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"What happened here tonight?"
Ontario voted. They did not vote for change.
After a tepid campaign mainly defined by roller coaster poll results the Ontario Liberal Party has been able to secure a third mandate.
Premier Dalton McGuinty made the supposed derogatory label of "Premier Dad" work for him. With world markets crashing, Ontarians bought the message (as they did in the spring federally) that a steady hand is needed in turbulent economic times. Premier McGuinty's team was effective in pivoting their message that Mr. Hudak was not up for the job, and Ontarians bought it.
In 2003, Mr. McGuinty swept to power with 72 seats. In 2007, 71 seats. Today, he won 53 seats. Critics will argue that any seat count less than his impressive majorities in the last two elections is a defeat. I beg to differ.
Mr. McGuinty and his team have made history and are positioning themselves in the same manner as the "big blue machine." Three terms for a Liberal government in Ontario is formidable. Mr. McGuinty has learned from former Premier Bill Davis. It was Davis who was able to rally the red Tory vote in Ontario, and it is Mr. McGuinty who was able to appeal to them. He appealed by running a steady, simple, non-offensive campaign - one that focused on his record of accomplishments and highlighted his ability to manage effectively. As I stated in my first post, it wasn't Daltonmania. But today it worked because that's his brand, Premier Dad.
Mr. Hudak's team was not able to overcome his inability to introduce himself effectively to the general public. From the day he was elected the PC leader in Ontario, he remained unknown to the electorate, as he tried to rebuild a party in shambles following the poor election result of 2007. For two years he has remained unknown, only garnering media attention when he repeated the words scandal and boondoggle. His polling numbers for the past year were artificial, based on the displeasure of the Liberal government's record, not on Hudakmania. And Hudakmania never caught on. Neither did his change message.
Further, Hudak's team was faced with outside forces they could not control. First, as I have argued previously, the popularity of Mayor Ford (and the disastrous budget process which played out throughout this campaign) and the intervention of the Federal Conservative government, hurt him. Ontarians traditionally vote for the balance of power, not trifecta's of power. The insurmountable ad buy against team Hudak surely also played a role, it can easily be said they were outspent 7-1 by special interest groups. It makes a difference, just ask Micheal Ignatieff.
For Ms. Horwath, the orange crush went flat. She and her team may be pleased with their result and campaign; although I am sure behind the scenes, she is disappointed with the results. Despite running a traditional socialist agenda of raising corporate taxes and demonizing CEO salaries, she was able to connect with voters and build status as a contender. It is notable that in the last Provincial election, with then leader Howard Hampton, the NDP was marginalized and not taken seriously by the media. Ms. Horwath has been able to bring her party into, at least, this century. But she could not rouse a Horwathmania vote either - except among reporters.
Premier McGuinty has made history. He has been one of the most underestimated politicians in Canada. He has again proven his political acumen - and it should not be questioned again.
With his third election, it is what Mr. McGuinty and his team does now that will determine if his track record will be positive or negative. They have a lot of challenges to address. They were not elected based on a strong change mandate, rather on one of steady status quo. There is nothing super exciting in their platform, and they are about to face a double dip recession.
It is how they will deal with these issues, in a polarizing Queen's Park environment, which will tell if Mr. McGuinty will be remembered as the most successful Premier in history (the title of most successful Liberal Premier he has already won). What he is now is a historic third term winner.
- Erika Mozes, former senior adviser to George Smitherman and Gerard Kennedy
Response from Guy Guy Giorno, former chief of staff to Mike Harris and Stephen Harper:
At the time of writing it's not clear whether Mr. McGuinty will emerge with minority or a slim majority.
Even now, however, four things are clear.
First, Tim Hudak did well. Extremely well. Almost as many Ontarians embraced his message of positive change as opted for the status quo.
In addressing his party and the province, Mr. Hudak was humble and modest, but he deserves to be proud. This is an incredible result for an Ontario party leader in his first election, a result on par (in popular vote and seat count) with the first elections of David Peterson and Dalton McGuinty -- both of whom went on to win solid majorities their next times out. Both momentum and history are on his side: Mr. Hudak will be the next Premier of Ontario.
Second, the pollsters and pundits who predicted that the Liberals would sail to a majority were wrong. However one characterizes the result, it wasn't clear sailing. In fact, the race was closer than many pollsters and most confident Liberals predicted. I heard one pollster explain that the result was consistent with his findings, within the margin of error: That's true only to the extent that the PC result was higher than forecasted "by a margin of error" and the Liberal vote was lower than forecasted "by a margin of error."
Third, the imbalance in election spending laws creates real unfairness. The theory behind election spending limits is that wealth should not be allowed to dictate election outcomes. In Ontario, however, only politicians and parties are subject to spending limits. Wealthy businesses and trade unions can spend without limit. In this case, the union-backed Working Families Coalition was free to spend as much as it wished, and used that imbalance to launch a damaging but misleading advertising attack on Mr. Hudak. The playing field must be levelled before the next election: politicians who face unrestricted spending by third parties must not be handcuffed in their ability to respond and to defend themselves.
Fourth, the Liberals must take to heart the lessons of the vote: not just the overwhelming majority who voted for change (whether blue or orange complexion), but the cleavage between the Liberals' urban/GTA base and Ontarians living in towns, rural communities and the North. Mr. McGuinty must serve as the Premier for all Ontarians, not just as Premier for the the minority (slightly more than one-third) who voted for him, and not just as Premier for the Greater Toronto Area.
Response from Jeffrey Ferrier, former communications director for the Ontario NDP:
Ontario voters delivered a clear strong message tonight:
Dalton McGuinty – you're on probation now, and we want to see some change.
In denying the Liberals the third majority they coveted and the Liberal campaign team was predicting, voters are sending a chastened McGuinty back to the premier's office. Gone are the days of majority government and the veritable free ride such an arrangement gives the party in power.
Now, McGuinty is going to have to learn the practice of consensus politics, and be willing to co-operate with others to move Ontario forward.
For New Democrats, Thursday's election results are a fabulous first step in the party's revitalization here in Ontario. Under the strong and capable leadership of Andrea Horwath, the party has emerged from the shadow of the Bob Rae government of the early '90s, and re-established itself as a mainstream alternative to the two old-line parties.
In this election the NDP:
Added seven MPPs to the caucus
Added nine new MPPs
Solidified its position as a strong voice for Northern Ontario, electing five Northern MPPs
Established a strong presence in southwestern Ontario with wins in Essex and London Fanshawe
Established a beachhead in the 905 thanks to Jagmeet Singh's historic win in Bramalea-Gore-Malton
Expanded its presence in Toronto with a win in Davenport
Increased its share of the popular vote to 23%.
Earned the balance of power in a minority Legislature.
In her post-election speech, Horwath reached out to the other parties, indicating a willingness to work with others to address the issues voters raised during the campaign. That includes jobs, the rising cost of living, and improving health care.
Expect Horwath to request a quick calling back of the Legislature. MPPs need to review the province's deteriorating economic and financial position, and get down to work addressing the serious challenges this situation will bring.
This is no time for a post-election as usual, where things go all quiet after the election, as the parties take a break as the new government readies itself to take over and so folks can get some well-deserved rest. McGuinty would be well advised to take the NDP leader up on her offer. Hudak would be too. We're facing some big issues, issues are bigger than political egos, bigger than the parties and bigger than politics. They deserve our elected officials' attention and they deserve it now.


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There are several local organizations whose humanitarian work around the world goes unmentioned. One is called the People to People Project, based in Northcentral Wisconsin, and it has been educating and saving lives in Southeast Asia.
Sunrise 7 Anchor Bao Vang recently traveled with the group to Laos to check in on four water projects and two schools they helped fund to determine how else they could help.
In the two years since the last project was completed, the organization had gathered enough money to do more work. But before any digging occurred, members of the group were sent over to check in on the previous projects and then meet with village chiefs and officials to determine the immediate needs of the villagers.
The journey began on Thursday, February 24, 2011. We arrive in Laos on Saturday afternoon, more than 48 hours after takeoff. It takes a day and a half and several stops around the world to reach the tiny country of Laos.
Among the original group of people who created PTPP back in 2001 is Tim Mero of Wausau. He and wife, Kathy, are traveling together. This is his second trip to the Luang Prabang area. It would be his first time seeing any of the projects he helped create.
Our visit to the primary schools in Nam Thuom and Ban Xang were welcomed. The administrators greeted us warmly with water and snacks. The children were just as excited to talk with us as we were with them.
Our stop at a village with many Hmong families, called Huoylad, was just as nice. Villagers couldn't stop thanking all the people who made the water project possible. They told us they no longer have to walk down to the river to bathe, wash their clothes and take back buckets of water to boil to cook and drink. Spigots containing clean, purified water now are just a few feet from their homes.


