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As the figures are laid bare in an independent report, Sarah Freeman reports on how London ate the rest of the country's arts funding.
Everyone who works in the region's theatres, galleries and museums knows that when it comes to funding London gets more than its fair share of the pot.
Few, however, realised the extent of the bias. But now thanks to an independent report, which had theatre directors, playwrights and actors outside London choking on their breakfast when it was published yesterday morning, the lid has been well and truly lifted.
The headline figures show that in London £70 is invested in the arts per head of population. Compare that with the rest of the country where the share of Arts Council funding amounts to just £4.50 per head.
"We have to be wary of a knee-jerk reaction which says it's just further evidence of a North-South divide," says Marcus Romer, artistic director of York-based Pilot Theatre company. "Funding is always going to be weighted towards London because that's where a large number of national institutions are based. We also have to remember that a lot of the work produced in the capital does eventually tour the rest of the country. However, arts funding has to be fairly distributed and at the moment it doesn't seem that's the case."
Romer, along with Leeds-based Slung Low and York Theatre Royal, recently staged the ambitious outdoor production Blood and Chocolate. For 18 nights a cast of 200 took over the streets of York in a show about the realities of war. It was moving, visually stunning and without a generous slice of funding, it would never have happened.
"We invested £250,000 in that production and we made between £70,000 and £80,000, but theatre can't just be judged on commercial criteria alone," says Romer. "We were embedded in York for 12 months, we carried a large community cast along with us and I honestly believe the result was transformative.
"The arts have to be accessible, so while it's great that a big hit like War Horse tours up here, if restricted view tickets are £40 a night it will inevitably exclude a large number of people. For a show which would never have happened without the luxury of a subsidised development phase that doesn't seem quite right."
When the Arts Council announced its last tranche of funding in 2011 a number of Yorkshire companies were left wondering how they would balance the books. Among them was Leeds-based Red Ladder which saw its funding drop by almost £100,000, a cut of almost 40 per cent.
"It's galling, but sadly not surprising," says Red Ladder producer Chris Lloyd. "The funding system must surely work on economies of scale. Large theatres will always have the potential for greater income simply because of the amount of people they can get through the door. Small theatres just don't have that option.
"If just one or two per cent could be sliced off their budgets and distributed among smaller companies, the difference it would make would be huge."
Arts organisations will make their next bids for funding in the New Year and given the fall-out from the Rebalancing Our Cultural Capital report its decisions are likely to come under more scrutiny than ever before.
"Inequality of opportunity provokes outrage when it is in education or health care, so how can it be acceptable for it to exist in the arts?" says Sheena Wrigley, chief executive of West Yorkshire Playhouse.
"Last month David Cameron said 'this country has been London-centric for too long'. Now the Government and the Arts Council need to act to make sure the money follows the rhetoric." It's a view echoed by Northern Ballet, which along with all other ballet and opera companies saw its Arts Council funding reduced by 15 per cent. It left a £500,000 hole, but a renewed fundraising drive has seen donations almost double to £700,000 a year.
"Initially we feared we might have to scale back what we do, but ultimately it has made us stronger because we are no longer as reliant on a pot of money which could disappear overnight," says chief executive Mark Skipper.
"However, it hasn't been easy. A report earlier this year showed that the vast majority of arts philanthropy originates from and stays in London. It's why we have recently appointed a development director who will be based in London.
"They are due to start in January and I hope that by the end of six months we will start seeing some real results."
If arts funding refuses to come to Yorkshire, it seems Yorkshire might just have to go to it.


