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I was once told that a successful amuse-gueule—little treats served before a meal—is like the opening line of a novel: It should catch your attention and set a tone for things to come. When fresh figs are in season, I serve them stuffed with foie gras as the "Call me Ishmael" of a celebratory feast.–Katherine Alford
Figs Stuffed with Foie Gras Mousse Recipe
- Quick Glance
- Serves 4 to 6
- For the foie gras mousse
- 6 ounces grade-B or -C duck foie gras, clean
- 2 tablespoons Cognac, Armagnac, or Sauterne
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- Freshly ground pepper, to taste
- 1 cup homemade chicken stock or canned chicken broth
- 2 sprigs thyme
- 2 gratings nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon minced summer or black winter truffle (optional)
- For the figs
- 1 pound fresh Black Mission or green figs
- 2 ounces homemade foie gras mousse (above) or, to save time, store-bought mousse
- 2 teaspoons verjus (available in specialty foods stores), or 1 teaspoon white wine vinegar diluted with 1 teaspoon water
- 1 tablespoon sliced almonds, toasted and finely chopped (see Note)
- Make the foie gras mousse
- 1. Combine the foie gras, Cognac, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
- 2. Drain the foie gras–marinating liquid into a small saucepan. Add the stock and thyme. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 1 minute to make a poaching broth.
- 3. Put the foie gras in the hot broth, cover, and turn off the heat. Poach for 5 minutes, or until the foie gras has an internal temperature of 115°F (45°C). Remove the foie gras from the broth. Transfer the broth to a small bowl and set over ice to cool it to room temperature. Return the foie gras to the cool liquid and refrigerate for 1 hour.
- 4. Remove the foie gras from the liquid, pat dry, and purée the foie gras along with any rendered fat in a food processor until smooth. (If the mousse gets a broken, curdy look to it, add about 1 tablespoon of the poaching liquid to stabilize the emulsion.) Taste and adjust the seasoning. Add the nutmeg and truffle, if desired. Transfer the mousse to a ramekin. Refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours before serving.
- Make the figs
- 5. Trim the stem end of the figs. With the tip of a serrated apple corer, a melon baller, or a grapefruit knife, cut a small round out of the bottom of each fig and reserve. Carefully scoop about one-third of the flesh from the center of each fig and reserve.
- 6. In a heavy-duty mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or with a handheld mixer, beat the foie gras mousse or prepared foie gras until it is light, like a buttercream icing. Put the mousse or foie gras in a pastry bag and pipe it into the figs. Plug each fig with a reserved round piece of fig. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or until the mousse or foie gras is firm.
- 7. In a small pan, heat the reserved fig flesh with the verjus or vinegar mixture until liquefied. Press through a fine-meshed sieve to remove the seeds.
- 8. To serve, cut each fig in half lengthwise and brush the cut side with the glaze. Sprinkle with the toasted almonds and serve.
Note: Toasting nuts
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Spread nuts on a baking sheet. Bake until brown, about 5 to 10 minutes, depending upon size.
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Is OK for an officer to text and drive?
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) Are law enforcement officers who text while driving exempt from the law, or are they abusing it?
We constantly hear the message that texting while driving can be as dangerous as driving under the influence.
A Bakersfield man, who asked not to be identified, said he was driving west on Merle Haggard Boulevard behind a Bakersfield police officer Friday afternoon when he noticed the officer looking down at his phone, possibly texting while driving.
The man said the officer's driving was unsafe and caused him to take a closer look. When he realized the officer was texting, the citizen took a photo of the officer.
"The law in general exempts police officers from the use of cellphones while operating a vehicle, as long as it's in the course of their employment," California Highway Patrol Officer James Nabors said.
However, the officer in the photo appears to be out of uniform, which begs the question about BPD policy. A watch commander said the photo will be looked into. But, not enough information was available over the weekend to respond.
Nabors said that all depends what the officer was doing. He said when CHP officers are seen in patrol cars in plain clothes, they are most likely going to or from training, and, in that case, cellphone use would not be practical.
Under state law, a driver may not text or use a hand-held cellphone at any time while operating a motor vehicle, even at a stop light.

subset: commoncrawl


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The U.S. Justice Department has reportedly reached a $4.5 billion criminal settlement with BP over the 2010 Gulf oil disaster. The Deepwater Horizon rig explosion killed 11 workers and sent more than 200 million gallons of oil and other hydrocarbons into the Gulf of Mexico, with hundreds of dolphins and sea turtles and thousands of birds being found dead in the disaster zone.
Larry Schweiger, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation, said today:
"This is a good down payment on the massive restoration needed for the Gulf's ecosystems and the people and communities that depend on them. There's still a lot of work to be done when it comes to penalizing the parties responsible for the Gulf oil disaster through the civil provisions of the Oil Pollution Act and the Clean Water Act, but this criminal settlement marks important progress and devotes much-needed resources toward restoration.
"We look forward to working toward a full settlement that will not only hold BP and all other parties responsible for the devastation of the Gulf oil disaster, but deter future violations by sending a clear message that America holds reckless polluters fully accountable.
BP Chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg said today this clears the way to 'vigorously defend the company against the remaining civil claims.' We'll be watching closely to make sure BP isn't let off the hook and that justice is done. As we've communicated to the Justice Department, BP and its partners owe $21 billion for civil penalties under the Clean Water Act and many billions more for restoration under the Oil Pollution Act."