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PORTSIDELABOR August 2012, Week 3
The Skills Gap Myth
Portside Labor <[log in to unmask]>
Mon, 20 Aug 2012 21:45:08 -0400
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There Are Far Too Few Skilled Workers For Some Jobs? Really? by Susan Adams Forbes August 20, 2012 http://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2012/08/20/there-are-far-too-few-skilled-workers-for-some-jobs-really/ Is there a shortage of skills among American workers? How can there be 12.8 million unemployed people in the U.S. yet hundreds of thousands of jobs, particularly in manufacturing are going unfilled? If you read widely in the popular press, you will surely wonder. A number of stories lately, including in the New York Times, <see: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/28/business/smallbusiness/even-with-high-unemployment-some-small-businesses-struggleto-fill-positions.html?_r=1> and CNN Money, <see http://money.cnn.com/2012/08/08/smallbusiness/Indiana-manufacturing-jobs/index.htm> have reported that there is a yawning gap between the kinds of qualifications that employers seek and the experience of available workers applying for those jobs. The Times mentions a staffing firm in Oklahoma City, Express Employment Professionals where the CEO, Robert Funk, says he currently has 18,000 jobs he can't fill. In the CNN Money story, Larry Davis, CEO of Daman Manifolds in Mishawaka, Ind., which makes parts for hydraulic valves, says he hasn't been able to hire 10 workers who can operate Daman's complex machinery. Both the Times and CNN piece describe applicants who simply don't get the kind of training they need to land a job. Also, the CNN story quotes Kris Deckard, executive director of Ready Indiana, a workforce development project of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, who says some applicants are failing drug tests. Others refuse to fill out lengthy application forms and still others are nixed when they flub phone interviews. But the notion that workers are really so wanting has been called into question lately. Ryan Chittum, a writer at the Columbia Journalism Review, has run four stories that are critical of some of the coverage. <see: http://www.cjr.org/the_audit/a_critical_eye_on_the_so-calle.php> He complains that one of the sources in the Times story, Drew Greenblatt, owner of a small manufacturing company in Baltimore called Marlin Steel Wire, is an over-used mouthpiece for the political agenda of the pro-business National Association of Manufacturers, where Greenblatt is an executive-committee member of the board, a fact the Times fails to convey. Also Chittum points out that there is such a huge pool of applicants, hiring managers can both keep wages low and be extremely choosey, frequently demanding qualifications that are impossible to meet. Chittum likes a Detroit Free Press piece suggesting the skills shortage is a myth, and rather a product of employers failing to offer any in-house training. <see: http://www.freep.com/article/20120807/BUSINESS01/120807091/1002/NLETTER01/Shortage-of-skilled-workers-is-a-myth-say-auto-management-experts-in-Traverse-City?source=nletter-business> The story quotes Dale Belman, professor of human resources and labor at Michigan State University, who says, "The perception of a skills gap is driven by reduced employer training and over-searching for the exact fit." USA Today also recently ran a story underlining how cuts in worker training programs have added to the skills gap. The USA Today piece quotes Peter Cappelli, a Wharton School management professor and author of Why Good People Can't Get Jobs, who describes how training-averse companies want workers who can "hit the ground running." The USA Today piece also describes a Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) study showing that only 38% of companies say they cross-train their workers to develop skills not directly related to their jobs, down from 43% in 2011 and 55% in 2008. Wharton's Cappelli is the main source for an excellent one-page piece by The New Yorker's James Surowiecki on the skills gap, that ran a little over a month ago and laid out the subject in a way that brings the coverage together. Employers are indeed complaining of a skills gap, but they are letting the perfect be the enemy of the good, as Surowiecki puts it. "Seeing an overwhelming number of applicants makes them less likely to pick one," he writes. Companies' inflated bargaining power in this job market, with its glut of available labor, has made it so employers can demand qualifications that no single applicant can meet. "In truth, companies increasingly want to hire only people who already have jobs--ideally, as Cappelli observes, people who have already done the exact job they're applying for." In addition, much of the screening is now done by computers that toss out resumes that don't meet pre-set criteria. Also Surowiecki underlines the training issue-how in 1979, young workers received an average of two and a half weeks of training, and now, according to a recent Accenture survey, only 21% of employees had received any training at all over the previous five years. The big picture that's affecting hiring is the persistently weak economy, where companies must be ever-vigilant about keeping costs down. That means they are not in a rush to hire, so they raise job standards and move slowly through the screening process. That in turn perpetuates a cycle of high unemployment, weak demand and, most importantly, reluctance to bring on new workers. ____________________________________________ PortsideLabor aims to provide material of interest to people on the left that will help them to interpret the world and to change it. Submit via email: [log in to unmask] Submit via the Web: http://portside.org/submittous3 Frequently asked questions: http://portside.org/faq Sub/Unsub: http://portside.org/subscribe-and-unsubscribe PS Labor Archives: http://portside.org/archive Contribute to Portside: https://portside.org/donate
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ACU Mingle and Jingle Christmas Celebration Featuring Aaron Watson
Additional Information
Abilene Christian University (ACU) will be host the most fun family event ever. It's the 'ACU Mingle and Jingle Christmas Celebration', featuring hot chocolate, cookies, a movie and Aaron Watson Live. This is a fundraiser of sorts , admission will be one new, unwrapped toy per family for needy Abilene children. Mingle and Jingle a Christmas Celebration is open to everyone that wants to attend.
The event will take place on the ACU campus on the lawn, in front of the Onstead-Packer Biblical Studies building. Bring your blankets and your lawn chairs and get ready for an evening of fun family holiday festivities.
Mingle and Jingle a Christmas Celebration
Date & Time
Friday, December 7th, 2012 from 7 till 9 PM
One new unwrapped toy per family
Abilene Christian University, Onstead-Packer Biblical Studies building
1718 Campus Court, Abilene, Texas
More Info.
Bring your blankets and your lawn chairs. Presented by, the Abilene Christian University Alumni Relations. For More Information call the ACU Alumni Assoc. at (325) 674-2622.


text: David Gravette AGE:22 CURRENT RESIDENCE:Portland, OR SPONSORS:Creature, Bones, Circa, Indy and Volcom PROJECTS:TWS pro spotlight, X-Games, Maloof NYC/OC, Zumiez couch tour with Volcom and the NHS Sinners and Saints tour BIO:David Gravette grew up in Washington State and recently purchased a house in Portland, OR where he currently resides. David's fearless approach to skateboarding has helped turn him from an unknown skater to a recognizable pro at record setting pace. In the last five years David has gone form unknown grom, to having the number one selling deck on Creature Skateboards. |


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Topaz Street
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Topaz Street is a street situated in North Holland, Algonquin. It is on one of the straightest routes in the city. It spans seven blocks in Algonquin before becoming the Hickey Bridge into Alderney and eventually becoming the Plumbers Skyway.
Places of Interest
- 2 Flying Rats, are just before the bridge on the Algonquin side.
- The street's name is based on the gemstone known as Topaz.


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What a perfect escape from reality. This is beautiful tiny hotel on a gorgeous and nearly empty beach, far from the party crowd. Impeccably clean, well maintained grounds, a friendly and helpful staff, excellent breakfasts. If you want to rest and recharge in the sun, there couldn't be a better choice than this.
- Also Known As:
- Casa Costa Azul Los Cabos/San Jose Del Cabo
- Reservation Options:
- TripAdvisor is proud to partner with Expedia, Hotels.com, Booking.com, Priceline and Tingo so you can book your Casa Costa Azul reservations with confidence. We help millions of travelers each month to find the perfect hotel for both vacation and business trips, always with the best discounts and special offers.


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Innovations in imaging techniques and genetic sequencing take neuroscience to a new level.
Innovations in imaging techniques and genetic sequencing take neuroscience to a new level.
Biologists have struggled for centuries to properly define what constitutes a "species." They may have been asking the wrong question—many smaller organisms might not form species at all.
Surprising trends reveal themselves in this year's Salary Survey statistics.
The neuron-inspired art of erstwhile neuroscientist Greg Dunn
Differential gene expression between dominant and subordinate male turkeys could help evolutionary biologists deconstruct the roots of sexual dimorphism.
The Scientist opened up its annual Salary Survey to our international readers for the first time, revealing stark differences between average pay in the U.S., Europe, and the rest of the world.
Researchers are piecing together the devilishly complex sets of genetic alterations underlying schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Neurons within a person's brain exhibit striking variations in DNA copy number.
Whole-genome sequences for two novel coronaviruses from Chinese horseshoe bats are the most closely related to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus to date.


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Can I probably get an investment from an angel investor even if I don't have a business plan? I have developed my website and my website is undergoing testing and it can be shown to an angel investor.
There are plans for doing business, and then there are "business plans". For example from Y combinator: Most investors are investing in you first, idea second. Some consider the exercise of creating a business plan more important than the plan, but all want you to be committed to the effort and knowledgeable about your target market. IMHO, you should always have a one pager available to leave behind whenever you're in the presence of capital. | |||
A formal business plan with five-year projections is probably useless. But you'd better be able to say who needs your product, what they'll pay, how you'll get customers, why you're different from alternatives, and how you know any of the foregoing. And how much money you need and what it will be spent on. | |||
I think that pitching without a business plan is a result of the success of SAAS businesses, and is probably more of a silicon valley thing. In my specific geographic region, most angel investment seems to be in biotech or other tech-related sectors, and not as much SAAS. Here, nobody would consider pitching an angel without a business plan. As Jarie said, probably quite dependent on the angel, though. | |||
A formal 100+ page plan is not only not unnecessary, but can actually negatively impact the impression to an Angel. With all the time you spend on the plan, how much time do you have left to spend on the business? Prepare a short plan that basically outlines what your business does, how you intend to make money, and what you plan to spend money on. You can probably fit all this information onto a single page. Think of it as a brochure that you can give to potential investors. If you can, customize each version with information about that particular investor, and the value you believe that they can add to your business as a person - angel investing is much more personal than VC in general. | ||||
Angel investors vary tremendously in what they want to see. At a minimum, they will want to see an executive summary and a pitch. I have heard of some that just want to see the product but they are rare. A lot of times the amount of materials you need is directly proportional to:
To answer your question, they will probably dismiss your attempt so be prepared. Angels want to see that you have thought through your business and that they will get a return. If you don't have the minimum amount of thought put into it, then their confidence will be pretty low. Think of it this way. Say you are an angel and two people come to you for money. Both have a "product" to demo but one tells you a complete story of the business. This person is passionate about the product but is also passionate about getting customers, marketing and have as solid exit plan. All things being equal, you bet on the guy with the better plan since as an investor, you want an exit. That's the whole point (well, mostly the whole point). | |||
I'd like to point you to following two articles by David Croslin: http://davidcroslin.com/blog/?p=46&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+DavidCroslin+%28David+Croslin%29 And You'd get an insight into how some of them think. Also, I'm sure, it will answer many of the questions running in your mind. Hope that helps you a bit. :) | |||
You almost always want to have the business plan in hand. However, every Angel is different. What you should definitely have is an Executive Summary to provide any potential investors. View your business plan as the "family jewels" and do not be quick to give it out, but rather handout the Executive Summary. Most Angels and VC's realize and know that financial forecasts change and so they don't want someone pitching to them numbers that may never be real. Most Angels and VC's will not dismiss your attempt if you give them an Executive Summary. | |||


