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Middle class squeeze - have you ever had it so good?
Your veges cost more and bills are becoming a headache, austerity is a global buzzword and we're all being urged to tighten our belts. The Sunday Star-Times toured the country to investigate the reality behind the middle-class squeeze.
US Vice-President Joe Biden called it the "catastrophe" of the American middle class. The suburban dream was over: the 2000s were, statistically, the worst-ever decade for the American middle.
They saw their income drop (by 7.1 per cent) and their numbers shrink (from 61 per cent to 51 per cent of the American population). It was a crisis that led to a presidential election where both candidates fought openly to win that middle-class vote.
It's indisputable, say economists, that the American middle class is doing it tough.
So with a recession, spiralling inner-city house prices and a rising cost of living, is the Kiwi middle-class also feeling the squeeze? You might think so, but some economists reckon the numbers tell us we've never had it so good.
"They don't know how lucky they are," declares analyst Matthew Nolan of Wellington's Infometrics.
Jean-Pierre Du Raad, chief executive of the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research, agrees. The middle-class squeeze is "a bit of an urban myth", he says.
Since 2001, our middle-class median income has risen by 21 per cent. Yes, the recession has hit, but it's arguable the middle class has suffered less than the poor and the rich. In part, that's because of Director's Law.
Named after the late American economist Aaron Director, it suggests the middle class will always have undue political influence because of its size and aggregate wealth.
"The middle class has political power, so the things they are concerned about are acted on," says Nolan.
"They are always trying to transfer things to themselves. They are not being selfish as individuals... we all want our lives to get better, it's just human nature."
So in New Zealand, that means political decisions that benefit the middle more than anyone else: The expansion of Working for Families tax breaks, the removal of means-tested superannuation, subsidised healthcare and interest-free student loans.
Du Raad says 40 per cent of the extra $1.5 billion invested into Working for Families went to middle-class families (a two-parent family with two children earning less than a combined $126,300 will receive Working for Families assistance) and says the 2010 tax switch, where GST rose and income tax went down, benefited the middle class by $10 to $25 a week.
Nolan also notes that a proportion of people around the 60th percentile (that's richer than 59 per cent of people, poorer than 39 per cent), who aren't paying net tax, they get more from the Government than they give - almost certainly due to Working for Families.
So where did the myth of the middle-class squeeze come from? Well, says Nolan, the middle class knows how to make a noise, everyone's feeling the recession, and many have paid attention to the noises coming from America.
Of course, this is about statistics - the average. This isn't you, living from pay cheque to pay cheque, scraping together the school donation, the football subs, the car repayment, the Sky bill, the rent for the bach this Christmas.
Department of Statistics figures show, in the past five years, substantial climbs in the cost of insurance (home insurance by 130 per cent, contents by 41 per cent and health by 43 per cent), most foods (by about a fifth), rates (30 per cent) and electricity bills (26 per cent).
But remember, says Du Raad, rising prices hit everyone, but reduced mortgage rates are more likely to help the middle class (if, crudely, you presume the rich own their homes outright and the poor rent). And house prices? That's merely young middle-class people paying more to older middle-class people.
"There is, potentially, the sense of entitlement - life is tough, and you get used to certain goods and services, and when you see your neighbours doing a bit better you think, why isn't this happening for me?" ponders Nolan.
"But the middle class has become better and better off over time - even if they haven't noticed it."
The middle class has also done relatively better than the very rich in recent years, in contrast to the US where tax breaks have taken wealth away from the middle class to the rich.
Maybe the rich aren't getting rich as quick, counters University of Auckland economist Susan St John, but for 25 years they were: in 1995, there was a factor of 15 between the average wage and the top corporate salary. Today, it's factor of 119.
"Anecdotally, we see it every time we open up the newspaper and see what is paid to the CEOs, compared to what happened in the past, and it seems completely disconnected from the value they are contributing," says St John.
She argues we have a tax system "very generous" to the rich, with a low maximum tax rate. And she points to Working for Families cutbacks, our unusual lack of an initial tax-free chunk of income, and an increased amount of compulsory student loan repayments - now at 12 per cent - being taken from wage packets, which particularly disadvantages women returning to work.
And, says St John, it's tough for the retired. The "middle 40 per cent" of retirees have a lot of uncertainty - they know they are going to live longer, but they don't know how long, so find it hard to eke out savings and these days don't have the cushion of a lucrative employer-provided pension.
What all three economists do agree on is the growing level of inequality in New Zealand - it's this chasm between our poorest and richest that's probably the real issue.
Du Raad says the squeeze has actually come strongest on low-income households earning between $30,000 and $40,000 a year.
"There are social issues we should be looking at, not a blanket claim that the middle class are struggling - it's not in the data," argues Nolan.
"We'd be better to focus our attention and efforts on people hit by the recession - the long-term unemployed; child poverty."
So if you are feeling squeezed, it may be a reflection of belt-tightening triggered by fears about the economy - and it may help to consider there's probably someone worse off than you.
"It seems strange," concludes Nolan, "to demand transfers [of wealth] to the middle-class at the same time we're demonising those unemployed during a recession and making it harder for them to get benefits."
James Barton swapped his suit and tie for a postbag five years ago and never looked back.
After 33 years as a public servant, the 63-year-old quit his job at the Environment Ministry and now roams the streets of the northern Wellington suburb of Johnsonville delivering mail.
"I'm glad to get out of there," he says of the public sector. "You can do an immense amount of thinking when you're walking around the streets."
On a typical day, he might rise at 6.20am and cover 18km on foot delivering mail before knocking off for a beer at 2pm.
Barton left his job as a climate change expert, in which he helped the Government devise a way measure to carbon removal and link it to land use, just before savage job cuts began. Now he finds it depressing to walk down Lambton Quay amid the dwindling throng of suits. "Everyone looks so glum," he says.
Barton says it's a difficult time for younger public sector workers, many of whom had never endured such hard times.
While he prefers pounding the pavements, his finances are tighter. With just 20 to 25 hours work per week, his wage has roughly halved. Barton's wife Alisi works at a supermarket, but he says his costs - petrol, power, rates and insurance had risen above inflation. The couple are paying off the last of their mortgage but with Barton two years from retirement age, he says: "We realise we have to be a lot more careful and prudent."
An expensive holiday is shelved and Mr Barton is holding onto his ageing television and car.
Where he can, he picks up some consultancy work and would consider a return to the civil service for the right job, but admits: "There are not many at the moment I would go for." Until then, he's happy to keep delivering the mail: "It's good for me. I've lost 12kg."
- Ben Heather
On the outskirts of Taranaki, where rolling farmland falls sharply into roaring ocean, the Annemans-Boyd family live a "life of extremes".
Like a growing number of workers in the resource-rich province, father Jurgen Annemans is employed in the oil industry, spending half his time on rigs out at sea.
"Sometimes it's hard and you think 'why am I doing it,' " says wife Kristie Boyd, who stays at home with children Lucia, 5, and Zoe, 2. "But it does mean we get to have a pretty great lifestyle."
Jurgen has been working as a chef on the "rigs" four-and-a-half years. "He couldn't really get much further as a chef in Taranaki and he was sick of it, burnt out," says Kristie. "And I wanted to stay at home with the children and be a homemaker because that's the kind of family I was part of."
At first, Jurgen worked two weeks on, and two off. Now it's three and three. "It is hard. Everybody struggles with relationships," Kristie says. "When he's not here, I don't get much respite and when he is here there's a lot of free time."
The financial implications are also challenging: Jurgen is paid every six weeks, so budgeting can be tough. But Kristie feels privileged to stay home with the children and to own property. Earlier this year, the couple bought a lifestyle block at Onaero, 20 minutes from New Plymouth, going halves with Kristie's parents.
Jurgen's improved income has made things easier, but it comes with a catch. Kristie wonders about the environmental impact of the oil companies, and if it's right to take their money. "But then I think, 'this province is really thriving'. There's still a lot of hardship, but there are also some awesome things happening because of the flow of money into the region."
Kristie says the situation won't necessarily be forever - there are more family-friendly onshore opportunities in the oil industry. "When you have a family you've got to put other things before money. Otherwise it just has more and more power over you."
- Kirsty Johnston
Crunch time came at a heated house auction in Auckland. First-home buyers Christie, 33, and Marc Sammons, 36, watched as competing bidders pushed the price of their ideal home $60,000 above their half-million dollar ceiling.
"A lot of the houses go for mega high prices, which makes you nervous," Christie says. "Things were quite fevered at auctions."
The couple began house-hunting in 2007 but found prices too high. They returned to the fray early last year, and with careful budgeting saved a 10 per cent deposit. "We didn't want to change our lifestyle too much, so we kept track of our spending for a few months, including a few trips to Australia," Christie says.
They were surprised to find the recession having little impact on prices.
"When we first started looking people were just starting to go nuts on prices. What we thought was reasonable wasn't actually a reflection of the market."
They revised their budget to ensure they could live in an area they liked and bought a two-bedroom home in One Tree Hill. "We haven't noticed a difference financially because we planned so well in advance," says Christie, "you've got to be able to do it on one income, just in case." They can still afford Australian holidays and to eat out, but say they are careful about avoiding debt, particularly on credit cards.