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Combat Airlifter
Contact Us
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This is not a good time to be a Democrat in Arkansas. The party, which is facing extinction as the state moves further to the right, has almost no chance of winning statewide offices next year. The weekend arrest of state Treasurer Martha Shoffner, a Democrat, on bribery charges will only worsen the party's troubles. Her resignation Tuesday afternoon will hardly limit the damage as Republicans are certain to use her mug in political commercials next year to highlight alleged corruption in the Democratic Party.
Second terms
no cakewalk
Second presidential terms seldom end on a high note: Watergate chased Richard Nixon out of office, Iran-contra ruined Ronald Reagan's second term and Monica Lewinsky knocked the wind out from under Bill Clinton's presidency. George W. Bush never recovered from waging his protracted wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Then there was the start of the Great Recession of 2008 and still with no end in sight, making it difficult for most of us to feel nostalgic for W's presidency.
Kids access
health care
The number of uninsured kids in Arkansas is on the decline, according to a report from Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families.
The annual report highlights advances and suggests improvements in kids' health coverage.
Those cuts
on air base
More than 600 civilian employees at Little Rock Air Force Base are hoping the Pentagon and Congress will find a way to avoid furloughs that could reduce salaries by about 20 percent, probably starting sometime this month.
Cruelest month
The FBI is hoping it can recover from two fumbles in April — letting the two Chechen terrorists out of its sight in Boston and apparently fingering the wrong man in the Mississippi ricin case.
Neville's nostalgic
doo wop CD
The Grammy Award-winning singer Aaron Neville has a nice new CD out on the venerable Blue Note label, "My True Story," which is the New Orleans singer's tribute to doo wop.
Bankers cheated military
The bankers who illegally foreclosed on about 1,000 military families are paying billions of dollars in fines for their criminal behavior. These bankers cheated service members and their families even if they were current with their mortgages.
Byrd dies, Shorter soars
Donald Byrd, one of finest jazz trumpet players of the second half of the 20th Century, died earlier this month at the age of 80.
Young girl asks Santa for a very special gift
When my friend Jack Sallee was with the Jaycees in Fayetteville, they'd put an ad in the paper at Christmastime saying that for $2 you could have Santa come to your place.
Men who fell
from the top
to doghouse
At what point does a potential national-security scandal become more like a "Saturday Night Live" sketch in search of a punchline?
Tempers fly
in front of voters
Jacksonville Alderman Terry Sansing's mother stood all week in front of the Jacksonville Community Center, where early voting had started Monday.
Showdown at Alma
key to massacre
People in Crawford County often talk about a Mormon leader's murder near Alma in 1857 and the slaughter of a group of Arkansans in Utah a few months later known as the Mountain Meadows Massacre.
Memories stay alive in old-timers' group
The old-timers meet most afternoons at McDonald's inside the Jacksonville Walmart.
First and last Vietnam casualties
Marine Pfc. James (Ricky) Maxwell of Center Ridge in Conway County was buried last week in Morrilton.
Bain invested in LR 'medical-waste' firm
If you're wondering why Mitt Romney is distancing himself from the investment company he founded, it's not just because he bought businesses that cost thousands of American jobs after factories closed down and work was outsourced to China and other countries.
Principal is walking tall at JHS
Jacksonville High School was in awful shape last July when Henry Anderson took over the failed school in a failed school district.
Diners go online
in fight over eateries
A food fight involving three Jacksonville restaurants has been simmering for months, if not years, and now has spilled over to Facebook, where the comments are as strong as the morning coffee.
Levon Helm, 1940-2012
Levon Helm, the drummer for The Band who passed away Thursday at the age of 71, helped open Alltel Arena in 1999 with Ronnie Hawkins, his longtime mentor, and a fellow Band member, the organist Garth Hudson.
You have to admire Jeff Long
Jeff Long, the Razorbacks' athletic director, restored Arkan-sas' good reputation when he announced Tuesday evening that he had fired the execrable Bobby Petrino as the head football coach.
A memorial honors those who served in Vietnam
(This column appeared on March 4, 1987, in the first issue of The Leader. We're reprinting the column as we mark our 25th anniversary.)
Wanda Shireman of rural Jack-sonville remembers when she heard the news that her son, Paul Jr., had died in Vietnam.
Invaders swoop
at sunset
On Saturday afternoon, children and their parents were walking down the street in Beebe's Windwood subdivision near where blackbirds roost at night on West Center Street.[FULL
Young girl asks Santa
for a very special gift
(This is a reprint of a previous Christmas column.)
When my friend Jack Sallee was with the Jaycees in Fayetteville, they'd put an ad in the paper at Christmastime saying that for $2 you could have Santa come to your place. [FULL
Shovel-ready work:
Look when you dig
Residents of the Sunnyside neighborhood in Jack-sonville are breathing easier now that the relocation of utility lines is nearly completed before the start of the Graham Road widening project. [FULL
Arkansas bluesman
left mark
The great Hubert Sumlin, Howlin' Wolf's longtime guitarist, died last weekend at the age of 80. He'd been in poor health for several years — he carried an oxygen tank with him during performances — but he was a down-to-earth character who grew up in east Arkansas before he headed for Chicago some 60 years ago. The Rolling Stones will pay for his funeral. [FULL
Eyewitness remembers
Pearl Harbor
(This column about the late McLyle Zumwalt first appeared here on Dec. 9, 1989, and is reprinted to mark the 70th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. He died in 2001.)
Most people think of retired Col. McLyle Zumwalt as one of the organizers of Pathfinders, which trains the developmentally and physically disabled in Jacksonville.[FULL
Vietnam vet is in military
hall of fame
Lex (Butch) Davis of Sherwood was among the first 15 inductees into the Arkansas Military Veterans Hall of Fame at the Agora Center in Conway on Friday. This column appeared here in February 2007.
Butch Davis sat at a round table near the corner where the Singing Sergeants entertained in the big gym on Little Rock Air Force Base, which was honoring its top personnel at the annual awards banquet Saturday night.
Colonel won't be home for Christmas
President Obama said Friday all U.S. troops would leave Iraq at the end of the year.
Designers snub
Civil War buffs
Earlier this year, a couple of interior designers from Europe named Simon Davies and Tomas Cederlund came here for an episode of their show "Home Takeover" on the Oprah Winfrey Network.
State won't rescue cities
like schools
Cities across Arkansas are going broke in the double-dip recession. Alexander down in Saline County is questioning a former bookkeeper about shortages in two city funds.
Comparing pardons by governors
(This column won first place in the Arkansas Press Association's Better Newspaper contest. Winners were announced Saturday during the APA's convention in Hot Springs. The column was published in The Leader on Oct. 19, 2010.).
A Murdoch News Corp.
should hire
Wendi Deng Murdoch, who jumped to her husband's defense when a British comedian threw a shaving-cream pie at the mogul yesterday, is the one Murdoch who deserves to run the beleaguered media empire.
Soulful sounds still amaze
The Bo-Keys are keeping the Memphis sound alive with their brash, funky music and vocal backing from great soul singers like Otis Clay, William Bell and Percy Wiggins.
Gutsy newspaper
goes after villains
A tenacious investigative reporter, a great editor and a courageous newspaper — Nick Davies working under Alan Rusbridger at the British Guardian — helped bring down the most powerful media company in the world: Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation, now exposed as a criminal enterprise, with several present and former employees facing prison sentences for hacking into cell phones and computers for more than a decade.
Sylvan Hills grad helps revive Memphis sound
Last month in Overton Park in Memphis, the young trumpet player on stage left was blasting away with the Bo-Keys, an eight-man band that has revived the soulful sounds of Memphis from the 1960s and 1970s.
High school
here ranks
with Delta
Three failing high schools down in the poverty-stricken Delta received multi-million-dollar federal grants last week. So did Jacksonville High School, the only one that's not in the Delta.
Arkansans praised
around the world
The water's receding. Most roads are open and homes are drying out. The cleanup continues as the worst flooding in decades moves south, although pockets of Arkansas remain underwater. Neighbors have helped each other cope with the disaster, although some were hurt and at least one person was killed in our area. Little Rock Air Force Base had a close brush with calamity as it survived a tornado that struck homes and several C-130s.
Sad to see old bridge torn down
Scott Fryer took his family Saturday to inspect Fryer's Ford Bridge, which had served the rural community near Solgohachia in Conway County since 1890.
Bluesmen from Delta
passing on
Joe Willie (Pinetop) Perkins, who was the oldest living bluesman and Grammy winner until he passed away Monday at 97, sat recently in a wheelchair in a little alcove just offstage at Stickys Chicken Shack in the Rivermarket District in Little Rock.
Dictator fooled
by coverage?
Did Fox News goad President Obama into taking action in Libya?
Every hour until the missiles started flying, Fox showed Obama goofing off: Doing everything except his job, but there was a reason to the March madness, and it had nothing to do with basketball.
Hate speech is protected,
court decides
(The U.S. Supreme Court last week upheld the right of Westboro Baptist Church members to demonstrate at military funerals. This column about the Kansas-based group, which demonstrated in Beebe nearly five years ago, appeared on Aug. 2, 2006.)
Members of Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan., were again busy this week picketing funerals of soldiers killed in Iraq, but lawsuits filed by families who have lost their loved ones could stop the church group from taunting grieving relatives. [FULL
Ex-Stax chief still has soul
Al Bell, the former Stax Records executive, is back in the spotlight with a new Web site, All Bell Presents American Soul Music, where you can hear classic Stax artists and new soul singers who are keeping the Memphis sound alive. [FULL
Minihan: No break
for wing since 9/11
Col. Mike Minihan, commander of the 19th Airlift Wing, sent off 40 airmen and a couple of C-130s into combat before the storm hit last weekend. [FULL
From this poor little girl, special request for Santa
(This is a reprint of a previous Christmas column.)
When my friend Jack Sallee was with the Jaycees in Fayetteville, they'd put an ad in the paper at Christmastime, saying that for $2 you could have Santa come to your place. [FULL
Base could depend on Snyder as real friend
Rep. Vic Snyder, a Democrat who is retiring from Congress at the end of the year, is getting some heat from Republicans for wasting time on the House floor to praise this community's support of Little Rock Air Force Base. [FULL
Panama president
ex-UofA roommate
John Mason, a Jacksonville real estate broker, was in Fayetteville with his wife Ien for homecoming weekend on Oct. 30, when the Razorbacks played Vanderbilt. [FULL
Our error given wide circulation
We've received lots of calls, comments and complaints over an error in Wednesday's paper about a Christmas program in Cabot. [FULL
Comparing pardons
by governor
Did you see Gov. Beebe's latest list of pardons? Last week, he announced his intent to pardon a handful of small-time criminals, emphasis on small-time. [FULL
POWs recall their
World War ordeal
The former POWs who were shot down over Romania during the Second World War arrived at the Jacksonville Museum of Military History in their tour bus a little after 11 a.m. Thursday. [FULL
Annexation plan: Many in area say they're against it
People who live north of Jacksonville near Hwy. 67/167 met at a church Monday evening to fight the city's plan to annex the area.[FULL
Lighthouse plans to build middle and high schools
The headline in Saturday's Leader: "Cabot schools about to hit 10,000."[FULL
J'Accuse: Smearing
of general
Air Force Gen. John D. Lavelle, who died more than 30 years ago, after he was falsely accused of insubordination, is a four-star general again. [FULL
Petraeus salutes
camp liberators
It was 65 years ago Monday that Beryl Wolfson helped liberate the Dachau concentration camp in southeastern Germany.
Marker recalls fire at Twist
There's finally a marker honoring B.B. King in Twist in Cross County, where the great blues singer escaped from a fire at nightclub with his guitar and named it Lucille.
Justice Jim fought tough final battle
Arkansas bloggers were the first with the news of Justice Jim Johnson's suicide over the weekend. The local TV news on Sunday ignored his passing, probably because no one in the newsroom knew who he was. [FULL
Cabot man in raid
on POW camp in 1970
Mst. Sgt. Paul Poole, who helped to liberate Americans from a Vietnamese prison camp, died last week. [FULL
Trial could get Muhammad
his death wish
Last June, Abdulhakim Mujahid Muhammad killed a soldier from Conway and injured another soldier from Jacksonville in front of a recruiting station in Little Rock.
What a little girl asked
from Santa
When my friend Jack Sallee was with the Jaycees in Fayetteville, they'd put an ad in the paper at Christmastime, saying that for $2 you could have Santa come to your place.
Tuskegee legend
at holiday reception
A tall elderly man stood in a far corner in a large banquet room at Little Rock Air Force Base on Sunday afternoon during the holiday reception hosted by the wing commanders.
Gas shut off
as hospital bills pile up
A couple in Beebe have been without heat for several months after the natural-gas company took out their meter because they were not paying their bills.
Huckabee our worst governor?
Who is Arkansas' worst governor? Is it Orval Faubus, who defied federal authorities i in 1957, when he wouldn't allow nine black students to attend Central High School in Little Rock? He brought shame and ridicule on the whole state, but at least no one was killed. Or is Mike Huckabee our worst governor ever?
For complete news coverage, buy The Leader today!
May 22, 2013
Sherwood, NLR to work together
IN SHORT: New electric commission could allow more fair representation. [FULL TEXT]
Airman investigates paranormal
IN SHORT: Sergeant at air base is fascinated with spooky ghost stories. [FULL TEXT]
Old gas station makes state list
IN SHORT: Preservation Alliance says Sherwood landmark must be saved.
Sherwood, NLR to work together
IN SHORT: New electric commission could allow more fair representation. [FULL TEXT]
Airman investigates paranormal
IN SHORT: Sergeant at air base is fascinated with spooky ghost stories. [FULL TEXT]
Old gas station makes state list
IN SHORT: Preservation Alliance says Sherwood landmark must be saved.
The North Little Rock Charging Lady Wildcats pose with the class 7A state championship trophy Saturday.
Lady Wildcats champions
IN SHORT: North Little Rock mercy rules Rogers to earn class 7A state title. [FULL TEXT]
Cabot's legion pitching is deep
IN SHORT: Centennial Bank program led by strong staff of hurlers on senior team. [FULL TEXT]
Gwatney deals with big turnout
IN SHORT: Coach says player numbers may exceed American Legion allowance. [FULL TEXT]
Bruins only fielding AA, junior team
IN SHORT: Sylvan Hills is doing without a senior team for American Legion season. [FULL TEXT]
Striving for recognition
IN SHORT: NP grad working his way back from injury, into college. [FULL TEXT]
The North Little Rock Charging Lady Wildcats pose with the class 7A state championship trophy Saturday.
Lady Wildcats champions
IN SHORT: North Little Rock mercy rules Rogers to earn class 7A state title. [FULL TEXT]
Cabot's legion pitching is deep
IN SHORT: Centennial Bank program led by strong staff of hurlers on senior team. [FULL TEXT]
Gwatney deals with big turnout
IN SHORT: Coach says player numbers may exceed American Legion allowance. [FULL TEXT]
Bruins only fielding AA, junior team
IN SHORT: Sylvan Hills is doing without a senior team for American Legion season. [FULL TEXT]
Striving for recognition
IN SHORT: NP grad working his way back from injury, into college. [FULL TEXT]
Photos available
The Leader now offers photos seen in print editions of the paper. To request photos from an event, send an e-mail here.
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A CHURCH-funded organisation aiming to 'free people from the slavery of debt' has officially opened its doors in Milford Haven.
Christians Against Poverty (CAP) is a national debt counselling charity which works with churches around the UK to offer a free service to families with money worries.
CAP's Pembrokeshire branch will run three days a week from its new base at Milford Haven Christian Fellowship's building, in Nantucket Avenue.
Speaking at the opening on Friday (January 24), Preseli-Pembrokeshire MP Stephen Crabb said he had seen the great work CAP did elsewhere, and was "delighted" to see the charity open its doors in Pembrokeshire.
"Debt is a very real problem in our community," he said.
Mr Crabb said there were "many different faces" to debt, and it affected people from all backgrounds – from those struggling to manage their benefits to business owners and ex-service men and women.
He added that the CAP offered much-needed "muscle" against creditors by stepping in and taking over a client's budget, and helping them manage their finances until they are completely debt-free.
He said when it came to helping "free people from the slavery of debt", there was no better service.
Mr Crabb also praised the "incredible compassion" of the branch's new manager Naomi Joseph, who will be the local point of contact for the charity.
Supporting Mrs Joseph will be a pool of volunteers from local churches who - as well as helping fund the service - will act as 'befrienders' to those in the process of resolving their debts.
Linda Richley, CAP's area manager for Wales, said she anticipated that 2014 would be a busy year for the organisation, following changes to benefits and the ongoing effects of the so-called 'bedroom tax'.
She said making the initial call was often the hardest step for most clients.
"Once they've done it, there's a real sense of relief," she said.
"And we're here to support them through the whole process."
Anyone in the SA73, SA61 and SA62 3 postcode areas is applicable for help, for more information contact CAP head office on 0800 328 0006.


