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The so-called wietpas had restricted access to the country's famed cannabis coffeeshops to registered residents in the Southern Netherlands, banning visitors from neighboring nations and tourists from abroad. The now defunct right-wing government intended to implement wietpas nationwide in 2013, but the more moderate government currently in place appears to have avoided the weed pass program, which would have damaged tourism revenue.
Even more encouraging (especially for anyone reading this outside of Holland), rather than the previously proposed blanket ban of foreigners and tourists from coffeeshops, the new agreement allows each individual city to decide whether or not to ban non-Dutch citizens from legally purchasing pot at coffeeshops.
The marijuana mecca of Amsterdam had previously declared it would not honor the pot permit system. In its short history, weed pass almost immediately drove up black-market street sales of marijuana in the districts where it was implemented (validated by a University of Tilburg study) and pissed off coffeeshop owners, all of which lost money from foreign/tourist business.
More @ www.huffingtonpost.com


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Ark of Taste
Wyandotte Chicken
This beautiful, medium-sized, rose-combed bird was developed in the 1880s. It is described as a bird of curves as its loose, white feathering is defined by an outline of chocolate-brown color feather tips, which produce a swirling effect. The bird is full breasted and has a broad back, with femailes weight 6 ½ pounds and males 8 ½. The breed originated in New York state in the latter part of the 19th century and is named after the Wyandotte (Huron) tribe.
The Wyandotte chicken is not without faults. Undersized individuals, narrow backs and relatively poor hatches are all characteristics of this breed. Consequently, very few farmers bred the Wyandotte chicken. The ALBC's 2003 chicken census classifies the Wyandotte in the recovering.
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Aberrations is the word that the Army has been using to describe the reports of brawls between officers and soldiers in battalions where discipline and authority are the pillars on which battles are won or lost. But the frequency with which such clashes have been occurring in the past two years five major events including one at an artillery unit in Nyoma that barely stopped short of an armed revolt may necessitate a change in vocabulary to describe what is arguably one of the most worrying trends to hit the Army in recent years.
The grave point is that these clashes have taken place at operational and active units, not at headquarters or non- combat establishments. The Thursday clash at the 10 Sikh LI unit shows that even the bedrock of the Indian Army its infantry battalions that are a model for officer-men relations are not immune.
The Army is clearly staring at a crisis of leadership. A line of thought is that the experiment of having younger Commanding Officers is not working out and the lack of experience is a major factor. A deeper issue however needs to be probed.
The initiation point for the clashes vary from an aggravated soldier who had been pushed too hard on physical drills, a havildar beaten up for allegedly molesting an officers wife, a unit on the brink after a soldier commits suicide for being denied leave to tempers at a boxing match going overboard.
They all however have a common thread disrespect felt by soldiers at the hands of the officers that lead them. The soldier of this century, deriving from national progress, is far ahead when it comes to information, access and awareness of rights. The Armys command structure has not caught up. A basic change of leadership attitude is needed to deal with this new, empowered soldier.
No doubt that corrective measures will be put in place and a worried government will prod the Army to act. It is, however, wondered if lessons were correctively drawn from 2006-07 when 20 successive cases of fratricide hit the Army many involving soldiers turning their guns on to officers hit headlines. Welfare measures like enhanced leave and liberal allowances brought the number down to the low single digits but the incidents were blamed on stress and personal problems.
A real view and new rules of engagement to manage the empowered