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Iran impact: Risk reduced – Oil down/Asia up – Bloomberg hits turbulence
By Ben White
IRAN IMPACT: RISK REDUCED — Cumberland Advisors' David Kotok: "We expect that the geopolitical risk premia on oil prices will fall. Reduced risk premia will be reflected more emphatically in the pricing of Brent Crude. On the other hand, there will be some slight additional downward price pressure in the US that will reflect in WTI. … When peace breaks out, bullish outlooks prevail. One can chart out positive changes in foreign flows, reduction of risk premia, and beneficial growth activity that are likely to result from a lessening of tension. There is no downside to a six-month exploratory deal with Iran, halting progress at Iran's nuclear facilities"
Story Continued Below
OIL DOWN/ASIA UP — Reuters/Sydney: "Oil prices fell sharply on Monday after Iran and six world powers sealed a deal curbing its nuclear program, a fillip for global economic growth that found expression in heartier share prices in Tokyo and Seoul.
The agreement gives Iran some relief from crippling sanctions and is considered a big step toward a more lasting treaty. While Iran will not be allowed to increase its oil sales for six months, any easing of Middle East tensions tends to lead to lower crude prices.
Brent crude oil shed $2.59 to $108.46 … its biggest daily drop in a month. U.S. oil lost 90 cents to $93.94 a barrel." http://reut.rs/1aZBa5d
NOT SO FAST: SKEPTICISM ABOUNDS — POLITICO's Jonathan Allen: "President Barack Obama's Iranian nuclear deal is running into deep skepticism — and harsh criticism — from officials in Israel and on Capitol Hill. Less than 12 hours after Obama announced the agreement … Democratic and Republican lawmakers ripped it on Sunday morning talk shows, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu taking to Twitter to bash the terms as a 'historic mistake' … 'We have just rewarded very bad and dangerous behavior,' Rep. Mike Rogers, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said on CNN … Perhaps most troubling for Obama, support from longtime allies in Congress has mostly been muted and heavily conditioned.
"The basic framework of the deal temporarily relaxes a small set of sanctions on Iran — freeing up billions of dollars for the regime — in exchange for Tehran agreeing to suspend aspects of its nuclear program for six months. The idea is to give negotiators a set time frame to work out a more substantial follow-on agreement, without allowing Iran to continue pursuing nuclear weapons, while Tehran continues its talks with the negotiating team made up of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany." http://bit.ly/1bgRCnv
Text of the agreement: http://wapo.st/1jzJQEl
BUSINESS SEEKS TO GET BACK INTO IRAN — WSJ's Daniel Michaels Benoit Faucon and David Pearson: "The relaxation of sanctions on Iran promises an opening for international companies that have been sidelined from one of the Middle East's largest consumer markets. Iran needs imported products for all aspects of its economy, as well as foreign-made parts for some domestic industries, such as automobile production. In its vital oil-and-gas industry, infrastructure has long strained under sanctions …
"The deal is 'good news toward the normalization of the international [community's] relationships with Iran,' said a representative for Total SA … which ended talks with Iran over a big natural-gas project as European sanctions tightened over the past few years. European companies may have more incentive than U.S. businesses to return quickly to Iran, since the loss of business in Europe is more recent and hit as the Continent's economy continued to struggle. French car maker PSA Peugeot Citroën … lost Iranian sales of roughly €10 million, or about $13.5 million, a month when European sanctions hit last year." http://on.wsj.com/IbwIJM
FIRST LOOK: TAX REFORM STILL ALIVE? – ML Strategies Jason Rosenstock in a note going out this morning: "The release of these [tax reform] drafts, coupled with news that the Budget Conference might be ale to produce a 'small deal' rekindled the belief amongst some in Washington, that Congress was on the path to recovery and some type of major tax reform could be accomplished in 2014.
"Whether this is now possible as the Senate sifts through its "nuclear winter' is unclear. On one hand the decision could shut down an already broken institution, though on the other it could galvanize Congress to work together to operate as a coequal branch of the government, now that the President is no longer handcuffed in making appointments, and thus is incentivized to pass appropriation bills, as well as other legislation."
GOLDMAN NOT SO BULLISH — Per Goldman Sachs's "Weekly Kickstart": "[W]e expect no growth in margins and P/E multiple in the year ahead. The various approaches we use suggest S&P 500 currently trades at or slightly above fair value. We assign a 67% probability S&P 500 declines by 10% at some point during 2014."
THIS MORNING ON POLITICO PRO FINANCE – Zachary Warmbrodt on the negotiations over the Volcker rule… To learn more about Pro's subscriber-only coverage -- and to get Morning Money every day before 6 a.m. -- please contact Pro Services at (703) 341-4600 or email@example.com.
GOOD MONDAY MORNING — Welcome to Thanksgiving Week! M.M. goes dark on Turkey Day and Black Friday. And you will have a guest host tomorrow as M.M. takes a night off. Email me questions at email@example.com and follow me @ morningmoneyben.
DRIVING THE WEEK — President Obama, fresh off the Iran nuclear deal, is on the west coast where he will deliver remarks on immigration reform this morning in San Francisco before heading to Los Angeles for a pair of fund-raisers (one featuring Magic Johnson) … Pending home sales this morning at 10 a.m. expected to rise 1.5 percent … Case-Shiller home prices at 9 a.m. Tuesday expected to rise 0.9 percent … Consumer confidence at 10 a.m. Tuesday expected to show a post-shutdown bounce to 72.4 from 71.2 … Univ. of Michigan consumer sentiment at 9:55 a.m. Wednesday expected to rise to 73.0 from preliminary 72.0 …
Index of leading indicators at 10 a.m. Wednesday expected to be flat … Holiday shopping season kicks off in earnest on Friday. Expectations are for a fairly good year for retailers … HealthCare.gov is supposed to be working fine as of this Sunday but the White House has already lowered expectations for the deeply troubled Obamacare Web site.
** At JPMorgan Chase & Co., we're proud to help build stronger communities, from hiring veterans to making capital available to small businesses. At this time of year, we offer a special thanks to those in the military who help keep America safe, prosperous and strong. www.jpmorganchase.com/corporateresponsibility
OBAMA PREVIEW — Per a White House official: "On Monday, the President will deliver remarks at the Betty Ong Recreation Center in San Francisco, California where he will call on Congress to pass commonsense immigration reform. Fixing our immigration system is good for the economy and it's the right thing to do. It will reduce the deficit by $850 billion and grow the economy by $1.4 trillion over the next two decades … In his remarks, the President will highlight his key principles that must be a part of any bipartisan comprehensive effort, including continuing to strengthen border security, creating an earned path to citizenship, holding employers accountable."
CBA RIPS OCC/FDIC — Consumer Bankers Assoc. Richard Hunt in a newsletter item: "As you may remember, the FDIC annually publishes a study on the number of un/under banked which encourages banks to assist in lowering these numbers. … This makes the OCC and FDIC's final decision on deposit advance products an even greater disappointment. The rule issued Thursday (November 21, 2013) will severely impact a large percent of Americans living paycheck-to-paycheck who may not have the means to provide for their families in times of financial hardship."
JPM'S CUTLER DEFIANT OVER FINES — WSJ's Dan Fitpatrick and Devlin Barrett: "Stephen Cutler isn't backing down. As J.P. Morgan Chase's … top lawyer took the stage on Friday for a panel discussion in New York, he was confrontational as regulators Daniel Stipano of the [OCC] and Deb Morris of the [CFPB] … sat just to his right. … 'At what point does this stop?' he said, referring to record-setting fines for J.P. Morgan and other large banks. 'We should all be concerned,' he added, 'because at a certain point people become immune to the numbers.' Mr. Stipano said the government's application of fines in legal settlements is 'more art than science.' He said the OCC is exploring ways to improve its calculations. …
"It was surprising to hear J.P. Morgan's general counsel raise such questions just three days after the announcement of the bank's $13 billion settlement with the Justice Department and other agencies over soured mortgage securities. A person familiar with Mr. Cutler's thinking said he wanted to prompt a discussion about how regulators exercise their power in the future. The comments weren't the product of any personal frustration, the person said. Acquiescence doesn't come easily to Mr. Cutler, a hard-nosed litigator still remembered for his pursuit of corporate wrongdoing while chief of enforcement for the [SEC]" http://on.wsj.com/1jzCJMe
TOP TALKER: BLOOMBERG LP HITS TURBULENCE – NYT's Amy Chozick, Nathaniel Popper, Edward Wong and David Carr: "The growth of Bloomberg's terminal sales worldwide … softened over the last several years, and … dropped significantly in the last year in mainland China, a vast untapped market. Bloomberg News's tough reporting last year about China had prompted officials to cancel subscriptions for the lucrative terminals, frustrating the company's Beijing sales staff. And, just blocks from last week's celebratory dinner, at the Hong Kong bureau of Bloomberg News, anxious journalists were still dealing with the implications of a decision by top editors weeks earlier not to publish a hard-hitting article about a Chinese tycoon.
"As Mr. Bloomberg prepares to leave office and resume a more direct role in the company he founded, he rejoins an operation whose core business, after two decades of heady growth, has slowed, and whose news division has more than doubled since he left. Interviews with current and former employees show that the business and news operations exist in uneasy tension, and occasionally collide. Bloomberg suddenly faces newsroom layoffs, a shift in emphasis back to financial news and skepticism from the business side that investigative journalism might not be worth the potential problems it could create for terminal sales" http://nyti.ms/1jzDpBg
BANKS MAY CHARGE TO TAKE DEPOSITS — FT's Tom Braithwaite and Stephen Foley in New York and Robin Harding in Washington: "Leading US banks have warned that they could start charging companies and consumers for deposits if the US Federal Reserve cuts the interest it pays on … reserves. Depositors already have to cope with near-zero interest rates, but paying just to leave money in the bank would be highly unusual and unwelcome for companies and households.
"The warning by bank executives highlights the dangers of one strategy the Fed could use to offset an eventual 'tapering' of the $85bn a month in asset purchases … Executives at two of the top five US banks said a cut in the 0.25 per cent rate of interest on the $2.4tn in reserves they hold at the Fed would lead them to pass on the cost to depositors. Banks say they may have to charge because taking in deposits is not free: they have to pay premiums of a few basis points to a US government insurance programme." http://on.ft.com/181lD4M
ICYMI: DON'T CALL OBAMACARE "REDISTRIBUTION" — NYT's John Harwood: "Rebecca M. Blank was a top candidate in 2011 to lead President Obama's Council of Economic Advisers, but then the White House turned up something politically dangerous. 'A commitment to economic justice necessarily implies a commitment to the redistribution of economic resources, so that the poor and the dispossessed are more fully included in the economic system,' Ms. Blank, a noted poverty researcher, wrote in 1992. With advisers wary of airing those views in a nomination fight, Mr. Obama passed over Ms. Blank … These days the word is particularly toxic at the White House, where it has been hidden away to make the Affordable Care Act more palatable …
"But the redistribution of wealth has always been a central feature of the law and lies at the heart of the insurance market disruptions driving political attacks this fall … Mr. Obama's … designed the legislation to minimize the number of people likely to be hurt. … But throughout the process, they knew that some level of redistributing wealth — creating losers as well as winners — was inescapable. … The law targeted high earners, too, by raising their Medicare taxes enough to reduce their after-tax incomes by nearly 2 percent … That revenue helped finance coverage for those currently without insurance" http://nyti.ms/18itvoc
ENTERTAINMENT BLAST: CATCHING FIRE DOMINATES — LATimes' Jessica Gelt: "Movie theaters got scorched this weekend as 'The Hunger Games: Catching Fire' blazed its way to the top of the box office, easily beating last weekend's No. 1 contender, 'Thor: The Dark World,' and recording the highest-grossing November opening of all time. The Jennifer Lawrence-starring sequel … raked in an estimated $161 million, according to Lionsgate, the film's distributor. The sci-fi thriller was hosed down just short of beating out 'Iron Man 3' for the best opening of the year." http://lat.ms/1gacLiI
** At JPMorgan Chase & Co., we're proud to do our part to help grow the economy and strengthen the communities we serve. That's why we're leading a coalition of businesses to hire 200,000 veterans, providing billions in loans to small business and investing in non-profits nationwide. At this time of year, we want to offer a special thanks to all the men and women here in America and serving around the world who help keep this country safe, prosperous and strong. From the over 260,000 men and women of JPMorgan Chase & Co.: Happy Thanksgiving. www.jpmorganchase.com/corporateresponsibility
** A message from U.S. Bank: U.S. Bank strives to be a partner of choice to make a meaningful impact in communities where we live and work. The U.S. Bank Supplier Diversity program works to identify, develop and build strong relationships with certified small and diverse business enterprises that are qualified to supply U.S. Bank with quality products and services. Over the past five years, U.S. Bank has increased its spending with diverse suppliers by 36 percent. Read more: https://www.usbank.com/en/corporate_responsibility/diversity-and-inclusion.html **