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Seven BellsSituation puzzles (sometimes called lateral thinking puzzles) are ones where you need to ask lots of yes or no questions to figure out what happened in the situation. These are good puzzles for groups where one person knows the puzzle and answers the questions.
A little shop in New York is called The Seven Bells, yet it has eight bells hanging outside. Why?
HintThe shopkeeper could easily change the sign, but chooses not to.
AnswerIt was originally a mistake, but the shopkeeper found that so many people came into his shop to point out the mistake that it increased his business.
What Next?
See another brain teaser just like this one...
Or, just get a random brain teaser
If you become a registered user you can vote on this brain teaser, keep track of
which ones you have seen, and even make your own.
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CONCORD — Regaining public trust, overcoming divisiveness and thoughtful budget planning are high on the list of priorities for Mt. Diablo school board candidates, especially in the wake of a recent teacher-led revolt to convert Clayton Valley High to a charter school.
The school board has often fielded complaints from teachers, parents and students who say administrators are not responsive to their problems and pleas for change. In addition, heated board squabbling has prompted the candidates — including an incumbent — to agree that effective governance requires trustees to put aside personal differences.
The race that originally included five candidates for two seats has now shrunk to four since Ernie DeTrinidad announced he was dropping out too late to have his name withdrawn from the ballot. Incumbent Gary Eberhart is not seeking another term, leaving lone incumbent Sherry Whitmarsh to face challengers Brian Lawrence, Debra Mason and Barbara Oaks. The four also recently participated in an election forum, which can be seen on CCTV.
Mt. Diablo could be forced to impose 11 furlough days and other cuts to its $270.8 million budget if two statewide school funding measures, Proposition 30 or Proposition 38, fail in November. Yet, no sitting trustee, including Whitmarsh, made a motion to endorse the governor's tax initiative — Proposition 30 — at a recent meeting, where the board endorsed competing Proposition 38 in a split vote. All of the candidates said they endorse both measures, as the district can't afford to lose funding.
In an election focused on improving transparency and communication, Whitmarsh said trustees have taken steps to remedy issues recently brought to their attention by two teachers regarding pay concerns and poor communication. The other three candidates said the public and staff don't trust the district.
"I don't think people feel valued and respected," Mason said.
Lawrence said trustees and district administrators often react defensively.
"Feedback is a gift," he said. "The district and board need to embrace it."
Tension between trustees has hampered the board's ability to be effective, the candidates agreed. Although Whitmarsh has clashed with Trustee Cheryl Hansen in the past, she said board members should hear each other out.
"We need to listen to each other and respect each other," Whitmarsh said.
Oaks said conflict can be good because it encourages change.
"Let's do some real team-building," Oaks said. "Let's get to know each other and work together for the benefit of the children."
Whitmarsh promised to work toward creating a strategic plan for the district when she ran four years ago. The board may finally approve its draft plan in October, she said.
Lawrence said the planning has dragged on too long with little action, leading to a lack of buy-in. Oaks said it's important to go into the community to get feedback, focus on meeting students' needs and ensure that the plan is equitable across all communities.
Mason said her experience creating community partnerships would help her build public trust on the board. Whitmarsh said she wants the district to work toward improving customer service, strengthening relationships with parents and staff, and giving students the best education possible.
Oaks said it's important to support teachers and listen to the community to earn trust and respect. Lawrence said principals should be held accountable for their schools and the sum of the district is not as great as its parts.
Theresa Harrington covers education. Contact her at 925-945-4764 or firstname.lastname@example.com. Follow her at twitter.com/tunedtotheresa.
Age: 37
Occupation: Technology executive, part-time vocational school teacher
Elected history: Second-time candidate; ran unsuccessfully in 2010
Personal background: Married with four children; Walnut Creek resident
Education: B.A. in political science, UC Santa Barbara; M.B.A., Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley
Debra mason
Age: 57
Occupation: Healthy Living Program Coordinator, UC Cooperative; educational consultant
Elected history: Third-time candidate; ran unsuccessfully in 1997 and 2002; applied to fill vacancy in 2006, but was not appointed; serves on the Bay Point Municipal Advisory Committee
Personal background: Married with two children and two grandchildren; Bay Point resident
Education: Library Technology certificate and Conflict Resolution certificate from Diablo Valley College
Age: 62
Occupation: Retired high school principal and retired teacher
Elected history: First-time candidate
Personal background: Married with two children and two grandchildren; Pleasant Hill resident
Education: B.A. in liberal studies, San Francisco State University; M.A. in educational leadership, Chapman University; multiple subjects credential, San Francisco State University; special education credential for mild-to-moderate disabilities, Cal State East Bay; Resource Specialist certificate, Dominican College
Age: 49
Occupation: Business consultant at Chevron
Elected history: Elected in 2008; finalist to fill vacancy in 2006, but was not appointed
Personal background: Married with two children; Concord resident
Education: B.S. in computer science with a minor in business administration, Cal State Hayward
An Election Preview 2012's televised round table with Mt. Diablo school board candidates — produced through a partnership between the Contra Costa Times, League of Women Voters of Diablo Valley, Contra Costa Television and the Contra Costa Election Department — can be viewed on Channel 27 at 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, 7 p.m. on Sunday, 9:30 p.m. on Oct. 14, 7 p.m. on Oct. 21, 9:30 p.m. on Oct. 28, 7 p.m. on Oct. 30 and 7 p.m. on Nov. 4; on Channel 28 in Walnut Creek at 1 p.m. on Sundays through Nov. 4; and on Channel 28 in Concord at 3 p.m. on Oct. 6, 13, 20, 26-28 and Nov. 2-5.
The forum is also available at http://www.contracostatimes.com/elections.
For more details about the candidates, read the On Assignment blog at http://www.ibabuzz.com/onassignment.


