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Too little, too late? Too little, regardless.
I'm on the side of the worryworts when it comes to global warming. I think effective action to reduce the negative effects will require changes in lifestyle for those of us in the large fraction of humanity who rely on lots of energy to get stuff done. So, always on the lookout for like-minded folks, I thought this review of George Monbiot's Heat in AlterNet was worthwhile reading.
What Al Gore Hasn't Told You About Global Warming
By David Morris, AlterNet
Posted on January 9, 2007, Printed on January 9, 2007
Al Gore is our generation's Paul Revere. Riding hard through the country, he warns us of the impending arrival of climatic disaster. He's proven an astonishingly effective messenger. An Inconvenient Truth may receive an Oscar for Best Documentary. Overflow crowds greet his presentations with standing ovations.
Which, come to think of it, is odd. When has someone ever delivered such an ominous message to such tumultuous applause? (Aside from those who insist we are in the end times and the rapture is near.)
In a recent speech to a standing-room-only audience at the New York University School of Law, Gore declared, "We are moving closer to several 'tipping points' that could — within as little as 10 years — make it impossible for us to avoid irretrievable damage to the planet's habitability for human civilization." The audience cheered wildly. Presumably audiences are not cheered by the prospect of imminent catastrophe. So what is going on here?
British journalist George Monbiot, author of Heat: How to Stop the Planet from Burning (Doubleday, 2006) has a theory.
"We wish our governments to pretend to act," he writes. "We get the moral satisfaction of saying what we know to be right, without the discomfort of doing it. My fear is that the political parties in most rich nations have already recognized this. They know that we want tough targets, but that we also want those targets to be missed. They know that we will grumble about their failure to curb climate change, but that we will not take to the streets. They know that nobody ever rioted for austerity."
Austerity? Hold on. Al Gore and the rest of the U.S. environmental movement never utter the word "austerity." Their word of choice is "opportunity." The prospect of global warming, they maintain, can serve as a much-needed catalyst to spur us to action. A large dose of political will may be required, but we need not anticipate economic pain. We can stop global warming in its tracks, expand our economy and improve our quality of life. We can, in other words, do good and do quite well. A leading environmentalist, for whom I have a great deal of admiration, summed up his position to an interviewer, "I can't stand it when people say, 'Taking action on climate change is going to be extremely difficult.'"
And there's the rub, as dear Hamlet would say. By claiming we can solve the problem of climate change painlessly, environmentalists confuse us. They offer stark and rigorous presentations terrifying us about the near-term, dire consequences of global warming. And then they offer generalized, almost blithe assurances about how we can avoid these dire consequences without great sacrifice. We are horrified and soothed at the same time. It's a dangerous strategy. Many who focus on the catastrophic present-day images of An Inconvenient Truth believe we have gone beyond the point of no return, which leads to cynicism and passivity. Those who are spurred to action believe that buying a hybrid car or taking an eco-vacation will address the problem.
This might be a good time to mention Greg Pahl's soon-to-be-released book on localizing and renewable-izing energy supplies, The Citizen-Powered Energy Handbook.


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purple planet wrote:...i dont want to take the percpects ...
purple planet wrote: no music or stuff for fun
just stuff that i do not mindfuly -Why no stuff for fun? What's the meaning of that for you?
Not trying to discourage you or anything, but it's curious that you don't want to take the most basic 5 core precepts, but instead jump ahead to a sub-section of the seventh, and include a newspaper precept that doesn't even exist except for monks. And even then only some few hardcore monks.
no problem as long as when new people read this thread they will remember the original question - so i will put a small reminder and continue the conversation :I understand the mosquito thing, but how about the other four precepts?
James the Giant wrote:Ok, interesting... thanks
A good way to keep an oath is to make it in front of some people who know you, and you then tell everyone you know that you have done it, and tell them you're really serious this time, and you will give each of them twenty bucks if you break your oath. And give them all a bit of paper with the oath and the twenty dollar promise typed on it, and your signature.
You can give me the promise too, I'll send you my paypal details.
purple planet wrote:DAWN i read your post about you wanting to become a monk - what i think is you shouldnt - i dont want to get in to this cause it will make people really go just in short cause i dont want to inspire you to become a monk - i didnt want to write this before cause i cant think of something that brings more bad karma than convincing someone not to be a monk ill just say it cause i dont want you to become a monk because of my thread - you can be a good home monk if your family agrees
purple planet wrote:sometime maybe its good when you have temptations in fרront of you so you will "have something to work with" plus im still not a beeliver i didnt even have one insight - i follow buddhism cause until now it make sense - a lot of sense but my family would feel bad if i will go to a monestry so untill i would be sure about the practice i wont leave house -
but again the oath worked for me like crazy - and exactly in that week i went to events with really really good food but had no problem cause of the oath
Actualy i dont take a decision yet, i have to acheve somethink, and after that i will think about the future.
purple planet wrote:can i ask what it is
purple planet wrote:the truth is that i actually wanted a descusion a bit thats why i didnt put a short question - but im very nervous to hear about some good oaths and to take the oath allready thats why i went crazy with the things + i wanted to use one of this cool simleys on the side
I'dont realy understand this part
the truth is that i actually wanted a descusion a bit thats why i didnt put a short question
purple planet wrote:I'dont realy understand this partthe truth is that i actually wanted a descusion a bit thats why i didnt put a short question
descusion=discussion /chat i misspelled that
it was an apology that i allways said and i said i used it cause i was nervous to hear good ideas on how to take an oath so i can take it as soon as possible
the last part is a joke -that i only said just cause i wanted to use a smiley
for moderators : could you please delete this thread
purple planet wrote:I am trying to take an oath that i will not hear music , not read newspapers ect ect .... and to do everything as much as possible to be as mindful as i can -
i did it once and it turned out good - but i stopped i really believe i need to take it to the extreme (without becoming a monk or going on a retreat) - and by extreme i mean no music or stuff for fun -
I want to do a ceremony so the oath will get stuck in my head - i dont want to take the percpects cause i still kill mosquitoes and i eat all day (i want to eat without the "fun" "greed" factor by eating only mindfuly and only healthy food)
- In short : what i would like to hear are intersting idea on how to take an oath - ways to make it memorable - i would take a "blood oath" - cut my hand to make it bleed a bit but i would defintly would like to heat some other good ideas like maybe to eat something ect any idea no matter how stupid is welcomed .....
plwk wrote:Sigh... there was once a wise man who said let your yes be yes and your no be no...
And a cool Canadian woman who sang Why you have to go and make things so complicated?
Any wonder the Blessed One in the Dhammapada admonishes us...
Those who mistake the unessential to be essential and the essential to be unessential, dwelling in wrong thoughts, never arrive at the essential.
Those who know the essential to be essential and the unessential to be unessential, dwelling in right thoughts, do arrive at the essential.
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Saudi Arabia [2] pledged on Wednesday to donate $100 million in humanitarian aid to the Syrian people during a Friends of Syria meeting.Speaking at the opening session of the talks, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Feisal said the formation of Syria's opposition coalition gave "a new opportunity of hope."
Qatar Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani meanwhile, told the meeting in Morocco that Assad's rule was finished after the 20-month-old uprising which has brought rebel fighters to the edge of Damascus."This meeting has exceptional significance. It is taking place at a time when the Syrian people are about to complete their victory and achieve their legitimate aspirations for which they have sacrificed their blood and souls," Sheikh Hamad said."Our humanitarian and moral duty calls on us to provide support through legitimate means to those who are fighting against oppression and for freedom," Sheikh Hamad said.He also called for assistance to ordinary Syrians, including refugees he said were living under appalling conditions as winter sets in, and proposed a donors' meeting. [3]Arab and Western countries [4] opposed to President Assad formally recognized the opposition National Coalition as sole representative of the Syrian people on Wednesday, the Moroccan hosts of a Friends of Syria said."Today, full recognition is given to the National Coalition as the sole representative," Moroccan Foreign Minister Saad-Eddine el-Othmani told a news conference after the meeting of representatives from 130 countries in the southern city of Marrakesh.On Tuesday, U.S. President Barack Obama recognized the National Coalition as the legitimate representative of the nation's people. It also blacklisted as a terrorist group the al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra Front, which U.S. officials fear seeks to hijack the revolution.
[1] http://www.syndigate.info
[2] http://www.albawaba.com/news/saudi-arabia-withdraws-monitors-syria-409928
[3] http://www.albawaba.com/business/lebanon-syria-refugees-454100
[4] http://www.albawaba.com/business/german-jordan-refugee-453345
[5] http://www.alarabiya.net/english


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Vitamin E and tryptophan status is associated with immune function and quality of life in the elderly, in one recent study.
Doctors in a study on inflammation thought low antioxidant levels encourage chronic inflammation that leads to disease as we age. Researchers measured nutrients and inflammation in about 70 senior men and women and found that, compared to those with lower nutrient levels, those with higher blood levels of the antioxidant vitamin E and the essential amino acid tryptophan—which helps control mood, appetite and sleep—had better quality of life, including better physical and mental health, and fewer signs of inflammation.


