrude Stein regaled friends in the early 20th century.
Join Crain's Chicago Business on Tuesday, May 25, as it hosts "The Revolution Transforming Practice Business Models," a moderated panel discussion examining current and future issues affecting physician group practices.
Crain's looks at some of the women who lead Chicago's most important and iconic institutions, many of which are on the cusp of major change.
47 | Chief financial officer | Chicago Public Schools | Chicago
54 | President, U.S. | McDonald's Corp. | Oak Brook
57 | chairman, CEO | Kraft Foods Inc. | Northfield
35 | President, founder | Lana Unlimited Co. | Chicago
63 | 4th Ward alderman | Democratic nominee for Cook County Board president | Chicago
57 | CEO | Health Care Service Corp. | Chicago
56 | CEO, chairman | Corn Products International Inc. | Westchester
55 | President | Dominican University | River Forest
49 | Chairman, Airline Pilots Assn. | United Airlines | Chicago
52 | Chairman, CEO | Johnson Publishing Co. | Chicago
43 | Manager, Chicago assembly plant | Ford Motor Co. | Chicago
53 | Chief operating officer | Cramer-Krasselt | Chicago
Rosemarie Andolino43 | Commissioner, Department of Aviation | City of Chicago | ChicagoOne big task remains for Chicago Aviation Commissioner Rosemarie Andolino if she's to complete the job of modernizing O'Hare International Airport: getting...
Crain's today publishes its annual list of Chicago's 25 largest women-owned businesses. Chas. Levy Co. LLC again tops the list, with $680.0 million in revenue in 2009.
The social season is in high gear, parties seem well-populated and revenue is rebounding, but it's not coming easy.
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago was founded in 1977 by dancer and choreographer Lou Conte, who served as artistic director for 23 years until his retirement in 2000.
March through May is typically mayhem for Merry Maids, with spring-cleaning requests on the rise. But few customers are asking for extra services this year.
Jane Mentzinger, 49, is executive director of Communities in Schools of Chicago, a non-profit that coordinates arts, health and violence-prevention programs in city public schools. Her lesson plan:
For a smaller, more intimate steakhouse experience, head for these two old-school options. They have less swagger and more warmth than some, but the steak is still top-grade choice or prime.
Juan remembers the day when, at age 8, "people I didn't know" from his mother's home village in central Mexico put him in the back seat of a car and drove him north. He was what you might call an illegal immigrant.
Every once in a while maybe as often as Halley's Comet comes around the interests of Exelon Corp. and Illinois consumers align.
As Illinois and neighboring states explore how a high-speed rail network could transform the Midwest, the Chicago area stands to gain employment and attract new economic development. The question is, how much?
This week's editorial cartoon by Roger Schillerstrom
Crain's editorial off mark on 'contractors' club' allegation
Here's what readers of ChicagoBusiness.com said about "Can Giannoulias survive Broadway KO punch?" (Greg Hinz blog, April 23).
A chart for an April 26 story about hospitals' charity care should have said the amount of free care provided by Provena Covenant Medical Center was from 2002, the year it lost its tax exemption.
These great Chicago-area nonprofits need your support.


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A Blackberry looks more like a phaser from Star Trek. How do these people manage to finish high school to even attend college?
This is a discussion on Blackberry "Gun" Causes Scare In Montana (Update) within the Off Topic & Humor Discussion forums, part of the The Back Porch category; Maybe they should offer a course in firearms identification at Carroll College? Blackberry device mistaken for gun at Carroll College HELENA, Mont. (AP) -- More ...
Maybe they should offer a course in firearms identification at Carroll College?Blackberry device mistaken for gun at Carroll College
HELENA, Mont. (AP) -- More than a dozen law enforcement officers stormed a building at Carroll College on Thursday after receiving a report of a man with a gun, but the supposed weapon turned out to be a Blackberry handheld device.
At least 16 officers from the Helena Police Department, the Lewis and Clark County Sheriff's Office and the Montana Highway Patrol responded to the afternoon call, Helena Police Lt. Roger Johnson said.
An employee in the student union building reported a man put a handgun in his pocket as he entered the building.
Responding officers began "a very aggressive response prepared for someone with bad intentions," Johnson said.
People in the immediate area were evacuated, and authorities prepared to use the reverse 911 system to call all of the phones on campus.
Officers resolved the situation about 15 minutes after receiving the initial call.
The employee subsequently identified the man, who was at the college to attend a health conference, Johnson said.
College president Thomas Trebon described the situation as an "honest and fair misunderstanding" but said he was pleased with the quick response.
When youre wounded and left on Afghanistans plains,
And the women come out to cut up what remains,
Just roll to your rifle and blow out your brains,
And go to your God like a soldier.
Rudyard Kipling
A Blackberry looks more like a phaser from Star Trek. How do these people manage to finish high school to even attend college?
Theres an old and true, military motto, Si vis pacem, para bellum - If you want peace, prepare for war.
Imagination gone wild.
Les Baer 45
Sig Man
N.R.A. Patron Life Member
I don't know but with the increased amount of fear that people are showing these days, you can expect more incidences like this to happen.
Universal Background Checks...the next step towards registration and confiscation.
AR. CHL Instr. 07/02 FFL
Like custom guns and stuff? Check this out...
Shouldn't a reverse 911 system be called a 119 system?
I'm surprised the owner of the evil black comm device wasn't required to attend psychiatric and sensitivity training while undergoing a mandatory one year suspension.
"Each worker carried his sword strapped to his side." Nehemiah 4:18
Guns Save Lives. Paramedics Save Lives. But...
Paramedics With Guns Scare People!
You know, the naming of the products needs to be revisited. Blackberry for the little mites, Blackball for the mid-sized units, and perhaps Blackeye for the firearm-sized units. Lemons --> lemonade.
Sounds like a quick response from the inbound LEO's. Imagine how much more responsible and quickly the response could be from adult carriers who waited until an actual crime using said "firearm" was in progress? Preachin' to the choir.
Your best weapon is your brain. Don't leave home without it.
Thoughts: Justifiable self defense (A.O.J.).
Explain: How does disarming victims reduce the number of victims?
Reason over Force: Why the Gun is Civilization (Marko Kloos).
The rest of the story:HELENA, Mont. (AP) -- Police responding to a report of a possible gunman at Carroll College ended up talking to State Auditor John Morrison, whose Blackberry handheld device had been mistaken for a weapon.
The Independent Record reported Saturday that it was Morrison who was at the center of the police response Thursday afternoon.
At least 16 law enforcement officers responded to a report of a man in dark clothing slipping what looked like a handgun into his pocket while walking into the student union building. Two officers, one with a rifle, entered a conference room to look for the person in question.
"Then they looked at me and said 'Oh,' " Morrison said Friday.
The auditor said he did not have a handgun.
After talking to officers and receiving an apology for the misunderstanding, Morrison returned to a campus meeting.
The college and law enforcement officials handled the situation well, said Morrison, adding that "it's better to be safe than sorry."
Students and staff in the immediate area were evacuated.
When youre wounded and left on Afghanistans plains,
And the women come out to cut up what remains,
Just roll to your rifle and blow out your brains,
And go to your God like a soldier.
Rudyard Kipling
But his Blackberry might have been loaded with........numbers.........OMG!The auditor said he did not have a handgun.
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ: Buy These Stickers Here
"A man without ethics is a wild beast loosed upon the world" Albert Camus
Auditors with Blackberrys can be very dangerous!
Assault is a behavior, not a device.
"Don't never take no shortcuts." Patty Reed, Donner Party
Lifetime NRA member
yet i can walk through our sports building with a large rifle case and range bag with a big shirt and hat that says pistol club safety officer on it and everyone looks at me and smiles
Bottom line IMO - with this trend to be leary of anything held in the hand .. is that the person under suspicion must be careful with handling and presentation.
If phone in hand and called out by LE - then drop said ''item'' quick. Mistakes happen too easily and it is not the item so much as the perceived presentation that can be construed as a threat. Comply with LE - fast!
Chris - P95
NRA Certified Instructor & NRA Life Member.
"To own a gun and assume that you are armed
is like owning a piano and assuming that you are a musician!."
http://www.rkba-2a.com/ - a portal for 2A links, articles and some videos.
With cold weather, if I'm pocket carrying, then I am frequently transferring the gun, in-holster between pants and jacket pockets when getting in and out of the vehicle. I don't do anything more than ensure my palm is covering the grip as I do so. I've done it right in front of others and they just don't notice since it looks like I'm moving a wallet...or a blackberry. Maybe I'm pushing my luck these days.

