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University of Houston – Plant Operations Supporting the university's physical environment
Guide to Facilities Services
ABOUT US Welcome to the Guide to Facilities Services. Welcome to the Guide to Facilities Services. This handbook has been developed to provide a comprehensive A to Z overview of services. Details can be found at uh.edu/plantops/services/
Provide responsible and quality stewardship for the long term preservation and growth of the university's physical assets through the unified delivery of planned work, while remaining cost effective and competitive.
Plant Operations
About Us
Works For You
Work Requests Project Requests Get to Know Facilities Management Facilities Planning & Construction Teams Services A to Z
PRITAS Core Values
Operations Maintenance & Operations Funding Who Pays? Service Rates Non-Billable vs Billable
Accessing Service
The Work We Do Organizational Overview Our Programmatic Foundation
Plant Operations
Building Coordinator Capital Renewal & Deferred Maintenance Physical Recovery Emergency Planning Project Delivery For Minor Projects Sustainability
03 { Cover Photo Courtesy of UH Creative Services }
{ Photo Courtesy of Nat Oliva }
ABOUT US The Work We Do
Plant Operations supports University of Houston's academic facility needs to ensure a quality environment for students, faculty, staff and visitors in support of the University's mission of teaching, research and community service.
04 01 { Photo Courtesy of Richard Payne }
Organizational Overview
PLANT OPERATIONS ADMINSTRATION includes labor relations, business planning and strategy, operational and administrative services, marketing and communications.
FACILITIES MANAGEMENT is Plant Operations largest service unit and includes the following: ADMINISTRATION SERVICES Manages programs support units includes, Facilities Service Center, Building Coordinator Program, FAMIS work management system and capital planning support, Employee Programs, Business Planning, Asset Management & Procurement. AUXILIARY FACILITIES SERVICES Provides contract, billable and general trades, maintenance and custodial services to auxiliary areas on campus . CENTRAL FACILITIES SERVICES Provides auto, fleet, lock and key services, pest control and emergency operations service response. Provides landscape master planning, grounds and field maintenance, solid waste and recycling, parking garage and lot maintenance, moves and event labor services. CENTRAL PLANTS & MECHANICAL Provides campus services for HVAC, building automation, mechanical, central plant operations, energy services and sustainability. TECHNICAL SERVICES Provides level two support services including electrical, elevator and fire alarm. ZONE MAINTENANCE Provides level one maintenance repairs, preventative maintenance and custodial services.
INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING Provides infrastructure capital planning, technical reviews and civil projects management.
Facilities Management 713-743-5566 Facilities Planning & Construction 713-743-8025 Administration Services 713-743-5566 Auxiliary Facilities Services 713-743-3628 Central Facilities Services 713-743-9671 713-743-5688 Central Plants & Mechanical 713-743-4562 Technical Services 713-743-2749 North Zone 713-743-4872 South Zone 832-842-6094 Infrastructure Planning 713-743-5719
DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND PROJECT DELIVERY FACILITIES PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION (FPC) Oversees major (over $4M) campus design, construction and renovation projects, technical support services and building design standards. PROJECT CONTROLS & INSPECTIONS Provides quality assurance verification and compliance of construction and renovation projects on campus. MINOR & PLANNED PROJECTS Oversees minor construction and renovation projects under $4M. MINOR IN HOUSE CONSTRUCTION (MIC) Performs minor campus construction and renovation projects.
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT PLANNING AND FACILITIES INFORMATION Supports the university's planning, property management needs, capital, master, space and renewal deferred maintenance planning.
BUSINESS SERVICES BUSINESS SERVICES Supports financial, purchasing and contracting needs for Plant Operations units, human resources and employee relations.
SAFETY ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND LIFE SAFETY (EHLS) Serves the university's occupational and environmental health and safety, radiation and biological safety as well as Fire Marshal's Office. RISK MANAGEMENT (RM) Provides coordination of worker's compensation claims, purchases needing property/casualty insurance for university operations and coordination of claim recovery for insured losses.
Capital Projects 713-743-8025 Project Controls & Inspections 713-743-5967 Minor Projects 713-743-4469 MIC 713-743-0971 Planning 713-743-2449 Finance 832-842-1817 HR/Payroll 713-743-5271 Environmental Health & Life Safety
713-743-5861 Risk Management 713-743-5865
Our Our Programmatic Foundation
To support University of Houston's Academic Plan, Plant Operations has established an Integrated Facilities Management System planning process (IFMS) and Strategic Programs. These programs help lay the foundation for the future. This comprehensive and integrated approach to our business functions will maximize opportunities, synergies and efficiencies.
Details about these programs can be found in the following pages and at www.uh.edu/plantops
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Energy Services and Sustainability Infrastructure Master Plan Planned and Preventive Maintenance Project Delivery and Management Capital Renewal and Deferred Maintenance (CRDM) Research Support University Capital Planning Facilities Centralization
"The quality of a person's life is in
direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor. -Vince Lombardi
P rofessionalism R espect I ntegrity T eamwork A ccountability S ervice 07 { Photo Courtesy of Morris Bennett }
Access Service To access
Service ,
For services that require immediate attention to maintain safety or preserve work productivity, please call the Facilities Service Center (FSC) at
To a service order or track work order status, access our FAMIS Facility Work Order System module at uh.edu/plantops/services/online-request
The FSC handles all routine customer requests on UH main campus, including: + Maintenance + Grounds / Landscaping + Solid Waste / Recycling + Custodial + Utilities + Event Setup / Labor Service + General Facilities / Service Questions
FAMIS Self Service will allow faculty, staff, and students to enter facilities service requests directly into Facilities Management's work order system via an easy-to-use self-service interface.
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Whether you need a picture hung or a major capital project, our staff will evaluate your service requests and determine how to best meet your needs.
Requesting a Project The online Project Request Form is the single point of contact to submit a request for several kinds of projects including:
+ Capital Plan Projects + Cost Estimates + Real Estate Projects + Space Renovations or Upgrades + Campus Signage + Space Requests + Study Requests
To submit a
Project Work Request
contact The Facilities Service Center (FSC) at 3-4948 or fill out an Online Work Request at uh.edu/plantops/services/online-request, FAMIS Self Service
09 { Photo Courtesy of Nat Oliva }
Your Facilities Get To Know Your Facilities Management Team Management Team
Get To Know
We are UH...We think, therefore We are! Becoming Benchmarks for Service, Stewardship and Sustainability Facilities Management is a service-oriented sector of Plant Operations that is structured to efficiently manage the maintenance of UH's facilities and grounds. We have streamlined by combining a number of departments according to services. The primary areas of Facilities Management include: Facilities Management Administration MELISSA ROCKWELL-HOPKINS 713-743-8750 Executive Director
Facilities Operations & Maintenance SAMEER KAPILESHWARI Senior Director
Administrative Assistant
Auxillary Facilities Services
(Maintenance and custodial services to auxillary areas of campus.)
Service Program Administrator
Sr. Ops. & Project Manager
Facilities Management Programs Manager
Central Facilities Services
JACQUIE VARGAS 832-842-4861 Communications Manager
(Moves & Events, Grounds, Pest Control, Access Control & Lock Shop, Auto, Fleet Coordination, Solid Waste & Recycling, Parking Garage & Lot Maintenance.)
Technical Services & Projects (Electrical, Energy Management & Sustainability, Building Automation & HVAC, Fire Alarm, Elevators, Central, Plant. This group also provides minor renovation and construction projects under $4M, JOC Projects and Minor In House Construction.)
SAMEER KAPILESHWARI 713-743-5797 Senior Director
MICHAEL BURRIELLO 713-743-4562 Assistant Director, Central Plants/Mechanical
AVINASH RAHURKAR 713-743-2749 Assistant Director, Technical Services
SHANNON JONES 713-743-4469 Director, Minor & Planned Projects
Central Facilities Services Associate DIrector
ROGER WARNER 713-743-9671 Assistant Director-Central Facilities Services
Zone Maintenance JOE MORRIS 713-743-6094 Assistant Director/ South Zone Manager
RAY MOSELY 832-842-4872 North Zone Manager
Business Services
(Project Accounting, Contracts Administration, Operational Accounting and Human Resources)
Director of Emergency, Compliance & Project Delivery Programs
Sr. Project Manager Minor in House Construction
GEORGE REA 832-842-4882 DBA- Project & Operational Acct/Contracts
Human Resources 713-743-3276
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Get To Know
F a c i l i t i e s P l a n n i n g & Planning Construction Team Facilities
Construction Team
FPC is responsible for the oversight of all renovation, additions, alterations and new construction for all of the University of Houston System campuses. The department offers programming, design and construction services as well as facilities information. The five primary areas of FPC include: CONTACT US Facilities Planning & Construction Administration
JONATHAN THURSTON 713-743-2263 Executive Director
LEA STEWART 713-743-2493 Executive Administrative Assistant
Planning, Design & Programming/Facilities Information
MIKE YANCEY 713-743-2449 Director
(Planning and pre-design of future projects, developing project goals and objectives.)
Capital Projects
(Major construction and renovation projects, over $4M)
Principal Project Manager
KATHERINE MILLER 713-743-5582 Principal Project Manager
Project Controls and Inspections
EMILY ELDRIDGE 713-743-5967 Interim Principal Project Manager
Services A to Z Explore this overview of Plant Operation's most requested services Detailed information can be found at uh.edu/plantops/services
01 12 { Photo Courtesy of Anna Lange }
Biological Safety http://www.uh.edu/ehs/biological-safety.html
Regulatory compliance issues involving the receipt, use or shipment of biological hazards at University of Houston.
Building Design Standards http://www.uh.edu/plantops/departments/fpc/design-guidelines Development guidelines for campus, including specifications for design, contract administration, construction, plumbing, HVAC, fire, electric, site and infrastructure.
Building Plans and Archives http://www.uh.edu/plantops/services/building-plans-archives/index.php Electronic images or architectural and engineering drawings for all campus buildings.
Capital Planning http://www.uh.edu/plantops/departments/fpc/capital-projects/index.php Management of the University Capital Plan and analysis and preliminary budgets to assist planning for strategic, long-term capital needs for the university.
Communications http://www.uh.edu/plantops/about-us/communications/index.php Departmental media requests, news releases, publications and marketing.
Custodial Services http://www.uh.edu/plantops/services/cleaning-requests/index.php Cleaning services, including floors, restrooms and public private spaces.
Elevators uh.edu/plantops/services/elevator-maintenance/index.php Elevator (vertical transportation), service for all campus academic buildings.
Energy 3-5797 Energy services for main campus, maintenance of university utility systems, energy metering and building energy audits.
Environmental Affairs http://www.uh.edu/ehs/environmental-protection.html Environmental regulatory compliance, chemical waste disposal infectious waste disposal, air and water pollution permitting and prevention, contracting of asbestos and mold assessment and abatement, emergency spill response, liaison with regulatory authorities
Facilities Planning and Construction uh.edu/plantops/departments/fpc Major capital projects (over $4M) including campus design, infrastructure and new construction projects.
Fire Systems http://www.uh.edu/plantops/departments/fm/fom/ts/fire-life-safety/index.php All alarm and fire retardant systems in academic buildings.
Human Resources (Plant Operations) 3-5271 Employee and labor relations, hiring recruiting, orientation, training, timekeeping, payroll and workplace safety.
HVAC and Mechanical http://www.uh.edu/plantops/departments/fm/fom/ts/emecs/index.php Maintenance of all building heating and cooling systems.
Information Technology http://www.uh.edu/plantops/departments/fpc/facilities-information/IT/ Help desk and user assistance, network access, database resource design and support, and FacilityFocus administration.
Insurance http://www.uh.edu/af/riskmanagement/ Purchases needing property and casualty insurance for university operations. In addition to providing coordination of insurance claims
Laboratory Safety 3-5858 Laboratory management and regulatory compliance support to facilitate safe operations in university research laboratories.
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Landscaping and Grounds 3-9671 http://www.uh.edu/plantops/services/grounds-services/ Landscape design, installation and maintenance and sidewalks.
Lighting and Electrical 3-5606 http://www.uh.edu/plantops/departments/fm/utilities-technical-services/electrical-maintenance/ Indoor and outdoor lighting, including changing bulbs.
Locks and Keys 3-5763 http://www.uh.edu/plantops/services/access-control-shop/index.php Brass keys and locksmith services for rooms and buildings.
Mapping 3-5779 University building and infrastructure maps can be provided digitally or in hard copy.
Master Planning http://www.uh.edu/about/initiatives/master-plan/ University Master Plan, feasibility studies and other planning documents to implement and refine strategic direction for university land resources.
Occupational Health, Safety and Education http://www.uh.edu//ehs/training.html Identification, evaluation and elimination of workplace hazards. Education programs to ensure compliance with federal, state and local regulations.
Operational Accounting 2-4862 Departmental accounts payable, billing, billing rates and invoices.
Plumbing http://www.uh.edu/plantops/services/plumbing-mechanical/ Maintenance and repair of building plumbing systems.
Preventative Maintenance Maintenance and service for building automation including fire, electrical, heating and cooling systems .
Project Accounting/Contract Management 2-4862 Establishment of cost centers, contracts, project numbers, fund accounts, contract administration, preparation and support, invoice payments, accounts payable, project analysis and reporting, vendor inquiries and annual audit/compliance reports.
Project Requests 3-8025 Access point to request Capital Plan projects, cost estimates, space requests, space upgrades and renovations, study requests and campus signage.
Purchasing http://www.uh.edu/purchasing/ Departmental purchase orders, requisition, training and payment requests.
Radiation Safety http://www.uh.edu/ehs/radiation-safety.html Supports more than 255 laboratories on campus working with or storing radioactive materials, lasers or x-ray machines and safety training courses.
Real Estate http://www.uh.edu/af/universityservices/realestate Real estate purchasing and leasing, strategic planning services, property management functions for properties owned or leased by the university.
Recycling 3-5655 http://www.uh.edu/plantops/services/recycling-solid-waste/index.php Recycling program planning and development for all campus facilities and special events. For containers and collection, contact Solid Waste.
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Skilled Trades Provides minor construction and renovation services under $1M for carpentry, plumbing, painting and exterior maintenance.
Solid Waste 3-5655 http://www.uh.edu/plantops/services/recycling-solid-waste Collection of waste and recyclable materials, pallets and oversized bulk items from university buildings, provides large open-top toters and recycling containers.
Space Planning 3-5214 University space studies and assignments and strategic planning for future space needs across the university.
Utility Services http://www.uh.edu/plantops/departments/fm/fom/ts/index.php Provides electricity, natural gas, steam, domestic water and compressed air on campus.
Worker's Compensation http://www.uh.edu/af/riskmanagement/workerscomp.htm Coordination of worker's compensation claims.
Zone Maintenance 3-6094 http://www.uh.edu/plantops/departments/fm/fom/zm/index.php Zone Maintenance consists of all Level One maintenance and custodial services including: carpentry, plumbing, painting, cleanups, routine and preventative maintenance and minor repairs.
BUILDING COORDINATOR +Facilitates Communications +Supports Capital Planning +Represents User Needs +Defined Role in Campus Emergencies FOR MORE INFO:
Cynthia Ramos Programs Manager 713-743-5566 Find Building Coordinators at... http://www.uh.edu/plantops/about-us/building-coordinator-program/building-coordinators
non-EMERGENCY 713-743-0600
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CAPITAL RENEWAL & DEFERRED MAINTENANCE (CRDM) Budget Cycle Starts in September-Historically $10 Million Dollar Budget
Project Funding allocated based on: + Academic Priority + Facility Conditions + Functional Adequacy + Reuse Opportunities + Academic Need
Project Request Form Must be submitted http://www.uh.edu/plantops/about-us/committees/crdm/index.php
Contact: Melissa Rockwell-Hopkins Executive Director Facilities Management 713-743-8750
PHYSICAL RECOVERY EMERGENCY PLANNING-PREP PREPARATION & PLANNING REQUIRED TO PROACTIVELY RESPOND VIA SUBCOMMITTEE OF UNIVERSITY'S EMERGENCY OPERATION COMMITTEE Led by Facilities Management with representation from +Facilitates Planning & Construction +Information Technology +Academic Affairs +Research +Student Affairs +Student Housing & Residential Life +Human Resources
+Environmental Health & Safety +Public Safety +Transportation & Parking +University Services +Administration & Finance +Communications
Coordinates Physical Infrastructure Response and Recovery Prepares for, Prevents, Responds to, Recovery from...All Emergency Situations Develops Strategies to Ensure Full Recovery, Safe Occupancy, Coordination of Communication
CONTACT Jim Norcom
Director of Emergency Compliance & Project Delivery Program
713-743-5804 for more information 20 01
PROJECT DELIVERY FOR MINOR PROJECTS (UNDER $4M) Funded by College Local Funds or Capital Renewal Funding Campus User Driven Submitted Through Departments or By Facilities Management Planned Maintenance
CONTACT Shannon Jones
Director of Minor & Planned Projects
713-743-4469 for more information
Promoting and Encouraging Responsible Stewardship of Our Common Natural Resources
Our Actions Today to Preserve and Wisely Use Our Resources for Benefit of Future Generations
Michael Burriello
Assistant Director of Central Plants/Mechanical
713-743-4562 for more information
Plant Operations Maintenance Operations Funding
Plant Operations uses Maintenance and Operations (M&O) funding to provide basic utilities, repairs and ongoing maintenance costs in campus buildings, excluding residence halls and most athletic and auxiliary facilities. Individual unit funds are used for each department's equipment and service enhancements. As a general rule, Plant Operations is responsible for components that are common to most buildings. Imagine an empty classroom or office with no furniture, office machines, laboratory equipment or other added features – the cost of maintaining this space is covered by M&O funds. Any addition to this space would normally be covered by departmental funds and would be considered billable work.
01 22 {Photo Courtesy of Richard Payne }
Space Funding Levels APPA APPA (Association of Physical Plant Administrators) http://www.appa.org
Total Reactive Level 5
Reactive Level 4
Existing Space
Managed Care Level 3
Well Funded Level 2
Orderly Spotlessness Level 1
E&G New Space (post FY12) 23
Service Rates Service Type
Hourly Rate
Service Area
Regular Overtime
$27.56/hr $41.35/hr
All Auto Repairs
Regular Overtime
$31.52/hr $47.28/hr
Skilled Trades: Carpentry, Exterior Maintenance, Plumbing, Painting, Lock Labor, Moves, Event Setup (above normal schedule)
Regular Overtime
$34.56/hr $51.83/hr
HVAC, EMECS, Elevator, Electrical, Mechanical, Fire Alarm, General Utility Support
General Support
Regular Overtime
$22.05/hr $33.08/hr
Custodial, Grounds, Solid Waste/ Recycling
Technical/ Planning Review
Key Charge
lost, stolen or duplicate keys for offices, buildings, doors, desks and mechanical
The chart above represents LABOR rates only. Material will be billed at cost as applicable. 24 {Photo Courtesy of Nat Oliva }
Non-Billable Services Maintenance & Operations (M&O) Funds are used to maintain and repair campus buildings, not including residence halls. Examples include: + Repairs resulting from normal wear and tear, including plumbing, central HVAC and electrical systems.
+ Maintenance of the building envelope – windows, foundation, walls and floors.
+ Maintaining clean and safe campus buildings.
Billable Services Plant Operations has the desire and technical expertise to provide services that are not covered by M&O funding. Some of these projects may require the submission of a Project Request (see page 9). Examples include:
+ Minor renovations, conversion of space, installation and/ or maintenance of specialized equipment affecting the building systems, such as fume hoods and acid drains.
+ Repair of department equipment, such as window air conditioners, furniture, etc.
+ Installation of items that require only minor modifications, such as pictures, wall brackets and wall clocks.
+ Fabrication of shelves and equipment, non-scheduled painting, changing ventilation equipment, adding electrical service. 25
Non-Billable Services 1 . Building maintenance & exteriors (roofs, masonry, windows) 2 . Building systems (central HVAC, plumbing, electric, sinks, drinking fountains, faucets & drains) 3 . Ceiling tiles (general repairs, scheduled replacement) 4 . Doors 5 . Fire Alarms 6 . Floors (scheduled carpet vacuuming and floor cleaning) 7 . Fume hood testing
8 . Grounds & Landscaping 9 . Lighting fixtures & emergency lights 10 . Road & Sidewalk repairs 11 . Trash removal (non-event)
Other Services Elevator Repair Extermination Housekeeping (routine cleaning for academic space and offices)
Billable Services A . Carpentry (fabricating shelves bookcases) B . Ceiling tiles (new installation / lab animal & special research) C . Fume Hood systems & bio safety cabinets D . Furniture assembly E . Interior finishes (above scheduled maintenance) F . Sinks, faucets & drains (in kitchens, labs and research cabinets) G . Special Environmental HVAC systems for lab animals, research equipment including environmental room (not for cold rooms) H . Specialized compressed air systems I . Non Standard access, fire alarm or life safety systems
Other Billable Services Electrified Door Hardware Environmental Alarms Environmental Permit Fees Equipment Repair Eye wash/ Safety Shower Lighting (display cases) Maintenance of departmental equipment Moving (furniture, boxes, surplus equipment) Security systems repairs & services Special Event Services Air conditioning systems for specific departmental use (computer/server rooms) Window Coverings (drapes, blinds) - installation & washing Window Washing
Additional Resources To Report an Emergency Call 911 or 713-743-3333 for UHPD Athletics uh.edu/athletics
Parking and Transportation 3869 Wheeler Ave. Houston, TX 77204-6191 713-743-5849
Public Safety 3869 Wheeler Ave. Houston, TX 77204 uh.edu/police | 713-743-3333
Student Life uh.edu/student-life
Plant Operations 4211 Elgin Houston, TX 77204 uh.edu/plantops
{ Back Photo Courtesy of UH Creative Services }
Published on Jun 19, 2013
A comprehensive A to Z guide of University of Houston facilities services provided by Facilities Management and Facilities Planning & Constr...