Despite all that, she feels buying a house is much harder now than for previous generations of first-time buyers because families now can't afford mortgages on a single income.
"If we were to have children I don't think we could permanently have one stay at home parent unless one of us had a better-paid job."
- Marika Hill
In 2009 Brian Bonniface, 59, lost the job he had loved for 13 years.
He was a product development technician at Fisher & Paykel Appliances, a company crushed by the decline in consumer spending during the global financial crisis. Chin up, he applied for 85 vacancies, but was given just five interviews. He finally got a job as calibration technician grading dirty water. He quit after six weeks because of the time he had to spend away from home.
"You felt like you were getting rejected by society: 'you're too old, you're on the scrap heap. Why don't you hide under a rock and die,' " he says.
Brian took part-time work as a primary school caretaker and delivering newspapers and pamphlets. "It was really disheartening. Going out for a meal was out of the question, the movies were out of the question. We were lucky to have steak at all. Sky was going to get the chuck. Any slight luxuries were gone."
Five months after losing his job, Brian ran into some old colleagues who had started their own business. They agreed to take him on.
He is grateful for his new job repairing televisions and he enjoys the team of "great guys". But his salary is about $10,000 less than at Fisher & Paykel and without the superannuation and life insurance benefits. While the cost of living has exploded, he hasn't had a pay rise in three years. "The rates have gone up, car registration has gone up, food is going up. It's made a dent in the lifestyle I live."
Two years before Brian lost his job, he and his wife Hennie remortgaged their Papatoetoe home for renovations and still owe the bank around $130,000. "We can afford it now, but if one of us loses their job, we will be in trouble."
But they hid their financial struggles from their son and refused to withdraw him from private school. "It came very close to him. We were worried we weren't going to be able to offer him a good start to life."
Brian isn't bitter. He says Fisher & Paykel treated him well and had little economic choice but to move production to factories in Thailand and Mexico. But he thinks the government isn't helping keep jobs in New Zealand.
In an industry dependent on consumer spending, he's now constantly nervous he may be out of work again soon: "You always feel that the axe is hanging over your head."
- Simon Day
Noon, and rush hour in the picturesque village of Portobello on the Otago Peninsula. Portobello Hotel publican Tony Reid is taking a break from his 100hr-a-week labours to soak up the sunshine and the view before returning to the kitchen to cook lunch. Eight cruise ship buses head past destined for the wildlife park, but only one may stop at Reid's pub.
Reid and his wife Sarah - and their daughters, Rosa, 2, and Doreen, 12 weeks - are about to complete their first year running the pub. It has, they say, definitely improved their lifestyle - Reid was formerly a deep-sea fisherman.
"We can create our own destiny," he says. But he thinks people presume it's easier than it is.
"You've always got that 'he's so lucky' attitude in a small town. If only if they realised the stress of it all: I work hard. We were brought up that it's a privilege to have a job. And you've got to have a go. And I get to meet awesome people everyday."
Tony says the biggest pressure comes from money: paying wages and covering the huge mortgage. They employ ten staff in the pub, and expect to take on three more in their recently-opened adjoining ice-cream parlour.
Locals are the key to the pub's survival.
"When people aren't walking in the door it's just so hard not to think 'Oh no!'," Reid says.
"But if you don't put yourself out there and don't do things, it can only be tough. So you do something, and you create what you want to do, and it will become easier eventually."
- Wilma McCorkindale
After 17 years in London, it was time to come home. The city so appealing to Emily Swan when she'd arrived in her 20s wasn't the place she wanted to raise a child.
So in 2010 Swan, her Dutch-born partner and their daughter Belle crossed the globe to set up home in Auckland.
The clean air, the beaches, the family support - all have been just as expected. What was unexpected was that the antipodean good life would be so pricey.
"We were delighted to be home. But we've been really taken aback by how expensive it is," Emily says.
Emily, 38 works in media and her partner is in hospitality. They earn $130,000 a year between them. They have a mortgage on a two-bedroom house in central Freemans Bay, which costs them more than their London rent, (and which they bought only with help from Emily's mother).
Emily's salary is 33% lower than in the UK, but she find utilities extremely dear. "Gas, water, electricity - we pay each month what we paid for each quarter in London."
In London, broadband was free with her cellphone contract. Food was cheap: last week own-brand supermarket milk was priced 70% higher here than in the UK, and bread 50% higher. Cheaper petrol and childcare don't balance the extra costs.
Swan is paid monthly, her partner weekly, and "three out of four weeks we get down to cents in the bank before payday. "My daughter was doing swimming lessons, but we've stopped - we haven't the funds."
Belle is three, but tall for her age, and has almost outgrown a cot-bed meant to last till she was five.
"I'm thinking shit - I'm going to have to buy her a new bed. I'll have to do it on hire purchase."
Luxuries Swan had grown used to - especially dining out - are out of the question.
"Sometimes I look at my peers, and feel like poor relations. We don't measure our happiness by our things. It's very much about our child and her quality of life, and we have that. But it's not how we thought it was going to be."
Does Swan appreciate that with that income and a house, many Kiwis would see her as well-off?
"Yes! The average household income is what, $30,000? Crazy. But then a lot of people are sending their kids to school without breakfast. We are grateful for what we've got."
And yet . . . "I look at my age and think, I'm nearly 40 and I'm still living from pay-cheque to pay-cheque. What do I pass on to the next generation? Will I ever pay my mortgage off? I do feel like I've f---ed up somewhere along the way.
While she wasn't always sensible with money in the past, she had a "bloody good time", and she has the mortgage now. "I'm happy with the way round I did it."
Emily and her partner would like to have another child, but don't feel they could afford to live on one income, and "I don't feel anyone else should have to pay for that in terms of state support."
She doesn't regret leaving London. The other day she had a do in town. Two minutes after leaving she was picking up her daughter from her mum's house, and Belle was in bed 15 minutes later.
"I love that. Life here is much easier. That's worth it."
- Adam Dudding
When Richard and Rosie Hutchinson moved to New Zealand eight years ago, they never wanted to live in the city. But it's taken that long for them to make their country-living dream come true.
The English couple and their two children, aged 10 and 12, are trading in their comfortable life on Auckland's North Shore for the world of the small business owner in rural New Zealand.
The family bought the Black Dog Cafe in the tourist town of Matakana six months ago, and just a few days before Christmas will finally make the move to their new life.
"We've always wanted to do something like this," says Richard. But it hasn't been easy: taking the plunge has meant selling the family home and losing the security of two incomes after Rosie quit her job at Auckland Zoo to focus on the cafe. They've been renting houses in both Auckland and Matakana and commuting between the two.
"There are always financial concerns," says Richard, who describes his family as "reasonably OK" financially since emigrating here.
"Now we are just relying on one income and what we can get out of the cafe, if we can run it successfully, whereas before we had regular, once-a-month money coming into the bank and once that stops . . . well it's things like that we have to work our way around."
Richard says he knew there would be sacrifices to make but the decision wasn't about money, but lifestyle - although he admits the cafe has a demanding workload, especially as he has continued with his day job in consultancy. "You get a few people asking 'oh, why are you doing it? You've got good jobs and you're paid reasonably well'. [But] if you are doing what we are trying to do, you have to give up some things to make it happen."
- Bridget Jones
As Carmel Olsen relaxes on a plush red couch in her home perched at the foot of the Cashmere Hills, it's hard to believe her family has spent the last two years on the verge on bankruptcy.
But after those "two years of hell", the Olsens have finally came out on the other side, thanks to a payout from the Earthquake Commission.
Olsen, husband Brett, daughters Kate, 15, and Neve, 13, and sons Noah, 10, and Plum, 7, considered themselves "upper middle-class" before they were financially crippled by the Canterbury earthquakes.
They had their kids young and never considered themselves well off, but as Brett settled into a career as a software engineer and Carmel became a part-time speech therapist, life become much more comfortable. That changed after February 22, when they lost their Burwood home.
They were forced to move four times, including to Timaru, where they spent $225 every week on a temporary home after receiving an accommodation supplement.
"We were nearly financially ruined by the earthquakes, because our house wasn't liveable. Last year we were pretty near bankrupt," Carmel says.
"We received letters from the kids' schools saying they were going to send us to BayCorp (a debt collector) because we hadn't paid their fees, but we didn't have any money to pay them."
Before the earthquake, the couple also had two foster children whom they were forced to give up after it became too difficult to support them.
Their financial fears troubled Carmel so much she sought professional help to sleep at night: "You wake up in the middle of the night and wonder how you're going to pay for things and if you're ever going to get out."
It wasn't until this year when they received a payout for their house and land that life began to get back on track.
The family have since bought a new house in Cashmere, and a scholarship has covered half of Kate and Neve's fees to the prestigious Rangi Ruru Girls' School.
"Before the earthquake we had a financial plan with what we wanted for the kids, what house we wanted, where we wanted to live . . . now we've bought a house that's okay, but we can't afford to buy one that's better than okay," says Carmel.
"Sending the girls to a good school is more important than living in a big house, and being middle class you have to make that decision."
The family is now at a point where they can "make choices" with their money again.
"Last year a neighbour came across with a gift voucher so I could buy presents for the kids. This year life's looking good. It's going to be a good Christmas this year."
- Ashleigh Stewart
Sunday Star Times