subset: commoncrawl


text: About Express ScriptsExpress Scripts (NASDAQ: ESRX) manages more than a billion prescriptions each year for tens of millions of patients. On behalf of our clients — employers, health plans, unions and government health programs — we make the use of prescription drugs safer and more affordable. Express Scripts uniquely combines three capabilities — behavioral sciences, clinical specialization and actionable data — to create Health Decision Science(SM), our innovative approach to help individuals make the best drug choices, pharmacy choices and health choices. Better decisions mean healthier outcomes. Headquartered in St. Louis, Express Scripts provides integrated pharmacy-benefit management services, including network-pharmacy claims processing, home delivery, specialty benefit management, benefit-design consultation, drug-utilization review, formulary management, and medical and drug data analysis services. The company also distributes a full range of biopharmaceutical products and provides extensive cost-management and patient-care services. For more information, visit Lab.Express-Scripts.com or follow @ExpressScripts on Twitter. MEDIA CONTACT:David WhitrapMobile: 314-517-3605 email@example.com SOURCE Express Scripts


text:
Quaid-i-Azam University (once named Islamabad University) was established in July 1967 under the Act of National Assembly and started teaching and research programmes for PhD and MPhil degrees. It was, however, gradually and later decided to offer Master's, graduate, and now undergraduate programmes. The University, for its international repute, faculty and programmes attracts a large number of foreign students although it offers admission to a measured number of students from all regions of the country as it is a federal public sector university.It has been able to establish its links with some selected universities in Europe, South Asia and the United States.
Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad , Pakistan Merit Lists of M.Sc/B.S/LLB/Pharm-D programmes 2014 University of Islamabad Pakistan Announced Quaid-i-Azam Merit Lists of M.Sc/B.S/LLB/Pharm-D programmes will be displayed on 22-09-2014.
Applications are invited for admissions, Fall 2014 to Undergraduate and Master's Programme.
Last date for Undergraduate Programme 22-08-2014
Last date for Master's Prorgramme 24-07-2014
For details please check Dawn newspaper of Sunday 15-06-2014 or QAU website: www.qau.edu.pk
You can also contact QAU Admission Information Centre on
Ph: 051-90642036


text:
Blix HTML version
Chapter XII
But did Blix care for him?
In the retired corner of his club, shut off by the Japanese screen, or going up and down
the city to and from his work, or sitting with her in the bay window of the little dining-
room looking down upon the city, blurred in the twilight or radiant with the sunset, Condy
asked himself the question. A score of times each day he came to a final, definite,
negative decision; and a score of times reopened the whole subject. Beyond the fact
that Blix had enjoyed herself in his company during the last months, Condy could find
no sign or trace of encouragement; and for that matter he told himself that the
indications pointed rather in the other direction. She had no compunction in leaving him
to go away to New York, perhaps never to return. In less than a month now all their
companionship was to end, and he would probably see the last of her.
He dared not let her know that at last he had really come to love her--that it was no
pretence now; for he knew that with such declaration their "good times" would end even
before she should go away. But every day; every hour that they were together made it
harder for him to keep himself within bounds.
What with this trouble on his mind and the grim determination with which he held to his
work, Condy changed rapidly. Blix had steadied him, and a certain earnestness and
seriousness of purpose, a certain STRENGTH he had not known before, came swiftly
into being.
Was Blix to go away, leave him, perhaps for all time, and not know how much he cared?
Would he speak before she went? Condy did not know. It was a question that
circumstances would help him to decide. He would not speak, so he resolved, unless he
was sure that she cared herself; and if she did, she herself would give him a cue, a hint
whereon to speak. But days went by, the time set for Blix's departure drew nearer and
nearer, and yet she gave him not the slightest sign.
These two interests had now absorbed his entire life for the moment--his love for Blix,
and his novel. Little by little "In Defiance of Authority" took shape. The boom restaurant
and the club of the exiles were disposed of, Billy Isham began to come to the front, the
filibustering expedition and Senora Estrada (with her torn calling card) had been
introduced, and the expedition was ready to put to sea. But here a new difficulty was
"What do I know about ships?" Condy confessed to Blix. "If Billy Isham is going to
command a filibustering schooner, I've got to know something about a schooner--
appear to, anyhow. I've got to know nautical lingo, the real thing, you know. I don't
believe a REAL sailor ever in his life said 'belay there,' or 'avast.' We'll have to go out
and see Captain Jack; get some more technical detail."


text:
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SYNOPSIS: A random group of people wake up on an Island where they are being hunted down in a sinister plot to harvest their organs. REVIEW: 1924's The Hounds of Zaroff by Richard Connell is a story perhaps best known as The Most Dangerous Game. It's the simple tale of a simple aristocrat with a simple desire: to hunt down …Read More »
Tag Archives: Augie Duke
Film Review: The Badger Game (2014)
SYNOPSIS: A chronic philanderer falls victim to an extortion scheme when he is abducted by four masked strangers demanding retribution for his sins.Read More »
Film Review: Spring (2014)
SYNOPSIS: A young man in a personal tailspin flees the US to Italy, where he sparks up a romance with a woman harboring a dark, primordial secret. REVIEW: I hate to admit this, but I have to cop to the fact that I'm sort of jaded as far as horror films go. Don't get me wrong, there are few things …Read More »
Film Review: Bad Kids Go to Hell (2012)
SYNOPSIS: On a stormy Saturday afternoon, six students from Crestview Academy begin to meet horrible fates as they serve out their detentions. Is a fellow student to blame, or perhaps Crestview's alleged ghosts are behind the terrible acts? REVIEW: Putting forth a valiant effort to offer yawning Netflix surfers on the uneventful Wednesday a taste of outside-the-box spontaneity, "Bad Kids …Read More »


text:
Wish me luck, 8hrs sat next to Ele after eggs !,,
Leaving on a jet plane
Trip Start Apr 15, 2013
21Trip End May 04, 2013
Map your own trip!
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What I did
Manchester Airport Guided Tour
Read my review - 5/5 stars
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I stopped packing at about midnight last night and finished from 0545-0740 this morning!
Found out we definitely have to collect our luggage in Washington before we transfer on to our flight to Chicago - we have 2hr 7min to clear immigration and collect our bags so please keep your fingers crossed for us!
Next entry will hopefully be from Chicago!
See you on the other side of the pond!
Ele & Gill
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plays the music you love
Dumb (Radio Appearance)
Features of This Trackelectric rock instrumentation
great lyrics
a subtle use of vocal counterpoint
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intricate melodic phrasing
major key tonality
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a dynamic male vocalist
and many other similarities identified in the Music Genome Project
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It's pretty funny you opened this because..... . . . . over the next 4 days you will:
1. Have someone fall in love with you
2.Find a $20 on the ground
3.Go out with the person you like
4.Your best friend will get you a very nice gift
BUT first you have to fwd this! *Send to 10 ppl in the next 143 minutes. If you break the chain you'll have problems with:
-Relationshi p s
-your job/school your family for 5 years!!! ??
go tag someone Else no send back sorry
f**k yeah
like them
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Cocaine Gives Way To Gold In ColombiaArmed groups in Colombia are booking higher earnings through illegal gold mining than through illegal cocaine production.
Asian Stocks, Gold Fall Before FOMC Meet; Nikkei UpGold futures fell for the third straight session while Asians markets mostly declined on Wednesday ahead of the Federal Reserve's FOMC meeting.
Mexico's Pena Nieto Seeks To Open Up Energy SectorMexico's energy sector -- closed to competition for 80 years -- could open up to private investment if President Enrique Pena Nieto has his way.
Gold Prices To Fall Next Week: Bloomberg SurveyGold prices are expected to fall further as a sell-off in ETFs backed by the precious metal extended to 17 weeks.
At Ecuador Gold Mine, Canada's Loss May Be China's GainCanada's Kinross abandoned its project over disputes with the government. Is China now moving into Ecuador's gold-rich Fruta del Norte?
World Gold Council Concerned About India's Gold RestrictionsThe WGC has reacted with concern over India's attempt to curb gold consumption by raising import duties.
Alaskan Mine Could Create Jobs, But Controversy ContinuesAn economic impact study by a pair of mineral developers who want to tap a valuable Alaskan mine faces skepticism from activists, who are backed by a recent EPA report.
Silver looks set to re-visit previous support at $18.00As far as we can ascertain the demand for physical silver is alive and well with reports of people queuing to buy it while a number of suppliers, including the mints have been selling all that they could produce of the popular coins and bars. And yet the price of silver falls in the paper market which highlights the disparity between the physical and paper markets.
Silver Mirroring Gold's Plunge?Fading inflation fears, among other factors, have weighed on both precious metals.
Chinese Rush To Ghana For Gold, Monopolize Small-Scale MinesThe people of Shanglin county in southern China have ventured to an unlikely place to seek their fortunes.
Lonmin Workers Walk Out To Protest Shooting Of Union MemberNational Union of Mineworkers believes the strike against Lonmin is in reaction to the killing of a veteran worker from its rival union.
Gold Sales Booming In China and India Following Price DropA growing number of buyers in China and India are jumping into the market and driving demand for jewelry, coins and bars.
Amplats To Cut 8,000 Fewer Jobs In South AfricaAmplats halves its planned jobs cutbacks in South Africa.
Consumers Snap Up Gold & Silver JewelleryGold climbed $20.60 or 1.42% yesterday to $1,472.60/oz and silver finished nearly unchanged -0.08%. Jewellers across the world are seeing a surge in jewellery purchases because consumers are taking advantage of the price drop and purchasing investment pieces that will grow in value over time.
Depositors Beware - Bank Deposits Of More Than €100,000 Are At RiskToday's AM fix was USD 1,463.00, EUR 1,118.67 and GBP 941.74 per ounce. Friday's AM fix was USD 1,476.50, EUR 1,124.95 and GBP 949.34 per ounce.
How to Trade Gold, Silver & Precious Metal MinersMay 6th, 2013 at 12:56 pmHow to trade Gold and other precious metals related investments is not that complex. But you must be willing to wait for price to provide low risk entry points before getting involved. Precious metals are like any other investment in respect to trading and investing in them. There are times when you should be long, times to be in cash and times to be short (benefit from falling prices).
Gold And Silver Bullion Coin And Bar Shortages ContinueGold rose $8.10 or 0.56% yesterday to $1,466.80/oz and silver finished + 0.68%. Physical demand for coins and bars internationally continues and is the strongest since the immediate aftermath of the Lehman Brothers collapse on September 15, 2008, and the consequent global financial crisis.
Goldman Sachs Vs. Chinese 'Grannies'China's "granny effect" trumps the investment advice of Goldman Sachs.
Platinum In Deficit For First Time Since 2004South African mining strikes plus rising demand put white metals into deficit last year, according to GFMS.
Is this a Dead Cat Bounce for the Gold Miners?In the last seven months or so we have seen the Gold Bugs index, HUI, fall from 520 in October 2012 to 283 today 01 May 2013, registering a loss of 45% in the value of its constituents. The last four weeks has seen the HUI drop 100 points followed by a bounce of 23 points. Many are of the opinion that the bottom is in and are hopeful of a decent rally from this point in order to restore some normality to this tiny sector and repair their investment accounts. The chart below depicts the plight of the gold miners and the severity of the recent carnage that has decimated the stock prices at a time when they need all the friends they can get.