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Louis Smith has lingered at the middle of the judges leaderboard for many weekends during this series of Strictly Come Dancing and it seems that this has not been a coincidence.
Insiders have claimed that Len Goodman, Darcey Bussell, Bruno Tonioli and Craig Revel Horwood have deliberately been giving the Olympic medallist low scores, because they know he's the public's favourite to win.
It's been claimed that he is polling the most votes by far every week on the BBC show and the panel have been keeping his scores lower than they should have been as a result.
They think Denise Van Outen is a better dancer and a source told The Daily Mail:
"It's been known behind the scenes for weeks now that Louis is a sure bet for the final.
"As a result, the judges knew there was no point giving him nines and tens every week because it would allow him no progression throughout the series."
Insiders also claim that the panel think dancing comes easier to the hunk, because he has such a strong background in gymnastics and so they were much more generous with their scoring of stars such as Lisa Roley, who was starting from behind. They added:
"To be truthful, they have marked him harder than the other dancers because he is a gymnast who has a natural advantage over a rival like Lisa Riley."
Louis has remained the bookies favourite to win and William Hill are backing him to take the glitterball trophy after tonight's final.
Smith will be sad to see the back of the series and his partner Flavia Cacace though and tweeted:
"However tomorrow goes I want all my fans to know you have been amazing with your support for me and @FlaviaCacace amazing #crewlove"
He added:
"Ok well we are looking forward to the charleston and I know we surprised you all so hopefully you will like the small changes we've made ooo"
Do you think the judges have treated Louis fairly? Are you backing him to win? Leave your comments below…