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OPC maximizes object-oriented systems
Control devices for passing data from one OPC DA server to another have gotten smarter and have more to say, making it easier for vendors, OEMs, machine builders and end users to communicate with them.
As OPC field devices get more complex, they are creating much more information, and it is becoming much more complicated and harder to deal with them. Some PLCs, for example, are now using structured variables. Field devices are getting much smarter, and have more data to transmit than just process variables. The Complex Data specification will solve the problem.
OPC Complex Data is all about providing a way to pass data that doesnt fit into the 'word, bit, integer, float tag format of OPC DA, explains John Weber, president of Software Toolbox. For example, a variable named 'My Structure might contain five floating-point variables, two Boolean values, and three integers. A common example is a PID loop in a PLC. With classic OPC DA, the only way to read that data is to make one tag for each element of the structure.
Weber says that works when you only need a few variables from the structure. If you need the entire structure, and your system has many such structures, this is not the most efficient way for an OPC client and server to pass data. The OPC Complex Data initiative is all about providing a more efficient means for passing large numbers of Complex Data structures between an OPC client and server, he says.
Across sophisticated processes, the ability to seamlessly commujnicate among devices and integrate disparate business and control systems is a growing priority. With its ability to address any object-oriented device, OPC Comples Data will help companies make it happen.
One structure can contain all the parameters for the VFD, so to 'parameterize' the VFD we need only call one variable. Also each parameter can be addressed separately using an identifier, such as 'VFD_1.RampUpTime. This is a more efficient way of passing large or complex groups of data.
Phoenix Contact is already using the Complex Data in its products. We recently added Complex Data to our Ethernet infrastructure, says David Skelton, Director of Automation at Phoenix Contact. For example, all of the conditions and set up of a managed Ethernet switch are shared and can be maintained through traditional control and HMI platforms. This alternative allows the maintenance department to continue to provide first response while the IT department provides second-level support. The support of Complex Data just makes it easier to implement this type of system with fewer errors.
Not Just For the New and Smart
Once again, as in the case of OPC XML its not just new, smart devices that will benefit from this new spec. Scott Saunders, director of strategic marketing at Moore Industries, says Complex Data can be used on all OPC-based equipment. This will allow applications to not only read process variable data from sensors, but also complex binary arrays and patterns that can be used for preventive maintenance, he predicts. Since most of the 'smarts reside at the sensor level, the data can be analyzed locally and sent up the IT food chain where it can be viewed in a useful format, instead of waiting for the data mining programs to interpret the confounding patterns and anomalies.
Complex Data can be used for many predictive maintenance and CMMS applications, such as oil analysis, vibration, power spectrums, or thermal images generated by infrared thermography. Today, OPC DA clients might be able to read vibration waveform data from an OPC server, but probably have difficulty interpreting and using the data. Complex Data will allow OPC client applications to read and decode any type of data being generated by OPC-based measurement and control systems on the plant floor.
Randy Kondor, OPC Product Manager at Matrikon, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, says that Complex Data will make it much easier to communicate with DCSs. While OPC DA is a good match for the simple data structure of most PLCs, Complex Data is an excellent match for the 'Object or 'Tag concept of a DCS, he explains. Control loops can be treated as a single entity, and equipment will follow suit. This will enable much tighter integration between the DCS and data-consuming applications such as HMIs, Process Historians and advanced process control applications.
Eager OPC Vendors Await
There have been many attempts at developing Object Oriented environments for industrial automation, most of which have met with differing degrees of success. Most of these attempts were driven by individual companies, so the development of standards for defining the structure of objects and data was, in many cases, slanted to the developer.
Several standards bodies are developing conventions for data representation, such as ISA and MIMOSA, but these organizations by themselves do not have the strong market traction required to move a large number of vendors to their standards. Enter the OPC Foundation and Complex Data.
The Complex Data specification provides a standardized method for defining the format of a Complex Data element using either XML or binary system IDs. As noted above, data can now be defined to carry all of the information regarding the complete operation of a particular object. In PID objects, for example, developers using OPC Complex Data will be able to provide complete templates for the PID object, including HMI elements for display, alarm elements for alarm management, and historical elements for data collection.
An object-oriented environment that is OPC Complex Data enabled will be able to address any device for which a Complex Data server exists, says Mark Hensley, president of Kepware Technologies. Yarmouth, Maine. As has been seen with OPC DA, AE, and HDA, the wide range of vendors supporting these technologies ensures that Complex Data OPC servers will be available for many of the popular control systems and devices in use today.
We see the need for Complex Data with many of the new device drivers we are writing, continues Hensley. Having developed many OPC DA servers, we have had to play games in some cases to get structured data in and out of these devices due to the limitation of current data functions available to a DA server and client. Once Complex Data takes root, we will be able to go back to these drivers and rework them to take advantage of Complex Data, giving our user better control of their systems while simplifying their application design. I believe that as we have seen an explosion of OPC products over the last few years, Complex Data may very well rekindle an explosion of object oriented products.
Defining the Data
Complex Data means an OPC DA data item that has a defined structure. OPC DA specs do not describe structures, so the Complex Data spec defines the information represented as OPC DA item properties so that OPC DA servers may make this information available to OPC DA clients.
|Data Point
|Device Name
|A unique identifier for an instance (i.e., the name of the device).
|Device Settings
|A list of common strings used to initialize the device on connection.
|Wait Time
|The time the server waits after a connect failure before reconnecting.
|Connect State
|Whether or not the server should attempt to connect to the device.
|Last Connect Time
|The last time the server connected to the device.
|Connect Fail Count
|The number of times the server attempted and failed to connect to the device.
|Is Connected
|Whether or not the device is currently connected.
The Table above shows an example of a Complex Data item that describes a connection to a physical I/O device. The item includes read-only information, runtime status, and writeable control points. The structure could be represented in a DA server as multiple DA items, but the DA client would not be able to read a coherent snapshot of the connection status, because the status could change while each individual item is being read. OPC Complex Data solves this problem by providing a mechanism to describe Complex Data structures contained within the DA server namespace and providing a mechanism to represent complex structures as single DA items that clients may access as atomic blocks of data and still be able to access the contents of these atomics blocks by using the type descriptions.
Complex Data items can include simple non-structured items, abstract elements, abstract items, structured items, strings, integers, sequences of bytes (BLOBs), XML data, OPC binary, and all other OPC data items. Complex Data encompasses them all.
Each data item is accompanied by a Data Type Description that defines the structure of the item, and a Dictionary that describes each of the Data Types. The dictionary contains all the information that a DA client needs to understand the Complex Data items it is receiving.
For example, if the Complex Data item includes an XML document, then the dictionary will contain the XML Schema that defines the document. All the necessary dictionaries are kept on the DA server, so the DA client can easily obtain all the definitions it needs.
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subset: commoncrawl


