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Heritage Interns Bring Conservative Principles to Life: Wade Miller on Obamacare
On 05.11.12 08:32 AM posted by Heather Pfitzenmaier
Each semester, we bring together more than 60 young leaders from across the country to participate in our internship program in DC. They are given the opportunity of practical experience working on policy research, marketing, and business,*to training on marketing, blogging, and public speaking.* Combine trips to the Pentagon, National Archives, and Mount Vernon with each interns individual talents and passion, and each Young Leaders Program graduate will leave Heritage equipped for success.
This semester, we challenged each member in the class to submit a personal story, and bring conservative principles to life.* The first piece, written by Sgt. Joseph Wade Miller, USMC, is the second runner-up of all submissions this semester. Stay tuned for the runner up and the winner.
Veterans Insights into Government Run Healthcare and the Implications of Obamacare on Everyone Else
by Sgt. Joseph Wade Miller, USMC
*Try, hard as it may seem, to imagine a hypothetical situation in which both liberals and conservatives largely agree on a program which provides healthcare to a large segment of our population.* This program would be relatively well funded, and the success of said program is politically important for both sides.* One needs not to think of this as an impossible task for the simple reason that such a program already exists.* The Veterans Health Administration, as well as the Veterans Benefits Administration, under the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs are the programs I am referring to.* Both programs are politically supported by both sides of the aisle and funding for them is rarely a hot button issue.* Who wants to be known as the person who was against funding a program that helps heal wounded and injured U.S. military personnel after all?
If support and funding for these programs is considered politically viable, morally correct, and patriotic in action for both major parties, then why is it that the Health & Benefits departments of the V.A. is rife with examples of inefficiency, delays, bureaucratic red tape, and poor service?* Now, I am not here to take cheap shots at individual employees within the V.A. system as there are thousands of nurses, doctors, administrative staff, janitors, etc., that go to work at these hospitals everyday with the sole intent of helping our nations heroes.* Invariably, however, the intent of these worker bees is overshadowed by the whims, rules, red tape, and regulations of the queen bee.* In this case that queen bee is the federal government.* We should not expect any difference in quality and efficiency with other forms of government run healthcare, including Obamacare.* If anything, we should expect worse service, longer waits, and even larger bureaucratic nightmares.
Lets look at a few examples of the types of things we can expect if our access to private free market healthcare is eliminated by a large government run system.
Cpl. Shane Chambers (retired) of the United States Marine Corps was wounded by grenade shrapnel in the town of Al-Karmah, Iraq in March of 2006.* His wounds caused nerve damage in his right leg which to this day requires a leg brace.* After receiving care in military hospitals and subsequently being medically retired, Cpl. Chambers began to fill out his V.A. paperwork in May of 2007 in order to receive disability compensation for wounds suffered while protecting this nation.* The review process was long and the paperwork was very confusing.* Cpl. Chambers then started experiencing further complications including PTSD and ocular nerve palsy.* Additional V.A. claims were submitted along with appeals to earlier decisions.* Many more months passed, and more requested paperwork was submitted.* During this time, Cpl. Chambers has run into the common problem of having to wait long periods of time to get appointments scheduled, sometimes having to wait months, and then having to sit in waiting rooms for hours.* Nearly six years later, after one of our nations finest and bravest was injured in combat, he is still waiting to get the appropriate amount of timely and efficient care, as well as the veterans pension decision commensurate to the wounds he sustained.
Former USMC Sgt., Steve Fisher, has a similarly disturbing example of running into a brick wall of government bureaucracy.* Injured in an IED roadside bomb attack that struck his humvee in the area surrounding Fallujah, Iraq in 2006, Steve initially filed his claim in 2007.* Steve suffered traumatic brain injury, lumbar spinal injuries, tinnitus, PTSD, an injured knee, and eventually a degree of hearing and vision loss from the attack.* Because of the numerous injuries, the process of receiving care, filing a claim, attending school, and working proved very difficult.* The initial claim was denied because Steve missed several medical appointments.* Apparently, Steve was not notified that when you move you do not call just one place in the V.A. where they can change your address in the system, you have to call numerous places and change your address numerous times.* Appointment notices were being sent out but Steve was not receiving them.* For whatever reason, no one ever bothered to explain this to Steve.* So while recovering from combat wounds, because of a simple bureaucratic oversight, one of our nations finest was having to struggle to heal, attend school, and bring home an income to put food on his table, all the while meeting the demands of the V.A. to attend many different appointments with little to no flexibility which required him to miss either school or work and included lengthy waiting times in lobbies reading 3 year old copies of Sports Illustrated.* Steve re-filed a claim in 2008.* Only after having sought the assistance of Sen. Roberts (KS) and Rep. Tiahrt (KS) was another decision finally delivered in December of 2009.* Being relieved to finally have the government acknowledge his combat related injuries, but not satisfied to the extent of the compensation, Steve appealed the decision.* To this day, nearly 6 years later, another one of our nations finest is still sitting by waiting for the government to address his claim.* This is 6 years of endless paperwork, phone calls, emails, and medical appointments.
Yet, another Marine, former Sgt. Zach Jones, was wounded in a mortar attack in April of 2006 in the area surrounding Al-Karmah, Iraq.* The wounds he filed for initially included tendinitis, and scars from mortar shrapnel. *Although he first filed his V.A. claim in December of 2006, Zach did not receive an initial decision until January of 2008.* On appeal and new filings for PTSD, Zach received an updated decision in November of 2010.* In May of 2011, another updated decision covered Zachs migraine headaches, a residual of traumatic brain injury, and a radiculopathy of a lower extremity.* It took five years for Zach to be properly diagnosed and compensated for his combat wounds.* During this process the V.A. lost his entire medical records.* Summing up the sentiment of many veterans, Zach added, I've done multiple tests that are the exact same but outsourced to different practices all over Houston. *I have had doctors take x-rays over and over and over of my back then some tell me I don't have shrapnel (in his back) and some tell me I do. With the V.A. it seems like two steps forward then one step back. You feel like you are getting nowhere and for them to make a decision you have to see five different people about the same thing and explain it all over which feels like you are starting all over again. People that work at the desk often have the attitude that you are bothering them and dont seem to want to be there.
These are not isolated examples.* Ask many congressional aides what constituent issues they deal with the most and V.A. complaints will consistently rank amongst the top of that list.* My own experiences as a Marine, having served with many who utilize V.A. services, is that the system generally has a low approval rating.* Only a very small percentage of veterans I talk to are pleased with their overall experience through V.A. healthcare.
The point I am making is that even under the best political climate and resolve, government run healthcare misses the mark and does not compare to the quality in service and care that a vibrant free market based system provides.* This is not to suggest that we should get rid of the V.A.* I believe, as I assume most do, that the V.A. is a vital program which assists those who have made immeasurable sacrifices for the security of our nation and our liberty.* If the idea that society has a moral duty to take care of those injured and wounded while wearing our nations uniforms is the equivalent of one small step forward for man, then the idea of the universal system that is Obamacare, having been born in the same bureaucratic culture, is a giant leap backward for mankind.* Some might gasp at my contention that universal provisions of healthcare is anti-progress, but many of those people ignore the simple point that it is not free healthcare, as the taxes that pay for it, or the insurance mandates purchased for it, come in the form of government collecting a portion of the product of our private labors. *Healthcare provided in this manner is coerced support, with no opt out, of an industry that has no free market functions which stifles efficiency and eliminates downward pressure on costs.* Government healthcare provisions are not a munificent gift magically bestowed upon us by the grace and will of our much wiser and elite elected officials.* There is a real cost associated with such decisions and this cost can be measured in decreased liberty, decreased autonomy, increased government, and increased costs.
