text:
In late April, Texas Commerce Bank CEO Marc Shapiro sent out a letter brimming with good news for fans of musical theater. Acting in his capacity as a part-time fundraiser for the Houston Music Hall Foundation, Shapiro told a potential contributor to a new downtown Music Hall that things looked very good for replacing the Depression-era building on Bagby with a state-of-the-art facility that would be second to none.
Already, Shapiro wrote, the city had weighed in with a guarantee of $12 million in "tax-exempt financing" as well as an assurance of a multistory downtown parking garage that would give fans of Theatre Under the Stars and PACE Theatrical's Broadway Series a safe place to stow their cars while they watched Phantom or My Fair Lady. All that remained to make the new Music Hall a reality, Shapiro indicated, was a $15 million naming gift from one of Houston's well-to-do foundations or families, plus a little money from the likes of the person he was writing to. But with the city on board, Shapiro's letter suggested, a new Music Hall was all but guaranteed. The city endorsement, Shapiro wrote, "will be a catalyst in enlisting the support of other Houston foundations, corporations and individuals."
The new facility would offer a brand-new home for the city's major producer of musical theater, Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS); two performance halls, one that would seat 2,700 and one that would seat between 500 and 700; improved acoustics and sight lines; sufficient fly space and substage space to mount the most elaborate shows Broadway had to offer; rehearsal studios; even a restaurant and an after-theater lounge. It all sounded marvelous. But there was only one problem. The claimed city support that would make all this possible didn't exist -- at least not officially.
When asked about the "tax-exempt financing," Bud Franks, the theatrical producerbrought in to run the Houston Music Hall Foundation in 1994, says that it could be a $12 million up-front construction loan from the city that would be repaid out of the operating profits of TUTS and other users of the new Music Hall. But Jordy Tollet, the city's Civic Center director and the official who would be most closely tied to any new downtown performing arts facility, says he doesn't know what Franks is talking about.
"There's no way we're going to front that kind of money," says Tollet. Instead, he says, the city has simply agreed to continue paying the $1 million annually that it already pays for Music Hall maintenance -- and money that's being spent for upkeep can't, at the same time, be spent for construction. As for the parking garage, Mayor Bob Lanier indicates that there may well be one, and then again, there may not. Whichever, he says, "The garage is not a condition of the TUTS [Music Hall] deal." And besides, he adds, before any garage or construction loan was possible, it would have to come before City Council for approval.
The lack of a city-backed loan or a guaranteed city-built garage puts the figures in Shapiro's fundraising letter in a considerably different light. The proposed cost of a new Music Hall, the letter says, is $55 million to $60 million. As of December 1995 (the last month for which numbers are available), the Houston Music Hall Foundation had raised $5 million of that from various donors. With the $12 million loan from the city, the foundation would have been more than a quarter of the way to its goal, and the $15 million naming gift would have put it over the halfway mark, a point at which, according to some professional fundraisers, the snowball effect begins to kick in and extra contributions are easier and easier to come by. But without the $12 million loan, the foundation has, over the last two years, raised less than 10 percent of what it calculates a new Music Hall would cost. Even a $15 million naming gift would put it well below the magic 50 percent level.
Given this, and also given that going public before having most of the major money lined up has been known to hurt fundraising efforts, the question becomes why, after two years of relatively low-key operations, is the Houston Music Hall Foundation suddenly discussing its plans for a fancy new theater to house TUTS? The first public disclosure came only a few months before a timetable for the new Music Hall, one developed this April, called for a public campaign. That timetable -- which posits the opening of a new hall for December 2000 -- also called for a "city agreement" in June, at the same time that a corporate fundraising campaign would be launched.
That "city agreement" might point to another reason why TUTS and the Music Hall Foundation didn't wait until it had more money in the bank before unveiling its plans: politics. TUTS director Frank Young has been trying to get a new home for his musical theater operation for close to 15 years. "Kathy Whitmire's people were really tough and not terribly supportive," Young says. That was true in the early '80s, when TUTS first thought of simply remodeling the existing Music Hall, and through the mid-'80s, when there was talk of shuttering the present facility and building something new on land next to the then-planned Brown Convention Center. A few years ago, TUTS finally realized that the only truly viable option was to raze the existing facility to clear way for something that could take Houston musical theater into the next century. "This is the last piece for the downtown theater district," Young says, "the last naming opportunity [for a major donor] in the foreseeable future."
That TUTS realized this about the same time that Bob Lanier became mayor is probably not coincidental; and that TUTS wants to get the city signed on to the project before Lanier leaves office is probably not coincidental either. Lanier, says Young, has been the supportive figure Whitmire never was. And though Lanier and Jordy Tollet disagree with the Music Hall Foundation's claim of a done deal for a city-backed loan and parking facility, they're both vocal in their support of the idea of a new Music Hall. Indeed, according to Tollet, what a new Music Hall would provide is a "great theater for a company that deserves it." Tollet also claims that the new facility would be "a gift to the city of Houston pure and simple," noting that TUTS and the Music Hall Foundation would pay for the building, then sign it over to the city, much the same way that the Wortham Foundation paid for the construction of the Wortham Center, then deeded it to the city. Unlike, say, the sports stadia proposals that are being bandied about, a new Music Hall would cost the city of Houston nothing, Tollet says.
If you like this story, consider signing up for our email newsletters.
You have successfully signed up for your selected newsletter(s) - please keep an eye on your mailbox, we're movin' in!
Compared to what's been trotted out as possibilities for new baseball, football or basketball complexes, a new dual-theater Music Hall does sound like something of a bargain. But whether it will actually cost the city anything depends on whether the $12 million in financing is the reality that Shapiro's letter suggests it is, or the chimera Tollet claims it to be. And it also depends on what you consider the $1 million annually the city presently pays for upkeep of the Music Hall, and which Tollet says the city has agreed to continue paying for the upkeep of any new TUTS facility. (The money comes from the hotel occupancy tax.) It further depends on whether the $1 million that's enough to maintain an older facility will also be enough for a newer one: the Wortham Center, for example, ended up being more expensive to maintain than anticipated and costs the city $2.8 million annually to operate; Jones Hall's bill is $1.8 million. The working proposal for the new Music Hall puts its annual maintenance at $1.8 million as well, but Tollet says that a new Music Hall wouldn't end up costing extra because TUTS has said it will pick up any additional operating expenses.
Of course, to do that, TUTS would have to turn a profit, and it's there, TUTS' Young says, that a new Music Hall would be particularly helpful. The existing venue just can't cut it where modern musicals are concerned, he says, and audience surveys consistently reveal that a new facility would result in a happier crowd. He also points out that Disney, which had tentatively planned to develop a stage musical based on The Lion King in conjunction with TUTS during the 1997-'98 season, backed out on the deal due to concerns about whether the Music Hall could handle the $20 million project. (Don Franz, a spokesman for Disney Theatrical, agrees that the Music Hall's limitations were part of the reason The Lion King was pulled from Houston. He adds, though, that Disney's purchase of its own theater in New York's Times Square means that it will be developing most of its shows there, regardless of what's done with the Music Hall. Still, says Franz, if a Disney hit should tie up its New York theater for a couple of years, it might look elsewhere to develop other properties.)
But some other downtown arts observers express concern that TUTS isn't doing enough to attract a fresh, younger audience, and that if all the new Music Hall does is make its present, predominantly older crowd happy, then early in the next century the TUTS-goers might die off, leaving the city with an elegant, but mostly empty, facility. As for filling a new Music Hall up with shows from other presenting organizations, that doesn't seem likely at the moment. Though Young says he anticipates that groups such as the Society for the Performing Arts would make use of the smaller theater, SPA director Toby Mattox indicates that's unlikely. The SPA, he says, is perfectly happy using Jones Hall for its bigger programs and the Wortham Center's Cullen Theater for its smaller productions.
Where, exactly, that leaves TUTS and its proposed new Music Hall is uncertain. Despite the number of unanswered questions, Frank Young insists that it's only a matter of time before the inevitability of a new downtown performing arts facility becomes clear. And if that doesn't happen -- well, Young might not be proposing a new stadium, but it seems that he's learned something from Bud Adams' playbook. Already, he warns, TUTS has been offered space in the Galleria. And if the downtown powers don't realize how important working with him to get a new Music Hall is, he says, "We'll leave.


