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Rethinking Roadway Safety: Do Traffic Laws and DUI Laws Really Keep People Safe?Submitted by RobHino on Sat, 02/23/2013 - 01:55
A fellow DPer posted on this discussion in 2010. At first glance, most may come down hard on the idea of "legalizing" "drunk" driving.
I'd like to open up a serious discussion on the points brought up by Lew Rockwell in this essay titled, Legalize Drunk Driving, Nov 2000.
Clinton has signed a bill passed by Congress that orders the states to adopt new, more onerous drunk-driving standards or face a loss of highway funds. That's right: the old highway extortion trick. Sure enough, states are already working to pass new, tighter laws against Driving Under the Influence, responding as expected to the feds' ransom note.
Now the feds declare that a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 percent and above is criminal and must be severely punished. The National Restaurant Association is exactly right that this is absurdly low. The overwhelming majority of accidents related to drunk driving involve repeat offenders with blood-alcohol levels twice that high. If a standard of 0.1 doesn't deter them, then a lower one won't either.
But there's a more fundamental point. What precisely is being criminalized? Not bad driving. Not destruction of property. Not the taking of human life or reckless endangerment. The crime is having the wrong substance in your blood. Yet it is possible, in fact, to have this substance in your blood, even while driving, and not commit anything like what has been traditionally called a crime.
What have we done by permitting government to criminalize the content of our blood instead of actions themselves? We have given it power to make the application of the law arbitrary, capricious, and contingent on the judgment of cops and cop technicians. Indeed, without the government's "Breathalyzer," there is no way to tell for sure if we are breaking the law.
Sure, we can do informal calculations in our head, based on our weight and the amount of alcohol we have had over some period of time. But at best these will be estimates. We have to wait for the government to administer a test to tell us whether or not we are criminals. That's not the way law is supposed to work. Indeed, this is a form of tyranny.
Now, the immediate response goes this way: drunk driving has to be illegal because the probability of causing an accident rises dramatically when you drink. The answer is just as simple: government in a free society should not deal in probabilities. The law should deal in actions and actions alone, and only insofar as they damage person or property. Probabilities are something for insurance companies to assess on a competitive and voluntary basis.
Remember, "It is the mark of an educated man to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." - Aristotle
Is DUI a crime if you don't harm anyone?
Also, what are your thoughts on traffic laws in general?
Are you familiar with these observations and experiments?
During the power cut we filmed this intersection (Union St + Wellington). We filmed again at exactly the same time the next day for a comparison.
Portishead lights-off trial which began on 14 September 2009 and went permanent after journey times fell by over half with no loss of pedestrian safety: http://youtu.be/vi0meiActlU
Tehran/Iran: Flow of traffic across a major crossroads w/o traffic lights: http://youtu.be/gkMA2HfFrzA
How do you envision roadway travel in a completely free society? Other modes of transportation?
I always allude to the fact that sometimes we just don't know what the free market will provide as a solution. The way I put it is, we can't predict the future with absolute certainty. Just like your great, great, great grandfather could not predict that we'd be able to send voice from city to city with little pocket computers, I can't predict how a free people will deal with reckless drivers and neighborhood drunks. I do have some rough ideas that I'm willing to discuss in the comment section if anyone is interested.
What say you DPers?
I like this topic because everyone hates traffic, and everyone can relate to it. Also, there is a lot of evidence against putting up imaginary walls in the middle of speeding vehicles. If people can grasp this idea that what they thought was helping them out and keeping them safe, turned out to be an inefficient scheme to fund municipal bureaucrats, then perhaps they could see the bigger picture and shed more dependance and love for the State.
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To the original question. As far as do traffic laws make the road more safe I think it's fair to say they do not.
But I choose to be off the road by dark most nights, walk or take public transit, drive as little as possible. As someone with half a nut, I know it's not as safe driving at night, especially after 10:00 when both cops and drunks are on the road. I tend to avoid both as both are bad news. If someone is driving erratically I avoid them like the plague. Cops included. Had to put a second on in there, hehe. :)
There are inherent risks involved in driving. To ensure others are safe, I don't drive while intoxicated, don't drive after 2200 hrs, avoid driving after dark when I know I can't see as well, I don't talk on the phone at all even with hands free. Some people have absolutely no problems with that. I do. I don't think it should be illegal, I just know that simply talking on the phone makes me drive far more "intoxicated" than when I used to drive after a few beers - which I don't do any more - for fear of the clink - but I can walk to my favorite bar or pizza joint in about the same amount of time it takes to drive - now I am a pedestrian - although I would say if I was drunk and stepped into oncoming traffic - absolutely my own fault - and would pay the price in injury - and if I lived paying off insurance to the driver of the car that wrecked as a result; and I stay alert, as well as not driving if I need to go less than 5 miles or if I can take public transportation. It's really hard on a car to drive less than 5 miles.
I wonder what impact this whole crusade has had since the 60's and 70's. Probably nil. Sure it's cost a TON of money for the taxpayer, and a lot of grief wondering if those tailgating lights behind you are from a bloodthirsty LEO (not to generalize) just waiting for you to swerve a little bit, and then write you a ticket for something else or if those lights of the person behind you driving recklessly. Again, why I avoid driving at night.
Driving is one of the most dangerous things one can do. I avoid it at all costs. Plus it's really expensive. License, registration, insurance, gas, upkeep. I drive about 120 miles a week at most. Most weeks are 100 miles.
It's a calculated risk.
Back when my dad was younger if you got stopped for suspected dui they would follow you home at worst. He got at least three of those in maybe 5 years while he was a salesman. Never busted him though. I had a friend who flipped a car which caught on fire in the early 70's who the officer told him to hop in the tow truck and go home. He drank about a half gallon of booze that night (probably a war story and less in fact)
Things should change in most extensions of LE dealing with the public. Unfortunately I have no proposals other than some radical ones which the public wouldn't agree with (no license needed, no registration, no insurance needed - I'm sure some are there that do help.) But I do think LE should work better on average with people. We are their constituents, right? They should focus on reckless driving and violent crime.
The one accident I have ever gotten into that was my fault I was angry, not even left my street, pulled into a driveway, and backed into a neighbors car. Did we utilize insurance? Hell no. I bought him a new hood and radiator and installed both on his car for him and let him pocket the change (he asked for $200, I told him it would take $300 - he came up on close to $100).
Later we became really good friends. I could have taken him to the cleaners and told him to go screw. He had no license, insurance, registration, &c. But it was my fault! You take action for your own mistakes.
Now I never back up with noise (eg the radio.) But the point is we can usually work out a deal. Insurance may be necessary if one travels long distances. I just hate having to pay for it when I barely even drive. In fact the car I have insurance on (not my work vehicle) I never use but need to keep it registered and insured to keep my DL.
NEVER let your insurance lapse on a personal vehicle if you drive another vehicle as your primary vehicle or in any reason. Some idiot insurance company had my DL pulled from not having insurance (it expired - no longer needed) even though I drove a company truck with insurance. It's a racket.
I had to spend $1200 just to get my DL back. And luckily I got a letter in the mail. I NEVER drive my own vehicle. But to keep my license I have to maintain reg and insurance on a vehicle I don't drive (or on my hot rod which is about $3K a year - which is one reason why it's parked.)
I still hate to pay insurance on a vehicle I do not drive. That's ridiculous. I HAVE to. Or else no DL. In fact before the new year I paid almost $700 to insure a car I don't drive. Not to mention registration. Why you need insurance on a non op is above me, especially if you drive a commercial vehicle insured by the company you work for.
Thanks for the videos. Out here things don't go so smooth if lights go out for a day. But I would assume you turn them off for a month and traffic would be smooth sailing.
I don't understand why we can't go back into the 40's to maybe early 60's as far as traffic law. I do like traffic lights, but not so much. I think maybe they do help if you are without them after years, and for a day, but after some period of time none are truly needed.
Shoot, wasn't long ago I saw the flashing yellow lights at many intersections. Now they are lighted up with red light cameras on top of having red, yellow, green. Some within a year or two in my hometown. I despise those red light cameras. If I was a nasty guy who didn't care a ruff I would take a tall cherrypicker and cut the ties to red light cameras. I think many are fake where I live but you never know. I wouldn't do it but I think they are BS. If someone gets in a wreck they can deal with it on their own and that's another reason why small claims court was devised.
Accident-Free zones - a related-ish thread
Would Declaring Nation's Highways to be 'Accident-Free Zones' Help Save Lives?
Your post is good stuff that makes you think about things another way...
Defeat the panda-industrial complex
I am dusk icon. anagram me.
Funny stuff Chris!
Thanks for sharing!
Although, a tax free zone right over my head would be nice!
I'm a serial entrepreneur and liberty activist from Texas!
Link added to last two words for clarity...and discussion too...
I had to define the State.
Added nugget of truth: notice the difference between to, two, and too in my subject line.
I'm a serial entrepreneur and liberty activist from Texas!
i want everybody to know
that i was compelled by threat of force to comment on this post.
My comment is therefore prima fascia null and void under common contract law.
Be brave, be brave, the Myan pilot needs no aeroplane.
I had to Google it. I still don't understand! :/
I'm sure the humor will be lost in translation, but I'd like to understand!
I'm a serial entrepreneur and liberty activist from Texas!
It is most certainly a pre-crime and not to mension a racket. I actually tried to talk to the president of MADD in baton rouge, louisiana. I kid you not try to email him this long thing about how to lower Dui's and I tried to leave my number with his secretary. Left messages on his voicemail. Over and over and he never got back to me
Basically my proposal was this if you really care about preventing a pre-crime why don't you use MADD's lobbying power to lower the taxes on all cabs, buses, limousines, and trains. Reduce the amount of regulation on taxi cab companies to reduce the price even further and to make it easier for people to start their own company to allow competition to lower prices even further. Get rid of licensing which only restricts competition. The more competition will foster innovation like giving discounts to college students (inelastic demand)
The same can be done for towing companies if you choose to get your car towed. The price has to be way more reasonable. Lower taxes on places like triple AAA for things like that and maybe they will have a special service for like that and other companies will sprout up.
Reducing regulations on the type of businesses may foster innovation like calling a company up and they drive your car home with you in it for a small price and then their company picks the driver up.
Its the same principle that apple used which effectively reduced piracy. Make it so simple and hassle free to do the right thing that you do that instead of doing the wrong thing.
The guy not replying back to me let me know everything i need to know about MADD. They arent interested in lowering DUI's because they are profiting so much from it. They get about $100 per person in pretrial classes and extract money from victims and concerned mothers.
But what you will undoubtedly see is trying to solve a problem that govt created with more government. So more check points. Check points where they can take your blood. Fascistically forcing car manufacturers to put alcohol detection in cars automatically for everyone. Forcing bars to send data to the police if your credit card rings up too many drinks. The list goes on. But you can easily solve this problem with more liberty.
So... if i have any people in louisiana who would be willling to work with me on this issue to rally college students to protest on this issue and get congress to take it up. This will undoubtedly be the trojan horse to bring more people in the liberty movement. Old guys who get DUIs for 3 beers. My email is firstname.lastname@example.com for anyone who wants to work on this issue.
It would seem
that the fact that the majority of traffic deaths are caused by sober people (between 62 and 65%, depending what government agency you look at), it would appear that having a few beers might make you safer. But it is not about safety, but about control of the people. The DWI checkpoints are, as many predicted, morphing into TSA checkpoints. The nation needs to get back to the "no victim, no crime approach to law enforcement. About traffic laws. There has to be some order on the road. I am not big on people racing through my neighborhood with the children outside. I would make speed limits a suggestion only if the one speeding has to pay out of his/her pocket the damage caused by their recklessness.
Liberty is on the march, tyranny is on the run!
The way I look at these laws are..
If its "pre-crime" in nature it has no standing. Period. Whether traffic or otherwise. Just because there stands a "possibility" to harm someone doesn't mean the "possibility" constitutes a crime. Possibilities are for people who wish to engage in gambling and those people must be prepared for the consequences in their gambling activities. Also, it's an impossibility to commit a "crime" without an injured/damaged party. No injury/damage, NO CRIME!!!
So long as societies run rough shot on individualism and individual responsibility of the people there can never be a "free society".
This is a paradigm shift that societies need to undergo to correct all these injustices commited to individualism.
Quit hiding under the cloak of "INSURANCE". Be exposed and be prepared to defend your action. If you can't defend your actions, then, maybe, just maybe, you should not engage in that action.
Until this manifests in the minds of people in societies there will never be a "free people".
It is one of the essential features of such incompetence that the person so afflicted is incapable of knowing that he is incompetent. To have such knowledge would already be to remedy a good portion of the offense.
5 stars
Great videos.
I try to change people every day. Do You?
When drunk driving was "legal"
you could drive home (I call it traveling of course for legal reasons) with one eye open (for better focus) doing 10 miles per hour in the break down lane so that you don't hurt anyone.
With DUI laws you now have to PRETEND you are not intoxicated (because there is a DUI statute) and that means attempting to do things you are not ABLE to do which makes you less safe on the road.
Again however I must correct myself. Statutes are not laws. Everything the government passes is a statutory code or act. Statutory simply means a commercial regulation for a corporate agent/employee.
Visit the Mission Command Center & Join Our Ranks!
Good points Vince!
"With DUI laws you now have to PRETEND you are not intoxicated (because there is a DUI statute) and that means attempting to do things you are not ABLE to do which makes you less safe on the road."
Never thought about it like that.
I'm a serial entrepreneur and liberty activist from Texas!
Great post Rob. Glad to see
Great post Rob. Glad to see thoughtful responses. In answer to your headline. No of course these laws don't work. If you want deterrent change all the Anti-DUI promotions to say if you injure someone and you are under the influence it is very likely you will go to jail for assault or worse and lose in civil court all the damages + fees and punitive.
Get the state out of the policing for profits business altogether. It shocked me to find out that cops get kick backs or commissions if you will, for these stops. And it further shocked me to find out this is pretty standard around the country. Who dreams this up?
Watch this rocket scientist cop: (I think we would all beg to differ on keeping money in the bank LOL...)
"Any man who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the government take care of him better take a closer look at the American Indian." ― Henry Ford.
I too am pleasantly surprised to see the thoughtful comments...
I had a more click-bait title, as you can see from the URL, but decided I'd probably get better responses if I changed it.
Honestly, I had this exchange in mind too when I changed the title. :/
I'm a serial entrepreneur and liberty activist from Texas!
I think the mandate
of police should be even narrower, confined to violent crimes, property crimes, and responding to distress calls. This would give law enforcement a commendable focus and foster better report. Don't get me wrong, reckless driving gets people killed, but apart from pulling someone over for exhibiting dangerous driving, handing out traffic violations and enforcing regulations wont save many lives. IMO, distractions, tailgating and over-driving road conditions are the biggest killers, and these are only stopped by instilling a culture of professionalism and practice. It's a little hard writing a ticket for these. We need to get the focus back on responsible and professional driving, and not avoiding technicalities and secondary problems. I'm always amazed at the animosity towards drunk driving and yet the total lack of respect for the dangers of driving tired.
Like anything
once you legalize it the it is almost forgotten about.
People don't even want to do it because it becomes uncool because it is legal imo.
I think there was more public backlash against drunk drivers who did damage when it was legal.
It some countries women can be topless in public. I rarely see a mad dash of women running around topless in those countries. Perhaps on the beaches but really non-existent elsewhere.
As well, there is no drinking age in various European countries. Sure teenagers drink but in my travels the kids still went to school and passed and for the most part did not hurt anyone. I think after a series of awfully bad hangovers, like anyone, one tries to limit the severity of them.
I find it very revealing that one of the founders of MADD....
(Mothers Against Drunk Drivers) was later arrested for DUI.
I oppose these laws and believe police should focus on reckless driving. After all, a flu sufferer is 14 times as likely to cause an accident as a person legally under the influence of alcohol or drugs.