You cannot line each system up and make perfect comparisons but you can delineate basic failures within the V.A. system, and many other government programs, and come to the clear conclusion that setting ourselves down this path of dependency on government will do nothing but increase deficits and debt, while making decent free market healthcare even more expensive to get access to.* Some may make the argument that universal healthcare is a moral imperative, but what good is such a soapbox declaration if in the process of trying to realize that vision we force upon ourselves a complete fiscal insolvency and economic collapse?* Will we eventually look at our children and grandchildren and explain to them that although they have no local or federal government, no funds for repairing roads, no limited social safety net, no Social Security, no Medicare or Medicaid, no defense budget or military, no police or firefighters, and no schools, it was all worth it because the progressive moral vision of an entitlement utopia, void of any pragmatic economic consideration, was the right thing to do?* The right thing to do should be that which sustains the highest possible outcomes of prosperity for not only current generations of Americans but future ones as well.* Putting in place programs that ensure eventual fiscal insolvency is not responsible or moral nor does it ensure future individual freedoms and civil society.
The real inconvenient truth in this nation is that such programs have nearly always exceeded their initial cost projections.* The original projections for Medicare in 1965 were already off by approximately a factor of 10 during the early 1990s [1].* Currently, the CBO is showing that, before Obamacare has even gone into full effect, those cost projections have increased by a factor of 2.* The cost jumped from about $900 billion and some pocket change to almost $1.76 Trillion over the next 10 years.* If history is any indication I am doubling down on the Vegas odds that this changed cost projection will become a continuing trend. *In an era where we can see the fiscal cliff approaching and need to begin cutting back on the size and scope of such endeavors we are merely pressing down on the gas pedal as if we can somehow gain enough momentum to clear the giant abyss of debt and economic ruin.* It is this Keynesian logic, spending us into tremendous debt, which has not solved the economic hardships we face today.* Keynesians will claim this is because we simply have not spent enough yet for it to work.* In some unfathomable way, in some circles of progressive economic thought, the idea that $30 trillion (or more) in debt is going to be better for us than $16 trillion has gained significant traction.* At the microeconomic level this is akin to saying that the best way to get rid of your credit card debt is to max out your cards on a shopping spree.* American families sitting at the kitchen table paying their bills know this logic does not work and so should our government representatives.
We accept these added costs in the V.A. system because we as a people recognize that we cannot rely on the courage of the men and women of our military to protect our liberties and then abandon them when they are wounded or injured doing so.* Although we do not accept the inefficiency and red tape that the system presents our troops, we accept the reality that this will be a mostly unavoidable component of any government program.* For most other able bodied Americans we insist that they work hard and be productive members of society so that they can provide for themselves what they deem necessary to enjoy their natural rights to their fullest extent.* This is not to suggest that we think that the elderly, the infirm, the disabled, and children should be left to fend for themselves in a survival of the fittest Mad Max-esque world. *Those that believe otherwise about, like those who make commercials of prominent conservative politicians pushing old people off a cliff, are perpetuating one of the biggest lies about conservatism that we face today.
Governments, both at the federal and state levels, have a duty to avoid regulating so much so that costs make such private health services unaffordable, to get out of the way of market pressures that might bring down costs, and deter monopolistic practices which might increase costs.* Once we have done our best as a country to maximize the effectiveness of the free market healthcare system, then we can begin to discuss how to help those still without coverage.* The currently accepted progressive policy model is to provide as many people with healthcare and ignore the reason that more people do not have private coverage in the first place.* Progressive regulations and policies increase the cost of private healthcare and then they cite the rising costs as a reason for a universal system.* The appropriate way of handling real healthcare reform would be to maximize reforms aimed at increasing free market participation and then, after reducing the pool of those in need, deliberate on policies that address the needs of the nation and which would invariably be much more cost effective choices.
The role of government is not to provide for our every want and need.* This prescription for policy proposals only leads to explosions of dependency and an ever growing need for more government programs [2].
The eventuality of this model is a grave threat to individual liberty and the core concepts of this nations founding.* Government run healthcare for all Americans is a giant rung on the ladder to reaching this dangerous nexus.* The effects of programs that exceed their legitimate limited social safety net functions can take years, or even decades, to reach a critical mass of danger to our constitutional system.* Therefore these programs should be resisted heavily at every level of government at the earliest opportunity.* Those who minimize our reaction to this evident danger as ludicrous and overblown seem blind to the principle that bad ideas do not get better over time, they just pile on top of each other and get exponentially much worse.* The imperfect solution for our veterans is not the same solution that is in the best interests of our society over the long term.* If men were born in need of crutches, instead of having legs, the fact would be otherwise. We should then be in need of help, and would require outside aide; but according to the wiser and better arrangement of nature, our duty is done better by not hindering than by helping our fellow-men; or, in other words, the best way to help them is just to let them help themselves. (Frederick Douglass)* Our society should always be predicated on the idea that those who are able to should principally provide for themselves first and through charity assist others.* Government should not be the primary solution to most problems in society, it should be a well crafted and thought out backup plan, based on fiscally conservative principles, that augments and compliments local and individual efforts and which does not contribute to the erosion of individual responsibility by fostering dependency.
[1] http://blog.heritage.org/2009/08/04/health-care-reform-cost-estimates-what-is-the-track-record/
[2] http://www.heritage.org/research/rep...+of+dependency
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Student/Faculty Collaborative Research in Biology
CSB/SJU Biology Student Research Fellowships
Summer 2013
The summer research program in Biology offers students an opportunity to engage in scholarly work during the summer, working closely with faculty members in a professional environment. These positions are intended to provide students experience in biological research beyond the classroom, to continue the scholarly pursuits of our faculty, and to develop partnerships between them.
We will be hiring 6 students this summer. Applicants must be current CSB/SJU students. First and second year students and international students are especially encouraged to apply.
The Fellowships include wages for 10 weeks of full time work ($9.81/hr or $3,900 for the summer). Students also receive a room and board supplement ( approximately $1400) to cover the expenses of on-campus living. Students may also choose to live off campus.
Projects will run for 10 weeks and we expect that any other summer activities will not conflict with research duties. All Biology Summer Research Fellows must attend Safety Training.
Applications are available here. Applications must be received by 4:00 p.m. on March 1, 2013.
Proposed projects for Summer 2013
These projects were designed by our faculty to engage students in novel investigations in a variety of fields.
Dr. Kristina Timmerman
The Southern flying squirrel (Glaucomys volans) is a nocturnally-active resident within the forests of our Arboretum. Few studies on this species have been carried out in Minnesota, so our initial goal is to document home range and activity. Extensive hiking will be necessary and much of the work will be at night, as this is the time period that these animals are active.
Dr. David Mitchell
On the Hunt for Plant/Fungal Defense Proteins- Particular species of plants and fungi produce highly toxic proteins in various tissues to ward off tissue loss from herbivores/fungivores. These proteins typically interrupt ribosome function when ingested and are identified by their size, structure, and mechanisms of action. The goal for this project is to find, isolate, purify, and characterize these proteins from several different plants or fungi found locally or in the central region of the United States.
Dr. Bill Lamberts
This summer we will be exploring the wetlands and shallow lakes on campus, and the lower reaches of the North Fork of the Watab River. Work in the field will include mapping of wetlands and lakes, taking samples of lake and stream water and the organisms that live in them. In lab we will analyze samples chemically and identify planktonic organisms microscopically.
Dr. Katie Furniss
White Pine (Pinus strobusis) a non-native plant introduced to SJU lands in 1896. It is presumed that the founding population experienced a loss in genetic diversity, which may have negative impacts in the tree's ability to withstand stress. Our primary goal is to determine the genomic diversity of these trees here on campus. Tree tissue samples will be collected and DNA will be extracted. Using PCR, we will sequence the genetic material to measure the genetic composition and diversity of the population.
Carol Jansky: Gender Allocation in Tree Swallows
Sex biases within broods have been documented in many avian species including tree swallows, Tachycineta bicolor. A variety of maternal hormones have been implicated, but the precise mechanism of avian sex allocation is unknown. Aggressive behavior is linked with testosterone, one of the hormones implicated in avian sex allocation. During the summer of 2012 we investigated whether aggressive "personality" was correlated with brood sex ratio biases. We obtained intriguing but not yet significant results. This summer, we will continue this study. In addition, we will modify some of the testing techniques to investigate how habituation to stimuli moderates behavioral responses.