subset: commoncrawl


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Agri Fab Spreader Gratesuperstore, specializing exclusively in Agri Fab Salt Spreader Grates, Agri Fab 130 Lb Spreader Grates and Agri Fab 130lb Spreader Grates. Compare Agri Fab Salt Spreader Grate models, specs and prices. Consult with our experienced Agri Fab Spreader Grate experts. Agri Fab Spreader Grates for sale. Tax-Free.


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Wendy - how fun that you really enjoyed the background colors and the composition. I like your descriptive "very cool" .....PJ
PJ, I LOVE the colors in the background, and the way you put this one together. It's weird and at the same time, very cool. :-)
2dogs7cats - so glad you met this weird challenge too and had fun :-)The experiment started out by accident - but I decided to give it a try....PJ
Katie - so glad you met the challenge, completed and had fun :-)This design is the result of one of my experiments......PJ
Well that was weird. I knew they were horizontal but for some reason my brain was trying to put them into squares of four. Boy are we programmed. Thanks for the fun change.
A very interesting new type of design - tricky to get together. Great fun PJ!


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Jan 21 (Reuters) - Shares of Amdocs Ltd DOX.N touched their year high on Thursday, a day after the phone-billing and customer management software maker reported strong quarterly results, prompting at least five brokerages to raise their price targets on the stock.
Management's enhanced confidence is being driven by continued strength in managed services, stabilization in the project-based and European businesses, as well as shorter sales cycles, UBS wrote in a note.
"We were encouraged by the positive trends within managed services during the December quarter, as the segment will be a core growth driver during the second half of 2010 and beyond, Daniel Ives at FBR Capital Markets said.
Amdocs was upbeat on revenue for the current quarter, noting that growth was back and customers were willing to spend. [ID:nSGE60J0MK]
Amdocs' several small contracts with carriers, including DAVE wireless, MetroPCS PCS.N, Clearwire and Vonage, represent a new growth avenue and could sum up to a noticeable amount, BofA Merrill Lynch analyst Tal Liani said in a note.
Liani upgraded the stock to "buy" from "neutral."
Analyst Scott Sutherland of Wedbush noted that extended contracts with key managed service customers, AT&T (T.N) and Bell Canada (its two largest customers), improved long-term revenue visibility.
Shares of the company were trading up 4 percent at $29.72 Thursday on the New York Stock Exchange. They touched a high of $30.63 earlier in the session.
Below is a list of price target changes:
Brokerages Price target ($) Rating
New Old
Oppenheimer 35 32 Outperform
Kaufman Brothers 32 28 Hold
FBR Capital Markets 30 26 Market Perform
Wedbush 30 28 Neutral
UBS 29 27 Neutral (Reporting by Mansi Dutta in Bangalore; Editing by Anil D'Silva)


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First Tutors helps you to find a home special needs tutor in Ambleside and anywhere in the UK. Local special needs tuition is an excellent way to bolster confidence as well as increasing grades and doesn't have to be boring! Please use our service to search for Ambleside special needs tutors and select which best suits your needs.
First Tutors is the only place to discover through one search the top Ambleside special needs tutors for your needs, enabling you to find a home Ambleside special needs teacher for any subject including GCSE English, A-Level Maths or even university Biology. We also help with language tuition, so if you want to learn Italian, take a Greek course or prepare yourself for German life, we can help - and all in Ambleside! Our search will order special needs Ambleside teachers in your area by special needs lesson costs and proximity to you.
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Program Description
The NHLBI SHARe (SNP Health Association Resource) Project conducted genome wide association studies and analyses in several large, multi-ethnic NHLBI Cohort studies of men and women to identify genes underlying cardiovascular and lung disease and other disorders like osteoporosis and diabetes. In total, genotype and phenotype data are available from over 32,000 research participants. While the initial genome wide SNP genotyping has been completed, new phenotype datasets are being contributed on a regular basis to several of the cohorts contributing to the SHARe Project.
Framingham SHARe, with genotyping of 550,000 SNPS in over 9,200 participants, was the first cohort released in this initiative in October 2007. The Framingham Heart Study was selected for this initial release due to its depth of available phenotypes (over 20,000) and uniqueness in including three generations of participants with comparable data obtained from each generation at the same age.
Framingham Heart Study data was also used in two additional SHARe GWAS projects: a) The Framingham SHARe Social Network Study, which compiled a network of family and social ties stemming from participants in the Framingham Heart Study offspring cohort; and b) GAW16 Framingham and Simulated Data, created for the Genetic Analysis Workshop.
The second cohort, the SHARe Asthma Resource Project (SHARP), includes genotyping data from adults and children who have participated in NHLBI clinical research trials on asthma: 1041 children with asthma who participated in the Childhood Asthma Management Program (CAMP), 994 children who participated in one of five clinical trials conducted by the Childhood Asthma Research and Education (CARE) network, and 701 adults who participated in one of six clinical trials conducted by the Asthma Clinical Research Network (ACRN).
WHI SHARe includes genotyping data from 8421 African-American and 3587 Hispanic women from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI), a long-term national health study that has focused on strategies for preventing heart disease, breast and colorectal cancer, and osteoporotic fractures in postmenopausal women.
MESA SHARe includes genotyping data on 6625 participants from the MESA, MESA Family and MESA Air Studies of the characteristics of subclinical cardiovascular disease and the risk factors that predict progression to clinically overt cardiovascular disease or progression of the subclinical disease.
The resulting genotyping data along with the cohort phenotypic data are made available to the scientific community through the NIH National Center for Biotechnology Information Database for Genotype and Phenotype (dbGaP). Data are available at no cost to all qualified investigators via an application process involving an NHLBI Data Access Committee. Further details as well as the application can be found at the related website below.
The NHLBI Program Officers for SHARE are Christopher O'Donnell, MD, MPH (Scientific Director) and Phyliss Sholinsky, M.S.P.H.
Related Websites:
Accessing NHLBI Whole Genome Association Studies via NCBI dbGaP
NCBI BioProject Page: NHLBI SNP Health Association Resource (SHARe)
Last Updated September 2011


text: Human Rights Observatory No Federal Charges Expected Against Ferguson Officer U.S. news outlets say Justice Department lawyers are recommending that no federal civil rights charges be brought against a white police officer in the shooting death of an unarmed black teenager in Ferguson, Missouri last year. The New York Times said the lawyers are drafting a legal memorandum for Attorney General Eric Holder on the case against Darren Wilson, who shot and killed 18-year-old Michael Brown last July after a confrontation in the street. Officials say an FBI...Read complete article© Voice of America - Thursday, January 22, 2015