text:
" Address: 56th Street b/w Madison and 5th Avenues. "
We were in New York in the last week of October, and I took my six year old son to visit the Sony Wonder Technology Lab. It is a high-tech high-participation attraction with exhibits rather reminiscent of the Science Museum in London. While you queue to get in (about 20 minutes, and inside the Sony building so you aren't exposed to the elements) you can engage in conversation with a rather engaging robot. The robot is clearly being controlled in real time by a human who can see and hear the people in the queue through the robot's eyes and ears, but the children were pretty impressed by it. The controller gave a very good-natured and welcoming start to the visit. Once inside, each visitor is presented with a magnetic card. These cards are the used to log-in at a computer terminal, equipped with camera, so that once you enter you can swipe your card at each exhibit and your name, picture and voice will be available to be used in the exhibit. The exhibits include a giant screen on which your picture appears and can be edited or painted over using a wand-operated pointing device, various robots that can be programmed and then operated, many displays of how Sony products work inside, and a Playstation area. The one criticism would be that there is more queuing than doing. My son and I actually did about three things and left after an hour. Nonetheless, he considered that he'd had a great time. I'd say it's great to take small children, or for slightly older children if their pushy enough to get onto the Playstation games, which is probably what the older ones would be most interested in. I was glad that my 13 year old decided not to come - it would have been a waste of his morning.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Seward Unveils $1.3 Billion Small Business Assistance Package
Senator James L. Seward and senate Republicans today unveiled a small business and manufacturing assistance plan that would create jobs and grow small businesses in New York. Sewardannounced the plan following his tour of the district last announcing that property tax relief and help for small businesses would be part of his "Upstate Revival" agenda. The plan would provide $490 million in assistance in the first year and almost $1.3 billion in tax relief and assistance to small businesses when fully implemented after three years.
"The senate has initiated and fought for tax relief that has saved New Yorkers billions of dollars, but we still have to do more to help businesses, especially small businesses, create good-paying jobs," Senator Seward said. "Right now, too many of our young people are leaving our communities because they don't think they will provide them with the kind of careers they want or provide a good living for their families.
"It's the small business entrepreneurs who are building our economy and we must ensure that people with good ideas and a good work ethic are afforded every opportunity to succeed in New York State," Seward added. "The small business assistance package we are announcing today represents pro-growth, pro-job policies that will lower taxes, provide new economic incentives, streamline red tape and bureaucracy and make it much easier for young people and families to stay here because they will see a future here."
The senate plan would eliminate the corporate income and franchise tax for manufacturers; provide direct property tax relief checks to small businesses; provide tax relief for businesses that pay personal income tax; provide tax credits for the costs of energy; and cut state red tape and bureaucracy.
"Small businesses are the fabric of our communities and New York's economic engine is dependent upon their success," Senator James Alesi, chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Economic Development and Small Businesses, said. "It's imperative that we ease the regulatory burden and provide tax relief in order to allow small businesses to prosper and thrive in this global economy."
There are almost half a million small businesses (fewer than 100 employees) in New York State, with 70 percent of them employing ten people or less. The majority of new jobs created in New York are created by small businesses.
The senate small business assistance plan includes:
> Eliminating the income tax and corporate franchise tax on manufacturers, regardless of size, providing $550 million in tax relief;
> A $350 million refundable tax credit to help 386,000 small businesses, that employ 20 people or less, with rising energy costs;
> Reducing Corporate Franchise Tax rates from 7.5 percent to 6.85 percent, saving businesses $150 million;
> Creating a Small Business STAR program to provide direct rebate checks, averaging $700, to small businesses that pay school taxes and employ less than 20 people, providing $150 million in property tax relief;
> Expanding incentives to encourage emerging technology companies that do research and development in New York, to also manufacture their products in New York;
> $20 million in relief through reforms of the corporate franchise tax; and
> Relief from red tape and bureaucracy by simplifying and reducing paperwork, eliminating unnecessary or overly burdensome fees and permits, and creating a one-stop shopping information center to help someone start or expand a small business in New York.
New York is one of the most diverse economies in the world, with strong financial, tourism, manufacturing, production, and agriculture sectors. The current economic development programs often do not reflect the diversification of the state's economy. The senate will convene public hearings to address the restructuring of the economic development programs to embrace the diversity in New York's economy with a more regional and sector approach to job growth and retention. In addition, the senate will convene public hearings to address the need to simplify the tax code.
Senate Republicans have initiated tax cuts and reductions that have provided taxpayers with a cumulative savings of more than $126 billion. This package would build on the senate's record by specifically targeting small business job growth.
Thesmall business assistance plan includes the following:
Cutting Business Taxes
According to a recent Business Council document "Benchmark New York State," corporate income taxes in New York State are 133 percent above the national average. The Senate business tax cut and assistance package would:
Eliminate Income and Corporate Franchise Taxes on Manufacturing -- This proposal would eliminate taxes on business income for manufacturers whether a manufacturer files as a corporation under Article 9-A or as a partnership or limited liability company under the Personal Income Tax (Article 22). It is estimated that this proposal to eliminate these taxes would save manufacturing companies in New York $550 million annually.
Reduce Corporate Franchise Tax Rates -- Reduce the net income rate from 7.5 percent to 6.85 percent over a three year period. This reduction in taxes would have a positive affect on all businesses, while attracting new businesses, supporting existing businesses and creating more jobs. This would save New York companies $150 million annually.
Small Businesses STAR Property Tax Rebates -- This plan establishes a Small Business STAR program that would provide direct property tax rebate checks to small businesses that pay school property taxes and employ less than 20 people. Much like STAR and the STAR rebate program, businesses will be able to get a rebate check on the school taxes paid on the first $30,000 of market value of their business property. It is estimated that the average rebate check would be $700, with a value of $150 million in property tax relief.
"New York's small businesses create the majority of jobs in this state, and they need relief from climbing school taxes," Senator James Seward (R-C-I, Oneonta), said. "The 'Small Business STAR' proposal offers a tax break that will strengthen mom and pop businesses and encourage them to invest in new jobs, to expand and grow here in New York. "
Eliminate S-Corp Differential (Eliminate Multiple Tax Calculations) -- Although many small businesses pay income taxes under the personal income tax, they are required to compute their tax as if they paid under the corporate franchise tax. These businesses are required to pay a differential equivalent at the fixed dollar minimum under the corporate franchise tax resulting in duplicative and redundant tax calculations and filings. This proposal would eliminate this tax on the state's small businesses. This would afford New York's small businesses $20 million to invest in the New York economy and eliminate this burdensome computation and filings. As a result, small businesses would only be subject to the personal income tax as they are in a majority of the other states.
Commercialization of Centers of Excellence and Genesis Centers Research -- The senate is proposing an initiative that will bridge the divide between State-sponsored Research and Development and manufacturing in New York State. The current tax law penalizes companies that have created R&D jobs in the State from manufacturing in New York State. The Empire Zone program does not afford those companies to be treated as a new business, discouraging expansion in the state.
At a time when the company is looking to expand in New York, the tax code should encourage a company to continue to expand and invest in New York. A business that is connected through the state's premier academic and business incubators for research and development will now be afforded refundable wage and investment tax credits to lure the manufacturer of that advanced technology to the state.
Reducing Business Costs
The Senate advanced several proposals to reduce the cost of doing business in New York State, including:
Energy Cost Assistance -- Energy costs were cited by 41 percent of the Business Council survey as one of the top four concerns. Benchmark indicates that energy costs are 58 percent above the national average. Small business owners have cited increasing energy costs as one of the biggest problems they face in staying competitive. The Senate small business plan would address that concern by providing a $350 million refundable tax credit program that would help 386,000 eligible small businesses across New York State afford the rising cost of energy. Under the plan, a business with 20 or fewer employees can receive a credit of two cents per Kilowatt Hour (KwH) that would be applied directly to eligible businesses' tax liability, while businesses that do not owe taxes would receive a rebate check.
"The high cost of energy limits many local businesses from being able to expand and forces others to make cuts," said Senator Mary Lou Rath (R-C, Williamsville), sponsor of the energy relief legislation. "This plan will give small businesses, and the 1.4 million people they employ, the help they need to remain economically competitive, to protect jobs and even create ones, and to grow their businesses."
Relief from red tape and improved customer service for small businesses -- The senate Republican majority small business assistance plan would simplify the regulatory burden on small businesses, substantially reduce their paperwork, produce "one-stop shopping" to start or expand a small business, and eliminate unnecessary or overly burdensome fees and permits. The plan would:
> Expand New York State's existing Online Permit Assistance and Licensing (OPAL) program to cover all New York State departments, agencies and authorities that require permits, registrations and fees. The Department of State would cooperate closely with the Governor's Office of Regulatory Reform to ensure that all agencies participate through OPAL. In addition, the Department of State would ensure that a potential business can make all applications at one time and make all payments for initial registration electronically.
> Any ongoing fees, registration filings or assessments placed on a business in New York State, after the initial year of placement, will be filed as part of the business's annual state tax filing. Businesses could pay all applicable state fees and costs at one time, rather than pay them at different times throughout the year. An electronic filing option will be granted to every such taxpayer at no additional charge.
> The state would create a demonstration "511" service to provide small businesses with one easily accessible number to direct questions and provide assistance to small businesses looking to open or expand in New York State.
Additional Businesses Tax Relief and Incentives
Businesses in New York not only pay income taxes, but pay taxes in many other forms. The senate has drafted, as a part of our SFY 2006-07 tax package, several proposals to further ease the tax burden on the state's businesses.
Sales Tax Exemption for Businesses Located in Academic Incubator Facilities -- Companies located in academic incubator facilities would receive a state sales tax exemption for the purchase of equipment costing $500 or more. Localities would be able to opt into this exemption as well. These companies, by nature, are small and have limited resources. The sales tax exemption would reduce equipment costs, which can be an impediment to the success of these small businesses. This proposal would save companies $500,000 annually in state taxes and twice that if all localities opt into the exemption.
"Providing a state sales tax exemption for equipment purchases over $500 is an added incentive for entrepreneurs located in our local high-tech/bio-tech incubator facilities," said Senator Kenneth P. LaValle (R-C-I, Port Jefferson). "Incentives like these will help offset start-up costs for businesses in the development stage of their product or service and encourage them to locate on Long Island. This, in turn, will bring new industries and create high-paying jobs for our region."
Refundable Tax Credit for Farms -- The senate plan would eliminate the Alternative Minimum Tax for farms and make the investment tax credit refundable, providing $2 million in critical capital to the state's farm community. Many of the state's farmers do not make enough profit to utilize the investment tax credits that they have already earned.
"Agriculture has an enormous impact on our state's economy, and we must do everything we can for our farms' survival," said Senator Cathy Young, (R-I-C, Olean). "This bill would allow farmers to update and invest in their operations. It would be incredibly effective for farm sustainability."
Expansion of the Farmer's School Tax Credit Program to leased farmland -- Under current law, a farmer must own real property in order to qualify for the farmer's income tax credit for money paid for school property taxes. This proposal would extend eligibility of the Farmer's School Tax Credit Program to include agricultural lands that are leased for at least five continuous years. The extension of the tax credit would not only provide $2 million in tax relief for New York's Agricultural industry, but it would also enhance access to farmland and open space preservation in the state.
"In many cases, farmers in New York State lease the land they farm and don't own it," Senator Bill Larkin (R-C, Cornwall-On-Hudson), said. "However, current law states that in order to receive the Farmer's Income Tax Credit on school property taxes, a farmer must own the land that he or she farms. This bill would give that same benefit to farmers who lease the land on which they work provided that they lease the land for at least five years. Farmers in the Hudson Valley and throughout the state have strongly supported this proposal. It will give them much needed tax breaks and at the same time preserve the state's farmland."
Eliminate Petroleum Business Tax (PBT) on Non-Residential Heating Fuel -- Current law provides a full exemption from State taxes on petroleum fuel sold for residential heating purposes and a partial exemption for petroleum fuel sold for nonresidential heating purposes. In an effort to continue to provide relief to businesses in our state, this part would fully exempt petroleum fuel sold for nonresidential heating purposes. It would further reduce energy expenses for small businesses by $7 million annually.
Todd Vandervort, executive committee member of the Main Street Small Business Coalition said: "The New York Main Street Small Business Coalition and its hundreds of thousands of members applaud Senate Majority Leader Bruno and his conference for putting together a comprehensive plan that will provide some much needed relief to the back-bone of the New York State economy. We are anxious to work with the legislature and Governor Spitzer to make this happen."
Brian Merriam, chairman of the Leadership Council of the National Federation of Independent Business said: "On behalf of our 20,000 members across New York State, I would like to thank Senator Bruno and the senate majority for proposing this insightful and comprehensive small business package. The senate majority recognizes that small business is the engine of New York's economy that creates most new jobs and opportunities for New Yorkers and their families. This package will directly aid and grow this most vital sector."