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Club3D announces today to fully commit to the sale of AMD graphics boards and related products. Judith Ma Tseng - Club3D CEO - "we are showing our commitment to AMD because we believe that AMD is ideally positioned to deliver a complete solution to our customers, and after 16 years in the business offering solutions from a variety of processor partners, we truly believe that we can offer a better solution going forward with AMD alone." "With products like the Radeon HD 7990 Dual GPU, Club3D has a long-standing reputation for delighting enthusiasts with spectacular products based on AMD Radeon graphics chips," said Zvika Greenstein, Director of Desktop Product Management, AMD Graphics. "Their decision to join AMD as an exclusive hardware partner is a powerful acknowledgment of our leadership in the graphics space, and a tremendous contribution to the technical expertise in the AMD Radeon graphics ecosystem."
If I had to guess, it's a combo of a lot of things. 1. Nvidia is known for favoring their first-tier AIBs in respect to allocation, especially in respect to higher-margin high-end parts. Sometimes the smaller AIBs get literally nothing. 2. Nvidia is known for locking down spec pretty hard (greenlight) which sucks for differentiation. AMD has seemingly done some of this as well recently (like 7970 post 7970ghz), but it's not nearly as bad and for obvious reasons. Also, bios' are a thing for those products. 3. There has always been murmurs that margins are pretty slim in respect to AIBs vs. MSRP. This is reflected in nvidia's earnings versus the drop-off of nvidia AIBs. AMD seems to have taken the route of game bundles to prop up MSRP, but it does not seem to be deeply reflected in margins for AIBs. This is why in past generations something like the 7870 would certainly be a $200 part by now, it has held pretty tight above that. That said, lower prices are available for differentiation. Clocks are also usually set with a decent lee-way for clocks (including memory), with often no meaningful hard-walled voltage spec and/or pci-e power wall. All of these are good things for AIBs and the consumer.
Interesting choice probably got walled up by nvidia. There aren't very many companies that still have both brands wonder if nvidia or amd said pick one or the other.
This. Every single GeForce card in the last few years was more expensive than Radeon and not offer anything extra worth mentioning.
Except, you know, more frames. I speak of the GTX 780, however, compared to other single GPU's. Dont get me wrong, I still believe the 7950 is best price/perf right now.
Their 660Ti was very competitive during launch, in all metrics including power, performance and price. 670 CUII was the only graphics card impressive enough to score a 10 from W1z, so it cant be a dud either. AMD threw most of their power efficiency out of the window trying to beat the GTX680 with the 7970 Ghz, 40w difference iirc for similar performance. With the power bill in UK, this allows the GTX680 to sell £40 more expensive for a year's worth of usage, which is precisely the extra they are charging for GTX680 (AMD has games though, that will account for the second year's power bills). On paper AMD's stuff is crazy competitive against Nvidia everywhere, dig in further you will find that there are products on Nvidia's lineup which competes pretty well against AMD's offerings.
I love the objective analysis: "...with most new buyers flocking to Nvidia 7xxx series..." really? You might want to explain why AMD GPU sales are so good then. Maybe it's a Euro thing?
A lot of people just don't have £350-450 for a 7xxx series Nvidia card, too expensive, and add another £100+ for a 680+
I guess you missed the launch of the 670 and 680. where they both performed better then amd 7970 and Nvidia undercut them with their pricing. Then AMD had to be quick to drop their prices.
Now thats funny. You'd think a company would want to stick to the GPU that sells to make them the most profit. The margins must suck on Nvidia The margins are so good on AMD it outweights the volume from needing to sell x number of Nvidia.
Don't know where you are, but in my country 580s were still selling for $600++ up to 2 - 3 months AFTER 79x0 launch! GTX 6x0 was $125 - $225 more on average, compared to ATi/AMD which was in stores locally for $500 - $550. Once 6x0 hit shelves in decent numbers 79x0 dropped $$$ accordingly. GTX6X0 is pricier then even some 7x0!!! Nvidia pricing has been, and always will be, a joke. MSRP usually means squat to Nvidia & their partners. TruStory. ROTFLMFAO re the 10 point score from W1zz. His reviews are primo, but the scoring system is a foking joke. Apologies W1zz, my brotha from anutha motha
Either way nVidia still appears to have a stronger following than AMD regardless of price. The average consumer who knows little about the difference between nVidia and AMD tend to be drawn towards nVidia in which afterwards listen to people who know little between the two as well who come up with over exaggerated or false statements which say AMD are inferior to the point where it is taking a risk buying one which is why we pay more for nVidia. I say as long as I can RMA I am always going to go for price vs performance regardless of nVidia or AMD.
Its the other way round around my area, people tend to go AMD almost regardless unless I point them to the green camp's offerings.


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Hello, my name is Cassidy Webster, and I am doing a fundraiser for Shriner's Hospital for Children which helped me by giving me knee surgery. I want to give something to them, so I'm hosting a spaghetti sauce challenge. I have invited local restaurants to donate their sauces and then the public can vote which is the best. The challenge will be on March 23, at the Newry Grange Hall from 1 to 3 p.m. The suggested donation is five dollars, and all the profits will go to Shriner's Hospital. There will be vegetarian and regular sauces, with bread and drinks.
I am also looking for donations of paper cups and noodles (gluten free or regular).
If you cannot come but would still like to make a donation or if you have any questions, please contact me at email@example.com.
Thank you,
Cassidy Webster


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11/23/2004: Activist Eyes 2008 Olympics if China Continues Religious Persecution |
Religion News Service
By Wangui Njuguna WASHINGTON - A human rights activist has proposed a campaign in which American businesses would withhold investment in the 2008 Olympics if persecution of religious groups continues in China. The Rev. Bob Fu, president of the Midland, Texas-based China Aid Association, told a congressional committee examining religion in China that the U.S. government should compile a list of religious persecutors in China and make it public. It should then, he said, encourage U.S. corporations to not do business in provinces and cities where severe persecution is taking place. Speaking Thursday (Nov. 18) before the Congressional Executive Commission on China, Fu said an estimated 20,000-plus members of underground religious groups "have been arrested, detained, kidnapped or placed under house arrest" since 2002. Fu, whose expertise is in underground, Protestant "house churches" that resist registering with the government, said that figure would be much higher if Falun Gong, a spiritual movement that incorporates exercise with Buddhist and Taoist principles, were included. The hearing was part of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, established in 1998 to monitor and make independent policy recommendations to the president, secretary of state and Congress on freedom of religion. While Fu recommended punishing China, Commission Chair Preeta D. Bansal advocated a more positive approach, extending bank loan breaks to U.S. businesses that promoted Chinese religious freedom. "One area that needs more thought and development is how to offer incentives to businesses to establish innovative approaches to promote religious freedom and related human rights outside the United States," she said. Bansal said now that China has made significant economic progress, it must turn its attention to human rights. "It can no longer be argued that human rights violations are a temporary trade-off to achieve economic development," Bansal said. "Achieving the full measure of economic development depends on improving human rights protections." Copyright 2004 Religion News Service Tags: |


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Friday Dec 6 | The Hoya
Study Abroad Program Relocates to Jordan
A new summer study abroad option in Amman, Jordan, will replace the Office of International Programs' offerings in Cairo and Alexandria, Egypt, that were cancelled because of turmoil in the region last year.
Do you support affirmative action?
Should states lower the drinking age to 18?
Central Bank of Egypt cuts key interest rates
Reuters - Egypt's central bank cut its key interest rates by 50 basis points in a surprise move at a monetary policy meeting on Thursday.
Abu Dhabi: The wind, the sand, yourself
In the dunes outside Liwa, the wind conveys nothing on its back. The edge of the Rub al Khali is so dead the air transmits no sound and your voice carries no farther than inside the empty quarter of your own skull.
'Turkish envoy to Egypt expelled for conspiring against country'
In this Sunday, Sept. 30, 2012 file photo provided by Turkish Prime Minister's Press Service,Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, right, and Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi salute the members of Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party in Ankara, Turkey Egypt's decision to expel the Turkish ambassador in Cairo followed attempts by ... (more)
Heritage: Hampstead resident Sir Flinders Petrie measured the...
Adam Sonin charts the life of Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie, renowned Victorian pioneer of the study of ancient Egypt - and an unlikely fan of the pink 'onesie' Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie was a Victorian explorer who measured the Pyramids at Giza, laid the foundations for Egyptology - the study of ancient Egypt - and was the first ... (more)
UK Relaxes Travel Warnings to Cairo and Giza Pyramids
The eased warnings will no doubt help Egyptians begin to rebuild their tourism industry, one new visitor at a time.
Letters served many purposes in medieval Mediterranean society. Some individuals wrote solely for business dealings, others for personal reasons, and often the two were mixed.
Egypt honours Allama Iqbal for message of tolerance
ISLAMABAD: The government of Egypt has honoured Poet of the East Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal for his message of peace and tolerance on the International Day for Tolerance, observed on Monday.
FringeArts Presents World Premiere of 17 Border Crossings, Now thru 11/17
From Egypt to Singapore, Morocco to Mexico, innovative theater director Thaddeus Phillips takes audiences on a tour of the planet's wildest frontiers with the world premiere of his solo theater work 17 BORDER CROSSINGS.
Egypt worst Arabs for women's rights: Survey
London, Nov 12 : Sexual harassment, high rates of female genital cutting and a surge in violence after the Arab Spring uprisings have made Egypt the worst country in the Arab world to be a woman, according to a poll released by the Thomson Reuters Foundation Tuesday.
Russia negotiates its biggest arms deal with Egypt since the Cold War ...
Russia is negotiating its biggest weapons deals with Egypt since the Cold War as it seeks to capitalize on U.S. President Barack Obama's decision to cut defence aid to the military-backed government.