subset: commoncrawl


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Copyright © 2004-2017 Shutterfly, Inc | Tiny Prints | Terms of Use. Designated trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners.


text: DETROIT, Feb. 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Meridian Health Plan earned a grant from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Innovation Center to support the Strong Start for Mothers and Newborns initiative. Meridian will partner with Allegiance Health in Jackson, Michigan to implement the initiative which aims to reduce preterm births and improve health outcomes for newborns and pregnant women. Meridian is one of 27 awardees announced on February 15, 2013. "We are delighted to be partnering with Meridian Health Plan on this important initiative to lead to improved outcomes for mothers and infants that we care for within the Jackson community," said Jenny Wren, MBA, BSN, RN, Director of Women's and Children's Services at Allegiance Health. Premature births are a growing public health problem with significant consequences for families and society, costing an estimated $26 billion each year. This equates to more than 500,000 infants in the United States each year, a number that has grown by 36 percent over the last 20 years. "As a major segment of our membership, improving the health of pregnant women and newborns is a priority for Meridian," said Shery Cotton, COO of Meridian Health Plan. "It's a national concern, but we're focused on working with our local partner, Allegiance, to implement an effective model that creates positive change. I'm proud of the team who worked to make this grant a reality." A total of 182 healthcare facilities across the country will support the four-year Strong Start for Mothers and Newborns initiative that seeks to determine approaches to decrease the anticipated total cost of medical care during pregnancy, delivery and over the first year of life for children born to mothers in Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).


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The only solution to Utah's air-quality problems lies in a market-driven approach.
The state should impose a $1 to $2 per gallon tax on fuels sold in Utah. This will cause people to drive less, use public transport more and encourage alternative fuels. This is exactly what happened when gas prices spiked a few years ago.
Hoping people will voluntarily cut back on driving when gas prices are around $3 per gallon is not going to work. Are you driving less?
Examples of market-driven approaches are found in Europe with great success. It's time Utah takes action.
Revenue from this program can be used to expand public transportation, hire experts for long-term planning, research alternatives, etc. If courageous elected officials take the lead on an air-quality solution, people will still want to live here in 20 years.
Shortsighted skeptics will scream, but action taken now is good long-term investment. If not, Utah is going to lose billions in tourism, see its industry and families leave, incur rising health costs and have to change its license plates to the "Greatest smog on Earth."
Darsie Culbeck
Haines, Alaska


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So, you're planning a bachelor party in Chicago? First of all, the best advice I can give you is: try to do what you think the bachelor would really enjoy. Don't be one of those smarmy Best Men that hire strippers for their own enjoyment, rather than the bachelor's. That being said, we've grouped together some options for you below.
If you buy a copy of our book Historic Bars of Chicago ($12), you can get a Chicago Trolley $45 coupon that is more than 10% off for most rentals.
OK, if you must go to a strip club,
here's the best strip club listing & reviews for Chicagoland


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By JACKIE WILLIS
February 01, 2013
He's already played the vampire, and now Brad Pitt is taking on the zombies. Here's a first look at the World War Z Super Bowl spot.
In the quick clip, we see Gerry Lane (Pitt) and his family minding their own business in traffic when all of a sudden, it looks like the end of the world. This then leads to a series of shots of Pitt running through the city streets with his on-screen family, many times with a small child in his arms.
World War Z follows a U.N. employee who is racing against time and fate, as he travels the world trying to stop the outbreak of a deadly Zombie pandemic. Can he save the world, or will he too be turned?
The film hits theaters June 21, 3013.


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WikiLeaks, web to revolutionize reporting: Pilger
By Mike Collett-White
LONDON (Reuters) - Revelations on the WikiLeaks website which have enraged governments around the world should force the traditional media to rely less on official sources, award-winning journalist John Pilger said.
In an interview to discuss his film "The War You Don't See," the veteran Australian reporter told Reuters the internet, and more specifically WikiLeaks, would bring about a "revolution" in journalism which too often failed to do its job properly.
One reason the media did not challenge the U.S. and British governments' justification for going to war in Iraq in 2003, later shown to be misplaced, was their eagerness to believe the official version of events, Pilger argued.
He said the same was true of television coverage of the Israeli attack on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla, when British broadcasters appeared willing only to use Israeli video rather than trawling the internet for alternative footage.
"That mindset that only authority can really determine the 'truth' on the news, that's a form of embedding that really now has to change," said Pilger, who has covered conflicts in Vietnam and Cambodia, written books and made several acclaimed documentaries.
"There's no question about the pressure on it to change coming from the internet and coming from WikiLeaks -- it will change," he added in the interview ahead of Tuesday evening's broadcast of his new film.
"That is the canker in all of this, it's the compulsion to quote, not necessarily believing the authority source. But then once you quote it and you put it out on the wires or you broadcast it, it takes on a sort of mantle of fact and that's where the whole teaching of journalism is wrong.
"Authority has its place, but the skepticism about authority must be ingrained in people." Continued...


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Related Topics:
The Importance of the Process when Making a Product
Jeff Daigle started Precision Die Technologies in 2005 with just $22,000 in capital equipment. Now part of McCoy (McCoy Drilling & Completions - Precision Die Technologies), the 30-person operation in which Mr. Daigle is the general manager currently achieves monthly sales of $1.5 million. He's quick to credit David Buck as being a helpful, important mentor early on during the development of the business.
The business manufactures gripping dies and inserts used on equipment that handles oil drilling tubulars and strings. Although having capable machine tools is important, Mr. Daigle points to two prime reasons for the smallish company's success: establishing an effective process and having a lean manufacturing mindset.
As he explains, all inserts and dies start as extruded components, so 75 percent of each component is to shape before any machining occurs. Automated saws with custom jigs are used to create workpiece blanks that are conveyed (rather than carted by shopfloor employees) to a mill to surface the parts. After subsequent cleaning by a washer, the parts are delivered to a CNC stamping machine. It's at this point that a workorder is applied to each part. That way, each workpiece has its own specific job number on it before it reaches a machine operator, so there is no question in an operator's mind about what that part is supposed to be.
Every operator in the company's 14,000-square-foot facility tends multiple machines (typically a lathe and a mill). In one case, a specific operator tends eight gear shapers by himself. Workstations have been designed with 5S organization in mind, so there is normally no reason for an operator to leave the area to retrieve a tool or any other piece of equipment necessary to perform his/her duties. To speed setups, some lathes are fitted with quick-change fixtures (rather than chucks) that enable operators to change-over to a new workpiece size in just 20 minutes.
Mr. Daigle says for shops to benefit from lean manufacturing in the way his shop has, lean has to be more than a set of buzz words. Lean must be part of a shop's culture. To that end, his entire company has received lean training. This ensures that everyone within the organization is thinking about lean the same way and also has a clear understanding not only of the business' objectives, but of what is expected of each of them.
McCoy Drilling & Completions - Precision Die Technologies is a business unit of McCoy, which provides products and services as well as mobile solutions to the worldwide energy industry. The division in Broussard, Louisiana, manufactures dies and inserts such as the ones shown to the left. These gripping components are used on hydraulic pipe wrenches called power tongs as well as pipe handling tools used to drill oil wells.
The dies and inserts are machined rather than cast, which is said to provide higher accuracy for critical oilfield applications. They are also heat-treated for longer life and come in a variety of tooth patterns. The company offers standard dies and inserts as well as custom models for special applications.
Today's hostile well environments often require drilling companies to use corrosion-resistant-alloy tubulars that require special handling tools. The company's Gritface insert coating enables drilling companies to use their standard handling tools with CRA tubular strings because this special coating prevents contamination and marking during handling.
Mild Steels
McCoy Drilling & Completions - Precision Die Technologies
4225 1/2 Highway 90 East
Broussard, Louisiana 70518
Phone 337-837-6666
Fax: 337-837-6661