text:
Why you'll love Timebridge.
Timebridge solves business scheduling with a tool that's immensely powerful; yet so easy to use you almost forget it's there. The more you do with Timebridge, the more you'll wonder how you ever did without it.
Arrange any meeting in seconds.
Pick a few times that work for you, enter a few emails, choose how you want to meet, and send. That's it. Done.
Timebridge will contact everyone, gather their meeting preferences, pick the best time, send everyone calendar invitations, and even fire off the reminders. In most cases you won't need to do anything else. You'll just see the meeting appear in your calendar once it's set.
Let anyone request or schedule meetings directly from your shared calendar.
Timebridge "Meet With Me" lets you share your calendar through a personal URL and let others schedule meetings with you based on your availability, and your preferences. Timebridge gives you complete control to manage your scheduled the way you want.
Business branding, in it's most personal form.
Your photo, your logo, your colors, your tagline... Timebridge delivers a personalized and branded experience that makes every impression awesome.
Your brand. Front and center.
Emails, calendars, invitations, reminders... Timebridge allows you to integrate your own logo, tagline and brand colors, so you get a fully branded product in which everything works together seamlessly.
You're there, too.
Add your head-shot and you've just built an amazingly personal and professional experience that builds trust and makes you look like a million bucks.


text:
Our spices bring more than taste to your cooking — they bring home the healthy goodness of nature. That's because every Tata Sampann spice, pure or blended, that reaches your kitchen, is sourced from farms where the climate is conducive to cultivating the best spices. Our coriander, for instance, comes from Ramgang in Rajasthan. Our turmeric is from Salem in Tamil Nadu and our chilli is from Guntur in Andhra Pradesh. We ensure the spices that reach your kitchen retain all their natural volatile oils and natural goodness. That means full flavour to enhance your culinary delight.
With Tata Sampann, quality counts the most. That is why we use world-class processing centres with global certifications from BRC, Halal, UKAS, Sedex, Spices Board and FSSAI. Scientific procurement and storage ensure there is no deterioration of quality or loss of active ingredients.
Our spices are currently available in 10 varieties. Out of these, seven are blended by food connoisseur and renowned chef Sanjeev Kapoor.
Chef Sanjeev Kapoor's versatile blend can be used to cook almost anything, vegetarian or non-vegetarian. Its tangy, spicy flavour enhances virtually any dish.
Chef Sanjeev Kapoor has put together this concoction especially to cook meats. The subtle flavours blend to bring out the best in red or white meat.
This one is from the heart of Punjab. Chef Sanjeev Kapoor has created this mix to delight the sense of taste and bring out the best in the traditional chhole.
Chicken curry is probably the most popular non-vegetarian dish in India. Chef Sanjeev Kapoor has designed this blend to enrich your cooking with nutrition and joy.
Dal tadka is the heart of most Indian meals. Chef Sanjeev Kapoor's blend of this masala brings to the table convenience and consistent quality.
Paneer is popular in India and served in several ways. Chef Sanjeev Kapoor's special blend will go with most ways in which you cook paneer.
This is another versatile mix, designed by Chef Sanjeev Kapoor, to make your cooking even more aromatic, tasty and healthy.
It's hard to imagine an Indian kitchen without chillies. Did you know that capsaicin in chilli is an effective counter-irritant, used in the pharmaceuticals and cosmetics industries?
Here's another popular Indian kitchen spice. Curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, is often used for its anti-inflammatory properties.
Coriander is a popular herb globally. Known as dhania in India, this spice offers significant amounts of dietary fibre, calcium, selenium, magnesium and manganese.
For more information, please visit www.tatasampann.com


text:
Grodin & Cuomo, and Mentoring U.S.A.
Giving young people a head start
"Change a life. Become a mentor."
That's the challenge put forward by Mentoring USA, a non-profit that matches successful and caring grownups with youngsters in need of direction and support.
Prime Time Radio host Mike Cuthbert talks with founder Matilda Raffa Cuomo and actor and author Charles Grodin, who is active with the group.
Grodin's latest book is a biography that also touches on the magic of mentoring. It's titled "How I Got To Be Whoever It Is I Am."
Join the Discussion0 | Add Yours
Please leave your comment below.
You must be logged in to leave a comment.
Next ArticleRead This


text:
Your browser does not support iframes.
I agree with Lee Hamilton about Congress except for one thing. He doesn't point out that Congress has passed more than 30 bipartisan jobs bills and sent them to the Senate. So what is the problem? Harry Reid doesn't let the bills be brought to the floor for votes. Why would he be doing this? Because the progressive Democrats, not all Democrats, are trying to show that the Republican Congress can't create job bills so the Democrats can win the Congress back.
By TOM TURPIN
Guest Columnist
It happens every spring in temperate regions of the world. Just as surely as the days get longer, the grass turns green and the flowers bloom, the social insects swarm.
In general, the term swarm is used to describe any aggregation of animals. It could be a group of birds or even snakes. For most of us, the term is used to describe a group of insects, such as mosquitoes or locusts.
By ERIC HARRIS
Film Reviewer
Guest Columnist
Ronald Reagan once said, "No matter how big and powerful government gets, and the many services it provides, it can never take the place of volunteers." As we fight to reign in the size and scope of our national government, I am reminded that the strength of our communities doesn't lie in what our government provides for us; it is about the quality and character of good, hardworking people and the bond we have with one another to help those in need.
Most Americans hate it when their government tries to pull a fast one on them by shrouding its actions in secrecy.
They reason correctly that if government officials truly believed their moves were legitimate, they wouldn't feel the need to try to hide them from the public.
Thus it was no surprise that the recent disclosure of the National Security Agency's secretly intercepting millions of telephone records and e-mails sparked outrage by many from both ends of the political spectrum, though it also had defenders on both sides of the aisle.
This is in response to the Perry County News' June 3 editorial, "We should fear government 'help' for education."
A large part of the editorial addresses school closings in Chicago and the reasons for the closings. One possible reason given was the addition of 50,000 charter school seats during a decade when schools lost 30,000 students. I am not sure whether there is an implication that the school student loss was the charter schools' gain.
As the business agent for Boilermakers Local 374 here in southern Indiana, I represent approximately 500 men and women. These people don't just work here, but they live here as well.
My job as their representative isn't merely to make sure they are being treated fairly on the job, to make sure they are being paid correctly according to the contract and to make sure their work conditions are safe.
My job is to also find them jobs. Not just jobs for now, but also possible jobs for the future.
By VINCE LUECKE
One of my not always small list of faults is a tendency to not put on paper the comments I hear from readers when outside the office. Whether phone calls, e-mails I receive at home or comments heard when I'm out and about, I am the happy recipient of regular ideas, tips, complaints and suggestions for stories, features and, on occasion, this column. I just don't always remember them or jot them down, so I will.
Copyright © 2017
The Perry County News is your source for local news, sports, events, and information in Perry County, Indiana, and the surrounding area.


text:
Carnival of Stone: A Novella (The Soren Chase Series)
Today's Free Kindle eBook: Carnival of Stone: A Novella (The Soren Chase Series)
SOREN CHASE MEMORIAL DAY SALE:Carnival of Stone is FREE this weekend only! When supernatural investigator Soren Chase investigates the disappearance of a graduate student, he finds himself on the trail of a mythological creature that can turn people to stone. Reviews: "A gripping read!""Never a dull moment!" "Another great Soren Chase story!"Closed at Dark is FREE for all readers who sign up for Rob Blackwell's email newsletter here: bit.ly/RBsubrbe. When someone- or something – tries to kidnap her son, Sara Ignatius turns to the one person who can help: Soren Chase. But can he save the boy in time? The Forest of Forever is just $1.99 for a limited time! Something evil is lurking in the forest. Hired to find a missing girl,Soren is determined to find out the truth. But what he discovers is far darker than he imagines…"An engrossing, intelligent,must-tell-all-my-friends-about-this-one novel."And don't miss The Pretender, which was just released. Find out why readers are calling it "a fantastic installment in a great series," "It pulled me in and I couldn't put it down." Don't delay – act on these great deals before they're gone! MORE ABOUT CARNIVAL OF STONE: When a small town is under siege from a horrific monster, only one man can help…Supernatural investigator Soren Chase is having a rough day. He narrowly avoids being murdered by a pair of trigger-happy leprechauns (yes, leprechauns) before taking a case to investigate the disappearance of a graduate student in the mountains of Virginia.But when Soren arrives in the normally sleepy hamlet of Hilltop, he finds the situation is far worse than he imagined. He's up against a creature unlike anything he's encountered before and it will take all his skills–and working with an unlikely ally–to survive.Carnival of Stone is a stand-alone novella in the Soren Chase series that can be enjoyed by any reader who loves urban fantasy, mystery and suspense. Set between the events of Closed at Dark and The Forest of Forever, it will please existing fans and new readers alike.
To get the freebie please click on this link:
Carnival of Stone: A Novella (The Soren Chase Series)
The linked site is not operated or owned by FreebieSelect!


