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Latest update June 11th, 2015 1:24 AM
Sep 11, 2013 Change Agent Stories, Uncategorized 1
We all can make a difference if we try. This was written and published in the Star and Tribune in Minneapolis/St. Paul by my Husband.
Jobs for middle class all but gone
Article by: JOHN KALAN
What happened to the middle-class jobs?
The government has taken them away with taxation and regulation.
The following are the hoops that I, as an employer, must jump through to hire someone.
1) I have to document that an applicant has the right to be in and work in America.
2) I have to notify the government that I have hired an employee.
3) Taxes and fees:
• I have to match federal payroll taxes (Social Security and Medicare).
• I have to pay 10.86 percent of wages for unemployment insurance.
• I have to pay 3 percent to 12 percent of wages for workers' compensation insurance. (If an employee washes a truck, then mows a lawn, then shovels rock, I have to track and report and pay the premiums for each kind of work, as each is charged at different rates.)
• I have to make sure all taxes are collected at the current rates from the employee, then fill out forms and send the money to the respective governmental agencies. (Our last payroll cost my company $45,000. Of that, employees received $28,000.)
4) I have to inform employees how to obtain health insurance.
5) I have to take court-ordered child support out of paychecks and send it to the correct agency.
6) I have to send drivers to the doctor for a Department of Transportation physical.
7) I have to maintain a legal employee handbook stating obvious rules of employment.
8) I must track hours because I cannot afford to pay overtime. Employees cannot work more than 40 hours even if they want to. Employees, it seems, are too dumb to know what's good for them or to make decisions about how much they want to work. The government must protect them.
9) I have to file quarterly employment reports with both the state and federal governments.
10) I have to send out W-2s to employees.
11) I have to post employment practices posters for all to see. (The last set cost $275.)
• • •
What else must I do to operate this business?
1) I am expected to know and follow all OSHA safety and health regulation standards.
2) I must collect, report and pay six different sales and use taxes, for the different jurisdictions within which we operate.
3) I must track every dollar earned and spent and prove it to the government. Then I must pay an accountant thousands of dollars just to tell me how much I have to pay the government.
4) I must know and follow all Transportation Department regulations, and keep aware of the constant changes.
5) I have to track every gallon of fuel used and file fuel usage forms with both the state and federal governments.
6) I have to pay real-estate tax. (My rate for industrial property is 4.5 percent of the value of the property per year.)
7) I have to file to keep my business name.
8) I have to pass fire code inspections.
9) I have to pay attorneys tens of thousands of dollars every year because I will be sued several times each year without justification.
10) I have to listen as I am demonized by politicians for my success and have the fruits of my labor taken from me.
• • •
This is a list off the top of my head. All of that just to mow some lawns and shovel some snow.
You want to know where the middle-class jobs went? I could pay my employees twice what they make if not for all the government. I could grow my business and offer better value to my customers and better careers to my employees if I could spend my time focused on my mowing and plowing business instead of governmental compliance.
I ask myself daily: Why am I doing this with my life? How many other entrepreneurs have stayed on the sidelines or have given up because instead of doing what they love, they must spend most of their time doing what they hate — what the government mandates?
John Kalan owns a landscaping and snow removal business in Spring Lake Park.
His website is http://www.highprofilegrounds.com/
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – Kim Kalan, Co-Founder and CEO of "One Cookie"," is a renaissance woman when it comes to her career. She has bought and sold numerous companies. She has participated in Mensa think tank groups. She has brokered countless international transactions to the tune of millions of dollars over the years. Through all these experiences, there has been one thing that has motivated her all along the way: creating jobs. Her current venture very likely could be the pinnacle of this lifelong agenda.
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Pantone recently announced the color of the year– Radiant Orchid, a blend of fuchsia, purple and pink undertones. With the new year right around the corner, many are wondering what the impact of this captivating hue will be on home decor trends for 2014. Check out some of 3 Day Blinds favorite uses of Radiant Orchid in the home:
Get the Look! Sofa: Small cafe sofa- Sofa & Stuff; Throw: DKNY urban tide throw- Donna Karan Home; Pendant light: Magenta black plaid pattern pendant- Zazzle; Rug: Safavieh paradise purple viscose rug- Overstock.com; Pillow: Steve Madden Skylar oblong decorative pillow- Bed Bath & Beyond. Curtains and Draperies: 3 Day Blinds– Latticework Lilac, Encore Violet, Glamour Orchid, Penelope Grape.

subset: commoncrawl


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I have shown you a few mascaras from my stash, both goods and bads (click for part 1 and part 2), and now it's time for me to show you my favourites. First up is Guerlain Le 2 Mascara (I have already reviewed a limited edition colour here) in Noir 2 Noir (Black). It is a double ended mascara with a thicker wand with small spikes for the upper lashes and a small thin wand with small bristles for the lower lashes. I find this mascara really good for my short, thin, sparse lashes, they come out looking long (well it's all relative, but you know) and nicely curled. The mascara is pricey (£25), but I can honestly say it is the best mascara I have ever tried. Love it. I also own it in blue, violet, black waterproof, and several limited edition shades. I also think the mascara itself looks so classy and doubles up very nicely as a magic wand should your children need one. ;)
|Guerlain Le 2 Mascara
The bigger brush for upper lashes:
The smaller brush for lower lashes:
Find out which other mascaras I love after the jump!