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#"AdBlock on Chrome enabling insertion of invisible spam into Zoho CRM e-mail signatures"
I emailed a potential client yesterday who replied that she couldn't read my email as it had crashed her email client. She also said that the email was huge.I had sent the email using Zoho CRM and when I checked it, it looked fine. Only a few lines long.So I sent myself a test message which also looked fine.
Then I did view-source on the message. Holy Crap. Hundreds of lines of HTML with ads inserted all over it. Now wonder her email crashed.
The bit that had me really worried was the I sent it from an Ubuntu machine which "shouldn't" suffer from such exploits.
I went into Zoho and couldn't see where it could have happened. Then I had the aha moment (no, not Morten) and checked my Signature setting. Damn it looked fine. Wait, try view-source again. All the bastard HTML there in all it's glory.
I was able to reliably replicate the problem. Paste text signature in Zoho field, save, re-open, view-source, see spam.
I then tried it on Firefox. It didn't have the problem. Weird.
Then Windows 7. Chrome - bad. Firefox - good. And in a shocker, IE8 - good.
So I went over to a netbook which I booted up with a clean Ubuntu USB stick and installed Chrome. And all was well, no problem. WTF x2?
OK, so what is common amongst two machines but not a third, despite operating system differences? Aha, the browser extensions. Luckily I only have 3 installed so it was easy to test.
First I uninstalled AdBlock which I run mainly to block Flash ads since they cripple the CPU on netbooks and Ubuntu boxes.
Job done! Problem gone.
This is very very very serious. Something you install to block ads ends up causing the mailing of spam ads to your customers. Very very serious indeed.
I have reported it to Zoho in case they can block the problem at their end and ditto to the AdBlock people since it is more likely to be an exploit of them rather than dodgy behaviour. Here is a screen shot of some of what it was inserting:


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George Osborne has now made it official that government funding for Crossrail will continue and it seems that investment in the Tube upgrades is safe too. All this has been pretty much an open secret for several weeks. More intriguing is a well-sourced report (well, that's what my sources say) that BBC London has been running since last night. It says:
London mayor Boris Johnson will not have to raise fares more than his already stated 2% above inflation and it also means free travel for under-18s will remain in place. Based on the current Retail Price Index (RPI) of 5.1%, this would mean a 7% rise in fares from 2011.
Warning note: the RPI-plus formula is only a guide to what Transport for London might do with fares. We journalists were firmly assured of this a year ago when Boris hiked fares by considerably more than the RPI+1% figure that then provided a benchmark. On the same occasion it was revealed that RPI+2% would come into effect this year. I asked if that was an ominous sign. I didn't get much of answer. We'll find out before long.
Something else we've known for a while is that while funding for the big infrastructure projects appeared safe, the rest of the transport budget was going to shrink and so require the Mayor and Transport for London to make hard choices about fares, jobs and the continuation or otherwise of less glamorous projects in order make ends meet. That reduction will be one of 6% every year - £2 billion in total.
You can be sure that TfL already has a full cost-cutting programme in mind. You might also wish to draw certain political conclusions from what Boris will certainly present as a decent transport settlement for London, given the economic circumstances. It is that David Cameron doesn't want Londoners to throw Boris out of City Hall in 2012. Put another way, he doesn't want a former Mayor Johnson returning to the House of Commons any sooner than necessary.


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Honey (food)
Theatre review: Billy, Union Theatre, London
Forget Billy Elliot the musical and remember Billy Liar, the novel by Keith Waterhouse and Willis Hall, template for all northern working-class, aspirational escape stories in the 1960s, the Tom Courtenay movie and, in 1974, this marvellous, resonating and utterly authentic show written by "Bond movie" composer, the late, great John Barry, television comedy writers Dick Clement and Ian La Fresnais (The Likely Lads, Porridge, etc) and Tin Pan Alley and Lloyd Webber lyricist Don Black.
TV review: Here Comes Honey Boo Boo (TLC) is certainly educational
It's just an excuse to laugh at poor people and farting
Animal magic
This season the fashion world is a-buzz with inspiration from birds, bees and creatures altogether more beastly, says Stephanie Hirschmiller
iStyle: Animal magnetism
This season the fashion world is abuzz with inspiration from birds, bees and creatures altogether more beastly, says Stephanie Hirschmiller
Wines of the Week: Villiera Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc 2011; Gran
Terry Kirby selects the best bottles to buy
Cauliflower and chocolate, anyone? Science unveils odd, new flavour
Network theory is usually used to analyse connections in social networks or the spread of disease, but theorist Albert-Laszlo Barabasi and a team from Northeastern University in Massachusetts have put it to a different use: concocting unusual - yet supposedly delicious canapés.
Wines of the Week: Terry Kirby selects the best fizz for New Year's
So, you need some sparklers to put the fizz into your New Year's Eve celebrations tomorrow? Here are three recommendations you should be able to find in your local stores today…
Mixed grill with turnips and quince
Serves 4
Baked peaches with amaretto
Serves 4
Pizza bianco
Makes 2 pizzas
The French beekeepers and the mystery of the blue honey
Beekeepers in northeastern France are all abuzz after their bees started producing blue honey.
More headlines
Focaccia with cherries, honey and almonds
Serves 8-10
Slow-cooked tamarind beef top rib
Serves 4-6
Raw power: Mark Hix reveals how to enjoy spring vegetables in their
Don't cook all the goodness out of spring vegetables, says our chef.


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Exhibitionism <BR. Toby Litt
304pp, Hamish Hamilton, £10.99
It is hard to avoid Toby Litt, one of the most prolific of the newer generation of British novelists and young master of a scarily dynamic prose. As its title suggests, Exhibitionism turns up the style and comes at us as a deliberate display of his remarkable talents. The collection is billed by the tacky B-movieish blurb as "a brand-new production starring Polly Morphous, Lee Perverse, The New Puritans, The Virgin Mary and the Audioguide to the Museum of Inside-Your-Head", all "from the writer who brought you Adventures in Capitalism " (Litt's first book, another set of short stories). Such gross showmanship hardly seems necessary after the high praise won by Beatniks, an ingenious English On the Road of the mid-1990s, by Corpsing, a successful raid on the manor of the crime thriller (both due to become movies), and especially by last year's deadkidsongs, a dark, lyrical picture of 1970s middle England as seen through the eyes of murderous boys. Fortunately, Litt has a lot to show us.
Half the stories are listed under the heading "SEX"; the rest under "Other subjects", though "Unhaunted", a tale of sexual obsession in which Litt daringly offers a lesbian first-person narrator, surely belongs in the first group. Litt occasionally indulges us for a paragraph or two in the delusion that sex is fun or romantic, but mostly he marches us inexorably on into the heavily dysfunctional, as in "Alphabed", a cleverly disgusting story of slime in 26 measured paragraphs: "He pissed for what seemed like a long time. It was more satisfying than his last orgasm."
Here, sexual extremity heads in Gothic fashion towards a deliquescence akin to Dickens's spontaneous combustion; elsewhere, the fulfilment of sexual fantasy (often porn-fuelled) brings complications and frustrations. Two stories flirt with the early stages of pregnancy, only to emphasise that this is a world before babies, a world of surreal, vertiginously free sexual agency - though also of inescapable anxiety. If, as in the opening story, "Dreamgirls", fantasy becomes real, and you meet and have "the greatest sex ever" with "the girl of your dreams", you're liable to discover that "some kind of barrier has been broken". New fantasies become necessary as the old desires are (undesirably) realised, in an infinite regression.
The clarity and rapidity of Litt's narrative movement in most of these stories are hugely impressive and queasily enjoyable: one imagines him having no difficulty with a Hollywood pitch, and his combination of verbal fluency with a genius for intriguing plot is enviable. These are not subtle mood-pieces, and the fact that Litt recently wrote an introduction to Henry James's late novel, The Outcry, doesn't seem a mark of significant spiritual kinship - see the very title of "On the Etiquette of Eye-Contact During Oral Sex". (On the other hand, maybe there is something Jamesian in that fusion of the prim and the rude.)
Most of the stories have a hard, tight centre and echo with the sound of nails being struck on the head in relentless ironic succession. Litt, a really gifted storyteller, knows where to dig for interest. Escapist young alien-abduction fans inadvertently swap underpants ("Of the Third Kind"); pornographic-video copiers are embarrassed by sexual predators ("The New Puritans"); Berlin tourist strays into nostalgic private thriller world ("My Cold War [February 1998]"); movie agents and restaurateurs have implausible gun-battle over the right to employ a failing young screenwriter ("A Higher Agency"); voyeuristic Rossetti student gets locked in Radclyffe Hall's tomb by vengeful lesbians ("Mimi (Both of Her) and Me (Hardly There At All)").
The image of a high-rise apartment as a fishtank is dramatised with hypnotically persuasive force in the surrealism of the final story, "The Waters". Set in the future, this is a creepily Kafkaesque allegory of something indefinably important about modern (virtual) experience. Only the hero, Elyot, can sense the water seeping into, eventually filling, his flat on the 150th floor, in a world of IT where the old laws of physics don't necessarily apply.
Litt can be too quick and slick; his startling facility sometimes seems a power used more to dazzle than to define. His wordplay and occasional mannerisms - "she thunderstormed out", "a post-spark relationship", "a flash of fuckworthiness", "she will let their every question fall, colonial, into a European silence" - tend to remind us that, like any exhibitionist, he is there in the margins wanting applause for his brilliance. It's the same with some of his experimentalism and many of his allusions. Elyot's two women in "The Waters" are called Vivian and Valerie, his best friend Ezra; maybe to evoke "Death By Water" in The Waste Land , but then again, so what?
The world Litt frequently occupies, of mostly shitty young men out for themselves, in which drugs and pornography are cool givens of a new laddish pose, may epitomise a generation, but the attitudes may also come to seem dated and the question will be how far into bed he got with them. His sense of humour - or rather of intellectual fun, if "humour" sounds too humane - is brutal and not always very funny, though readable enough ("Legends of Porn" is a thin Boogie Nights spin-off).
And yet, carpings aside, it is undeniable that Litt writes with rare assurance and verve, enveloping even the reluctant reader of these stories in their air of encroaching menace. His interest in states of self-division, of dream and fantasy and obsession, in troubled relationships and self-destructiveness, gives a decent grounding to his pyrotechnics. Though this is not Litt at his best, several of the stories here are serious entertainments of the highest order, and Exhibitionism is well worth the price of admission.
· Philip Horne's Henry James: A Life in Letters was published by Penguin last year.