text:
Ricky Ray has added some spice to the special teams units this year.
The Eskimo quarterback - who is making $450,000 a year - has offered $500 to any Edmonton player who can lead the league in special teams tackles this season.
"The special teams coach (Scott Squires) came to me and said he had an idea- get guys to play for something," said Ray.
"He convinced me that better special teams play (means) better field position we will have offensively."
So far, the money is in danger.
Mathieu Bertrand is second in the league in special teams tackles with 13, just one off the pace.
"That is nice of him, said Bertrand on Ray's offer. "But if I win that $500 I'm probably going to (have) a party with all the players."
Edmonton head coach Danny Maciocia is having a little fun with the side bet.
"If you can get $5 out of Ricky Ray that is a lot of money," said the coach.
On a serious note, Maciocia is very happy with Bertrand's season - both at fullback and on special teams.
"Whenever I see Matty doing something good I almost give myself a little pat on the back because here is a guy we have basically converted from being a quarterback (at Laval University) to being a fullback," said Maciocia.
"Not only is he a pretty good fullback, he is a pretty good special teams player."
FINISH LINES: Receiver Trevor Gaylor is the bowling kingpin in the Edmonton Eskimo locker-room.
He had the high score - 202 - during the team bowling event on Wednesday.
"Everybody had an equal opportunity to go with their special (bowling) ball, special gloves, their good luck T-shirts - whatever it may have been - all of it got them second place," cracked Gaylor.
"I am probably one of the best you have seen in person.
"I think other than the PBA Tour, I possibly could be the best in the world."


text:
IDEAS & TRENDS: PIXEL CANVAS; The Gamer as Artiste
By JOHN LELAND
Published: December 4, 2005
LAST week, I spent several days living -- and dying -- inside the new Xbox 360 console, with four popular games pegged as particularly cinematic. I entered as a curious novice, less concerned with breaking the games than with exploring the worlds they opened, and the worlds you die in.
I died as a princess in a green miniskirt, as a space warrior, a World War II soldier named Vasili and a humorless F.B.I. agent tracking a sadistic killer. My deaths, rendered in state-of-the-art detail, were not illustrious or mourned. They consisted of the limited repertoire of gestures assigned to death by the game makers. In the virtual world of games, players get to invent their own unique lives, but when they die, even the greats cede control to their maker.
The release of the Xbox 360 game console last month, with its sharper graphics, is likely to renew debates about whether games are too violent or too mindless, or whether children should be outside running around.
But as video play occupies more and more of American imaginative life, the games themselves raise other provocative questions: Can games be something more than games? In other words, can they move people emotionally or intellectually in the manner of great art?
Steven Spielberg last year offered one model for the medium to follow: cinema. In an address to students learning to be game developers at the University of Southern California, Mr. Spielberg, who has since contracted to create three games, challenged the industry to improve the storytelling, character development and emotional content in the same way it has enhanced the images and action. The medium will come of age, he said, ''when somebody confesses that they cried at Level 17.''
But movies are just one model for games to emulate. Henry Jenkins, director of the comparative media studies program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, suggested that they are equally close to dance, as a medium of performance, or architecture, as a medium of creating unique spaces.
Museum exhibitions, academic conferences and university curriculums have examined games as art. A 2004 conference at Stanford University called ''Story Engines'' looked at game play as a way of creating narratives, at a time when the audiences for established story vehicles like books, newspapers, movies and network television are in decline.
As games gain attention as an art form, it remains to be determined just what sort of art they can or should be. Are they like movies, projecting the vision of an auteur like Mr. Spielberg or Peter Jackson, who recently collaborated in ''Peter Jackson's King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie''? Or are they more like the song ''Frankie and Johnny,'' which is performed in different ways by many people, and in which the art lies in the sum of performances?
In a $10 billion industry, the stakes are high. Like the television set before it, the game console is now colonizing American living rooms and the lives therein. Americans spend more money on video games and consoles than on movies; nearly half the country plays. Thirty-three years after Pong, video games have become ''the major cultural activity of the generation 30 or 35 and below, the way movies and literature were for earlier generations,'' said James Paul Gee, a professor of education at the University of Wisconsin at Madison and author of ''What Video Games Have to Teach Us About Learning and Literacy.''
Even among children who don't grasp the lessons taught in their schools, Professor Gee said, they ''can all discuss the stories in video games at a very sophisticated level.''
Like previous new game consoles, the Xbox 360 allows games to look more like movies. Walls have textures; battle scenes show remarkably detailed characters moving independently. Such advanced technology, made possible by increased processing power, also raises the cost of developing games, which now run budgets of up to $25 million, including the expenses of licensing characters and music. This in turn influences the type of games that are produced: Of the 10 top-selling games of last year, all were sequels to successful games, tie-ins to hit movies or both.
This emphasis on realism, in what is inherently an artificial medium, misreads what is special about the game experience, said Douglas Rushkoff, author of ''Playing the Future: What We Can Learn From Digital Kids.'' Video games, he said, should be less like movies, not more.
''This is an age-old thing going back to Pong,'' said Mr. Rushkoff, who describes himself as an enthusiastic gamer. ''What made Pong so exciting was not its accurate depiction of Ping-Pong or its relationship to reality. It was the ability to move pixels around on the screen, and an appreciation for the way the game designer is working in metaphor. ''
The relationship between the movie and game industries has always been bumpy. Though there have been lucrative crossovers between the two media, movies based on hit games are often duds, like the recent ''Doom,'' as are games based on hit movies.


text: Chiranjeeb Das, popularly known as Chiron was born in Assam, India, has an educational background in Management and Journalism Studies. He has worked for great organizations and his repertoire of work includes stints as the lead performing artist in films. Chiranjeeb is now engaged in public service. Various media outlets have published his articles and his poems, all of which have been highly appreciated the world over. He had represented India in sports at different levels and has also held positions in World Sports Organizations including a nomination as a Global Sports Goodwill Ambassador. He served as Head for the Asia-Pacific Region and also acted as Global Advisor to International Youth Sports Organization including sitting in various reputed International Advisory Boards. He also held advisory role in Government in the promotion of Sports and Youth Welfare. Chiranjeeb has focused on National and International Development, Conflict Resolution, Green Sustainable Development and Climate Change. He has aimed at addressing core issues through Sports, Education, Music, Art, Entertainment and Performing Arts. Chiranjeeb has the distinction of being called the 'Green Man' by the international community and worked with globally recognized stars and celebrities in the promotion of Green and Sustainable Development and in saving Mother Earth. He serves many impoverished communities through social work. Chiranjeeb's Green Eco-Solutions including building Green Eco-Friendly Smart Sustainable Living Solutions, creating Green Economies, Life Solutions, Lifestyle Development and Enrichment of Life Values have found favour in all corners of the world. He believes in the mantra of Global Development but with respect to nature and the environment. Enriching life and doing everything to elevate the world to a better place to live for all remains his prime passion.


text:
The Renault-owned budget brand Dacia has revealed prices for its crossover Duster. Starting from just £8,995, with a four-wheel-drive option costing £10,995, it's a huge difference to the similarly sized Nissan Qashqai which begins at £16,595 for a two-wheel-drive model.
The line-up is simple with a 1.6-litre 105hp petrol engine and a 1.5-litre 110hp diesel unit, and three trim levels Access, Ambiance and Laureate.
The petrol engine is only available in the entry-level Access trim and comes with electric front windows, four airbags and central looking, height adjustable steering wheel and remote central locking.
The midrange Ambiance models start from £11,495 rising to £13,945 for four-wheel-drive vehicles. Standard equipment includes CD radio with AUX, Bluetooth, USB connectivity and steering-column mounted controls, plus body coloured bumpers and fog lights.
The predicted best seller, the range-topping Laureate, which is expected to account for around two thirds of orders, costs between £12,995 and £14,995. Features include 16-inch alloy wheels, air conditioning, electric rear windows, leather steering wheel and a trip computer. There's also heated door mirrors and a fancier interior than the lesser trims.
The car is available to order now, with first deliveries due in January 2013.
Dacia, which is already popular in countries such as France and Germany, says the car is the beginning of an assault on the UK, with a supermini called Sandero to follow shortly.


text:
FOLLOWING the excitement of the Football World Cup, the summer of sport continues with the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow between July 23 and August 3.
The Games comprises a total of 256 medal events covering 17 sports, many of which, including boxing, hockey, judo, bowls and rifle shooting, are available to Vale residents.
There are over 40 different sports and physical activities offered across the Vale for residents of all ages and abilities in more than 200 sports clubs and organisations, and the council's sports development team has full information on its website.
On Saturday, July 26, from11am to 3pm at Central Park and King Square, Barry, residents will be able to experience a few of the Commonwealth sports at a special fun day.
The team has been working in partnership with Wales Squash and Racketball to develop new opportunities for juniors to participate in squash and assisted the governing body in delivering taster sessions in local schools in Penarth and Barry. They have also been working, along with Barry Squash Club, to develop new community-based squash sessions in Penarth and Barry leisure centres.
Athletics, badminton, hockey, netball, rugby and table tennis opportunities have also been developed in schools and community clubs as part of the Dragon Sport programme, which aims to increase the number of seven to 11 year olds participating in sport.
Working in conjunction with the team and local schools, Badminton Wales has been delivering training to local teachers and volunteers to enable them to deliver fun badminton activities within school and community settings. A junior badminton club is now running at Holm View Leisure Centre, Barry, for children and young people who want to participate in the sport outside school.
For further information visit www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk or call 01446-704793.