subset: commoncrawl


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St. Louis – More than 4,500 members and supporters of the United Mine Workers marched and rallied in downtown St. Louis on May 21, as a decision nears in a pivotal case before the U.S. Bankruptcy Court.
Protestors were joined by former AFL-CIO Secretary Treasurer Barbara Easterling, Missouri State Representative Karla May and Rev. John Stratton of the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri.
Fourteen miners and supporters, including United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) President Cecil Roberts and Easterling were arrested for trespassing after sitting down on South 10th Street in front of the federal courthouse, in a peaceful act of non-violent civil disobedience.
Included in those arrested were Larry Knisell, a Peabody retiree from Morgantown, W. Va., and his son Chuck, who works at a mine in Pennsylvania and is president of UMWA Local Union 2300. "My Mom and Dad were there for me when I was growing up, taught me what was right and what was wrong," Chuck Knisell said. "He's counting on those benefits. I wanted to be there for him today."
Tom Kacsmar, a retiree from UMWA Local Union 6362 was arrested along with his wife, Margie. "We both depend on the health care benefits he earned in all those years in the mines," Margie said. "I was proud to stand with him."
The UMWA is also continuing a public advocacy campaign with a full-page ad in the St. Louis Post Dispatch.
Demonstrators came from Kentucky, Illinois, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and other states to protest the possible loss of are health care benefits for more than 23,000 retired miners and their families, as well as cuts in wages, benefits and working conditions for more than 1,700 active workers at Patriot Coal.
"I spent 32 years working underground to earn those benefits, and I'm not giving them up without a fight," said Joe Brown, a retired miner from Fairmont, West Virginia. "We had a deal. Miners accepted lower wages so we could get medical care when we retired. We kept our end of the bargain, and there's no reason these corporations should get away with breaking the promises they made to us and our families."
Patriot Coal, created by Peabody Energy 2007 with 43 percent of Peabody's liabilities but just 11 percent of its assets, filed for bankruptcy in July, 2012. Patriot has filed motions demanding the effective elimination of the current system of health care for retired miners and drastic pay and benefit cuts for active workers. U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Kathy Surratt-States is scheduled to rule on the company's motions on or before May 29.
Because Patriot was created with insufficient assets to meet its liabilities to retired miners, analysts such as Bruce Rader, Professor of Finance at Temple University, have described the company as "designed to fail." Current Patriot CEO Ben Hatfield has acknowledged that "something doesn't smell right" about the manner in which his company was founded.
In 2008, Patriot acquired Magnum Coal, a company created by Arch Coal featuring a similar shift of assets and liabilities.
Peabody Energy and Arch Coal executives claim that because Patriot and Magnum were spun off years ago, they have nothing to with the current litigation. But nearly all of the retired miners who may lose their health care worked most or all of their careers for Peabody or Arch, not Patriot. And a recent fact-finding mission by Religious Leaders for Coalfield Justice and Interfaith Worker Justice found that Peabody is still profiting from the operations of Patriot Coal:
Another consequence of this scheme is that Arch and Peabody become "indirect employers" of the miners that work for those corporations' profits. Under the terms of the spin-off, certain cost savings by Patriot redound to Peabody shareholders, making Patriot a conduit for increasing Peabody's profits.
"There's a great song lyric by Woody Guthrie," said UMWA President Roberts. "'Some rob you with a sixgun, and some with a fountain pen.' This is robbery pure and simple, and we're not going to stand for it."
"We're advocating for the best possible result for our members before the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, but this fight won't end when the judge rules," said Roberts. "We've got our own lawsuit underway in West Virginia; we've got a bill in Congress which will hold the original employers of these workers accountable; and we will continue to follow these companies and these corporate executives wherever they go."
Last month, UMWA active and retired miners confronted executives and directors of Peabody and Arch in Wyoming, where both companies moved their annual meetings after repeated protests by miners and supporters in St. Louis.
Additional information about the UMWA campaign to stand up for active and retired miners is at FairnessAtPatriot.org.
Originally published at New Hampshire Labor News.
Photo: UMWA members, several of whom were black lung victims, engage in civil disobedience, and are arrested for sitting in at the coal company office. Tony Pecinovsky/PW