text:
Process of Learning1:01 AM
But this is what I
You have to constantly adapt with your partner. As soon as you think you have figured it out something changes - circumstances, locations, likes/dislikes, ... just something! and you've gotta adapt. No other way around it!
You have to chose your battles aka save the ammunition *wink*. Of course you are not going to like everything about each other all the time but you cannot possibly pick a fight about everything all the time either, unless you are certified insane! Hence, you chose ... One thing at a time...
Do not make the relationship about tit-for-tat. You are two different people, you will make different mistakes and you have to learn to forgive at different times. Just because one of you made the mistake doesn't mean it is alright for the other one to make the same one 'coz then you are just going to keep going round and round which would make your head go dizzy and in turn make you insane [if you aren't already :P].
Though you have 'vowed' in sickness and in health but still do not blurt out everything that comes to your mind 'coz it would seriously affect your
Whoever said 'do not ever go to bed angry' had clearly not been married ... at least not without few hiccups (read: divorces) on the way. If you cannot think straight and have nothing constructive to add to the
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87 comments
Wow. Great post. Even though I'm not married, I have a boyfriend and I found myself nodding at many points.ReplyDelete
Btw, I've been following your blog since your interview in Cosmo and its fabulous. You look great!!
I've been in a relationship for 3 years now & I completely agree - Great post & love that bag :DReplyDelete
I loove your dress! I wish it belonged in my closet!ReplyDelete
And lol@the use of 'hatke' ;)
Also, my bf and I always try to NOT go to bed angry at each other but I think I agree with your view more now. Hmm...
Yea.. its a continuous process of learning.. and i agree with your last point. By morning i usually even forget what the fight was about! No relationship will last long unless you nurture it daily :)ReplyDelete
love the bag.. and you seriously find awesome locations for shoots!
You have very beautiful hair and skin .Once again i loved your shoes.Some good marital advices .ReplyDelete
Have a happy and stylish Sunday .
Hmmm...Good advice. You look taller in these pictures :)ReplyDelete
Love that last picture, so cute!ReplyDelete
mAXI SKIT and PRINT ON PRINT nice! :D
Love the bag T and the last shot, so cute!ReplyDelete
Love the mixing of prints :)ReplyDelete
Great points! I am celebrating 4 years of wedded bliss this September :-)ReplyDelete
I would add that you should not try to change your partner (and vice versa). Some people think that when they get married their partners will change certain habits. That doesnt ever happen as change has to come from within.
So if you put up with before the wedding, then dont complain after the vows have been said. haha.
Loving the last picture! & though I'm not married or even committed, I quite agree with you on your views about being in a relationship.ReplyDelete
Hehe, loved reading your Marriage pearls of wisdom. Will write them down for when I eventually get married!ReplyDelete
You look great as well. The maxi dress is really pretty, and it goes so well with the polka dot top.
Also, LOVE that last picture of you!
Thanks for the advice! and I just love the shoes you have on in the last pic.ReplyDelete
great advice, lady. I especially like what you said about going to bed. I have a tendency to want to talk everything out immediately and sometimes, it isn't always the best idea. Thank you for your honesty.ReplyDelete
Excellent advise, dear lady.ReplyDelete
There is no real formula for marriage as different things work for different people.
And we all have different wants and needs. But we should not try to change the other. Acceptance is my constant companion. xx
I love the summery outfit! :) And that marriage advice actually sounds like it would work for a lot of relationships! :)ReplyDelete
very nicely written... Every relationship needs some adjustments from both the parters and if thay can successfully do that, relationship is successful....ReplyDelete
however 'do not ever go to bed angry' fits exactly on me and i cannot even cooled off by the morning also.. :(
nice maxi dress and very very cute handbag..
Loving the print on print! I am completely in awe of the way you pull this trend off so well each time!! :)ReplyDelete
Great post, love that striped maxi dress.ReplyDelete
great marital tips! i also really love your maxi and the RM purse!ReplyDelete
cute & little
Beautiful outfit Tanvi, love the print on print:) Very wise tips for marriage too. Mine is be each other's best friend and laugh together a lot. When we fight, hubby and I have a favorite thing to say, which makes the other one giggle - "Well, it looks like the evil twin came out again!":):) 28 years and still rocking...ReplyDelete
Sound relationship advice. I've been in two adult relationships, totalling 29 years, and agree with everything you say.ReplyDelete
I like your outfit and not just in a fashion sense: it conveys personality. If I saw you walking down the street, I'd think you're an interesting person whom I'd like to get to know.
Complex subject. After one year of marriage, pretty much all husbands know ......:)))))ReplyDelete
No clear recipe for happy marriage..happy people are happily married too...if you are happy..you will be fine unless there is something terribly wrong with the spouse.
Tanvi, you look glorious in your clashing prints.ReplyDelete
There isn't any formula in a succesful relationship, we are all different and have varying expectations of what we want from a partnership. Jon and I have been together for 19 years and it's still as fresh as it was back in 1992, except I'm better dressed and he's got less hair. xxx
I totally agree with you on all the points. The never go to bed angry thing is totally a misconception, it is necessary to cool off before you let any crap come out of your mouth in a fit of anger. Been there, done that. Cooling off is the way to go!ReplyDelete
Love your the outfit, the dress specially!
So true - pick your battles! it's all about understanding and compromise.ReplyDelete
Eeee you got the bag! It's perfect with your dress!
Chic 'n Cheap Living
Oh, I'm saving all these points up for the near future:)ReplyDelete
You look lovely in stripes!
I love this outfit. The stripy dress is amazing. XxxxReplyDelete
Lurrrvvvvvvveeee your maxi dress.....the whole silhouette is doing wonders for the look! :)ReplyDelete
The last pic is beautiful.....& as for the advice, sounds like great tips for any relationship!! :))
Beautiful dress. Love Maxi Dresses!! :DReplyDelete
I loved this post, so fresh and honest. I am nowhere near marriage, however I have been with my current boyfriend for 2 years and we are just about to spend 4 weeks living in a 4x5m room when we have spent the entire year going it long distance! Sure it will be hard because we will have changed over that time but I'm sure that because we love each other we will bend and find our new equilibrium of being together.ReplyDelete
Thanks for the uplifting thoughts!
lurveee that maxi and you look beutiful as ever:)ReplyDelete
since i'm not married, I can't really say whether or not I agree but it does sound like pretty amazing advice! I really liked that you share your own experience & what works for you :)ReplyDelete
I think different things work for different couples, I'm the type that hardly ever stays angry for more than an hour or two so I'm usually not with high-drama guys. I dunno, we'll see what happens. I hope to be married one day not too far away.
I love your bag & your outfit colors!
You look so unbelievably gorgeous in these photos, sweetie! You lit up my whole living room :)ReplyDelete
And I so agree with you on your marriage povs. I'm 25 years into my relationship and you are spot on!
nice tips!ReplyDelete
thou nothin is guaranteed...
if two r happy they are blessed kind!
Even though I'm not married yet, I never like going to bed without clearing things up with my bf first. But now that I read what you've said, your advice would make more sense especially in marriages. Thanks!ReplyDelete
We've gone to bed angry a few times over the last 5 years......and when we wake up, we usually don't even remember what we were so mad about! Sometimes, you just need to take a step back, get some distance and regain your perspective. Love this post almost as much as I love your outfit :)ReplyDelete
if someone does so well in kindergarten...one can only wonder how super cool things would be when u graduate:-)ReplyDelete
loved the last fun filled pic the most...so you!:-)
Love the maxi Tanvi!ReplyDelete
Long way from getting married so can't comment on that!!
freat post Tanvi and also may I say this is my favourite outfit of yours. Love love love the dress.ReplyDelete
great pictures and dress, especially number two from the bottom.ReplyDelete
Had a blast reading this post. So true about the 'don't go to bed without resolving an arguement'- sometimes it's best to let things cool off and sleep on it. Love the previous post too. I get that a lot too, in India!ReplyDelete
A. Tanvi, when you're done with items from your wardrobe, please donate it to me.ReplyDelete
B. I agree, I think it's best to agree to disagree until you can both think straight. I also love lists, so both people can make a list when they're thinking calmly, and go over said items on list instead of yelling at each other irrationally.
C. Great advice!
Love the pic with all the accessories. I also love the entire look. Great advice as well!ReplyDelete
love you vents! I will not say anything coz i ma not married yet. you look lovely thoughReplyDelete
Lydz xX
love this outfit! beautiful colors! =)ReplyDelete
Well said!!! Make mistakes, but learn not to repeat the same again.ReplyDelete
- Just my 2 cents :)
in any relationship, being generous,forgiving and forgetful helps, if nothing else :)ReplyDelete
Also, that polka dots top is wow!
'Just go to bed' seems to work in a lot of relationships. I've seen it around a few couples and I think it's the most sensible thing to do. :DReplyDelete
And, I think you look gorgeous, Tanvii. Love the dress!
Talking about relationships is my favorite subject AND I get paid for it. So I just lapped up your pointers. Your post = sage advice from a beautifully dressed kindergartener! One more thing to add: "Most issues we fight about are not as important as the relationship itself."ReplyDelete
Meetu D
I've gone to bed angry a few times and I am so glad I'm not the only one! Sometimes I'm just too tired to deal, and a fresh view makes all the difference. Phew, I thought I was the only one :)ReplyDelete
Love your blog, and loving the colors of your skirt! Check me out sometime :)ReplyDelete
i can't decide which i enjoyed more today...ur outfit or ur pearls of wisdom!ReplyDelete
i've only been married 2 years so i guess u can say im still a work in progress. the only valuable thing i've learnt so far is never to get ur hubby involved in any issues that u might have with his side of the family. he will never be able to take sides and be happy :P :P
I have been married for 7 and still a work in progress (hahaha).. just kidding.ReplyDelete
I love the mixture btw dots and strips..
Amazing accessories Tanvi
Lee x
great tipsReplyDelete
one I can add is letting the other person know what you want rather than expecting them to do mind reading
I liked the last time also that you had worn this dress a very old post I think
I totally agree with you, Tanvi. Lately I've been seeing some major marriage problems in some friends of mine and what makes me sad is that it seems to be a lot about individual needs and wishes. A partnership or - even more - a family is not about individual satisfactions but about making something work together.ReplyDelete
Wow 4 years!! That's awesome! I wouldn't really know because I'm not married, but when I get there, I'll put my two-cents in. Lol. :)ReplyDelete
I am really loving how you pattern & print blocked this outfit!!! It just works perfectly!!!
p.s. I'm hosting a giveaway on my blog!!
p.s.s did you see this weeks' Best Look of the Week? ;)
Love the bag!ReplyDelete
I must agree on most of your points on marriage. I am a strong believer of "picking your battles." Secondly, I think a "tit for tat" nature goes nowhere. It's silly and unnecessary! Lastly, I am not sure about the "Analyze-> filter-> process" part. Haha, I am quite straightforward so I usually lay things out the way they are. That being said, I always think there are ways to frame words into a more appropriate and sensible context!
Clearly, I loved this post :)
Insightful post Tanvii! Learning how to be accommodating is important to any relationship. Congrats on the 4 years!ReplyDelete
Whether you're right or wrong in the battle, lol... Sometimes I even need to leave to to clear my head, and when I come back I usually have a different perspective.(that works for me).
I love your print mixing outfit,you're looking fab!
Ok, so youve met my husband? LOL, Your list was perfect ..I could not have said it better!ReplyDelete
The last two points are sooo true..I couldn't agree more..I had no kinda filter whatsoever when I was a newly-wed! But now the key is Filter,filter,filter..well, you live, you learn :)ReplyDelete
I have to confess: I've been here twice looking at your dress. Banana needs to re-release!ReplyDelete
ps-unmarried :)
I DONT HAVE A HUSBAND!!! :( ... but most of these things sound like really good advice to me hunny...even for relationships...ReplyDelete
Love this dress of urs but liked it better when you had worn it with a jacket when traveling last year.ReplyDelete
Congrats on ur upcoming marriage anniversary! where are you traveling for the celebrations:-)
Choose your battles is always good advice! LOVE those gorgeous stripes!ReplyDelete
Great tips Tanvi! I totally agree with never going to bed angry. Kiss and make up first! xo style, she wroteReplyDelete
Looking fab as always!ReplyDelete
hmm... I just registered into kindergarten then.. marked one year few months back :D
The thing that works the most for me is *communication*. Whatever doubts, concerns, things bothering you..speak up! The other person is not a psychicto read your mind. :)
The colors of that dress look gorgeous on you! I love the layered prints, and that flower is so cheerful!ReplyDelete
I LUST for that maxi!!ReplyDelete
Its so reminiscent of a Marni/Missoni piece.
I love your dress and how you've layered it w a sleeveless button down and belt. Very cute look! xoReplyDelete
i m neither married nor in a relationship ..will keep those tips in mind..ReplyDelete
what lovely dress.. and you styled it in a lovely way ..
I'm getting married in a few weeks and find this advice very helpful! Sweeet outfit!ReplyDelete
Advisory tips well written.ReplyDelete
Marriage is all about love,adjustment and compromises.Need to leave behind our EGO and communicate.
Looking pretty in that floweee dress.
i think you've got some great tips! i somewhat agree on the last one, but my husband doesn't! so, it's hard to know what to do on that one. :)ReplyDelete
being married myself i would definitely have to agree with you. you must pick your battles and sometimes you have to just go to bed. and i don't think that means you're going to bed angry. i think it means you don't see a resolution right now so you might as well relax and take a nap. in the morning it will probably blow over.ReplyDelete
First I love this outfit. You look amazing. I totally agree with your marriage advice. I think communication is key.ReplyDelete
Very interesting thoughts.. Just like many other things in life, marriage is like sitting on a SEE SAW...a little up..a little down ..a little forward...a little forward..basically shuffle the butt here and there just to get that perfect balalance..ReplyDelete
Love the bag and the flower!! and as always..nice photographs!! :-)
LOVE that skirt! I definitely try not to go to bed angry ever, but I do see the value in a good night's sleep = clearer head in the morning :)ReplyDelete
Loving how you mixed up the prints...the flower was a great addition as well! Definitely some great words of wisdom here-especially about picking your battles. If you don't pick carefully, you will easily be bickering with your mate everyday. I'm not married yet but this helps quite a bit!!ReplyDelete
Very well written Tans!ReplyDelete
Enjoyed this post....u write from ur heart and exactly whats on ur mind...no beating around the bush!
Love that!!
Love the dots and stripes. So cute!ReplyDelete
Hi! I participated in the EBEW challenge too! Love the print mixing!ReplyDelete
This was a fun challenge, Love the mixing!! :)ReplyDelete
robyn of boluxe.wordpress.com
Great advice i've been married for 2 months and although we've been together for 6 years there's a lot of ebb and flow, give and take and constant adapting!ReplyDelete
Tanvii! STUNNING. I love this EBEW look, one of my favorites. Everything about it is perfect - colors, style, pattern mixing...you look gorgeous.ReplyDelete
Just popping over from EBEW. Love your entire outfit. Especially love that dress!ReplyDelete
I've been married 5 years this Friday and, even though I've learned a lot, I know I'm a total marriage rookie. But then again, nobody ever stops learning.
the outfit is rocking as always.....and the advice just perfect..infact this gives me an idea to write my next post....was contemplating this as one of my frnds is facing a similar situation these days......ReplyDelete