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BP Comment Quick Links
|Strength of Schedule Report
October 12, 2012
Playoff Prospectus
Sofa Scouting: Reds vs. Giants, Game Five
Top of the 1st:
Mat Latos comes out of the gate similarly strong, working fast and with authority. He wants to let the Giants know that he controls the game and that he doesn't care about their love affair with their own existence. Latos pitches downhill, with an overhead release, creating a steep plane to the plate when he can stay over the ball. He drags his arm in the delivery, with a deep pickup, but the arm works well and he has the speed to make it work. He doesn't show a ton of fastball movement, but he puts mustard on it, and he challenges hitters to beat him. After a quick strikeout to start the game, Latos allows two singles on balls that should have been hit for singles, and he settles in to get Buster Posey and Hunter Pence on weak flyouts on pitches that could have been hit a long way if hitting a baseball a long way were easier. Latos is pitching with attitude, and the Giants look willing to swing. This is going to be fun. Tom Verducci-walking-on-a-beach-drinking-a-cocktail kind of fun.
Bottom of the 1st:
Cain vs. Votto makes my mouth wet, and I can't wait to see a battle to the death. Votto walks. Cain's command can fluctuate from sharp to shaky; he can lose his delivery and falls out of the zone with his fastball early in the count. Early on, he seems to have a better feel for his slider, a sharp offering with good velocity and late slice and drop to the glove-side. After putting two on base, Cain returns to the slider and sends Ludwick back to the bench when his lunging swing fails to connect with the secondary offering, which has been better than his primary offering so far. Cain's fastball has zip, but he's missing arm-side and high. And when he locates, he's catching too much of the plate. Cain throws a bitchin' changeup on a 2-2 count to Jay Bruce to get a swing-and-miss that ends the inning. Really sexy pitch. It showed both fastball deception and action, falling away from the left-handed swing of the sturdy Texan.
Top of the 2nd:
Bottom of the 2nd:
Top of the 3rd:
Bottom of the 3rd:
Top of the 4th:
Bottom of the 4th:
Top of the 5th:
Latos looks pissed. He looks like the type of player who might hit one of his teammates in the face if he gets in the way of his emotions. Latos regains his composure and allows a four-pitch walk to the next hitter. His fuel tank might be running low, but some of the aforementioned arsenal limitations have more to do with the poor inning than a gas tank issue. He's not locating early, he's allowing hitters to find comfort in the box, and he's transitioning back from a pitcher to a thrower.
Buster Posey might not have to shave until the year 2015. Bases loaded, one out, two runs already in. Baby face in the box. This could be the game. Sure enough, Latos gives up a grand slam to Posey, which ends Latos's day, effectively ends Cincinnati's season, and gives me the perfect opportunity to take a deep breath and head to my kitchen to cook meat. Be back in a few.
Bottom of the 6th
I finally regain my focus with two runners on base, nobody out, and Hanigan the Unhandsome at the plate. Cain triggers a strike 'em out, throw 'em out scenario that changes the direction of the inning, turning what could have been a monster situation into a monster letdown. Never trust the unattractive. Cain gets the hook, but the Giants escape any further damage. The Hanigan at-bat might have effectively ended Cincinnati's season. I'm once again pushing doom.
Top of the 7th:
Bottom of the 7th:
Two on, two out, lefty pitcher vs. righty batter, bottom of the seventh, three-run game. Tom Verducci, dressed like a pirate in a liquor advert, just scaled the left field foul pole with a bottle of Navy-strength rum in one hand and a naked woman in the other. You can feel the electricity in the stadium. This is why we watch the game. Ludwick battling, fouling off tough pitches that should have ended the inning. The count is 2-2. Verducci just removed his sword. This is intense. Full count. Good thing Hanigan isn't at the plate. Tapper back to the mound. Never mind. I have to make a few calls. Be back.
Top of the 8th:
Bottom of the 8th:
Hanigan puts good wood on the ball, but Crawford makes a big play with his better-looking face and robs Hanigan of the glory. The better the face, the better the place. Casilla is working fast and showing nasty stuff. Lots of deception in the delivery, and the 90-mph fastball just jumps on the hitters. He's working away, getting hitters to pull off the ball. Frazier stays on a tough breaking ball and flips it into center for a base hit. Fantastic bit of hitting. Very mature. Two on, two out, bottom of the eighth, managers doing some managing. Bochy goes to Romo for the last four outs, and Jason is very happy. Verducci is practicing his equestrian routine in foul territory.
Romo vs. Navarro. This could be the game. Romo's face looks like a 1975 Penthouse foldout. This is huge. Posey puts down his delicate fingers, and Navarro hits the subsequent offering into the empty earth in front of the center fielder. What could be a game-changing hit turns into a highlight-reel catch, as the duality of man, Angel Pagan, slides into the picture to make the diving catch, achieving a full celebratory pose in the follow-through. The catch might have effectively ended the Reds' season. Verducci just jumped his pony over a large puddle of water without creating a ripple or a splash. I'm loving the game. Beautiful.
Top of the 9th:
Bottom of the 9th:
Two on, one out, three-run game, Ludwick at the plate, Verducci is wired as hell, and the crowd is exploding. Holy hell, Ludwick hits a single, and the score is now 6-4. Two on, one out, two-run game, and Bruce the Bruce is at the plate. The crowd is chanting "Texas! Texas! Texas!" (No it isn't). Jay Bruce represents the series-winning run. If he hits a walk-off homer, I'll stab my neighbor in the heart. This is incredible. The count is 0-2. Romo is composed. Bruce is Texan. Dusty Baker is holding a shotgun and a bottle of champagne. I have a dinner meeting at 6 ET, and I need to shower first. Baseball is better than marriage.
Romo and Bruce continue to battle. Bruce is hanging tough, staying back to prevent off-speed exploitation. The basics of his approach are: "You can't beat me with your fastball." This at-bat is lasting so long that Verducci's high is subsiding. High drama. The count is 2-2. Ten pitches so far in this at-bat. Eleven pitches. Full count. The crowd is growling. Twelve pitches, and Romo wins the battle with a slider and Bruce flies out. 80-grade at-bat. Scott Rolen has the world on his shoulders. Two on, two outs, ninth inning, Game Five, 1-2 count, one strike away from a trip to the NLCS… and Romo strikes out Rolen, and the Reds' season is over. What a game. What a series. What a sport. I'm spent.
Jason Parks is an author of Baseball Prospectus. Follow @ProfessorParks
13 comments have been left for this article.
BP Comment Quick Links
Josh Johnson
"He kills virgins...." This article is spectacular Jason. Good work.
Oct 11, 2012 18:05 PM
This is way better than reading the yahoo recap. I was unable to actually watch the game, as between my 2 kids , they have 5 tests tomorrow, and if I had turned on the telly, I would have been disembowelled by a very serious mother hen. I thank you for filling me in so well.
Oct 11, 2012 18:16 PM
Karl Hungus
The Hunter Thompson of the new century. Great article. Jason took what I saw and turned it into music. BP used occupy my baseball time only. It is great that I can do baseball and a great read in the same place. Jason's writing in the last few months has taken a turn to the awesome.
Oct 11, 2012 20:11 PM
Jason, this was amazing. I was at Game 5 (as a Reds fan, unsurprisingly) and I feel like you really captured the emotions that the crowd experienced. I've never felt more certain of defeat as when I watched Posey's HR fly into the upper tank, and I've never been more certain of victory as when Bruce was getting locked in during the 9th.
Oct 11, 2012 20:22 PM
The pitch tracker on MLB.com said strike 3 to Hanigan caught the black.
Oct 11, 2012 21:27 PM
I saw the last two innings of this, having been tied up beforehand, so thanks for the recap.
Oct 12, 2012 04:38 AM
Nice piece of writing. Rumors of Cincinnati's season effectively being ended are Oh So True. It was nice the fans who brought them all had to take their brooms home on Tuesday. I wonder how that looked on the bus. Go Giants!!!
Oct 12, 2012 07:48 AM
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NEW ORLEANS -- Ray Lewis continued to deny the validity of a Sports Illustrated story accusing him of attempting to purchase a banned substance.
At his Super Bowl XLVII news conference Wednesday, Lewis' denial was even more forceful than it had been on Tuesday. The story linked Lewis to deer antler spray to aid his recovery from a torn triceps. Lewis said he was "agitated" about the report and blamed the story on "cowards."
"I think this is probably one of the most embarrassing things that we can do, on this type of stage," Lewis said. "When you let cowards come in and do things like that, to try to stir something. It's just sad that someone can have this much attention on a stage this big. I don't need it, my teammates don't need it, the 49ers don't need it, nobody needs it. It's very foolish."
Lewis insisted the accusation would not distract the Ravens from their preparations for the Super Bowl.
MORE: Alabama players presented with banned substance before NCG, report says
"It's not (a distraction), it's a joke if you know me," Lewis said. "I've been in this game 17 years. I have too much respect for the business and my body to ever violate (it) like that. To entertain foolishness like that, from cowards who come from the outside to try to destroy what we've built? It's sad to even entertain it on this type of stage.''
Ravens coach John Harbaugh strongly backed Lewis and expected him to remain focused on Sunday's game.
"Ray is a singularly focused individual," Harbaugh said Wednesday. "He also knows there's nothing to it. That's something he's never, ever been involved with. It's kind of too bad that someone was given an opportunity to get some free publicity out there, undeserved and unearned.''
Harabugh said he spoke to Lewis about the situation and came away unconcerned.
"As a football team, it's not a factor for us," Harbaugh said. "He kind of laughed about it and he told me there's nothing to it. Ray's honest. Ray's straightforward. He's told us in the past, he's told us now that he's never taken any of that stuff -- ever. I believe Ray, I trust Ray completely. We have a relationship. I know this man, I know what he's all about. It's just too bad that it has to be something that gets so much play."
The comprehensive report says that shortly after suffering the injury, Lewis placed a call to the co-owner of a company called S.W.A.T.S., "Sports With Alternatives to Steroids." Its website claims to "provide athletes with healthy alternatives to sports performance enhancers."
Mitch Ross, reportedly a former male stripper and admitted former steroid dealer, taped the conversation with Lewis, SI.com said.
A slew of products allegedly were "prescribed" by Ross to Lewis. Among the items, holographic stickers, powders and beam-ray light with specific frequencies. Deer antler pills and sprays also were part of the package.
The SI.com report says Lewis was advised to use the spray every two hours under his tongue. Lewis then told Ross to "just pile me up and just send me everything you got, because I got to get back on this this week."
There is no proof Lewis received or ingested any of the substances named.
The Ravens' star vehemently denied the report when asked to respond at Super Bowl Media Day on Tuesday.
"That was a two-year-old story that you want me to address," Lewis said. "I wouldn't give him the credit, to even mention his name, or his antics. I can't do it. I won't even speak about it because I've been in this business 17 years. And nobody has ever got up with me every morning and trained with me. Every test I've ever taken in the NFL, there's never been a question if I've ever thought about using anything. So to even entertain stupidity like that? Tell him to go and try get his story on somebody else."
Where it gets murky is whether or not the substances even work. Experts in chemistry and electrical engineering are cited in the report questioning S.W.A.T.S. products—"No such thing as negatively charged water," one official said.
Lewis isn't the only athlete named in the report, but he's arguably the highest-profile participating in Super Bowl XLVII.
Harbaugh vs. Harbaugh: Brother coaches share traits, but not identical
Moss' boast: I'm the greatest receiver of all time
Home, sweet home: Ed Reed returns to New Orleans
Steele: President spoke truth about football; you just weren't listening
Media Day: Photo gallery | Iyer: Antics no longer funny