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Nanoident Technologies, makers of "organic" semiconductors, unveiled its new Nanoident Organic Fab (OFAB) today. The company says that the new factory, located in Linz, Austria, is capable of producing 40,000 square meters of semiconductors a year. But these won't be just any semiconductors—the chips are made by spraying patterns of ink onto thin polymer layers, inkjet printer style. "Printed semiconductor-based optoelectronic devices created by the OFAB will usher in an era of new application types—traditionally not well-suited for silicon—which will improve healthcare, enhance personal and homeland security, as well as drive new industrial applications. These applications are just the beginning, as we look forward to driving continued advancements for printed devices that will enhance peoples' lives," said Nanoident CEO Klaus Schroeter in a statement.
These organic semiconductors degrade over time and cannot function at the same speeds of normal semiconductors. The printers used cannot etch patterns as small and intricate as the chips' silicon counterparts, as they are limited to roughly 10 microns compared to 65nm on a normal chip. Instead, their primary focus will be for less speed-dependent, single-use purposes. For example, a manufacturer could embed an organic semiconductor into a blood sample analyzer or water purity test, and those are the kinds of partnerships that Nanoident hopes to make with their lower-cost chips.
Wasiz Bokhari, CEO of Nanoident's sister company Bioident, said in an interview that his company plans to market Nanoident's chips with its own "lab-on-a-chip" device. Bioident's lab-on-a-chip can be used for a variety of different medical tests, and Bokhari told the EETimes that it can rival hundred-thousand-dollar lab systems with minimal cost: "it is low enough to make it disposable." Schroeter has his eye on a few other uses as well, such as fingerprint sensors for mobile phones, saying that the technology would enable those sensors to be directly integrated into a handset.
Nanoident CTO Franz Padinger said that the equipment as well as the chemicals used for the ink are standard and off-the-shelf, but with a few modifications. "It is very important to find the optimal solvent for each layer," Padinger explained to EETimes. The company also claims that both the ink itself and the printing process results in minimal byproducts that are environmentally-friendly, and unlike traditional chip manufacturing, the process in the OFAB can be completed within days or even hours, depending on the application.
Because of the semiconductors' unique manufacturing process, the new factory will have significantly less overhead costs than traditional chip factories. Nanoident's Austrian factory will only cost "a few million dollars" a year to run (compared to the typical neighborhood of $1 billion), according to Schroeter. The factory will also only have to employ around 40 people in the 800-square-meter fab (with 400-square-meter class 100 clean room), compared to the several thousand employees that might be required in a traditional chip factory. The company has been doing low-volume production of the organic chips since Q4 2006, and plans to ramp up to full production capacity by the end of 2007.


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All local orders will be shipped using Singpost normal mail for free within Singapore.
Additional $5.00 is applicable for standard courier.
Courier is highly recommend as it provides tracking information.
We will not be held responsible for any lost of normal mails because it does not come with tracking information.
Instock items ordered will be mailed out within 3-5 working days upon verification of payment.
Delivery Time: 2-3 working days after item is being mailed out.
If there are backorder and instock items in a single order, we will only mail out the order once all backorder arrives.


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Doris Chan
About the Author
DORIS CHAN broke into the crochet design scene when a photograph of her first doily shawl attracted the attention of a notable yarn company, and she's been at the forefront of modern crochet design ever since. Her work is featured in the design catalogs of yarn companies, including Caron International and NaturallyCaron.com, Tahki Stacy Charles, and Coats & Clark, in magazines such as Interweave Crochet, Vogue Knitting Crochet, and Piecework, among others, as well as on Knitting Daily TV and Knit and Crochet Now on public television. She is an avid professional member of the Crochet Guild of America and a CYCA certified crochet instructor. Catch up with Doris at her site dorischancrochet.com, discover her independent pattern line, DJC Designs, and coming soon from Interweave Crochet, her DVD workshop Top Down Construction.