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We all watched Hard Knocks, and I think we all came away with the same opinion. The Fish will be terrible this year. They lacked talent all over the field, from receiver to the defensive front seven. And then they traded away their only legitimate corner in the middle of camp. I was thinking 2, maybe 3 wins. At least they'll get a great pick.
On Sunday, the Miami Dolphins took the New York Jets, a division rival, behind the woodshed and I had to cover my eyes for the rest. Although I did laugh a little when Sanchez threw that Red Zone pick; on their way to 1 for 4 in the scoring area.
This is the same Jets team that went into Foxboro last week, and forced overtime with the Patriots in a highly competitive game that featured numerous bright spots for Gang Green. This against a Patriots team with Hall of Famers in the organization and well deserved respect around the league. Does this mean that in Week 13, when Pats travel to South Florida there's a chance the Dolphins could be favored? The same Dolphins we saw in Hard Knocks?
The AFC East is hardly the most confusing to me; the rest of the conference has some 'splainin' to do as well. The only two teams that have less than 3 losses in the conference are the Ravens and Texans, who happened to play each other last week. What on earth happened in that game? I was all geared up for an elite matchup: great defenses, world class running backs, mediocre QB's; what more could you ask for! Biggest snooze fest ever. The game was a thorough beat down from start to finish, and all I was left with were some serious doubts about the Ravens being able to make another Super Bowl. Ever. Is the loss of Ray Lewis and Ray Rice's newfound hatred of picking up blitzes worth 30 points? Goodness gracious.
Then there's the hapless AFC West. Sure, Sherriff Peyton is in town, but the rest of the division needs to be relegated. As a Raiders fan, I was very happy there was at least one other game in the late afternoon slot. No one wants to watch that. The Brady Quinn era in Kansas City was a bigger joke than the replacement ref era.
I remember a scintillating Monday night game back in 2009 where the Browns lost to the Ravens 16-0. Quinn was obviously totally ineffective, and in garbage time Gruden and Turico were trying to fill the space with various stories until Quinn let loose two of the worst deep throws you've ever seen. Both balls landing anywhere from 5 to 7 yards out of bounds, sending photographers ducking for cover. After the second one, Gruden, who is notorious for never ripping any player or coach on air, stops everything and lays into Quinn. And that wasn't even the low point of his career.
A silver lining does exist in all of this, at least for me. It was not long ago that the AFC was so dominant, the NFC Champion was nothing more than an invited guest to the AFC team's coronation. Whether it be Brady, Manning, or Big Ben; it was always the same. I don't even remember who lost half of those Super Bowls. But with the help of the Giants and Saints shifting the tide, the NFC once again reigns supreme. This swing in the NFL suggests to me that the model works. That power ebbs and flows between the conferences as it should, and we truly don't know who may rise up next. Other sports (ahem, baseball) could, and should aspire to this.846255