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In January 2012, raw milk from the Family Cow dairy in Chambersburg, Pa., sickened 148 people across four states.
It demonstrates the ongoing hazards of unpasteurized dairy products, according to a new study pubished in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases. Read the study here.
While it might be possible to reduce the risks associated with unpasteurized milk consumption with further testing, consumers can never be assured that certified unpasteurized milk is pathogen-free, even when from a seemingly well-functioning dairy, the study said. "The only way to prevent unpasteurized milk-associated disease outbreaks is for consumers to refrain from consuming unpasteurized milk."
Read more from the Food Poisoning Bulletin.
Douglas Powell, professor of food safety at Kansas State University, told NBC News that raw milk is "riskier than most foods."
"Fecal matter just ends up in the milk — it's not like you can see it," he said. "No inspectors can see it — this isn't CSI, where the bacteria just magically line up."
See, "Raw milk sickened scores, even with oversight, report finds."


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Best Smartphones for Christmas
Stay connected to loved ones with a new smartphone this Christmas. Check out our list of the best smartphones for Christmas to help you find the perfect gift.
World but this all over again!...
This is a hybrid case with stand for Samsung© Galaxy S III. Protect your cell phone against bumps and scratches with this case.
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fair case cover for galaxy S3Read More
World but this all over again!Read More
I thought I was buying the black and white one and I got the white and white one, but I think that was my mistake, I didn't see the drop down color options, turns out they only had the all white anyway, if I had known that I wouldn't have gotten it. I've had it for a couple of weeks now and the white outer case is getting pretty dirty. It's a pretty good case though.Read More
This is an old phone. It's a good case for the money for sure. It does sometimes come off a little in my pocket though. But it works.Read More
I purchased this stylish case for my galaxy s3. I thought it was a great value and when I receive the product in the mail I was very surprised to see how well made it was. I would have paid 4 times this much at the Verizon store. I purchase the suggested products to go along with this and was very happy with them. I love that this case has a little pull out stand on it. I like to play games on my phone and this makes it very easy to set it on the table. Thank You OS for offering us suchgreat products at a great price. I would definitely recommend this to my friendsRead More
I drop my phone all the time and with this high-end cell phone, I didn't want it to be damaged. This case is really sturdy, yet not bulky. I like the stand feature...it makes it even more versatile. The store could not beat this awesome pricing...thank you O.co!!Read More
This case definitely exceed my expectaions. It fits perfectly around all of the cutouts and didnt add a lot of bulk to this lightweight phone. The kickstand is a nice added touch. THis case also doesnt impact a screen protector if you have one. The black and white stands out. I've received several compliments.Read More
I was not sure about getting a rubberized case because my son had bought one in the past that tore at the corners. This one is sturdy enough that unless you are really rough on it I do not think that would happen as the case is fairly thick. That can make it more difficult to get in and out of a pocket or a pocket in a purse because the Galaxy S III is a big on the larger side of phones anyway. I had to kind of stretch it around the phone the first time I put it on, but that makes it stay on the phone well. This case has better protective ability than I thought, but I would not compare it to something like Otterbox, though it's much closer than some of the vanity plastic cases. The edge of this case wraps around which gives a buffer to the crystal. When you set the phone on its front, it's not actually sitting on the crystal, plus I added a skin to help prevent scratching on the crystal. The stand up feature opens like a tripod and locks forming a triangle against the back of the phone and it's pretty stable for using the phone on the side ie if you want to watch something streaming. The tripod is made of hard plastic, not rubberized. The phone does rock just a little bit side to side if you do it on purpose or have an unstable surface ie something that is not quite flat or might move for some reason. I was happier with the case than I thought I would be. I expected it to be about a 3, I give it a 4 instead.Read More
great cover. Easy to install, light weight, makes handling the SG3 easy. folding stand is a nice touch.Read More
This case gets the job done. The kickstand is great for watching movies. The price was even better.Read More
Stay connected to loved ones with a new smartphone this Christmas. Check out our list of the best smartphones for Christmas to help you find the perfect gift.
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Forget the flowers and chocolate, and treat the man in your life to an extra special gift this Valentine's Day. Finding the perfect gift is sometimes difficult, but remember that you can't go wrong with a thoughtful, personal, and romantic present during this holiday devoted to all things love. If you're looking to give your significant other a truly memorable Valentine's Day gift, here are a few suggestions.
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Next-Generation Power: MTU
Two radically new engines may set the standard in marine power for years to come.
By Richard Thiel — June 2004
You don't often see a truly new marine diesel. First of all, most marine diesels are marinizations of industrial engines, and second, most new models are simply more powerful versions of existing models. Considering the astronomical cost of creating a diesel from scratch, the lack of innovation is hardly surprising, but the result is a lot of marine engines that were designed a decade or more ago to produce far less horsepower and never intended to meet today's stringent emissions regulations.
So the fact that MTU has designed a totally new diesel series specifically for use in boats is remarkable, to say the least. The fact that these engines are aimed at the 40- to 70-foot market (not including trawlers) makes them an exciting harbinger of things to come.
The first of the new Series 2000 Common Rail (CR) engines should be available as you read this—a V-8 and V-10 rated at 1,200 hp and 1,500 hp, respectively. (All new Series 2000 CRs will produce 150 hp from each 2.23-liter cylinder.) While they will still be called Series 2000s, the new engines have absolutely nothing in common with the old ones, not even the logos on the valve covers. That's partly because MTU engineers used finite element analysis and advanced metallurgy to create an engine that is durable yet significantly lighter. In fact, the 10V 2000 CR weighs 20 percent less than the equivalently rated 12V 2000. To put that in perspective, replacing a pair of 12V 2000s with 10V 2000 CRs could take nearly a ton out of your boat. In addition, while MTU hadn't released specific dimensions at presstime, it did say that the 10V CR's overall bulk is about two-thirds that of the 12V 2000. That means more room for ancillary gear, or perhaps a smaller engine space and more accommodations.
So the CR excels at what engineers call "power density," the result of allowing them to design from scratch. Since much of that process focused on the fact that this would be a marine engine, other benefits accrue, like a cooler engine room. By placing the charge-air cooler between the cylinder banks, water-cooling the turbochargers, and using triple-wall fuel lines and exhaust manifolds, MTU engineers ensured that no part of the engine will exceed 428ºF, which lets the CR qualify under the new SOLAS safety-at-sea regulations. Beyond safety, a cooler engine room means more horsepower and less need for extensive ventilation equipment.
But the real breakthrough is represented by the CR designation, which stands for common rail. As the name implies, this fuel-delivery system, found in the latest diesel-powered cars, uses one fuel line from which all injectors are fed. Because fuel is under very high pressure—more than 26,000 psi—it is instantly available regardless of load or engine speed, and throttle response is virtually instantaneous. MTU's common rail system is unique in that each injector has its own reservoir, further enhancing the availability of fuel.
Complementing common rail and further enhancing throttle response is sequential turbocharging. On the 8V and 10V there are two identical turbochargers of MTU's own design and manufacture, designated ZR 125 and capable of 85,000 rpm. One operates constantly; the other comes on line as rpm increases. The first unit supplies the necessary volume of air at low speed to generate sufficient torque to put a boat on plane, while the secondary unit creates the horsepower necessary for superior top speed. Sequencing is controlled by a new microprocessor that, like the engine, is significantly smaller and lighter yet more powerful. Designated Advanced Diesel Engine Control, or ADEC, also controls the timing and metering of each electronic fuel injector and has an integrated system interface that uses a widely available flash card, making it easier to program the engine to a particular application. A standard Ethernet connection allows engine diagnosis via the Internet, using either land line or satphone. Large integral data storage provides a permanent service and performance record.
All these features will be included on subsequent CR models like the triple-turbocharger 12V and 16V, rated at 1,800 and 2,400 hp, respectively, and currently under development. All CRs will be rated at 2450 rpm and meet EPA Tier II/Euro 2 emissions standards, making them not only truly new but better in just about every way that matters to a boater.
MTU Phone: (313) 592-5261. www.mtu-online.com.
Previous page > Mercury Verado > Page 1, 2
This article originally appeared in the May 2004 issue of Power & Motoryacht magazine.