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We stayed for the weekend, it was absolutely perfect! Ivan is quite a character! Breakfast was amazing both days, the rooms were very nice. We went down to the lake and took a boat out fishing for the day. Everyone was very nice. I cant wait to go back in the spring! Its so peaceful and quiet. Not to mention... More
- Also Known As:
- Inn At Lake Joseph Hotel Forestburgh
- Inn At Lake Joseph Hotel
- Official Description (provided by the hotel):
- The Inn, with working fireplaces, whirlpool baths and private sundecks, is located high in the Catskill Mountains on a 250-acre private lake. Like resort lodging, the Inn provides a variety of summer and winter recreational facilities, including access to a health and fitness spa. But unlike larger hotels, the Inn, with just 17 guestrooms, is a luxurious, yet informal, casual country retreat that assures guests a relaxing, private, rustic mountain lake environment. Very much like the Berkshires, White Mountains, Adirondacks and Poconos, the Catskills surrounding the Inn offer spectacular scenes of lakes and rivers, as well as hiking trails with views of majestic peaks and isolated waterfalls. However, unlike these other regions, the Inn is no more than 2 hours from New York City. ... more less


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We all know that smoking is bad for us. The research is there, the message has been communicated, and the facts surrounding the detrimental health risks and costs are clear. But making the decision to quit – and sticking with a plan – is a very personal journey and one that often comes with pitfalls and setbacks. The good news is that there are more resources available than ever before – support groups, chat lines, and social media outlets are great ways to start the process. Why not make this year the one to make a change and get healthy?
Here are some resources you may not be aware of:
The American Cancer Society – Quit for Life
This Facebook page acts as on online support group for those on the road to being smoke-free.
Helping a Smoker Quit: Do's and Don'ts
If you have a friend or family member who's trying to quit smoking, try and understand how hard it is. These tips can help you draw the line between being helpful and being pushy.
South Carolina Tobacco-Free Collaborative (TFC)
Formed in 2001, the TFC is a group of leading health organizations, community coalitions, and businesses in South Carolina who are committed to reducing the toll of tobacco use in our state. Their goal is to reduce that toll.
Sign up to receive encouraging text message reminders and tips.
Quit Smoking Apps
There's an app for that! There are several apps to choose from, many offering daily reminders and motivators, cost savings calculators and a running count of your smoke-free days.
Exactly how you start your journey to being smoke-free isn't as important as making the decision to start the process. Talk to your doctor, make a plan and reach out to others for support.


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Event Details:
More Events
- School Fundraisers! Plex Gives back 30% of ticket sales!
- Roller Skating and Jumpin' Jacks Inflatable Party Center are Open
- Athletes Arena is now at Plex!!!
- Learn to Ice Skate! Classes offered 2 times a week! Enroll Now!
- Click Here for Public Skate Hours!
- HiWire Ultimate Trampoline Park
- Winter Wonderland Skate Show Learn to Skate Registration is Open OnLine!
- Holiday Events at Plex!
- School is Out! Plex is In! Sign your child up for our December Sports Galore Camp.


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SHOCKS - CHASSIS PARTS - SPRINGS Rebuilt Delco Lever Shocks - 10 Year Warranty Exceptional Parts and Service Since 1936 800-344-1966, CO; shocks2springs.com... More
HORNS, car horns beautifully rebuilt, restored, look and sound like new. The Horn Works, 608-361-0095, WI; www.classiccarhorns.com... More
WANTED: Repco Olds aluminum V8, all or parts. Dan Lagrou, 586-707-2361, MI.... More
HARDWARE fastener, screw & bolt kits on CD catalog, free with order or $9.95 without, refundable with $20 purchase USA. 817-831-3501, TX; view kit... More
A BETTER deal on Oldsmobile shop, service, repair manuals, owners manuals, parts manuals, reference books. 206-721-3077, 888-380-9277, WA; www.books4cars.com**17-YR**... More
WIRING harnesses, battery cables, spark plug wires, switches & electrical products, built from original GM blueprints, show quality; face the facts, your Oldsmobile is... More
WIRING harnesses: see display ad in Services Offered. YnZs Yesterdays Parts, 909-798-1498, CA; www.ynzyesterdaysparts.com**38-YR**... More
BUMPER fillers & extensions, ABS plastic, lacquer primed, thermoformed. 864-579-0023, 864-579-0524, SC; www.caddy-parts.com... More
KEYS, lock cylinders, locksmithing, Classic Key Sets. Jesser's Classic Keys at www.jessersclassickeys.com; see our ad in Services Offered and call 330-376-8181, OH.... More
WE sell new and used windshields, also side window curved glass. Arnolds Classic Rubber, 100 Arnold Ln, Paragould, AR 72450; 870-236-7253 or 870-236-0488.... More
BELTLINE window sills, pre-cut and pre-shaped to fit your car. Arnolds Classic Rubber, 100 Arnold Ln, Paragould, AR 72450; 870-236-7253 or 870-236-0488.... More
SEAT belts, largest inventory and selection in the world, same day shipping, meet all federal safety standards. Order at Julianos, 800-300-1932, CT; www.seatbeltstore.com... More
TRANSMISSION hard and soft parts and technical service. PATCO, 28409 Harper, St Clair Shores, MI 48081; 586-776-7300; [email]... More
BEARINGS & seals for cars, trucks and equipment, all vintages & years. South Shore Bearing, 877-768-8427 toll-free, MA; [email]**15-YR**... More
WINDOW, seat cylinders, $149; reconditioning service, pumps, $400; switches, $30/button. Hydro-E-Lectric, 5530 Independence, Punta Gorda, FL 33982; 941-639-0437, 800-343-4261.**39-YR**... More


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Increase your comfort using a second language! From beginning to advanced conversationalists, all can participate in this program to develop using another language.
Siéntase más seguro al utilizar el inglés como su segundo idioma. Personas en todos os niveles de fluencia pueden participar en este programa y desarrollar el uso del inglés.
Come use technology at varying levels of fluency from basic to advanced computer skills.
Venga ejercitar tecnología en varios niveles, utilizando nuestras computadoras para practicar desde las actividades más básicas hasta las más avanzadas
A program for all ages to work towards personal goals using FREE community resources and support. Come meet people and see something new for work or home each time!
Un programa donde personas de todas las edades pueden trabajar hacia sus objetivos personales usando recursos y suporte gratis. Venga conocer personas y aprender cosas nuevas para su vida y trabajo a cada vez.
Finding another income is critical for so many during these hard economic times. The audience will be introduced to traditional and non-traditional options, how to find a second job that fits, their benefits and disadvantages and the effect of work on SSI disability benefits.
Tuesday Plaza will emphasize art projects for all ages, but particularly designed for adults and teens. There will be laptop computers if you need to do homework or look for a job. Assistants will be there to help you. Your children are welcome to come with you; they may do their homework, read, use the children's computers, or play with our toys.
Wednesday Plazas will concentrate on art projects for all ages, but specifically designed for teens and adults. If you need computer access and/or help to apply for a job, type your resume, study for a test (such as the GED), learn a language, research health information, or do homework, then this is also the place for you. Laptops and a printer are available. Assistants will be there to help you. Your children are welcome to come with you; they may do their homework, read, use the children's computers, or play with our toys.
Whether your are renting a room out, making a will or heading to small claims court, learn where to find free online legal forms.
Peter Roper of the Denver Bicycle Cafe will cover all the basics you need to know to maintain your bike, including air, brakes, chain, fixing and cleaning your bike, and the tools and parts you need. Special emphasis on getting your bike ready for winter riding, and what you need to know to keep on cycling through all seasons!
Make your life easier in the spring: learn a few permaculture techniques to winterize your garden beds. Greater fertility, less hassle!
Due to circumstances beyond our control, this program has been canceled. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Challenge yourself in these dynamic spaces designed to help you work towards personal goals. Whether you want to practice using your new language skills or to search for a job, Plazas can suit almost any goal you have in mind. Come set up a blueprint for your life!
DPL Holiday Closures December 24, 25, 31, January 1 More...
DPL Newsletters All Social Media


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Newegg.com - A great place to buy computers, computer parts, electronics, software, accessories, and DVDs online. With great prices, fast shipping, and top-rated customer service - once you know, you Newegg.
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WOW! Works great for mold!Pros: VERY Quiet. Worked FAST to remove the mold smell from my closets. Uses very little electricity and hangs right in the closet where you need it! Cons: None! Did you find this review helpful? |