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subset: commoncrawl


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You have reached the website of Matt Thies. I am a wood sculptor residing in the Northwoods of Wisconsin where I work producing sculpted fine art, furniture and other wooden creations. I have been working with wood for as long as I can remember and also, to the best of my knowledge, hold the bloodline of my family's fourth generation to be involved in the woodworking field. Over the years I have developed a strong connection and mindfulness of its wide variety of qualities and have adapted and evolved many woodworking techniques that I currently employ in my woodworking endeavors.
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Once marginalized by the broader investment community and considered at odds with the goal of achieving optimized risk adjusted returns, socially responsible investing (SRI) is now at the forefront of the investment decisions made by an increasing number of institutions and families.
A growing canon of academic work, in addition to better defined and more rigorous methodologies, has demonstrated that SRI not only can produce similar returns to traditional investment frameworks, but also can, in many cases, achieve higher returns than these strategies over a long period of time. In fact, it's increasingly accepted that not only may a fiduciary consider a given beneficiary's ethical considerations, but also actually should consider them as a matter of fiduciary responsibility.
Over the history of modern finance, the methods and goals of socially conscious investors have developed from an ethical focus inspired by various religions into its modern form (see "Evolution Timeline," p. 50). The earliest form of SRI, also known as "ethical investing" (now known as "negative screening") was the deliberate avoidance of certain companies and industries that didn't adhere to an individual's or organization's values and ethics. This approach was typically in line with a group's religious beliefs, such as the Quakers, who, since the 1500s, have avoided investments in companies that profit from gambling, alcohol and tobacco.1 John Wesley (1703-1791), a founder of the Methodist Church, described an early ethos for environmentally aware investing: one's business practices shouldn't harm one's neighbor, and industries that can have a negative impact on the health of one's laborers should be avoided.2
During the 1960s, the term "socially responsible investing" came to describe the values-based and exclusionary investment approach that had been born out of the earlier religion-based ethical approach to investing, but had evolved with the political environment of the era and an increasing awareness of the impact that companies and investors could have on the public good.3 An example of this evolution is the recognition by trade unions that their pension assets could be directed towards investments that increased the overall well being of society in general, such as the increased investment by the United Mine Worker's pension in health care facilities during the 1950s and 1960s.4
Perhaps one of the most notable examples of the impact of this earlier form of SRI is the fall of apartheid in South Africa. In 1975, Rev. Leon H. Sullivan, then a member of the Board of Directors of General Motors Corporation, drafted an ethical framework for companies operating in South Africa, which was then still under apartheid law. This framework, which became known as the "Sullivan Principles," called for companies to maintain fair employment practices, regardless of race, and the active pursuit of improved living conditions for people of non-European descent. The growing anti-apartheid movement used the Sullivan Principles as a focal point, as it pressured American companies to pursue anti-apartheid practices.5
Later, in the 1980s, the movement led to a disinvestment campaign in which anti-apartheid activists lobbied for institutions, such as university endowments and public pension funds, to remove investments in companies that didn't adhere to the principles.
Specifically, student protests caused the number of universities participating in the disinvestment campaign to rise from 53 in 1985 to 155 by August 1988. Overall, the Sullivan Principles and the accompanying disinvestment campaign contributed to a reduction of U.S. direct investment in South Africa from $2.28 billion in 1982 to $1.27 billion in 1988 and are considered to have played a meaningful role in ending the apartheid system.6
The 1990s brought the incorporation of an investor's broader social and environmental goals into the investment process with the addition of positive screens, in which an investor's criteria are used to identify those companies that specifically seek to achieve certain goals or take certain measures in adherence with an investor's personal goals.7
It's positive screening, in addition to shareholder activism, that's been the most important factor in the development of modern SRI, which seeks to express an investor's goals and values in a manner that doesn't reduce diversification or sacrifice performance in the long run.
Until the earlier part of the last decade, the majority of SRI was focused on social and environmental concerns. Since then, however, there's been an increasing emphasis by both academics and investors on the importance of corporate governance to sustainable investment returns.
It's been suggested that this shift was initially inspired by Robert Levering and Milton Moskowitz's book, based on the "100 Best Companies to Work For" list, which brought to light the importance of corporate governance to financial performance. It was this work, in addition to the passage of the Sarbanes Oxley Act in 2002, that led to the inclusion of corporate governance in the three pillars of SRI that exist today: environmental, social and corporate governance factors (ESG).8
Financial Performance
During SRI's developmental years, much of the investment profession, supported, in part, by earlier academic work by Milton Friedman, took the view that SRI was essentially philanthropy. This view was supported by the misconception that, in general, corporate social responsibility and robust governance were costly for the firms that engaged in them; thus, these activities detracted from the firms' bottom lines.9 In addition, it was widely assumed that SRI mutual funds in general underperformed their peers in various asset classes.9
In the years since, however, a series of academic studies have been published that demonstrate the opposite. Many have made the argument that ESG screens don't hinder a portfolio by reducing diversification, but instead result in better financial performance.10
This effect is predicted by stakeholder theory, which puts forth that firms that consider all parties that have a vested interest in the company, or "stakeholders" (such as the community, customers and labor force), versus those firms that only focus on parties with ownership interest "shareholders," would demonstrate better financial performance over time.11
It's also supported by empirical evidence, such as the Samuel B. Graves and Sandra A. Waddock study in 2000, which found that companies with strong stakeholder management polices led to above average performance over the previous eight years.12
A simple comparison of SRI and traditional indices demonstrates the point well. Since its inception in May 1990, an SRI index (the MSCI KLD 400) that includes U.S. large- and mid-cap companies based on their adherence to common ESG criteria and excludes any companies that are involved with specific industries, such as gambling, tobacco and nuclear power, has had an average annual performance of 7.71 percent. In comparison, the S&P 500 has exhibited an average annual performance of 6.77 percent over the same time period.13 (See Simple Comparison," this page.) Generally speaking, long-term investors of all stripes would seek out a strategy that delivers nearly 1 percent of outperformance on average over a long period of time.
Further, a report published by the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative in 2007 aggregated the conclusions of 20 academic papers and 10 studies by financial institutions and found that investment strategies with an SRI focus performed at least as well as traditional strategies.14 And, in 2012, Deutsche Bank Asset Management (a recognized global leader in ESG investing) issued a report analyzing over 100 academic studies and concluded that individual security selection that incorporated ESG criteria led to higher risk-adjusted returns and that SRI funds performed as well as their peers (see "Performance Levels," p. 53).15
Studies such as these have supported the emerging view among institutional investors and family offices alike that investors needn't sacrifice performance in pursuit of a portfolio that's aligned with their ESG views. And, the discipline and selection involved with SRI using ESG criteria often leads to outperformance versus non-SRI investment strategies.
In fact, a survey of 195 fund managers by Mercer Investment Consulting in 2005 revealed not only that positive screens for ESG factors are a method used in SRI investing, but also that traditional investment managers are increasingly employing these screens to target companies whose strong ESG practices limit various risks and liabilities and can be expected to generate superior financial performance.16
Notwithstanding more widespread adoption of ESG investing, trustees and other fiduciaries often express concerns about whether employing socially responsible criteria is at odds with their fiduciary duty. The most common concerns expressed are: 1) an ESG focus may produce worse risk-adjusted returns; thus, failing to adhere to the prudent investor standard; and (2) incorporating the ESG goals of each beneficiary and/or remainderman of a trust is difficult, since their goals may differ. It's become increasingly evident, however, that these concerns are unfounded and that fiduciaries may even be obliged to include ESG criteria in their portfolios.
As the body of research described earlier suggests, an ESG-aligned portfolio is likely to financially outperform traditional portfolios over a long period of time. In 2005, the weight of this evidence led the United Nations to commission the international law firm Freshfields to survey the law of fiduciary duty in a number of developed jurisdictions including the United States. They concluded that "ESG considerations may be taken into account as long as they are motivated by proper purposes and do not adversely affect the financial purpose of the portfolio." Moreover, they found that in many jurisdictions, the duty of prudence could even require that fiduciaries take ESG factors into account when making investment decisions.17