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CORRECTION: An earlier version of this opinion incorrectly identified Al Muratsuchi as a federal prosecutor. He is a state prosecutor.
A new set of districts are coming to the area thanks to political maps drawn up and approved last summer by the independent California Citizens Redistricting Commission.
One of the state's most closely watched Assembly races is right here in the South Bay, involving a pair of candidates with widely differing beliefs and experiences. Another Assembly race presents a rematch between two old rivals. And, there are two legislative races where the incumbents face nominal opposition - for better or worse.
Based on a series of lengthy interviews conducted over the past month, the following candidates are the Daily Breeze's picks for the competitive legislative races in the South Bay for the Nov. 6 general election.
We offer no endorsement in the 64th Assembly District, where incumbent Assemblyman Isadore Hall is running unopposed.
Al Muratsuchi for 66th Assembly District
Of the two men who are running for a new state Assembly district that essentially takes in the heart of the South Bay, Democratic candidate Al Muratsuchi is the one who best represents the region's values.
The state prosecutor has served on the Torrance school board for seven years, allowing him to gain the experience of crafting a balanced budget, which will be valuable as the state struggles with ongoing budgeting problems.
Muratsuchi has also demonstrated that he is not necessarily beholden to his political donors, which in this case include heavy union funding. Even though he had the endorsement of the union representing Torrance teachers, Muratsuchi still voted for necessary cuts and furloughs in recent years.
On top of that, Muratsuchi gained a reputation for bringing up uncomfortable issues while serving on a school board that is usually uniform in thought. For example, he recently voiced concerns about the high cost of change orders stemming from the overhaul of Magruder Middle School. Had Muratsuchi and fellow board member Michael Wermers not brought it up, the public may not have ever learned that the project surpassed the initial $6.6 million budget by $870,000. That's the type of outspoken visionary we need in Sacramento.
The social leanings of Muratsuchi's Republican opponent, Craig Huey, are out of touch with the values of the South Bay. On top of that, Huey told the editorial board that he would eliminate several state commissions, but failed to provide specifics about which ones. In short, Huey has not honed his message since the primary election last June.
Democrats hold a narrow, three-point registration advantage over Republicans in the 66th District, which takes in Manhattan Beach, Gardena, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, Torrance, Lomita, the Palos Verdes Peninsula and the unincorporated area known as West Carson.
The race is closely watched because a win by Muratsuchi could put the Democrats closer to winning a supermajority of 54 out of 80 seats in the Assembly, giving them the power to bypass Republicans to approve budgets, tax hikes and urgency bills submitted past deadline.
A single-party supermajority is certainly not ideal, but if Democrats are going to run rampant in Sacramento next year then it would be best to elect moderates like Muratsuchi who support the fiscal conservatism and pragmatic ideals that represent the South Bay.
Bonnie Lowenthal for 70th Assembly District
To the south, Democratic Assemblywoman Bonnie Lowenthal should be re-elected based on her varied accomplishments in both Sacramento and in Long Beach.
She is a competent, well-known and likeable politician who has a record of reaching across the aisle over the past four years in the Assembly by writing measures that have helped to reduce waste, fraud and abuse in Sacramento.
Lowenthal has also authored bills that have touched on transportation, seaports and gay rights - a varied set of issues that directly reflects the needs of the diverse constituents in this newly drawn district, which encompasses Long Beach, Signal Hill and San Pedro.
While well-intentioned, Lowenthal's Republican opponent Martha Flores-Gibson is unprepared for office and ill-versed on basic political topics, including pension reform, high-speed rail, prison realignment and the state deficit. Lowenthal is far more equipped and should be sent back to Sacramento for another term.
Steven Bradford for 62nd Assembly District
Assemblyman Steven Bradford, D-Inglewood, should be sent back to Sacramento for another term to represent this district, which runs from Marina del Rey to Hawthorne.
Among his accomplishments, Bradford authored a successful measure that strengthens reporting requirements for child abuse, another bill that requires real estate agents to notify customers of potential safety hazards near their homes and another measure that saves education funds by allowing school districts to distribute parent handbooks electronically.
Bradford faces light competition from fellow Democrat and perennial candidate Mervin Evans, who has also unsuccessfully mounted bids for mayor of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles City Council, the state Senate, the Assembly and Congress.
Roderick Wright for 35th Senate District
State Sen. Roderick Wright, D-Inglewood, will most likely win a second term in November, given his name recognition and the fact that 61 percent of the 35th Senate District's voters are registered as Democrats.
However, it's difficult to endorse a politician who faces eight felony charges for allegedly living outside his old district. It's also hard to overlook the fact that his colleagues in the state Senate quietly approved a $120,000 taxpayer-funded settlement two years ago for Wright's alleged sexual harassment of a former staffer.
This isn't to say that Wright hasn't done some good while in the state Senate. He sponsors an annual back-to-school fair that provides childhood immunizations and health screenings. A few years ago, Wright also wrote a bill that helped break a logjam in several Southern California construction jobs that required permits from the South Coast Air Quality Management District.
Despite those accomplishments, it would be nice to have a fresh face serve the district, which encompasses Inglewood, Lennox, Hawthorne, Willowbrook, Compton, Gardena, Lawndale, Carson, Wilmington, San Pedro, the Port of Los Angeles, a small portion of Torrance and the unincorporated community known as West Carson.
But Wright's Republican opponent Charlotte Svolos, a special education teacher from Torrance, is too inexperienced in the political arena for this go-round. She is smart and should be encouraged to pursue a potentially bright future in politics.
Rather than making the drastic leap to Sacramento, perhaps Svolos should first set her sights on smaller races such as the Torrance City Council or school board.


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Consol Leads Coal Stocks Higher
Shares of Consol Energy (CNX) were climbing 0.6% on the back of its rosy production update, ahead of next week's earnings report.
This morning, the company announced that it produced 13.8 million tons of coal in the second quarter, ahead of its previous forecast of 13.25 million to 13.75 million tons. Total coal inventory reached a 15-year low, dropping by by 47,000 tons to 917,000.
The company said that it expects third-quarter coal production between 13.4 million to 13.9 million tons.
Rival Peabody Energy (BTU) lost ground on the news, falling more than 1%. However other coal names like Alpha Natural Resources (ANR), James River Coal Company (JRCC) were jumping well above the broader market's slight gains. Arch Coal (ACI) and Walter Energy (WLT) were also making headway.


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HALO Wars Spartan Mark IV...
For a great selection of video game action figures and collectibles, check out BigBadToyStore.com, Urban-Collector.com, DollsAmerica.com, ClarkToys.com, ToyWiz.com, VNCToys.com, PastGenerationToys.com, HobbyLinkJapan.com, YesAnimation.com, and SuperheroToys.com.
For a great selection of video game t-shirts and apparel, check out TShirtGurus.com and 80sTees.com.
One2One Collectibles presents the second bust in it's range of 1:2 scale busts from the massive HALO franchise. The first statue Master Chief (see our story HERE) was released at the beginning of September and here is the HALO Spartan bust. It will be available from late November and is pre-ordering now on a first come, first served basis through www.one2onecollectibles.com.
This Spartan bust captures the look of the supersoldiers in early MJOLNIR Mark IV armor as seen in the video game HALO Wars. The 1:2 Scale Bust stands 12 inches tall and 12 inches wide. The statue comes fully painted and both the visor and the middle of the base are Gold Plate.
Further HALO characters in this range will include, Brute Chieftain and ODST Rookie busts, which will be available later in Q4 2009. The range coincides with the release of the new HALO video game HALO 3: ODST that was released on the 22-09-09 and went straight in at No.1 in the video games chart.
The busts are cast in high-quality polystone, hand painted to the highest standards. Each piece is packed inside a moulded foam interior, ready for safe shipment, and packaged in a full-color box with an authenticity card. These busts are strictly limited (650 units). The 1:2 Scale HALO Spartan Mark IV Bust is priced at a SRP of $224.99.


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The Ukiah City Council tonight will consider a new, five-year contract for City Manager Jane Chambers that includes a 10-percent reduction in her salary and benefits.
Hired in 2008, Chambers' original five-year contract expires next month. In January, the council approved a two-year extension while a new contract agreement was worked out with Mayor Doug Crane and Council member Mary Anne Landis.
According to the staff report prepared for tonight's meeting, Chambers has agreed to a five-and-a-half year contract "with provision for a full 10-percent compensation cost reduction ... for Fiscal Year 2013/14."
However, the report states, "as the negotiations process is underway with labor groups, the contract provides that the 10 percent reduction may be modified if the council reaches agreements with other groups for less than this amount."
As part of her annual review process, Chambers may request "a cost of living and/or merit pay increase, (but) there are no automatic increases contained in the agreement; any changes must be approved by the council."
According to the spread sheet provided with the staff report, Chambers' previous compensation was $246,717, starting with a base salary of $150,000 and including $16,500 of merit pay, $8,653 of executive pay and a $3,600 car allowance.
In the new contract, the merit pay, executive pay and car allowance have been eliminated. Chambers will submit mileage logs for business travel rather than receive a fixed amount.
"Such costs will be charged to an operations account rather than personnel costs, and are estimated to be about $2,100 annually," according to the report.
The total compensation reduction is $24,672, with $20,343, or $1,695.25 a month, "borne directly out of the city manager's pay, and $4,329 from (Public Employees' Retirement System) cost savings to the city."
Justine Frederiksen can be reached at email@example.com, on Twitter @JustFrederiksen or at 468-3521.