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Recent News
Cookie, Gingerbread House Winners Savor Sweet Victory
FRANKLIN, Ind. A 10-year-old baker became a repeat cookie champion, and a 16-year-old sports fan constructed an edible tribute to a downtown Indianapolis landmark at Johnson County Public Librarys Holiday Cookie and Gingerbread House Contests on Saturday, December 5.
Eleven-year-old Alexandra Hayden of Bargersville won the Gingerbread House Contest in the 12 and under category with a cozy gingerbread chalet surrounded by licorice skiers and a sugar wafer Rudolph. Haydens mother, Melissa, was surprised to receive the librarys congratulatory phone call. The top entry, it turned out, was the first gingerbread house her daughter had ever built.
The Colts winning ways rubbed off on Johanna Richardson, a 16-year-old Franklin resident who constructed a detailed gingerbread replica of Lucas Oil Stadium. The retractable roofsuggested by graham crackerswas open to reveal sloped seating and a play field with a chocolate football ready for action on the 50 yard line. Richardson won the 13 and up category by a comfortable margin.
Kevin Stucker, a 10-year-old Franklin resident, repeated as champion of the Holiday Cookie Contest in the 12 and under category with a batch of lemon snowflake cookies. Karen Roush, also of Franklin, won the 13 and up category. Her turtle cookies prompted one of the judges to gush, Nuts, chocolate, caramel? Ive died and gone to heaven!
Lemon Snowflake Cookie Recipe (MS Word)
Turtle Cookie Recipe (MS Word)
Each winner received $35 cash, courtesy of Mutual Savings Bank.
The Holiday Cookie Contest took place at Mutual Savings Banks Jefferson Street Branch and received a record number of entries27, including 16 in the child category and 11 in the adult/teen category.
The judges who determined the winners were Mayor Fred Paris, Childrens Services Librarian Heather Grantham, White River Circulation Manager Tom Randall, and 7-year-old library patron Delaney Hemminger. Randall is an accomplished baker with extensive experience as a restaurateur. Hemminger won her spot on the panel, part of a baking-themed prize package, at this years Johnson County Fair.
The Gingerbread House Contest took place at JCPLs Franklin Branch and received 19 entries, 16 in the child category and 3 in the adult/teen category. Library visitors cast a total of 190 ballots to determine the winners.
The Holiday Cookie and Gingerbread House Contests, sponsored by Friends of Johnson County Public Library and Mutual Savings Bank, were part of the Franklin Chambers Downtown Holiday Lighting.
For more information about the contests, please call Johnson County Public Librarys Community Relations Department at (317) 738-2957 or e-mail firstname.lastname@example.com.
Holiday Cookie (Child): Kevin Stucker | Gingerbread House (Child): Alexandra Hayden |
Holiday Cookie (Adult/Teen): Karen Roush | Gingerbread House (Adult/Teen): Johanna Richardson |


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Lemon Lover's Cookies Recipe
- 3/4 cup butter, softened
- 1/3 cup confectioners' sugar
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
- 1/4 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup confectioners' sugar
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
- Additional grated lemon peel, optional
- In a small bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Beat in lemon juice. Combine the flour, cornstarch and lemon peel; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well.
- Shape into a 1-1/2-in. roll; wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm. Unwrap and cut into 1/4-in. slices. Place 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets.
- Bake at 350° for 10-12 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Gently remove to wire racks to cool completely.
- In a small bowl, beat butter until fluffy. Add the confectioners' sugar, lemon juice and peel; beat until smooth. Spread over cooled cookies; sprinkle with additional lemon peel if desired. Let stand until set. Store in an airtight container. Yield: About 3-1/2 dozen.
Reviews for Lemon Lover's Cookies(9)
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We will not make these again. They fell apart into powder. Very disappointing! We keep re-reading the recipe thinking surely we left something out.
just like some others said, these cookies fell apart, some while removing from pan, others while I was trying to ice them. Taste good. Might try to reduce the cornstarch and increase the flour next time to see if this helps.
Here's my update...According to the magazine recipe (which I follow, but double) use 3 Tbsp sugar and 1-1/4c flour. Follow the rest of the recipe but cool the cookies completely on pans on wire racks (I personally use parchment paper and slide the whole sheet off onto a rack after cooling for about 5 minutes so I can start another batch right away).
A tip for forming the cookies...have a long piece of plastic wrap on the counter that you pour the dough on to. The dough will be very dry and powdery (enough so that once I thought I had done something wrong, pitched it and started over). Wrap the plastic wrap around the dough and use your hands to form the roll. The heat from your hands will soften the butter in the dough, helping it to pack together to form a log. I hope this helps all of you who are having problems with this recipe. They are fragile cookies, but that is part of the appeal, as they seem to melt in your mouth. They are so worth the effort. I am by no means an expert cook/baker, just a lemon lover who gave these a try and wish I could share them with the whole world!
I have made these numerous times, usually a double batch at a time because they are so good and go fast. I believe this recipe is different than in the magazine. If I remember correctly, there is a discrepancy with the amount of flour. I will double check my magazine recipe and update this review.
I made these cookies for the first time today. I mixed the dough last night and refrigerated them overnight. Used real butter, and fresh lemon juice as directed. Cut them a generous 1/4 inch thick and baked them on parchment paper and let them cool on the cookie sheets. I did have a couple that fell apart that were cut a little too thin. The cookies are delicious and the rest turned out great. Just had a couple friends taste them and they loved them. Yes, I will make them again for sure.
Similar Recipes
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- All Taste of Home Magazine Recipes >
- Christmas Desserts >
- Christmas Recipes >
- Comfort Food Desserts >
- Comfort Food Recipes >
- Cookie Frosting >
- Cookie Recipes >
- Cookies >
- Desserts >


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The owners are heavily involved in their community and the most recent edition to their store is a monthly window display featuring a new local charity. The program is called Windows to the World and the store brings awareness to the cause with one window display, as well as hosts special events in store to raise funds for the charitable oraganization.
Fleur De Lys also features a wedding and gift registry which can be filled with their wide range of gorgeous table settings. Vietri and Juliska feature prominently for their beauty and everyday practicality. You can round out your registry with one of a kind pieces from Rae Dunn Pottery or something quirky from Jonathan Adler. The shop's amazing collection of soaps and scented candles make this place a frequent stop on my shopping route when in the OC and for anyone not local they have a great online shop.
(Images: Claire Bock)
Store History
- Founded: 2004
Fleur de Lys Mercantile & Culinary Notions is the neighborhood general store with an urban twist. The 3,000 square foot store features a fully functional state of the art kitchen to host cooking demonstrations. The store offers a thoughtful and eclectic selection of gifts, apothecary goods, home essentials, table top, culinary gadgets, and so much more!


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recipe reviews for:
"Delish zucchini stuffed with your favorite ingredients and finished on the hot grill. Great side dish or as a light meal on their own."
Cooking Level: Expert
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Cooking Level: Intermediate
Holiday cookies, cakes, pies, and breads. Get recipes and inspiration.
Get time-saving recipes to save your busy life.
Find just the right recipes for your holiday get-togethers.
See an easy way to grill fresh corn on the cob.
Balsamic vinegar gives grilled zucchini delicious caramelized flavors.
See how to make a creamy, delicious zucchini side dish.


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Shop the Best Espresso Machines
Are you in the market for cafe quality espresso shots at the push of a button? We have many superautomatic espresso machines for a quick morning latte fix. Or maybe you enjoy the ritual of espresso and are in pursuit of the perfect shot. If that's the case, we have one of the largest selections of semi-automatic espresso machines around.
Read detailed espresso machine product descriptions and user reviews, watch YouTube videos with Gail and Kat and learn about the care and maintenance of your home espresso machine.
Learn More about Espresso Machines
Breville Dual Boiler Espresso Machine BES900XL
$1,199.95Encompassing the strength of a commercial machine in the size of a home-friendly footprint, the Breville Dual Boiler Espresso Machine uses its dual stainless steel boilers for precise temperature and pressure control every time. Learn More -
Pasquini Livia 90 Automatic Espresso Machine
Regular Price: $2,604.00
Our Price: $1,699.00
Where else but from Italy would the most popular espresso machine hail? The Pasquini Livia 90 Automatic offers a mix of both traditional and modern features. It has all the great brewing features of the Pasquini Livia 90 Semiautomatic, but provides push-button control so that your espresso can be brewed and poured while you are doing other activities. Learn MoreOut of stock
Crossland Coffee CC1 Version 1.5 Espresso Machine
Regular Price: $749.00
Our Price: $699.00
Move over Rancilio Silvia, the Crossland Coffee CC1 Version 1.5 espresso machine is here. And it's got credentials in spades: an innovative PID built right into the interface, thermoblock-enhanced steam and even more intuitive controls for perfecting your shot and keeping it consistently delicious. Learn More -
Rancilio Silvia Espresso Machine Version 3
$639.00Sturdy stainless steel casing, brass components throughout and an upgraded commercial-grade steam wand make the Rancilio Silvia Version 3 one of the most popular machines on the market. Simple, reliable and powerful, the Silvia espresso machine produces excellent espresso and silky microfoam milk for your lattes and cappuccinos. Add even more consistency to your Rancilio Silvia with the addition of a PID controller. Installed by our own Seattle Coffee Gear tech department before the machine goes out, these units enable you to control the temperature variance on this machine by as little as one degree. Learn MoreOut of stock
Nuova Simonelli Oscar Espresso Machine
Regular Price: $1,475.00
Our Price: $1,050.00
To those who thought an affordable heat exchanger espresso machine would never exist, the Nuova Simonelli Oscar Direct Connect has arrived to prove them wrong. Using the quality construction of many other heat exchanging machines, the Oscar comes in at several hundred dollars lower than the competition without sacrificing quality. The Oscar is offered in two water source types, a plumbed and a tank model. The direct connect model is best suited for those users interested in high-volume home production or small cafe settings. Learn MoreOut of stock
Rocket Espresso Giotto Evoluzione Espresso Machine - V2
$2,299.00The Rocket Espresso Giotto Evoluzione model goes both ways with its easily convertible water source functionality. Set the Giotto Evoluzione up to use the internal water reservoir or plumb it directly into a water source. Rounding out this upgraded semi-automatic machine's features: a quieter rotary pump, dual gauges for both boiler and brew head pressure readings, the renowned E-61 brew group and an included high-quality metal tamper. A joy to use! Learn More -
Rocket Espresso Cellini Evoluzione Espresso Machine - V2
$2,199.00Looking for a little flexibility in your life? Rocket Espresso Cellini Evoluzione model has just that with its easily convertible water source functionality. Set the Cellini Evoluzione up to use the internal water reservoir or plumb it directly into a water source. Rounding out this upgraded semi-automatic machine's features: a quieter rotary pump, dual gauges for both boiler and brew head pressure readings, the renowned E-61 brew group and an included high-quality metal tamper. Learn More -
Rocket Espresso Cellini Premium Plus - V2
$1,799.00Modern and marvelous with high-end brewing capabilities, The Rocket Cellini Premium Plus (formerly the ECM Cellini) is an upgraded machine that promises heat sustainability and efficiency. With a heavy-duty polished stainless steel case, simple design, the E-61 brew group and powerful steaming, the Rocket Cellini Premium Plus is prepared to provide only the best tasting espresso. Included with the upgraded V2 model is a copper-insulated boiler, dual manometers and a high-quality plastic tamper. Learn More -
Rocket Espresso Cellini Classic Espresso Machine
$1,499.00The Rocket Cellini Classic offers a heavy duty stainless steel case, E-61 brew group and powerful steam functionality. Using the same technology as the Premium Plus and Evoluzione models, the Rocket Classic features a single manometer for the steam boiler and matte plastic finishes. Learn MoreOut of stock
Rocket R58 Dual Boiler Espresso Machine - V2
$2,699.00Built with the commercial-grade components and handmade craftsmanship you've come to expect from Rocket Espresso, the Rocket R58 Dual Boiler offers you double boiler functionality and dual PID temperature control - all in a plumbable, classically styled chrome and stainless-steel housing. Features of the new V2 model include a stronger chassis complete with nylon rails for a seamless drip tray fit, an upgraded magnetic drip tray closure, and an upgraded control board for optimized steaming and brewing. Learn More