text: Did you know we are dog friendly at Five Gables Inn & Spa. We have 4 rooms and a suite that are dedicated to our guests who love to travel with their four legged friends. We have beds and dog bowls that we lend our furry guests. And, we give each and every one of our four legged guests a treat and a toy from Flying Freds. We really love to pamper all of our guests here! And of course, we suggest a visit to Flying Freds – our upscale pet boutique – even if you don't bring a furry friend with you.


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Jessica Alba: My Daughter Honor, 3, Likes to Dress in Drag!
When it comes to Honor Marie Warren's wardrobe, anything goes!
In an appearance on "The Rachael Ray Show" set to air Jan. 23, Jessica Alba admits her 3-year-old daughter with Cash Warren has developed her own unique sense of style.
PHOTOS: Jessica's chic maternity style
"She's very independent, very opinionated and loves dress up so much," Alba says. "Like every day, she's in full drag! She wears a wig everyday. She has a lot of wigs and she has a lot of plastic heels. It's totally insane, but it makes her happy."
PHOTOS: Hollywood's cutest tots
Though Alba recently launched The Honest Company, which helps new moms learn about eco-friendly baby products, the actress still makes sure her own family's needs are met first.
PHOTOS: Look back at Jessica's first pregnancy
"I've been with my husband for nine years now," Alba, 30, says. "You get really comfortable and you don't always make time for each other. You can tend to take each other for granted. So we do try and set aside time at least once a week."
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- Sep. 20, 2017 Check out our all-time favorite child stars from TV


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Walker excited to learn from one of childhood heroes
BRADENTON, Fla. -- The first time he ran into his new hitting coach, at the mid-December PirateFest, Neil Walker approached Jay Bell as sheepishly as little kids approach him.
"I was a huge fan of you growing up," Walker said to Bell, adding, "I just wanted to get that out of the way, so we can move on."
The Pittsburgh native grew up rooting for the Bucs, and his recollections go back to when he was about five -- to the middle of the 1990-92 title run when Bell was the everyday shortstop. So having Bell, as well as Mike LaValliere, the catcher on those clubs, in camp makes this a special Spring Training for Walker.
The Bucs second baseman already has a new appreciation for Bell, as a hitting tutor.
"He'll be good for us. He's less mechanical, talks more about the process," said Walker, contrasting Bell's style to that of predecessor Gregg Ritchie. "Like how you figure to be pitched in certain situations. More fundamental stuff. And he's so intelligent, very good at conveying his thoughts."
The influences of those 1990-92 Pirates on Walker run deep.
"I became a switch-hitter because of Bobby Bonilla," he said, referring to the powerful switch-hitting right fielder on those teams.


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Note: This message is displayed if (1) your browser is not standards-compliant or (2) you have you disabled CSS. Read our Policies for more information.
The Indiana Department of Education Academic Standards for English/Language Arts includes, across grades K-12, the following standards: Reading (word recognition, fluency, and vocabulary development, comprehension, literary response and analysis); writing (process, application of types and characteristics, English language conventions); and listening and speaking (skills, strategies and applications). Poetry education addresses each one of these standards. There are many empirical studies that document the value of arts in education. One of the most compelling is Champions of Change: The Impact of the Arts on Learning, published by the Arts Education Partnership and the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities.
There have been numerous studies on the value of poetry for children, including one conducted in 2002 by the California Poets in the Schools, which compared 17 classes of students who received poetry education with 3 classes of students who did not. The study findings included:


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Flex Impact Socket, 1/4 In Dr, 5.5mm, 12 pt
PROTO| Zoro #: G1151087| Mfr #: J66555MP
Zoro #: G1151087Mfr. Part #: J66555MP
$23.64 /ea
Orders over $50.00 ship free. DetailsStandard ground shipping
Technical Specifications
|Zoro #: G1151087 Mfr #: J66555MP
|Material: Alloy steel
|Drive Size: 1/4"
|Drive Type: square
|Socket Depth: Standard
|Output Type: 6 pt.
|Finish: black oxide
|Standards: ASME B107.2
|Item: Flex Impact Socket
|Features: Universal Ball and Spring Design which Allows for a 30 Degrees Working Angle; Smooth 360 Degrees Rotation; Ideal for Use on Stubborn or Damaged Fasteners, and on Fasteners Made from Soft Materials; TorquePlus(TM) Design Allows for Quick and Easy Socket Engagement to the Fastener Flats, Not Corners; Radius-Corner Design Shifts Contact Area and Stress Away from Fastener Corners, Minimizing Slippage; Extended Fastener Life; Ease of Turning Worn Rounded or Rusted Fasteners; Size Stamped on Tool for Easy Identification; Side Locking Hole for Securing Socket to Tool
|SAE or Metric: Metric
|Number of Points: 12
|Size: 5.5mm
|Overall Length: 2"
|Country of Origin (subject to change): United States
Product Description
Flex Impact Socket, Drive Size 1/4 In., Number of Points 12, Socket Depth Standard, Metric, Size 5.5mm, Overall Length 2 In., Finish Black Oxide, Material Alloy Steel, Drive Type Square, Output Type 6 pt.


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Lovely River View room in quiet neighbourhood
Størrelse20 m²
- Håndklær
- Parkering tilgjengelig
- Frokost
- Internett/WiFi
Oversikt over eiendommen
|Chiswick Quay, W4 3UR London, Storbritannia
|Privat rom
|Eiendoms ID
This comfortable, cosy room is located in Chiswick, with both the river and train station nearby.
It is a cosy double bedroom, including a double bed for double or single occupancy. Desk, wifi, plasma TV, electric kettle, fridge and
microwave are also provided, and the bathroom with toilet and shower is shared which is kept clean and tidy.
It is a perfect place to stay if you like familiar environment and you look for a comfortable and economic
place to stay!
|Ukentlig rate for en gjest
|Månedlig rate for 1 gjest
|Pris for >1 gjester
|167 NOK pr. gjest/natt ekstra
|Innsjekking etter
|Etter avtale
|Check-in før
|Etter avtale
|Utsjekking før
|Etter avtale
Vurdering av denne eiendommen
Perfect location, perfect house and perfect host. Everything was very clean and the room is just lovely - with a stunning view from the window. Hope to go back there at some point.
I had a great stay with Vicki and Chris. My room was comfortable, clean and I had a desk and wireless internet available to do my work. On top of that, the place is quiet, overlooks the Thames river and has excellent bus, train and underground connections to the rest of the city and Heathrow airport. Breakfast was nice and both Vicki and Chris gave me good tips to navigate the transportation system. I would definitely stay at their place again and recommend it to my colleagues.
Wir hatten eines der Zimmer mit wunderschönem Blick auf die Themse.
Die Unterkunft ist etwas außerhalb von Central London in Chiswick aber zum Beispiel über die U-Bahn Station Gunnersbury und dann mit dem Bus gut zu erreichen. Von der Kew Bridge (15 Min zu Fuß) fährt auch ein Sightseeing-Schiff nach Westminster, kostet zwar ca 12 Pfund, aber zumindest bei schönem Wetter sehr zu empfehlen.
Im Haus werden wenn ich es richtig mitbekommen habe 4 Zimmer vermietet.
Ab und an ist es etwas hellhörig aber kein Problem für uns. Das Haus ist sehr urig eingerichtet, anscheinend typisch englisch eben :-)
Handtücher, Mikrowelle, Wasserkocher und TV sind im Zimmer vorhandenen.
Frühstück wird von der sehr aufmerksamen und freundlichen Vermieterin Vicky persönlich zubereitet. Hier fehlt es eigentlich an nichts (versch. Müsli, Toast, Marmelade...).
Wir können die Unterkunft auf jeden Fall weiterempfehlen und werden sie beim nächsten Besuch wieder buchen.
Dear Vicky and Chris.
Thank you for a week's delightful stay with warm homemade bread for breakfast and some good talk about everything between heaven and earth.
It has been a pleasure to stay with you in a great location right on the River Thames.
We hope to have the opportunity to come and stay with you again and highly recommend You to other tourists and other folks.
We are well back in Denmark and is already well underway with the isolation of the gable end of our house.
It is so great to have vacation, especially when you can meet such a sweet and nice people like you.
Hugs from Flemming and Bonna from Denmark
My wife stayed with Vicki and her husband and was made to feel completely at home and really enjoyed her stop over whilst on a course in London. Would recommend staying here to anyone plus the view from the room is stunning
Vurderinger for denne vertens andre eiendommer
A very homy accomodation in a charming environment, and hosts who made my stay in London a most pleasant experience. A place I can only recommend.
A lovely and relaxing place to stay. The room was comfortable and the breakfast delicious. The location is wonderful, right next to the Thames with good pubs nearby.
Vicki and Chris are excellent hosts and made us feel very welcome. I would definitely stay here again.
I enjoyed my stay right on the Thames in Chiswick, and appreciated the hospitality. Good public transport options from here, as long as you have the time to combine walking with bus routes and train connections. Large bedroom, small but adequate bathroom, all round a good value option.
- Kvalitetssikret innkvartering
- Hver vert er verifisert via telefon
- Sikker betaling med SSL-kryptering