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Segura finding success the opposite way
MILWAUKEE -- Throughout Spring Training, shortstop Jean Segura's power was to right field, and two of his first four regular-season hits went the same direction.
Is this by design?
"It's natural," Segura said. "I always seem to hit the ball the other way. Sometimes, I don't try to go over there, and it happens."
That was good news to manager Ron Roenicke, who was pleased to see the unproven 23-year-old get off to a solid start. Segura was 4-for-7 in the Brewers' first two games after batting .367 (22-for-60) in 21 Spring Training games. Before that, he won the Dominican Winter League's batting title with a .324 average.
"The guys in the league that hit well for an average, that's where they hit," Roenicke said, referring to the opposite-field approach. "That keeps you on the offspeed stuff. I think if he's going to hit in this league and hit for a high average, he has to do that."
Adam McCalvy is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Brew Beat, and follow him on Twitter at @AdamMcCalvy. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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In light of such fervor, last week, eight Philadelphians – five young adults, some accompanied by their parents, and one family of three with existing ties to Israel – met with Landsberg to discuss the possibility of making aliyah.
"Israel may not be the land of milk and honey," Landsberg told the group sitting in a conference room at the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia's offices in Center City. "On the other hand, Israel is the place when on a Friday afternoon, you sense something in the air that is different. You sense something holy."
Shai Freedman, 17, and Tal Roth, 25, have already spent significant time in Israel – Freedman spent a semester there, and Roth lived at an absorption center in Ra'anana after graduating college. Each would like to move to Israel in order to join the Israel Defense Forces.
First, though, Roth had to be sure that his age wouldn't impede him from enlisting.
"I may have second thoughts about going if I'm not allowed to serve at least one year," said the Langhorne resident.
Landsberg told the group about the benefits they were entitled to as new olim – Hebrew for "immigrants" – including rent subsidies and mortgages, travel concessions to Israel, tax deductions on car purchases and shipping costs, cash to help start life there, even free education at certain institutions.
Ways to Live There
Freedman said he intended to go to university after his army service, and was even thinking about going into some sort of police work after he earned his degree.
Roth, a graduate of Temple University, said that though here he was a "city kid," in Israel he could see himself living on a kibbutz in a small town in the north.
Though some had their plans figured out – or at least they appeared to – others, like 19-year-old Mindy Lane of Cherry Hill, N.J., came just to listen to what Landsberg had to say.
"I want to be in Israel by next September," said the Israel-born Lane, who has already received an exemption from the army. "It makes sense to go to university and make friends there, but I'm still up in the air. The process is very complicated."
And the process is definitely time-consuming – applicants must fill out piles of paperwork, obtain a letter from a rabbi proving they are Jewish or married to a Jew, and work closely with a professional aliyah shaliach (or "emissary" from Israel) to plan what they'll do once they get there.
Still, the Israel Aliyah Center, an organization affiliated with the Jewish Agency for Israel and with a branch office here in Philadelphia, helps walk prospective olim through each step of the process.
Like Roth and Freedman, Niriel Laurence hopes to be able to join the army and serve for two years; she also wants to take advantage of the free education.
"I feel like more things make sense there," said the 17-year-old from Elkins Park, who spent a high school semester in Israel. "Why would I live here if I can live there?"
Her mother, Ruth Kasow, an Israeli herself whose three sisters all served in the Israeli army, recognizes that her daughter is going for the right reasons, and understands the deep connection Laurence feels to the country.
But, as any mother would, she worries.
"I don't worry about safety because hundreds of thousands of people join the army," said Kasow. "I worry about the language, and about fitting in and the cultural differences.
"The main thing, though, is, I'm just going to miss her."


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'Ramsey was a very intelligent defenseman with a great understanding of the game. He was always in great position and always made a solid play and clearing the zone dependably. He also was an honest physical player – very tough in front of his net and a good open ice hitter. He was also recognized as one of the game's best shot blockers. His work ethic, dependability, and importance to the team made him a natural choice to serve as the Sabres captain after Mike Foligno's departure in 1990.'
You are here: Home / SabresBeat / Sabre Legends: Mike Ramsey


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Recently, the FDA released several "guidance documents" that have established their current and future policy regarding the use of antimicrobial drugs in food-producing animals.
Of particular importance to FDA is phasing out the production uses of these drugs in food animals and phasing in veterinary oversight. In dairy cattle, we do not use these drugs as frequently as the beef, poultry and swine industry due to the fact there is no labeled indication for these products in lactating cows. The main production or feed efficiency product we use in dairy cattle is Rumensin (monensin), and this class of drugs is exempted from the FDA guideline.
Why are these issues important to dairy veterinarians and producers?
There are some products we use in dairy replacement heifers, such as tetracycline in the feed to treat or prevent pneumonia, that will in the future require veterinary oversight. It is also important for producers to realize that it is likely these FDA policies will shift to injectable antibiotics, as well, meaning a loss of "over the counter" status. Finally, FDA has repeatedly stated that the No. 1 common factor in violative residues in marketed dairy cattle is a lack of a valid veterinary-clientpatient relationship.
The food animal industry is being scrutinized and unfairly blamed for antibiotic resistance in people. We all know there is antibiotic resistance in food animals and in people. The exact mechanisms are unclear. However, the food animal agriculture industry is under attack for unregulated and unsupervised use of antibiotics. It is my opinion that the industry either needs to embrace and accept veterinary oversight of drug use on their operations or eventually we will have more and more regulations with fewer and fewer products to treat and manage disease on our farms.
How will I get antibiotics for feed for my heifers if needed?
You will still be able to acquire these products; however, you will no longer be able to purchase them without a veterinary "prescription." The FDA is only applying these guidelines to those antibiotics of importance to humans, such as sulfas, penicillins, and tetracylines. The "prescription" is called a Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD). The VFD process is currently undergoing changes to make it more "user- friendly." So, sometime in the next three years, if your nutritionist wants to have these products mixed into the feed, you will probably need to contact your veterinarian for a VFD.
Does this mean injectable productswill all be prescription?
The recent documents released by the FDA do not mention injectable products, only feed and water additives. The likely reason for this is that on a total-pounds-ofuse basis, more antibiotics are used in the feed. Also, feed and water additive products are labeled for production uses, which the FDA states is not "judicious" use of antibiotics. The first step in the FDA guidelines is to have drug manufacturers withdraw the labeled indications that are not for treatment, prevention or control of disease. It is likely that injectable, oral and intramammary products will become prescriptiononly at some time in the near future. The FDA wants to ensure that veterinarians are involved at some point in the decision-making process of using antibiotics. This does not mean we need to treat every sick animal on your farm. It does mean that your veterinarian should be involved and offer guidance on how to diagnose, treat and prevent diseases on your operation.
Your veterinarian does not want to squeeze every dollar out of your farm operation. We do want to help you be successful and ensure the health of your animals. Veterinary oversight is really veterinary help. We want to help you have healthy, productive animals.
Fred Gingrich is a practicing veterinarian and owner of Country Roads Veterinary Services Inc., in Ashland, Ohio.