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Oklahoma football: Sooners have prospered with unproven quarterbacks
OU breaks in a new quarterback this season for the first time in six years. Landry Jones replaced Sam Bradford midway through the 2009 season opener against Brigham Young when Slingin' Sammy suffered a shoulder injury. Landry wasn't broken in; he was thrown in.
Barring complications, Blake Bell will start for the Sooners, but even if it's Kendal Thompson or Trevor Knight, it will be a quarterback yearling leading OU. Bell's Belldozer experience is more reminiscent of a tailback than a quarterback.
So how has OU done in years in which it breaks in a new QB? Rather well. Going back to the post-Bud Wilkinson/Gomer Jones era, which encompasses 47 seasons, OU has gone into a season with a new quarterback 18 times. Which is a remarkably low number.
In those 18 seasons, OU has won six conference titles and tied for another (1976). Bob Stoops has broken in a new quarterback five times; he's won two conference titles (2007, 2006) and had a great team another time (2001).
That might sound optimistic, but the truth is, the Sooners – like most teams – do better with a veteran quarterback. In the 29 seasons when OU entered with an established QB, the Sooners have won 12 outright conference titles and tied for three others. So the ratio definitely is better with an experienced quarterback.
Here are the seasons since 1965 when OU entered without a veteran quarterback:
2007: 11-3, Big 12 champs. Sam Bradford took over and was an immediate success. The Sooners suffered an upset loss at Colorado (it happens) and were popped at Texas Tech when Bradford suffered an early concussion.
2006: 11-3, Big 12 champs. Paul Thompson moved back from receiver in August, after Rhett Bomar was booted from the team, and OU staged a memorable title run, losing only to Oregon in dubious fashion, Texas and BoiseState.
2005: 8-5, tied for second in the Big 12 South. Thompson started the opener, then Bomar took over and OU struggled much of the year, though it knocked off fifth-ranked Oregon in the Holiday Bowl.
2001: 11-2, second in the Big 12 South. First Nate Hybl, then Jason White, and finally back to Hybl as the Sooners suffered through unfortunate quarterback injuries and offensive inefficiency.
1999: 8-5, tied for second in the Big 12 South. Bob Stoops' first OU season included a breakout offense, led by Josh Heupel.
1998: 5-6, tied for fourth in the Big 12 South. Started off the season with Brandon Daniels running some kind of half-baked option, but OU quickly bailed on that and went down another depressing season.
1995: 5-5-1, tied for fifth in the Big Eight. Howard Schnellenberger made redshirt freshman Eric Moore the starter over incumbent Garrick McGee, and the Sooners staggered most of the season, even failing to score their final quarters of the year.
1994: 6-6, fourth in the Big Eight. McGee, a junior-college transfer from Northeastern A&M, played well at times, but a brutal schedule kept the Sooners from prosperity.
1989: 7-4, third in the Big Eight. OU opened the season with Steve Collins at quarterback. Injuries forced the Sooners to use three; but unlike the 2012 OSU Cowboys, the offense didn't thrive.
1985: 11-1, national champions. The Sooners started the year with a new quarterback in Troy Aikman and ended the year with a new quarterback in freshman Jamelle Holieway. Despite some hairy moments, OU flourished.
1983: 8-4, tied for second in the Big Eight. Danny Bradley took over the offense; he eventually would be the 1984 Big Eight offensive player of the year. But in '83, OU struggled. Even was shut out at Missouri.
1981: 7-4-1, second in the Big Eight. OU started with Kelly Phelps and ended with Darrell Shepard, and the Sooner wishbone had its worst season ever.
1979: 11-1, Big Eight champs. J.C. Watts took over the OU wishbone. He could play a little.
1976: 9-2-1, tri-champs of the Big Eight. Dean Blevins started the year and eventually was replaced by Thomas Lott. The offense was slow to find its groove.
1973: 10-0-1, Big Eight champs. Unheralded Steve Davis took over after Kerry Jackson was declared ineligible in April. Davis lost one game in three years.
1972: 11-1, Big Eight champs. Patient veteran Dave Robertson took over and kept the new OU wishbone humming.
1969: 6-4, fourth in the Big Eight. Heralded sophomore Jack Mildren struggled in his debut season, though things would improve greatly.
1966: 6-4, fourth in the Big Eight. Sophomore Bobby Warmack quarterbacked; after a 4-0 start, OU lost four of its final six games, including three by a total of seven points.


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...what's a good source for routes (bike shops, maps, etc.)?
I know there's a loop form Salida south and then back around to do Monarch Pass from the West. I know 50 on the West side of Monarch generally had good shoulders, what about the East side. Can I roll all the way into Salida and live to talk about it or, will some semi (or texting jerk) take me out before I get back?
You guys are always a great source for info!
Thanks in advance.


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Kelly Guy Lost 66 Pounds with Jenny Craig and Became an Award-Winning Food Blogger
On her award-winning blog, No Thanks to Cake, Kelly Guy shares tasty, easy-to-make recipes, offers advice on how to eat healthy while traveling and professes her love for the Gilmore Girls. After a 66-pound weight loss, Kelly has firsthand experience with the struggle to find a healthy balance with food. I'm her newest fan.
More from Kelly in her own words –
What habits specifically led you to gain weight? Emotional eating habits. I can remember coming home after school and eating cheese and crackers, chips, cookies, and anything else that was available. I consumed way too much fast food , ate larger than necessary portions and had no physical activity.
What caused you to realize you needed to change? I was overwhelmed by the idea of losing almost 100 lbs. A good friend had just scheduled gastric-bypass surgery. It terrified me that weight loss surgery was also becoming an option for me. A few days later I took pictures with a friend who was 6 months pregnant and I looked bigger than she did.
How did you lose the weight? I followed the Jenny Craig program for about 12 months, finding great success with the simplicity of the program. I told friends that I "took it like a prescription." My meals were planned and I didn't have a ton of decisions to make on a daily basis. The weight started rolling off.