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OLD COAL: Old coal plants are due to be retired as a result of new pollution regulations.
Image: Wikimedia Commons/Sidi762
Last month, when FirstEnergy Corp. decided to close six coal-fired power plants in its home state of Ohio and two other states, the moves became instant political ammunition for Republicans, who blamed the Obama administration's environmental regulations for the closures.
Because of the regulations on toxic power plant emissions announced last month by U.S. EPA, "500 hardworking Americans in three states will lose their jobs -- not to mention the countless indirect jobs," asserted Rep. Bill Johnson (R-Ohio).
But the causes for the closures were not quite as simple or as immediate as that. Other forces helped push the FirstEnergy plants to the brink, according to energy experts. They include an underperforming U.S. economy, which is suppressing growth of electricity demand, and the lowest natural gas prices in a dozen years, which have made new gas-fired generation a compelling choice for utilities.
Plus, there are offsetting benefits. They begin with the potential for many more jobs in drilling, pipelines, steel, tools, chemicals and related industries -- employment that will be created thanks to the surge in development of natural gas from the Utica and Marcellus shale deposits running underneath the state's east side. The benefits also include a substantial reduction in health threats caused by the toxic emissions, EPA says.
The long, tangled history of the six plants doesn't really lend itself to a political whodunit, according to energy experts. "These decisions combine numerous factors, including future environmental regulations, power prices, gas prices, regulatory treatment of proposed expenditures, the company's financial condition, their appetite for putting in capital expenditures, and how risk-averse the companies are," said Metin Celebi, a principal with the Brattle Group consulting firm.
"There are multiple factors, and they include expected future market prices of power and gas as well as capital costs of retrofit equipment. A good portion of the coal plants facing closure are the old ones," Celebi pointed out.
"They tend to be less efficient to run, with higher heat rates, and tend to require further costs to maintain them, just to keep them operating. In addition to the age factor, most are lacking the major environmental controls. That makes them more at risk of retirement because of the costs of adding controls."
So was it declining energy prices or environmental regulation? "Clearly it is both," said Ira Shavel, a vice president of the Charles River Associates consulting firm. "Market prices are very low. A lot of coal plants can't compete with natural gas" generation, he said.
"Some of the units are fairly old, too. They are small -- all of which makes them more challenged. The small units have relatively high fixed operation and maintenance costs," Shavel said.
EPA's limits for airborne mercury and other toxic emissions, announced in December, affect 1,100 coal-fired plants across the country, 40 percent of which do not have advanced pollution controls. In response to concerns about the impact of the rule on the nation's power plants, the administration encouraged states to add a fourth year to the rule's three-year compliance timetable.
Further extensions could be granted on a case-by-case basis to meet pressing grid reliability issues, the administration said.
A corporate focus on saving larger plants
FirstEnergy spokesman Mark Durbin said the EPA requirements were the critical factor in the decision to close the plants. "It's definitely related to the new rules. ... Each of the units has to have something done to it. We couldn't justify that cost," he said.
At the same time, FirstEnergy faces substantial costs for installing added environmental controls on other coal plants that it will keep online. "Absolutely our focus is on the larger plants and what we have to do to meet the requirements," Durbin said.


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With its intimate, speakeasy atmosphere, the Bruce Ariss Wharf Theater makes an apropos venue for Monterey Peninsula College Theatre Company's production of "Cabaret."
The 12-time-Tony-Award-winning musical opens Friday at the historic theater on Fisherman's Wharf in Monterey.
There will be a preview performance Thursday night. Each performance will be offered with the option of a Dinner & Theatre package, which includes a prix fixe menu at Isabella's on the Wharf and tickets for the show ($36 per person).
Directed by Gary Bolen, "Cabaret" features Jill Miller as Sally Bowles and Peter Hoffman as the Emcee.
The story takes place in a sleazy night club in Berlin on the brink of the Nazi takeover of Germany. Amidst the sinister backdrop of impending World War II, Sally Bowles, a cabaret singer, falls in love with an American writer, while the German woman who owns the boardinghouse they reside in falls in love with an older Jewish man.
As the cabaret artists dance to escape the terror of what's going on in the world — and to offer refuge to those who seek to be amused — the dance numbers move the plot from lighthearted entertainment to darker reality, all the while overshadowed by the creepy master of ceremonies.
"I love how the stories come together," said Bolen, who has directed "Cabaret" three times and played in it twice. "We know how this comes out — World War II has happened. We watch how these people make their decisions. Sally puts her career before love, opting to stay in Berlin. It's a fatal decision."
For Bolen, the thing that's different about this production is the intimacy of the Wharf Theater.
"The idea is that the audience is part of the cabaret," he explains. "The Wharf Theater really lends itself to that. There are 160 seats, but because the audience is so close, it feels like less. They're on top of the action. It allows for a great deal of subtlety in interpretation."
He contrasts this to the largess he's used to in MPC's main stage theater, which is currently undergoing extensive renovation and is not scheduled to reopen until the summer of 2013.
"In our theater, it's 82 feet from the stage to the last row of the theater," he said. "If you crook an eyebrow, nobody in the last row's going to see that. So you have to 'act big.' You could fit the entire Wharf Theater inside our seating area."
In addition to subtlety in facial expression, Miller said that another benefit to the intimate space is that she can interact with the audience in her role as Sally Bowles.
"It's a charming little theater," said Miller. "I think having a small, intimate space is perfect for 'Cabaret,' because that's what a cabaret is by definition. It's an (ideal) opportunity to interact with the audience and break that fourth wall. During the songs, I'm treating the audience as my audience."
This means that she's making eye contact and singling people out. She explains, "It adds a genuine feel to the performance because you don't have to pretend the audience members aren't there. You get to look at them and play off their interaction with you."
But Miller's favorite part of the role is having the opportunity to play someone who's completely opposite of her in real life.
"I think I have that wild girl in there, but she doesn't show up in my real life very often," she said. "I'm a blonde naturally and I'm playing this sleek, black-haired vixen in the show. It'd been fun to channel my inner wild girl."
Lily Dayton can be reached at email@example.com. GO!
·What: Monterey Peninsula College Theatre Company presents "Cabaret"
·Where: The Bruce Ariss Wharf Theater, Fisherman's Wharf, Monterey
·When: Previews at 7:30p.m. on Thursday, June 28; opens at 7:30p.m. on Friday, June 29; Continues at 7:30p.m. Thu-Sat, with 2p.m. Sunday matinees through July 15
·Tickets: $25 adults, $22 seniors, $15 young adults (16-21) and military, and $10 children 15 and under; 24-hour advance purchase, $20; online $18 for adults and seniors. Available through the MPC Box Office (646-4213) Wednesdays from 3-7p.m., Thu-Fri 3-5p.m., at the performance venue 90 minutes prior to any show, or online at www.TicketGuys.com; Dinner & Theatre packages available for $36 per person, including a prix fixe menu at Isabella's on the Wharf and tickets for the show (price does not include gratuity, drinks or dessert); available only at the MPC Box office at least 24 hours in advance
·Information: 646-4213 or www.mpctheatre.com