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Kitchen Update – Sink and Faucet
I know it's been quite a while since I had a kitchen update. That's because we've been having too much fun enjoying or newly fully-functioning kitchen!
I wanted to highlight our sink and faucet. As silly as this might sound, the sink and faucet are one of my favorite things about the new kitchen. And they were the things that I obsessed over the least.
We went with a D-shaped sink because our kitchen designer recommended it and it seemed like a great idea. For some reason, it feels so much bigger than a square sink even though it's about the same dimensions. And it just seemed to fit our sink space really well. We were able to find the sink on Overstock.com for about $100 cheaper than it is at Home Depot. Hubby jokes that we can stack a week's worth of dishes into this sink because it's so big. I try not to let that happen, but it does hold a ton of dishes and the griddle pan from our stove fits in the sink which is awesome, because we use it a lot!
As far as the faucet goes, we knew we wanted a pull out faucet with one handle. And I knew I wanted a sleek and simple design. We did spend quite a bit of time looking online for a faucet with little luck. We both agreed on this faucet at Home Depot (I can't find it on their website, but if you want the model number, shoot me an email). I think it looks great in the space and I love the pull out head. The faucet swivels, has a pull out sprayer, can switch between a single stream and the sprayer with the touch of a button, and that top button stops the water flow completely (although I never use that). Because of all the moving parts, this faucet is extremely useful. We had the granite guys install the faucet and handle on one side of the sink and the soap dispenser on the other side. It has worked wonderfully.
As I mentioned, my sink and faucet are one of my surprisingly favorite things about our new kitchen. They make the chore of cleaning up the dishes so much less painful. (And yes, I realize I need to post about that backsplash and the spice rack we installed… And once we finish the painting, and get stools for our table, I'll post the final "after" pics).
So what is the favorite part of your kitchen? Any cool features that you love? Or something you wish you had if you could redesign your kitchen? I'd love to hear about it.
12 Responses to "Kitchen Update – Sink and Faucet"
So exciting!!! We are in the middle of a kitchen redo too! Our faucet just went in yesterday! Along with the new dishwasher(we didn't have one before) is now hooked up!! That may be my favorite new part 🙂 no more washing dishes by hand!!
We've been looking around for backsplash. The area behind the sink, stove, and counters is just so bare… we can't seem to make up our minds about which tiles we like… or if we prefer small bricks. It's going to be a long process!
And p.s. my boyfriend is obsessed with the faucet you got. We don't need a new one, but if we did, that's the one we'd get!
Steph – Oh I can't imagine not having a dishwasher!
Megan – I love the look of the glass mosiac subway tiling for a backsplash. We had an interesting obstacle in that we have REAL subway tiling on the wall to about 4 feet and the previous owners used liquid nails to attach a laminate backsplash. So we needed something that could be glued back on.
Oh how exciting for the change! I love the redo!
Wicked jealous, I love it. My wife and I talk about our kitchen re-do all the time, even though we don't have a dime put away for it. But when we do, it will be so fun. The kitchen is by far my favorite room in the house.
Jen: The sink and faucet look beautiful. What I can see of the blacksplash and spice rack, it looks fantastic too. I love, love, love the Vulga Blue granite in our kitchen and I think the glass tile backsplash, although very pricey, really gave the kitchen the splash of color and uniqueness we were looking for! Ok, I really love the chandeliers….they are a real conversation piece and also unique (not for everyone, especially if you are in to simple, clean lines).
Jennifer – Thanks!
Joe – The kitchen is our fav room too. A renovation is a fun/exciting/stressful time. Good luck if you ever get around to it.
Nancy – Thanks – I need to write up posts about the backsplash and spice rack/shelf. We just painted today so it's all coming together!
It's so funny – after reading your post on your kitchen and fancy new faucet, I saw the same faucet while at an open house and was showing off all its features to Andrew. Very cool!
I have that exact same faucets and I love it! I also have a deep stainless steel sink. So awesome!
I see that your faucet is on the right. Are you right-handed? I have seen it both ways and need to make a decision. Thanks.
Yes we are both right handed. I actually never thought about putting it on the left.
Yes the green patina looks cool on roofs and awnings. Although we'll only be at the apartment occasionally and I admit if we arrived after being gone for many months and found the sink had turned into green patina, I might freak out!


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Just talked briefly with David Gombas of United Fresh the afternoon of Jan. 3 and said that he, too, has heard rumors that the FDA is on the verge of releasing their long awaited food safety rules.
I called Gombas after I received an email from the Nature Conservancy, alerting me with the "heads up" about the proposed rules. According to the email, the rules will be release the rules tomorrow (Jan. 4) and they will be published in the Federal Register on Monday (Jan. 7).
No evidence of the food safety rules so far at the Office of the Federal Register prepublication page.
The Nature Conservancy says the rules will have a 120-day public comment period.
President Barack Obama signed the Food Safety Modernization Act in January 2011 and it seems the whole world has been waiting for proposed food safety rules to be released.
Lee Mannering of PMA noted today in PMA's Field to Fork blog about a significant anniversary that will occur tomorrow.
From the blog:
Tomorrow marks the second anniversary of the Food Safety Modernization Act being signed into law, and as you know, several proposed rules our industry has been expecting have been under review for more than a year. Just before the December holidays, a USA Today article speculated that a reason for the delays is that "FDA has been the victim of a push in Washington to rein in spending and some Republicans in Congress who have questioned the necessity and cost of the regulations."
The same article also offered some insight into the status of the proposed produce safety regulation. "The produce rule, for example, has been besieged with criticism that it was poorly written, and an insufficient job was done analyzing the costs and benefits for producers. All this has caused the rule to swell in excess of 700 pages, likely contributing to its subsequent delay, according to those who follow the food safety legislation," the article stated.
If the rumor is true - and the anniversary date seems to give it credence - then the industry better buckle up. It's going to be a bumpy couple of years.


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The Alltech National Horse Show, America's longest-standing indoor horse show, is riding high in its third year inside the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park. Regarded as the proving grounds for equestrian champions, the Alltech National Horse Show opens the ring to a variety of disciplines and classes, including hunt seat divisions, show jumpers and gaited breeds in competition.
Tickets for the Alltech National Horse show are available for purchase.
Horse crazy kids and barn buddies will pour into the Alltech Arena for the first-ever Barn Night in the Bluegrass. Throughout the night, youth are encouraged to show their "barn spirit" during events for a chance to win prizes, including a trip for four to attend the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy. Youth will enter the ring after the LIFEFORCE Elite™ Puissance for an autograph session with all-star equestrians.
The world's most courageous show jumpers will compete in a test of trust and athleticism during the LIFEFORCE Elite™ Puissance, the high jump competition of equestrian sport. Last year's winner Tim Gredley cleared a height of 7 feet – high enough to jump over University of Kentucky Basketball forward Willie Cauley-Stein. Who will soar to victory in this year's competition?
The Alltech Grand Prix is the ultimate challenge in equestrian show jumping and the top trophy awarded at the Alltech National Horse Show. Top-
level horse and rider teams will speed through a course of about 16 challenging fences as high as 5 feet 3 inches with the objective of finishing without penalties for knocking down a jump. The rider with the fastest time and fewest penalties wins.
Young talent will compete for the coveted ASPCA Alfred B. Maclay title on Sunday.
Free, Convenient Parking at the Alltech Arena.
Free Shuttle Service to the Alltech Arena. The Kentucky Gathering Trolley leaves on the hour from 5/3 Pavilion in downtown Lexington on Friday from 1-11 p.m. and Saturday from 12-11 p.m.


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My bag has changed a bit from the get-go. And it still keeps on changing, why cant I just K.I.S.S?
Right now it looks like this:
FR-D-P2 170g, for putting only.
FR-D-P2 175g, beat, for upshots and straight shots, max 195'.
D-P2 Psycho 175g, for driving, max 245'.
Basic Jokeri 175g, very reliable in wind, max 245'.
FR-P-MD2 172g, turnovers and annie bombs, max 310'.
Premium Midari 177g, straight shots, hyzers and against moderate winds, max 310.
FR-C-TD 175g, flex shots and long annies, max d depends on situation.
Star TL 175g, straight shots, tunnel shots, max 360'.
S-PD Freak 175g, this should be my go-to driver for max 400' shots, but been having so much problems with it...
ES-DS 172g, Long drives, max 460'.
C-PD2 175g, This is my go-to driver at the moment, so reliable to max 400', but the fade is tricky...
This is pretty much my setup. The only problem at the moment is my PDs. If I throw them gently like I do my TLs, they wont go anywhere. If I power them, I lose a lot of accuracy and sometimes get terrible OAT wobble.
My PD2 is my PD at the moment, but the room it needs is just so much... So at the moment I´m kinda at a loss of what to throw for those basic 400 footers.
I´m training every day to get rid of my OAT and accuracy problem, but my hand is sore and so far I think I´ve actually gotten worse...


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Rich in Michigan writes that a Michigan Sam's Club employee foiled his efforts to circumvent the receipt-checking line.
I was detained in a Sams Club receipt-checking line today. When I attempted to steer my cart around the line and out the exit door, an employee with a nametag of 'Linda' stepped in front of my cart and asked me to surrender my receipt. When I asked if I was being detained, she assured me that I was…
At this point, she took the receipt out of my hand, checked it (there were two items in the cart), I left the store. I'm not exactly sure if what went on was legal or ethical, but I damn sure know that it was terrible customer service.
You know, in all this receipt-checking kerfuffle we've mentioned that places like Sam's Club can insert mandatory receipt-checking clauses in their contracts, but we've yet to see one proper, and darned if we can't find a copy of their membership agreement online.
Scavenger hunt: provide us with a copy of a store's, any store's, membership contract that says that by signing it you agree to mandatory receipt checks.
Circuit City Customer Arrested After Refusing To Show Receipt
TigerDirect Apologizes For Unlawfully Detaining Customer For Refusing To Show Receipt
TigerDirect Unlawfully Restrains And Verbally Abuses Customer For Not Submitting To Receipt-Showing Demands


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At last we know: On Wednesday, July 13, we will announce the 2006 expansion project.
It will be held in the Hoosier Celebration Theater at 11:00 am CDT.
Anyone visiting the park as a guest that morning is welcome to listen in and cheer with us.
So, which holiday will be announced?
Can't tell you which one till 7/13, but we can tell you it's one of the following (included are some rather remarkable suggestions for rides that have been suggested to us through emails and posts on Internet forums):
Presented in alphabetical order, of course:
April Fools … "…with a bunch of queue lines with no rides."
Arbor Day … "Will Koch likes trees – doesn't this make sense?"
Arbour Day … (one of our Canadian neighbors suggested this one)
Easter … "How about a family/kiddie coaster called the Cotton Trail?"
Groundhog Day … "…part of a ride could go underground and pop up again…"
Mother's Day … "Name a ride The Stork."
New Year's … "A coaster could be named The Countdown."
St. Patrick's Day … "Lots of rides for the little people."
Thanksgiving … "Free unlimited gravy!"
Valentine's Day … "What about The Heartbreaker?"
Only two more HoliHints to go!