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Peter Wyrick has served as Associate Principal Cello of the San Francisco Symphony, occupying the Peter & Jacqueline Hoefer Chair, since 1999. Born in New York to a musical family, he began his studies in Poughkeepsie, New York, and proceeded to the Juilliard School at the age of eight, where he was one of the last students of Leonard Rose. Mr. Wyrick made his solo debut at age twelve with the Hudson Valley Philharmonic. Since then he has performed as soloist with the Aspen Chamber Orchestra, the Queens Philharmonic, the American Chamber Orchestra, the Oklahoma Chamber Orchestra, the Kozponti Sinfonicus in Budapest, Hungary, and Symphony Silicon Valley. He has appeared as soloist with the San Francisco Symphony in works including Leonard Bernstein's Meditation No. 1 from Mass, Haydn's Sinfonia concertante in B-flat major, and music from Tan Dun's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Concerto.
Mr. Wyrick was the principal cello of the Mostly Mozart Orchestra and associate principal cello of the New York City Opera Orchestra. His recordings include the cello sonatas of Gabriel Fauré with pianist Earl Wild for dell'Arte Records, and performances for the Stereophile and Arabesque labels. In chamber music, Mr. Wyrick has collaborated with Yo-Yo Ma, Joshua Bell, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Yefim Bronfman, Lynn Harrell, Jeremy Denk, Julia Fischer, and Edgar Meyer, among others. He was a member of the Ridge String Quartet, whose recording of the Dvořák piano quintets with pianist Rudolf Firkusny on the RCA label won the French Diapason d'Or and was nominated for a Grammy award for Best Chamber Music Performance. Mr. Wyrick has participated in the Helsinki, Spoleto, Bard, Vancouver Chamber Music West, La Jolla, Santa Fe, Ruby Mountain, and Lake Tahoe music festivals.
Mr. Wyrick plays a David Tecchler cello, on generous loan from Jacques and Barbara Schlumberger, made in Rome, circa 1724.
(April 2014)
Amos Yang joined the SFS in 2007 as Assistant Principal Cello. He was previously a member of the Seattle Symphony. Born and raised in San Francisco, he was a member of the SFS Youth Orchestra and San Francisco Boys Choir and holds bachelor's and master's degrees from the Juilliard School. He has performed as soloist and chamber musician throughout the US, including regular appearances with the Seattle Chamber Music Society and at the Olympic Music Festival, and from 1996 to 2002 he was the cellist in the Maia String Quartet. He has served on the faculties of the Peabody Conservatory, the University of Iowa, Grinnell College, and the Interlochen Advanced String Quartet Institute. He has also served as a mentor for the SFS Community of Music Makers program.
Profiled in our Meet the SFS Musicians series, Amos Yang reflects on his musical beginnings and the role of music in his family.
(June 2015)
Margaret Tait
Lyman & Carol Casey Second Century Chair
Member since 1974
Hometown: Rock Hill, SC
On being in the Orchestra:
Orchestral playing creates a situation in which you can lose yourself in a large soundscape. I really enjoy being part of a bigger picture. In this orchestra there has always been a tremendous amount of professional integrity, energy, and focus onstage.
Began playing music:
Both my parents were professional pianists, so I started early on the piano. My father's sister was a cellist, and she introduced me to the cello when I was eight. We lived out in the country where there weren't many distractions, so we spent a lot of time practicing, and it paid off.
Musical influences:
I studied with Irving Klein, who was the cellist in the Claremont String Quartet. Playing quartets had a big effect on how I think about music. The repertory is varied and rich. It provides tremendous opportunities for a cellist to relate to other instruments, but also to be featured and play melodic lines.
I enjoy playing sonata repertory with William Corbett-Jones, a very fine local pianist. I also enjoy various groupings of chamber musicians from the Orchestra. Before I was a parent, I spent ten years coaching the Youth Orchestra cello section, which was a great joy. I'm also a scuba diver—that's how I met my husband, who is a marine biologist.
Margaret Tait has served as a Symphony mentor in the SF Symphony Community of Music Makers program.
Barbara Andres
Cello - The Stanley S. Langendorf Foundation Second Century Chair
Member since 1977
Hometown: New Philadelphia, OH
Other musical activities:
As Principal Cellist of the Sierra Chamber Society, I play a lot of chamber music. I also get most of the personnel together, set up rehearsals, and get the music. I really love having that opportunity to learn other music, and it's great to work in small groups. I also take voice lessons, which is so different from learning an instrument. It's taken me a long time to learn how to breathe and how to stand, and you really need a coach to tell you what you sound like. It definitely has influenced my cello-playing as far as color and phrasing.
In your CD player:
Great Sopranos of Our Time—these voices are so glorious, I have to sing along!
I'm enjoying art classes. When I finished a recent painting, I thought it was a visual symphony, with all colors combined to make a complete picture, just as all instruments together form a musical picture.
Recent reading:
Barbara Kingsolver's Prodigal Summer—what lush descriptions of nature. I felt as if I were right there with the cast of colorful characters. Talent is Overrated, by Geoff Colvin, had a lot of interesting food for thought. I also enjoyed On Writing: A Memoir Of the Craft, by Stephen King.
SFS member since: 1994
Hometown: Santa Rosa/Philadelphia/Daly City/New York
Music schools you attended: Juilliard School; San Francisco Conservatory of Music, prep division
Began playing music: At age 8
Musical inspirations: Hearing a string quartet perform in my elementary school
If I were not a professional musician, I might be an: Anthropologist
Favorite composers: Schubert, Sibelius, Bernstein
Favorite works featuring my instrument: Mozart's last three string quartets
When I'm not working, I enjoy: Spending time with my husband and two teenagers; being active in Democratic politics
Recent reading: City of Veils, by Zoe Ferraris; Catherine the Great, by Robert Massie
On my CD player/iPod: My son's bluegrass band
Favorite things to do in the Bay Area: Explore different neighborhoods, visit museums (in SF), hiking (in Marin), and biking
Plus: I recently did a meditation retreat at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, and have also been to India with my family when my husband presented a talk on his research on meditation to his Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Barbara Bogatin has served as a Symphony mentor in the SF Symphony Community of Music Makers program.
Profiled in our Meet the SFS Musicians series, Bogatin shows how her meditation and music practices intertwine.
Gary & Kathleen Heidenreich Second Century Chair
SFS member since: 1980
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Music schools you attended: Indiana University, Chicago Musical College
Began playing music: At age 3
Musical inspirations: My first cello teacher, Shirley Evans Tabachnick, Principal Cellist of the Lyric Opera Orchestra
If I were not a professional musician, I might be a: writer
Favorite composers: The ones I'm currently playing
Favorite works featuring my instrument: Schubert, Cello Quintet; Villa-lobos, Bachianas Brasilieras; Tchaikovsky, Pezzo Capriccioso; Brahms, Piano Trio in B major
When I'm not working, I enjoy: Teaching, cooking, playing chamber music, playing with my grandchildren
Recent reading: The Evening Star, by Larry McMurtry; Animal Vegetable Miracle, by Barbara Kingsolver; Three Cups of Tea, by Greg Mortenson
On my CD player/iPod: Catoire, Piano Quintet; Brindel, Concertino for Cello and Strings; Trios by Andriasov and Taneyev
Favorite things to do in the Bay Area: Walk up hills to see the views: ocean, bay, bridges, Marin; Eat out at the many wonderful restaurants
Plus: I coach the Youth Orchestra cellists, which is great fun. They are an exceptional group of adolescents. I'm preparing my father's First String Quartet right now and I'm enjoying getting to know it. I recently became a grandmother and I'm having the time of my life! Two more are coming in May.
Jill Brindel has served as a Symphony mentor in the SF Symphony Community of Music Makers program.
David Goldblatt, occupant of the Christine & Pierre Lamond Second Century Chair, joined the San Francisco Symphony cello section in 1978, having previously played in the Pittsburgh Symphony. He studied in New York City with Lieff Rosanoff and Jean Goberman and went on to attend the New School of Music in Philadelphia. In 1975 he graduated from the Curtis Institute of Music. Mr. Goldblatt has also been a cellist with the Concerto Soloists of Philadelphia and the Santa Fe Opera Orchestra.
Mr. Goldblatt is currently a member of the Coaching Team for the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra.
Anne Pinsker
Member since 1982
Hometown: Long Beach, CA
Musical influences:
My mother grew up going to Philadelphia Orchestra concerts. She loved playing piano; I remember falling asleep to her Chopin. She was the musical influence, but later on, my enthusiastic father encouraged me to head for Juilliard with Leonard Rose as my teacher.
Favorite composer:
I always come back to Beethoven. I would have liked to meet him. There is so much intricacy and beauty in his music. For me, his originality is often unmatched. But then there is Bach, Mozart, Brahms, Schumann. . .
My dad and I started a chamber music festival in Mill Valley in the '80s. It began with a small group of colleagues and grew to include musicians from all over the country. I met my husband Jack Vad—the Symphony's recording engineer—at my own festival. Eventually the festival ended, and we had our two boys
On being in the Orchestra:
The thing that I find so amazing about the Orchestra is that one is amongst so many other talented musicians who have worked incredibly hard and have been so involved in making music. When we all come together doing our own perfected thing on our own instrument, we are able to bring any composer's music to life, and to create huge multitudes of gorgeous sound. It is spectacular.
Davies Symphony Hall
201 Van Ness Ave
San Francisco, CA 94102
Mon - Fri: 10am - 6pm
Sat: noon-6pm
Sun: 2 hours prior to concerts
Your gift makes concerts possible.