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STARmeterSEE RANK
Up 28,886 this week
Frank Whitten (1942–2011)
Best known in New Zealand for playing the Senile Grandfather Ted West on Outrageous Fortune. This role won him a best supporting actor award at the Air NZ Screen Awards in 2007. He also appeared in Vigil and many other New Zealand and Australian Productions. He died of Cancer on Febuary 13th 2011 See full bio »
Died:(age 68) in New Zealand


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Thank you for visiting! Please contact me with any questions.
Dear Friends & Neighbors,
Thank you for visiting my website.
Here you will find information about the 4th Legislative District, my committee assignments, my legislative priorities and bills I have introduced in the Legislature, and news from the 2014 legislative session, which adjourned after 60 days on March 13.
If you have any questions or concerns about the issues facing our state, please contact me or my Legislative Assistant, Mike McCliment, via e-mail, the toll free legislative hotline at 1-800-562-6000 or my district office in Spokane Valley at (509) 921-2460.
If you would like to receive my e-newsletter, you may sign up now.
It is my honor and privilege to serve the 4th Legislative District in the Washington State Senate.
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A representative government only works when those represented take an active part in the process. I'm here to serve you, and your direct input helps me do my job better. Please don't hesitate to contact me via e-mail, phone or by mail, or make an appointment to see me in person. I look forward to hearing from you!