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To request a waiver to get care from a non-approved demonstration provider:
If the waiver request is denied, you may request a review of the denied waiver and submit a written request to appealThe action you take if you don't agree with a decision made about your benefit. the denied waiver to International SOS. Use the Beneficiary Waiver Appeal to formally request a review of the waiver denial. Appeals are forwarded to the TRICARE Area Office-Pacific for consideration.
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BittLoader said
I also think the font is too big on the menu, and maybe you should try a different font. Also, you should change the colors a bit, i think there is too much gray on the design… The footer and blog post need improvements too..
Thanks for the feedback. I'm working on adding more color. I do like the idea of using only one color plus black/gray. I see many PSD templates that do this, but maybe the difference is that they are using color photos and only one color on text/design elements.
Can you specify what part of the blog posts that aren't working for you?
ashikudden01 said
Update the content area . Check the other psd template popular item. Your content area is not good.
Thanks for the feedback. Can you specify which page's content area needs improved?
Thanks themelux. I wanted the navigation to have an extra line of text available – does the font size just need to be smaller in your opinion? Thanks for your feedback, btw.
Does anyone else have feedback on what should be improved?
The overall quality of your submission does not meet our aesthetic and technical requirements and will need to be improved before being resubmitted. Unfortunately we're not able to provide more specific feedback for your submission at this time. Please consider taking some time to familiarise yourself with our current library and quality levels of popular items before resubmitting.
I'm looking for specific feedback on what I should improve. My first thoughts are adding color, texture and detail – but should there be further changes beyond that? Please help!
Thanks, Stephen
Thanks Bebel,
So you would do the PHP includes while creating the website, but then when finished, turn it back into all static pages?
It seems strange that ThemeForest wouldn't want the HTML site templates to use includes – but maybe the purpose really for developers to use them as a starting point and to add all their dynamic aspects on top of the HTML template.
I'm working on my first HTML Site Template for themeforest and wondered what the most common approach is on themeforest for doing include files in straight HTML site templates.
I've seen a few thread where PHP includes are suggested – but not sure if that is allowed or the best solution. How open ended is the HTML site templating in this regard?
What does everyone recommend? SSI includes (<!
-#include file="footer.html" ->), PHP includes (<?php include("footer.php"); ?>) or just static content everywhere?
Thanks, Steve
Does anyone else have some feedback for me? Either critiquing my PSD files or about whether it would get accepted as an HTML template instead.
Does anyone else have some feedback for me? Either critiquing my PSD files or about whether it would get accepted as an HTML template instead.
Does anyone else have some feedback for me? I've read in other item discussions that the PSD templates category is harder to get accepted in. Anyone who is familiar with the Site Template (HTML templates) category – do you think this current design will get accepted as a Site Template instead – provided I take the time to code it?
Thanks for any help.
I've tried searching the Wiki but didn't find anything on this question. I'm wondering if there are a set of requirements of 'Site Templates'. Something like, 'there must be at least one subpage coded' or 'slideshows must be functional', etc.
Are there guidelines or requirements out there or should we try to be consistent with the current site templates for sale?
Thanks for any help you can give!


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Don't miss...NCCHPP Webinar - Sharing Knowledge with the Advisors of Policy Makers - A Couple of Myths, a Couple of Tips, Click to watch and listen to the recording of the webinar.
Knowledge Sharing and Public Policy series - Method and Preliminary Results of a Literature Review 786 KKnowledge Sharing and Public Policy series - A Representation of Influence Processes 730 KSocial Media in Public Health 769 KPlanning Knowledge Sharing in the Context of a Health Impact Assessment 601 KLinksResearch Matters Knowledge Translation Toolkit. On the site of the International Development Research Centre.Knowledge exchange strategies for interventions and policy in public health. Kouri, D. (2009). Evidence & Policy: A Journal of Research, Debate and Practice, Volume 5, Number 1, January 2009 , pp. 71-83(13). Abstract on the site of ingentaconnect.Facilitating a knowledge translation process: Knowledge review and facilitation tool. Lemire, N., Souffez, K., and Laurendeau, M.-C. (2009). 9 MB. On the site of the Institut national de santé publique du Québec.Political and institutional influences on the use of evidence in public health policy. A systematic review. Liverani, M., Hawkins, B., & Parkhurst, J.O. (2013). PLoS ONE, 8(10): e77404, 1-9. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0077404. Free access.Connecting research and policy. Lomas, J. (2000). Isuma: Canadian Journal of Policy Research, 1(1), 140-144. Free access.ContactFlorence Morestin
The NCCHPP seeks to make work from the different disciplines of the social sciences available to public health actors. This bridging role between public health and the social sciences is achieved in a variety of ways. Notably, the NCCHPP has a goal to identify the work of social science researchers from across Canada whose work is within or related to the health sector.
For this exploratory study, the NCCHPP collaborated with Nicole F. Bernier, a political scientist and researcher at the Département de médecine sociale et préventive de l'Université de Montréal (the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine at the University of Montréal) to examine how health policy issues are integrated into course offerings and research agendas in Canadian political science departments.
The Contribution of Political Science to the Study of Health Policies 39 pages 529 K
The Contribution of Political Science to the Study of Health Policies 39 pages 529 K


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As the government shutdown reached its sixth day, lawmakers appearing on the Sunday shows offered no new signs that a resolution is within reach. Meanwhile, with the nation set to reach its borrowing limit later this month, talk about the standoff over the debt ceiling ramped up. But like the shutdown, neither Democrats nor Republicans budged from their positions.
Read about it all and more over on Post Politics:
Boehner says no clean CR; Schumer says it would pass
Rand Paul: It's 'irresponsible' of Obama to talk about default
Ted Cruz: Deal with shutdown standoff before debt ceiling debate
Boehner: House is 'not going to pass' a clean debt limit increase


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Barrick Gold Sharply Cuts Dividend
The drop in gold prices claimed its latest victim in Barrick Gold (ABX), which was known for its hefty dividend.
The gold miner has cut it quarterly dividends by 75%, from 20 cents a share to a nickel a share.
Despite a slight year-on-year increase in production, the company had to write down a colossal loss of $8.7 billion in impairment charges, as gold fell into a bear market in the last quarter.
The dividend cut will free up about $600 million annually, which Barrick will use to pay off $1.8 billion in accumulated debt.
$5.1 billion of the write down came from Barrick's backing of the enormous Pascua Lama open pit mining project in the Andes, on the border of Argentina and Chile. The project has been mired in controversy in Chile regarding its environmental impact, and is yet to commence production.
However, the company reaffirmed its commitment to the project. "Pascua-Lama will be a world-class mine as significant cash generator and another core mine for Barrick," said President and CEO Jamie Sokalsky in a conference call this morning.
Feel free to read a related Barron's blog post on Barrick's travails.
-- This was reported by Saranya Kapur


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Will Larry Johnson still have an impact in the NFL in 2009?
Several NFL teams acknowledged they would consider acquiring the former Chiefs running back, who was cut on Monday after a tumultuous end to his seven-year career in Kansas City. Johnson, a two-time Pro Bowler who rushed for a combined 3,639 yards in 2005-06, had collected just 358 yards on the ground in seven games this season.
Does he have talent left? Johnson will be 30 on Nov. 19, and hasn't rushed for more than 900 yards since 2006. His former coach, Dick Vermeil, said of Johnson to the Kansas City Star on Monday: "He is what he is. He's a complex guy to work with."
Any team can place a waiver claim on Johnson and pay the balance of his salary. But if he clears waivers, he'll be eligible to sign with any club.
Here's a synopsis of teams that have been connected to Johnson after his release:
-- Steelers: ESPN reported that Johnson would like to join the Steelers, the team the AP reported he had hoped would draft him in 2003. But Pittsburgh has been relying on second-year player Rashard Mendenhall as starter recently, with Willie Parker and Mewelde Moore behind him.
-- Redskins: Head coach Jim Zorn wouldn't rule out pursuing Johnson on Monday. The Redskins lost Clinton Portis to a concussion on Sunday, and his status for next week is in doubt. The team signed veteran Shaun Alexander as insurance last season. Asked specifically about Johnson, Zorn said, "I need to have a longer conversation than I've had to make a decision."
-- Seahawks: They cut veteran Edgerrin James last week, after the veteran rushed for just 125 yards in seven games for them. Leading rusher Julius Jones (382 yards) hasn't been explosive. But head coach Jim Mora expressed doubt that Seattle would make a bid for Johnson. "No," he said. "Right now, we'll just stick with what we've got."
-- Patriots: Bill Belichick's team has lost RBs Sammy Morris and Fred Taylor to injury for significant chunks of the season. But Belichick, in a radio appearance on Monday, said the team would be unlikely to chase Johnson. "I would doubt it," he said, via the Boston Globe.
-- Bears: Head coach Lovie Smith acknowledged on Monday that Chicago would consider Johnson. The Bears have Matt Forte as their lead rusher, but lack quality depth behind him. "Any player that's available, we look at," Smith told reporters. "That's been our standard policy throughout. That'll be the case with Larry."
-- Texans: Starter Steve Slaton was benched for veteran Ryan Moats last week, and the Texans have the sort of instability at tailback where Johnson could come in and challenge for the starting job. Head coach Gary Kubiak acknowledged on Monday that Houston would consider Johnson. "When a name like that comes on the free agent market like today, we'll obviously go back and take a look at him just like any other player," Kubiak told reporters. "Obviously, he's been a good player in this league and I'm sure he'll get a lot of interest from a lot of people."
-- Sean Leahy
Hat tip: AP
Nate Davis is a reporter, blogger and editor who's been at USA TODAY since 2000. He has covered the NFL since 2005. No, he did not play quarterback for Ball State. Davis' succession of our esteemed colleague Sean Leahy at The Huddle is considered a Brady-for-Bledsoe swap by most "insiders."More about Nate