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Albert Pujols hits career home run No. 501 as Angels rout Yankees
NEW YORK -- Throughout an up-and-down month, the Los Angeles Angels have been pretty consistent in one area: hitting home runs.
Albert Pujols had one of Los Angeles' four long balls, C.J. Wilson kept New York in check again and the Angels roughed up the road-weary Yankees 13-1 Friday night.
"The offensive part of our club is doing what it needs to do," manager Mike Scioscia said. "Hopefully we'll start to match it on the mound, particularly in the bullpen."
Pujols hit homer No. 501 and Ian Stewart had a two-run shot off Hiroki Kuroda (2-2) for the majors' top slugging squad. Erick Aybar connected for a three-run drive and Colin Cowgill went deep against Bruce Billings, one of the pitchers called up when Michael Pineda was suspended for 10 games after being caught with pine tar on his neck Wednesday night.
Even with Josh Hamilton and Kole Calhoun on the disabled list, the Angels set a club record for March and April with 35 home runs, and Pujols has a majors-leading nine. But Los Angeles, which wasted a ninth-inning lead Wednesday in a 5-4 loss, is just 11-11 and has not been above .500 yet this season.
"It was a fun game for us after the off day and after the way the last game went," Wilson said. "We're hitting balls all over the place."
Wilson (3-2) played catch on a softball field in Central Park wearing his red glove, unnoticed by any New Yorkers. It was hard not to notice his dominant performance in a difficult wind Friday. He gave up a run and four hits in six innings, the seventh time in eight starts he's held New York to two or fewer earned runs.
Hank Conger had a pair of RBI doubles and a run-scoring single, Aybar reached base all five times -- once when Carlos Beltran dropped his fly ball to right field -- and scored four runs. Howie Kendrick had three of the Angels' 16 hits and scored three runs in a game that ended in front of a near-empty stadium.
The Yankees returned home at 3 a.m. Friday from an eventful 4-3 road trip in which they lost starters Ivan Nova to a season-ending elbow injury and Pineda for two starts. They came out flat against the only AL team with a winning record against them since 2000.
The Angels improved to 66-59 against New York since the turn of the century, but have won just 5 of the last 12.
In the lineup because of his success against Kuroda and third baseman David Freese's struggles, Stewart singled in the second and hit a two-run shot in the third. He went 2 for 3 against the Yankees starter and is 8-for-16 against the righty.
On a chilly night, New York managed just two hits off Wilson until the sixth, when Alfonso Soriano had a sacrifice fly after Derek Jeter singled for his 3,336th hit and Beltran doubled.
"He's got pretty good stuff," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "He's got good stuff and commands the baseball with a lot of movement."
The Angels sprayed hits through the Yankees' varied shifts, scoring three in the second. Conger doubled in a run with a liner that hit the right field wall with a loud thud, Cowgill drove in another with a sacrifice bunt to first base and J.B. Shuck had an RBI groundout.
Stewart connected in the third with two outs. After his only 1-2-3 inning in the fourth, Kuroda gave up a long homer to Pujols to start the fifth. An out after Kendrick doubled, Aybar sent a fly to deep right that hit off Beltran's glove for an error, chasing Kuroda.
"I'm feeling good," Pujols said. "It feels good to feel healthy."
Bruce Billings relieved and gave up an RBI double to Conger for an 8-0 lead. Aybar and Cowgill hit long balls off Billings in the seventh.
Kuroda had his worst outing of the season, allowing 10 hits and six earned runs.
"The sinker wasn't good, as well as my slider and I got behind in the count and got hit," Kuroda said through a translator.
Scioscia said before the game Ernesto Frieri would be removed the closer role while he works on spotting his pitches. The right-hander worked a 1-2-3 eighth, when the score was 12-1.
"Velocity is there," Frieri said. "I just need to make my pitches."
Game notes
Girardi said David Phelps would start in Pineda's place on Wednesday. ... Yankees backup SS Brendan Ryan (back) is scheduled to play in a rehab game for Class-A Tampa on Sunday. ... Pujols' nine homers in April ties an Angels record set by Brian Downing in 1986. ... Mike Trout went 0 for 3, snapping a 13-game hitting streak against the Yankees.
Regular Season Series
2020 American League West Standings
|Los Angeles
2020 American League East Standings
MLB News
Miami Marlins acquire Adam Cimber from Cleveland Indians, designate Jose Urena for assignment
The Marlins acquired reliever Adam Cimber from the Indians for $100,000 and designated right-hander Jose Urena for assignment Monday.
MLB launches wood-bat league for draft-eligible prospects
Major League Baseball is creating a minor league for top eligible prospects leading to the summer draft.
Kansas City Royals agree to 2-year deal with Mike Minor; sign CF Michael Taylor to 1-year deal
The Royals have signed left-handed starter Mike Minor and centerfielder Michael Taylor to deals, the team announced Monday.
How Adam Wainwright's love for fantasy football has benefited more than 30 charities
Come for the trash talk, stay for the competition: Baseball players use fantasy obsession to help those in need.
MLB free agents who are the best fits for very specific needs
For teams who need to fill their roster with a high-contact bat or some speed and defense, we've got their guy.
Bob Miller, "Whiz Kid" Phillie, Titans' coach, dies at 94
Bob Miller, a right-hander for the Philadelphia Phillies' 1950 "Whiz Kids" National League pennant winner who went on to coach alma mater Detroit Mercy for 36 years, died Saturday. He was 94.