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04/20/2011, Picnic Island, Newfound Harbor, Keys
We are finally on the move again. Left Boot Key Harbor this morning and are now anchored behind Picnic Key in Newfound Harbor. Not sure if this is still considered Middle Keys or Lower Keys. Very windy today with 4-5 foot seas all the way here. Looks like we could be here until Sunday or Monday waiting for things to calm down a little. Should be a little rollie on the anchorage tonight. The good thing about a mooring ball is that we get a good nights sleep. On anchor one of us is constantly waking up and looking to make sure we are solid and not dragging the anchor.
Plan is to go to Key West then to the Dry Tortugas, about 60 miles south of Key West. There is an old fort there and supposed to be excellent diving and snorkeling. No amenities (no food, water, fuel, etc.) there. That's the plan, and as I have said before, always subject to change.
Also something we have not done for quite some time is add another album of pictures. Look for the albumn " Boot Key Harbor " See some pics of where we have spent the last 90 days along with our new solar panels and a shark or two.
So Happy for you both. Thanks for sharing with the blog. Can't wait to catch up on some island. I'd love to hear the cruising plan.
03/28/2011, Boot Key Harbor, Maraton, FL
Bill's youngest daughter Mariah is here this week from Minnesota to spend spring break with us. Mike and Francie on 'Anam Cara' are here for a few weeks. Their plan is to head up to the Chesapeake Bay for the summer. We will probably celebrate Bill's birthday on Saturday night with Mike and Francie.
Very hot here today. High 86 outside and 89 down below in the boat. We have 3 fans going at the moment but still predict a wrestless night sleeping. I wanted to get away from the cold Minnesota winters so I can't very well complain (well, not too much) about the heat here.
I am still working on various sewing projects. While I was sewing in the marina workroom today 5 people came up to me and asked me if I would work on projects for them. Turned down all but one. I could make a living doing this if I really wanted to.
Time to get a very large glass of ice water. Really glad we have the Engel freezer to have ice cubes.
03/20/2011, Boot Key Harbor, Marathon, FL
We are now starting our third month here in Boot Key Harbor. I am anxious to go again but looks like it will be another 3-4 weeks. Boat projects are coming along. Since arriving here we have: new fuel injectors, new battery charger, new wiring to batteries, new sewing machine and new freezer.
My old sewing machine just wasn't intended for heavy duty sewing. So, I broke down and bought a new Ultrafeed sewing machine from Sailrite. I am very happy with it and have even been asked to work on other peoples canvas on their boats here in the harbor.
The new freezer is an Engel 43 quart freezer. It is supposed to be very energy efficient, only drawing 2.5 amps. We decided to purchase this instead of having a new keel cooled fridge/freezer installed which runs around $3,000. The unit arrived dented in the back, I called Engel and no questions asked, immediately shipped out a new panel to us. Good customer service.
We are still working on building an arch for new solar panels. We have ordered the hardware for building the arch above the bimini and plan on picking up the 1" stainless steel tubing and solar panels in Miami next Friday. We hope to purchase Kyocera 135 solar panels from Sun Electronics in Miami, I say hope since they seem to be very confused as to what they currently have in stock.
Last Thursday for St. Patrick's Day Bill and I rode the bus down to Key West for the day. It's very inexpensive for the bus $6 round trip between Marathon and Key West. Fun day people watching.
Tuesday or Wednesday last week we rode our bikes to West Marine to pick up a couple of things and when we came out of the store it was sprinkling a little. By the time we made it back to the dinghy dock at the marina it was a full down pour. We rushed to get our bikes locked up and into the dinghy and back to the boat since all the hatches were in the full open position. To put it mildly that was a heck of a dinghy ride!!!!! We heard later that the "little" rain squall had winds at 49 mph.
We have definitely settled into a routine living aboard the boat. I have heard this from other live aboards, and now absolutely agree, we each have our own assigned responsibilities. Bill is responsible for anything that requires heavy lifting (water and fuel jugs, sewing machine that weigh 63 lbs, large bags of laundry, etc.) and engine, battery maintenance, etc. I am responsible for the cooking, cleaning, sewing, teak varnishing, etc. I almost feel like I'm living a 1950's existence with very traditional male/female roles.
Bill is supposed to go fishing today with his new friend David. David is a 79 year old retired surgeon from Wabasha Minnesota. David said if they catch any fish worth keeping he will fillet them since he has some experience cutting things up. David was down in the Dry Tortugas last week during the rain squall. His boat suffered a complete knock down from the high winds. He ended up in the water, hanging onto the life lines waiting for the boat to right itself. It took a while since he was under full sail. Did I mention he's 79 years old!
We are still trying to decide where we will spend the summer i.e. Hurricane season. We were thinking a marina on the west coast of Florida, now not sure. We will need to make up our minds within the next 60 days.
02/24/2011, Boot Key Harbor, Marathon, FL
It's been a while since my last blog update. We have been here in Boot Key Harbor for a little over a month now, starting to fall into a kind of routine each day.....start the day starting the Honda Generator at around 8:00, listen to the Boot Key Harbor Net 9:00 until around 10:00, around 11:00 turn off the generator, dinghy into shore, run some errands (either Bill by himself or both of us). Some days we have an early dinner then go on our sunset dinghy cruise around 5:00, other days have dinner after the cruise. Then in bed by around 8:30.
Our friend Craig Horn visited for a couple of days last week. Craig spend 2 weeks with us earlier in our adventure, on Lake Erie and the Erie Canal. Good to see him again.
We purchased rebuilt engine fuel injectors and had them installed by Marathon Diesel. The other diesel company here in town told us they would only work on the engine if it was at a marina and estimated it would take about 4-5 hours. Marathon Diesel came out to the boat, removed the old injectors and installed the new injectors for a total of 1 ½ hours. Huge price difference between the 2 companies. Going with Marathon Diesel saved us at least $400. Based on our experience we would use Marathon Diesel again.
Dean on 'Autumn Bourne' has given me a couple of lessons on Celestial Navigation and how to operate my sextant. Thank you Dean for volunteering - very much appreciated. I definitely need lots of practice though. Bill bought me the sextant about 10 years ago but this is the first time I have found anyone willing to teach me the basic. Ever since we became interested in sailing I have wanted to learn about Celestial Navigation, I guess in a way to honor my father. He was a quartermaster in the Navy, which means he was the navigator aboard the vessel (in his case Destroyers), long before GPS, so they still used sextants back then.
We went to Sombrero Beach by dinghy yesterday. Water is getting warmer, hopefully only another couple of weeks before the water is warm enough to go diving or snorkeling.
During our sunset dinghy cruise a couple of days ago a dolphin surfaced right next to the dinghy, close enough for me to touch him/her. Lots of dolphins in the harbor here which is great.
We still haven't decided exactly what our plans are yet. Our current ideas are to leave here the first or second week of April and head back to Key West. While there sail down to the Dry Tortugas for a few days. From Key West, around middle of June, head up to the west coast of Florida and find some inexpensive marinas to stay at during the hottest months so we can hook up an air conditioner to shore power and be tied up in case we (as in Bill and I, not the boat) need to evacuate due to a Hurricane. In November, towards the end of hurricane season, head to the Bahamas and possibly south from there. All of this is subject to change of course.
02/06/2011, Boot Key Harbor, Marathon FL
We left Silver Bay 6 months ago today. Reflecting on our expectations, knowledge and abilities 6 months ago - wow, were we naïve! Both Bill and I read a lot of cruisers blogs before we left to try and gather as much info as we could. I can now say that for the most part (including my blog) there is a lot unsaid about the day-to-day reality of living aboard a boat - guess you have to experience it to understand.
Some examples of realities:
- Living hooked to a mooring ball we have to cart our water from the marina to the boat in water jugs with each one weighing about 40 pounds. Plus it never tastes great after being in the water tank for a while.
- Energy conservation. We go to bed at 8 or 9 each night (all the fresh air we're ready anyway). This conserves on the power needed for lights, computers, etc. Even boats with solar panels and wind generators run their Honda generators for several hours each day.
- Bed is wet. Everything is damp, worst is the bed sheets.
- The head. Not only do you need to be constantly monitoring the amount in the holding tank but so far no matter what we have tried it smells! We are definitely not the only ones since someone announced on the Boot Key Harbor Net that they found a product that not only eliminates the smell but also gets rid of the sludge buildup. There were about 50 boats that jumped on wanting some when someone volunteered to order some cases of the stuff.
- Boat maintenance. We spend more time than we thought we would on boat projects. We always knew that our knowledge of boat systems was really lacking. We have a 30 year old boat and it's starting to feel it's age.
- Waking up in the middle of the night - it's great when it's by dolphins next to your boat breathing and moving in the water, it's not so great when it is checking to see if your anchor is dragging.
- Literally every day is a weekend. We are constantly loosing track of what day of the week it is.
Off to the Marina to watch the Super Bowl.
Today is also my Mom's 86th birthday - HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!
Hugs, Pam and Dan
02/03/2011, Boot Key Harbor, Marathon, FL
We have been here in Boot Key Harbor for a little over 2 weeks now. It is a great harbor but wish I could put this mooring field in the heart of Key West. Our first Sunday here we rode our bikes to the Hurricane to watch the Packers beat the Bears, pretty good game. Ryan, an old friend of ours from our Lake Pepin (Mississippi River) days joined us. Ryan sailed his 28 foot sail boat from Lake Pepin to Marathon 6 years ago. Ryan works at the Dolphin Research Center on Grassy Key and was able to get us in for free along with a 'meet and greet' with the dolphins. It was great. Thanks Ryan!
Good to see some other familiar faces here in the mooring field - George and Carol from 'Traumerei' (met them in South Carolina) and Jack and Chris from 'Renaissance' (met them way back in Cleveland).
We went to the Traditional Music festival (Irish music, folk music, Cajun music, etc.) at Sombrero Resort and Marina last weekend which was very good. There is the Cruisers Net each morning at 9:00 that we listen to. The Net announces activities going on in and around the harbor, boats coming and going, buy/sell/trade items and people needing help with something. So far we haven't joined in on any of the activities such as the Wednesday night 'Meet and Greet' potluck, guess potlucks aren't our thing. Neither Bill nor I participated in potlucks when we were working so don't see us doing it here either.
Possibly some more boat projects in our future. Had someone come out and do an energy assessment of the boat and tomorrow morning a diesel engine guy. Depends on what the diesel guy comes up with as to what we will be doing in the future. Hope to be able to afford to add dinghy davits and solar panels.
Waiting for a string of nice days to take Walk A-Bout out to Sombrero Reef, which is only about 5 miles away. Do some diving or snorkeling out there. There are several mooring balls near the reef to tie up to, not supposed to stay the night there but we will see. Bill wants to do some fishing as well. You can't fish at the reef since it is a marine sanctuary but you can fish just outside the reef.
Bill is at the marina doing laundry at the moment, when he gets back we will do our sunset cruise - dinghy cruising around the harbor.