In the United States, trustees in 44 states are governed by the Uniform Prudent Investor Act. Its terms require trustees to make investment decisions for the sole purpose of providing benefits to the beneficiaries with the care, skill and prudence exercised by similar fiduciaries. As Freshfields concluded, a trustee certainly could give expression to the beneficiaries' ESG goals, consistent with its duty of care. But, as the weight of the data suggests, a trustee should probably consider even basic ESG goals in selecting certain asset classes when there's evidence of superior risk-adjusted return.18
Fiduciaries shouldn't be discouraged by a fear that it's difficult to incorporate ESG factors with multiple beneficiaries. We've worked successfully with trustees who have identified the individual ESG goals of each beneficiary and created a comprehensive ESG matrix of issues representing the common views among the beneficial owners.
With the help of experienced advisors, fiduciaries can use the results of this questionnaire to assess where the ESG views of the beneficiaries might overlap, in which case the views can be implemented in the portfolio, and where the views might specifically conflict, in which case the views are excluded from investment decisions.
In cases in which a beneficiary has a specific ESG view that neither conflicts nor overlaps with the views of the other beneficiaries, the 2005 Freshfields study also suggests that the ESG consideration may guide an investment decision between alternatives that are equally attractive on a fundamental and risk/return basis.19
On balance, we believe that every fiduciary should at least understand beneficiaries' ESG goals (if any) and consider an ESG approach to certain asset classes where there's evidence of consistent outperformance over time.
Implementing an ESG Strategy
If a client has decided to consider an ESG strategy, the next question is, "How do I do that?" Many sophisticated ESG clients have described two challenges to pursuing an ESG mandate in their portfolio.
First, most managers who describe themselves as pursuing ESG strategies have a very definitive ESG agenda that doesn't necessarily match a client's. Our clients have told us that they have trouble identifying that agenda upfront and feel "stuck" with it after investing.
More established ESG managers will offer to customize their strategy, but clients should beware. Investors should always strive to choose best-in-class managers, and it's difficult to evaluate whether a top manager with an environmental agenda will necessarily be a top manager when customizing her approach with the client's governance or social objectives.
Second, many clients profess confusion about navigating the plethora of ESG mutual funds and building an appropriate portfolio out of them. Their confusion is well-justified: It's nearly impossible to weight ESG concerns and asset allocation when building a portfolio solely with mutual funds. The result is usually a misallocated fundamental portfolio or a misallocated ESG portfolio.
We've found that the better approach is to build asset allocation strategies tailored to the client's risk/return objective and to use ESG criteria to drive security and/or manager selection. We are by no means alone in following this approach and think it's the best way to manage wealth consistent with all of a client's objectives.
This approach typically begins with the development of a rich matrix of a client's ESG goals. This matrix is created through both a detailed discussion with the client and a questionnaire to assess specific areas of concern. The matrix is incorporated into the client's Investment Policy Statement, used to design the specific asset allocation, guide security selection by managers, evaluate mutual fund/index investments and monitor both financial and ESG performance.
In the majority of asset classes (for example, U.S. equities, EAFE equities, U.S. taxable bonds, U.S. tax-exempt bonds and cash management), when the allocation is large enough to warrant it, an investment advisor following this approach will employ active management and strive to use a separately managed account with specific security selection. Incorporated into the fundamental analysis involved with their security selection, such managers can employ both a positive screening process to select companies that best reflect their client's specific ESG criteria and a negative screen to ensure that none of the companies in the portfolio engage in activities that directly conflict with their client's goals.
When a strategic asset class has too small an investment universe to pursue a customized portfolio consistent with the client's mission, an advisor following this approach might employ ESG/impact mutual funds and indices that can give expression to the desired asset allocation and the client's mission.
Manager research and selection are critical here for two reasons: (1) there's significant dispersion in performance among SRI managers;20 and (2) to ensure that the funds selected are aligned with a client's specific ESG goals. In addition, for asset classes in which active management might not be warranted, an advisor could employ an index fund that's consistent with broad SRI principles.
Certain hedge fund strategies can form an important part of a diversified portfolio, given their historic outperformance of traditional asset classes and lower volatility. However, for many ESG-focused clients, hedge funds are unacceptable as an asset class, and in those cases, an advisor might not use them (instead increasing a client's allocation to other higher-risk asset classes, including direct equity investments).
For those whose ESG objectives don't exclude them as an asset class, hedge fund strategies, such as long-short equity, merger arbitrage, relative value and distressed equity or debt can offer the possibility to invest in an interesting asset class with an ESG/impact focus. The challenge in hedge funds, except for the very largest clients, is finding a top manager executing an ESG objective similar to the client's.
Currency exposure can also play a role in an SRI portfolio. Look for nations whose social and fiscal policies reflect a client's ESG goals, as well as issuers whose activities and mission are consistent with a client's beliefs.
Through this lens, a client's ethics are aligned with his investment interests in currencies of countries with sound governance, as they typically provide an environment more hospitable to growth, which may generate an increase in demand for their currency and thus, appreciation.
For some, like us, that gets expressed in making specific international investments (for example, equities or bonds). For others, it can be expressed in a specific currency allocation and/or supranational bonds issued in specific currencies.
When a portfolio demands an allocation to private investments, many advisors will consider an allocation to impact-focused private equity and venture capital. These are varied and require careful consideration of non-ESG factors. For example, is the private investment focused on frontier markets and, if so, is that consistent with the overall asset allocation? The strategies selected are determined by the client's specific impact goals, the correlation of the strategy's specific risk to other components of the portfolio and the client's desired level of impact.
A private debt allocation can be expressed through a microfinance fund or other community lending activities. Again, one should carefully consider non-ESG factors. For example, is the infrastructure fund largely focused on philanthropic goals (to the exclusion of profit)?
The result of this approach is a fully diversified portfolio that's been tailored to a client's given risk and return requirement and the client's impact and ESG goals.
Growing Trend
Supported by academic research, empirical evidence and an increasing number of investment options, SRI is being adopted by an ever-growing number of investors. Many, working with mutual funds and boutique ESG managers, have built good portfolios. However, the evolution of ESG investing has developed a new process to construct a complete and diversified portfolio, which considers the fiduciary responsibility not only to balance a client's risk tolerance and return requirements, but also to incorporate a client or beneficiary's ESG goals.
The trick is making sure that the client's advisor is first and foremost building a good fundamental portfolio and knows how to employ ESG goals.
—Offers and sales of alternative investments are subject to regulatory requirements and such investments may be available only to "Qualified Purchasers" as defined by the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940 and "Accredited Investors," as defined in Regulation D of the 1933 Securities Act. This article is meant to serve as an overview, and is provided for informational purposes only. It does not take into consideration the recipient's specific circumstance and is not intended to be an offer or solicitation, or the basis for any contract to purchase or sell any security, or other instrument, or for Deutsche Bank to enter into or arrange any type of transaction as a consequence of any information contained herein. Deutsche Bank does not provide tax, legal or accounting advice.
1. Mark Fulton, Bruce Kahn and Camilla Sharples, "Sustainable Investing: Establishing Long-Term Value and Performance," Deutsche Bank Climate Change Advisors, June 2012.
2. John Wesley, "Sermon 50: The Use of Money," Feb. 17, 1744.
3. Supra note 1.
4. Hillel Gray, New Directions in the Investment and Control of Pension Funds (Investor Responsibility Research Center, Washington, D.C. 1983), at pp. 36-37.
5. James B. Stewart, "Amandla! The Sullivan Principles and the Battle to End Apartheid in South Africa," The Journal of African American History, Vol. 96 (Winter 2011), at pp. 62-89.
6. Richard Knight, "Sanctions, Disinvestment, and U.S. Corporations in South Africa," Sanctioning Apartheid, Robert E. Edgar, ed. (Africa World Press 1990).
7. Supra note 1.
8. Ibid.
9. Michael L. Barnett and Robert M. Salomon, "Beyond Dichotomy: The Curvilinear Relationship Between Social Responsibility and Financial Performance," Strategic Management Journal, Vol. 27, (August 2005), at pp. 1101-1122.
10. Supra note 1.
11. Ibid.
12. Supra note 9. See also Samuel B. Graves and Sandra A. Waddock, "Beyond Built to Last … Stakeholder Relations in 'Built-to-Last' Companies." Business and Society Review, Vol. 105(4) (2000), at pp. 393-418.
13. Performance is of S&P 500 and MSCI KLD 400 from May 31, 1990 through May 31, 2013, based on Bloomberg, LP.
14. "Demystifying Responsible Investment Performance." United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative, and Mercer, http://www.unepfi.org/fileadmin/documents/Demystifying_Responsible_Inves... (October 2007).
15. Supra note 1.
16. "A Legal Framework for the Integration of Environmental, Social and Governance Issues into Institutional Investment." United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative, and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, LLP, http://www.unepfi.org/fileadmin/documents/freshfields_legal_resp_20051123.pdf (October 2005).
17. Ibid.
18. Ibid.
19. Ibid.
20. See Barnett and Salomon, supra note 9.