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171 Arden st Coogee
Property Directions
Independant Shuttle Bus services operate from both the International and Domestic Airports. Hours from around 6am - 5/6pm. Phone the driver/s direct upon arrival to arrange pick up directly with them. Cost is $15 per person. PAY DRIVER DIRECT. SUPER SHUTTLES - (free call) Taxi from the airport to Coogee costs from around $25 - $30 depending on the driver, the route taken and time of day. Its a good option if there are a few of you to split the costs. PUBLIC BUSES TO COOGEE 373 / 374 from the City / Circular Quay 372 / 374 from Central Station (Coach & Rail Terminal) 314 / 313 / 353 from Bondi Junction 370 from Leichhardt, Glebe, Sydney Uni, NSW Uni, Prince of Wales Hospital 400 from the International & Domestic Airports (going to Bondi Junction). Get off at Randwick. You can either alight at the hospital and catch a 370 down to Coogee .
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In November, El Paso's Pastor Tom Brown organized a successful ballot measure repealing the city's domestic partners benefits ordinance. But due to its murky wording, the new law may also cut insurance for retired cops and firefighters, among other city workers. All because 19 dirty homos were able to insure their partners.
The measure was aimed at gay workers and their partners. The wording of the proposal, however, was vague, asking El Paso residents to endorse "traditional family values" by limiting benefits to "city employees and their legal spouse and dependent children." So when 55% of the voters approved the measure on Election Day, they eliminated coverage for some 200 people who don't fit that description—among them elected officials, who aren't technically city employees, and many former city workers, the city says. Now, officials are weighing what to do. Last month, the city council decided not to use its authority to repeal what is now a city law. On Tuesday, it agreed to allow the city attorney to come up with ways to amend the ordinance, which goes into effect Jan. 1. But some members warned that they would vote against any proposal that restores benefits for retirees and not for domestic partners.
The local police union is planning a lawsuit against the city. Pastor Brown says if El Paso's city council attempts to overturn the repeal, he'll launch a ballot measure stripping them of that power.
(Tipped by JMG reader Melissa)


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The mailman brought me a fun little package from Fat Quarter Shop!
I didn't think the long awaited "Sherbet Pips" by Aneela Hoey came out until April but I did receive the email from FQS that they had charm packs, layer cakes, and jelly rolls IN STOCK!
What's a PIP, you ask? I have no idea. I tried to google it but nothing seemed to answer my question. Is it a monetary measurement? Or maybe its short for "Pippi Longstocking?" I imagine it to be a type of British candy, for some reason. Anyhow, I digress.
So I pounced on 2 charm packs (each pack consisting of 42 - 5" squares of the entire line!) Yes sir-ee Bob, I'm a happy girl! Now, if only the yardage were available... then I could make a major dent in my checking account~
I pulled my three fav prints, below... Mmmmm yummy!


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The president of the local police union broke his silence Friday on the firing of Baton Rouge Police Chief Dewayne White, issuing a statement that blamed White for an uptick last year in violent crime and accused him of being a poor leader.
Chris Stewart, president of Baton Rouge Union of Police Local 237, expressed his support for Mayor-President Kip Holden two days after White was handed a termination letter and asked to resign or be fired on the spot.
Stewart denounced White's nearly two-year tenure as "the most tumultuous era ever within the Baton Rouge Police Department," adding the union was "truly disappointed" at his lack of leadership.
"We are very pleased to start a new era in law enforcement within the Baton Rouge Police Department," Stewart said in the statement. "As we have with every previous police chief, we pledge our full support to whoever the next police chief is."
Lt. Carl Dabadie Jr., White's chief of staff, has assumed the chief's duties for the time being. By departmental policy, the chief of staff takes over the duties in the police chief's absence.
White plans to appear Feb. 18 for a hearing at Holden's office to challenge his termination, his attorney, Jill Craft, has said.
The ousted chief also is planning an appeal before the Municipal Fire and Police Civil Service Board, which could vote to reinstate White. Such a vote would likely be appealed in state District Court either way, but attorneys in the case do not even agree on whether White is entitled to a civil service hearing.
Stewart's remarks came a day after Craft held a news conference at her downtown office blasting city-parish officials and accusing Holden of micromanaging the Police Department. Craft told reporters White's decision to transfer Stewart from professional standards to community policing had further strained White's relationship with the police union.
She also claimed that White had been forbidden from speaking to the media at times and ordered not to put certain business matters in writing because they would then become subject to the state's public records law.
Murphy J. Foster III, an attorney representing Holden in White's termination, said in a telephone interview Friday that Craft's allegations are "flatly denied" by city-parish officials.
"They're false," Foster said, "and they do not hold water."
Foster also said White technically has not yet been terminated pending his hearing before Holden, during which White will be given a chance to make a case for retaining his employment. But Craft called that characterization of White's employment status "ludicrous," noting police went to White's house Friday to recover his city property, including his vehicle, badge and bullet-proof vest.
"I understand there might be some attempt now to reinvent history since they figured out that they have violated or are in the process of potentially violating state civil service law," Craft said, "but the fact is my client was told, 'You're fired, get your stuff out, don't come back and you will no longer be paid as of Feb. 6, 2013.' "
Stewart, in his statement, blamed White for creating hostilities within the Police Department "by refusing to treat all in an equal manner, making irrational decisions without the facts to support same and creating an environment that severely affected departmental morale."
"Ultimately, this festered into an openly hostile climate where Chief White alienated himself from the vast majority of officers from all ranks of the Baton Rouge Police Department," Stewart said in the statement.
The union had sought to mediate these hostilities with Holden, he added, "to create a safe and secure environment for our citizens."
"Rather than work with us to address this issue, Chief White chose to publicly attack our organization and its members without provocation in an attempt to shift the blame for the failure of his leadership," Stewart said in the statement, alluding to White's telling the Baton Rouge Rotary Club that the union represented his largest obstacle to effecting change in the department.
Craft took issue with Stewart blaming White for an increase in violent crime last year and a decrease in total arrests, results that Stewart said were "directly related to decisions made by Chief White."
Stewart, who did not respond to a request to cite specific decisions by White, also said the Baton Rouge Area Violence Elimination crime-fighting project has been successful in spite of White and his lack of "positive direction."
"I think it's appalling that the president of the union is going to say crime is on the rise, in other words implying that his own members aren't doing their job," Craft said. "Police officers in this city put their lives on the line every day, but that's exactly what he's saying with a statement like that."
Craft has said White received an "outpouring" of support from the community after his dismissal. But Stewart said the union is seeing "unprecedented unity and support among the men and women" of the Baton Rouge Police Department, along with support from the business community.
Holden has not commented on White's dismissal, but Foster on Friday said the mayor-president may issue a statement before the Feb. 18 hearing.