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For Immediate Release:
August 19, 2013
Southcoast Center for Weight Loss now offers free informational sessions on weight loss surgery in Middletown
MIDDLETOWN, R.I - Beginning this September, Southcoast® Center for Weight Loss will now offer a free monthly informational session in Middletown on the risks and benefits of weight loss surgery, also known as bariatric surgery.
Learn more about the minimally invasive techniques for weight loss surgery offered at Southcoast during a free informational session on Wednesday, September 11 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Hampton Inn & Suites, 317 West Main Road in Middletown. Additional seminars will be offered on a quarterly basis.
Weight loss surgery can not only help you lose weight, it can also improve your health, lengthen your life, and resolve many chronic conditions including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, Type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, acid reflux, urinary incontinence and migraines.
Millions of Americans fall into the category of clinically severe obesity - more than 100 pounds overweight with a body mass index greater than 40. Body mass index is a calculation of weight in relation to height.
Weight loss surgery has been endorsed by a consensus panel convened by the National Institutes of Health as the only effective means of inducing significant long-term weight loss for the vast majority of patients with morbid obesity.
The Southcoast Center for Weight Loss's community-based program is designed to incorporate a thorough approach to weight loss surgery utilizing a team comprised of dietitians, psychologists, nurses and surgeons to provide a safe and comprehensive surgical weight loss program.
For more information or to register for a free seminar call 508-273-4900. For more information on the Southcoast Center for Weight Loss visit www.southcoast.org/weightloss/.