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growth, rising 67 percent and now accounting for 79 percent of the LED market. LED backlighting for LCD television screens is now the leading market for LEDs, accounting for 27 percent of the inorganic LED sales, and is the fastest growing LED market today. Total revenues from sales of backlighting rose 84 percent in 2010 and accounted for 70 percent of inorganic LED sales (Young, 2011). Lighting, automotive, and signage applications of LEDs enjoyed a greater than 20 percent growth in the past year to slightly less than $2 billion (Young, 2011; Bhandarkar, 2011). IMS Research estimates that the North American lighting market has close to 4 billion incandescent lamps, 1.6 billion CFLs,3 1.65 billion fluorescent lamps, 200 million HID lamps, and just over 500 million halogen lamps (Young, 2011). McKinsey (2011) studied the global market for lighting in all applications and found that in 2010 LEDs for general illumination captured 7 percent (roughly €3 billion) of the market for new installations and 5 percent (€0.3 billion) of replacements.
U.S. participation in SSL research and development (R&D), manufacturing, and sales is currently well behind other developed countries. Japan is a leader in the LED industry in production and in public funding for R&D. Suppliers such as Nichia, Toyoda Gosei, Sharp, Rohm, Panasonic, Toshiba, and Citizen reside in Japan. More than 20 national universities in Japan have strong R&D efforts, which surpass the number in the United States. Currently, LED lighting is being subsidized by the Japanese government in order to reduce electricity use, in part in response to the devastation to the country's electricity supply (25 percent reduction) caused by the Sendai earthquake and tsunami of 2011. LED lighting sales in Japan are estimated to top $1 billion in 2011, making Japan the largest market for LED lighting products. The LED adoption rate for new lamp purchases has already reached 40 percent and is projected to exceed 50 percent in Japan by 2012.
In June 2011, a new national energy-saving program was launched by the South Korean government aimed at achieving a 100 percent conversion rate to LED lighting in buildings owned by the South Korean government, as well as a 60 percent penetration of all lighting applications nationwide by 2020. To support this initiative, the Korean government will provide $185 million in funding support in 2012 and 2013 for LED point-of-purchase rebates. Samsung, LG, and Seoul Semiconductor are crucial players in helping reach these goals. These companies already offer a broad range of LED products for the domestic market. Samsung announced a 60 watt (W) equivalent LED lamp at less than $20 in 2011. Seoul Semiconductor was the fourth largest LED manufacturer in 2010 (Bhandarkar, 2011). China is currently a net importer of LED lighting for notebook backlights and automobile headlights. However, China intends to be a major producer of LEDs by 2015, and large capital investments by LED makers are now being heavily subsidized by the Chinese government (Young, 2011). Until July 2011, metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) equipment was subsidized 50 percent by the Chinese government. More than 200 MOCVD systems were purchased under this subsidization program. However, it is now being discontinued until further demand for LED lighting is demonstrated. Motivated by the potential for large energy savings using SSL, LEDs are a targeted technology in China's 5-year plan. Started in 2009, the plan is focused on the development of a sustainable LED industry. The Chinese central government's objective is to consolidate the industry with five or six major players, all of which would be able to compete globally with the intention of becoming low-cost manufacturers by 2015; with China being the largest consumer of LEDs with a market reaching $74 billion by that same year. China has announced its intent to phase out incandescent lamps by 2016 starting with those over 100 watts in October 2012 (Reuters, 2011).
Mobile OLED displays are now being manufactured almost exclusively in Korea and the Far East for handheld electronic device applications such as smart phones. It is expected that display manufacturers in Japan, Korea, and China will move to larger displays, where OLEDs are very attractive alternatives to liquid crystal displays (LCDs). Although displays are a highly commoditized product, their relative price elasticity compared to general lighting makes displays the ideal first application for OLEDs. Larger companies like GE, Philips, Osram Sylvania, and Samsung are all developing OLED technology for lighting applications, with Moser-Baer, located in New York, being the first commercial entry into OLED lighting manufacturing.
Several large U.S.-based corporations and numerous medium-size lighting and start-up companies participate in the SSL market. These companies hold world-class positions and employ tens of thousands of people in the United States. In the LED chip market, Cree Inc., and Philips-Lumiled are among the top 10, based on worldwide revenue. Both companies still manufacture in the United States and produce revenues of the order of $1 billion annually. Some of the world's leading LED manufacturing equipment suppliers reside in the United States, with VEECO and Applied Materials being leading MOCVD reactor suppliers. Numerous substrate equipment suppliers and fabrication and test companies play a critical role in the SSL supply chain. The LED lamp and luminaire markets have numerous medium and small companies providing LED lamps and luminaries.
OLEDs have also been the subject of a growing manufacturing base over the past decade in the commercialization of color mobile displays. Mobile display production in 2011 was estimated at approximately 3 million displays per month for Samsung alone (Wall Street Journal Asia, 2011). Leveraging this early manufacturing experience, several
3 The term CFL applies to not only the twisted fluorescent replacement for incandescent A-lamps, but also "folded" fluorescent lamps, e.g., GE's Biax lamp. These do not share the problems associated with the twisted CFL.