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Billy Ray Cyrus: Miley Wasn't Drunk The Other Night & She's Really Upset You Think So!
Remember those falling-over pics of Miley out partying until 3am? Well her dad says she was totally sober — do you believe him?
Billy Ray Cyrus is going to bat for his 18-year-old daughter Miley Cyrus. The country star went on The View on March 18 to set the record straight about the state of his shaky marriage and Miley's bad behavior. We showed you photos of Miley on March 12 at the Chateau Marmont hotel in LA and it sure looked like she needed friends to hold her up, but Billy says that's not the case.
Billy says when he spoke to Miley about the photos she told him she was meeting with Dr. Luke, the famed songwriter who wrote her 2009 hit "Party In The U.S.A." — and she wasn't even drinking that night.
"Miley said 'I had a meeting with Dr. Luke and his staff and we were all there at this restaurant and there were so many paparazzi that I couldn't see. Daddy, they were flashing, so I held my hand up to block the flashes out of my eyes because I couldn't take a step," Billy says. "She said 'It's embarrassing, it hurts my feelings' and she said. 'Most importantly it was a lie, I wasn't drinking. I wasn't drunk. I was just trying to get to my car after a meeting.'"
Billy also said that his GQ interview was a mistake and compared it to "grocery shopping when you're hungry."
Billy went on to tell the world that he and his wife Tish Cyrus are NOT getting a divorce.
"I've dropped the divorce," he said. "I want to put my family back together."
This sounds great and we're happy Billy is finally communicating in a better way with Miley. We just hope this means Miley will stop acting out!


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JAVA & Co. goes Pink
August 10, 2010
A portion of the sales from JAVA Pink! gourmet gift purchases will be donated each year to breast cancer research and awareness.
August 10, 2010
- but the purchase of JAVA & Co.'s one pound artisan caramel gift will help those organizations who are working non-stop to find a cure for breast cancer.
One would be challenged to find someone who has not been directly or indirectly affected by breast cancer - as a survivor, as a survivor's supporter or one who has lost someone to this disease. The founders of JAVA & Co. are a part of the many whose lives have been touched by breast cancer. As we enter another season of hope, change and of challenges, we find that at these times especially, it is important to give back and support those causes we hold most dear.
20% of the gross sales from JAVA Pink! gourmet gift purchases will be donated each year to breast cancer research and awareness. Brian and Jamie Knoll, the founders of JAVA & Co. have chosen to have JAVA Pink! products available year round and to not limit guests opportunity to give to the month of October. Each and every day think pink and support breast cancer awareness along with JAVA & Co.
JAVA & Co.'s handmade artisan caramels are a new addition to the cause. The boutique bottled coffee infused syrups and handcrafted gifts remain a popular choice in the JAVA Pink! line. Enjoy a decadent JAVA Pink! specialty gift while helping your fellow men and women.
Visit www.javaandco.com to view the entire collection of JAVA & Co. artisan made specialties, while paying special attention to the JAVA Pink! Campaign for the Cure category.
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Kaunata, Latvia
Photos from KaunataPictures of Kaunata (26)
Hotel Deals in Kaunata
Travel Blogs from KaunataKaunata Travel Blogs (4)
Our luck ran out at this one!!
... driving Licence and the passports. This is our 9th border crossing so we know the drill.................. No good. 'Miss Latvia' wanted his UK driving Licience not the International one. Of course that was correct which made me even more annoyed! ...
Terehova Border Crossing
The customs officer just laughed at us and asked if we knew what the Russian roads were like and how far it was to Mongolia. He then told his mate we were going to Mongolia and they both laughed. Been here 50 mins so far and hoping to get through ...
We've made it to Estonia!
... to go :-) Between leaving Poland and entering Tartu, where we are now, we traveled through the eastern parts of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia for some 10 days. This part of the Baltic has few cultural highlights (except for Vilnius, see another ...


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Upcoming Events
» ITA TESOL course at Tahlee
Next ITA TESOL course is 3rd-17th February and 3rd-9th April 2017
TESOL stands for 'Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages' and the course is run by Intercultural Training Australia Inc. (ITA) at Tahlee.
The TESOL course runs over 3 weeks: 2 weeks in February (3 – 17 February 2017) and 1 week in April (3 – 9 April 2017).
» Find out more about TESOL:
- On the Tahlee TESOL page
- On the ITA Homepage
- Or contact us at firstname.lastname@example.com


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Zebra P120i Plastic Card Printers
Product Announcement from A Bar Code Business, Inc.
Say 'goodbye' to crowded card designs and 'hello' to the back of your card! Zebra's P120i is so affordable and easy-to-use that many customers can now choose double-sided printing. Whether you need to identify people, control facility access or promote membership benefits, the P120i makes dual-sided printing more affordable than ever before.
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Ideal for Access Control Cards, Personalized Gift Cards, Loyalty Cards, Membership Cards, Employee ID Cards , Student Identification Cards
|More Info


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Automated phone scam more widespread
The Christian County Sheriff was the first to alert the public to the scam, but now people in Urbana and Rantoul are reporting the automated calls. These victims will tell you, it starts the same, with a phone call.
"I looked down at it, it was my own number, but it said, 'no name. I thought, 'hmmm,' so I answered it and it was an automated system."
The message is the same too.
"It says my debit card had been suspended and if I wanted to reactivate it, press one. They gave me the name of National Credit Union."
The recording then asked for debit card and pin numbers. That's how Sandra knew something was wrong.
"There's been quite a few scams done before around Champaign County and surrounding counties."
In August, Chuck and Nancy Padilla got a call from someone pretending to be their grandson. That's who Donna Mann thought of when she got the scammed call.
"They lost thousands and thousands of dollars they thought they were saving a grandchild. It's just sad."
This particular debit card scam has been ringing up victims in Christian, Cumberland and Champaign counties. It's why these ladies are speaking up, so people know this is exactly what you need to do.
Most banks and credit unions in the area say they would never conduct business through an automated message. They always reach out through an official letter or in person.
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Laws, Regulations & Annotations
Business Taxes Law Guide – Revision 2017
California Tire Fee
Chapter 17. California Tire Recycling Act
Article 1. Findings
Section 42861
42861. Legislative findings. The Legislature finds and declares the following:
(a) The problem posed by used tire storage and disposal requires a comprehensive, statewide response, including, but not limited to, reducing landfill disposal of used whole tires, recycling of tires into secondary uses, source material development and promotion of secondary markets for used tire byproducts, tire shredding, and energy recovery.
(b) California is currently faced with an existing used tire inventory of at least 100 million tires, an amount which grows by over 20 million tires per year. Without a dedication of resources to address the state's growing tire population, the health and safety of all Californians will be increasingly at risk.
(c) There are currently no dedicated resources for the recycling of used tires, or a comprehensive tire shredding program. Therefore, the levying of a fee on the disposal of used whole tires in the state is needed to support tire recycling activities.
(d) Used tires represent a valuable state resource which should be reclaimed and recycled whenever possible. An abundance of tire recycling alternatives exist which have been demonstrated to be environmentally safe. These alternatives need to be promoted in order to achieve the maximum use of used tires.
(e) Shredding of used tires represents a preferable alternative to whole tire storage or disposal. Given the rapidly decreasing amount of landfill space available to local jurisdictions, shredding represents a positive way of storing tires until a secondary use can be developed.