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Bakersfield, CA gang member charged on firearm offense
FRESNO, CALIFORNIA (BNO NEWS) – A Bakersfield, California gang member was indicted on Thursday with being a felon in possession of a firearm, prosecutors said.
William Roger Hall, 25, was a member of the Bakersfield Eastside Crips street gang. The Eastside Crips is one of the oldest gangs in Los Angeles area. They have a strong and violent rivalry with the Bloods gang.
On April 29, Hall was seen by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in what appeared to be a drug transaction. The ICE agents were conducting a gang enforcement operation in Bakersfield at the moment. Hall fled as the officers approached him and attempted to speak with him.
ICE agents ran after him and one agent saw Hall discarding a gun. After securing Hall, the law enforcement agents retrieved the gun. Hall was in possession of a .38 caliber revolver. He has a prior conviction for possession and sale of marijuana in 2004.
"This case should leave no doubt about our collective resolve to attack and dismantle the street gangs that are terrorizing our neighborhoods. ICE is committed to using every tool at its disposal to combat gang-related crime and violence here and in communities across the country," an ICE agent declared.
Hall faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison (120 months) and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentenced will be determined at the discretion of the court after further consideration.
(Copyright 2010 by BNO News B.V. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without explicit prior permission from BNO News B.V. Contact email@example.com for more information about subscriptions.)


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Can it be? Has it really been 16 years since Los Angeles treated the world to the last great and glorious Olympic Games?
It seems so long ago, especially now that the Olympics are extinct, pushed out of existence by the four B's--bureaucracy, boredom, bucks and bickering.
In this, the summer of the year 2000, the world is too self-important for such trivial pursuits as running and jumping and celebrating.
But 1984 was an innocent time, and the Olympics were a big deal. Sports were sportier then. This was back in the days when major league baseball was still alive, a year before it quietly died. This was back in the days when the basketball hoop was 10 feet feet above the floor, instead of 15, and 500-pound linebackers were not yet commonplace in the NFL.


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In Reply to: Re: Post Polio "middle "weight problem posted by Wilma Hood on April 20, 2000 at 11:52:07:
: : With Post Polio symdrone exercising evidently breaks down the good muscles. With no muscles in my middle area I have a real problem takingoff weight. I would like to hear from someone who has found an answer to this problem. the added weight is causing much more pain in my legs, especially my left leg and knee area. I am age 54 having polio when I was nine years old.: : Thank you.
: I hope I am posting this right, it is the first time I have answered anyone on chat. I to am having problems with post polio. My weight gain this past year has caused problems in my lower back area. I am 65 and had polio when I was 2. Never have had any problem walking until this past year, but it seems my good muscles are getting weaker. Sorry I don't have a solution for losing weight, but if you find one let me know.
I am 51; had polio when I was 5. I, too , have problems with weight--one thing that I have found that seems to help my overall feeling of well being is to drink lots and lots of water each day. I know that sounds like an old horse, but it really is true. I still work each day and I keep a water bottle on my desk and kinda time myself to drink so many bottles of water during each 1/2 of my day--that way I make sure I get what I need. Try it--won't work miracles, but it will help. Good Luck!
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Looking for a little guidance when it comes to your marketing efforts? If you're like many of the entrepreneurs and small business owners that forgo using an agency in favor of "do it yourself" marketing, check out these tips for mastering DIY marketing.
Do a little self-promotion
You'll want to be careful when approaching this tip, as there is a fine line between advocating yourself effectively and tooting your own horn too loudly. Being too self-centered and exaggerating your qualities can have a negative effect on your marketing campaign. Here are a few suggestions on how you can effectively promote yourself: provide customer testimonials to potential clients, encourage your clients to recommend your services to others (offering an incentive, like a discount or gift, for referrals can boost your referral business), and maintain an up-to-date portfolio.
Give your business card a makeover
If you're just starting your business, you'll need a business card that will help you stand out among the competition. Think outside the box and get creative when approaching the design of your card. One idea might be to incorporate an interactive QR Code that directs potential clients to a video further explaining your services. If your business is already up and running, consider a business card refresh that takes your design from dated to modern and eye-catching. Be sure to include your social contact info as well, so customers can find you on Twitter, Facebook, or YouTube.
Join professional organizations
One of the best ways to connect with potential clients and other like-minded individuals is to join industry-related organizations. This could be a physical organization or a virtual group, such as a forum. The idea is to join the conversation within these organizations and provide valuable feedback regarding hot topics within your niche market. If done correctly, you'll be seen as an industry leader in no time. Plus, it's a great opportunity to pick up on innovative new ideas.
Create a business blog
For little or no cost at all, creating a blog for your business website is one of the most cost-effective marketing strategies you can do. A blog is a great place to host valuable insight for your clients and customers. But don't stop there, a blog can be your megaphone for promoting your own business, however, overdoing it will deter people from coming back. So be sure to balance quality content with self-promotion.
Give something back
Donating your time back to the community will benefit you and your business tremendously. Not only does it make you feel good about yourself, but it gives you the opportunity to develop new relationships, boost your public status and broaden your experience by developing new skills.
There are thousands of different ways you can effectively market yourself and your business without spending hundreds of dollars. What other tips or advice do you have for those taking the go-it-alone approach to their marketing campaign?


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Cottage rental. View Listing→
Inn on the Harbor
Large romantic rooms on the harbor, some with fireplaces. View Listing→
Old Quarry Ocean Adventures Inc
Oceanfront recreation, camping, take out, kayak, sail, boat tours. View Listing→
Periwinkle Cottage
Charming cottage for 2 on the shores of Penobscot Bay; weekly rentals. View Listing→
Pilgrim's Inn & Whale's Rib Tavern
Historic, Select Registry inn & restaurant. View Listing→
Pretty Penny
Vacation home - water views, walk to shops, restaurants & galleries. View Listing→
Quarry Cottage
Cottage. View Listing→
Stone House on Spruce Island
A private island rental for gatherings of families and friends. View Listing→
The Carriage House Vacation Rental
Elegant one bedroom cottage in Stonington village. View Listing→
The Inn at Ferry Landing
Bed & breakfast - with separate cottage also - by the sea. View Listing→
The Island Agency Real Estate
Real estate sales. View Listing→
The Island Agency Vacation Rentals
Vacation rentals. View Listing→
The Red House Bed and Bath
A friendly and affordable place to stay near both Stonington and Blue Hill. Beautiful gardens and deck with water view, WI-FI. View Listing→
The Roost
Easy walking distance from downtown Stonington; off the street. Wrap-around porch has pocket views to the harbor. Weekly rentals preferred. View Listing→
Two Lions Bed & Bath
Large enough for 5, small enough for one. Private bath; wi-fi. View Listing→


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Stacey Vanek-Smith: Food prices have jumped a lot this year because of expensive oil. That's had consumers tightening their belts, and hungry Brits lovin' the low cost of fast food. Now, a very American company searching for new workers across the pond, as Stephen Beard reports.
Stephen Beard: McDonald's has long been an object of scorn in some quarters in Britain. Derided for dumbing down the British palate. Accused of fueling the country's obesity problem.
But McDonald's U.K. has confounded the critics. Business is buoyant. As the economy turns down, cheap fast food looks even more appetizing.
Today, the company is looking for 4,000 extra workers. And here's the head of that recruitment campaign, David Fairhurst:
David Fairhurst: We've got very strong business performance. We've delivered nine consecutive quarters of growth. And we're serving 2 million more customers each month. And we are performing well, despite consumers feeling the pinch.
The recruitment campaign does face a minor obstacle: An issue of reputation. The Oxford English Dictionary still defines McJob as "an unstimulating, low-paid position with few prospects." McDonald's says this definition is "out of date and insulting."
In London, this is Stephen Beard for Marketplace.