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Published: October 8, 2013 - 10:28 PM | Updated: October 9, 2013 - 07:06 AM
Browns director of player personnel Jon Sandusky was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving Tuesday morning in Fargo, N.D., the Forum of Fargo-Moorhead reported.
Fargo police pulled Sandusky, 36, over at about 1:50 a.m. Tuesday for making an illegal turn, according to the report. After administering field sobriety tests, an officer determined that Sandusky was driving under the influence. He was taken to the Cass County Jail and posted bail later Tuesday.
Sandusky is in his fourth season with the Browns. A team spokesman said, "We're aware of the situation and currently working to gather facts."
Sandusky is the son of Jerry Sandusky, the former Penn State University football coach who is serving 30 to 60 years in prison after being convicted of sexually abusing boys.
— Nate Ulrich


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Etiquette, Rules & Constitution
Please use this page to check out archery etiquette as per Archery GB, Club Rules and our Club constitution
A Good Archer:
(a) Does not talk in a loud voice whilst others are shooting.
(b) Does not talk to another competitor who obviously prefers to be silent.
(c) Does not make any exclamation on the shooting line that might disconcert a neighbour
in the act of shooting.
(d) Does not go behind the target to retrieve his arrows before his score has been
(e) Does not walk up and down the shooting line comparing scores.
(f) Does not touch anyone else's equipment without permission.
(g) Does not leave litter.
(h) When calling scores does so in groups of three, for example '7 -7 -5' pause '5 -5 -3'.
(j) If he breaks another's arrow through his own carelessness, pays for it in cash on the
(k) Thanks the Target Captain at the end of each round for work on his behalf.
Please use this page to check out Archery etiquette, as per Archery GB, club rules and our club constitution.
Club Etiquette
The club does not run itself! The committee are elected each year to sort the day to day issues to try to ensure the smooth running of the club.
On club shooting days there is always a lot of equipment to get out, erect and afterwards to be put away. This is the responsibility of all members that wish to shoot on that occasion.
Everyone understands that not all members can attend early or stay late to help with equipment. However, as a general rule if you cannot get there early to help put equipment out then you should be helping put it away at the end of the session. Likewise for those with junior members that cannot stay late then you should try to get there earlier to help get everything out.
In is not acceptable or 'Club Friendly Behaviour' to turn up late, shoot and then disappear without helping with the equipment.
The field we use at Bulkington is a super facility. However, the land is leased and therefore we have a responsibility to look after the ground and observe some simple good manners. The gate to the ground is an electronic gate and closes automatically at a set time. It is not possible to open the gate manually once it has closed and so please do not try. If we cause damage to the gate then our lease will be in doubt in 2025 and we are probably liable for the cost of the repairs. Please try to arrange your shooting during the 'opening' hours and therefore not inconvenience anyone else. During the summer months the gate will open around 6am and close around 9pm. That allows us 15 hours of shooting each day, seven days a week.
CLUB RULES(click Here) Club Constitution (Click Here)