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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- A former fiscal officer in a central Ohio community has admitted stealing $137,000 in public funds.
According to The Columbus Dispatch (http://bit.ly/Sg19z0 ), Franklin County prosecutors say Rebecca Christian pleaded guilty Tuesday to tampering with records and theft in office.
Investigators said Christian falsified six years of fiscal reports while employed by Clinton Township. The guilty pleas came after an investigation by township police and the Ohio auditor's special-investigations unit.
A defense attorney declined to discuss Christian's reasons for taking the money.
Sentencing is set for Feb. 1. Prosecutor Ron O'Brien says he will seek restitution.
Information from: The Columbus Dispatch, http://www.dispatch.com


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This week on the "ATL Debate Club" podcast, Dan Hanzus and Marc Sessler are joined by the newest addition to the "Around The League" family, Chris Wesseling, for a recap of the biggest news from around the league, including Tebowmania's arrival in Foxborough and the Denver Broncos' release of Willis McGahee.
Then, the guys play a game to pick which NFL personality they most would want with them in a series of absurd scenarios. (Hey, it's the middle of June.) Got a better answer than what we came up with? Tell us on twitter:
Thanks for listening and enjoy!
Download: The 'ATL' Debate Club – Episode #38


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While in veterinary school, we were taught about many different diseases and the signs associated with those diseases. Some were common and others were very uncommon or exotic. While it is important to always think about the uncommon diseases, in our early days of vet school we were often reminded that if you hear hoof beats, it's probably a horse and not a zebra coming down the road. This analogy is akin to us keeping the most common causes of a disease on the top of our list, but not forgetting about the others.
A good example of this would be if we saw a bred heifer with a fever and lesions in her mouth. In the USA, we thankfully do not have foot-and-mouth disease, but we do have another disease called vesicular stomatitis. So, although we need to be aware of the uncommon disease, it will likely not be our final diagnosis. We found the horse, not the zebra. However, occasionally we do find a zebra.
If we have a group of four- to six-week-old calves with fever and signs of respiratory disease (coughing, labored breathing), we will most likely consider the most common bacterial and viral causes of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) in calves and treat with one of the many long-acting antibiotics approved for this purpose. Would many of us even think that the cause of pneumonia was Salmonella?
Up until three to five years ago, the presence of a specific species of Salmonella, Salmonella dublin, was fairly uncommon. When we think of Salmonella infections, diarrhea and fever are likely the first signs that come to mind. But with Salmonella dublin, the most common signs are that of respiratory disease.
When I saw my first case of Salmonella dublin in a group of calves, Salmonella was not even on my list as a possible cause. These calves did not respond to the conventional treatment of antibiotics. Following a further workup of the outbreak, samples from a necropsy of one calf that died identified Salmonella dublin as the likely cause. I needed to be looking for the zebra.
Over the past years, Salmonella dublin has become a more recognized cause of BRD, especially in some regions of the country. This type of Salmonella rarely causes diarrhea in calves and almost always presents as respiratory disease. This is one reason why it may often be underdiagnosed. It can cause disease in adults, but most commonly affects young cattle. In adults, the infection can cause diarrhea, fever and abortions.
Salmonella dublin has also become resistant to many commonly used antibiotics, making this disease very difficult to treat. It is also a very contagious bacteria, so strict biosecurity is necessary to contain and prevent further spread of this pathogen. Overall attention to colostrum management, nutrition and hygiene will also help maintain calves that have a strong immune system and greater resistance to disease.
All Salmonella species are zoonotic, which means they can be transmitted from animal to man (and vice versa). It is not only important for the calves, but also human health, to maintain strict biosecurity while working with any calves suspect of being infected with Salmonella. Infected animals can shed the bacteria in all of their bodily fluids (feces, urine, saliva, milk).
Given we often do stumble upon a zebra, it is important to keep open communication with your herd veterinarian, especially when dealing with animals that are unresponsive to conventional treatments. It is important to recognize these new and emerging pathogens on a dairy in a timely manner to prevent further spread and develop a treatment and management plan.
Mark J. Thomas is a veterinarian and partner in Countryside Veterinary Clinic, LLP in Lowville, N.Y.


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With tight right side feeling better, Asdrubal pinch-hits
PHILADELPHIA -- Nationals second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera had a full workout prior to the Nats-Phillies series opener on Monday as he looked to get past the tightness in the right side of his rib cage that forced him to leave Sunday's contest against the Giants before the eighth inning. He sustained the injury after hitting a grounder to short in the bottom of the seventh.
"He did some early hits and he came out of that fine," Nationals manager Matt Williams said. "And so we're going to put him through the full workout today -- take grounders and run and make sure. We want to give him a day to make sure that he's OK for tomorrow potentially."
Cabrera proved he was OK when he got a chance to pinch-hit in the ninth inning of Monday night's 3-2 loss. He singled on a grounder to right field to put any lingering doubts about the injury to rest.
"I wanted to stay away from him if at all possible tonight to give him a day to make sure," Williams said. "But we knew after batting practice. He went through a full BP and swung from both sides and had no issues. So he should be good to go."
Erik Bacharach is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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2013 will be a big year for secular San Diego. A billboard has been erected for the month of February: "Atheism, A Personal Relationship with Reality" to coincide with an appearance by David Silverman, president of American Atheists. The American Humanist Association will hold their national convention here in late May and the 18 secular organizations in the county that embody the San Diego Coalition of Reason
(SDCoR.org) are poised to welcome new members.
Reactions to these events will range from righteous indignation to "ho-hum" or to "Hey! Me, too!"
The basic tenet of secularism is quite humble: We believe that a good life can be attained within the framework of the natural world, without reliance on supernatural beliefs. The spectrum of "positions" within secularity range from those who don't believe (and don't want anyone to know) to the "strident" atheist that wants to convert everyone to his/her view.
Most of us in the "movement" fall somewhere between those extremes. I see two common goals of all nonbelievers: 1) to be vigilant in identifying and removing religious influence (and preferential treatment) in our laws and, 2) to create an environment where it is OK to be an nonbeliever.
Secular citizens believe (as many believers do) in the principle of separation of church and state. If the church cannot get members and nonmembers of their flock to adhere to their principles through persuasion, e.g. opposition to gay marriage, then why should we allow the church to utilize the apparatus of the state to impose those beliefs on society at large? If your belief system does not support gay marriage, don't have one. Leave the rest of us out of it.
The other major goal of nonbelievers is to "normalize" our participation in the arena of public discourse. We want a place at the table, socially and politically. We envision a world where it is OK to say "I'm an atheist" and not OK for school kids to harass with taunts of "you are going to hell" because their classmate, or their parents, do not believe.
Recent polls (Pew Forum Study of 2012 and the 2012 American Values Study) show that about 20 percent of Americans self-identify as having no religious affiliation ("Nones"). Further, about 8 percent of all Americans self-identify as "secular" and another 7 percent as atheist or agnostic. The statistics prove that the trend is toward more secularity (especially among young people).
There is a certain parallel to the LGBT movement as nonbelievers seek acceptance. Some say that secularism/atheism is currently where the LGBT movement was 10 years ago. There is unanimous agreement in the secular community that "coming out" as a nonbeliever helps the movement as it humanizes the issue. It's harder to hate your uncle/neighbor/friend/co-worker than a faceless boogeyman. That same uncle may have come out of a different closet a few years back!
In San Diego, 18 secular organizations have aims ranging from legal vigilance and action to simply socializing with like-minded people. Most secular groups in San Diego are loosely organized under the San Diego Coalition of Reason, which is part of a national coalition whose goal is to aid secular groups in working with each other for maximum effect.
Secular groups in San Diego claim a total of over 2,500 members. Groups range from the very social San Diego New Atheists and Agnostics (over 1,200 members) to the more serious San Diego Skeptics (100 members). In the middle is the Humanist Fellowship of San Diego (HFSD) (430 members). HFSD is a 501(c)(3) organization and dedicated to education about secular matters.
There is enough interest in secularism/atheism in San Diego that 2,250 people showed up last April for a lecture at Golden Hall featuring Richard Dawkins, author of "The God Delusion" and many other books. Even longtime local secular organizers were surprised by the robust turnout.
Secular San Diegans, know that you are not alone. Consider joining a group that matches your interests. Consider telling a friend or relative about your secularism. Come out, the reality is fine.