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When it was revealed that video of Charlize Theron's reaction to 2013 Academy Awards host Seth MacFarlane's awards-night ditty "We Saw Your Boobs" was not spontaneous exasperation but a pre-recorded part of the joke, we learned two things about the Oscar-winning actress: She's not only a really good sport, but, boy, can she keep a straight face.
Both of these skills are in evidence in "A Million Ways to Die in the West," a broad, wildly hit-or-miss satire of Westerns co-starring Theron and MacFarlane (who also directed, produced and co-wrote the film). Crude, rude and — in the case of actor Liam Neeson's derriere — briefly nude, the movie not only taxes Theron's willingness to crack wise about her lady parts, but demonstrates that she can do so without cracking up on camera.
The same cannot be said of MacFarlane.
Look, no one ever accused the guy of being Sir Laurence Olivier. Best known as the creative jack-of-all-trades behind the cartoon series "American Dad," "Family Guy" and "The Cleveland Show," MacFarlane, when put in front of a camera, seems caught in a perpetual smirk, as though he's inordinately pleased with himself.
Perhaps he has some right to be. The new movie — in which MacFarlane plays a cowardly, lovelorn sheep farmer, with Theron as his romantic mentor and Neeson his gunslinging nemesis — is passably funny, assuming you have the stomach for jokes about diarrhea, sex, death and all manner of body parts (both human and sheep). Judging by the rapid-fire, raunchy humor in the red-band trailer, this is an effective combination. When stretched out to almost two hours by all the absurdist plotting, pop-culture asides and sometimes painfully awkward silences that MacFarlane is known for, it's not quite so zingy.
In fairness, MacFarlane knows his own weakness. He's not the hero of the movie, as his character, Albert, reminds us. Rather, he's "the guy in the crowd making fun of the hero's shirt." This observational detachment — being in the movie, but not of it — can work, but only to the degree that you let it. As the Village Voice favorably — and aptly — noted, MacFarlane is like the animated Roger Rabbit here, a cartoon stuck in a live action world.
Some viewers, however, may wish for a bit more commitment.
The disconnect between Albert and the world he inhabits is at times off-putting, especially when you compare MacFarlane's performance with those of his co-stars. Theron is not only quite funny, but also fully invested in the role of Anna, a woman who pretends to be Albert's girlfriend so that he can make his ex-squeeze, Louise (Amanda Seyfried), jealous. Neil Patrick Harris also fully inhabits the role of Louise's extravagantly mustachioed and egotistical lover, Foy. Though shallowly written, both parts are grounded in reality.
With a supporting cast as strong as this — supplemented by several surprise cameos from stars I won't mention — does anyone care that MacFarlane can't really act? It never hurt Jerry Seinfeld, whose paper-thin persona on his self-titled sitcom was made plausible, if not fully three-dimensional, by the top-notch ensemble that the star surrounded himself with.
No, the problem isn't MacFarlane's inch-deep performance. In a way, we need him to splash through the proceedings like a kid in a puddle, making fun of such tropes of the Western genre as the barroom brawl, the bordello girls with hearts of gold, the perfectly choreographed barn-dance blowout and the climactic gunfight. Cutting away from the action to comment on it is the joke. And it has become MacFarlane's signature style.
The film's failure isn't one of restraint, either. As he demonstrated with his "Boobs" song, MacFarlane's gift, such as it is, lies in pushing humor to the threshold of decorum and then charging across that line, consequences be damned. That's what we pay him for.
The real problem with "A Million Ways to Die in the West" is one of editing. There are a million jokes in it, but only 500,000 of them are funny.
★ ★ ½ R. At area theaters. Contains crude sexual and excretory humor, obscenity, violence, drug use and brief nudity. 116 minutes.


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The next regular Park District Board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, December 16, 2020, at 6:00 p.m.


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A growing number of Evangelical Christians believe there is a revival underway whereby young Christians must take up the leadership of the religious right. This film reveals a new phenomenon: an active movement to train young kids to become dedicated Christian soldiers in "God's army.â€
The film follows Levi, Rachael and Tory to the Kids on Fire summer camp in Devils Lake, North Dakota, where kids as young as 6 years-old are drilled in the importance of political activism and radical views. The film is a first-ever look into an intense training ground that recruits born-again Christian children to become an active part of America's political future.
Check out a clip of it here at Variety.com:
http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout ... 2140018549
My favorite part of the clip?
"Lemme say something about Harry Porter." (pause) "WARLOCKS ARE ENEMIES OF GOD!"
Also liked: "...had it been in the Old Testament, Harry Potter would've been put to death! You don't make heroes out of warlocks!"


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I don't know where I read/heard this, but sometimes it's really true. Life has definitely interferred with genealogy for me during the past 3 1/2 months. And, it's going to continue for the next 1 1/2 months except for NGS in Cincinnati.
I haven't even looked at the 1940 census for my relatives. BUT I have worked on indexing for a few hours, in between other projects. Perhaps summer will be different. Let's hope.


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Silverman's instincts and passion have helped her land her young clients in career-changing roles. This year, client Emma Stone rose to the top of the Hollywood firmament with "The Help" and "The Amazing Spider-Man." Silverman's client Garrett Hedlund ("On the Road") will next be seen in the Coen brothers' "Inside Llewyn Davis." Her brace of rising thesps include Brenton Thwaites ("Maleficent"), Dakota Goyo ("Noah"), Sarah Gadon ("Cosmopolis") and Ahna O'Reilly ("Jobs").
Words of wisdom: "You have to have a vision, know your passions and stick to them once you find them. I always had an affinity for actors; growing up watching them in movies and on TV and this has helped guide my career. I think when people get too frenetic they tend to stray away from those passions and I try my best not to do that."
Smartphone on vacation: "Yes I do, but I really believe, as does WME, that you need to take the time every so often to recharge the battery so you can come back focused and prepared to do your job. I enjoy what I do and I also don't see a problem in checking in every so often when I'm on vacation if a client is in need of something."
Work week hours: "Quite frankly I have no idea. Being an agent I wouldn't know how to calculate the hours I put in."
Life-work balance: "For me it is always being present for where I am whether that be at work or at home. Whatever it is you have to be present in that exact moment and give everything you can."
Charitable passions: "There are a lot of things I'm passionate about but especially children's causes. We are really fortunate to have the WME Foundation, which focuses on various charities. WME has adopted a school, Foster Elementary School (in Compton) and Whaley Middle School, and give back in various ways whether it be book drives, going to Whaley to paint a mural and we also run a summer camp, Camp Summer Eagle. I am also very passionate about charities focused on breast cancer research."


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Photo of Hutton Hall Celebration Event by Podnosh
UPDATE jan 14 – unfortunately Hutton Hall has been taken back into the city council following a number of difficulties with the community organisation who were the preferred community partner. There is always going to be an element of risk with CAT but lessons have been learnt and because of the city's policy of long lease rather than freehold it does mean the facility is still in the public realm and may be available again in the future for CAT
On Friday, 1 April 2011 a celebration event was held at Hutton Hall Community Centre in Washwood Heath to show off the fantastic art work on the outside of the building and for its very imminent community asset transfer hand over to Commpact from Birmingham City Council.
Masood Yasin, Senior Project Manager at Commpact in Washwood Heath – with a whole host of volunteers and support from Macarts – has led this project through the community asset transfer initiative.
In this audio, Masood talks about the challenges of working through the community asset transfer – it's been 2 years' work. He also talks about how the hard work has paid off in a rejuvenated community centre that looks fantastic and will be a great place for young people, families and community groups to meet. He wants the centre to be the hub, the heart of the community, for everyone in Washwood Heath.


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MARTINEZ — A frightened Chihuahua rescued from the center divider of a busy freeway last week has been reunited with her family, according to Contra Costa Animal Services.
The dog, who had been nicknamed "Freeway" after she was found quivering in terror on the center divide ron Interstate 680 in Walnut Creek Friday, was not left there, as previously had been suggested, officials posted on the organization's Facebook page Thursday.
The lucky chihuahua's real name is Charm, the post stated, and she was reunited with her family — two young girls and their father — after they had desperately searched for nearly a week for their family friend after she somehow escaped from their backyard.
Officials said the girls had been posting messages on Instagram pleading for help in finding their beloved dog.
California Highway Patrol officials tweeted a photo of one of their officers using a protein bar to try to lure the dog from the divider. Contra Costa Animal Services officer Andrew Tara picked up the frightened animal and carried him to safety, and was present Thursday when Charm was reunited with his family.
The girls drew a picture for Tara of Charm posing happily with two food bowls: One with her name, and one that said "Freeway." The family learned important — and costly — lessons in "pet licensing, microchipping, spaying, good fencing, and the power of social media," according to the post.
Follow Katie Nelson at Twitter.com/katienelson210.