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Jun 22, 2012
Fashion Blogs: Strike a Pose!
This week my focus is on fashion blogs. For some, fashion can be an obsession, a path toward spirituality, even a form of fitness. But, no matter how much you love your wardrobe, everyone's got to dress themselves. And, no matter what anyone tells you, everyone wants to look their best. Luckily, there are options out there for people of all budgets and all styles. So with that in mind, let's straighten our collars, buckle our boots and enjoy this brief tour of some of the best fashion blogs I've seen.
Your Style Savior is not necessarily a religious blog. Though, the author is certainly passionate about saving people's styles. Basically, she wants to help. And that doesn't mean suggesting the most expensive items available. The site wants readers to look good without breaking their banks. If I were to pitch this blog, I'd look for stories on fashion, but probably not spirituality. This is not the blog to pitch priestly robes. Check out the full review here.
Put This On is a blog dedicated to making men look their best. Whether it's a guide for summer styles, what to wear on an interview or how to find a tailor, this blog wants to help their readers. The site also promotes second-hand (yet still good) threads on eBay, as well as extensive sections on how to fix and maintain clothes you already own. If I were to pitch this blog, I'd look for anything to do with men's fashion. The clothes they feature are stylish, even if they're not always the most expensive. Check out the full review here.
Where Did U Get That is a question you often hear when clothes are being discussed. It's not enough to compliment style. There's always more to the story. The "where" is also so very important. This blog looks to answer that question, ask that question and share the answers with the readers. If I were to pitch this blog, I'd look for stories about the retail industry. Items surrounding the smaller boutique scene of either New York City or London would probably also work here. Check out the full review here.
Shopping Is My Cardio is one woman's (usually) daily blog dedicated to making life more stylish. This blog represents a passion turned into something tangible. If I were to pitch this blog, I'd look for stories surrounding fashion. But, you know, don't let the search engine do all the work. In other words, this is not an exercise blog! Check out the full review here.
Cashmere & Tweed is a blog dedicated to covering all the events, designers, products and pageantry of the fashion industry. The site may be relatively new, but it's also pretty fearless. If I were to pitch this blog, I might look for anything to do with fashion events, up to and including Fashion Week. Collections that are heavy on, well, cashmere and tweed would probably work, too. Check out the full review here.
That's all for now. In the meantime, if there's a blog I should be reviewing, drop me a line or a note in the comments, and I'll take a look. Until next time…
Author Tom Hynes is PR Newswire's manager of blogger relations. And as you may have guessed, he has a twitter account.
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By JIM WRIGHT, Correspondent
The Little Falls Community Schools (LFCS) Facilities Steering Committee has considered needs, solutions and potential designs for a new, field house building that would in fact be a Community Center for all ages. The committee at their most recent meeting, Jan. 12 in the Little Falls Community High School auditorium, were shown a PowerPoint presentation by TSP Inc. of Minneapolis and LFCS's Aaron Sinclair that included a tentative, exterior design.
TSP Architect Ron Halgerson said, "This is not finalized; It's a work in progress."
Larry Filippi, a co-owner of Contegrity Group Inc. (CGI), a construction management company based in Little Falls, spoke about the size of the facility.
Filippi said a building such as shown in the tentative schematic would be "about 77,000 square feet. That is an estimate, contingent on more specifics about its components being determined."
An earlier estimate for the cost of building a field house by Little Falls Supt. Steve Jones, was "conservatively $200 per square foot," he said. That would be an estimated $15.4 million for a 77,000 square foot building, potentially to be put to the voters of the school district. Building bond referendums are typically funded over 20 years.
Its cost is not included in the $24 million preliminary estimate for all the community's five school buildings' other needs which have been considered and prioritized by the steering committee in a series of six meetings since Nov. 6, 2014.
The present high school gymnasium was built 42 years ago when there were only 10 various athletic teams using the facility, and before Title IX legislation took effect requiring equal availability for girls. Now there are more than 20 teams — boys' and girls' — sharing the physical education and athletics space.
The middle school gym was built 54 years ago when there were eight teams. Now it has 20 teams.
The district's three elementary schools also have gym space shortages, with classrooms and cafeterias spilling into some of the gyms. And there are many more teams and other uses, athletics and otherwise, during and after school hours.
That new building, a "Community Center," in addition to solving the space dilemma would provide walking, recreation and meeting facilities for residents of all ages. It would provide dedicated community service classrooms and meeting rooms available for use by community members. It would also include an indoor walking track, multi-use gymnasium space, and public locker room facilities which would be accessible from 6 a.m. – 10 p.m., Monday through Friday, as well as some hours on Saturdays and Sundays.
Much was learned about how best to fit it all in by a group from LFCS visiting community center/field houses built in four other school districts — Monticello, St. Michael-Albertville, Hastings and Becker — where they learned about what is working and what isn't for those facilities.
Included in the publicly-accessible Little Falls Community Center would be: Four basketball courts, also used for volleyball, tennis, badminton and other athletics; an indoor track with four to six lanes; multipurpose rooms for, as examples, wrestling, winter golf practice and aerobics classes; batting cages for baseball and softball; a durable synthetic surface that meets the needs of as many activities as possible; flexibility to secure different areas; public locker rooms; and multiple meeting and class rooms for community use.
"Our goal is to make this community-based," Jones said, "That is the reason why we are doing it in this kind of format (a steering committee of residents)."
The steering committee's process has drawn upon the expertise of professional consultants, architects, engineers and construction managers. A planning team from TSP Inc. and construction management from CGI have been present at all committee meetings.
The next steps in the process include: submitting a preliminary proposal to the Little Falls District School Board which may approve all or some of it. Then it would be submitted to the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) commissioner. The MDE commissioner then has 60 days to review the proposal and give her approval or disapproval. If approved in time, it may be put on a ballot, May 19, for Little Falls School District voters to decide.
Before that time, a community-wide campaign to review all the information with the public will be active. The next and possibly final School Facilities Steering Committee meetings, open to the public, will be Monday, Jan. 26 and Monday, Feb. 9, both at 6:30 p.m. in the high schools commons.
More information, including minutes of the Steering Committee's meetings, can be found on the Little Falls Community Schools website: www.lfalls.k12.mn.us/district/facilities-planning.


text:
I think they should "86" it and do something else with the space.
I think they should "86" it and do something else with the space.
Talent is God Given: be humble.
Fame is man given: be thankful.
Conceit is self given: be careful.
John Wooden
I have a friend that works with the Reds, and he told me a while back that they were seriously discussing taking out the batter's eye restaurant and moving CF back, and also taking out some rows of seats. We had that discussion about 3 months ago.
I'd get rid of the magic spot in left center field where cans of corn turn into doubles.
Wear gaudy colors, or avoid display. Lay a million eggs or give birth to one. The fittest shall survive, yet the unfit may live. Be like your ancestors or be different. We must repeat!
You guys realize that MLB has all kinds of restrictions on the color, shape, design, etc. of the batter's eye area right? Look around the league - it's not like there's a whole lot of award-winning designs in those spots. At least the Reds made it a group area so that the space wasn't completely wasted.
Some ballparks have a grassy knoll or other dark green plantings around the batter's eye to soften the effect.
IIRC, i remember reading about a park in the PCL (triple A) that was 233 down the left field line ...the fence was 60 feet high. I wanna say it was in the 70's when it was like this --and i think it was El Paso. The article was in Baseball Digest and i remember thinking (i was 10 or 11) "maybe i could hit a homer there!!".
WOY --any info?
Btw, i like when parks have odd dimensions...makes the game fun.
Any good GM should be able to make the adjustments for park factors.
Philadelphia has RED brick
Apparently the Cubs just have more ivy:
The black monster is just ugly. I think the grass would be ok to leave and then make a big standing area with some picnic tables like they have in Atlanta. Whew, I been watching to much HGTV with my wife lol
If you ain't first, you're last! - Ricky Bobby
I prefer the way the batters eye is blended into the surrounding structure at the Rockies ballpark. The batters eye at GABP just looks out of place and doesn't seem to "flow" with the rest of the ballpark.
Thanks for posting the pics Newman4.
a super volcano of ridonkulous suckitude.
I simply don't have access to a "cares about RBI" place in my psyche. There is a "mildly curious about OBI%" alcove just before the acid filled lake guarded by robot snipers with lasers which leads to the "cares about RBI" antechamber though. - Nate
Well, maybe along with getting rid of the black in the uni's, Castellini will get rid of the black behemoth in CF. or at least paint it green.
Much better would be the greenery posted above- thanks for the great pics, Newman!
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text:
It was Day Three of the World Poker Tour's L.A. Poker Classic main event earlier this year. I'd been short for much of the tournament but had built my stack to $125,000, just behind the average stack of $140,000. About 110 players remained, and blinds were $1,000-$2,000 with an ante of $300.
A player with $200,000 opened under the gun to $4,600. The next player had $50,000 and called. My turn, and I looked down at Qh Qs.
The standard play is to raise, but here's the problem: I wouldn't be raising as a bluff, and I wouldn't be expected to bluff in this spot. Raising would make it easy for my opponents to put me on a premium hand and easy for them to play against my narrow range.
The key to making the correct decision is to first make a plan, anticipating potential pitfalls. Let's consider our options.
First, we could raise. If we do, our opponents should assign us a range that's something like pocket 10s or better, A-K and maybe A-Q. If they all fold, cool - we win the pot, albeit a small one. If we're called and see a flop, fine - we have position and a strong hand. If somebody four-bets, we're unhappy.
What would we do if somebody four-bet behind us? Go with it? Fold? What if the initial raiser or the guy in between decided to four-bet? You should have answers to these questions before raising. Sometimes, folding to a four-bet is fine, but even if our opponent's range is A-K to pocket queens or better, we still have a 40.2 percent chance.
Second, we could just call. This alters our perceived range to a wide selection of decent hands, discounting A-K and pocket jacks or better. (Opponents don't expect you to overcall with premium hands.) This will invite action behind us, encouraging players to call with a wider range, as they'll see a cheap opportunity to win a big pot. Opponents also will be more likely to reraise with a wider range, seeing so much dead money in the pot.
Allowing more hands to see the flop cheaply isn't ideal. But raising would mark us for a premium hand, and if someone reraises, it would be unwise for us to continue with a hand that's at the bottom of our perceived range. If we merely call and someone raises behind us, we'd feel much better about going all-in preflop, since our perceived range wouldn't be as high, and our hand exceeds that range.
It seems that in most cases I'd be happier with the road less traveled. I simply called. Action folded to a player behind me, who barely resisted raising and just called. Then both blinds called. Now there was $30,300 in the pot, with six players seeing the flop - not optimal, but not that bad.
The flop came Jc 9h 5c. Check, check, check, all in. I had to decide whether to call $45,100. Despite my efforts to avoid a tough decision, I now had one.
Fortunately, my hand beat his range, since he'd usually have one pair or a draw in this spot. Unfortunately, I had lots of opponents behind me. After I judged that they were disinterested, I called, not liking my plan of folding to a shove from one of them but liking it better than folding now. Everybody else folded, and my opponent turned up the Ac 2c. He hit the flush on the turn with the 9c, and a 3h on the river secured him the pot.
Make a plan before you put chips into any pot. Your plan won't always work, but the results are usually better than if you wing it.
Bryan Devonshire is a professional poker player from Las Vegas. Known as "Devo" on the tournament circuit, he has amassed more than $2 million in career earnings. Follow him on Twitter: @devopoker. Poker Pros runs every week.