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Q. Can you explain how construction loans work? Why is it so difficult to find construction loan information on the Web?
A. Construction loans are story loans. That means that the lender has to know the story behind the planned construction before they're willing to loan you money. Because it's a story loan, it's not going to be standardized like mortgage loans underwritten to Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae guidelines. That said, there are some common features to a construction loan. Construction loans typically require interest-only payments during construction and become due upon completion. Completion for homeowners means that the house has its certificate of occupancy.
Construction loans are usually variable-rate loans priced at a spread to the prime rate or some other short-term interest rate. You, the contractor and the lender establish a draw schedule based on stages of construction, and interest is charged on the amount of money disbursed to date.
Another variable in construction loans is how much of the project cost the lender is willing to lend. If you already own the land, then that can be considered as equity on the construction loan.
Many homeowners look for construction-to-permanent financing programs where the construction loan is converted to a mortgage loan after the certificate of occupancy is issued. The advantage is that you only have to have one application and one closing. The disadvantage is that you will typically have a higher rate on the permanent mortgage because of the additional time required to build a home.
Depending on your view on interest rate trends, you may be able to purchase a rate-lock agreement valid through the expected completion of the construction. Just make sure you allow for the inevitable construction delays.
A construction loan, unlike a mortgage, isn't meant to be around for a long time. If you're taking out a $200,000 construction loan for six months and you pay an extra 0.5 percent on the loan, it costs you an additional $250. (Assumes an average $100,000 loan balance over a six-month construction period.)
*You may be willing to pay a higher rate on the construction loan if the permanent financing has better mortgage terms or a longer and/or better rate lock from that lender.


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Today my sister was released from prison, this time she had been in for a little over two years. So my youngest niece (her daughter) and I set off on our 2+ hour roadtrip to this little country town to pick her up.
I am ashamed to admit that a part of me was dreading the trip.
One, I have so many urgent projects at work that I *thought* I couldn't afford to take off. Two, I absolutely loathe driving for longer than 45 minutes. Three, Mapquest will do you no good to find this place and accurate road signs are unheard of. Four, I had volunteered to give one of the released inmates who is also from our city a ride home and I was unsure if all of her belongings and my sister's belongings would fit in the car. Finally, it was hard enough imagining what my sister had been through over the past few years and I just didn't want to hear all of the "prison memories" on the 2+ hour drive home...
Nevertheless, bright and early this morning, Kia, my snack bag, my Migo Water Bottle and I head out on the open road!!!
So we arrive and are immediately greeted by a group of inmates on their way to "work". When I get out of the car they said, "You must be Ms. Vee's sister, she can't wait to see you, she's so excited about going home and she's lost too much weight." Then they went on to comment about how much they were going to miss my sister, how beautiful my niece and I are, how much my niece looks like my sister and how much she has missed our family!
CRRUHHHCHINK (the 1st crack in my face).
When my sister came through the doors I was shocked. I know that she's lost almost 100 lbs. She was beaming her skin looked so healthy and she looked years younger. Immediately after I hugged her, I had to look at the tag in her clothes to see what size she was wearing. She had lost almost 5 dress sizes! One of the workers walked out and helped us load the car. She went on to comment about how well Vee had been doing with watching what she ate (which was an accomplishment since she was allowed to work in the kitchen and had access to almost anything that she wanted to eat). My sister looked at me and said, yes I've been trying to do what you told me and I've even been doing the exercises at work and in my cell that you told me to do.
CRRAAAZACK (the 2nd crack in my face).
Anyway, she knew that the rest of us had been losing weight and she wanted to as well. (Which I am so thankful for, her health was in the seriously critical range just before she was arrested).
Then her friend came out to get in the car. She had all of her possessions from the past few years in one small clear trash bag, and I had the nerve to be concerned that she would have too much *stuff*! And the first thing that she said was "Wow, oooh the outdoors. I have not seen the outdoors or daylight in over 2 years...thank you for taking me home."
GULP...that was me swallowing super hard to keep from crying and busting out into a re-enactment of the episode of "Mama's Bird" from Martin!!!
Then what really did it for me was when they got in the car. Of course, I had packed a "snack bag" just in case my niece and I got hungry, or just in case my sister and her friend hadn't had anything good to eat. The bag was full of fresh fruit, nuts, granola bars, ice-cold bottled water...ya know the bare essentials to keep you away from a FRY ATTACK. So, I offered them something to eat and passed the bag back to them. They both said oooooh grapes, we haven't had any fruit since we've been here. So, I turned on my ignition and my CD resumed play. My sister's friend said...ohh music, I can't remember the last time I heard any music.
Have mercy...no fresh fruit...no music!!! Now I can go for days on end without watching TV, but if I didn't have music...now that's torture. AH LAWD!!!
CRRRAAAPLOW (my face just hit the ground).
So on the way home they did share "prison memories", but more importantly they talked about what they learned from those experiences and how thankful they were to have another chance at life.
I just learned so much from listening to them and more importantly from watching them....they were so grateful for the simplest of things...riding in a car, talking on a cell phone, etc.
After I picked up the cracked pieces of my face, the part of me that was dreading the trip completely vanished and I felt privileged to have been a part of one of their final "prison memories."
...proud I am of my niece NEWBEIN!
...I can't believe that my little Kia (my youngest niece) just turned 23!!! AGH...my baby is growing up!!!
...much I miss my Daddy!
...much I love love love all 104+ of my SP friends!!!
...the CARDIO CONNOISSEURS continue to motivate me to do my personal best.
...the CC Stronger Challenge is showing me what I'm made of! (AND I'm getting Longer, Better, Faster, STRONGER!)
...Jill Scott's new song "Hate on Me" has revolutionized my cardio workout.
...pumped I am that I'm jumping rope!
...I feel so connected to the members of TQ17!
...how much I miss working out with MRS. TJO1214!
...excited I am about completing the final steps to transfer to my new job!
...nervous I am about my sister's release on Friday and the 2+ hour road trip that I will need to take to pick her up.
...excited I am about being invited to play golf this Tuesday with one of this city's top female movers and shakers!
...weird it is that my weight is fluctuating from week to week, yet my clothes continue to fit looser!!!
...I appreciate SNIKWAD's "BMI pearls of wisdom" and for reminding me that it's okay to be a CARDIO-A-HOLIC...HA!
...much the DIVAs a/k/a DIVAs Gettin' Down (NEWBEIN, TJOI214, CLEWIS018 AND LOVABLELULU) mean to me!
...thankful I am for the completely honest friendship that I have with LOVABLELULU and how I can talk to her about absolutely EVERYTHING!
...much I appreciate M3NOMOFAT for showing me that you can be both VIRTUOUS and VIVACIOUS, SAVED yet SEXY!!!
...grateful I am to MARSHBTOKS for introducing me to doing the elliptical machine "Hands Free"
...COLD-BLOODED and workout-friendly my new haircut is! (trust me pictures will be forthcoming!!!)
...excited I am about being a few pounds away from Stage 4 of "Operation Janet Jackson."
...I am waiting with tip-toe anticipation for October 9th!
...the definition that I'm developing in my arms, shoulders, abs and calves as a result of strength training.
...although I have never met JANEYJAYE and NOEILAND, they push the heck out of me during Spin Class!!!
...I cannot wait until I get a response from the producers at Core Rhythms!
...blessed I am to have a friend like Lisa.
...proud I am of Mama's weight loss!
...grateful I am for my manual tracking tools when I'm unable to SPARK (i.e. my Fat Li'l Notebook and my Cardio Cards)!
Oh, if I just had a little time...the things I would blog about!
This past Saturday, my co-workers and I played in a Golf Scramble that was sponsored by the Men's Ministry at my church. Although this was my 3rd official time playing golf, I am hooked, and I am planning to take some golf lessons in the near future.
We had such a good time, but the things that I am proudest of are:
1. A couple of times my ball actually went airborn!
2. Our score was 6 under PAR.
3. I was able to keep up with my same #2 pink "Hope" ball during the entire game.
4. Last but not least, my golf shirt was a size "L"...no "X" or any numbers in front of it...just an "L"! Yay Me!
Yesterday, before I realized it, it was after midnight and I had not done a real workout--which made yesterday my 8th Fitness Break Day so far this year. Sure a few minutes here and there I danced to my favorite songs, did some Tae Bo Side Kicks/Knee-Lifts and some Core Rhythms standing crunches, but I always do stuff like that anyway...so I don't count it as a real workout. I had nerve enough to feel guilty! Then I said, to myself the DEVIL IS A LIAR!
Although I didn't get to physically workout yesterday, I did get to preach at one of my friend's churches and had one of the best spiritual workouts that I've had in a long time! God has truly been good to me and HE just keeps blessing me. When I just take a few minutes to think about HIS love for me...I just get overjoyed.
THEN this morning when I got to work I did an unofficial weigh-in and am approximately 4 lbs. away from my next goal. So far it looks like I've lost over 6lbs. just since Monday. HALLELUJAH!
THEN I checked my personal email, the producers at Core Rhythms have been reviewing my testimonial information and their Customer Service Manager wants to set up a time to talk to me about the next steps. GLORY!
THEN one of my vendors asked me for a before and after picture...he had been working on getting some tickets for me to the Oprah Winfrey Show...based on correspondence that he's been having with one of the producers they're now talking about actually having me as a guest on the show. PRAISE HIM!
Regardless of what does or does not happen with Core Rhythms or Oprah. I am so thankful that God has kept me and has brought me this far!!! AMEN!
Yes indeed, I've got a TESTIMONY!!! God has been good to me!!!
Psalm 118:1 A �Give thanks to the Lord, for He IS good!"
Lately my friends, family and church members have been calling me "Skinny" as if its my new nickname. And of course I don't mind--I absolutely love it--even if they're just trying to be nice :)
Well on Tuesday 9/4/07, although it was under very sad circumstances, I got to visit with my friend "B-Mack" when he drove up for the funeral for one of our friends.
"B-Mack" and I have been friends, well more like siblings, for almost 7 years and he has been another source of support as I have fought this battle with the bulge. "B-Mack" is one of those people who is very direct and honest, which is one of the things I have appreciated most about our friendship. A few months ago he and his family relocated. During his going away party he complimented me on how well I was doing with my weight loss and said that he could tell that I was serious about "Operation Janet Jackson!!!"
Well, when I saw him on Tuesday one of the first things that he said was, "Wow! Look at how skinny you are!!!"
SKINNY...Who me???!!!
Then after looking at the picture we took, I was soooo surprised to see how small I look. My face is thin, you can clearly see my neck and WOW I have my very own waistline!!! It is so good to see that all of the recent changes that I've made to my program are working. And although I have NOT YET reached my goal weight of 223 lbs, I feel sooooo good! And receiving all of the positive support from the folks who genuinely care about me makes me feel even better!!!
SKINNY...I like it!!!