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Hello! This post contains a mixture of new items and 30-day re-posted items. I would rather not model anything, but would be more than happy to provide additional photos upon request. All of these items are open to reasonable offers, so please feel free to PM me ^___^ In the past, I have offered free or heavily discounted shipping on multiple items purchased. By entering into a transaction with me, you have agreed to my Terms of Sale outlined below.
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Payment Policy
* Paypal preferred. I don't charge fees, but gifted payments would be greatly appreciated :3
* Item will go to the first person who PMs me their Paypal address and is willing to pay my asking price. I go by time stamps.
* Unless noted, shipping is not included in the price.
* Payment plans up to a month are possible if you place a 20% non-refundable deposit sent as a "gift."
* Payment is expected within 24hrs, otherwise the next person in line will get priority.
* I will only ship to confirmed Paypal addresses. If you want me to ship elsewhere, you can specify that change through Paypal when you pay the invoice.
International Buyers
* I will ship internationally if you agree to EMS, which comes with tracking. I will lower the value on the customs form for you and mark your purchase as a gift. Please note that if your item gets lost in the mail, we would only be able to recover the amount claimed on the customs form.
* I would only be willing to send items out via First Class or Priority Mail International, if you gift your payment to me. Since neither of these shipping methods can be tracked, I will not be held responsible if your item gets lost, damaged, etc. in transit. I will of course lower the value on the customs form and mark your item as a gift per your instructions. I will also show you a shipping receipt as proof. Again, if your item gets lost in the mail, we would only be able to recover the amount declared on the customs form.
* I retain the right to refuse a sale if you have no feedback or negative feedback.
* Items come from a pet and smoke-free home.
* All measurements were taken FLAT. I did my best to be as accurate as possible and in describing any and all flaws.
* Items are shipped out daily. I will PM the tracking number/ confirmation that your purchase has been shipped.
* NO TRADES at this time, please.
* Once your item leaves my hands, I claim no responsibility for postal system loss/damage.
* Feel free to make reasonable offers (PMs are A-OK ^^), but please note that I give priority to buyers who will pay my asking price first and are located in the US.
** US Residents, shipping rates start at $3 for USPS First Class Mail with Delivery Confirmation for small/light items like socks and jewelry. It may cost $10 to ship an OP, shoes, etc. I am happy to work with you in figuring out an affordable and safe shipping option. Please ask about insurance. **
** International Buyers, shipping rates start at $9 for USPS First Class International Mail (no tracking) for small, light items. Items that are over a pound will cost at least $22. I can add registered mail service for an extra $13. The only trackable shipping method - EMS - can start as high as $45 for a flat rate box. **
Pink Otter is my proof ★
★Jane Marple (rare) "Painted Scenes" Skirt - $185
Size M | Waist: 13" | Length (to the bottom of the velvet trim) : 29"
In like-new condition. This rare Jane Marple skirt features framed scenes depicting figures wearing what I believe to be Jane Marple-designed dresses, skirts, etc. I originally wanted the JSK version of this print, but I ultimately was only able to win the skirt at auction. It's absolutely lovely, but a bit too long for me to wear (I'm 5'1" ^^;). The skirt is in excellent condition! There are no signs of use that I can see. It has pink lining, velvet pink trim at the bottom, and a pink zipper at the side. The print itself has scenes of the Eiffel Tower, Buckingham Palace(?), a theater, museum (there's a painting of Puss in Boots on the wall), a merry-go-round, and (I think) two stage plays. The front of the waist band also has a really interesting design where it sort of peaks in two spots. I honestly wasn't sure how to price this, so feel free to make offers that you deem are reasonable. Please note that I am selling the skirt version - the JSK version in the worn pic above is just for reference.
Print 1 • Print 2 • Print 3 • Print 4 • Print 5 • Print 6 • Print 7 • Print 8 • Waist Band • Stock pic of the JSK version • Proof
In like-new condition. This headband is super cute! It's sort of pale pink in color and has pearls hanging off the ends of each edge of the bow. I bought this because I wanted a compact headband that wasn't too conspicuous - something I could wear with "normal" clothes ^^ I think it's adorable, but sadly, pink doesn't really suit me.
★A+Lidel Pink Plaid Swallowtail Blouse w/tie - $35
Bust: 17.5" | Length (to the tails): 23" | Length (down the middle): 19"
In great condition. This button-up blouse features a swallowtail hem at the front and back and a detachable tie that you actually have to tie ^^ The sleeves are suppose to be worn a little puffed up.
★Putumayo Kodona Punk Pants/Capris w/detachable plaid skirt - $45
Waist: 14" | Inseam: 10" | Length: 30" | Length (when cuffed): 25"
In like-new condition. These pants/capris have a cool design on the front of one leg, two side pockets, two back pockets, and when not cuffed, two rows of sailor-like ribbons at the hems. It comes with a detachable plaid skirt that can be worn in a variety of ways because there are four "D" rings at the waist. Please note that when you cuff the pants, there are loops on the underside of the pants. When I purchased this item, it only came with the detachable skirt, so I don't know if it should have come with belts for those loops or not. IMO, it's looks great without any belts.
Cuffs rolled up • Close up of the top portion • Close up of the bottom portion • Proof
★Maxicimam belted/staps flared skirt - $40
Waist: 12.5" | Length: 18"
In really good condition. This sturdy cotton skirt skirt has a row of thick-looking lace at the bottom. The belts/straps are faux leather with a white underside. The skirt has two "D" rings in the front and at the back. IMO, due to the flared nature of the design of the skirt, you can fit a small petti underneath for a punk lolita coordinate. Due to the white lace trim, a white petti is probably best, but a different-colored one could look really cool as well.
Stock Close Up • Proof
★Kera Maniax Special (w/Anna Tsuchiya on the cover)- $25 shipped in the US (with free delivery confirmation)
In great condition. There's just a little normal shelf wear along the top and bottom spine. There is a special section on the wardrobe from the NANA movie. The two booklets inside are devoted to London and Paris. The booklets are on the history of these two cities, and they have a shopping guides in them. The one on Paris has a focus on Marie Antoinette, proclaiming her the "Queen of Lolita!" XD Please note that the free shipping is via media mail. If you prefer Priority Mail, that would be $4.
★Kera Maniax vol. 11 (w/Shoko Nakagawa & Nana Kitade on the cover) - $27 shipped in the US (with free delivery confirmation)
In great condition, but there's a small tear at the index page. There is also a little shelf wear along the top and bottom spine. This issue comes with attached/unused patterns for projects like an Angelic Pretty apron, a Peace Now pouchette, a MAM tote bag, etc. Please note that the free shipping is via media mail. If you prefer Priority Mail, that would be $4.
Small tear • Pattern 1 • Pattern 2
★Kera Maniax vol. 7 (w/Fukada Kyoko on the cover) - $28 shipped in the US (with free delivery confirmation)
In very good condition, however there is some normal shelf wear, and in one small area at the bottom right of the cover, there's a little depression. This issue has a special focus on Germany, so there's a booklet with travel spots, along with German snaps. It also comes with an attached/unused Shin & Co. sticker sheet. This particular issue is priced slightly higher because it's a bit heavier/thicker than the other volumes. Please note that the free shipping is via media mail. If you prefer Priority Mail, that would be $4.
Shin & Company Sticker Sheet
★Kera Maniax vol. 13 (w/Ryoko Kobayashi on the cover) - $27 shipped in the US (with free delivery confirmation)
In very good condition, however there is some slight shelf wear and a wrinkle at the spine. IMO, the fashion spreads in this issue are very nicely done :) There's a special focus on France, so in addition to French snaps, there's a special booklet featuring the cover model, Ryoko Kobayashi, French Rococo, and a Marie Antoinette photoshoot. There are no patterns attached to this issue, but on one of the pages, there's a page with a pattern for a "Rococo" corset that you might be able to scan and print out yourself on a larger scale. If you're a Gackt fan, there's also several pages devoted to tour he did in Japan. Please note that the free shipping is via media mail. If you prefer Priority Mail, that would be $4.
Wrinkle at spine
★Handmade Alice Necklace - $14
This necklace was made by a Japanese craftster and it is one of a kind. She handcrafted the little cake charm out of nendo. It has little stars on it and it's glazed ^^ Please note that the main pendant has a tarnished finish to it. It arrived in that condition and was intentionally done.
★h. Naoto HN+nois Backpack/School bag - $68
Width: 15" | Length: 13" | Depth: 4"
In excellent condition! The only sign of wear that I can detect is at the plastic tab part at the end of the zipper. This backpack has adjustable straps, 2 snaps pockets, and a faux corset effect on the front. The top of the bag is zippered and there are 2 open pockets inside. There is also a buttoned pocket at the back of the bag. The snap buttons are stylized with crosses and the words, "H. Naoto, h. Group" on them. Please note that I lightened the photos so you could see the details. The bag is actually darker in person.
Another shot of the front • Label • Stylized Snap Buttons • Inside View • Plastic bit at the end of the zipper
★h. Naoto Cross-body Belted Bag (Red) - $48
Width: 13" | Length: 14" | Depth: 7"
This side/cross-body bag is easy to wear, can hold quite a bit of stuff, and goes with any punk lolita outfits. The belt at the front is adjustable and removable. There is a buttoned pocket at the front (also removable), an open pocket on the inside, and the main compartment closes with a snap button. The lining has a print on it, and the material of the bag itself feels like thick cotton, it's almost denim-like in quality. I only wore this a couple times, so it's in really great condition. This bag looks great with "normal" clothes as well ^^
★h. Naoto Cross-body Belted Bag (Blue) - $48
Width: 13" | Length: 14" | Depth: 7"
This side/cross-body bag is just like the red one above only the print and color scheme is different. The belt at the front is adjustable and removable. There is an embroidered, buttoned pocket at the front (also removable), an open pocket on the inside, and the main compartment closes with a snap button. The lining has a print on it, and the material of the bag itself feels like thick cotton, it's almost denim-like in quality. I only wore this a couple times, so it's in really great condition. This bag looks great with "normal" clothes as well ^^
★Hangry & Angry Drawstring Backpack - $18 shipped in the US (with free delivery confirmation)
Made of cotton | Width: 15" | Length: 16"
New with tags! The red print is richer in person. I think I bought this at h.Naoto's booth at Anime Expo a few years back. I thought it would be neat to wear it to a convention like AX or to keep it in my purse as a backup emergency bag. I was going to decorate it with some of the brand pin/can badges I own, but I never got around to doing so ^^;
*Re-posted Items from 5/23*
★h. Jelly & Honey Checked Swallowtail Jacket (pink/black/white) - $105 shipped in the US (with free delivery confirmation)
Bust (when the jacket is buttoned): 17~17.5" | Length (tails at the back): 25" | Length (sides): 20"
Brand new with tags! This jacket has a sailor-style collar, tails at the back, and lacing on both sides. It's made of cotton, nylon, and polyurethane, so the fabric has some stretch to it. The lacing on the sides is adjustable, so this jacket should fit an array of sizes. The button on the front is a nicely stylized crown with the capital "H" below it.
Photo of the jacket buttoned • Side Lacing • Close-up of the button
★h.Naoto Cross Print tote - $26 shipped in the US (with free delivery confirmation)
Length: 12" | Width: 14" | Handle Drop: 7"
In excellent condition. This is a S/S 2001 release from h.Naoto's "Face Off" collection. It has the TK office design tag on it (T.Kunitomo is an h.Naoto designer). It's not a light eco bag, so you should be able to carry a few sizable items in this.
Inside shot • Proof
★Peace Now Swallowtail Zip-up Cardigan - $42 shipped in the US (with free delivery confirmation)
Tagged a Size M | Bust: 17" | Length (sides) : 23" | Length (down the middle): 20"
New with tags! Originally 8820 yen. I think this cardigan would look great layered over other items in punk lolita and/or kodona coordinates.
Proof Photo
Bust (buttoned): 17~17.5" | Length: 17"
In good used condition, however the velour is worn in about 4 spots on the right side of the jacket (one of the spots is obscured by the lapel). IMO, unless you're really looking at them up close, these worn areas look like velvet that has been brushed the wrong way.The sleeves, hem, etc. have a frilly trim with exposed white thread. And the sleeves sort of flare out a little at the ends. Outside of the Putumayo logo on the back, there aren't any tags in the jacket. I believe this might have been a lucky pack item? I am selling the black version. The stock photo on the right is just to show how it looks on a dress form.
★Milk Knee-high socks - $16
New/Unworn. I never tried these on, so they are in brand new condition. The sticker at the bottom of the socks is still there.
Photo of the logo and sticker
★Maxicimam Crown Print Frilled Umbrella - $50 shipped in the US (with free delivery confirmation)
97.5cm in length | 96cm in diameter when opened. Made of 100% Polyester
Brand New with tags! I've never even opened this up and the plastic on the handle is still intact. This umbrella has UV coating on it, so you can utilize it as both an umbrella and as a parasol. I think this would be a great item to bring along to a convention - especially if you have to stand outside in lines under the hot sun! Please note the length of the umbrella. If you're around my height (5"1), then it may be a bit too long to carry comfortably. That's actually the only reason why I'm selling it ;__; Unfortunately, due to the shape/size of this item, at this time I would prefer to sell it to US residents only.
This really cute tri-fold wallet has compartments for credit cards, cash, and coins. The bear has a cool retro-look to him and those stars on the front are actual charms sewn into the material. The lining is gold and black/white checked.
This cute Alice in Wonderland themed pouch is framed by thick blue lace and it has a pink heart-shaped charm attached to the zipper. There is also a pocket on the inside. The lining is pink. Small electronics like cameras or phones might fit in this. Please inquire if you need exact measurements.
★Deco Bunny Necklace - $8
I think I bought this at Anime Expo. I never wore it, so it's in the same condition it was in when I first got it.
Approximately Sz. 5
I love this, but since it's not adjustable, it's just a bit too small for my fingers. There are some fine scratches here and there, but the ring is in otherwise great shape!
★Vintage Swan Earrings (for pierced ears) - $14
New in Box. About 1cm across. These vintage swan-shaped earrings are by Avon. Judging by the box (gold/blue), they're from the late 70's/early 80's. I collect vintage jewelry, so these came in a lot that I purchased a while back. I was going to gift them to a friend of mine that loves Metamorphose, but I (finally) noticed the other day that her ears aren't pierced! ^^;
Close-up of the earrings • Earring backs • Scale
★Hello Kitty Puro Lolita Mascots - $9 / each
New in packaging/boxes. About 2" tall. These mascots are jointed, so their arms and legs move about. Loli-neko on the right is actually wearing a lolita headress XD Please note that while they are both wearing purple, the one on the right is a more muted purple color. I am also selling a pink bunny version in my other post ^^
♫ ♪ I still have many items available in my previous sales posts and several of them have shipping for US residents already included in the prices. For the most part, shipping will range from $3 ~ $8 in the US. I would love to clear it all out, so feel free to make reasonable offers!
➽ Alice and the Pirates cardigan and Kodona tunic, Metamorphose biscuit print skirt, h.Naoto Frill Floral shirt dress, plus items from Peace Now, and Innocent World.
➽ Meta Candy House skirt, Meta plus-size friendly 2-tiered skirt, Innocent World Square Neck Blouse, Cornet Floral OP, three Sweet Rococo skirts including an Alice in Wonderland print skirt, plus items from Algonquins, h.Naoto, Gouk, Swimmer, and more.
➽ NWT Metamorphose sailor blouse, Meta gold knit camisole, and Meta petticoat; Innocent World headress, Shirley Temple JSK, Victorian Maiden Titania Embroidered Long Skirt, Heart E Rabbit Ear parka, h.Frill Cross-body bag. Plus many new with tag Lolita and Punk Lolita items from Putumayo, Listen Flavor, h. Naoto, Algonquins, Sex Pot Revenge, Sexy Dynamite London, Suppurate System, Swimmer & more!