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Energy Price Outlook
Oil prices could trade in a mixed direction this week, with a small pullback toward $91.50 possible in WTI. Pressure may be offered by a developing bearish divergence on the stochastics oscillator in both WTI and Brent, as well as by weakness in oil demand, and Tuesday's monthly EIA report which showed 2014 supply growth outpacing demand by 0.35 mb/d. The market has performed well in the last few weeks on improvements in economic data. Housing and the Philadelphia Fed surveys are reported on Thursday and may provide the next potential for bullish enthusiasm. Other support will come from weakness in the dollar and increased appetite for risk. We'd look for a rebound in WTI after a test of $91.50 as well as a narrowing in the Brent-WTI spread. We favor holding our June WTI-Brent trade entered on Jan 4th at -$14.25 with a target at -$8.00.
WTI finished 26 cents lower on Friday while Brent ended down $1.25. The markets traded in negative territory for most of the session as pressure came from Chinese inflation data, which was 0.2% above expectations at 2.5%. Inflation bottomed at 1.7% in October, which now suggests that the Chinese gov't may have less reason to add stimulus going forward. Pressure also came from a lack of upside follow-through in the U.S. stocks market following Thursday's push to new five-year highs in the S&P 500. There was an update on the Seaway pipeline whereby Genscape said that it detected increased power consumption at pump stations along the line beginning late on Thursday. That added pressure to an already weak Brent market and narrowed its spread with WTI.
Most other news was positive not only on Friday but during the week as well, and could keep energy prices buoyed in the near-term. A sense of excitement began to build about the global economy, as U.S. data showed the lowest level of continuing jobless claims in 4 1/2 years. The ECB left rates unchanged on Thursday in a decision that was unanimous. That compared to the previous meeting where several members wanted to cut rates. The press conference that followed mentioned that stabilization and confidence are returning to financial markets, and that positive contagion may soon take place in Europe. Japan unveiled a huge $117B stimulus plan on Friday, which was the second largest since WWII. The election of Abe several weeks ago foretold the new accommodative actions, which may also include the BOJ adopting a 2.0% inflation target at its Jan 22nd meeting. Such measures show that liquidity remains in place globally, which should help commodity prices. Investors believe in the improvement, as a debt auction by Spain was oversubscribed. Spanish 10-year yields fell below 5% for the first time since March '12. Inflows to U.S. stocks and ETFs in the first week of the year were the biggest since June 2008 at $18B and surpassed the largest increase of 2012 of $11.4B. The dollar fell to a 10-month low against the euro.
Fundamental news was generally positive too, as Syncrude Canada cut its January production forecast by 600,000 bbls to 10.0 mln from 10.6 mln previously. Additionally, Saudi Arabia cut its oil output by 5% in December to a 19-month low of 9.025 mb/d. Tuesday's monthly report by the EIA showed that 2013 demand was revised up by 110 kb/d and there were upward adjustments to price forecasts. Brent goes to $105/bbl in 2013 from $104/bbl, while WTI was lifted to $90/bbl from $88/bbl. Negatives on the fundamental side came from a large expected increase in 2014 oil production which outpaced the gain in oil demand. Pressure also came from weak total demand in the weekly Wednesday report. Overall, it appears as though sentiment is putting more weight on economic improvements than the mixed fundamental condition.
Natural Gas
Friday's trade settled 13.4 cents higher as the focus remained on the possibility that recent cold temperatures may result in an inventory change this week that is larger than the -144 bcf of the five-year average. Our first impression is that it could show something on the order of -175 bcf, but we'll adjust that on Monday when we get more complete weather data. Earthsat predicted colder weather in the Northeast and Great Lakes from Jan 21st-25th which helped boost Friday's trade. However, NOAA's latest 8-14 day map removed the area of below-normal temperatures in western portions of the country. Friday's COT report showed that managed money accounts subtracted 5,060 contracts from their net short, while non-commercials subtracted 7,468 contracts. That may help to explain the rally at the end of the week, but wasn't large enough to suggest that large funds are exiting their bearish strategies.
Despite the strength of the last two sessions, key resistance between $3.32 and $3.53 could hold the market in the near-term. We'd look for potential bearish action close to the $3.53 resistance level this week to think about a possible short position. NOAA's warmer maps on Friday afternoon are one point of potential pressure, as is Tuesday's monthly EIA report which showed a wider surplus in the supply/demand balance for 2013. Demand was revised up 0.26 bcf/day while supply was increased 0.50 bcf/day. Thus, the supply/demand balance moved to a surplus of 1.36 bcf/day from 1.12 bcf/day previously. Things get better in 2014, with demand falling 0.24 bcf/day over 2013 levels and supply falling by 1.15 bcf/day. The balance went to a surplus of 0.45 bcf/day from 2013's 1.36 bcf/day. However, the market will still have to contend with another peak storage issue at the end of the injection season sometime in November. That may cause more weight to be put on the bearish 2013 numbers than the bullish ones of 2014.
Global Economic & Dollar News
» Japan's Gov't Unveiled a new ¥2.2T ($117B) stimulus plan which it expects to boost economic growth by 2%. It was the second largest stimulus since WWII. Expectations are growing that the BOJ will adopt a 2.0% inflation target at its Jan 22nd policy meeting.
» Chinese CPI was +2.5% vs. +2.3% expected and +2.0% previously. Inflation bottomed at 1.7% in October.
» Fed's Kocherlakota said that monetary policy may be too tight. Said that inflation will run below the Fed's target of 2.0% over the next two years and the unemployment rate will remain elevated.
» U.S. Trade Deficit increased to $48.73B from $42.06B previously. Imports were $231.28B vs. $222.87B while exports were $182.55B vs. $180.81B.
» Fed's Plosser said that Fed easing may backfire while fueling inflation. The benefits of QE don't exceed the costs. Said that the U.S. needs to solve its fiscal problems.
» Inflows to stock funds and ETFs totaled $18B in the week ending Wednesday Jan 9th. It was the biggest inflow since June 2008 and compared to 2012's net inflow of $3B. The biggest one-week inflow in 2012 was $11.4B.
Energy News
» The IEA said that oil demand in OECD Europe will drop 190 kb/d in 2013 after falling 510 kb/d in 2012, with consumption the lowest since at least the early 1990's. It said that the decline is due to improved energy efficiency, the rise of alternative energy, and the slumping economy. Demand in non-OECD Asia, Middle East, and Latin America are expected to grow.
» Genscape said that it detected increased power consumption at pump stations along the Seaway pipeline late on Thursday. On Friday morning, it said that the pipeline had operated at reduced rates for a period of four hours.
» Crude Oil Rig Counts were +5 last week while natural gas rigs were -5. Horizontals were +7 while verticals were -20.
Upcoming Events
Tue - API Inventories (4:30pm EST)
Wed - Iran-IAEA Meeting
Wed - EIA Weekly Oil Inventories (10:30am EST)
Thu - IEA's Monthly Report
Thu - Natural Gas Inventories (10:30am EST)
Jan 20th - German Local Election
Jan 29-30 - FOMC Meeting
Feb 12th - EIA's Short-Term Outlook
Feb 24-25 - Italian election
Mar 1st - Sequester Begins
May 31st - OPEC Meeting
EIA Inventory Preview
The oil stocks number this week may reflect a more decisive change in direction from recent weeks where oil stocks fell sharply and products witnessed strong increases. Oil stocks typically gain throughout the first five months of the year after liquidations take place in December. If that's indeed the case again this year, oil stocks could witness a larger increase than that suggested by the five-year average as late-2012 conditions unwind. An 11.1 MB drawdown was reported in the last week of December and reflected refineries' intentions to convert raw crude into products. A slowdown in utilization coupled with high levels of imports should create an above-average increase this week. Cushing stocks could increase again this week, as the Seaway pipeline was closed for part of the week in front of Friday's ramp-up. Cushing should level off or begin to fall with next week's data.
Gasoline inventories have gained 10.0 MB in the last two weeks while distillates increased 11.4 MB. High levels of utilization have been partly to blame and should begin to pull back a bit this week, in our view. Lower levels of production should add pressure to stocks, but demand has been weak as well and may prevent a drawdown. Distillate stocks have benefitted from higher production and weak demand but may receive pressure this week from lower production and continued exports.
Our early view of natural gas inventories is a draw of 175 bcf.
*The API convergence figures are the amounts that EIA data need to change in order to match the previous day's API figures


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Stay the Course?
It's the last day of the month, a great time to review progress and plan ahead. Are we on track? Does our thesis from the beginning of the year (which can be found here) still make sense? If so, great. But if not, what changes should be made?
We begin with an overall outlook for market direction and most of our trades should comply with that premise. I say most because we don't want to neglect special situations and hedging opportunities. I began with the opinion that 2013 will be the year of:...459 more words left in this article. To read them, just click below and try Real Money FREE for 14 days.
There's no substitute for a trading floor to get great ideas, so Jim Cramer created a better one at Real Money and blogs there exclusively. We then added legendary hedge fund manager, Doug Kass, with his exclusive Daily Diary and best investing ideas. Staffed with more than 4 dozen investing pros, money managers, journalists and analysts, Real Money Pro gives you a flood of opinions, analysis and actionable trading advice found nowhere else, and allows you to interact directly with each expert.
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Ring Pilot v22.214.171.124 – Windows Phone Xap
Make your dream true, become an action pilot with this MOST DARING RING PILOT game, perform special air stunts to cross the rings, but beware of hot air balloons and other dangoures hurdles. Fill up your fuel tank while flying and cross all rings without crashing, collect as many coins as you can to get the highest score. So get set n go to this adventures flying. Complete the levels before the time runs out.
Download Xap : Ring Pilot v126.96.36.199 – Windows Phone Xap


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3 Days / 2 NightsA convenient way to keep the family together. Package includes...
1) Friday night check in
2) Sunday check out with late check out request available upon request.
3) Minimum of 4 rooms per group and 2 nights per room.
4) Free use of President's room for wedding rehearsal (subject to availability) a $650.00 value. Catered dinner is available upon request.
5) A bottle of champagne for bride and groom on the second night of stay with rose petals on bed.
6) Complimentary continental breakfast available from 6:00am-9:00am daily.


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>Running 101>Let's start a game!!!
12 Monkeys
The next person has never seen a horny female panda.
I'm running somewhere tomorrow. It's going to be beautiful. I can't wait.
Poor baby
he is faster than me and trent...
the next person thinks that the panda in the previous picture is not a female.
One day at a time
Princess Cancer Pants
• Chemo
• Chemo-Radiation
• Surgery
• Return to kicking my own ass by 2018
She was not strong. She was valiant. Radiant. Brave and broken. The beauty she discovered in the aftermath was unparalleled to anything she had known before, because it had come at such a cost.
~ Unknown
Another Passion
The next person had a crappy run today as payment for yesterday's awesome one...
Rick "The will to win means nothing without the will to prepare." - Juma Ikangaa "I wanna go fast." Ricky Bobbyrunningforcassy.blogspot.com
veggies on the runMartial Artist Runners
Your toughness is made up of equal parts persistence and experience. You don't so much outrun your opponents as outlast and outsmart them, and the toughest opponent of all is the one inside your head." - Joe Henderson
It was no accident...the dog HATED me as an infant!
The next person could live on ice cream.
2008 Philly Trifecta
"bet the next person has not properly broken in new shoes before doing there long run.
***Check out my site: where I've been, and where I'm going @ releasetherunner.blogspot.com 2008 Philly Trifecta: 10 Mile Broad St Run-5/4 Philly Distance Run HM-9/21 Philly Marathon-11/23 "A goal not written down is only a dream...!"