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May 31, 2016
PORTAGE, Mich. (AP) -- A 16-year-old girl has been injured after falling over a railing at the top of a Kalamazoo-area shopping mall escalator.
Sgt. Kevin Gleesing of the Portage Police Department tells the Kalamazoo Gazette the girl was riding the rail of an escalator at The Crossroads Mall in Portage when she fell Wednesday afternoon.
Police tell television stations WOOD and WWMT that the fall from the mall's second story appears to have been accidental.
Gleesing says the girl's injuries weren't serious. She was taken to an area hospital for treatment.
Click Here to access the online Public Inspection File
Viewers with disabilities can get assistance accessing this station's FCC Public Inspection File by contacting the station with the information listed below. Questions or concerns relating to the accessibility of the FCC's online public file system should be directed to the FCC at 888-225-5322, 888-835-5322 (TTY), or firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Artist/writer/producer Quelle Chris presents his third full length album, Ghost At The Finish Line.
A 13 track, uniquely real look at art and life, and the realities and illusions that blur the two. This time the Hip Hop renegade brings collaborations with Alchemist, Guilty Simpson, House Shoes, Black Milk and more. With production by Denmark Vessey, Knxwledge, Oh No, Chris Keys and Quelle Chris himself.
This is what Hip Hop was made for.
To Enter: Follow @HipHopDX, @QuelleChris & @MelloMusicGroup on Twitter and tweet them the hashtag #DXQuelle
Deadline is 2013-11-12


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Redding Mortgage Fraud Defendant Sentenced to Four Years in Prison
|U.S. Attorney's Office November 13, 2013
SACRAMENTO, CA—U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb sentenced Brandon Hanly, 33, of Redding, today to four years in prison for a mortgage fraud scheme, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced.
According to the evidence presented at his trial, from September 2005 to April 2006, Hanly and others participated in a scheme to defraud lenders. In order to obtain loans and cash above the true value of a house, they provided the lender with inflated appraisals and title reports with fake liens in the name of a shell company, TPG Investments Inc. Then the defendants gave the lender and escrow officer instructions to pay off the lien to TPG. At trial, Hanly testified that he was a victim of the scheme, but the evidence showed that he personally received more than $300,000 as a result of his participation.
Judge Shubb found that Hanly had committed perjury in his trial and increased the sentence in order to "send a message to people who would commit this crime and who would lie about it when they come to court."
This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew Segal and Jared Dolan prosecuted the case.


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It's hard to believe it's already been a week since BookExpo America 2013 came to an end. For four days, the Javits Center in New York City was packed with book writers, book publishers, and book lovers...not to mention thousands upon thousands of books. And while we're delighted that our sleep deprivation is starting to wane, our withdrawal from all the excitement is starting to set in.
Walking the floor in the exhibition hall checking out the upcoming books that publishers are most excited about, miking up an author for an exclusive one-on-one chat (stay tuned!), bouncing from party to party--the Amazon Books Editorial Team kept mighty busy and walked away with a massive "To Read" list, as well as some amazing memories. Here are just a few of the standout moments each of us had:
Seira Wilson's Highlights
Listening to the lovely Helen Fielding talk (in her fab British accent) about her new Bridget Jones book coming out in October.
Mingling with kids and teens authors while sipping libations inspired by their upcoming books--my favorite was Holly Black's The Coldest Girl in Coldtown cocktail. Finally meeting Rick Riordan in person (!) after hearing his funny and insightful talk at the Children's Author Breakfast.
Jon Foro's Highlights
Sitting down with Richard Dawkins to talk some nature vs. nurture, chatting with Malcolm Gladwell with an unannounced 60 Minutes crew hanging a boom mic over my shoulder, shaking hands with outdoorsman Steven Rinella, and hanging out with all-around badass author Philipp Meyer as he received a fully deserved line of congratulations on his new novel, The Son. And unrelated to all this, the annual Keens Steakhouse debauch.
Kevin Nguyen's Highlights
Rounding the corner while looking for a friend and instead seeing Julianne Moore, who is a lot cooler than that friend anyway. Talking with Will Schwalbe about our mutual love of Carly Rae Jepsen. Seeing Malcolm Gladwell's afro in person.
Sara Nelson's Highlights
Sitting next to Joyce Carol Oates and talking about marriage, remarriage and the very non-vegetarian-friendly meal we were being served. (It was delicious!)
Chris Schluep's Highlights
Sitting in a back room at The Half King, Scott Anderson's bar in Chelsea, interviewing him about his upcoming book Lawrence in Arabia.
Mari Malcolm's Highlights
Chatting with Amy Tan--exquisitely dressed in a black dress that looked like cut paper""about discovering a scandalous secret about her grandmother and turning the story into The Valley of Amazement, her first novel in 8 years. Our magical party at the Hudson Library Bar, where I introduced Elizabeth Gilbert to Amy Stewart and got to listen to them geek out about weird botany (including Stewart's explanation of why Gilbert's strong poison oak reaction may have triggered her allergy to mango skins""and why she should never risk sitting on a "true lacquered toilet seat").
Neal Thompson's Highlights
Unable to find a proper drink at the Javits Center, Colum McCann and I sat drinking fruit smoothies, discussing the trans-American bike trip he took at age 21, an epic adventure that formed his sense of storytelling. Fittingly (for a book called TransAtlantic), McCann had just flown back from Ireland the previous night. Jet-lagged and bleary, he realized the smoothie was better fuel than a whiskey at noon on a Saturday.
Robin A. Rothman's Highlights
Narrowing down my (hypothetical) debut Karaoke song options with Rob Sheffield, author of Turn Around Bright Eyes: The Rituals of Love and Karaoke. Enjoying an amazing meal in the midst of a Claudia Roth Pierpont, Mary Kay Zuravleff, and John Freeman triangle. Great writers, great minds, and great conversationalists. Geeking out at the Rizzoli booth over zombies, Star Trek, and (believe it!) the combination of the two.
Don't miss out on the fun! Be a part of the action next year as a Power Reader. Check in with the BEA web site for more information. See you there!