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Ryu getting help adapting from Cruz
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu, covered by more than two dozen media from his native Korea on Tuesday's Spring Training reporting day, said he's had an unexpected cultural coach -- third baseman, and Mexican native, Luis Cruz.
"He downloaded a Korean translation application and he texts me in Korean," said Ryu. "I had Mexican teammates last year, and it's easy to get to know them."
Ryu, speaking through an interpreter, said he hasn't advanced beyond one-word answers in English and hasn't begun English classes, but expects to soon. In the clubhouse, he said he is "humble, going straight to my locker and not making too much noise and sitting still."
He said he has communicated with countryman and Cincinnati Reds outfielder Shin-Soo Choo for tips on acclimating to Major League life, and Ryu acknowledged feeling "nervous and anxious" about his new challenge.
Ryu, listed at 6-foot-2 and 230 pounds, said he's lost eight pounds in the 10 days he's been in Arizona by staying away from cheeseburgers.
"No In-N-Out," he said, "but I will as soon as camp is over."
Ryu also declined an invitation to join Team Korea if it advances to the semifinals of the World Baseball Classic.
"It's really flattering, but I feel it's wrong, it ruins team chemistry for one who isn't practicing to join at the end," he said. "It's not fair to the others. I appreciate it, but I kindly defer."


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Milwaukee Repertory Theater presents: Forever Plaid
On a stormy night in the 1960s, four eager singers known as "The Plaids" – Sparky, Jinx, Frankie and Smudge – are killed in a car crash on the way to their first big gig. In 2013, they get one chance to return from the afterlife and bop-shoo-bop their way through classic hits like "Love is a Many Splendored Thing," "Three Coins in the Fountain," "Sixteen Tons" and many more. Audiences will delight in their zany, boyish squabbles and charmingly outlandish choreography as they pay an affectionate homage to the close-harmony male singing groups of the 1950s, and fulfill their dreams by performing the show that never was. Written by Stuart Ross, with arrangements by James Raitt, Forever Plaid will be directed by Rep Artistic Associate JC Clementz. Associate Artist Dan Kazemi will provide musical direction for this production. The cast features Adam Estes and Paul Helm, both returning to the Stackner Cabaret, and Nate Lewellyn and Anand Nagraj, both making their Stackner Cabaret debuts. Colleen Schmitt, also making her Rep debut, will accompany the cast on piano. Forever Plaid runs in the Stackner Cabaret from October 25 – December 29 and opens Sunday, October 27.


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TIPS Under New Scrutiny As Losses Mount, Inflation Still Lags
This blog has written frequently about Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities, or TIPS, specifically how they've been hammered over the past few months even though TIPS are supposed to be a fairly defensive investment. TIPS basically offer Treasury bond yields augmented by a principal value that adjusts according to changes in the consumer price index, thus providing a hedge against inflation. Some prominent investors have argued recently that TIPS don't really function like they're supposed to, and that their prices can fall more sharply than Treasury bond prices.
Today Min Zeng and Carolyn Cui report in the Wall Street Journal that the Treasury is consulting some big banks about why the TIPS market struggled so acutely last quarter, suffering its steepest quarterly price decline since the creation of TIPS in 1997. One question is whether investor fears about the inflationary effects of the Federal Reserve's quantitative easing caused them to load up too heavily on TIPS in anticipation of an inflation jump that hasn't materialized:
[G]overnment officials are concerned that the rise in real rates also signals that the TIPS market may be hamstrung by a lack of buyers and sellers in the market, traders and analysts said.
The Treasury frequently has asked big banks for input on steps to make the market work better, but the question about what has driven this year's action is unusually direct and reflects anxiety about how a once-hot market crowded with individual investors might handle further volatility, observers said.
"The thorniness of this particular question" shows that the Treasury is probably concerned whether it has oversupplied the market, said John Connor, a managing director focusing on inflation products at Mesirow Financial.
The story notes that while the 10-year Treasury note has jumped to 2.554% recently from 1.64% in May, the yield on 10-year TIPS has surged to 0.42% from negative 0.66%, with the faster pace of the rise TIPS yields signaling that inflation expectations declined, reducing the allure of TIPS as an inflation hedge. The story points out that investors have pulled $13.1 billion out of TIPS mutual funds and exchange-traded funds through July 10.
That said, the Labor Market reported today that the June consumer price index rose by 0.5% in June, the biggest rise in four months.
The iShares Barclays TIPS Bond Fund (TIP) is up 28 cents around midday Thursday to $112.54, still down 7.8% over the past three months.


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nut | nutter
This page is about the slang term nut | nutter
Meaning: a crazy or strange person
For example:
- Howard turned into a real nut in his old age. He wouldn't go outside because he thought alien beings from another planet were after him.
- How did a nutter like Gordon get to be office manager?
Variety: This is typically used in British English but may be used in other varieties of English too.
Quick Quiz:
A person could be called a nut or a nutter if they
This entry is in the following categories:
Contributor: Matt Errey


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The Business Facilitation Portal (BusinessFacilitation.org) was launched during last week's session of the UNCTAD Investment, Enterprise, and Development Commission before an audience of academics, government officials, practitioners, investors, and representatives from international and non-governmental organizations from around the world.
The Portal is intended to help governments to learn from each other and encourage the exchange of proven solutions to diminish the administrative burden for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
These solutions fall into three categories:
The portal also offers proven methods for streamlining government/business interactions, such as for starting businesses, obtaining business licenses, registering property, obtaining construction permits, hiring workers, obtaining visas and residence permits, paying taxes, trading across borders, and closing businesses.
The intended target audience for the portal is high-level government officials, policy makers in both developed and developing countries, cooperation agencies, and donor organizations.
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
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Kramer, who came to Stanford from New York University in 2004, will succeed Paul Brest at the Hewlett Foundation, located in Menlo Park.
Brest, who also was dean of Stanford Law School before joining Hewlett in 1999, announced last August that he would retire in 2012.
With assets of more than $7.2 billion, the Hewlett Foundation has made grants since 1967 to solve social and environmental problems. In 2011 it awarded $203 million in grants around the world in the areas of education, environment, global development and population, performing arts and advancing philanthropy. It also has a program to support disadvantaged communities in the Bay Area.
The foundation was established in 1966 by HP cofounder William Hewlett, his wife, Flora, and their eldest son, Walter. Flora Hewlett died in 1977 and William Hewlett in 2001. Walter Hewlett currently chairs the foundation board.
In his tenure at Stanford Law School, Kramer championed deeper integration between the law school and the broader university, changing the school's calendar from the semester to the quarter to allow law students to take classes in other schools and departments.
He also oversaw the dedication of major new law school buildings, including the Munger Graduate Residence and the William H. Neukom academic building.
"Larry Kramer transformed the Stanford Law School, both physically and programatically," Stanford Acting President and Provost John Etchemendy said.
"He pioneered a new vision of legal education and then oversaw the creation of a physical plant capable of supporting the new program. His vision has benefited not only law students but the university at large by integrating the law school with the rest of the university," Etchemendy said.
Under Kramer's leadership, the school also launched programs to give law students experience studying and working in a global setting and emphasized in its curriculum international business, trade and tax, and national security. International students now make up 15 percent of the upper-level student body.