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App Description** WITH HD-QUALITY GRAPHICS OPTIMIZED FOR iPAD! **
JUMP HIGH! Meet Cosmo. He's a rocket, man – and he wants to go high! Cosmo doesn't use rocket fuel (since he's totally green). Instead, he needs you to draw trampolines that launch him into outer space! Get ready for an über fun and totally addictive game from the fine folks at Pear Comp. It's deceptively simple to play, but super challenging to master. Cosmo's packed his bags. Now swipe your finger and let him fly!
Draw a line with a finger swipe, then check it out! Now the line is a full-on trampoline! Cosmo will bounce off it, and thus begin his cosmic journey of epic proportion. Stay focused dudes and dudettes! You'll need to keep drawing more and more trampolines to take him higher and higher. Leave Earth, see the stars, and visit planets full of hot dogs, sea stuff, and more. And it's all so beautiful, especially on iPad's huge, HD-quality screen.
Carbon neutral? Man, Cosmo is carbon free. Collect sunflower fuel cells throughout the galaxy for MAJOR ENERGY BOOST! And don't let their spacey looks fool you. They come in peace.
Once you leave the atmosphere, get lit by the intense gravitational fields of the Singing Suns. Careful, though. They'll slingshot you for better or worse!
Post your top altitudes in the Hall of Infamy via Facebook, and track them on daily and all-time leaderboards. Or just tell your Twitter friends how high you got Cosmo to go!
** DON'T MISS OUR OTHER EXCITING GAMES! ** SCRABBLE, TETRIS®, MONOPOLY, Need for Speed™ Hot Pursuit, ROCK BAND® Reloaded, SimCity™ Deluxe, Madden NFL 11 by EA Sports™ & PICTUREKA™!
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App Changes
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May 19, 2011 Initial Release


text:
CBS 2 - Search Results
Geonetrics Helps Startups Move Downtown
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (CBS2/FOX28) - A Corridor company that helps others has helped themselves to an office upgrade.
Geonetrics, a Cedar Rapids based company that builds other business's brands has moved to NewBo, an area very familiar with growth.
At the ribbon cutting ceremony today they'll announce 10 new startups coming to the Corridor as well.
Their new office which sits at 415 12th Avenue southeast is no stranger to innovation, as it has previously housed pioneer businesses like Iowa Steel Manufacturing.
The CEO and President of Geonetrics Eric Engelmann says you can just feel the entrepreneurial energy in the air.
The ceremony will be held at 3 Monday afternoon. Scott Sanborn will be there and have a special report on the businesses at CBS 2 News at five and six o'clock.


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Families of MH370 passengers move hotels to make way for F1 teams & fans
Published on Mar 24, 2014 4:25 PM
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) - More than 30 relatives of passengers on missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 have had to move hotels to make way for Formula One teams and fans arriving for the Malaysian Grand Prix, staff said on Monday.
Thirty-two family members, including Chinese nationals, have decamped from two hotels near Kuala Lumpur's international airport, which is also close to the Sepang racetrack, hotel and airline officials told AFP.
"The rooms have been pre-booked before this event happened," one hotel official said on condition of anonymity. A Malaysian Airlines spokesman also confirmed the relatives were moved.
The relatives have been staging a fraught vigil after the Malaysian Airlines flight with 239 people on board mysteriously vanished shortly after take-off on March 8, prompting a frantic international search effort.
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text: Has anyone else started potty training their Snow Pea? Jacob will tug at his diaper when he's wet, bring me a clean diaper when he's wet, and on occasion will even pee pee on the potty. I don't want to push him too hard at this point, but I still want to encourage him to try if he's up for it. Is anyone else at this point? What are you doing to make it easier?


text: A big vote will be taking place next week and it won't be for an elected office. On Nov. 8, voters will decide whether sports betting should be legalized in New Jersey. State law currently does not allow for it, including a federal ban against it in the state. Only four states are allowed under federal law to have sports book. State lawmakers hope that by passing the state law, they can force the issue in the courts to get a federal ban overturned. Polling numbers show that the vote is likely to be successful.


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text: Bhaskar Mahanta 79 articles connect with Bhaskar Mahanta News No Slam-Bang, Just Unpredictable! Cricket How India Can Regain Lost T20 Glory? Tennis & Badminton Get Ready for Indian Badminton Carnival News Cricket is a Silly Game! More Sports Did Mahatma Gandhi Play Sports? News Bowling: Chink in India's Armour? News India Need Pie-Chucker Yuvi! More Sports What is the National Game of India? More Sports Indian archers aim bulls eye Tennis & Badminton RIP Indian tennis! Tennis & Badminton Olympics medal in tennis? Forget it! Cricket MCA's SRK ban: Just a joke? More Sports Hit hard at 'Dow Olympics' More Sports The great Indian hockey tamasha Cricket With Sahara parting ways, IPL auction loses lustre First123456Last Be a Part of The New & Next 2,371,341 FRIENDS 5327 FOLLOWERS 2746 MEMBERS 41,247 SUBSCRIBERS Get the Weekly Dose sent to your inbox every week!