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- Baby changing facilities
- Coach parties accepted
- Credit cards accepted (no fee)
- Disabled toilets
- Education/study area
- Facilities for groups
- Facilities for educational visits
- Gift shop
- On-site catering
- On-site light refreshments
- Picnic site
- Postbox
- Public toilets
- Regional Tourist Board Member
- Telephone (public)
- Welcome Host
- Wheelchairs available
- Accepts groups
- Facilities for conferencing
- Facilities for corporate hospitality
The Turntable Café, Ravenglass Gift Shop, Information Centre, Railway Museum, Cycle Trails, Fellbites Café, Scafell Gift Shop, The Eskdale Room, The Ratty Arms, Free Wi-Fi, Free commentary app and Children's Playgrounds. Both stations have private function rooms and catering facilities which are ideal for private functions, parties and conferences.
Claire Woodburn
From M6 junction 36 follow the brown Western Lake District signs to Broughton-in-Furness, passing Newby Bridge on the A590 and turning right at Greenodd onto the A5092. From Broughton follow the A595 to Silecroft T junction (turn right) and beyond.
From M6 junction 40 follow the brown Western Lake District signs past Keswick and Bassenthwaite Lake on the A66 towards Cockermouth. Turn left at the Cockermouth roundabout onto the A5086. Follow the A5086 to Egremont where it joins the A595. Turn left for Ravenglass following the A595.
From Ambleside and Coniston, consider using the A593 passing through Torver before arriving at Broughton. From Windermere and Bowness take the A592 to Newby Bridge.
Various scenic routes offer spectacular journeys. From the central lakes consider the dramatic Wrynose and Hardknott passes route to Eskdale but be aware of the 1-in-three ascents and descents, single track road and hairpin bends. Also look for Birker Fell, and the Corney Fell options on ordnance survey maps.
Post Code CA18 1SW for Ravenglass Station
Post Code CA19 1TF for Dalegarth for Boot Station
Leave the car behind and visit us by rail from Lancaster and Morecambe, Grange-over-Sands, Windermere, Preston, Carlisle and Oxenholme the Lake District - all key holiday destinations. Regular Northern trains travel on the scenic Cumbrian Coast Line between Carlisle, Whitehaven and Barrow calling at Ravenglass every day except Sunday. Save money with a through ticket: £4.00 off the normal combined adult fair, £2.00 off the child fare with even greater savings for railcard holders. You can buy these from station ticket offices or from conductors on the train.
For more details on timetable and fare information visit the Northern Rail website or call 08457 48 49 50
with charge
: 0 miles from Ravenglass station
Self-Assessed Accessibility Details
- Designated parking for guests with disabilities
- Within 50 metres approx. of entrance
- The surface of the car park and pathway leading to entrance:
- is solid
- Drop-off point for guests outside entrance
- The route from the parking area to the entrance:
- Is flat (i.e. without steps)
Public Areas
- Level access (no steps/thresholds) or access by ramp or lift:
- From the entrance to reception / ticket area
- To a specially adapted public toilet suitable for wheelchair users
- To the gift shop
- Good contrast between the floor and walls
- Contrast markings on clear surfaces such as glass doors
- Baby changing facilities
- Visitor information available in large print (14pt and over)
- Visitor information available in audio format
- Hearing loop installed in public areas
- Hearing loop system
- Seating available for visitors with limited mobility
- Clear signage
- Effective lighting for visually impaired visitors
- Good colour/tonal contrast for visually impaired visitors
- Routes/pathways suitable for wheelchair users or visitors with limited mobility
- Displays at suitable height for wheelchair users / children
- Audible alarm system
- Visual alarm system
- Entrance is well lit
- Level access (no steps/thresholds) or access by ramp or lift to cafeteria
- Good contrast between the floor and walls
- Menus available in large print (14pt and over)
- Restaurant / cafe provide meals for visitors with special dietary requirements:
- Sugar free (diabetic)
- Gluten free (coeliacs)
- Lactose free (dairy free)
- Low potassium
- Low sodium
- Nut free
- Additive free
- Organic
- Vegetarian
- Vegan
- Seating suitable for wheelchair users, ie moveable and good height for person sitting in a wheelchair
- High chairs for children
- Children's menu
See website for full details and access policy.


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Just read a post on the Computer Weekly Blog entitled, "Would you offshore your IT to China?" (h/t to the China Outsourcing Blog). The post talks quite a bit about US listed Chinese outsourcing company, VanceInfo and its recent merger of equals with HiSoft to form Pactera Technology International. My firm has represented VanceInfo for many years so I am going to remain silent on the merger, but that representation has given me a somewhat inside look at how China is perceived as a destination for IT outsourcing.
The Computer Weekly article also polls its readers as to whether they would outsource their IT to China and at this point the yes votes are tied 1-1 with the no votes. What I find fascinating is how many companies are so much slower to outsource to China than they are to India and their explanation for that is often something along the lines of how China is the wild wild west or that it has no IP laws. The funny thing about this is that each year the US Trade Department does a priority watch list of the worst countries on IP protection and each year both India and China (and Russia too) are on that list, usually made up of about ten countries. And when it comes to handling commercial disputes, China consistently does quite well in the World Bank ratings (top 20), whereas India is always very near the bottom. Now I am not saying that these statistics mean that China is safer than India for outsourcing (especially since I am of the view that in the end the best analysis is by company, not by country), but I am saying that the fears regarding China are exagerated, at least as compared to India.
Of course, for all I know, the poll results for India would have been similar, but I do not think so.
What do you think? Would you outsource your IT to China? Are you already outsourcing IT to China? Are you any more or less willing to outsource your IT to China than to India?