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When will parents question why 74 percent of teachers in one school resigned/transferred/retired early from their child's school? This was all within a three-year period when a new principal was assigned to that school. Maybe the school board should check into it.
When is the city going to plow any additions? … Is this what came with being annexed?
How many times are they going to raise the wheel tax?
How long are we going to pay this food tax?
If you have not drawn any Social Security, your next of kin should get at least 1 percent of what you have paid in to pay for burial expenses … .
Are there really people in this city who are so ultra-conservatively brainwashed that they believe the Connecticut tragedy is a result of gay marriage and contraception rights? Unbelievable! No wonder the rest of the country is so bewildered by us. What an embarrassment.
IU-PU rants could unfortunately be deeper than childish actions. Criticisms and put-downs are often rooted to a deeper jealousy or self-esteem-related issue. Trying to elevate one's self to the perceived level of another is attempted by degrading the other. Today's society is sadly full of this behavior.
The best gun law would be one that doesn't allow prosecutors to allow the gun charge to be dropped when other charges are brought. The penalty should be stiff, and this will eliminate many robberies.
If you don't want to pay taxes to protect schoolchildren from shootings, why pay taxes to protect the president? The children are more important.
What are our police chief and mayor doing to get assault weapons off the streets?
Why won't the new governor pass a law getting rid of the practice of declaring your party for the primary elections in Indiana? Why are they so afraid of people splitting their vote? … Give the voters a real choice.
Thirty-three killed by cough syrup in Pakistan. Where's all the outrage to ban cough syrup? Come on, people, death is death.
Dear ranter, I would love to take away the violent video games and movies from my children (and those things are not in my house) but their father feels that the violent video games and movies keep his children out of his hair when they go to visit him, so unless the courts are willing to stand up to him, my children will continue to play and watch the violent video games and movies.
I challenge my Second District councilman to drive some of the side streets in his district. Some of them you can barely drive on without chains. Where is the city help? We didn't have this problem with our last councilperson.
To contribute to The News-Sentinel's anonymous sound-off forum, email comments of 50 words or fewer to email@example.com or send mail to: The Rant, The News-Sentinel, 600 W. Main St., Fort Wayne, IN 46802.


text: At the last day of the NACStech show in New Orleans, NACS announced the five companies featuring the most exciting new technology at the expo. Attendees voted for their choices during the show using the new NACStech mobile phone app, deciding from between more than 100 exhibiting companies. The winning results were revealed at the EXPO


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I've got a very simple table:
CREATE TABLE `active_songs` (
`id` int(11) NOT NULL auto_increment,
`song_title` varchar(255) default NULL,
`artist_name` varchar(255) default NULL,
`label` varchar(255) default NULL,
`hide_from_chart` varchar(255) default NULL,
`created` datetime default NULL,
`created_week` int(11) default NULL,
`user_added` tinyint(4) default NULL,
PRIMARY KEY (`id`)
) ENGINE=MyISAM DEFAULT CHARSET=latin1;
And when I run a simple SELECT on it with an ORDER BY directive it doesn't order by the field I specify. It is only ordering by the ID field.
SELECT * FROM active_songs WHERE hide_from_chart != '1' ORDER BY 'song_title' ASC
The query above should output the song list and order them by song title (obviously) but it's outputting them by ID no matter what. No errors are being thrown.
It's not that obvious... if you put song_title between quotes
Oh.. nice.. so - this started happening right after I migrated this script to a new server.. those were originally "tildes" (the key under left hand esc). I wonder what would cause them to be transformed to single quotes / apostrophes.
thanks for the heads up.
i'm betting they were actually "backticks" (the key under left hand esc)
~ = tilde` = backtick
and they "transformed to single quotes" when somebody typed them in wrong
Not necessarily. It once happened to me when I copy&pasted a query. I don't remember where I pasted it (something like Notepad, or directly in a webbased file management editing window) but when I saved it and ran the script, the backticks had become simple quotes... :shifty:
i'll bet it was microsoft word, lol
Could be


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Yale Surgical Oncology
At Yale Surgical Oncology, we understand that cancer can have a profound impact on your life. Even before receiving an initial diagnosis, most patients have many questions about the road ahead. Our world-renowned oncology surgeons and medical and radiation oncologists are committed to providing compassionate and personalized care, offering comfort and support with detailed answers to all your questions.
We consider your thoughts, your concerns, and your lifestyle to create a personalized treatment plan, on your very first visit, that includes the most advanced surgical techniques and the latest evidence-based medicine.
As faculty of the Yale School of Medicine, our surgeons are at the forefront of the latest breakthroughs in research and medicine. They are committed to making significant strides in treatment strategies and curative technologies of gastrointestinal, pancreas, liver, intra-abdominal, and breast cancers to provide better outcomes for cancer patients around the world.
Our surgeons see patients and perform surgical procedures at Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale-New Haven. Please call 203.785.3577 to schedule an appointment. For appointments with our breast surgeons, please call 203.200.2328.


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The Agriculture Workforce Coalition, a coalition including many major U.S. dairy and agricultural groups, joined with the Partnership for a New American Economy to launch a month-long campaign for immigration reform.
The campaign, #ifarmimmigration, will support renewed efforts to enact immigration reform this year. It will stress the agriculture sector's critical need for immigration reform with activities online and on the ground in Washington D.C. and in congressional districts.
The effort kicks off with a Capitol Hill briefing on Wednesday, Feb. 5, where Congressional staff will hear from farmers and ranchers about the need for immigration reform.
Throughout the month, the campaign will release research on labor shortages, while farmers and ranchers will be on the ground telling their stories through farm tours, social and traditional media, videos, and community events for members of Congress in their districts.
A 2012 Texas A&M University study found that farms using immigrant labor supply more than three-fifths of the milk in the country. Without immigrant labor, the number of dairy farms would drop by 4,532, reducing milk production by 29.5 billion lbs. and raising retail milk prices by an estimated 61%.
Dairy organization members of the Agriculture Workforce Coalition include the National Milk Producers Federation, Idaho Dairymen's Association, National All-Jersey, South East Dairy Farmers Association, Southeast Milk, Inc., United Dairymen of Arizona, Utah Dairy Producers and Western United Dairymen.
"Immigration reform is critical for the agricultural industry," said American Farm Bureau Federation president Bob Stallman. "This campaign will highlight how many farmers rely on an immigrant labor force and without reform, growers will begin to plant less labor intensive crops or go off shore. Simply put, either we import our labor or we import our food."
Major talking points of the campaign will include:
• The worker shortage is costing farmers millions of dollars each year: Agricultural employers reported more than $300 million in losses in 2010 because of worker shortages.
• Farmers need a stable, legal workforce in order to continue producing an abundant, safe, and affordable food supply. Immigrant workers make up approximately 80 percent of hired labor on American farms.
• Current immigration laws are putting American jobs at risk: Two million people are hired each year to work on American farms, and each of these workers supports two to three other employees downstream in jobs like sales, marketing, and transportation. Without immigration reform, many of these valuable jobs will leave the country and never return.
• Eliminating immigrant labor would increase food prices for American consumers,
For more information, visit iamimmigration.org.
To learn more about AWC, visit www.agworkforcecoalition.org
Read more: House Republicans unveil immigration reform 'principles'