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Jessica DeVitaUberGeekGirl@UberGeekGirl
Keith MayerIT Pros ROCK!@KeithMayer
Kevin Remde Full of I.T.@KevinRemde
Matt Hester Matthew Hester's WebLog@MatthewHester
Tommy PattersonVirtually Cloud 9@Tommy_Patterson
Yung Chou Yung Chou on Hybrid Cloud@YungChou
Yes, there is a page that you should bookmark for IT Pro-related resources around Windows Vista right here.
Unfortunately I don't see any RSS feeds there. Personally, I like to know as soon as a new article is available, rather than having to visit the site. (And let me say it again.. RSS feed support in Internet Explorer 7 ROCKS!)
Kevin- Speaking of RSS, do you know how to add a RSS subscription in Outlook 2007? I see the folder, but I *dont* see a way to add a feed . . . and have you found out if you are going to Tech*Ed yet? Hope to see you there! Chris


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and my name is David Cameron, please complete my Survey to express your views on this country?
Just because it says it is from her, is it really?
I just recived an email from Helene Moran [firstname.lastname@example.com] claiming to be asking people to fill out survey, for a chance at a prize, on behalf of BETT.
Apparently, it's for a company called Shift Learning, but I'm not 100% that it's legit. [in and of itself.]Originally Posted by From E-mail
At the bottom of the e-mail is an unsubscribe link, but all it's for is snapsurveys.
BETT was over 2 months ago... And I pretty sure I got something like this back then.
Is this legit?
Le Pre-post edit: Helene Moran DOES appear to be on their website as co-director [Inculding a picture... Which I approve of.]
and my name is David Cameron, please complete my Survey to express your views on this country?
Just because it says it is from her, is it really?
I got the email too... And deleted it without opening it
I feel left out, i got no such mail!
I got 2 of the emails from them, just deleted them both.
Yeah i got that this morning... Didn't bother reading it.
If it is genuine, it should be easy to win the money... Apart from X-13 nobody seems to have bothered to read it!
I got the email and didnt go! lol Skimmed through it...
Lol! The first question asks in what capacity I attended BETT. I clicked 'Exhibitor' to be greeted with:
So why did you send me the email then!!Thank you for your interest in this eSurvey. Unfortunately on this ocassion you do not fit the criteria for this survey.
Dos_Box ?
I know a few on the edugeek stand had more than one.
I got it too, and it does look genuine to me, genuine as in a genuine marketing survey. Probably wont bother completing it though - a minute/no chance of winning £750 is not really worth future spam
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)


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Filed under Other
Tags: peeping santa
December 24, 2009
April 28, 2014
Incubated striked down in the Cul de Sac last Thursday. With Naive Set and de Koning der Dieren, the night was bound to balance between some humorous and edgy musical storytelling and breezy melodic indie pop music. We were curious to see what these very diverse acts had in store for us. The evening […]


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Jon Jay Rumors
Mozeliak On Jay, Taveras, Choate, Arb Eligibles
Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak and manager Mike Matheny conducted their end-of-season meeting with the media today, and Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch has several highlights from the talk. Here are some of the main items that are relevant to MLBTR readers, but interested parties should check out the full transcript for additional insight into the team…
- The Cardinals view Jon Jay as their starting center fielder heading into the 2015 season after the 29-year-old hit .302/.372/.378 in 140 games. Mozeliak revealed that Jay will have his wrist scoped this week to clear out some damage that has been lingering since July.
- Mozeliak expects Oscar Taveras and Randal Grichuk to compete for the starting right field job next season and echoed recent comments that he expects Taveras to be with the club in 2015. Taveras has received specific instructions to work on his conditioning and speed this winter.
- The entire coaching staff has been asked to return for the 2015 season. Bench coach Mike Aldrete is expected to be pursued by at least one other team, Goold reports, but Mozeliak said to this point no team has gone through the protocol of asking to interview Aldrete.
- The Cards will be on the hunt for power to add to their lineup and possibly a right-handed power bat to add to the bench or pair with Matt Adams at first base. Still, Mozeliak said that he and Matheny see Adams as a potential 600-plate-appearance player.
- St. Louis will shop Randy Choate this offseason, Goold writes, following comments from Mozeliak on the "specialized" nature of Choate's current role. Said the GM: "I think we both feel that if we can upgrade there or have an additional arm to choose from, that makes sense. We're certainly not ruling out [Kevin] Siegrist. I think in Choate's case, for us, he's fairly one-dimensional. That makes it difficult for us to use him, particularly during a long season." Choate is owed $3MM next season and held southpaw hitters to a .093/.205/.147 batting line.
- Mozeliak expects to offer contracts to all of the team's arbitration eligible players, including Peter Bourjos and Daniel Descalso. However, Goold writes that the team could gauge interest in both on the trade market. Bourjos strikes me as a particularly appealing candidate, given his elite glove in center field. I speculated that he'd be a good fit for the Twins as a starer in my recent Offseason Outlook, and he could make sense for a number of teams, in my mind. Goold's colleague, Joe Strauss, tweets that he got a "strong sense" that at least one outfielder would be moved.
- Both Carlos Martinez and Marco Gonzales will come to Spring Training as starters, Mozeliak said, but the clearer openings for each are in the bullpen at this time. Elsewhere in the bullpen, Mozeliak noted that the team won't rule out re-signing Pat Neshek or Jason Motte.
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Full Story | Comments | Categories: Carlos Martinez | Daniel Descalso | Jason Motte | Jon Jay | Matt Adams | Pat Neshek | Peter Bourjos | Randal Grichuk | Randy Choate | St. Louis Cardinals | Trade Market
NL Central Notes: Cubs, Castillo, Martin, Bourjos
Cubs catcher Welington Castillo wants to be part of the future in Chicago, but he understands that in order for that to happen he likely has some more improvement to do, writes Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times. Castillo, 27, is entering his prime-age seasons but doesn't hear his name mentioned alongside younger core players like Anthony Rizzo and Starlin Castro. Castillo specifically mentions that he recognizes the fact that baseball is a business and he can't assume that he will be in a starting role. Cubs GM Jed Hoyer again said to Wittenmyer that the team plans to add at least one everyday veteran this winter, leading Wittenmyer to speculate on Russell Martin, who would give the Cubs a major defensive boost behind the plate. While catching coach Mike Borzello feels that Castillo is "the best in the business" at blocking pitches, Castillo ranks at the bottom of Baseball Prospectus' Blocking Runs Added stat and ranks 72nd among 97 catchers in extra strikes via pitch framing (also via B-Pro). Hoyer, however, did give Castillo a vote of confidence: "I really believe in Welly. … He doesn't get mentioned a lot when we talk about our established young veterans, but he can be in that mix as well."
Here's more from the NL Central…
- ESPN Chicago's Jesse Rogers also has quotes from Hoyer on his desire for veteran leadership, and Rogers wonders if the club would pursue a veteran such as Jonny Gomes to help out in left field. While he notes that Gomes, of course, wouldn't be an everyday player, "a quasi-starter who has winning experience might be the best option" given the lack of starting-caliber bats at positions of need for the Cubs, Rogers opines. He, too, notes that Martin would be a good fit in Chicago, though.
- Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette looks at the extraordinary preparation and conditioning that have contributed to Russell Martin's brilliant season. Brink spoke to Martin's coaches and teammates about what he means to the club, with GM Neal Huntington stating that the club is going to do everything it can to re-sign its catcher. Perhaps most interesting, however, is the fact that Brink notes that the Pirates offered Martin a two-year, $17MM deal and a three-year, $21MM deal when signing him prior to the 2013 season. Martin explains to Brink that he didn't want to sign for three years, because he felt he could improve his stock on a two-year pact, which he has done in dramatic fashion.
- One veteran scout tells Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that Cardinals outfielder Peter Bourjos is the best defensive center fielder he's seen in 38 years as a scout. Bourjos and Randal Grichuk were acquired from the Angels with the idea that one of them would be the team's everyday center fielder in 2015, writes Hummel, but Jon Jay's solid offense has muddied the picture and left the Cardinals with choices to make. Bourjos has hit better of late, boosting his season batting line to .241/.305/.367, and he drew praise from manager Mike Matheny as well. It'll be interesting to see how the Cardinals decide to proceed, not only in the next few weeks, but in the offseason as well.
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Full Story | Comments | Categories: Chicago Cubs | Jon Jay | Peter Bourjos | Pittsburgh Pirates | Russell Martin | St. Louis Cardinals
Central Notes: Yost, Twins, Jay, Taveras
In the midst of a 26-28 season, Royals GM Dayton Moore expresses support for manager Ned Yost, Jeffrey Flanagan of FOX Sports Kansas City writes. "I have faith in Ned," says Moore. "He is doing what he can." Instead, Moore takes the blame for the team's performance. "It's my job to give the managers and the coaching staff the right players to succeed. I have to be able to give them the tools to win. So if we're not succeeding, ultimately the responsibility comes back to me," he says. The Royals fired hitting coach Pedro Grifol on Thursday, replacing him with Dale Sveum. Here are more notes from the Central divisions.
- The Twins are interested in Cardinals outfielder Jon Jay, 1500ESPN.com's Darren Wolfson tweets. The Cardinals have more outfielders than they need (so much so that their surplus may have delayed the promotion of top prospect Oscar Taveras), and could trade from their stockpile. Meanwhile, the Twins' outfielders have struggled this season.
- Taveras' promotion is a big moment for the Cardinals organization, writes Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The Cardinals ought to make sure they play Taveras regularly, since not doing so would merely waste service time. If Taveras hits well, the Cardinals could move Matt Adams into a "super-sub role" when he's available to return from the disabled list.
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Full Story | Comments | Categories: Jon Jay | Kansas City Royals | Minnesota Twins | Oscar Taveras | St. Louis Cardinals
Players Avoiding Arbitration: Friday
We'll keep track of today's smaller deals to avoid arbitration in this post. Click here for background on the upcoming arbitration schedule and how MLBTR is covering it. You can also check in on our Arbitration Tracker and look at MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz's arbitration projections.
Today's noon CT deadline to exchange arb figures has passed, but negotiations to avoid an arbitration hearing can continue into February. The Braves are the only strict "file and trial" team that did not agree to terms with all of its arb-eligible players, meaning they could be headed for several hearings. The Nats and Indians have also shown a willingness to go to a trial and still have some players unsigned. On to today's contract agreements…
- After exchanging numbers, the Mets and pitcher Dillon Gee have agreed to settle at the midpoint of $3.625MM, tweets Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com. Swartz projected Gee to earn $3.4MM.
- The Cubs have avoided arbitration with reliever Pedro Strop, president Theo Epstein told Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune (Twitter link). He will earn $1.325MM next year, according to a tweet from Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times. It is not immediately apparent whether the deal was reached before the sides exchanged terms.
- The Angels have reached agreement on a $3.8MM deal with reliever Ernesto Frieri, reports Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com (on Twitter).
- Mike Minor has agreed to terms on a $3.85MM deal with the Braves to avoid arbitration, reports Mark Bowman of MLB.com (Twitter links). The deal came before figures were exchanged, Bowman notes.
- Chris Cotillo of MLB Daily Dish reports that the D-Backs and lefty Joe Thatcher have avoided arb with a one-year, $2.375MM deal (Twitter link).
- Nicholson-Smith tweets that the Angels and Fernando Salas reached an agreement to avoid arbitration. Salas is the first Halos player to avoid arb. Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times tweets that Salas will earn $870K, which beats out his $700K projection.
- MLB.com's Jason Beck reports (via Twitter) that the Tigers and righty Al Alburquerque have reached agreement on a deal to avoid arb. The hard-throwing righty will earn $837.5K in 2014, tweets Beck.
- Sherman tweets that the Yankees and Ivan Nova avoided arbitration with a one-year, $3.3MM deal.
- The Pirates and Vin Mazzaro inked a one-year, $950K deal in lieu of an arbitration hearing, tweets Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune.
- The Royals announced that they've avoided arbitration with infielder Emilio Bonifacio. Heyman tweets that Bonifacio will earn $3.5MM in 2014.
- Sherman reports that the Rays avoided arbitration with Jeremy Hellickson and Sean Rodriguez (Twitter link). Hellickson landed a $3.625MM payday with a $25K bonus if he hits 195 innings pitched. Rodriguez will get $1.475MM with a $25K bump for hitting 300 plate appearances.
- Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com tweets that Brian Matusz avoided arb with the Orioles. Sherman adds that he'll earn $2.4MM in 2014.
- MLB.com's Brian McTaggart tweets that Jason Castro and the Astros have avoided arbitration. McTaggart adds in a second tweet that Jesus Guzman avoided arb as well. Heyman reports that Castro will be paid $2.45MM, while Sherman tweets that Guzman will make $1.3MM.
- The Indians tweeted that they've avoided arb with lefty Marc Rzepczynski, and MLB.com's Jordan Bastian tweets that he'll earn $1.375MM in 2014. Bastian adds that Scrabble will earn an additional $25K for appearing in 55 games and another $25K for 60 games.
- The Giants avoided arbitration with Yusmeiro Petit, according to MLBTR's Steve Adams (on Twitter). He'll earn $845K, according to Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith (via Twitter).
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Full Story | Comments | Categories: Al Alburquerque | Alejandro De Aza | Alexi Ogando | Alfredo Simon | Arizona Diamondbacks | Atlanta Braves | Baltimore Orioles | Bobby Parnell | Boston Red Sox | Brandon Moss | Brett Cecil | Brian Duensing | Brian Matusz | Chicago Cubs | Chris Johnson | Cincinnati Reds | Cleveland Indians | Colorado Rockies | Craig Gentry | Detroit Tigers | Dillon Gee | Drew Storen | Drew Stubbs | Emilio Bonifacio | Eric Hosmer | Ernesto Frieri | Esmil Rogers | Gaby Sanchez | Gordon Beckham | Gregor Blanco | Houston Astros | Ivan Nova | Jake McGee | James Russell | Jason Castro | Jeremy Hellickson | Jerry Blevins | Jesus Guzman | Joe Thatcher | John Mayberry Jr. | Jon Jay | Jonathan Herrera | Jordan Schafer | Jose Lobaton | Juan Francisco | Juan Nicasio | Junichi Tazawa | Kansas City Royals | Kyle Blanks | Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim | Luis Valbuena | Marc Rzepczynski | Mark Melancon | Matt Joyce | Miami Marlins | Mike Dunn | Milwaukee Brewers | Minnesota Twins | Neftali Feliz | New York Mets | New York Yankees | Oakland Athletics | Pedro Alvarez | Pedro Strop | Peter Bourjos | Philadelphia Phillies | Pittsburgh Pirates | San Diego Padres | San Francisco Giants | Sean Rodriguez | Shawn Kelley | St. Louis Cardinals | Tampa Bay Rays | Texas Rangers | Tommy Hunter | Tony Abreu | Toronto Blue Jays | Transactions | Trevor Plouffe | Troy Patton | Vin Mazzaro | Washington Nationals | Wilson Ramos | Yusmeiro Petit