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Steyer plans to hit key Senate, governors races this fall — TransCanada mulling oil-by-rail
With help from Erica Martinson
TOP TALKER — STEYER PLANS TO HIT KEY SENATE, GOVERNORS RACES THIS FALL: Liberal billionaire Tom Steyer is launching on-the-ground operations to aid Democrats and attack Republicans in seven Senate and gubernatorial races in the midterm elections, all part of his $100 million effort to make climate change a prime campaign issue. The former hedge fund executive's super PAC, NextGen Climate Action, is targeting the Senate races in Colorado, Iowa, Michigan and New Hampshire and the governor's races in Florida, Maine and Pennsylvania, according to NextGen officials who briefed reporters for the first time Wednesday about the scope of the group's plans. Andrew Restuccia has more on what could become one of the most expensive pro-environment campaigns in U.S. history: http://politico.pro/1jvj5EW
Story Continued Below
HAPPY THURSDAY and welcome to Morning Energy, where we can't beelieve the news about an overturned truck in Delaware that unleashed millions of bees: http://usat.ly/1jBFcLj. Send your energy news to firstname.lastname@example.com, and follow on Twitter @ alexcguillen, @ Morning_Energy and @ POLITICOPro.
THE LATEST ENERGY INFLUENCE newsletter is in inboxes now. In this edition, giving to Mary Landrieu slows, Cory Gardner gets more energy money than Mark Udall, energy PACs back establishment GOP candidates, Ken Salazar's conservation PAC picks its favorites and an Appalachian gas company drops its lobbying registration. Check it out here: http://politico.pro/1jEhCNM
TRANSCANADA CONSIDERS OIL-BY-RAIL WHILE WAITING FOR KXL: TransCanada is considering moving crude to the U.S. via rail as a stopgap measure while the company awaits a decision on Keystone XL, which may not come until well into 2015. "We are absolutely considering a rail option," Girling told Reuters. "Our customers have needed to wait for several years, so we're in discussions now with them over the rail option." TransCanada is looking at shipping oil by rail from a major storage and pipeline hub in Hardisty to Steele City, Neb., where another pipeline runs to Gulf refiners. Reuters: http://huff.to/1i5FfJH
OUTLOOK HAZY: The Supreme Court will review whether to take up two air pollution cases in its conference today. The first, North Dakota v. EPA (13-940), is over the Eighth Circuit's review of EPA's authority over North Dakotas program regarding Clean Air Act visibility — or "haze" — requirements. The second is Oklahoma v. EPA (13-921), over a similar issue with EPA's oversight of that state's haze plan.
HOME HEATING HELP, PART II: The Senate yesterday passed a bill by unanimous consent aimed at making it easier for officials to transport home heating fuels like propane and natural gas to areas suffering shortages. Congress earlier this year passed a stopgap measure to allow the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to extend waivers so drivers could travel for more hours. S. 2086, sponsored by Sens. John Thune and Amy Klobuchar, lets governors themselves extend such waivers by up to 60 days. The bill also directs the Energy Information Administration to notify governors if fuel inventory is below a five-year average for more than three weeks, a sort of early warning system.
FLOOR WATCH — HOUSE WRAPS UP NDAA: The House is slated to finish working on its 2015 National Defense Authorization Act, but first lawmakers will vote on an amendment from West Virginia Republican David McKinley that blocks NDAA funds from going to the Obama administration's "anti-fossil fuel climate change agenda." That includes the U.S. Global Change Research Program's National Climate Assessment (the most recent assessment came out just weeks ago), the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's Fifth Assessment Report, and a social cost of carbon analysis.
— The chamber yesterday approved amendments "encouraging" the Air Force to boost its energy efficiency and requiring the Defense Department to report to Congress on new energy development and distribution networks in the Caspian Sea.
BILL WOULD LET STATES IMPOSE CARBON TAX INSTEAD OF EPA REGS: Rep. John Delaney (D-Md.) has released a discussion draft of legislation that would allow states to impose a carbon tax in lieu of, or in conjunction with, other performance standards required by EPA's forthcoming power plant emissions regulations. The bill, called the State's Choice Act, "provides states another path to get to the same location: reduced greenhouse gas emissions," Delaney said in a statement. "This is a market-friendly and environmentally-friendly approach that I believe can bring both sides together." Draft text: http://1.usa.gov/1o7aOKJ
GAS DEAL WON'T HURT RUSSIA SANCTIONS, SENATORS SAY: Gazprom's massive $400 billion, 30-year deal to supply natural gas to China wasn't a surprise, and it won't weaken the West's hand in levying sanctions against Russia, senators from both parties said Wednesday. "If Europe decides to be strong in its sanctions, there's no side deal that Russia can cut to mitigate the catastrophic effect on their economy," said Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), who chairs a Foreign Relations subcommittee overseeing Europe. Darren Goode has more: http://politico.pro/1nrrWHf
THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE: From ME's mailbag:
EPA climate rule: Seven red-state Democrats write that EPA's proposed rule for future power plants is "not based on technology that has been adequately demonstrated on a commercial scale," adding: "We strongly recommend that you evaluate more appropriate ways to regulate emissions in order to truly support the development of CCS and other clean coal technologies. Long-term thinking is essential to ensure that every U.S. citizen will have access to affordable and reliable energy while encouraging energy solutions that lower our carbon footprint." Letter: http://1.usa.gov/1jEifXT
California fracking: The Californians Against Fracking coalition urges Gov. Jerry Brown to halt fracking in the state in the wake of the Energy Information Administration reducing its estimate of recoverable oil in the Monterey Shale by 96 percent. Read: http://bit.ly/RVjLc6
** Americans like you are hitting the road for Memorial Day Weekend. That means you will pay sky-high prices at the gas pump while oil companies block competition from cheaper, homegrown renewable fuels. Stand up for American consumers. Ask the EPA to protect America's Renewable Fuel Standard: http://bit.ly/1mBAjkX. **
Food security: The hotter temperatures and changing rainfall patterns caused by climate change could cut the growth of food production by 2 percent per decade through 2100, the Chicago Council on Global Affairs says in a report out today. "In a business-as usual future, it is predicted that by 2050, population growth, rising incomes, and changing diets will increase food demand by 60 percent, the report says. The report recommends making global food security a priority of U.S. economic and foreign policy, boosting research and including adaptation efforts in trade negotiations. Read: http://bit.ly/1m7sYJ4
California policies: California's progressive policies are "leading the way in technology and policy breakthroughs in sustainability and energy across a range of industries," according to a report out today from Next 10, a nonprofit group focused on California issues. California's energy efficiency measures helped keep its electricity bill share of GDP 0.47 percent points lower than Texas in 2012, according to the group, and the state is a major force driving innovation and deployment in the energy storage sector. Read: http://bit.ly/SlGMp7
Clean energy jobs: The number of new clean energy and transportation jobs in the U.S. in the first quarter is down significantly from past results, due in part to the expiration of key federal renewable energy tax credits and because of uncertainty about renewable energy standards at the state level, according a report out later today from Environmental Entrepreneurs. More jobs could be created if Congress quickly passes a tax extenders package, and EPA's forthcoming power plant emissions rule will help boost clean energy and energy efficiency jobs as well, E2 says. Report will be here later today: http://bit.ly/1a8SGse
PRO-BIOFUELS GROUP HAMMERS RFS MESSAGE: Fuels America, a pro-Renewable Fuels Standard coalition, is running a Beltway advertising campaign this week touting renewable fuels as lowering gasoline prices. Fuels America would not disclose how much it is spending on the campaign, which includes ads playing on gas station monitors and on WTOP. The biofuels industry expects EPA's 2014 rule to go to the White House Office of Management and Budget this week, and EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy has said she is aiming for a final rollout in June.
CONFIRMED: The Senate yesterday cleared Walter Green to be U.S. attorney for the middle district of Louisiana. Green, the head of the Marine Corps Reserve's environmental division, was nominated in March. More on his confirmation via the advocate: http://bit.ly/1kq66Vb
IT'S GETTING HOT IN HERE: To honor New Mexico's new Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument, the New Mexico Green Chamber of Congress will send special edition bottles of red and green chile enchilada sauce to President Obama and Interior Secretary Sally Jewell: http://bit.ly/SkRtbq
— Carnival will spend $400 million to clean up pollution from diesel engines aboard its 70-ship fleet. AP: http://wapo.st/1lFAOXi
— The World Wildlife Fund, Brazil's government and others are dedicating $215 million to protect 150 million acres of Amazon rainforest. CBS News: http://cbsn.ws/1glLlKK
— Two Chinese energy officials are under investigation for alleged bribery. AP: http://abcn.ws/1qWICfn
— The House Science Committee has held more recent hearings on alien life than climate change. National Journal: http://bit.ly/1glLQEB
THAT'S ALL FOR ME. See you tomorrow.
** Stand up for American consumers and the Renewable Fuel Standard. Americans like you are hitting the road for Memorial Day weekend, and that means you're paying sky-high prices at the gas pump. Oil companies are trying to rig the system to block competition from cheaper homegrown renewable fuels, pressuring the Administration to weaken the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). And right now, the EPA's plan to gut the RFS would have disastrous consequences for your wallet, our environment, and our energy security. Oil companies shouldn't drive American energy policy. This Memorial Day weekend, stand up for our environment and American consumers like you. Tell the EPA to protect America's Renewable Fuel Standard: http://bit.ly/1mBAjkX. **
** A message from Chevron: This is a story about DOERS, butterflies, and buckwheat. In '75, the endangered El Segundo Blue butterfly was found near a Chevron refinery. We protected the habitat and planted the only thing they eat—buckwheat. We're still planting and keeping an eye on our littlest neighbor. Watch the video: http://politi.co/2yQ8q7z **