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HUNDREDS of singers will join together for the world premier of a new musical work.
Professor June Boyce-Tillman, from the University of Winchester, has created the piece based on the book Stories of the Great Turning and it will be launched on March 27 at 7.30pm at Winchester Cathedral.
The sound of 160 school children and 140 community choir members will unite for The Great Turning, including Hampshire County Council's staff choir – The Castle Singers, and the King Alfred Singers from Foundation Music at the University of Winchester, who will form a quintet of soloists for various sections of the work.
Prof Boyce-Tillman said: "I was asked to write a piece for a variety of community groups and orchestra for Winchester Cathedral's year-long programme on The Futures of Capitalism. I chose to write it around this book to which I contributed a chapter on interfaith dialogue.
"I took the stories from the book and divided them into the sections suggested by Joanna Macy: Act Your Age, Gratitude, Encountering the Darkness, Dare to Dream, and Join Hands Across the World."
Staff from Hampshire Music Service have been visiting eight local schools and teaching them the musical material.
The first half of the concert will see the community choirs share their own music, including Eastleigh Fusion Choir singing Something Inside So Strong by Labi Siffre.
Tickets cost £7 for adults, £5 for students/concessions, and are available from the Cathedral Box Office on 01962 857275 or online at tickets.winchester-cathedral.org.uk.


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Nobody in my fucking town knew gucci till break up track and thats some groupie shit i notice him since value was underated now everybody and there moma on some gucci the shit man!! "he been" so gucci truly ya fan Julio Montilla From Lawrence Ma 01841 Keep Fake Listeners Awai And real ones In Studio Hola
Just felt the need to speak the truth even if my blog or whatever this is doesnt reach
Hit me up famz one!!


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Ski resorts held line on revenue during dry 2011-12 season
October 10, 2012
Even though visitation to Colorado ski areas fell nearly 10 percent last season, revenues at the state's 23 resorts on federal land remained flat.A review of ski-area permit fees paid to the Forest Service reveals that revenues actually climbed at 11 of Colorado's 23 ski areas operating on federal land. The fees, based on a percentage of gross revenues at ski areas, totaled $16.25 million for 2011-12, down slightly from $16.29 million 2010-11.And five resorts paid their highest fees ever, indicating that Wolf Creek, Eldora, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Snowmass enjoyed banner years for on-mountain revenue in 2011-12, a season marred by 50 percent declines in snowfall and the lowest visitation in 21 years.That's a sign that ski areas have whittled their dependence on snow to a new low. They have built their businesses to withstand decimating dry spells, using a thriving toolbox of strategies.First is snowmaking, which began early in the 2011-12 season thanks to cold temperatures and built a base that kept runs open during the winter."Last year the investments we had made in our snowmaking infrastructure paid off. It truly was the year of the snowmaker, and the pride taken in the quality of our snow surface was evident from start to finish," said Gary Rodgers, chief of Copper Mountain, which saw its revenue climb in 2011-12. "While powder days were not plentiful, the quality of the ski experience, especially for many of our destination guests, was tremendous."The National Ski Areas Association reported in its annual Kottke survey that overnight visits to U.S. ski areas climbed in 2011-12 for the third consecutive season, reaching 48.3 percent, compared with 46.4 percent in 2010-11.To read this article in its entirety, go to http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_21736212/colorado-ski-resorts-held-line-revenue-during-dry?IADID=Search-www.denverpost.com-www.denverpost.com


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- How Women Determine Their Worth
- How Women Determine Their Worth
- Get What You Want
- Get What You Want
- Close the Income Gap
- Close the Income Gap
- Reasses Your Goals
- Reasses Your Goals
- Negotiate Strategically
- Negotiate Strategically
- Play to Your Strengths
- Play to Your Strengths
- Try These Tips to Earn More Now
- Try These Tips to Earn More Now
I used to write for a talk show on a tiny cable network. And I was forever astonished by how differently my male and female coworkers talked about their careers. The men were running off at the mouth about whether they'd deign to take a gig with David Letterman or Conan, airily speculating as to whether the salaries (twice what most of them were making) would be sufficient. Meanwhile, most of my female colleagues, who, by the way, tended to work much harder than the guys, were thankful simply to have a job.
Whatever the goal—getting a promotion, earning a higher salary or having more time—women often undervalue themselves. For men, it's pretty much the opposite. "Men are raised to make money—not only for themselves but for women and children, too," says Lauren Zander, chairwoman and cofounder of the Handel Group, an international consulting and coaching firm. "They've been in on the money conversation from the start, so they're at ease with thinking of themselves as worth a certain amount. Women are newer at the earning thing, so it's tougher for us to think this way."
One reason, among many: Even in our supposedly unbiased world, little boys are more likely to be paid for their chores; little girls are more often asked to help out for free, says Sara Laschever, coauthor of Women Don't Ask. It's not too surprising, then, that by the time we're ready to work for a living, we have disparate attitudes about the value of our skills. Men believe they're worth a certain salary, and that it's up to them to get that amount out of their employer, Laschever notes. Women think they're worth what people are willing to pay. In other words, we let others determine our worth, whereas men set their own price.
"Society teaches men that it's OK, even beneficial, to think more of themselves, while women are raised to be collaborative and primarily concerned with other people," says Catherine Birndorf, M.D., clinical associate professor of psychiatry at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center and self's mental health expert. Perhaps that's why, for most women, being seen as greedy is the kiss of death. Many of us tell ourselves that having a big title, prestige in our field or more money isn't all that important to us. Maybe that's truly the case, or maybe it's a rationalization that allows us to take ourselves out of the game before we've even tried to compete. "Women aren't comfortable putting themselves in situations where they might be envied or judged," says Amanda Clayman, a psychotherapist in New York City who specializes in money issues. "We're not socialized to put a premium on things like power."
Yet being powerful has its benefits. The more power you have, the more money you're likely to earn. The more money you earn, the greater your ability to steer your own life. "Money is inherently tied to self-determination," Clayman explains. Earning more per hour means you may not have to work as many hours, which means you can devote more of your time reading, seeing friends or doing meaningful volunteer work. You can buy yourself time away from chores (think housekeeping services) so you have room to breathe, can get to the gym or find fulfillment in other aspects of your life.
First, though, you have to change the way you look at yourself and what you have to offer. We all know the guy who seems blissfully convinced of his own brilliance, even if he's surrounded by smarter and more diligent women. Those smart, diligent women, on the other hand, probably assume they can't possibly be good enough for (a) a raise, (b) a promotion or (c) getting paid actual money for what they've always considered to be an unserious hobby (painting or writing, for instance). "So many of my women clients don't trust that they have the power to get what they want," Zander says. "I'm coaching a senior vice president now who knows she is making less than her male peers in the office, yet she's afraid to ask for more. She needs to come up with a bigger dream, including the financial part."
Thinking bigger means taking bigger risks. "Many women won't ask a question unless they're sure the answer will be yes," Zander explains. "Instead of going for what they want, they go for what they think they can get." But by being passive, women are doing themselves—and their bank accounts—an injustice. The gifted gals I worked with at that TV station would have been embarrassed to even say out loud that they'd like to write for Jon Stewart or Jimmy Kimmel. That self-effacement isn't merely confined to the boys' club of TV writing. A 2007 study from researchers at the University of New Hampshire and Oregon State University revealed that male entrepreneurs are 90 percent more likely to ask for investor financing than women are, even though when women do ask, they're as apt to get it as men are. Think about it: How many female Mark Zuckerbergs do you know of?
I've experienced that dread of hearing no myself. It's embarrassing to admit this, but though I've held four different jobs, I've never negotiated a salary. Not once have I said, "These are my salary requirements." At no point have I ever countered with a number of my own when I've been offered a position. As we all know, raises are calculated as a percentage of your base salary, so if you don't set the best terms from the get-go, you're at a disadvantage for the rest of your career. According to a 2008 report of students graduating with a master's degree from Carnegie Mellon University, four times as many men as women negotiated their first salary out of school. Those who did increased their starting pay by about $4,000. By age 60, that initial negotiation can net men at least $500,000 in added earnings compared with women who have equivalent credentials.
Sexism may be partly to blame, but the numbers suggest that the pay gap between men and women—on average, we get 77 cents for every dollar men earn—has much to do with our reluctance to ask for more, both when we start working and in the years that follow. That's shocking. And this considerable disparity isn't simply a mommy-track issue or a "Well, women choose fields that pay less" issue. A review of findings by the American Association of University Women found that just one year out of college, we're already trailing men: New female grads earn 80 percent as much as their male counterparts do.
A decade later, women fall even further behind, earning only 69 percent as much as men. When you control for factors such as parenting, number of hours worked and whether a field is male- or female-dominated, there's still a gap, albeit a narrower one. (In education, which is predominantly female, we still earn 93 percent of what men do.) All of which means we have to put in more hours merely to stay even with the guys moneywise.
The women I know don't have those extra hours to spare. For one thing, we're more apt to be volunteering in our free time than men are. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 26 percent more women than men volunteer (i.e., do unpaid work). Granted, volunteering is great for the world and the spirit: A 2007 review of 30-plus studies by the Corporation for National & Community Service found that volunteers felt less depressed, more confident and more in control of their destiny than nonvolunteers. But what if you're using volunteer work as a way to defer making meaningful changes in your life, like taking a more challenging (and higher-paying) job? What if you're lowballing the value of your time and the contributions you're capable of making, both at work and in the world at large?
Take an editor friend of mine we'll call Olivia. She's the best in the business—smart, thoughtful and creative. But when you're good at what you do, word gets out, which means that she spends a big chunk of her personal time helping friends of friends polish their résumés or critiquing unpublished novels. She could make real money doing those things. But she can't seem to say, "Sorry, I'm too busy" or "I'd love to help, but this is my freelance business now, and here's what I charge." Instead, she grits her teeth and says, "No problem!"
Perhaps you're in a similar position, giving away free decorating advice or whatever it is you excel at. Generosity is wonderful, but if you're constantly doing favors and feeling cranky about it, you need to look at your time differently and assess what an hour is worth to you. "If you don't value yourself, no one else will value you either," Dr. Birndorf says.
The first step to changing your thinking is to acknowledge you have a goal, whether that's turning your hobby into a lucrative enterprise or earning seven figures. "To achieve it, you need a plan for making it happen, including how you'll talk about it," Zander says. (For tips on getting started, see "Play to Your Strengths" and "Extra! Extra!") You need to be willing to go after the thing that scares you—whatever that is. "We all have our Achilles' heel when it comes to pursuing a dream," Zander says. The real fight is believing in yourself enough to do what feels tough for you, like asking your boss for a hard-earned raise.
The next step is to make contact with people who are already at the level you want to reach, suggests Barbara Stanny, author of Overcoming Underearning. If your goal is to make more money, network with successful women at college alumni gatherings, go to lectures at a local business school or attend charity events that draw power players. If you want to become an artist, find out about gallery openings and talk to working artists about how they found representation. "Because women are so relationship-oriented, eventually you'll become more like the people you spend your time with," Stanny says.
You also need to get comfortable with taking risks and competing. "Most of us are awkward when it comes to selling ourselves," Zander says. "It's one thing to try to sell a handbag and be turned down. Trying to sell yourself or your abilities is another matter. It makes us feel vulnerable. But to get what you want, you have to be OK with the idea that you may fail or be rejected—once or 10 times," she explains, adding, "Think of failure as something to be proud of—you have to go through it to succeed." To toughen yourself up, put yourself in situations in which you're competing in small ways. That could mean playing your boyfriend for points on the tennis court instead of simply hitting for fun. Whatever you do, taking chances—putting your hand up at a meeting and offering to run a project rather than waiting to be told what to do—is how you move forward. You won't always hit the mark, which is a good thing. "That's how you learn to tolerate disappointment and get back on your feet again," Dr. Birndorf says.
A bit of healthy competition helped ratchet up Zander's career. "A number of years ago, I trained a good friend of mine to become a life coach. I charged her $150 an hour and worked with her for a year and a half, then helped her get her first clients," Zander says. Once her friend was out on her own, Zander had a shock: "I heard that she was charging $350 an hour! I was outraged. I wasn't charging even half that amount! That jolted me—and prompted me to raise my own rates."
Negotiating for more green is only one possibility. If you're meeting with your boss, you also could ask for more vacation days or partial tuition to work toward an advanced degree. You could request a loaner laptop or a travel allowance. Or you could decide to spend your out-of-office hours pursuing your passion and getting paid for it. My editor friend Olivia figured out a way to make all the frequent requests for free editing feel less burdensome and end up with money in her pocket. "Recently, an acquaintance asked if I would help her polish the copy on her website. She happens to be a professional organizer, so I said, 'Let's do a barter: You help me declutter my apartment and I'll edit your website.' Now I have tons of extra closet space and she has great marketing copy." When former writing students call to see if Olivia will look at their work, she says, "I'm happy to. I charge $125 an hour." The response? "No one blinks," she says. "I'm putting the extra cash in a vacation fund."
How is this advice relevant to me, a freelance writer, or to you, whatever you do? Like many women I know, I have basically taken on any assignment I've been offered, even if the pay is cruddy, even if it's a topic that doesn't interest me, which is an awfully passive, reactive way to work. Now I'm trying to be more strategic by seeking out ghostwriting opportunities, forcing myself to network and pitching publications and websites I've always secretly dreamed of writing for. If I can't get editors to budge on their per-word rates, I sometimes can persuade them to assign longer stories. Or I can ask an editor to provide time-saving research assistance so I have more hours for the fun part—the actual writing.
I'll admit, there are moments when asking for all these things makes me sick with nerves. When that happens, I think about the guys I know who are convinced that every word they type is a precious commodity, then I channel their confidence. After all, I'm at least as good as they are. Probably better.
Play to Your Strengths
What do you love? What are you great at? Where do you want to be in 10 years? Being able to answer these questions clearly and confidently will help you get what you deserve.
Forget about being humble. "I have clients make a 'home runs list' of all the times they've excelled," says Lauren Zander, cofounder of coaching firm the Handel Group. "The point is to form a strong vision of who you are and how you're great."
Do a work-around. A good self-assessment includes writing down what you're not so good at, too. Then, instead of kicking yourself about your vulnerable areas, work around them. Maybe you're not the most tech-savvy person in the office but you're super speedy and solve problems other people can't. Knowing what you offer—experience, creativity, competence, a knack for teamwork—means you can convincingly argue your worth.
Rally your pals. It's easier to do scary things like ask for more money when you have some support. After all, there's nothing like a few encouraging friends to help you maintain a positive, powerful mind-set. So gather your circle around you and have each friend list your marketable assets. (Bribe them with wine and cheese, if necessary!) "It can be thrilling and inspiring to hear exactly what people think you're terrific at," author Barbara Stanny says. Their perspective can help you figure out your goals and, just as key, hammer home how much you deserve to achieve them.
Give and take. Maybe you need check-ins with a friend to keep you accountable. Maybe you need tough love. Figure out what works for you, and ask for it. Then turn around and do the same for your friends. Remember: A rising tide lifts all boats. If there are only two women writers out of 20 on the staff of a late-night comedy show, they don't have as much opportunity to bring in other women. But when a big percentage of the writers are female (as on Mad Men), women gain traction. —M.I.
Try These Tips to Earn More Now
Cast a wide net. "Ask 10 people how much you should be charging—for your baking services, fund-raising skills or your way with words," Lauren Zander says. "This will help you get used to the idea of monetizing whatever it is you do and the notion that what you offer is worth it."
Name a specific number. Rather than simply saying, "I'd like to bring in more csh," figure out exactly what you'd like to earn and what you'll have to do to make that happen: how many clients you'll need or cupcakes you'll have to bake. Setting a specific goal makes it easier to lay out a game plan and actually end up meeting your financial goals.
Talk yourself up. If self-promotion is anathema to you, don't think of it as selling; think of it as connecting. "I ask my clients to go out and have five meaningful conversations a day about what they do," Zander says. "Email doesn't count. To make an endeavor work, you have to put yourself out there and speak from the heart about what you bring to the table."
Make a vow and keep it. Think about the effort you're willing to put in (e.g., making five calls to potential clients a day), then promise yourself you'll do those things, however modest. Give yourself consequences (no reality TV!) if you don't follow through. Feel free to revise your vows as you go. As Zander says, "You need to keep having new visions of what's possible." Then watch your dreams come true. —Paula Derrow