text:
Phase II Study of Perioperative S-1 Plus Docetaxel in Patients With Localized Advanced Gastric Cancer
The recruitment status of this study is unknown. The completion date has passed and the status has not been verified in more than two years.
Verified December 2007 by National Cancer Center, Korea.
Recruitment status was: Recruiting
Recruitment status was: Recruiting
National Cancer Center, Korea
Information provided by:
National Cancer Center, Korea
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
First received: December 21, 2007
Last updated: NA
Last verified: December 2007
History: No changes posted
- Full Text View
- Tabular View
- No Study Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
This study is an open-label, single center, and a single arm phase II study to evaluate the clinical response and safety of perioperative S-1 plus docetaxel. Perioperative chemotherapy is composed of 3 cycles of preoperative S-1/docetaxel and 3 cycles of postoperative S-1/docetaxel.Chemotherapy regimen:
- S-1 80 mg/m2/day every 12-h p.o. on days 1(evening)-15 (morning)
- Docetaxel 35 mg/m2 mixed in d5w 250 ml iv over 60-min on days 1 and 8
|Stomach Neoplasms
|Drug: S-1,Docetaxel
|Phase 2
|Study Type:
|Study Design:
|Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary Purpose: Treatment
|Official Title:
|Phase II Study of Perioperative S-1 Plus Docetaxel in Patients With Localized Advanced Gastric Cancer
Resource links provided by NLM:
MedlinePlus related topics: Stomach Cancer
Drug Information available for: DocetaxelU.S. FDA Resources
Further study details as provided by National Cancer Center, Korea:
Primary Outcome Measures:
- To evaluate the clinical responses to preoperative S-1 plus docetaxel [ Time Frame: During chemotherapy ]
Secondary Outcome Measures:
- the clinical downstaging,the pathologic responses, toxicity profile,the disease-free survival,overall survival,the effect of CYP2A6 genetic polymorphisms on the pharmacokinetics and the difference in pharmacokinetics between before and after gastrectomy [ Time Frame: During study period ]
|Estimated Enrollment:
|Study Start Date:
|May 2006
|Estimated Study Completion Date:
|May 2009
|Estimated Primary Completion Date:
|March 2009 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
Intervention Details:
Drug: S-1,Docetaxel
- S-1 80 mg/m2/day every 12-h p.o. on days 1(evening)-15 (morning)
- Docetaxel 35 mg/m2 mixed in d5w 250 ml iv over 60-min on days 1 and 8
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|18 Years to 70 Years (Adult, Senior)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Inclusion Criteria:
- Histologically or cytologically confirmed localized gastric adenocarcinoma as defined by CT stage III and IV (M0) (but not N3, which is metastatic node in WHO TNM classification), according to Japanese TNM classification system
- No distant metastatic disease in laparoscopy
- Age: 18-70 years
- Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-1
- Disease status must be that of measurable disease as defined by RECIST: Measurable lesions: lesions that can be accurately measured in at least one dimension by abdominal CT, if the longest diameter to be recorded is at least 10 mm with spiral CT
- Adequate major organ function including the following: Hematopoietic function: WBC ³ 4,000/mm3, ANC ³ 1,500/mm3, Platelet ³ 100,000/mm3Hepatic function: serum bilirubin £ 1.5 mg/dl, AST/ALT levels £ 2.5 x UNLRenal function: serum creatinine £ 1.5 mg/dl
- Patients should sign a written informed consent before study entry
Exclusion Criteria:
- CT Stage I, II, M1 or N3, which is metastatic node in WHO TNM classification, according to Japanese TNM classification system
- Prior chemotherapy or radiotherapy
- Inadequate cardiovascular function:New York Heart Association class III or IV heart diseaseUnstable angina or myocardial infarction within the past 6 monthsHistory of significant ventricular arrhythmia requiring medication with antiarrhythmics or significant conduction system abnormality
- Serious concurrent infection or nonmalignant illness that is uncontrolled or whose control may be jeopardized by complications of study therapy
- Other malignancy within the past 3 years except non-melanomatous skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
- Psychiatric disorder that would preclude compliance
- Pregnant, nursing women or patients with reproductive potential without contraception
- Patients receiving a concomitant treatment with drugs interacting with S-1 such as flucytosine, phenytoin, or warfarin et al.
Contacts and Locations
Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below. For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00587145
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00587145
|Contact: Sook Ryun Park, M.D
|Contact: So Yun Park, MS
|Korea, Republic of
|National Cancer Center Korea
|Goyang,, Gyeonggi, Korea, Republic of
|Contact: Sook Ryun Park, M.D +82-31-920-1609 email@example.com
|Contact: So Yun Park, MS +82-31-920-2307 email@example.com
|Sub-Investigator: Noe Kyeong Kim, M.D
|Sub-Investigator: Young Iee Park Park, M.D.Ph.D
|Sub-Investigator: Young Woo Kim,, M.D
|Sub-Investigator: Keun Won Ryu, M.D
|Sub-Investigator: Jun Ho Lee, M.D
|Sub-Investigator: Il Ju Choi, M.D
|Sub-Investigator: Chan Gyoo Kim, M.D
|Sub-Investigator: Jong-Yeul Lee, M.D
|Sub-Investigator: Jong Seok Lee, M.D
|Sub-Investigator: Myeong-Cherl Kook Kook, M.D
|Sub-Investigator: Hyeong-Seok Lim, M.D
Sponsors and Collaborators
National Cancer Center, Korea
|Principal Investigator:
|Sook Ryun Park, M.D
|National Cancer Center, Korea
More Information
Keywords provided by National Cancer Center, Korea:
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 21, 2017
|Responsible Party:
|Sook Ryun Park, M.D., National Cancer Center, Korea
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT00587145 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
|Study First Received:
|December 21, 2007
|Last Updated:
|December 21, 2007
Keywords provided by National Cancer Center, Korea:
Stomach Neoplasms
Combination chemotherapy
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Stomach Neoplasms
Gastrointestinal Neoplasms
Digestive System Neoplasms
Neoplasms by Site
Digestive System Diseases
Gastrointestinal Diseases
Stomach Diseases
Antineoplastic Agents
Tubulin Modulators
Antimitotic Agents
Mitosis Modulators
Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 21, 2017


text:
Wailele Quilt + Sham
No longer available
- Overview
This cheerful patchwork reverses to a floral print for a double dose of summer style.
- Made of 100% cotton percale.
- Filled with polyester batting.
- Pre-washed for added softness.
- Oeko-Tex certified.
- Features patches of printed, yarn-dyed, piece-dyed and dip-dyed cotton percale.
- Quilt and sham reverse to a printed palm leaf pattern on cotton percale.
- Easy-Care finish.
- Quilted sham has an envelope closure.
- Twin-sized quilt fits both standard twin and twin XL dorm mattresses.
- Quilt, sham and insert sold separately.
- Machine wash.
- Imported.
Mix + match our bedding to create your own unique look with our Design Your Own Bed Tool.
- Dimensions + Care
- Twin: 68" x 86"
- Full/Queen: 86" square
- Standard: 20 x 26"
- A percale weave is noticeably denser and wears well over time.
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- Sham filled with 220-gram-weight polyester batting.
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- Shipping Info
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Standard Sham (Sold Separately)
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