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The seventh annual AliFest featured Chinese internet giant Alibaba Group's global ambitions and its complicated relationships with eBay and Yahoo. By far the most intriguing speaker was eBay chief executive John Donahue, whose company was previously vanquished by Alibaba's Taobao in China.
As he took the stage, Jack Ma, CEO of the Alibaba Group, said, "I got an SMS (text message) from a friend before going up: 'Jack, what's up? Why is he [eBay CEO John Donahue] doing here? Isn't he a competitor?'"
But Donahue stated that eBay won't compete for consumers in the Chinese market, not that it has much hope of competing there anyway. eBay acquired EachNet for $180 million in 2003 (which had 85 percent market share), as its entry into China's business-to-consumer (B2C) market. But it lost out to Alibaba's Taobao, which offered free listings, local servers, and more localized features. By the time it essentially left China in 2006, eBay had spent a total of $280 million in the China market.
Donahue offered no clear vision of how eBay could cooperate, but Alibaba clearly had an angle. David Wei, CEO of Alibaba.com, said in an interview that he wants to reach the "90 percent of eBay sellers who source offline." Alibaba's vision is a business to business to consumer, or "B2B2C," chain from AliExpress supplier to eBay seller to eBay consumer. Alibaba views this as cooperative with eBay, though it's unclear what eBay stands to gain in this arrangement.
AliExpress, a 'wholesale platform for small sellers,' is Alibaba's play in the space. AliExpress formally launched in April 2010 and is ambitious and well-funded: Alibaba has budgeted $100 million for acquisitions in the US in support. The recent acquisitions of Vendio and Auctiva, two sites offering tools for eBay sellers, are part of this effort. Both of those sites will offer integration and exclusive discounts to encourage sellers to source from AliExpress.
eBay and Global Sources, an Alibaba competitor, previously cooperated on a wholesale service that failed because of the difficulties in ensuring quality, availability and delivery times in cross-border transactions.
"I think the two acquisitions of Vendio and Auctiva awake eBay to consider more seriously the business to business to consumer (B2B2C) market. Jack [Ma] and John [Donahue] have confirmed that both businesses should seriously, officially explore how to create value for both companies' customers," said Wei.
As AliExpress moves Alibaba closer to the consumer, it raises the obvious question: is Alibaba aiming to challenge eBay for consumers in the US and globally? Representatives adamantly denied that the Alibaba Group might compete with eBay for global consumers, but a review of AliExpress and Taobao suggest that it may 'reconsider' in the future.
AliExpress is meant as a business to business (B2B) platform, but a quick review of the site reveals significant business to consumer (B2C) potential. The top-selling item is an iPhone/iPod cable that retails for $0.61, with free shipping worldwide from Hong Kong (no minimum order quantity or size). That's cheaper than this author could find on eBay's "Buy Now" ($1.00) or Amazon ($1.90), when shipping is factored in. Pages and pages of previous buyers show quantities of 1-3 units, which makes clear that consumers worldwide are enjoying cheap China prices and shipping that is almost certainly completely subsidized by Alibaba at present. In general, AliExpress looks like a mix of deals that appeal to small sellers and consumers.
Wei stated that any B2C on AliExpress is a mistake, as Alibaba discourages consumers from using the website: "I have never seen any online or offline platform in the world, that can serve both wholesalers and retail consumers. For example, wholesalers never want their pricing to be that transparent to retail consumers." He said low order quantities and sizes are available solely for the sake of sample orders. But AliExpress prices are very similar to those found on Taobao, which is for consumers, albeit only Chinese so far. It's not difficult to imagine that Alibaba is using AliExpress to test waters for an eventual entrance into global B2C.
Still, the learning curve is steep. "We have no knowledge or insights about consumers in the states," Wei readily concedes.
Any global consumer play would likely come from Taobao, The Alibaba Group's other star holding. Taobao controls 80 percent of the e-commerce market in China, offering both C2C and B2C.
Most of AliExpress' core features, from its rating system and customer chat to its "Escrow" payment, are borrowed from Taobao. Notably, AliExpress does not use eBay's PayPal, another sign that 'cooperation' only goes so far.
In Japan, Alibaba is already challenging eBay via a partnership with Softbank-owned Yahoo Japan, which will enable merchants to sell through each other's platforms. "After we join our strengths together we will definitely beat eBay," said Masayoshi Son, Softbank Chief Executive, chairman of Yahoo Japan, and Alibaba board member.
Taobao has extensive consumer e-commerce experience and high aspirations. In its B2C Taobao Mall, it works with more than 20,000 brands, including more and more international heavyweights, including Adidas, Uniqlo, and Jack Jones. Insiders say Taobao itself will IPO in 1-2 years, further evidence of the ambitious plans of The Alibaba Group.
The Unwanted and Ailing Grandfather: Yahoo!
Just as conspicuous as the presence of eBay's CEO was the absence of Yahoo speakers at AliFest. In 2005, Yahoo purchased 40 percent of the Alibaba Group in return for $1 billion and the Yahoo China property. It's an open secret that The Alibaba Group wants to buy back its stake, but Yahoo is not selling on what has been a spectacular investment. The research firm Stifel, Nicolaus & Co. states that as much as 85 percent of Yahoo's stock price may be attributable to the value of Yahoo Japan and Alibaba.
"Yahoo is like our grandparent. And that's the grandparent, who as a grandson, I don't visit… The grandparent used to have something very important to [us], which doesn't exist anymore: the search engine technology," stated David Wei. When asked if Alibaba would terminate the relationship if possible, Wei responded: "The grandfather may pass away himself, unfortunately, before this question can get answered. It's a question of grandparents ts keeping healthy."
Yahoo has a 'bull in a China shop' relationship with Alibaba. Yahoo! CEO Carol Bartz expressed dissatisfaction with Alibaba's management of Yahoo China, which has faded into insignificance as a portal in China (from 15 percent market share to less than 1 percent) despite the continued strength of others like Sina and Sohu. Second, Yahoo went out of its way to express solidarity with Google in its position vis-a-vis the Chinese government, to which Alibaba spokesman John Spelich responded, "Yahoo's statement was reckless… given the lack of facts in evidence."
The latest imbroglio, on the eve of AliFest, was the statement by Yahoo Hong Kong's Managing Director that Yahoo may try selling ads to mainland Chinese SMEs. "If Yahoo begins to compete with Alibaba for customers in China, we will have to re-evaluate our relationship with Yahoo further in light of this activity and the intentions it implies," stated Spelich.
But it seems that the Alibaba Group has little recourse beyond tempting Yahoo with an enormous buyback. "China-based companies buying ads on the Yahoo Hong Kong network does not affect the investment (in Alibaba)," Yahoo said.
International Aims, International Culture
Of Chinese internet giants, Alibaba is the most accessible to an international audience. Other guest speakers at AliFest included Arnold Schwarzennegger and US Ambassador to China, Jon Huntsman. The Netrepreneur Summit featured 10 star sellers from Alibaba.com's worldwide network, which runs especially deep in the US (16 percent of registered users), EU (16 percent), India (11 percent), and Pakistan (3 percent).
CEO Jack Ma himself is the story of the Chinese dream. At age 12 he became determined to learn English, so everyday for the next 9 years he biked 40 minutes to a hotel to serve as a free guide to foreign tourists. Today he gives keynote speeches in fluent and charming English. His humble background makes him a hero to many Chinese entrepreneurs.
A group of U.S. college entrepreneurs from the Kairos Society that Alibaba flew out for the event reported a fun, Zappo's-like atmosphere at Alibaba.com headquarters, with a bell that rings for each sale to suppliers. Inspired by Schwarzenegger and the visiting entrepreneurs, Alibaba pledged $3 million for a new "Schwarzenegger Emerging Entrepreneur Initiative".
In addition, the entire Alibaba Group has a forward-thinking corporate social responsibility policy that earmarks 0.3% of annual revenue for conservation of environment in China and abroad.
It's often said that 'soft skills' present the greatest challenge for Chinese companies with global ambitions. Alibaba has taken note and is actively building a culture and image to rival the best, as befits a firm with international horizons.
Kai Lukoff is an analyst at BloggerInsight, a spin-off of Web2Asia, that crowdsources market intelligence through an expert online panel of bloggers. Follow Kai on Twitter.