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Posted by Michelle K. Wolf
It's really wonderful that more kids with special needs, including those who aren't verbal, are now able to have a bar or bat mitzvah, but shouldn't that simcha be viewed as a beginning of engagement with the Jewish community and not the end?
The first special needs bat mitzvah I attended was for a sister of a friend I had made at camp in high school, and the bat mitzvah was a very small affair, held in a chapel of a large Westside synagogue. As I recall, the expectations of the sister (who in retrospect probably had mild intellectual disabilities), were very low, and there was a sense that although the event was certainly worth celebrating, the idea of a Jewish kid who wasn't college-bound was a big shanda (disgrace).
Since then, I've attended many special needs B'nai Mitzvot, some large-scale events with live bands playing at the after-party, and others, purposely kept small to minimize the noise and sensory overload for the Bar Mitzvah boy on the autism spectrum. The kids usually rise to the occasion, and it isn't unusual for the parental speeches to get the tear ducts flowing. As the four-page feature spread titled, "Autistic boy's bar mitzvah is a milestone of faith, hard work" in the Arizona Republic documented, long-time family members often find it "amazing" that the teens with special needs are able to lead the congregation in prayer.
Our son, Danny who is now 17, had his bar mitzvah a month after turning 14, on a crisp Hanukkah Rosh Chodesh morning at Temple Beth Am in Los Angeles, and although he has very limited verbal abilities, he was able with verbal cuing, to say an aliyah, the traditional blessings before and after the Torah reading, have a typical friend read some of his thoughts on being Jewish, and also used his voice output device for the thank-you portion of the service.
But it can't just end there. And in Los Angeles, we are very fortunate to have a wide array of post-B'nai Mitzvah programs for our teens and young adults.
Danny waits all year for summer time which means a month away at Camp Ramah California where he is part of their Tikvah program with a full-time aide, During the school year, he participates in a Confirmation Class at Vista Del Mar, part of their Nes Gadol Jewish education program for kids with autism and other developmental disabilities. He also goes to OurSpace social and recreational programs through Valley Beth Shalom and squeezes in a week or two at Etta Israel's high-spirited day camp program. Whew!
This past week, Danny rocked the night away at a very hip Erev Simchat Torah celebration at IKAR; he was very disappointed to hear that his Mom's feet were worn out before the very last hakafot (round of dancing). And then this Shabbat morning, he was asked to do the first aliyah of the first Parasha of the new Jewish year, Bereshit. He stood up in front of the congregation, taller and more confident than during his Bar Mitzvah and slowly did his best to pronounce each word of the blessings. It was a great beginning.
PS If you want to hear first-hand about our recent Special Needs Study Mission to Israel sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles,and how you can get invovled in next steps, rsvp at www.jewishla.org/special-needs-panel to attend a November 5th presentation.
12.5.13 at 8:56 pm | The first national Leadership Institute on. . .
12.3.13 at 7:51 am |
11.22.13 at 6:05 pm | When all four Jewish movements come together to. . .
11.15.13 at 12:00 am | Self-Advocates and Family Members are furious by. . .
11.3.13 at 10:36 pm | Teachers-in-training want to include more. . .
10.27.13 at 10:12 pm | A group of parents in the 50s and 60s refused to. . .
12.5.13 at 8:56 pm | The first national Leadership Institute on. . . (13)
4.21.11 at 11:23 pm | In the search for a "home" for our young adults. . . (12)
11.3.11 at 12:26 am | There's an epidemic of unhealthy weight for. . . (8)
October 5, 2012 | 5:48 pm
Posted by Michelle K. Wolf
You may have missed it in all the post-debate chatter, but the issue of disabilities as part of the national domestic agenda came up not once but twice during Wednesday's night debate, both times by President Obama. This is a pretty big deal, as every possible issue/cause wants to get in a mention during a presidential debate with 60 million viewers. With so many worthy topics out there competing for attention, I was happy to hear that the D-word had made the cut even if there were criticisms of how Obama framed the issue
The first mention was in regard to how best to trim the federal deficit, with Obama trying to make the point that both revenue and spending needed to be addressed:
"Let — let me just finish this point because you're looking for contrast. You know, when Governor Romney stood on a stage with other Republican candidates for the nomination, and he was asked, would you take $10 of spending cuts for just $1 of revenue, and he said no. Now, if you take such an unbalanced approach, then that means you are going to be gutting our investments in schools and education. It means that — Governor Romney talked about Medicaid and how we could send it back to the states, but effectively this means a 30 percent cut in the primary program we help for seniors who are in nursing homes, for kids who are with disabilities."
My Twitter feed, with many disability advocates, went crazy, although some were peeved that only kids were mentioned. For example, "Great Obama. So #disabled adults don't exist?"
The second mention was in regard to Medicaid, known in California as Medi-Cal. Again, President Obama:
"As I indicated before, when you talk about shifting Medicaid to states, we're talking about potentially a — a 30 — a 30 percent cut in Medicaid over time. Now, you know, that may not seem like a big deal when it just is — you know, numbers on a sheet of paper, but if we're talking about a family who's got an autistic kid and is depending on that Medicaid, that's a big problem."On this one, my friends in the Autism community were happy to be singled out, but didn't care for his wording since we didn't use what we call "people first" language, because a person is more than their disability or condition. As Casey Lee @cleesouth tweeted, "In the debate Obama says "the autistic kid" um no, "kid with autism" is correct. They're a person before they are a disability."
Although I can't find Romney using the D-word himself in the transcript, he did talk about giving states maximum flexibility to help poor people in their own state, and then said a vague statement about the feds helping out states if needed. Never mind that some states have engaged in a "race to the bottom" as they do everything they can to drop poor and disabled Medicaid enrollees in order to save money, which can lead to terrible outcomes such as children with severe disabilities forced to live in nursing homes in Florida because they can't get a community-living Medicaid waiver.
As far as I'm concerned, getting our cause out there is better than not getting mentioned at all. To make it more participatory, maybe we can turn mentioning the "D-word" into a drinking game for the upcoming Veep debate?
September 27, 2012 | 9:28 pm
Posted by Michelle K. Wolf
Lately, our 17-year-old son Danny with developmental disabilities is obsessed with evil. His new favorite game is to use his limited but growing vocabulary to talk about who the "evil" character is in each of his many movies in his much-viewed DVD collection. We think it started with Jafar, the "dark man" in "Aladdin" who is the Grand Vizier of the Sultan of Agrabah. As one Disney critic has pointed out, Jafar gets more screen time, and actually lives to the end of the movie than most Disney villains.
Since Jafar, Danny has generalized this villain concept to other movies, such as sinister Luther heading up the Council of Doom in the Justice League cartoons (which, to jog your memory, featured all the Super Friends such as Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, etc). He also likes to watch the scenes in the musical, "Little Shop of Horrors" with Steve Martin playing a sadistic dentist. Today, while on a crowded elevator in his dentist's building, Danny clearly yelled out two words "dentist" and "evil" much to the consternation of the other occupants.
Then during Kol Nidre/Yom Kippur day services, Danny really got into the whole beating of the breast during the Viddui confessional prayer. He looked around and saw everyone hitting his or her chest, then picked up my hand to help him do the same gesture since he lacks the motor coordination to do it on his own. He even tried to name the ways our cat has misbehaved over the past year, which includes jumping up on the dinner table and scratching the furniture.
What's pretty remarkable about this evil obsession is that he isn't supposed to be able to do it. With a diagnosis of moderate intellectual disability, abstract thinking is supposed to be beyond his ability. As part of a North Carolina state checklist for judges and law enforcement officers states, "Most people can move from concrete to abstract thinking without effort. For people with mental retardation, this is often difficult, if not impossible."
Who knows? Maybe bounding over tall buildings will be next.
September 21, 2012 | 9:51 am
Posted by Michelle K. Wolf
"The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief corner-stone."
--Psalm 118
For Jewish families raising a child or teen with special needs, the challenges of how to have our child included in the larger Jewish community are a deeply-felt issue, but the burning question has always been this -- how do we get those not personally impacted to make inclusion a communal priority?
Elana Naftalin-Kelman, director of the Tikvah special needs program at Camp Ramah in California has come up with a solution: The Rosh Pina ("cornerstone" in Hebrew) program which will confer special needs certification for all types of Jewish organizations following a comprehensive year-long study process involving all the various segments of the organization, such as members, students, volunteers and staff.
And even better, she's starting the project as one of the eight new Joshua Venture Group (JVG) Fellows, which means she will receive $80,000 in unrestricted funding and over $20,000 in personalized coaching, training and networking. Rosh Pina will be the first (JVG) project funded in partnership with the Ruderman Family Foundation which is focused on the field of advancing inclusion and public awareness of people with disabilities.
"I had been thinking for awhile on how to really create 'deep change' in an organization with inclusion, " Elana said during a phone interview. "A class or Shabbat program or two are nice but don't really integrate people with disabilities."
Elana's vision is that each Jewish organization that wants to earn certification will engage in a year-long process that involves all levels of the institution, from the physical plant, to the curriculum (if it is a school) or year-round Shabbat/Holiday inclusion (if it a synagogue) and so forth. A team of specialists will be brought in as needed to provide expertise. Synagogues will pay a nominal fee to participate, and each institution will create its own customized plan on "becoming a place that is known to be welcoming to people of all abilities."
After getting certified, each organization can post their actual certificate and also re-apply for certification down the road.
Elana has been in the field of Jewish special education for over 15 years and has consulted with multiple Jewish institutions to aid them in thinking about how to be more inclusive of Jews of all abilities. I've had the pleasure of knowing Elana personally for many years, as the first leader of our Koleinu special needs Shabbat services at Temple Beth Am, and then through our son Danny's involvement with the Tikvah program at Camp Ramah. She is knowledgable, creative and most important, sees each person with disabilities as an individual, not as a cluster of medical conditions.
Since JVG announced her Ruderman Fellowship, she has heard from many shuls, schools, and Jewish museums interested in being one of the first three organizations to be part of the new Rosh Pina program. "People are coming out of the woodwork—it's been great to receive such a big response," she said.
For more information, email her at email@example.com
September 13, 2012 | 11:17 pm
Posted by Michelle K. Wolf
It's hard for any parent to leave their five-year-old at his or her first day of Kindergarten. Will our child make friends easily? Will some bigger, nastier kid bully them? And most of all can the teachers and school administrators be trusted to take good care of our child?