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My name is Aaron and I am a cosplayer from Florida!! Anime South V was my first con and I instantly fell in love with cosplay. So far I have done mainly Bleach cosplays with a few random ones tossed in the mix, but my future cosplay list is HUGE and it covers tons of shows, animes, games, and things that might make you say "OH MY GOD, I TOTALLY REMEMBER THAT!!!" So if you're interested please watch me! I always appreciate support and criticism, so if you like one of my cosplays or absolutely hate it please feel free to comment!! Thanks for taking the time to read this, have a good day and happy deviating!
Current Residence: Hueco Mundo/Satellite Beach
Favourite genre of music: Hard Rock/Metal/Electronic
Favourite photographer: My sister
Favourite style of art: All of it
MP3 player of choice: iPod Classic 160 GB
Shell of choice: Turtle
Skin of choice: Mine
Favourite cartoon character: Grimmjow Jaegerjaques
Personal Quote: Beast


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Sept. 23, 2013
By Brian Rice
KNOXVILLE, Tenn.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn.-- Two or three plays can determine the outcome of an entire football game.
It's a mission statement that Butch Jones has referred to often with his team in preparation for Saturdays this fall. In reflecting on the games past and looking forward to the weeks ahead, Jones said taking care of those plays has been and will continue to be critical for the success of his team.
"Everything we talk about in our football program is creating a standard of performance," Jones said. "That standard of performance is in our values, in our beliefs. The score will take care of itself if you take care of the small details. The small details add up to the big details."
And it was the small details that hurt against Florida. Jones laid out specific examples like ball security in a six-turnover performance, and allowing the Gators to covert on 10 of 18 third downs. But it was the management in those crucial, game-changing situations that he saw as having the most room for improvement going forward.
"We didn't manage the critical situations at the critical times," Jones said before repeating his mantra. "A lot of times a game can be shaped by two-three plays. I didn't think we managed those situations particularly well and you never know which two-three plays are going to make the difference."
But standing at 2-2, Jones doesn't want his team to focus on the most recent result, and letting a loss define the season. With the investment the team has shown in the system, there are definite signs of progress, even if the final result has not gone in its favor.
"When you invest more, you put more into it," said Jones of his team's reaction in the postgame locker room. "There's a lot of football left to be played. We live in a week to week world, you're judged on your results one week at a time."
Jones doesn't want his players to focus on that judgment, but to move forward with the goal of arriving at a better final verdict when the season concludes.
"We'll find out a lot more about our football team this week," he said.


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If you use Pinterest, a website where you can organize and share images you find online, you may have heard about its recent copyright infringement troubles. Content creators are concerned about their photos "being copied wholesale" to the site by Pinterest users, and their complaints seem to be falling into a vaccum.
Based on its lack of response, it seems Pinterest was unprepared for this issue. Like Pinterest, at some point, most organizations will encounter a situation they're unprepared for. What is most important is how an organization reacts to that situation.
Unfortunately, Pinterest has quickly earned the reputation of being impossible to reach and unresponsive. The site is hosted by Amazon's Web Services, and due to Pinterest's lack of response, Amazon has agreed to process DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) notices concerning infringements by Pinterest members.
I credit Amazon for stepping up to the plate, but the company also runs the risk of harming its own image if it isn't clear about the role it will play. Amazon has said that it will "process DMCA notices concerning infringements by Pinterest members," but there seems to be some confusion around what that means. Amazon is willing to ensure Pinterest complies with the DMCA, but it has only agreed to ensure the company is following the appropriate process, not actually address the complaints.
This situation with Pinterest and Amazon is a bit like being in a meeting when no one wants to accept responsibility for an action item. This lack of clarity and response makes the companies seem unreliable, and like customer service isn't a priority (which should never be the case). While quick, decisive action and communication would help enhance their reputations, the longer Amazon and Pinterest flounder and fail to communicate, the greater the negative effect on their reputations.
As an example of the right way to address an unexpected issue, consider the recent retraction by NPR's This American Life of its popular story on Apple's Foxconn factory. While many believe it leans to the left, NPR (and its programs) have a stellar reputation. And, in this instance, the organization reacted exactly as you would hope a well-respected organization would react: they accepted responsibility. David Carr, writer for The New York Times, commented, "The story came up bad, they found out about it…, and they amended it with an hour-long retraction that was very straightforward and very powerful." Carr maintains that the program's reputation is intact as it reacted responsibly.
Whether you're prepared or unprepared for an incident, move as quickly as you can to communicate with your key audiences and remedy the situation. Admitting you're wrong and apologizing goes a long way, as does thoughtful, honest, and direct communication.


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TECNA is the only company in the USA market that manufactures Resistance Spot Welders for collision repair as well as for the Auto assembly lines.
TECNA uses its knowledge of the assembly line to produce the most advanced and reliable auto body spot welders for the collision repair industry.
TECNA is again leading the way by introducing the first fully automatic resistance spot welder for collision repair.
TECNA's leading engineering capability is evident in the award winning design of its welding guns, easy to use electronic controls, and advanced welding arms.


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|Redinbaugh, Margaret - Peg
|Zhenbang, C
|Louie, Raymond
|Gordon, D
|Meulia, T
Submitted to: International Congress on Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/1/2001
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary:
Technical Abstract: The maize inbred Pa405 carries a high level of durable resistance to maize dwarf mosaic potyvirus (MDMV). A dominant gene (Mdm1) on the short arm of chromosome 6 confers this resistance. Earlier studies suggested that MDMV was prevented from entering vascular tissues in Pa405. We tested this hypothesis by comparing the distribution of MDMV in the tissue and cells of Pa405 and a susceptible inbred (Oh28). After vascular puncture inoculation (VPI) of maize kernels with MDMV, the first five leaves of Pa405 developed limited mosaic symptoms and Oh28 seedlings developed systemic mosaic symptoms. After leaf rub-inoculation (LRI), Pa405 showed no symptoms, while Oh28 developed systemic mosaic symptoms. After kernel VPI, MDMV was found in the scutellum, embryo and primary leaves of both inbreds, indicating that MDMV entered and replicated in Pa405 cells. Moreover, the virus was present in all cell types of both lines, including vascular cells. However, different levels and distribution of MDMV were noted in leaves of the two inbreds. Virus was present at high levels in localized areas of Pa405 tissues, but the virus was present in most cells at variable levels in Oh28. After LRI, MDMV was also found in all cell types of both inbreds both the site of inoculation and in leaf tissues proximal to it. While these results were consistent with a limitation to MDMV movement in Pa405, the presence of MDMV in all cell types of the resistant inbred indicated that host resistance was not associated with exclusion of the virus from vascular tissues.