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Why Merenda?
Merenda delivers
- The only Edge Banding manufacturer in Ireland and the British Isles
- Family business with Family values
- Focused on innovation & product development
- Maintain a high standard of excellence in its Edge Banding manufacturing facility
- Long serving employees who value the needs of Merenda customers
- Fully FSC® certified manufacturer.
- Recycles 90% of wood waste into domestic fuels briquettes.
- Consistent quality and short lead times
- 24/48 hour delivery for stock items
- Extensive range in all specifications to satisfy customer requirements
- Expansive global distribution network
- Look for FSC® certified products


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Sony revealed the PlayStation 4 last Wednesday at the PlayStation Meeting to ring in the next generation of gaming, but one thing took everyone by surprise--it didn't show off the physical console.
Ever since the meeting ended, the gaming media and community have been filled with a variety of opinions (mostly negative) over Sony not showing the PS4 console at the event. I feel with this being such a huge topic to some, I had to share my own opinion. Shall we start?
First off, we must understand that we are gamers and not technology fashion experts. Our goal as gamers is to play games. What plays games? The technological components inside, or the pretty little plastic box on the outside? My mind is boggled beyond human understanding over why this argument is even happening in the first place. Sony representatives showed us the controller and how it works, they showed us games with [some] gameplay footage, and they told us about many functions and the innards of the console itself.
Listen, if you want to stare at a box and base your opinion of it off of how it looks, great, but as a hardcore gamer I want a machine that plays my games well and won't screw up (keep telling me that your Xbox 360 with RROD or PS3 with YLOD are awesome and attractive). We recently covered an interview with a very unhappy SCE U.K. boss that clearly shows the frustration on Sony's side over everyone's illogical complaints. If I were in their shoes, I would be biting my tongue so hard until it came off.
It must be insane working for Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo during a time when new consoles are revealed. It's not easy working to keep the press and gamers happy, but I admire them for at least doing their best to fight back the negativity and providing us quality gaming machines that we'll end up loving--regardless of how it looks--down the road. As gamers, it is our duty to help build the gaming market. If we are too focused on what a console looks like on the outside instead of being thankful for what is on the inside, then we lose who we really are: Gamers.
It's absolutely saddening to see such immaturity hit our community like this over something so small. If anything, this argument is just as childish as console wars. If anything, my mind is focused more on the future of gaming and not what a piece of plastic looks like. If I were to pick a fight with Sony, it would be the awful looking design of the PS3 Super Slim model, but I won't because I know that even though the system looks cheap, the power inside it shows beauty. As our mothers taught us, it's what's on the inside that truly counts. Viva Gaming!


text: Morning Moose Best Bikini Contest Help New User: Welcome Submission View Entries Vote Winner Registration Welcome to the Morning Moose Best Bikini Contest! It's the Morning Moose Best Bikini Contest presented by Central City Liquor....the best bikini in town could win $500. Get us your picture by August 18th to enter. Brought to you by Central City Liquor—The city's largest selection on single malt Scotch—and LAZER 103.3 ! Good luck! Date/Times All times are in Central Time. Completed Current Future Submission Period Voting Period Mon, Aug 05 2013 12:00 AM - Sun, Aug 18 2013 11:59 PM Mon, Aug 19 2013 12:00 AM - Sun, Aug 25 2013 5:00 PM Official Rules Help Feedback Morning Moose Best Bikini Contest Powered by © UPICKEM All rights reserved.