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About the Model A47
The new Artisan Trombone Collection is the newest and most exciting development in Bach Stradivarius professional trombones. The collection was developed in collaboration with world renown trombone artist Massimo La Rosa, principal trombone the The Cleveland Orchestra. The new A47 is completely modular system allowing each player to customize the Artisan trombone to meet their own playing needs. The 8-1/2" one-piece hand-hammered yellow brass Bach Artisan bell will define the symphonic sound for generations. The .547" large bore offers a warm sound, great projection, and most efficient feel. The new reverse main tuning slide construction offers a more open response. The chrome plated nickel silver inner handslide tubes provide the ideal surface for smooth and quick handslide action. The clear lacquer finish adds a subtle warmth to the sound overall. The Bach Stradivarius A47 professional trombone is ideal for both symphonic and solo performance.
Tech Specs
Brand History
Born Vincent Shrotenbach in Vienna in 1890, he initially received training on violin, but subsequently switched to trumpet when he heard its majestic sound. Although Vincent also displayed a strong aptitude for science and graduated with an engineering degree, he gave up a promising career to pursue his first love and an uncertain future as a musician. Performing under the stage name, Vincent Bach, he established musical success as he toured throughout Europe.
World War I forced Vincent's move to New York City where he arrived with only $5.00 in his pocket. A letter to the famous conductor Karl Muck procured Vincent an audition and a resulting position with the Boston Symphony. By the following season, he was first trumpet in the Metropolitan Opera House. While on tour in Pittsburgh, Vincent's mouthpiece was ruined by a repairman. Vincent had great difficulty in finding a suitable replacement. While on furloughs, he spent time in the basement of the Selmer Music store remodeling old mouthpieces.
In 1918, with the investment of $300 for a foot-operated lathe, Vincent went into the business of making mouthpieces. The business grew rapidly and in 1924, the first Bach trumpets were produced. Musicians frequently referred to a Bach trumpet as a real 'Stradivarius', thus inspiring the name Bach Stradivarius. Bach later added trombones to his line around 1928.
At the age of 71, Vincent sold his company. Although he received twelve other offers, including some that were higher, Vincent chose to sell to the Selmer Company. In 1964, the tooling and machinery for Bach instruments was moved from Mount Vernon to their current home in Elkhart, Indiana. Today, these instruments continue to embody the highest standards of craftsmanship and adhere to Vincent's original designs and blueprints.


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Hernando Co. Schools' CFO with alleged sex blog resigns | News
Hernando County, Florida -- 10 News has learned Hernando County Schools' Chief Financial Officer, who made headlines recently for running a sex blog and posting on it while at work, has resigned from her position with the school system Friday.
Desiree Henegar's boss, Bryan Blavatt, told 10 News yesterday he was shocked to hear about the allegations.
"Why would you post something like that online? I don't understand why this particular employee did what she did. Once it's out there, it's out there," Blavatt told 10 News. "I just found out about this [Tuesday] and I can't believe it. I would have never suspected this individual."
Henegar has not yet spoken publicly on the scandal which included allegedly posting graphic photos of penises, men and women having sex and women performing oral sex on men, along with racy and suggestive comments.
She is also accused of posting this content hundreds of times, in some cases, per day, while on the job as CFO. In one entry she allegedly talked about the photos as being a distraction and a turn-on.
Blavatt will reportedly take Henegar's resignation before the school board at their next meeting on Jan. 22.
10 News is currently working to obtain a copy of her resignation letter.
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This game was classified by the community with the following category scores - Violence=1/3, Sex=0/3, Mature Content=0/3. Ant General is a turn-based strategy game where you control an army of ants.
Buy Xbox content on Xbox.com. Your Xbox 360 console will automatically download the content next time you turn it on and connect to Xbox Live.Learn More


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Sorry for the late response. Either way is fine with me .
Yo Chico, have you heard Drakes new album? Not bad, couple of decent songs.
Uni,applied for a masters
Doing good wee ba, you??
Ohhh hi there
Shaz, that voice intro is done mate
Nght night weeeee ba!
Only cause you asked sooooo nicely
The Trinity
Black Ninja!
Fresh Member
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