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Fugitive who removed GPS monitoring device arrested
Suspect recognized sitting at a restaurant bar
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. - A felon fugitive who escaped from his electronic monitoring device in August 2012 is in police custody.
Steven Kunes, 56, was arrested Sunday afternoon at a restaurant in the 700 block of Linden Avenue in Carpinteria after a patron recognized him from a booking photo on the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Facebook page. That person contacted police.
Deputies responded to the restaurant and took Kunes into custody. Steven Kunes removed his GPS monitoring bracelet last August in Santa Barbara, according to the Sheriff's Department.
Kunes mailed his device to a custody deputy at the Santa Barbara County jail and fled the area. Kunes is in the Santa Barbara County jail pending an arraignment on escape charges. No bail is set.
Kunes is just one of thousands of California parolees who are removing or disarming their court-ordered GPS tracking devises. A recent investigation shows there's been a huge rise in the number of parolees tampering with their monitoring devises.
Several Senators including Democratic state senator Ted Lieu have proposed a bill that would make it a felony if parolees tampered with their GPS monitors.
If the bill passes, it could mean that parolees could get up to 3-years in state prison or more with such a violation.
NewsChannel 3 Reporter Shirin Rajaee reports.19083930


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Tanna Schulich Hall, 555 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, QC, CA
MCML was formed in 2011 by seven composers from the Schulich School of Music. It is an activity endorsed by MASC (McGill Association of Student Composer)
Its aims are to foster relationships between young and emerging composers and performers of new music, and create new connections and opportunities within the Montréal artistic community.
During the week of 16 June 2013, participants will take part in numerous lectures, rehearsals, masterclasses, social outings, collective meals, and spontaneous activities. The whirlwind of activity will end in a concert showcasing the collaborative efforts of everyone involved.
Contact Information
James O'Callagan
james [dot] ocallagan [at] mail [dot] mcgill [dot] ca


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The old adage that "truth is stranger than fiction" is somewhat self-evident in that even the wildest tales of the imagination spring from some kernel of actuality. In terms of cinematic storytelling, though, there is little doubt that fiction holds the upper hand over factstory creators, executors and consumers all generally gain power the further away they get from the truth.
The beauty of the relatively recent surge in documentary filmmaking lays in the order-of-magnitude increase in access to the great mass (and mess) of humanity from whence all stories arise. Because even if it's true that most humans live mundane lives (as a romantic, I believe the opposite), the laws of probability (as a rationalist, I do subscribe) dictate that some number of those stories truly are stranger than fiction.
Take, for example, the story of Jerome Solon Felder, born in Brooklyn in 1925. The son of Jewish immigrants, the husky Felder was an extremely active boy until his parents sent him, at age 6, to a summer camp to avoid the polio epidemic in the city. But the disease found him there, resulting in a physical life constrained first by crutches and then, after an accident as a young adult, by a wheelchair.
The young, suddenly sedentary Felder found solace in the radio, and was particularly drawn to the music upswelling from a dynamic generation of African-American musicians, whose struggles and expressions of pain mirrored Felder's own sense of ostracism. At the age of 17, his presence at a blues club was questioned by the owner of the place, and Felder's response that he was a blues singer was met with the challenge of proving it.
He enjoyed a moderately successful career as a songwriter and singer, until the age of 31, when perhaps the best song he had ever written and sung was killed by the record company who bought it, most likely because they discovered its source to be not a prototypical long-suffering black man but a long-suffering Jewish cripple from Brooklyn.
So Felder began writing songs for other performers, first for his childhood idol Big Joe Turner and then for an increasingly diverse array of blues and R&B artists like The Drifters ("This Magic Moment," "Save the Last Dance For Me"), Dion and the Belmonts ("A Teenager in Love"), Ray Charles ("Lonely Avenue") and even Elvis Presley ("Little Sister," "Suspicion," "Viva Las Vegas").
From there, Felder's life exploded, as he would collaborate with notables like Phil Spector, Dr. John and B.B. King. Bob Dylan sought out Felder to help him with lyrics during a dry spell, and Felder discovered a young talent in the early '60s by the name of Lou Reed (if those tidbits alone don't qualify as stranger than fiction, I don't know what would).
Felder's huge personality and even bigger heart would endear him to musicians, artists and beautiful women, several of whom became long-term companions. He would get elected to both the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Early on in his career, the savvy Felder invented a stage name for himself, and "Doc Pomus" was born. AKA Doc Pomus is the film that tells his nearly unbelievable story, and if you need any further proof of how enjoyably and soundly truth beats fiction in this case, consider this: Jimmy Scott, a once-notable jazz vocalist whom Felder had unsuccessfully championed during his life, sang at Felder's funeral in the early '90s and was subsequently rediscovered.
Yeah, you can't make this stuff up.
AKA Doc Pomus plays at the Roxy Theater Fri., Nov. 8–Sun., Nov. 10.


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Is Contra Costa Times Political Editor Lisa Vorderbrueggen Biased?
Note: We will make a very detailed post with background, links and citations, so please bookmark this article and check back soon.
In the meantime, here are our video responses to Lisa Vorderbrueggen's Sunday, December 20, 2009 article. Her front-page piece named Conservative New Media and CNM founder John D. Villarreal:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
Part 9
Part 10
Part 11 – Final
On Sunday, Dec 20, 2009, the Contra Costa Times (CCT) print edition ran a lengthy front-page-of-the-second-section story which we feel unfairly smeared Conservative New Media (CNM) and its founder, John D. Villarreal. That story was written by CCT political editor Lisa Vorderbrueggen.
CNM had anticipated how Ms Vorderbrueggen would portray us in her piece. We actually had scooped the CCT editor on what we figured was to be her originally-planned story with a series of videos we posted on Tuesday, December 15, 2009.
The video series discussed Robert Beadles' affinity for controversial talk radio host Alex Jones. Mr. Beadles, a Republican, is running as a candidate for the United States House of Representatives. He is one of several potential challengers to Democrat Congressman Jerry McNerney in the pending 2010 election for the 11th district of California.
That 5-part video series can be viewed here. If you are short on time, we recommend parts 4 & 5 for a synopsis of the series:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
As we detail in this series of videos, we believe that our advanced derailing of the preferred narrative for her Dec 20 story irked Ms. Vorderbrueggen. Her apparent displeasure, we feel, was borne out in what she ended up writing about CNM in her piece.
Our new, 11-part video series critically examines Ms. Vorderbrueggen present article. It also discusses Ms. Vorderbrueggen's background as a reporter, as well as some controversies and criticisms which have dogged her over the course of her political reporting career.
The following are links which we either allude to in the new video series or else ones which will provide further information on Ms. Vorderbrueggen and additional background on the present situation between her and CNM.
* The title for the print version of Lisa Vorderbrueggen's Dec. 20, 2009 page A-19 (front page of the 'East Bay & Bay Area' section of the Contra Costa Times) article was "Anonymous Blog Sniper Comes Clean." This is the article in which Ms. Vorderbrueggen mentions CNM and John D. Villarreal.
The online version of Ms. Vorderbrueggen's piece is now available. The title has been changed to "Blog sniper turns out to be CD11 campaign consultant." It can be viewed here: http://bit.ly/4zkowl
* Purportedly objective CCT political editor and reporter Lisa Vorderbrueggen is a "fan" of candidate Robert Beadles on Beadles' Facebook page:
* Lisa Vorderbrueggen called out for allegedly being biased towards Democrats, and specifically towards certain Democrats over others in the recent California CD-10 race to replace Congresswoman Ellen Taucher:
* Lisa Vorderbrueggen's colleague was taken to task by, of all sources, MSNBC for giving money to the Democratic National Committee. MSNBC didn't see anything wrong with the donation and, according to the quote, apparently there is no policy against such partisan donation-giving at Vorderbrueggen's employer, the Contra Costa Times:
* It appears that even the CC Times' readers perceive the publication as biased. On the paper's own site, this comment thread of Times perusers upbraids the periodical for its stilted coverage:
In fact, at least one reader felt so strongly about what he or she believes are the Times' partisan leanings that there is now an entire blog devoted to monitoring and answering the supposed liberal bias found in the Contra Costa Times. Of course, this is a group of anonymous blogger(s) that Lisa Vorderbrueggen can't assail by name and who are trying to act as watchdog(s)/whistle-blower(s). This may account for some of her apparent dislike of anonymous bloggers:
* "Lisa Vorderbrueggen to address Coco Taxpayers luncheon, Nov 30″ (2007)
Was Ms. Vorderbrueggen paid to address the Contra Costa County Taxpayers Association? If so, by whom? Was the event partisan? If Ms. Vorderbrueggen was paid for her appearance, how might this have affected her remarks?
* Why did none of the following, or similar, information appear in Vorderbrueggen's article about Conservative New Media? These pieces show that the practice criticized by Lisa Vorderbrueggen — being surreptitiously paid or volunteering to provide a particular point of view on the internet, anonymously or otherwise — is widespread on the political left and, indeed, on the largest blog (Daily Kos, a far-left site) in the political space. In fact, Lisa never mentions anyone on the left engaging this practice, which gives the wholly false impression that this phenomenon is confined to the right. Ha ha, the left invented it! Truth be told, the left practically owns the internet and new media, which is why we founded CNM.
"Blogging for Dollars" — Daily Kos founder Markos Moulitsas Zuniga paid by Howard Dean campaign in order to induce Zuniga to write and say favorable things about Howard Dean
"Jane Hamsher: Friend or Foe" — Bloggers "slinkerwink" and "nyceve" paid by liberal Firedoglake site to post on Daily Kos
"Confessions of an Obama Paid Blogger" — …
(article about 'turfers; and get an article about volunteer turfers)
Use Patterico's form letter on OFA for volunteer turfers stuff
Use Ellie Light stuff for turfers, at highest levels of Dem govt
Further, as…(and GOP C wasnt paid to do this; what he said was true)
LV interviewed after St. Marys Debate (8.11.09)
(misidentifies guy; calls Lt Gov [who won] "Mr. Geramandi," not Lt Gov.; DeSaulnier glowing intro. 2 instances of apparent bias)
Newspaper Death Watch
CC Times circulation down 3.3%
Job cuts & furloughs for CC Times
CC Time's owner in financial trouble
[To be continued soon...]
Add all new stuff about "Ellie Light," etc.


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If you are one of the unfortunate people to have to work on Memorial day then sometime during the day go to a PC and visit Do Nothing for 2 Minutes. The visual and relaxing sound of the ocean may be just enough to get you over the hump.
Relaxation Website – Do Nothing for 2 Minutes
6 Responses to Relaxation Website – Do Nothing for 2 Minutes
Have to agree with IzaakMak. If I waste 2 minutes, then I'll have to make it up somewhere else.
Just kidding ya. 🙂
i failed 3 times… guess I need to relax…
Guided Imagery helps… stops the mind from wandering,


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Further Reading
Jonathan "Jock" Boyer was the first American to ride in the Tour de France and later left the the U.S. to create a cycling program in war-torn Rwanda. What he found there was a group of young men with incredible pasts and immense talent. Rising From Ashes follows the formation and growth of Team Rwanda all the way from an idea to a continental powerhouse. Narrated by Forest Whitaker, the pairing of the beautiful landscape of central Africa and an emotional story of impressive cyclists makes for one hell of a trailer. Keep an eye out for the full film when it shows up in select theaters across the country, beginning this month.


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Sermon Illustrations
Sermon Illustrations > Lust > You're In Trouble
Drew Anderson, (Tucson, AZ), Reader's Digest
Drew Anderson, (Tucson, AZ), Reader's Digest
While my wife and I were shopping at a mall kiosk, a shapely young woman in a short, form-fitting dress strolled by. My eyes followed her.
Without looking up from the item she was examining, my wife asked, "Was it worth the trouble you're in?"