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Sir John Vanbrugh
3 of 11 portraits of Sir John Vanbrugh
© National Portrait Gallery, London
Sir John Vanbrugh
by John Simon, published by Jacob Tonson I, or Jacob Tonson II, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
mezzotint, (circa 1704-1710)
13 3/4 in. x 9 7/8 in. (351 mm x 252 mm) paper size
Bequeathed by (Frederick) Leverton Harris, 1927
Reference Collection
Click on the links below to find out more:
Sitterback to top
- Sir John Vanbrugh (1664-1726), Architect and dramatist. Sitter in 11 portraits.
Artistsback to top
- Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt (1646-1723), Portrait painter. Artist associated with 1673 portraits, Sitter associated with 30 portraits.
- John Simon (1675-1751), Mezzotint engraver. Artist associated with 213 portraits.
- Jacob Tonson I (1655-1736), Publisher; Secretary of the Kit-cat Club. Artist associated with 6 portraits, Sitter associated with 5 portraits.
- Jacob Tonson II (1682-1735), Publisher; nephew of Jacob Tonson I. Artist associated with 5 portraits, Sitter in 1 portrait.
Related worksback to top
- NPG D19604: Sir John Vanbrugh (impression from same plate as)


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This category is for members of the Edgecombe family.
Changes: Category:Edgecombe familyEdit
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Latest revision as of 15:07, March 22, 2014
"Madam Edgecombe was the wife of Mr. Edgecombe and the mother of Marietta. She worked in the...Edgecombe
Pages in category "Edgecombe family"
The following 3 pages are in this category, out of 3 total.


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CLEVELAND -- Approximately 36 hours of reflection did nothing to change the mind of Celtics coach Doc Rivers. He is demanding his team improve and play with more consistency or, yes, roster changes could be in store.
The Celtics did not practice Monday in Cleveland, only going through a film session at the team hotel. But Rivers addressed the media Tuesday morning for the first time since threatening trades after the Celtics' 103-88 loss to the Detroit Pistons on Sunday night.
"I think we're a better team than what we're playing and I think we have to (play better)," Rivers said before the team's shootaround at Quicken Loans Arena. "I think we have to improve our play and we do have to improve the way we play and if we don't, then something's not working, either something I'm doing or something. It needed to be said."
Rivers said he wasn't concerned about the players' reaction.
"We need to play better and we don't need to play better for one night," he said. "It's not football where you get a week to readjust and then you get to play well and then you get a whole other week. We need to be a better, consistent basketball team. I've told our guys this 100 times (the solution) is in the locker room but it's not on the floor. We have to get it on the floor and we have to be a consistent team."
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U.S. Bobsledder Becomes Fifth Ever To Medal At Summer And Winter Games
And it's not Lolo Jones.
And it's not Lolo Jones.
Joel Anderson 9 months ago 16 responses
Holcomb and Steven Langton win bronze, breaking a 62-year drought for the Americans in the event.
Joel Anderson 9 months ago 15 responses
"It's bobsled time!" We salute you, Jamaican tourism board.
Alison Vingiano 10 months ago 94 responses
Some venues were repurposed and used for years after the games; others were abandoned and fell to disrepair.
Austin Hunt 10 months ago 124 responses
The former hurdling star has earned her way to the Winter Games as a bobsledder. "I think any time you represent Team USA, it's the biggest honor that I'll have in my life."
Joel Anderson 10 months ago 10 responses
such donation, very charity, etc. Updated: the team has now been fully funded.
Tom Phillips 10 months ago 51 responses
Shauna Rohblock and her partner spend nearly the entire race upside down after wiping out on their way downhill. View Media ›
Earnest Pettie 3 years ago 6 responses
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