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Chef's Roundtable column: Gluten free starts with gluten wise
VAIL CO, Colorado
Vail Restaurant month is featuring "Health and Outdoors" week this week, so with all the recent hype around eating gluten free, it might be time to take a closer look. At Larkspur Restaurant this week you can sample an entire gluten free meal, including dessert.
In 2005, before most people even knew what eating gluten free meant, Larkspur owners, Thomas Salamunovich and Nancy Sweeney, started searching for gluten free foods they could feel good about serving in their restaurant. Their passion started when Sweeney was diagnosed with Celiac disease, an autoimmune condition triggered by consumption of gluten.
"It's tough as a chef to serve gluten free foods, but the flavor profile has dramatically improved over the last few years," said Richard Hinojisa, chef at Larkspur.
Before adding a new gluten free product to their menu, the Larkspur team sets up blind taste tests to determine which products measure up. Larkspur has worked with The Last Crumb Bakery to create the gluten free pizza dough and gluten free Larkburger bun. The Last Crumb Bakery owners, Kathy Stinson and Lexie Justice, create specialty gluten free items for restaurants, and dry mixes to use at home (www.thelastcrumb.com).
"It's about normalizing the experience, so our guests don't feel like they're different," said Allana Smith, operations manager at Larkspur.
Now Larkspur always has gluten free pizza, burgers, sandwiches and desserts on their menu. Try making Larkspur's concord grape sorbet at home (recipe at http://www.larkspurvail.com/happenings).
You can even get a gluten free beer with that burger. Larkspur serves New Planet beer, "because it actually tastes like beer," said James Gall, managing director of Larkspur.
"Gluten free has become a mainstream movement in just a couple of years, making it easier for those with celiac disease and gluten sensitivity to eat safely in restaurants; Larkspur does this as well, if not better, than any restaurant in the country," said Elana Amsterdam, who wrote "The Gluten-Free, Almond Flour Cookbook," and "Gluten Free Cupcakes" (www.Elanaspantry.com).
Eating gluten free may make you feel better, but these foods often have a high glycemic index to compensate for bland taste.
"There's still a lot of confusion out there – people mistake gluten free food for health food, which it's not," said Anne-Marie Keane, an East Vail resident, whose family has seen positive results from eating gluten free. "A cookie's a cookie whether it's gluten free or not – it still has sugar in it," said Keane.
With the dramatic increase in gluten free product sales and celebrity endorsements from Gwyneth Paltrow, Miley Cyrus and tennis star Novak Djokovic, best estimates are that more than half of gluten free consumers are joining the fad to lose weight.
"It's not just a fad – there's something serious going on. More and more people have gluten intolerance," Stinson said. If you know anyone who's struggled with gluten sensitivity, you know how difficult and debilitating it can be.
"Believe me, you don't want to go through this if you don't have to," said Jenifer Shay, who with her husband Russ, are owners in Surefoot. "I think the problem is the way our grain is processed, because my family gets terribly ill from eating wheat at home, but then we go to Chile, Mexico and some places in Europe and they can eat gluten all day long," Shay said.
"Wheat in the United States has been dramatically modified since the 1950s, and our bodies are being exposed to compounds in the wheat that past generations were not," said Jacqui Slavin, a chiropractor and functional medicine practitioner in Avon specializing in digestive disorders and gluten issues (www.functionalwellness.com).
A combination of the hybridization of high gluten (higher protein) wheat, the attempt to store wheat for longer periods of time thereby introducing mold and other toxins into the grain, the use of pesticides, and the processing of wheat through a "deamidation" process that makes flour softer and more water-soluble may be making the majority of us more sensitive to gluten.
"Any one of these factors can cause inflammation in our bodies, intestinal absorption problems, or an autoimmune response where our body essentially views gluten as a toxin," said Slavin. If her patients are experiencing any type of inflammation, they're better off getting gluten out of their diet. "We have more success in getting them to feel better faster by eliminating gluten," Slavin said.
"It's only the tip of the iceberg," Shay said. "I think a lot of people are walking around not even knowing they feel bad."
Now at least they seem to be paying attention.
Kelly Brinkerhoff, is a freelance writer contracted by Larkspur Restaurant. Larkspur (www.larkspurvail.com), at the base of Vail Mountain, has been serving American classics with a fresh interpretation since 1999.
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HURLEY, Wis. (AP) — Dangerously cold temperatures have settled into northern areas of Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Readings plummeted to 33 below zero in Big Fork, Minn., Friday morning. Longville, Minn., isn't far behind with 29 below. That's without factoring in the wind chill.
Hurley schools closed Friday in far northern Wisconsin because of the deep freeze. The temperature hovered around 15 below in Hayward and Siren. Daytime highs weren't expected to crack zero.
Some school districts delayed the start of classes by two hours, including Blackduck and Fond du Lac Ojibwe in Minnesota.
(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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City manager lays out options for fire assessment decision
Cape Coral City Council will regroup if a judge does not validate its issuance of a bond to be guaranteed with funds raised through the city's new fire assessment.
The issue came to the table monday after Councilman Rick Williams questioned City Manager John Szerlag on the need to continue to pay consultants Burton & Associates, and discussion turned to options the city may have to consider if the fire service assessment fails.
The council was asked to approve the payment to the company for the additional scope of work it was asked to do for the economic sustainability and revenue diversification and fire assessment studies.
That amount, of $35,218, was approved unanimously 7-0 (Jim Burch was absent).
Meanwhile, Szerlag had sent a memo to council on Nov. 15 to council outlining the history between the city and Burton & Associates.
Council had approved a study for $50,000 last November to determine the current and projected financial condition of the general fund over a 10-year period, identify revenue diversification scenarios and evaluate them in achieving financial sustainability.
In April, council approved a not to exceed of $14,000 for town hall meetings regarding the general fund diversification plan, monies which have not been spent.
After release of the study findings, the scope was expanded to include analysis not part of the original study. The additional scope cost was $18,368.
In May a proposal for $37,463, was accepted to conduct a study to update the Fire Assessment study conducted in 2009, which included recent legal precedents that would provide flexibility in terms of apportioning costs.
Additional meetings and analysis were required to address concerns during the preparation of the assessment resolution, as well as work required for the bond validation which had not been contemplated. The additional scope cost is $16,850.
The discussion soon turned to the fire assessment, in particular, to a memo Szerlag sent to council on Friday regarding the implications of both winning and losing the assessment battle in court.
Both sides submitted their proposed judgments to the court on Wednesday, and must now wait on Judge Keith Kyle's final decision.
When he does, the city has a plan of action for both possibilities, which he outlined in the memo.
If Kyle decides in favor of the city, a "budget amendment will be prepared to reflect changes in revenues and expenditures for capital needs, and repayment of reserves," the memo said.
Also, the remainder of the repaving plan would be completed, capital equipment needs would be funded and reserves would be repaid.
The city would also issue a note for $1.5 million for fire equipment, begin printing and issuing bills to property owners, and if the defendants appealed to the Florida Supreme Court, the monies would be held in escrow pending a final ruling.
But if Kyle rules against the city, Szerlag suggested requesting an expedited appeal to the Florida Supreme Court because the "ready to serve" methodology is the most equitable for Cape Coral as it recognizes the special benefit provided to all parcels within the city," the memo states.
Also, billing of the assessment would not occur and emergency capital needs would be funded upon failure only and paid using additional dollars from the reserve funds.
"Clearly, if the City receives an adverse ruling, our financial situation remains unsustainable. Consideration of moving toward the 'calls for service' methodology for the additional $12 million in fire services assessment revenue will need to be discussed," Szerlag said in the memo.
The drawbacks, Szerlag said, are that nearly all the $12 million would be collected from developed parcels, and those assessments would have to be redistributed to single-family homes, which would add between $40 and $60 per year to said homeowners, while vacant-lot owners would pay only $5 per year.
Calls for service would also require administrative costs and regular reviews from consultants.
There is no timetable for the judge to rule on the city's bond validation case.
And the end of the meeting, council voted unanimously to hold a special '"shade" meeting Tuesday to discuss that case, as well as other legal issues the city faces. Shade meetings are meetings between council and its attorneys and, by law, are closed to the public.