This whole transition is even scarier when you have a child who is non-verbal or very limited in his ability to express himself in any meaningful way. That's why my stomach churned when I read a recent NY Times opinion piece on the ugly side of school discipline, made worse by the fact that my husband had gone to college with the author, Bill Lichtenstein.
In that piece, Lichtenstein relates how he and his wife found out that their 5-year –old daughter Rose (who had speech and language delays) was being kept in a seclusion room at school for up to an hour at a time over the course of three months as punishment for behavior issues at first and later, for not following directions.
When the parents were finally called by the school to get Rose because she had taken off her clothes they found her "standing alone on the cement floor of a basement mop closet, illuminated by a single light bulb. There was nothing in the closet for a child — no chair, no books, no crayons, nothing but our daughter standing naked in a pool of urine, looking frightened as she tried to cover herself with her hands. On the floor lay her favorite purple-striped Hanna Andersson outfit and panties."
Really hard to read, and jolted me back in time when our son Danny (with cerebral palsy and developmental delays) was 9 years old and having a lot of trouble with walking and balance issues. We were working with the doctors to get the right "cocktail" of prescription drugs but he was losing a lot of hard-won mobility and whining even more than usual.
His 4th grade teacher at the local LAUSD elementary school was convinced that it was all "behavior" and when he wouldn't sit down one day in a chair, she kept him in a kneeling position for hours waiting for him "to get up and walk over to the desk" where his juice and yogurt were waiting for him. I went a little berserk upon hearing this, and starting calling the principal, the Special Ed Administrator for the Sub-District (don't ask) and even the School Board Member. Meetings followed, and plans were drawn up, and basically the teacher was told she wasn't allowed to do that again. I also looked around for a class to transfer him away from this teacher as fast as I could. Other staff members took me aside and whispered to me that I was doing the right thing.
These examples of abuse in the name of discipline are why many parents of kids with special needs are beginning a national crusade to get cameras put into special education classroom. According to ABC News, parents in states such as Ohio, Texas, Michigan, New Jersey and Tennessee have started on-line campaigns with petitions, videos, etc to bring awareness of this issue. Some parents have smuggled in audio recording devices along with their children's backpacks so they can hear for themselves what is happening in the classroom, and then can document abusive behavior to doubting administrators.
One parent in Ohio, Tara Heidinger, said that her son Corey, 8, has autism and can become very upset if changes are made to his schedule or usual routine. One day he came home from school and said the teacher was "mean" to him. Later on some of his more verbal classmates told her that the teacher's aide had grabbed Corey by the arm really hard and screamed in his face to stop him from crying. When she went to the principal to complain, "She didn't believe what I was telling her" and said that the boys were making up the story due to their autism. Without any proof of the attack, nothing changed.
Having cameras inside classrooms may sound too much like "Big Brother" for some people, but for kids who aren't verbal, having an extra set of eyes may be what is needed to prevent abuse.
If you want to sign on, go to http://www.change.org/petitions/cameras-in-special-needs-room-for-safety
September 5, 2012 | 9:13 pm
Posted by Sarah Blitzstein, Director, HaMercaz & Special Needs Programs, Jewish Family Service
It's hard to believe but summer is over and fall has arrived.
Back to school transitions hard for all kids, but they can be especially hard for our children with special needs. Our kids may have just gotten used to their summer school, camp or summer therapist and now new changes .September and October are busy times at HaMercaz as we receive many calls from parents whose children have changed grades or schools and need additional guidance and support.
Terri Mauro, at www.specialchildren.about.com has put together 25 ways to make this school year the best ever. For a complete list, make sure to check out her website (you can also subscribe to a daily email with lots of wonderful articles and information).
Here are five of my favorite tips:
1. Learn the Lingo: Parents are our children's best advocates—when you're standing up for your child's rights, particularly against people who may throw out lots of fancy terms to let you know they know more than you, it's important to have a good command of the bureaucratic language -- so study up on those IEP acronyms with a cheat sheet and a special-ed alphabet soup quiz. This is especially important during transition years—pre-school to kindergarten, elementary to middle school, middle school to high school.
2. Help Your Child Sit Still—"Sit still" is a demand adults can't help making, and too many kids with special needs can't help breaking. If your child's teacher regularly complains about your child's lack of desk-sitting decorum, come to the rescue with ideas for managing movement and increasing comfort, such as a weighted blanket for their lap or a ball chair that they can bounce on (lightly) during class). Give the teacher ideas and tips on what you noticed was helpful the year before or at home.
3. Join Your School's Parent Association and be involved.—Meetings may take valuable time, and time is a valued commodity, but it is important to participate anyway -- participation matters, and the voices of parents of children with special needs need to be heard and integrated into the PTA system.
4. Dress for less stress: Adapt the strategy of "change the environment" to your child's most immediate environment: the clothes he or she wears. Often, adjusting an outfit can make problem behaviors less obvious or troublesome, and it's way easier and more effective than endless nagging. On that same note, lay out your child's clothes the night before so there is less to worry about in the morning. If your child has sensory issues and is sensitive to fabric/tags/colors etc then the night before is always a better time to check and make sure that their favorite shirt is clean than at 7:10 when carpool is outside
5. Monitor Your Child's Backpack—besides being too heavy to healthily lift, backpacks can hide all sorts of things you need to know about, from forbidden items to stolen goods to rotting gym clothes; stay in the know by performing inspections morning and night.
Do you have any favorite tips for back to school or need help with the back to school transition? Contact us at email@example.com.
August 31, 2012 | 9:09 am
Posted by Michelle K. Wolf
"I've been knockin' on the door that holds the throne
I've been lookin' for the map that leads me home
I've been stumblin' on good hearts turned to stone
The road of good intentions has gone dry as bone
We take care of our own."
—Bruce Springsteen
During this political season, we are hearing a lot about how big government should or shouldn't be, and its appropriate role in our individual lives. For those most vulnerable among us, including the poor, the disabled and the frail elderly, the real question is: will the government be there for me when I need it the most?
As important as private charity donations are, the simple fact is that even when donors are generous as they often are in the Jewish community and other faith-based groups, the collective efforts of all that fundraising can't come close to the real costs of taking care of people in need, especially so if there are long-term needs. According to the International Federation of Health Plans, the average cost per hospital stay in the United States was $15,734—would your synagogue or church want to foot that bill for every congregate who didn't have health insurance or Medicare/Medicaid?
And those numbers are chicken feed when we start looking at long-term care.
My almost 90-year-old Dad took a bad fall last week, fractured his hip, had surgery and is now in rehab care for the next month or so at a skilled nursing facility. That service would cost around$230 a day out of pocket without his Medicare and supplemental coverage. He's getting high-quality physical therapy five times a week, but with less coverage, he would be receiving far less sessions, even if the doctor recommended it for optimal recovery.
A lot of disability advocates are very worried about the Ryan (and now Romney) proposal to turn Medicare into a voucher system. Although Medicare is widely known as health insurance for those over age 65, federal law was changed in 1972 to include those with permanent disabilities. As David Lazarus reported in the LA Times last week on how the Ryan plan would work:
"People under 55 would receive a federal subsidy — a voucher — to buy health insurance once they reach the eligibility age, which Ryan would raise to 67.
That voucher would be used to buy either conventional Medicare coverage or a similar plan from, say, one of half a dozen private insurers. The amount of the voucher would be determined by the cost of the second-least-expensive plan available, which experts say would likely be private coverage that would not be as comprehensive as Medicare."
The bottom line is that we are facing a potential situation of a lot less care for those who need it the most.
August 20, 2012 | 10:33 pm
Posted by Michelle K. Wolf
During our recent LA Federation Special Needs Mission in Israel, Danny Katz from the Welfare of Ministry took great pains to point out that they were changing the name of his department from "Adults with Mental Retardation" to "Adults with Intellectual Disabilities", so that Israel, in Katz's words "could keep in alignment with the United Nations and the rest of the world."
It's high time for everyone else to follow his example. I can't think of a better time to start than during the Hebrew month of Elul, which began on Aug. 19th, since this month is traditionally a time set aside for self-reflection and "tshuvah" or repentance before the High Holidays.
And I'm not just talking about jerks and people who don't know better. From my point of view, way too many well-meaning, good-hearted people use the word "retarded" all the time to talk about the computer that isn't working, a non-responsive customer service department, even a politician that they don't much like. At Jewish non-profits, day schools, and even at synagogues, you don't have to spend much time hanging out before the "r-word" pops up again and again.
Ironically, the term "mentally retarded" was first used in the 1950s to replace such derogatory terms as "feeble-minded" and "imbecile" and in the world of special education, there was a clear distinction between "educable retarded", those students who can progress academically to a late elementary level and "trainable mentally retarded" referring to students whose IQs were lower but who were still capable of learning basic living skills in a sheltered setting, such as a group home.
The sting of hearing those terms applied to my child, then aged four, was deep and bitter. Only by sharing my heartache with other moms did I start to turn from sadness to anger, and finally settled somewhere between defiance and advocacy.
Disability advocates around the world have been trying to get the official diagnostic description of someone who learns at a slower rate than same-age peers changed for many years, and the professional world has pretty much agreed to change over to the term "intellectually disabled". State and federal governments have or are in the process of officially making this change to the laws and statues that address legal or policy issues around this population, but the changeover hasn't quite made it fully into popular culture, even with the best efforts of the Special Olympics initiative with their "spread the word to stop the word" campaign.
At this point in time, "retarded" has long outlived its usefulness as a diagnostic category and has instead become the go-to word for late-night comedians for an easy laugh. The "r-word" needs to go the way of other ugly ethnic/sexual orientation slurs, and disappear from our daily conversation.
We can all draw inspiration for this holy work from the words of Psalm 27, traditionally read daily during the month of Elul:
"Show me Your ways, O God,
And lead me on a just path"
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