text:
Forgot your password? Enter the email address you signed up with and we will send you a link to create a new password.
Your password reset has been submitted to the address provided.
Design plus words, letters, and/or numbers
Charitable foundation services, namely, providing information regarding American Pit Bull breed characteristics
Business in Charlotte, NC


text:
Bildungsromans, American
From Library of Congress Subject Headings
Bildungsromans, American
- http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh2006002972
- info:lc/authorities/sh2006002972
- http://id.loc.gov/authorities/sh2006002972#concept
Instance Of
Scheme Membership(s)
Collection Membership(s)
- American Bildungsromans
Broader Terms
Closely Matching Concepts from Other Schemes
- found: Work cat.: Ho, J.A. Consumption and identity in Asian American coming-of-age novels, 2005.
- found: Eysturoy, A.O. Daughters of self-creation, c1996: table of contents (the Chicana bildungsroman/künstlerroman)
- found: Japtok, M. Growing up ethnic : nationalism and the Bildungsroman in African American and Jewish American fiction, c2005.
- found: LC database, Aug. 16, 2006 (The female Bildungsroman by Toni Morrison and Maxine Hong Kingston)
Change Notes
- 2006-04-19: new
- 2006-09-28: revised
Alternate Formats
Suggest terminology
The LC Linked Data Service welcomes any suggestions you might have about terminology used for a given heading or concept.
Would you like to suggest a change to this heading?
Please provide your name, email, and your suggestion so that we can begin assessing any terminology changes.
Fields denoted with an asterisk (*) are required.


text:
Happy Meals To Get Healthier
They're telling us what to eat and how much of it.
McDonalds announced that they are changing the venerable Happy Meal – adding a serving of fruit or vegatables…and shrinking the size of the fries.
Under pressure from health and children's advocacy groups, McDonald's Corp. is making changes to its famed Happy Meals.
The changes, to be announced Tuesday, will take effect in September in some markets and then roll out to all 14,000 McDonald's restaurants in the U.S. by April.
So what's changing specifically?
Happy Meals, health: McDonald's making Happy Meals more healthful – latimes.com.


text:
COMMUNITIES will fall silent at 11am this Sunday to remember those who lost their lives in war.
This year, Remembrance Sunday falls on November 11 - the anniversary of the Armistice at the end of the First World War.
Wreaths will be laid and tributes made as people throughout Berkshire fall silent to observe the traditional two-minute silence.
Remembrance Day services will take place on Sunday: * The Bracknell branch of the Royal British Legion will pay respects with the laying of wreaths and silence around the war memorial in Stanley Walk, at 10.45am. A parade will then march to the Holy Trinity Church for the Remembrance service.
* The congregation of St Francis & St Clare CofE Church, which is based at Jennett's Park School, will hold a service on Sunday in Tawny Owl Square, just outside the school. It begins at 10.30am with poppy-making for the children inside the school hall and then will process out to the square.
* Residents and soldiers from Sandhurst Military Academy - which is marking its 200th anniversary -will attend a civic service of Remembrance at 10.45am, in Sandhurst Memorial Park. Sandhurst Silver Band, St Michael's Church Choir and Sandhurst Corps of Drums will provide musical support.
* A two-minute silence will be held in Market Place, Wokingham, at 11am. The Remembrance Day Parade will then start at Wokingham Town Hall at 2.30pm, going to All Saints Church, in Norreys Avenue, for the annual service. The parade will then march through the town back to the town hall where wreaths will be laid on the war memorial.
* A parade in Binfield will start at Binfield Club car park, in Binfield Road, at 9.30am, and will arrive at All Saints' Church, Terrace Road North, at 10am.
* Crowthorne RBL will meet at 10am for its annual Remembrance Service at St John's Church, Wellington Road, Crowthorne - with Sandhurst Community Brass providing music. The congregation will then walk down to Lych Gate for 11am, to observe the two-minute silence and hang wreaths on the gate.
* People will gather at the war memorial in Ascot High Street at 10.20am; wreaths will be laid and two minutes silence will be held at 11am. Scouts, cubs, guides and brownies will then lead a parade to All Saints' Church in London Road for an 11.45am service.
* All Souls' Church in All Souls Road, South Ascot will hold a 10.30am service.
* A family service will be held at St Michael's and All Angels in Sunninghill at 9.15am where youngsters can explore the war graves and find out about the meaning of remembrance day. There will then be a service at 10.45am.
* Holy Trinity Church in Sunningdale will hold a ser-vice starting at the war memorial in Church Road at 10.45am and following the two-minute silence people will parade to the church where the service will continue.
* A civic remembrance service will be held at St Mary's Church in Winkfield at 10.45am and two minutes silence will be held at 11am.
* St Peter's Church in Cranbourne will hold a 10.45am remembrance service.
* At St Martin's, Chavey Down, a service of remembrance will be held at 9.30am.
* In Hurst, a Parade will form at 10.30am in the 'Castle' car park. At 10.45am there is a short march to St Nicholas Church for a service after which the congregation moves outside to the memorial for a short wreath-laying ceremony. The parade will re-form ready for the march back.


text:
For parents of kids with severe, life threatening food allergies, helping your child become more independent and responsible can have some added challenges.
One of which is that your Middle School aged child frequently has new and deep concerns, fears and questions about food allergies and their medical diagnosis. A lot of them. These questions are different than a few years ago and they are different than they will be a few years from now; but these questions, if they go unanswered or are answered with half answers, can grow into massive, irrational fears.
For example, *if* your Middle School aged child has:
--heard and processed half conversations (or even arguments) between you and your spouse about food allergies or their seriousness or their management;
--picked up pieces from allergist and pediatrician visits but not the full story as they weren't engaged in the conversation or even really a part of the office visit;
--if they have been told misinformation by a well-meaning school teacher, who has no clue what they are talking about;
--if they have read something online from an untrusted source (the definition of a Doctor Google);
--or perhaps they have done what all kids do: heard one thing and then thought it meant something else because they didn't have the knowledge or context to process it, they can end up with a lot of myths about food allergies and food allergy risk that they believe are true. And usually they really aren't.
Your Middle School aged child needs answers to their food allergy fears and questions now in a new and different way. They are able to process complex information in a more dynamic way. So let's let them get that new information so they can start to identify and separate real food allergy risk from food allergy fear.
Frequently with my Middle School aged food allergy counseling clients, I will ask them to tell me what their fears are and their questions about their food allergies and we write them down together. The general themes I've heard concern death, casual contact, how epinephrine works, needles and how to protect themselves.
Let's jump into the scariest one for everyone who manages food allergy risk: the possibility of death from an accidental exposure to one's food allergen.
A Middle School aged child understands death in a new and deeply profound way, perhaps even existential. The deaths they may have experienced like the death of a loved one, a beloved pet or even a friend or the parent of a friend has a different effect on their lives as a middle schooler than, say, a pre-schooler. Additionally, it is developmentally appropriate for Middle School aged children to start to ask and experience themselves as a human being in the world; even that there is even a larger world that they need to concern themselves with!
This is an elemental question that Middle School aged children are grappling with and it's our job to help them grapple.
Of course, as a parent (or a adult loved one), it can be deeply upsetting, difficult and heartbreaking to hear a child talk about their fears about death.
But parents, I urge you to first examine * your * thoughts, fears and understanding of food allergy risk. Children, as you know, are little sponges watching and listening to everything you do and they will mirror your feelings, whether you have expressed them directly or indirectly. If you believe deeply that your little one will grow into a self-sufficient adult with food allergies, they most likely will. If you have deep worries, fears about risk and allergens and managing them (and/or a history of anxiety), and believe there is danger and risk around every corner, your child cannot help but pick up this attitude, too, and mirror your worries and fears.
Parents, maybe you still have questions about food allergy risk, diagnosis, definition or your anaphylaxis action plan? Get medical clarity, work with a therapist, talk to your partner about your concerns so you can help your child navigate this next developmental phase which is the beginning of how to be in the world and of the world (my favorite quote from the movie Sabrina.)
By the Middle School years, it is time for honest age-appropriate talk about real food allergy risk versus food allergy fear. And, as a family, this needs to happen together, ideally.
Allow your child the space to express their fears about food allergies in words, drawing and in play.
Have them write down their questions about food allergies or help form their fears into actionable questions.
The next step is to take those questions to your trusted local allergist to get real answers which will help them learn how identify and separate real food allergy risk from food allergy fear.
My next post will cover this topic.
Here are parts one, three and four of this blog series on middle school aged children and anxiety around food allergies.
Here's an excellent post about anxiety, generally speaking, in children, by Karen Young.
NB: When fears are not managed, children can suffer or withdraw. If you witness troubling behaviors in your child, please have them evaluated by a local child psychologist, social worker or psychiatrist as well as your allergist and your pediatrician.