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Shelley Lanham
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One if by land, two if by sea, three if by land and air?
Toy-lovers can navigate both dirt and sky with the XPV, a new radio-controlled gizmo made by JAKKS Pacific Inc. in Malibu. The ultra-lightweight toy looks like a jet on two thin plastic wheels.
"We're the first to combine car and plane in one toy," said JAKKS marketing executive Michael Bernstein.
But they're being pursued closely by rival toymaker Spin Master, which will launch Air Hogs Storm Launcher about a month after the XPV debuts.
JAKKS designed the XPV to be cheaper and easier to fly than hobby-grade planes, which can cost hundreds of dollars, but with top-notch performance for a toy.
The hard foam gizmo zips along at about 25 mph and can take off from the ground or by tossing it in the air. The XPV, which stands for Xtreme Performance Vehicle, can soar at altitudes of 250 feet.
It runs on a lithium ion battery, similar to what powers cell phones, and lasts for five to 20 minutes before needing a recharge. The car-jet should hit the shelves next month.
The XPV is JAKKS' first foray into radio-controlled flying objects, and it already has competition.
The Storm Launcher travels at similar speeds as the XPV and has a comparable battery life, according to Conor Forkan, brand development director at Spin Master. The Storm Launcher should be on the market in September.
The XPV is cheaper at $59.99, compared to Storm Launcher's $79.99 sticker price. Both require batteries that sell separately for $29.99 each.
The Storm Launcher has three operating settings, beginner, intermediate and advanced, and is for ages 16 and above.
"It takes some practice, some getting used to," said Harold Chizick, a marketing executive at Spin Master.
The XPV is geared toward the 8-year-old and up crowd, but still takes practice to fly.
"They're both pretty cool," said toy analyst Jonathan Samet, publisher of The Toy Book. He's seen videotape of both vehicles in action and said the Storm Launcher's ability to skim water is an "added feature."
"They're absolutely going to be in competition," said Samet, who added that "the marketplace is big enough for both of them."
One issue that both toys face is durability.
Hobbyist Robin Hambley, who runs Robin's Hobby in Glendale, says his main complaint about flying toys like the XPV and Storm Launcher is that they don't last.
"Typically those little planes are good for one flight," said Hambley, who has not flown either toy. "They crash and then that's it. But I'd have to check it out. If I can get parts for it, I can probably repair it."
Hobby planes often have wood components, which can be replaced or repaired.
During a recent 45-minute test of the XPV, two red and black jets held up fairly well. The nose bounced off of parked cars and the body remained intact after skirmishes with buildings. One XPV did lose a marble-sized chunk of foam after careening into a wood beam, but it flew afterward.
Both JAKKS and Spin Master say they will provide spare parts or replacement through customer service. Clear tape is a great fix for the XPV, Bernstein said.
Toy analyst Samet doesn't think durability will be much of a problem - as long as the devices are flown in open areas.
"I would highly recommend not flying them with lots of trees."
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Aug 1, 2012 - StaffThe United States 8-man rowing team with Riverton's Brett Newlin finished in fourth place behind Germany, Canada and Great Britain in Wednesday's gold medal race at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Catch all of the details in Wednesday's Ranger.
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Weekly Margins
by Louis Corrigan (TMF Seymor)
Atlanta, GA (April 20, 1999) -- Why do I get the creepy feeling that someone's actually reading this column? Could it be the fact that shares of Braun's Fashions (Nasdaq: BFCI), a sleepy retailer of value-oriented clothing for working women, surged 40% between last Tuesday's close, when I said it was "worth investigating," and yesterday's high?
Eh, to reiterate what maybe isn't obvious if you're reading this outside of Fooldom (www.fool.com), this column comments on candidates that show up on our Rising Margins screen. It's intended as a quick look at a few names with the goal being simply to determine whether the selected candidates seem worth further investigation -- or not. It's one of the sketchier features in a part of the Fool devoted to Stock Ideas. So the "do your own research" caveat applies even more than usual here.
First up, Cache (Nasdaq: CACH), a small mall-based retailer with 176 Cache stores, which offer casual clothing to women 25 years and up, and the 12-store Lillie Rubin chain, which targets women aged 40 and up. We saw Cache not long ago, after the stock had cashed in on a strong Q4 earnings report.
The Cache machine remains in high gear. Q1 sales rose 16% to $36.5 million thanks to a 5% increase in same-store sales. That included a 10% comp-store gain for the five-week period ending April 3, as the firm may have benefited from an earlier Easter this year. Profits surged to $0.752 million from $0.057 million last year, or $0.08 a share versus just $0.01 per share last year. That brings trailing EPS to $0.50.
With $9.7 million in cash net of long-term liabilities and an otherwise solid balance sheet, Cache remains worth investigating. Trading at $7 3/8 Monday, it sported a P/E of 15 before backing out its cash. Today, it ran all the way to $11 before falling back to around $8 after announcing the launch of its online store on Yahoo!'s (Nasdaq: YHOO) shopping site. Yet the company carries a market cap of just $74 million, which makes it relatively unattractive to most institutional investors. It also must survive on low margins in a volatile sector. So it's a bit risky.
With $9.7 million in cash net of long-term liabilities and an otherwise solid balance sheet, Cache remains worth investigating. Trading at $7 3/8 with trailing earnings of $0.50, it sports a P/E of 15 before backing out its cash. Of course, the company carries a market cap of just $68 million, which makes it relatively unattractive to most institutional investors. It also must survive on low margins in a volatile sector. So it's a bit risky.
Next up, Advantage Learning Systems (Nasdaq: ALSI), a firm that provides K-12 schools with computerized learning information systems, including Accelerated Reader, the most widely used reading software used in grades K-12. The company has been on a roll since going public in 1997, beating estimates every quarter.
The latest quarter was no exception. Revenue popped up 73% to $18.4 million while net income soared 126% to $4.3 million from $1.9 million. EPS jumped to $0.13, beating the consensus by two cents per share and nearly doubling last year's $0.06 per share. The company now serves 43,400 schools, or nearly 40% of all U.S. schools. Advantage added 26% more schools to its base of customers during the quarter than it did during the year-ago period.
With over 80% of revenue coming from high-margin product sales (software) and the rest from services (teacher training), the profit margins of this business are quite high. Although gross profits declined from 83.4% a year ago, they're still a hefty 82.2%. Moreover, operating expenses increased just 37%, revealing the leverage in the business model.
The stock has been volatile, trading up to $43 in mid-March before collapsing to around $20 just last week. Since then, they've run back to $32 and then back again to $26. At that price, Advantage Learning trades for about 58 times trailing earnings of $0.45 per share and 43 times the high-side FY99 estimate of $0.60, a slight premium to the long-term growth rate of 38%. With an enterprise value (market cap of $881.7 million minus cash of $36.6 million) of $845 million, it trades at nearly 14 times sales.
Advantage has a very strong market position. No doubt the company aims to increase product sales per school (it also offers math products) as well as winning over new schools. Without knowing the market at all, that at least seems plausible. I wonder, though, what percent of the U.S. school market any one company will be able to claim.
While Advantage appears to have a terrific business, with a return on equity over 26% according to our Fool Snapshot, I'd want to know a lot more before paying the current multiple for the stock. Still, this one could be worth a closer look.
Finally, Hasbro (AMEX: HAS), the marketer of toys, games, interactive software, and a whole lot more. Recently shifting more towards acquiring or licensing great brands or hot brands from others, Hasbro has found the sweet spot of a tough toy/games market. Ever heard of Furby? Or Pokemon? Or Teletubbies? Or maybe that little ole Star Wars prequel, The Phantom Menace? Hasbro's been turning their product rights to these franchises into more than Monopoly money and expects at least $500 million in sales this year from Star Wars gear alone (the movie opens May 19).
Q1 revenues hit hyperdrive, flashing ahead 38% to $668.4 million, thanks mostly to Tiger Electronics (acquired last April) and strong interactive software sales. Net income rose 77% to $13.8 million, with EPS up 75% to $0.07, two cents per share ahead of estimates.
Subtracting much higher amortization charges and interest payments from increased borrowing earnings before interest, taxes, and depreciation nearly doubled to $75.8 million from $39.7 million. The company also bought back 1.7 million shares during the quarter, paying what now looks like a bargain $26.47 each.
At $33, Hasbro trades for just over 22 times the high-side FY99 estimate of $1.47 per share. The firm's been leveraging its balance sheet, boosting overall liabilities by 90% in the last year, and pushing liabilities to 44% of total capitalization, up from just 30% a year ago. Assuming its product line continues to click on all cylinders as it has, that's not a problem. It may even be quite smart in that Hasbro is now a far more formidable competitor.
One point worth noting. Although inventories rose just 31.5% year-over-year, trailing the sales growth, accounts receivables were up 43%, or well ahead of sales. Not generally what you want to see. That could be due to Hasbro ensuring stores are stocked with Phantom Menace products in anticipation of blowout second quarter results.
Yet it probably just follows from accounts receivable being abnormally low last year due to massive inventory adjustments at Toys "R" Us (NYSE: TOY), which cut into Hasbro's Q1 FY98 sales. Indeed, accounts receivables are basically flat with the Q1 FY97 number, despite 20% higher sales in this latest period. So days sales outstanding have arguably declined, meaning the accounts receivable increase is probably just an anomaly.
If you're addicted to Star Wars, you might find Hasbro is just the investment you're looking for. As a market leader on the upswing, it's certainly worth a look.
Dozens of other names turned up on our margins screen this week, including other industry leaders like Charles Schwab (NYSE: SCH) and Intel (Nasdaq: INTC). For a further look, click here.