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BANGALORE, India, 27 January 2005
In late January, India's technology mecca Bangalore is to be the venue for an international 'camp' intended to promote free and open source software (FOSS) among civil society. Asia Source, as the 'tech camp' is called, is being held from January 28 to February 4, 2005 and "hopes to bring together over a hundred people from 20 countries to increase the use and awareness of FOSS amongst the non-profit sector in South and South East Asia."
There will be participants coming in from a range of backgrounds. Sucharat "Ying" Sathapornanon from Thailand looks after IT for the Asia-Pacific Regional Resource Center for Human Rights Edcuation. says Ying: "I hope to learn more new skills, exchange tips and share experiences. Interaction and discussion between people from different cultures have enriched me a lot (in the past). I wish to gain a lot of knowledge in the global family of this camp." Umesh Pradhan comes in from Thimphu, Bhutan. Prior to launching his own software firm, he worked with the Royal Institute of Management as the training coordinator and was involved in the promotion of ICTs (information and communication technologies) there. Yee Yee Htun from Myanmar lives along the Thai-Myanmar border, and is a volunteer webmaster for AAPPB (Assistance Association for Political Prisoners-Burma).
From a range of Asian countries, NGOs and grassroots technology support professionals will come in "to learn new skills, exchange tips, and share experiences", organisers say.
FOSS gives users four freedoms — freedom to use the software for any purpose; freedom to study how the software works; freedom to modify the software; and freedom to share the software with others. From a technical perspective, this can be used to reduce costs and hardware requirements while also improving security, reliability, performance, stability, and scalability.
From a wider philosophical perspective, FOSS can transform patterns of access, usage, control and ownership of knowledge and technologies. Globally, FOSS has grown as hundreds of thousand of programmers
professional and hobbyist scattered across the globe collaborated to produce a unified body of knowledge without resorting to hierarchical structures and exploitative relationships. This movement is also seen by some to demonstrate how wealth can be created by entrepreneurs in the free market without using the proprietary copyright regime.
In Bangalore, four themes will flow throughout the event. FOSSophy for NGOs (or, why FOSS makes sense), migration and access to non-proprietary software, tools for content-building and communication, and the localisation of computing to make it relevant to countries across Asia.
Elizabeth, from East Timor, is currently doing her internship at APC member, Open Forum of Cambodia with KhmerOS (Khmer Open Source). The KhmerOs is working to localise software to Khmer, the Cambodian language. Says she: "I'm learning from them while also preparing a localization document for Tetum, one of our national language in Timor Leste." Tetum uses the Latin script with some accents, since it has words imported from Portuguese.
Localisation is an issue that many are addressing in the FOSS world, and taking computing to communities which otherwise might just be seen as an unviable market.
Javier Sola is coordinator of the KhmerOS project. He is working on a "toolkit" on how to do FOSS localization. In Javier's view, localization and making migration easy are the two "keys to FOSS adoption". In Bangalore, he regrets not being able to attend both tracks.
Over a hundred participants are expected at this global meet. Together with experts and specialists, they'll look at how technology and free and open source software makes sense within the non-profit sector — in terms of access and content.
Asia Source organisers — the Dutch TacticalTech.org network and Mahiti.org in Bangalore — say Asia Source will be the "first event of its kind" in the region.
Peer-learning will take top priority. Participants will look at available options, learn how to select and apply alternative technologies. They'll access skills and tools to utilise this in their daily work and there will be experts to share the skills.
Asia Source is supported by the Association for Progressive Communications (APC) together with Aspiration. Sponsors are HIVOS, the Open Society Institute, and the International Open Source Network (IOSN).
Prior to this event, similar 'source' events have taken place in South East Europe, Southern Africa and are planned in 2005 in Western Africa.
See http://www.tacticaltech.org/asiasource
And contact:
Cheekay Cinco
Tel: +63920 9505850
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
This communication is possible thanks to the collaboration of Frederick Noronha, Bytes for All, a South Asian ICT4D network with APC.


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'I'm wary of that "longest-tenure" stuff. It paints a big bright target on you, knowing sooner or later you're next in line for the firing squad. Darcy and I have gone through a lot, a couple of bankruptcies and ownership changes. Through it all, we've learned some things that helped both our careers. We've had some pretty special players play here and they deserve a lot of credit. This team has always had real good character throughout the roster.'
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DAVISVILLE, Fla. - Authorities say the owner of a Florida Panhandle convenience store was fatally shot during an apparent robbery.
Escambia County Sheriff's spokesman Mike Ward says two men wearing ski masks shot the owner of State Line O'Yes Lotto Tuesday afternoon. The pink store sells lottery tickets and beer and is located on Highway 97 near the Florida-Alabama state line.
The Pensacola News Journal reports the body of 74-year-old Thomas "Tommy" Kroll was found behind the counter.
Kroll and his wife, Kathy, have owned the store for about 11 years.
The sheriff's office and officers from the nearby Century Correctional Institute searched for the suspects, causing three nearby schools to go on lock-down for about 45 minutes.
The investigation continues.
Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Spellcaster's Judgment (SD6) is centered around Spellcaster-Type monsters and Direct Damage through card effects. Featured cards include "Breaker the Magical Warrior," "Dark Eradicator Warlock" and "Chaos Sorcerer."


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Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301
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A. Harrison Barnes is a well-known attorney throughout the United States. As a member of the Malibu community, Harrison is committed to serving the needs of Malibu residents and businesses in legal matters.
Benjamin P. Smith is a partner in Morgan Lewis's Litigation Practice. He is a trial lawyer with a particular focus on high-stakes disputes in the biotechnology, medical device, and internet industries.


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Create Irresistible Candy Kebabs
Send guests away empty-handed? Never! These skewers are easy to make at the party or made in advance to give as a parting gift. Add a fun message printed on Avery tags using avery.com/print. Whether you call them kebabs, kebobs or just gummies-on-a-stick, everyone will remember them as scrumptious.
Step 1: Gather your supplies
Gather skewers, gummy animals (enough to fit eight to ten per skewer), large plastic baggies (no zip-tops), string, skewers, Avery Tags (22802 or 22812), Avery Glossy White Oval Labels (22804 or 22814)
Step 2: Skewer gummies onto sticks
Choose your favorite gummies and press them onto a skewer. Pile larger gummies together or separate them with smaller ones.
Step 3: Wrap skewers
Slip each skewer into a plastic baggie and twist at the base.
Step 4: Add tags with fun messages
Create fun messages using this tag template and print on Avery tags. Use string to attach the tag to the base of each skewer.
Step 5: Place extra gummies out in decorated jar or as part of a candy buffet
Put skewers in a clear container and put any extra gummies in a jar for guests to nibble. Decorate the jar with a printed Avery Oval Label.


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I see this as them eventually going to turn The Wyatt's face and fued them with The Shield. So here's how Id love it to play out.
Royal Rumble: Brock Lesner beats Mark Henry, Orton beats Cena, Daniel Bryan, Bray Wyatt, Batista, The Shield are the final 6 in the Rumble. They all are up and stare at the Wrestlemania sign Batista and The Shield look to be on the same page and just as they
Here is the top 5 wrestlers since 1995 in my opinion. To recap the 10 so far it goes in order counting down Edge,Eddie,Guerrero,The Rock,Triple H,and Kurt Angle. So here is the top 5 and who missed it enjoy.
5. Chris Jericho I begin the top 5 with Y2J the Itolla or Rock and rolla (sorry for spelling),and The original Im the best in the world at what i do. As I said Kurt Angle was the
Updated 07-28-2011 at 09:47 AM by Frank
Probably the most discussed thing is the greatest ever. To me its different because i was born in 1995 and watched wrestling since then now 16 i sit back to think who is the best ever. It is going to be a top 10 list. it will be based on the matches they had and their promos,too.
10. Edge he had a great career.With TLC matches,Wrestlemania 24 against Taker and Hell in the Cell against
Updated 07-28-2011 at 10:02 AM by Fluffyman101
© 2011 eWrestlingNews, All Rights Reserved.


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With focus solely on the field, C. Young hits two blasts
NEW YORK -- If Chris Young was in any imminent danger of losing his roster spot, he took a sizable step beyond that during Tuesday's 10-1 Mets win over the A's.
Young's two home runs came mere hours after he learned of an ESPN report stating that he could be released as soon as Thursday, with the Mets eating the remainder of his $7.25 million contract. If general manager Sandy Alderson's subsequent dismissal of the report did not ease Young's mind, his pair of homers certainly did.
"As a player, all you do is just show up and get ready for that day," Young said. "I really can't focus on anything from the outside. That would be counterproductive for me."
Young, who signed a one-year deal as a free agent this winter, is batting .209 with six home runs and a .644 OPS in 59 games. His numbers were actually worse against left-handed pitchers than righties, though two consecutive games against A's left-handers presented a unique opportunity for a pair of starts -- perhaps with his job on the line. Fellow outfielder Juan Lagares is due back from the disabled list later this week, creating an outfield crunch that, at the very least, figures to cut into Young's playing time.
"I feel pretty good right now," Young said. "I'm confident that everything will translate into the game. But in the grand scheme of things, it didn't take one day for my numbers to get to where we are right now. It's not like I'm going to have one game and I'm going to be hitting .300. All I can do is continue to play."
Anthony DiComo is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @AnthonyDicomo. Tim Healey is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.