text:
Band leader composer and saxophonist Tevet Sela has straightforwardly produced some of the most mindful modern jazz in Israel. Indeed, Tevet Sela performs as a soloist/leader and also in various orchestras. He turns up on TV shows, composes music for films and theatre performances and has toured in France and the Netherlands as a featured soloist.
His voice commingles Israeli rhythms, Jewish, Western, Middle Eastern, and North African music. Since he first appeared on the jazz scene his style has been considered anything but peculiar. Tevel Sela can play saxophones and bass and very often pushes his music via many paths.
Coming True doesn't fall shapely into a lone genre, but warps and cricks through different vibes and approaches. The Tevet Sela Quartet transports a funky demeanor on tracks such as "Following Your Back", "Late Bloomer", "Earth Rhythm" and "Night Creature". His pieces have a regular euphonic balance with stately harmonization in "Coming True, " Naked True", "My Weather", "Peace Club" as well as in the ethno elements of "Existence".
All throughout the eleven tracks, Tevet Sela follows a sense of "let it go". When this magical moment happens, his saxophone will shrill, snarl and weep every note to collide into a turning mass of sounds. Tela Sela injects a high skill onto this release with creativity, spontaneity and passion, offering a very original music which is certainly worth the time.


text:
Advanced Search
Current Criteria
- ›› Coverage People : Andrew Johnson
In the twelve years after the Civil War—the era of Reconstruction—there were massive changes in American culture, economy, and politics. These were the years of the "Old West," of cowboys, Indians, and buffalo hunts, of cattle drives, railroads, and...
Indian Slavery in the Americas
The story of European colonialism in the Americas and its victimization of Africans and Indians follows a central paradigm in most textbooks. Indians are described in terms of their succumbing in large numbers to disease, with the survivors facing dispossession of their land. This paradigm—a basic one in the history of colonialism—omits a crucial aspect of the story: the indigenous peoples of the Americas were enslaved in large numbers. This exclusion distorts not only what happened to American Indians under colonialism, but also points to the need for a reassessment of the foundation and nature of European overseas expansion.
Glossary Term – Event
Amnesty proclamation
President Andrew Johnson issued a proclamation granting amnesty and pardon to all persons who participated in "the existing rebellion," with a few exceptions.
Glossary Term – Event
Sherman's Field Order No. 15
William T. Sherman issues his Field Order No. 15, which set aside 400,000 acres of land confiscated from slaveholders in South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida for settlement by African Americans. President Andrew Johnson later returned confiscated land to its former owners, and thousands of African Americans were removed from land previously promised to them by the government.
Glossary Term – Event
Congressional control over Reconstruction
Appalled by mass killing of ex-slaves and adoption of restrictive black codes, Congressional Republicans seized control of Reconstruction from President Johnson in early 1866. Although the law empowered him to remove recalcitrant southern officeholders, President Johnson refused to take action. He also forbade the Army from trying violations of federal law in its courts or to prohibit activities that were not in specific violation of federal or local statutes. Many Republicans regarded the president's actions as a systematic effort to...
Glossary Term – Event
Civil Rights Act of 1866
The Civil Rights Act of 1866 was passed over President Johnson's veto. The act defined all persons born in the United States as citizens.
Glossary Term – Event
President impeached
President Andrew Johnson was impeached. Johnson had vetoed twenty Reconstruction bills and urged southern legislatures to reject the Fourteenth Amendment. He ordered African American families evicted from land on which they had been settled by the U.S. Army. His opponents insisted that he had abused his powers and flouted the will of Congress. The House voted 126-47 to impeach Johnson on eleven separate articles. Johnson's attorneys argued that the Tenure of Office Act applied to officials appointed by the president, and since Secretary of...
Glossary Term – Event
Southern rebellion declared over
President Andrew Johnson declared the Southern rebellion over.


text:
JCPenney Co. Inc. (Plano, Texas) has filed a shelf registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission intended to raise more money and stabilize the business.
According to Women's Wear Daily, the filing would allow the ailing retail organization to sell "common stock, preferred stock, depository shares, debt securities, guarantees of JCP debt securities, warrants, stock purchase contracts and stock purchase units."
Earlier this month, JCPenney drew on $850 million of its credit facility and, said WWD, "is working with a host of financial advisers and exploring numerous ways to raise money."
That might include its considerable real estate holdings. JCPenney's owns about 430 of its 1100 retail units.
JCPenney's lost nearly $1 billion last year and is said to have burned through more than $1 billion in cash in the first quarter.