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Ground was broken on the Tusculum College Greeneville campus at the site for the Ronald H. and Verna June Meen Center for Science and Math on Friday, Sept. 27. More than 200 people turned out for the occasion.
"This is a day that marks hard work, determination and persistence," said Kenneth A. Bowman, chair of the Board of Trustees and 1970 graduate of Tusculum College. "Thanks to so many, this building will be another structural representation of all that is Tusculum College. Inside these walls will be the work of education, of teaching and learning and growing. The impact of the bricks that will stand here are immeasurable when you consider the impact of what will occur here for the next 200 years."
Held in conjunction with Homecoming 2013, the event celebrated the planned construction of the 88,000 square-foot building to house classrooms, lab space and research facilities for the science and mathematics programs at Tusculum, as well as general classroom space and a large auditorium-style classroom.
"As we break ground today on the future Ronald H. and Verna June Meen Center for Science and Math, I think of everyone who was involved, all the hours of planning, all the support and community partnerships that developed," said Dr. Nancy B. Moody, president of Tusculum College.
Special recognition was given to Verna June Meen, whose $3.875 million gift towards funding the facility in memory of her husband, Dr. Ronald H. Meen, allowed the leadership of the college to move forward with plans for the facility.
"I wanted to do this for Ron, as a way to honor him, to remember him," she said of her gift to Tusculum College.
Dr. Ronald Meen worked for Eastman Chemical Company for many years and held numerous patents for chemical compounds developed during the course of his work for the company. He was a respected, published author in the field of organic chemistry who enjoyed riding his bike, reading, fishing, building and flying model airplanes and visiting his second home in Canada.
"Mrs. Verna June Meen has always known the value of education. With her gift to Tusculum College, she honored not only the memory of her beloved husband, but also that value that has always been dear to her," said Dr. Moody. Dr. Moody talked about how education had played a strong role in Mrs. Meen's life. "Mrs. Verna June Meen was born in Indiana with a strong sense of how education could change a person's life. At a time when few women attended college, she set her sights on an accounting degree at Indiana University.
"With $80 and a merit scholarship, she set out to finance her education. Mrs. Meen worked her way through school, earning top marks. She worked hard, eventually graduating in two and two-thirds year. She was a pioneer in her own education and now has paved the way for thousands more to achieve that same dream."
Representatives of the USDA were also recognized, as a $39 million Community Facilities direct loan from USDA Rural Development put the institution in a financial position to fund the construction. The low-interest loan helped to significantly lower what the college pays in debt service, making the new construction and renovation possible while also improving the college's overall finances, said Bowman.
"USDA Rural Development is proud of the relationship being formed with Tusculum College," said Joe Woody, area director for Knoxville/Greeneville, Rural Development, United States Department of Agriculture. "From the onset we established with Dr. Moody and the Board of Trustees what our role would be – more than a lender, but a partner. I believe that is coming to fruition with our involvement in activities such as Nettie Day and Penny Wars. Open communication has been the key to success thus far."
Addie Hancock, a senior pre-med student from Rogersville, spoke on behalf of the student body. She talked about the excitement over the new space and what it will mean for undergraduate research and collaborative projects with professors, adding that the Meen Center will be a unifying campus icon for science and math students.
"The building and all that it represents in terms of educational advancement gives the student body, specifically the math and science students, a sense of pride and accomplishment," she said.
Dr. Bob Davis, professor emeritus and a former professor of biology who taught for 42 years at the college, talked about how different the new facility would be for teaching and learning.
"This is a landmark day. It really is," said Dr. Davis. "It would not have happened without the alignment of the planets and the stars. Some of those stars are here sitting on the stage."
He thanked everyone who had helped to make this project a reality, a dream he did not expect to see in his lifetime.