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Vine Tops 40 Million Users
Instagram hasn't hurt Vine's user growth much, if the latest numbers from the 6-second video sharing app are any indication.
Vine revealed in a tweet Tuesday that it now has more than 40 million registered users, up from 13 million users in early June — about six weeks before Instagram launched its own video sharing feature.
See also: Instagram Video: Don't Make Me Love You
We've said this before and we'll say it again: this community - now more than 40 million of you - is amazing. Thank you for inspiring us.
— Vine (@vineapp) August 20, 2013
While that may sound like impressive user growth, especially when faced with a viable competitor like Instagram, it's important to note that Vine chose to reveal registered users rather than active users. The latter would give a better indication of how many people are using the app on a daily or monthly basis.
By comparison, Instagram had 130 million active users as of late July when it introduced video, and likely has more than that by now.
Image: Mashable, Nina Frazier


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Imagine a hot, humid August afternoon in a simpler time, when weekends were still reserved for families. The old horse-drawn trolleys that once carried Pittsfield, Mass., residents from their homes to the pastoral grounds of Berkshire Park, three miles north of the city on Pontoosuc Lake, have given way to the private car, and a Sunday ride in search of recreation is now the common man's pleasure. Jules and Art Gillette saw an opportunity and installed three rides in a grove of trees above the lake in the 1950s. One was a colorful carousel with carved horses made by the Herschel Spillman Co. of Tonanwanda, N.Y., which specialized in amusement rides and carousels. Children, then as now, were enthralled by the spirited steeds that went round and round on the park's carousel, its merry music and whirling lights filling the early evening air. No one knows the ultimate fate of the Berkshire Carousel in Pittsfield, but Gillette descendants believe it burned in a barn fire. Now a project to bring the carousel back is nearing completion. On July 1, the long-awaited attraction is expected to return and take its first spin within the Berkshire Mall, a shopping mall located atop a hill in Lanesborough, Mass., overlooking Lake Pontoosuc. The 21st-century carousel project was the inspiration of Pittsfield native Jim Shulman, a retired psychologist, and his wife, Jackie, who now live in Galena, Ohio. "Jim and Jackie Shulman wanted to give a gift to the community," said Maria Caccaviello, the director of the project. "They wanted to include the community in an opportunity to create art and to recreate a legacy." The Shulmans agreed to provide financial backing and lend direction for the project. Other financing for the estimated $1 million cost of the carousel came from donations and sponsorships of the horses. There are nearly 400 carousels across the U.S., with most built before 1960 and therefore considered "classic," according to a census by the National Carousel Association, which works to restore and preserve American carousels. Communities in Ohio, Washington and Wyoming also have plans to open carousels this year. Caccaviello estimated that 400 people have worked on the Pittsfield project, but more volunteers are being sought, even as production of the carousel figures draws to an end. Each horse for the carousel has a name, and Shulman chose to name his Obie after O. B. Joyful, a town character who lived in Pittsfield from the 1920s through 1961 when he passed away at age 89. O. B. Joyful's portrait appears on the trappings on the rear of the saddle. "All the horses are sponsored," said Caccaviello. "Each horse has a personal story -- the sponsor gets to create a personal experience and to choose the color palette. Many of the horses depict family pets -- for 'Joy' a golden retriever came in and posed, and we have a couple of kittens. 'Brewster' is based on a horse from Undermountain Farm who has helped teach children to ride for more than three decades. Brewster has a heart on his shoulder. Kids come in and they say, 'There's Brewster!'" A generous heart is echoed in another story associated with the carousel. The horses are expensive to create -- the largest figures cost $15,000 each and the smallest $9,000. The youngest sponsors for a figure are the students at the Craneville School in Dalton, Mass. "We had one horse sponsored by elementary school children. They came in with 9,000 pennies. A very special family from Dalton [the Horths] contributed the difference. It was wonderful, but the bank didn't appreciate the pennies when I took them in," Caccaviello said, laughing. Like all the sponsors, the children were given input into what "their" horse looks like. "Pinky," a glossy white horse with golden mane and tail and pink trappings, is dedicated to cancer awareness. She had two sponsors, the second of whom, Doug Cowan of Richmond, Mass., dedicated her to the memory of his wife, Cassie, who died of cancer in 2008. When it came time for finishing touches on Pinky, Cowan decided to add flowers, which Cassie had always loved, and carved them into the saddle's cantle and on the bridle. Amid all the spirited chargers and high-stepping trotters is one humble creature -- Missie, the donkey. The figure is based on the stubborn little creature that accompanied sponsor Kevin O'Hara on his 1,800-mile trek around Ireland and that is the basis for his book, "The Last of the Donkey Pilgrims." Missie proved demanding when it came to the design of her figure. Caccaviello explained that each horse can weigh no more than 100 pounds and are created with hollow centers to keep the weight down. A donkey, however, has a proportionally larger head and ears than a horse and was a challenge for designers trying to keep her light. All of the horses conform to the clockwise spin traditional in American carousels. Only the right -- or "romance" -- side of the horses, the side visible to observers, is heavily carved. As with most quality antique carousel horses, the Berkshire Carousel animals have life-like glass eyes. In addition to the horses and donkey, two "chariots" are being made, one of which will be handicapped accessible, and there will be a spinning teacup. Once the carousel is assembled and running, Caccaviello said, more hands will be needed to operate the ride, and to run the gift shop filled with the works of artisans that will help generate funds for its maintenance. "If the carousel is located here at the mall, it will operate 364 days a year," said the director, "and we will need volunteers to make that happen." For more information, see the Web site for the carousel project,www.berkshirecarousel.com
, send an e-mail firstname.lastname@example.com
, or call 413-499-0342. This story originally appeared in Passport Magazine. To read more about the area, also check out the Litchfield County Times. Follow @thelct on Twitter.