text:
Learn to Dance like a True Latino in Adelaide! 90% off
Learn the Sultry Art of Latin Dance! $29 for Four Weeks of Unlimited Group Dance Lessons + Bonus Voucher! ($300 Value)
- About
- Fine Print
- Reviews
What We LikeBonus voucher: 30% discount on private lessons! Learn Sexy Salsa, Seductive Zouk, Cheeky Cha Cha Cha, Sensual Bachata, Exhilarating Rock 'n' Roll/Swing/Jive, Romantic Rumba, Classy and Jazzy Foxtrot, Elegant Waltz, Passionate and Dramatic Tango and Thrilling Samba Instructor Oscar Castellanos' achievements include four Top Teacher/Instructor Match Competition Awards for best and highest student average scores for three consecutive years Oscar has taught Ballroom and Latin styles at some of Adelaide's largest studios including Arthur Murray's, Gene Kelly's and Dancecorp
The Company
The Fine PrintThis voucher expires on 24 December 2011 It is not valid with any other offer Bookings are essential The limit for lessons is five one-hour classes per week Unlimited vouchers may be purchased as gifts This voucher is valid for new students only No refunds will be issues after beginning classes Any refunds given will carry a 30% surcharge Contact details for Elite Synergy can be found on the voucher
We have been amazed by [Oscar's] fun, warm and friendly personality, by his level of enthusiasm, his involvement and readiness to help. As a teacher, he is very positive and supportive, patient and caring, knowledgeable, committed to his work…Oscar's passion about dancing and great attention to detail allows us to see even basic steps on the whole new level. He teaches us not only about techniques, but also the feelings of the dance and ourselves, music appreciation and partnership."
– Vassily & Yulia Koinov via Facebook
Oscar taught me not only about dance, but also about myself. Through dance I have become a more confident and self assured person… and I successfully competed in several competitions and performed routines in front of crowds of people, which I never believed I would have the confidence or ability to do. One such competition was the Arthur Murray National Dance-o-Rama on the Gold Coast, which involved studios and students from around Australia. As a result of Oscar's teaching ability and my dedication, I was awarded the best female dancer in the Bronze standard, an achievement I am incredibly proud of both of us for."
– Sarah Collyer-Brahm
[Oscar] is an enthusiastic and dedicated dance instructor who readily adapts his teaching methods to best suit the learning style of each individual student. Unlike many instructors, Oscar not only focuses on teaching his students the required steps, but equips them with tools and techniques to lead/follow and execute the steps correctly with precision and style."
– Jacqui Norman
Expand Help
+Can I form a business partnership with Ouffer?
We're always happy to hear from business-owners, or people who believe a business (of any kind) would benefit from our hugely powerful marketing platform, or from others interested in forming a business partnership of any kind, from all over the world.
In order to enquire about getting a business featured on Ouffer, please send an email to firstname.lastname@example.com, with the following details...
- Business Name
- Location
- Website
- Contact Phone
- Best Time to Call
- Catalogue (if applicable)
- Product(s) (if applicable)
For other proposed business partnerships, please email us at email@example.com with some more information about your proposition below and we will be sure to get back to you very soon.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Not found what you are looking for? Submit an enquiry
+Can I work at Ouffer?
Ouffer is always looking to add new talented people to our fantastic team! Please check our Jobs page for any current vacancies. Alternatively, just send your CV/Resume to firstname.lastname@example.com along with a brief cover letter and we will be sure to get back to you in due course.
Not found what you are looking for? Submit an enquiry
+Can I use a voucher after it has expired?
Voucher redemption is at the discretion of the business providing the service or product. Most businesses tend to enforce the validity terms of the voucher and often are not able to extend past the validity date. We always prefer if our members can use their voucher at any time, but unfortunately, redemption after expiry is purely at the discretion of the business.
Please note, many businesses book out prior to the voucher expiry - we suggest making a booking at least four weeks prior to the end of the validity period (and if you're trying to get a booking for a popular time, like a weekend, the booking should be made as soon as possible. The earlier you book, the more likely it is that you will get your preferred booking time!)
It is very rare for Ouffer to issue a refund in cases where the voucher has expired. Most offers have a redemption period of at least 3 months, which is usually plenty of time for all purchasers to use their voucher. In any case - the expiry date of each offer is clearly stated in the "Fine Print" section of the offer page, and it is the responsibility of the purchaser to ensure that they have availed of the offer before this date!
Not found what you are looking for? Submit an enquiry
+How can I resolve an issue with a past/present offer?
Please note that Ouffer is the medium through which businesses feature their services, and cannot be held responsible for the services provided by such businesses. If you have a complaint about a featured business or the service that they have provided, the first step should be to contact the business directly. They may be able to take steps to resolve the situation, which will usually be similar to steps taken when dealing with any customer complaint.
You will be able to find contact details for the featured business on the offer-page. Other conditions (such as the expiry date) can be found in the "Company" section of the offer-page.
Alternatively, you can ask the Ouffer Customer Experience Team and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Please note, it is really important whenever making a refund request to provide very detailed and accurate information - if any information provided is false, we will not be able to provide a refund to you.
We always provide a credit or refund when a business is no longer operating and you have a valid voucher. You can find our Refund Policy at http://experiences.ouffer.com/refund-policy-adma for further information.
If you would like a refund for any other reason, please let us know via email to email@example.com. Our support team will always do their best to assist.
Not found what you are looking for? Submit an enquiry
+How can I resolve an issue with a product I purchased?
If you've purchased a product that you redeemed directly with a vendor, the first step is to try to contact them - their details should be on the voucher.
If you the vendor isn't getting back to you, or if you've purchased a product that was shipped directly to you without the need to redeem your voucher, please let us know exactly what the difficulties you have are by email to email@example.com and we'll do our best to help!
We are only able to offer refunds in cases where items are faulty, damaged or incorrectly advertised.
Not found what you are looking for? Submit an enquiry
+How can I unsubscribe from receiving your emails?
If you would like to unsubscribe from receiving emails from Ouffer in future, please go to My Account and then click on My Subscriptions.
On that page you can choose exactly what emails you want (you can even choose to receive an email once a week, instead of every day) or you can unsubscribe from all our emails in just a few quick clicks!
Not found what you are looking for? Submit an enquiry
+How do I buy an offer?
Firstly, make sure you are signed up!
Then, after logging in - click 'Buy Now' towards the top-right of the offer page. On the next page, you will be asked to confirm the quantity of vouchers that you wish to purchase (if you're using credits to purchase, this is where you can select how much credit you want to use).
If you're buying a product, you may also be required to provide your Postal Address, or your choice of redemption location. Always make sure you enter the correct address for delivery.
Once you've done all that, you can then go ahead and click "Complete My Order" towards the bottom of the page. The number of credits selected (if any) will be deducted from the cost of the voucher, and the corresponding number of credits removed from your account.
Follow the on-screen instructions from here - you can pay via a registered PayPal account, or using your credit/debit card.
As always, if you you have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to contact us at email@example.com.
Not found what you are looking for? Submit an enquiry
+How do I locate my voucher?
After you buy a voucher, you'll get an email with a link to download (and print) your voucher. Unfortunately, some mail servers automatically transfer our emails to your 'junk' mail box.
(If you haven't been getting our emails, it's also a good idea to make sure that you added us as a 'safe sender' to make sure our emails aren't going to your junk box!)
But, you can also actually log into your account and print the vouchers off whenever you like! Here's how:
- Sign into the site,
- Hover over "My Account" at the top-middle of the screen.
- Choose "My Ouffers" from the drop-down menu.
- Choose "All" towards the top-right corner of the screen.
- Click "View/Print" next to the voucher you need to view/print.
Instructions on how to redeem the voucher will be contained on the voucher itself.
Things to keep in mind:
Lots of our members have more than one email address – if you log into your account and you can't find your voucher, you may have used a different email address to purchase – for example your work email or your personal email address. Try all the email addresses you have and if you still can't find it, let us know.
If you used PayPal to purchase, what happens is that a new account will be created using your PayPal email address. If your login email for PayPal and Ouffer are the same then there won't be any problems, but if you use a different address for PayPal, a new Ouffer account with that PayPal email will be created. Your voucher will be placed in that account.
If you purchased a voucher and it isn't showing up, the next step is to check your credit card statement (on-line if you have access!). If there is a charge there, please send an email right away to Ouffer so the team can investigate it for you. Please include as much detail as possible to help us assist you as quick as we can.
Not found what you are looking for? Submit an enquiry
+How do I refer a friend?
In order to refer a friend to Ouffer, you just need to…
First log in to Ouffer! After logging in, in the top corner of the page, there is a link which says "Invite Friends, get $5". You will then be taken to a page that provides personal "referral link". You can copy and paste this link into an email to all of your family and friends (or even use the Facebook and Twitter sharing buttons). If any of your friends sign up to Ouffer, we'll give you $5 credit as soon as they make their first purchase.
If you have any questions about referring friends, please email us at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Not found what you are looking for? Submit an enquiry
+I've booked my travel dates with the hotel - am I able to change them?
Most of our hotel partners allow one change of date, however, that will depend on the hotel's cancellation policy (and how far away your booking is). If your booking is for tomorrow, it is unlikely you will be able to change your travel date, however, if your booking is six months away, most hotels will accommodate a change of date. Some hotels may charge a small administrative fee for any chances (at their own discretion).
We're more than happy to assist where we can, but any date requests need to be made with the hotel directly.
Not found what you are looking for? Submit an enquiry
+I bought a gift voucher, how do I find it?
At the end of the offer, we will send a link to download the gift voucher – exactly like a normal voucher. You can send the voucher as a PDF to the lucky recipient, or you can print it off and combine I with a card if you prefer!
To find your gift vouchers you just need to log on to Ouffer and then click on the "My Account" link, which appears once you have signed in, and select My Ouffers.
Once you've logged in you will notice several tabs, 'Active', 'Used', 'Offered', 'Expired' and 'All' If you click on Offered you'll be able to see any gift vouchers you've bought!
Not found what you are looking for? Submit an enquiry
+I bought an offer - what do I do now?
You will find instructions on how to redeem the offer on the voucher itself. Depending on the offer you've purchased, you may need to contact the featured business to make a booking - contact details will be provided on the voucher. You may also find them in the "Fine Print" or "Company" section on the offer page, along with any other conditions relevant to that particular offer.
Your redemption code is the code printed at the top of your voucher - in almost all cases, you will need to give this code when redeeming the offer you have purchased - this is so that our partners can verify that the voucher is valid and provide you with the service advertised.
Not found what you are looking for? Submit an enquiry
+I can't use my voucher any more - can I give it to someone else?
Yes, your vouchers should be fully transferable (unless the terms of a specific offer state otherwise). So long as you haven't used part of your voucher, you can give it to a friend or family member. If you've had part of a treatment or service, you aren't able to give the voucher away though.
If a voucher has expired, it unfortunately can't be used by anyone.
Whenever you buy a voucher which needs a booking, always be sure to book well in advance of the expiry - the earlier the better. Just to make sure no one misses out, most vouchers will need to be booked between two and four weeks before their expiry.
Not found what you are looking for? Submit an enquiry
+Is Ouffer a secure site?
Ouffer is fully secured by Verisign, the highest level of security a website can have. All financial details are passed directly on to our merchant processor, so not even our staff have access to any credit card details.
Not found what you are looking for? Submit an enquiry
+I want to speak to someone, who do I contact?
If you need our help for any reason, please don't hesitate to contact us at email@example.com so one of our Melbourne and Sydney based team can help you!
In order for us address your issue as quickly as possible, please try to include the following (where possible):
- The email address you have registered your account with
- Your voucher/redemption code
- The name of the service-provider/business for which you purchased your voucher
The above information will enable us to provide you with a much quicker response!
We like to try to reply to any enquiry as quickly as possible. Our support team are based in Sydney and Melbourne, working between 9.00am and 8.00pm AEST. If your contact us outside those hours, it may take us a bit longer to reply.
In the event that you have attempted to contact us and you haven't got a reply after 2 business day, it's possible that your email didn't make it through to us for some reason - we will never not reply to an email.
If this happens, please try to send another email from a different email address to email@example.com.
Not found what you are looking for? Submit an enquiry
+My Password isn't working - What can I do?
If your password doesn't work, you can get a new one by clicking on the "Forgot Password" link underneath the login box.
You should get an automated email sent to you – if that doesn't work, it probably means your email account may be blocking our emails! First thing to do is to check your junk mail box and there should be an email in there. If there is, please add us as a safe sender.
If you can't find an email from us, just send us a quick email to firstname.lastname@example.com and our team will be able to help out and create a new password for you!
Not found what you are looking for? Submit an enquiry
+What does the 'Mark as Used' Button do?
The 'Mark as Used' button allows you to move your used vouchers to the Used section. That way, you can check exactly what vouchers have yet to be used.
It's pretty handy when you've bought a few vouchers for one place but don't use them all at once. You can check your used vouchers by clicking on USED Vouchers and also, if you click Mark as Used by mistake, you can bring the voucher back by clicking on Mark as New – good as new!
Not found what you are looking for? Submit an enquiry
+What is credit, and how do I use it?
If you are using credits for your entire purchase, you won't need to enter any credit card details - you can just ignore the box.
If you are using credit for part of the purchase, you will need to use a credit card to 'top up' the purchase. For example, if you have $15 credit stored up, and you are buying something that costs $100, you would just need to pay the $85 top-up amount from your credit card or PayPal account.
Your credits will expire 365 days after they have been granted, although this doesn't apply to specific promotions which state otherwise.
Your credit is personal to you, so you can't give it away - but you can buy a voucher for someone as a gift using your credit.
If you look at your bank statement right after a purchase, you may notice more than one charge on there (usually, there will be the full amount and the amount less the credit on your statement).
That is an unfortunate requirement of the banks – we haven't really charged you twice! The charge you noticed for the full amount is what banks call a 'pre-authorisation'. Ouffer doesn't actually charge anything until after the deal closes – the pre-authorisation is just a hold on those funds.
When our system goes to charge you, it will see that you are using credit and will adjust the cost accordingly. The original 'pre-authorisation' will 'drop off' within one to five business days (depending on which bank you're with).
Not found what you are looking for? Submit an enquiry
+Why have I been charged twice?
If there are two charges on your statement, it is most likely that the first is a 'pre-authorisation', rather than an actual charge. The 'pre-authorisation' will be removed by your bank between one to five business days (depending on which bank you use for your credit card).
If you noticed that you actually bought more vouchers than you intended, please contact us at firstname.lastname@example.com immediately. So long as Ouffer is told promptly, we can usually credit or refund the mistakenly bought vouchers (but that will depend on how quickly we've been notified and if any bank or administration fees have been incurred).
Not found what you are looking for? Submit an enquiry
+Who can I contact for help?
If you need assistance and can't find an answer on this page, you can find a link to our Contact Us Form below.
If the Contact Us form isn't working, you can get in touch with us at firstname.lastname@example.com - but, if you can, please use the Contact Us Form - this will help us better understand what you need so we can get back to you quicker!
While we do whatever we can to get back to you as quick as we can, please allow between 1-2 working days for a reply.
Not found what you are looking for? Submit an enquiry
Daily Inspirations