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JERUSALEM, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- Deadly rocket fire intensified Tuesday in Gaza and southern Israel as diplomats accelerated efforts to reach a truce, officials said.
The New York Times said Tuesday's violence was some of the most intense in the week-old crisis between Palestinian militants and Israel, despite word a cease-fire was close to being reached.
More than a dozen people were killed in an aerial strike on a suspected rocket-launching site near al-Shifa hospital in Gaza. Israeli naval vessels also fired on the Gaza coastline.
An Israeli soldier and a civilian military contractor died Tuesday in rocket attacks by militants near the the Gaza border. Palestinian rockets hit Beersheba and Ashdod. Rockets were also fired toward Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, but neither city was hit, the newspaper said.
Essam el-Haddad, Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi's top foreign affairs adviser, said Israel and Hamas were "very close" to a cease-fire agreement, The Times reported. Israel's Channel 2 television, however, said negotiators needed more time.
U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton arrived in Israel late Tuesday and immediately began talks with Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also arrived in Israel Tuesday.
Netanyahu's office said Israel is giving more time to diplomacy before starting a ground invasion of Gaza.
"As you know, we seek a diplomatic unwinding to this through the discussions of cease-fire," Netanyahu said in a statement. "But if the firing continues, we will have to take broader action and we won't hesitate to do so."
Israel Radio, quoting unnamed officials close to the truce talks, said earlier Tuesday the Jewish state will agree to a cease-fire it hopes will last for at least two years, enforced by Israel, the United States and Egypt. After two years and in the event Israel comes under attack by Hamas in Gaza, Israel will be forced once again to act against the terrorist infrastructure in Gaza, the report said.
Ban has urged all sides to "halt fire immediately."
"Further escalating the situation will put the entire region at risk," he said at a news conference in Cairo before heading for Israel.
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, also visiting Israel, met with Israeli President Shimon Peres and Netanyahu. He told the Israeli prime minister Israel has the right to defend itself against rocket attacks but expressed concern over the repercussions of a possible ground offensive, Israel Radio said.
Arab League Secretary-General Nabil al-Araby and 16 foreign ministers from the league's member states were to arrive in Gaza, joined by Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. Iran's Foreign Minister also announced plans to visit Gaza in the coming days, the report said.


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U.S. Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission
If you believe that you have been the victim of discrimination, you generally have 45 days from the day the discrimination occurred to contact an EEO Counselor where you work or where you applied for a job. If the discrimination involved a personnel action (for example, a demotion or firing), you generally must contact the EEO Counselor within 45 days of the day the personnel action takes effect.
Each agency is required to post information about how to contact the agency's EEO Office. The information will include the EEO Office location and what number to call to reach someone there.
Once you contact the agency's EEO Office, an EEO Counselor will talk to you about your rights and responsibilities and will take down some basic information about your situation.
In most cases, the EEO Counselor will give you the choice of participating either in EEO counseling or in an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) program, such as a mediation program. Not all problems are covered by an agency's ADR program, and the EEO Counselor should be able to tell you whether yours is the type of situation that is covered. If it is not covered, then the Counselor will try to settle the matter informally.
If you do not settle the dispute during counseling or through ADR, you can file a formal discrimination complaint against the agency with the agency's EEO Office. The Counselor will hold a final interview with you and then give you a notice with instructions about how to file a formal complaint. This interview will take place within 30 days from the day you first contacted the EEO Office to request counseling (unless you participated in ADR or agreed to an extension of up to an additional 60 days). If you participate in ADR, the pre-complaint process is extended to 90 days.
Usually, you must wait until the EEO Counselor has held a final interview with you before you can file a complaint. If, however, the counseling period ends and your EEO Counselor has not yet held the final interview, you have the right to file a formal complaint without having the interview. When you submit your complaint, you should include a short letter telling the EEO Office that the EEO counseling period has ended (including any extensions), and you have not yet been given a final interview.
If you have more than one discrimination complaint against an agency, the agency's EEO Office must investigate your complaints together. This is to ensure that they are investigated as quickly and as efficiently as possible. The EEO Office will notify you before the complaints are combined.