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The RBM Executive Director
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The Executive Director is the global spokesperson and leader for the RBM Partnership, and provides advice to the Board in setting policies and developing strategies for the Partnership and is answerable to the Board for implementing Board decisions.
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The Executive Director receives her mandate from the RBM Partnership Board. The Executive Director reports directly to the Board when it meets with respect to the progress of all Partnership mechanisms against the approved work plan. The Executive Director also reports on administrative matters of the Secretariat to a designated official of the hosting agency.
The RBM Executive Director is an ex-officio non-voting member of the RBM Partnership Board, the Executive Committee of the RBM Board and currently Alternate Board member representing the three Partnerships UNITAID, StopTB and RBM on the Global Fund Board.
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Independent Evaluation of the Roll Back Malaria Partnership 2004-2008
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External Evaluation of Roll Back Malaria 1998-2002
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Online Journalism: Donations Accepted
The news business is in disarray. Thousands of journalists have been left jobless by deep cuts at Time (TWX), Gannett (GCI), Viacom (VIA), and other large media properties. Small newspapers and trade publications around the country are shutting down operations, and many that survive have eliminated bureaus, reduced printing schedules, or cut their print edition entirely.
Most publishers have followed the advertising dollars to the Web, only to find revenues from online ads growing too slowly to offset declines in print ads. So, if online advertising can't save the media any time soon, what will? A growing number of entrepreneurs and journalism advocates around the country are experimenting with a new type of business model for news: community-funded online journalism.
Organized around a group of readers bound by location or an area of interest, these new Web sites solicit donations to pay for the work of professional journalists. While the collection plate is small, and in most cases the sites are relying on supplemental funding from advertising, grants, or other institutional donations, their founders say that readers who help underwrite the news become engaged in the process of reporting and storytelling in meaningful ways.
Giving Donors a Say
There's little sign community-centric models are intriguing mainstream media outlets, but if some of them do prove successful, perhaps they will be gradually introduced into a business that's already reliant on advertising. They could be seen as new sources of revenue and community engagement. "Much of the discussion in journalism has been looking to replace one model with one model," says Jeff Jarvis, associate professor and director of the interactive journalism program at the City University of New York's Graduate School of Journalism. "It's not going to be that simple. It's going to be a bunch of slices making up one pie."
To be sure, publicly funded news is not a novel concept in the U.S. Both the Public Broadcasting System and National Public Radio rely on audience support. But they also collect sizeable donations from the government-backed nonprofit Corporation for Public Broadcasting. And while PBS, NPR, and their numerous local affiliates have established reputations for quality, investigative journalism, they typically don't offer donors a hand in the process, as many of the new sites do. "I think this is about the public's desire to play a larger role in news and journalism," Jarvis says.
For starters, how about letting readers handpick the stories they want produced? That's the model being pioneered by Spot.Us, a San Francisco-based community news site launched in October. On the site, freelance journalists pitch stories to readers, rather than editors, and set their own commission. If readers like the idea, they pitch in a small amount—usually about $30—towards the total cost, which might be as high as $2,500. If enough readers chip in, the story gets produced and posted to the site for anyone to read. "The Internet helps people find each other and aggregate around a story they love," says David Cohn, who launched Spot.Us with the help of a two-year, $340,000 grant from the Knight Foundation he received in May.
A Focus on Public Good
The challenge of this model is obvious: Consumers aren't used to spending money on news, since they've grown accustomed to surfing blogs and other free news sites on the Web. "I could probably find many similar stories somewhere else, but not necessarily the angles or the approach that I feel these specific journalists have taken," says Jaan Orvet, a San Francisco resident who recently heard about Spot.Us and donated $15 to a story on bringing solar power to more residential homes in the Bay area. That story, along with eight others, are still in need of funding before they can get made. while four others are being produced.
So far, Spot.Us has raised nearly $6,000 and published four stories, which have covered locally oriented environmental issues, political campaigns, and energy. Since many of the stories are focused on promoting a public good, or combating local corruption, Cohn believes visitors to the site who donate are acting more out of a sense of charity than as consumers buying a product. If that's true, it bodes well for the future of Spot.Us and its model. Research published by Gallup on Dec. 19 reveals that more than four out of five Americans gave money to a charitable cause in the past 12 months, even as consumer confidence sank like a rock. But, if true, it also means that this model probably won't work for journalism that lacks such a strong public-service component.
Rather than sponsoring a story, what if you allowed readers to sponsor a reporter? In July, the rural town of Northfield, Minn., "hired" Bonnie Obremski to cover local topics like crime, education, and events on an existing blog called Locally Grown. Obremski's assignment is the pilot phase for a program being developed by Leonard Witt, a professor of communication at Kennesaw State University, just outside of Atlanta. Currently, Obremski's salary and expenses are paid for entirely by a grant from The Harnisch Foundation, but in coming months, Witt plans to raise enough local support from Northfield residents to pass the entire cost on to them. A community of 1,000 potential contributors, he says, each paying between $1 and $2 per week, would be sufficient. People in the community understand that eventually they'll be asked to ante up.
Two-Way Conversation
Obremski is confident the experiment will work, judging by the way she's gotten her readers involved in her reporting. "I invite my readers to participate in all parts of the story-making process online," she says. "Readers understand that I'm engaged with them in a two-way conversation. They see how I get my information and how I process it."
Witt's larger vision, a project he calls Representative Journalism, is to bring this model to a hundred or more different communities in the country, both geographic and topic-centric. For example, one group of people with an interest in endangered species in Florida might sponsor its own journalist to write stories specifically focused on that topic. "We have this assumption that news is free," Witt says. Unless people become willing to pay, "We're going to reach a critical point where we're not going to have the kind of news we want anymore."
One online publication already exemplifies a hybrid model of community- and ad-supported journalism. In November 2007, former editor of the Minneapolis Star Tribune Joel Klein launched MinnPost, a site that relies on some display advertising, Knight Foundation grants totaling $390,000, and donations from more than 1,150 readers. Donations and advertising revenues are growing, and Klein says the business will be sustainable without any further foundation grants by 2011. "We're clearly experiments," Klein says, referring to his site as well as the other community-supported news outlets. "But I think it's an environment where everyone has to try new things."
In fact, not to try would be tantamount to buggy makers attempting to ignore the onslaught of the automobile.


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Banks' loan forgiveness targets 2nd mortgages
As the spoils from last year's $25 billion bank settlement reach Massachusetts homeowners, one surprising pattern has emerged: Relief from second mortgages has far eclipsed other forms of mitigation, particularly the reduction of loan principal. And this has some borrower advocates hopping mad.
Banks in the settlement — Bank of America, Citibank, JP Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo and Ally — have spent $196 million erasing the second mortgages of nearly 3,100 Massachusetts borrowers in transactions known as second lien extinguishments, according to the Office of Mortgage Settlement Oversight.
From the banks' point of view, the arrangement is relatively quick and easy. It requires less paperwork than other options in the settlement menu, and banks have claimed they can't help borrowers with their first mortgages until the second loans are resolved.
To some of these borrowers' advocates, forgiveness of these second loans is meaningless. Instead of actually helping borrowers, they show how the banks, and the 50 attorneys general who hammered out the settlement, have turned the agreement into a public relations campaign rather than an effort to help homeowners.
This can be discomforting for borrowers' advocates, who express conflicted feelings toward Attorney General Martha Coakley's approach. They say Massachusetts is lucky to have an attorney general as aggressive as Coakley, who had a role in negotiating the settlement. But they also say she's either unwilling or unable to persuade the banks into the type of loan adjustments that do the most good for borrowers: forgiveness of principal.
The banks estimate the second mortgages being forgiven by the banks include a few home equity loans used to make expensive improvements to homes while property values were briskly climbing, but they're primarily the smaller portions of "80-20" loans.
These loans were also popular as the housing bubble was inflating. Essentially, they allowed borrowers to buy homes with two loans, with no money down: one covering 80 percent of a home's purchase price with a fixed-rate loan, and the other covering the remaining 20 percent with a subordinate, variable-rate loan.
Bank of America told borrowers late last year that foreclosures initiated against delinquent first loans would continue even after second loans were forgiven. The bank says its rationale for pursuing second lien forgiveness is that it helps make homes more affordable for borrowers by eliminating debt other than the primary home loan.
On average, Massachusetts borrowers have received about a $64,000 benefit from the forgiveness of second loans, according to mortgage settlement office data.
Forgiving the smaller portion of 80-20 loans, which borrowers weren't paying and probably had no intention of paying, is pure theater to Bruce Marks, president of the Jamaica Plain-based Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America.
"The second mortgage is not the reason people are being foreclosed," Marks said. "The second loan is irrelevant. This gives credit to banks for no impact to the borrower."
But the banks claim otherwise.
"We heard from customers struggling to make payments that, if they were able to eliminate the burden of their second lien, they would be better able to get back on track with their first mortgage payments and remain in their homes," said Rick Simon, a Bank of America spokesman.
Marks and other advocates want banks in the settlement to be forced to reduce or forgive home loan principal, but they don't see it happening. Instead, the banks have flocked to things like second lien forgiveness and short sales, while Coakley's office is content to tout the $610 million grand total of relief ostensibly received by Massachusetts homeowners as a measure of the settlement' success in its first year.
"We can't trust these lenders," Marks said. "We give them too many easy outs. ... No one trusts the banks except the government. This is really a public relations effort rather than an effort to help borrowers."
Even the principal forgiveness that has been arranged has been targeted at higher-income borrowers, Marks said.
Banks in the settlement performed nearly 1,300 principal reductions over the last year, about $138 million worth, or an average of about $107,000 per borrower. That indicates banks are shaving principal from larger home loans rather than forgiving smaller amounts of principal for larger numbers of low- or moderate-income borrowers struggling to pay more modest mortgages, Marks said.
Brandon German, an advocate and community outreach coordinator at Harvard Law School's Legal Services Center, said borrowers hurt in the foreclosure crisis are losing patience with the banks.
"At this point," German said, the best way to make things right "would be for the bank executives to be criminally prosecuted."


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You'd like to give a little gift to your co-workers, neighbors, church friends, etc., but don't have a lot of money to spend. Here is a simple, festive project that anyone who reads will find useful. All you will need is a bunch of old… more »