text:
Amazon.com has instituted a new policy that no longer allows its customers to phone in to change account settings, such as credit cards and e-mail addresses. This follows the hacking last week of Wired reporter Matt Honan's Amazon account, which in turn gave the hackers access to numerous other private online accounts belonging to Honan.
Honan took partial responsibility for his online vulnerabilities: "My accounts were daisy-chained together, he wrote in a post. "Getting into Amazon let my hackers get into my Apple ID account, which helped them get into Gmail, which gave them access to Twitter."
But Honan also pointed out the flaws in the involved companies' security procedures: "Apple tech support gave the hackers access to my iCloud account. Amazon tech support gave them the ability to see a piece of information—a partial credit card number—that Apple used to release information," he wrote.
Apple told eWeek it had temporarily suspended the ability to reset AppleID passwords over the phone.
Formerly, Amazon customers could change an account's e-mail address or add a credit card number to an account simply by phoning in and giving their names, e-mail addresses, and mailing addresses.
While you can't always protect yourself against an online company's security gaps, make sure you follow best practices yourself. See our free Online Security Guide for tips on creating strong passwords, protecting your privacy on Facebook, and lots more.
How Apple and Amazon Security Flaws Led to My Epic Hacking
Amazon Quietly Closes Security Hole After Journalist's Devastating Hack
Apple, Amazon Change Security Policies After Hack of Journalist`s Accounts
—Carol Mangis
Build & Buy Car Buying Service
Save thousands off MSRP with upfront dealer pricing information and a transparent car buying experience.
Get Ratings on the go and compare
while you shop


text:
How consumers receive entertainment is changing so rapidly that it's difficult to predict just where the market will be in a few years. However, drug chains that partner with technologically adept service providers could remain players as the business shifts from the DVD-dominated model employed today.
Change in the business can be illustrated by developments at once dominant content provider Blockbuster.
In July, Blockbuster announced that it was adding in-store digital downloads, testing kiosks that perform the function in a handful of stores. Blockbuster chief executive officer James Keyes said earlier this year that download kiosks are part of the retailer's strategy to establish itself as the "preferred source for digital media entertainment" by providing a convenient service for customers. Keyes predicted that the entertainment business would be predominantly digital in 10 years, despite the fact that consumers haven't yet embraced downloads.
Released last month, NPD's "Entertainment Trends in America" study reported that 67 percent of respondents had viewed an owned DVD within the past three months, while half had viewed a rented DVD. Video on demand also got its due, with 18 percent using the media, while 8 percent of respondents reported viewing movies on portable media devices, 6 percent downloaded a movie from a free file-sharing service and just 2 percent paid for a digital video download from the Web.
On the other hand, 52 percent of respondents reported visiting such sites as YouTube to watch streaming video.
Russ Crupnick, NPD's senior industry analyst for entertainment, said that while the rapid evolution of demand makes predictions difficult, he saw advantages in downloads and on demand as big box retailers, who helped drive DVD sales, re-evaluate the category as its sales slow. Big box retailers drove the development of the DVD business, which a decade ago was high-margin and fast-growing. Now, NPD research pointed to flattening growth, Crupnick said, "so they have to wonder, is it time to devote less valuable floor space to DVD and more to Guitar Hero?"
With less support from the big boxes and shifting priorities at Blockbuster, innovators have an opportunity to grab the attention of consumers.
"There are companies out there, Redbox is a great example, that say, 'While the traditional rental market is slowing down a little, why don't we make getting a DVD ubiquitous.' We're seeing a shift to making [DVD] a product consumers can get anytime, anywhere," Crupnick said.
That convenience can have several effects. For one, it makes getting a movie less about a destination, which will change the way consumers think about purchasing. It also promotes new shopping patterns. While it's convenient to take advantage of such a service as Redbox while picking up a gallon of milk, the opposite also is true.
A kiosk partner provides valuable technological expertise that can be applied as new formats gain adherents. It can adapt its distribution network to new customer preference for digital downloads to DVD or directly to devices.
Satisfying diverse customer preferences is only going to become more important as the character of purchasing changes. "I like the democratic point of view," Crupnick said. "I think the way consumers acquire, pay, watch and interact with devices is in any way consumers think appropriate. If I have a 50-inch TV with a Blue-Ray player, I can buy or rent, but, as all TV becomes connected, I may turn to video on demand to get something suitable. If it's just a case of 'Gee, I just missed last weeks episode of Army Wives.' Maybe I'll just watch it on my device on the subway."


text:
Government and Political Roundup: One year of funding for the WEDC, not two
The state Legislature's finance committee has endorsed only one year of funding for the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. The panel discussed the agency's proposed two-year budget yesterday. That was after members of another legislative committee hammered WEDC officials with questions about accountability shortcomings raised in a recent audit. The finance panel voted 12-to-4, with Democrats voting no, to grant the job creation agency 59-million dollars in the next fiscal year - two-million more than this year. The committee withheld the second year's proposed funding of 63-million-dollars until corporation director Reed Hall reports in December on how the agency complies with the issues raised in the audit. Auditors said the WEDC broke state laws by not adopting key policies. Hall took issue with some of that, but promised to the Joint Audit Committee his agency follow the law. The audit also said the department approved job creation grants improperly, and did not keep enough of an eye on the grants-and-loans that are made. In voting for the one-year allocation, Sheboygan Senate Republican Joe Leibham said the W-E-D-C could be quote, "gone in a year" if it doesn't improve the way it provides its services. Milwaukee Assembly Democrat Jon Richards said his party disagreed with providing any more tax dollars to the WEDC. Democrats also tried but failed to remove Governor Scott Walker as the agency's board chairman. They also failed to give the board more power to hire the department's top officials, and set more of its policies.
Wisconsin police, fire, and rescue personnel could still have limits on where they can live, under a budget proposal endorsed yesterday by the Legislature's finance panel. Residency requirements would still be abolished for teachers and other non-emergency public workers. Safety personnel would have to live within 15 miles of the cities and counties they serve. There was also talk of a financial penalty for those who don't comply, but the finance panel decided against it. The final plan was adopted 12-to-4, with all Democrats voting no. The Democrats tried unsuccessfully to remove the residency issue from the budget altogether. Governor Scott Walker's original budget would have thrown out residency requirements throughout the state. He said public workers should have the freedom to live where they want. Local governments said they should have the right to set their own policies. Dozens of Wisconsin communities have residency requirements, but the bill would have the biggest effect on Milwaukee - where some neighborhoods are filled with public workers forced to live in the city. Senate Republican Glenn Grothman of West Bend said those are some of the nicest neighborhoods in Milwaukee, and he feared they would deteriorate if public workers fled to the suburbs. Senate Democrat Bob Wirch of Pleasant Prairie said getting rid of residency would make Milwaukee closer to being like Detroit. And Wirch said quote, "I don't want to see that."
If a state committee has its way, no Wisconsinite would have to worry about being denied of a super-sized soda. The Legislature's Joint Finance Committee voted yesterday to prohibit Wisconsin communities from passing a ban on large sugared sodas, similar to the one pushed by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Assembly Republican Pat Strachota of West Bend said she didn't want government telling her she couldn't have an extra-large soda and popcorn when she goes to the movies. Democrats rejected the budget measure, saying that no Wisconsin city has passed such a ban. They also said the proposal was ironic, after the Assembly voted on Tuesday to try-and-make food stamp recipients spent at least two-thirds of their benefits on healthy, state-approved food items. Brandon Scholz of the Wisconsin Grocers Association says the soda proposal is different, because it encourages consistent rules in communities throughout the state.
The state fund that preserves Wisconsin's nature-and-recreation lands could be reduced again, even though lawmakers agreed two years ago not to make any more cuts for a decade. Governor Scott Walker's proposed state budget would keep the bonding authority for the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund at 60-million dollars a year. The annual bonding was cut two years ago from 85-million, to help get rid of a large state budget deficit. Casey Eggleston of the Nature Conservancy is sounding the alarm about another possible cut. He says conservation groups like to see large tracts of nature land remain intact, so habitat can be preserved. Eggleston also says the stewardship program is key for hunters, anglers, and others who love the outdoors. The Legislature's Joint Finance Committee is expected to consider the level of Stewardship Fund bonding in the next several days.
The state Assembly Jobs Committee was planning to vote this morning on a bill to pump 25-million tax dollars into new start-up companies. Lawmakers of both parties are behind a measure proposed by New Berlin Republican Mike Kuglitsch. It would start a new venture capital fund to invest in agriculture, energy, high-tech, and other firms. At least 50-million dollars would come from the private sector, and the state's share of 25-million is included for now in the proposed state budget. Business interests say the fund is badly needed. At a recent public hearing, they said many new firms have left Wisconsin because there was not enough venture funding to survive their early stages. A couple of Democrats say the measure is not enough to guarantee any long-term return on what would be simply a one-time investment.


text:
Weird Tales of Cold Blooded Sword and Sorcery
Giant Riding Lizard
Large natural beast (mount)
Initiative +1 Senses Perception +2
HP 40; Bloodied 20; Healing Surges 2; Surge Value 10 hp
AC 16; Fortitude 18, Reflex 16, Will 12
Vulnerable 5 cold
Speed 9 (swamp walk), climb 4
Bite (standard; at-will)
+7 vs. AC; 2d4 + 2 damage and a medium or smaller target is grabbed.
Claw (standard; at-will)
+10 vs. AC; 1d6 + 3 damage.
Combined Attack (while mounted by a friendly rider of 2nd level or higher; at-will) ✦ Mount
When the giant lizard's rider makes a melee attack against a target, the lizard can make a
claw attack against the same target.
Telepathic Bond
When ridden by a bonded character, the character is treated as having the Mounted Combat
feat, the rider and mount can communicate telepathically when within 20 squares of each other
and the rider and mount can always sense the location of the other as long as they are both
alive and on the same plane. If the character already has the Mounted Combat feat the mounts
defenses increase by +2. New bonds can be established using the Telepathic Bonding ritual.
Languages —
Str 20 (+8) Dex 17 (+6) Wis 9 (+2)