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Wittenborg University Blogs
Celebrity power - Henk Penseel talks about Rod Stewart
Celebrity power – Wittenborg student Henk Penseel, studying on the MSc International Event Management produced a series of blogs last year. WUP wanted to find out what he is doing now, and discovered that alongside his studies, writing books and travelling for the Utrecht University of Applied Sciences, Henk is still at it! Here is a very recent blog from Wittenborg University student Henk Penseel:Language English
Personal Development – reestablishing a sense of connectedness.
Personal Development – reestablishing a sense of connectedness. - Most of us, at some time or another, have heard it expressed in either the spoken or written form; however, we then carry on with our day to day issues and soon all is forgotten and one gets back to normal, in a way! (WUP 22/9/2013)Language English
Personal Development – reestablishing a sense of connectedness.
A Birdseye View - Finding a University programme – an internet hit or miss?
WUP 1/7/2013 A Birdseye View - Finding a University programme – an internet hit or miss? OK, after the end of year barbecue, back to the reality of University Life :-) - Many students around the world use an internet search machine to find the school or programme of their choice. Depending on budget students make an initial choice and send of an information request, an application form or even call for an appointment......Language English
A BirdsEye View - Illegals in Holland - possibly a new source of national income, or more costs?
WUP 11/5/2013 A BirdsEye View - Illegals in Holland - possibly a new source of national income, or the cause of a massive increase in costs and paper-work? - The current Dutch government is planning to make being illegal in the Netherlands a criminal offence with fines for all those caught, and prison sentences for those who don't pay on time! The basic idea is that making the notion of being illegal unpleasant will act as a deterrent. The proposals have sparked a wide and critical debate in the Netherlands, with a number of very prominent politicians publicly condemning the motion.Language Undefined
A Birdseyeview - Youth unemployment rising around the world
WUP 27/4/2013 A Birdseyeview- Youth unemployment rising around the world - governments should take care of their higher education offerings - In the Netherlands, and in many developed countries of the West, youth unemployment has been steadily rising, however in developing countries this is also the case, and according to The Economist, in a recent publication, ('Generation jobless', 27th April 2013), two main factors are contributing to the rise in jobless youths. In the West it sees the slowdown combined with the very strict labour laws as a reason, and in the developing world it is the continuing population explosion. Although University graduates are much more likely to find employment than those youths who drop out of education at an early age, the recent trend of Universities offering non-specific, or generalist degree prograammes has also led to a higher number of graduates who find it difficult to find employment after their studies.Language English
Henk Penseel's Wittenborg Blog -"I'm not crazy"
WUP 6/4/2013 - Henk Penseel's Wittenborg Blog -"I'm not crazy" - One of my lecturers on the Msc International Event Management, Adam Jones, said that roughly spoken we had to spend ten times more time on reading than on listening to him. Well, we read a lot! This time about fundraising. Our group is trying to set up a fundraising event for a new Dutch foundation called Hoofdzaak (Headcase), which needs money for research about craniofacial abnormalities.Language English
WUP 21/3/2013 – Henk Penseel's Wittenborg Blog - Step out of the crowd
I wonder whether international students achieve more in life than students who didn't take that giant step in studying abroad . Have there been longitudinal studies? From my own experience as a teacher and lecturer in higher education, I think that students who do more than just study, so called extra curriculum activities, experience more and get more out of their life than those who just do their job. This is especially so for those who want to get a taste of different cultures.
A few times a year you may read somewhere that there is a possibility to make a trip as a student to another country, usually in a class-free period. Sometimes you also can get even some credits for it. Almost two years ago two colleagues and I accompanied two groups of students for a trip to Kenya. Our students received support from students of the MOI University in Eldoret, who also did this during their holiday. They still communicate via Facebook.Language English
Henk Penseel, MSc Event Management Student, on Fundraising
WUP 12/3/2013 – Henk Penseel, MSc Event Management Student, on Fundraising
You are not allowed to say It's generally known, without stating where you got the information from, when writing an academic paper. But if you write a blog I guess it's OK. So I consider it common knowledge that when you are looking for a new car , you seem to notice many more adverts with cars in them than usual. Now that I've had lectures about sponsoring and fundraising my attention has fallen on this subject more frequently than before.Language English
Daniel O'Connell on Increasing the employability factor.
WUP 7/2/13 - Daniel O'Connell on Increasing the employability factor.
According to a 2012 International Labour Organization (ILO) report, the number of jobless people around the world rose by 4 million in 2012 to 197 million, and is expected to grow further - indeed, as of this time of writing, that number has jumped to approx 205 million. Furthermore, as revealed by Global Employment Trends (2013), 6% of the world's workforce was without a job in 2012, with long-term unemployment continuing to grow. Further data pointed out that a third of Europe's jobless had been without work for more than a year.Language English


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Travel site still in development...
New asian countries soon...
Free as a backpacker !
You will find in this free travel guide lots of tips and
most of the budget info you need to prepare your trip to China on a shoestring ("before"), live your backpacking adventure in the best conditions ("during") and share your experience with other backpackers ("after") plus a photos gallery, a backpacking forum, surveys on the
localities in China (backpacker 's ratings), travelogues, an essay in French,
links to other travel guidebook on China or related budget information etc. All in one convenient stop ! Go for it :
backpack China with pass planet !
If you know what you are looking for in China, use the Search Form to find backpacking info. Otherwise, have a look at the backpacker's Index or
let Passplanet be your free guidebook to China
The original features of this free backpacking travel guide to China include :
- Budget & practical travel information about chinese localities only.
- Ratings of the localities by the backpackers themselves : more than 60 localities precisely covered in
- What to do there & what you may not like while you backpack China
- The cheapest budget accommodations (guesthouse or hostel on a shoestring ) for backpackers
- The various transportations' options for easy backpacking
- Travel information on how to save money
- Lots of backpacker's photos in special sections
- A guidebook with frequent updates
But Passplanet will, hopefully, be more than a free backpacking travel guide to
China & Asia. My ambition is to make it a place where backpackers can freely exchange the latest info from "on the road" of the asian countries and communicate with each others. In the world of backpacking, information indeed changes with the blowing of the winds. But while a guidebook is out of date by the time it reaches the shelves, a web site can be updated daily.
Pass planet will strive to keep the budget information about China warm !
But to achieve the above, we need your help & support. Passplanet is not supposed to be a single backpacker's journey and travel guide. There are too many trips ahead.
China, Asia and the world are too vast to be covered by one individual. Let's share !
Everyone is welcome to join the backpacking adventure and submit travel information !
Passplanet is looking for new backpackers, budget writers, partners and ideas on a shoestring. And Passplanet also counts on you for its promotion. If you find it useful, please give the direction to other backpackers.
The more traffic, the more updated info in the future to backpack China !
Passplanet is also a place of exchange related to China. Beside all the forms which allow you to share your budget info about asian countries, experiences about a place, Passplanet also hosts a forum and a links section to other travel guide. You are welcome to submit your own travel web site in the latter and benefit from Passplanet's growing popularity in the world of backpacking on a shoestring.
Together, let's keep Passplanet as free & independent as a backpacker so more and more people can use this free travel guide to backpack
China !
I wish you a good backpacking experience, on the site and around China !
The other Planet !
>> Description
of China ? : An impressive country
with a unique culture to match and the most diverse scenery of Asia
>> Why go
to China ? Submerge yourself in a different
world and relativate your own culture / Graduate as an Asian backpacker / Keep busy for a couple of months /
Eventually make your own opinion about all
the media fuss / Visit before the crowd / Test all the cheap local
beers /
>> Drawback
of China ?
The language barrier / The
relative higher cost / The size of the place and time it takes to
visit thoroughly / The apparent ruddiness of the Chinese people /
The lack of good cheap beaches /
>> Cultural Highlights
of China ? Great Wall & Forbidden
City (Beijing) / Buddhist Caves (Datong) / Terracotta warriors (Xi'an) /
Minorities villages & traditions (Lijiang, Langmusi,...) /
>> Natural Highlights
of China ? Karsts Peaks (Yangshuo) / Rice
Terraces (Guangxi & Yunnan) / Tiger Leaping Gorge (Yunnan Province) / Sacred Mountains / Sand
dunes (Dunhuang) /
>> How long
in China ? You would need 5 months to see it all but
a good tour can also be done in 2 months.
>> Budget
for China ? $20 per day (room) if traveling all
around. But as low as $5 per day if retiring in a minority village...
>> Chinese
Visa ? Required. 3 months tourist visa for
about US$16 in Hong Kong.
>> When to go
in China ? Any time as it is big enough to find
suitable weather in one part. Temperatures dip well below zero during winter in
the north. Very hot during summer. Best season = Autumn
Le Mendiant
- ASIA - China - HK & Macau - Thailand - Laos - Cambodia - Vietnam -
Myanmar - Malaysia - Singapore