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Tim Clarke's popular retail store in Santa Monica, California, has a simple goal: to infuse inspiration drawn from the coastal lifestyle and the essence of the "perfect beach house" into any space, regardless of size or location. Gathering together a highly edited selection of art, objets, and custom furnishings made to order, TIM CLARKE SUPPLY offers products and inspiration unavailable anywhere else. Open Monday to Friday 10:00am - 5:00pm, Saturday Sunday, 11:00am -5:00pm
Scandia Surf homes embody the best of the Scandinavian aesthetic in their look and feel. The style is understated in both form and palette, taking inspiration from the wind-and-sea battered homes of the Nordic coastlines that withstand an almost constant barrage of salt spray year round. Though Scandia Surf borrows from the clean lines and well thought simplicity of modern design, it is softened by organic shapes and textures, the inclusion of vintage pieces, locally sourced materials and objects and a soothing, muted color palette inspired by the beach and sea.
Seaside Mediterranean homes contain accents that echo the art, architecture, and design of France, Greece, Morocco, Italy, and Spain, but softly blended so the very essence of these special places is implied but never referenced directly. They depend as much on a tactile experience as they do on colors, colors that are of the "barely there" variety that feel as though they have been faded by the seaside sun. Above all, these homes exude a relaxed warmth and a strong, understated grandeur that is entirely unique that is at once contemporary and timeless.
Like a bespoke suit or a hand made car, true luxury is timeless, elegant and lasting. Inherited Ease transcends fashion and trend, utilizing a mixture of furnishings, color and objects made from materials meant to last, not just through next season, but through generations. Platinum bathtubs, crocodile upholstery and custom designed silk wall treatments might be paired with 17th century French upholstered pieces and hand knotted silk rugs to create a concert of grace and harmony that is both comfortable and entirely chic. These are homes of the highest quality and style, and find that elusive balance between comfort and luxury.
Much like the iconic image of the Kennedys playing touch football on the back lawn at Hyannis Port, or the classic American style of designers like Bill Blass, Beach Classic is timeless yet modern and free of unnecessary embellishment, but never dusty, layered or out of touch. Beach Classic homes possess the ebullient American spirit; a zest for life and culture that encourages a sense of energy and optimism. At once firmly rooted in the past and completely contemporary, Beach Classic never goes out of style.
Native Woods homes find inspiration in the exotic, open-plan tropical homes in places like Bali, Hawaii, and Brazil, where the separation between interior and exterior is sometimes non-existent. Native Woods uses building materials rooted in nature, and personal objects and furnishings that evoke a sense of place and history. These homes often feature walls of glass that completely fold away, and are literally made of and filled with wood and wooden accents. Their expansive, welcoming designs truly embrace the natural world.
Whether it is an upscale eatery, retail clothing boutique, or designer atelier, the public spaces have one foundation for style. They are infused with inspiration drawn from the coastal lifestyle and the essence of the Coastal Modern philosophy. Any space, regardless of size or location, can draw from this relaxed elegance. There is no single design style, era, color scheme, size or shape that typifies coastal modern, because the style is about a way of living and looking at the world.


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Small Business Course | Winter 2018
- December 3, 2020
- Community Room
Community Room
This multi-use space is ideal for small community meetings. It features a large whiteboard. A portable projector and screen is also available. It can be arranged like a conference room, with round tables or with auditorium seating. Room capacity is 30-60 people.Learn more


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Originally Posted by BigMacUSA Today
May 10, 2004
Controversial Hudson Yards project pivotal to Olympic bid
By Jill Lieber
NEW YORK The most controversial aspect of the NYC2012 Summer Olympics bid is the $5.5 billion Hudson Yards development project on Manhattan's far West Side.
The jewel of the project is the $1.4 billion, 75,000-seat stadium with a retractable roof, adjacent to Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. The stadium, which will be built on a platform over rail yards, will be the future home of the NFL's New York Jets and is projected to open in 2009.
The development is a vital component of the Olympic bid.
"Our goal is to have construction of the stadium started by the time the IOC votes in July 2005," says Dan Doctoroff, NYC2012 founder and New York's Deputy Mayor for Economic Development and Rebuilding. "And that's what we're on track to do."
Despite a push by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Gov. George E. Pataki, the projects face a series of challenging hurdles, including an environmental review, zoning approvals and state legislation for the Javits Center expansion.
Community groups, a leading Broadway theater owner and elected officials worry the stadium will increase traffic congestion.
The Jets will pay $800 million for the stadium. The city and state each will contribute $300 million to pay for the platform over the rail tracks and the retractable roof. The remaining $4 billion for the Hudson Yards project will be paid by public and private funds from the city, state and hotel industry.
Other elements of the project include adding more than 1 million square feet to the convention center; extending the No. 7 subway line west from Times Square; building up to 28 million square feet of high-rise offices and a hotel of up to 1,500 rooms; providing 12,000 new apartments; creating a tree-lined boulevard between 10th and 11th Avenues and a six-acre plaza that would be called Olympic Square.
The site is bordered by 28th Street on the south and 43rd Street on the north, and from Ninth Avenue on the east to the Hudson River.
"This half-mile convention corridor allows us to host any event in America," said Doctoroff, who estimates the city and the state would generate $67 billion in revenue over 30 years in return for the about $5 billion public investment."
Copyright 2004 USA TODAY


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This is the world famous Chaweng Beach road. Filled with tourists enjoying restaurants,shopping and many bars, One of Samui's most popular entertainment areas filled with bars and dacing disco clubs.
Wikipedia:Ko Samui island of Surat Thani Province (or Koh Samui, Thai: เกาะสมุย, Thai pronunciation: [kɔ̀ʔ samǔj]), or often, simply Samui as it is referred to by locals, is an island off the east coast of the Kra Isthmus in Thailand, close to the mainland Surat Thani town. It is Thailand's third largest island, with an area of 228.7 km2 and a population of over 50,000 (2008). It is rich with natural resources, white sandy beaches, coral reefs and coconut trees.