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I think it would look good at the end if we had a page where it went
Printable View
I think it would look good at the end if we had a page where it went
how about, instead of talking about new stories, you tell me who it was that killed celery
Once upon a time there was a....
Who lived in the kingdom of...
Dogar's Asshole
sorry, i prefer fiction
i remember i started a spin-off story that was going to be a goodfellas/godfather type thing about the rise of the spamito family
then i realised it was a terrible idea
and i mean a proper story guys where we each write one chapter! most of us are pretty good at writing and we could all edit it via google docs or something
Well Almaster, start us off... give a good chapter.
would be happy to
You know... I think a shared universe anthology would actually be a good start. Instead of trying to get chapters in the same story coordinated, we think up a particular setting/event and everyone basically do a short story happening there. They can be linked/play off each other without having to be directly related. That would account for the various writing styles of the contributors and keep the work from having too much jarring change.
well would we be able to make up the parameters of the world as we went along. i really didn't like those massive background things you and keke used to do, just because i like a world that gets explained as part of the short stories themselves. that's what a macguffin is for... have some kind of crisis just so you get the opportunity of describing some totally radical fantasy world
No, the world doesn't have to be completely defined to start out with, but that journey of discovery is more on the reader. As writers we need to have some idea of what we're working with.
no, fuck the concept of a big fantastical universe. it'll be like the series of unfortunate events where the era is unclear because of the abundance of different types of old and new technologies being used. the stories focus on the people, not the world which they inhibit
Didn't somebody make a fanfiction based on PD?


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The Walking Dead Season 4, Episode 5 Preview: Internment
By Kelly West 3 years ago comments
Things not being like they were seems like a recurring theme for The Walking Dead. Of course, the same could be argued about life, but for the sake of this series, drastic change seems to be around every corner. Not everyone gets to live is a quote from the clip we have from next Sunday nights episode of TWD, Internment, and that too seems to succinctly sum up this series. But before we get to that, the preview above is an indication that this hiatus from the prison is over.
Last night, I noted how depressing this series has gotten, but we may have gotten off easy by having an episode off from prison sickness and death. Not that the foraging trip has been a picnic. Thereve been zombie attacks, Tyreese seems on the verge of losing it completely, Bobs inching his way off the wagon and Rick sent Carol packing. But all of that sort of pales by comparison to the state of the prison, where people are bleeding out their eyes and trying desperately to hang on while they wait for medication. The prison gates may keep the walkers out, but they cant keep the sickness out, and Hershel cant heal anyone with just a kind bedside manner.
Speaking of which, that brings us to the mentioned clip from Internment, which has Hershel sitting with one of the sick people, Caleb.
While the preview indicates that Rick, Michonne and Daryl (and presumably Bob and Tyreese) have made it back to the prison, that might not have happened in time to save everyone with the medications they have. Its not looking good for Caleb, at least. But I wonder if his advice to Hershel about letting patients go will stick with the man as he continues to try to treat people.
The Walking Dead airs Sunday at 9:00 p.m. ET on AMC.
And check out this inside look at last nights Indifference, which has the cast and writers talking a little bit about the state of the characters and what theyre going through as the episode plays out.
As much as I understand Ricks choice for sending Carol away, Im still not sure it was the right one. Was she an asset or a liability? I guess thats up for debate. And up for speculation is if and when well see her next. Will she run into the Governor or some other trouble on her way out? Or is she gone for good?
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Heartwork Store Profile
- Location: online only
- Website: heartwork.com
Store History
- Founded: 2012
- Founded by: Karen John
- Headquarters: Portland, OR
Heartwork is an online retailer of furniture and accessories supporting start-ups and small businesses. We believe in good design and that a considered workplace is a better workplace - one that can be both more productive and enjoyable.

 Whether you are working alone, in pairs, or in teams - your space should reflect your company's unique culture, and respond to how you work best. At Heartwork, we provide simple, creative solutions for the way we work today.
Around the Web
- Heartwork Metal Storage [Houzz]
- Heartwork Metal Storage [Facebook]
- Heartwork Products [Pinterest]


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Jeannine M. Kleihauer
Jeannine M. Kleihauer, 79, of Brunsville, Iowa passed away Sunday, May 12, 2013 at the Plymouth Manor Care Center in Le Mars.
Services will be 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, May 15, 2012 at Christ Lutheran Church, Grant Township, rural Le Mars, Iowa with Reverend Ben Worley officiating. Inurnment will be in Memorial Cemetery, Le Mars. Visitation with the family present will be from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 14, 2013 at the Carlsen Funeral Home in Le Mars. Visitation will continue Wednesday morning at the church form 10:00 a.m. until service time. Expression of sympathies can be extended to the family through www.carlsenfuneralhome.com.
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Wealth is prevalent throughout Orlando's Hidden Valley neighborhood, deeming it a favorable (if not selective) area. This neighborhood is a good fit for potential renters with high, yet specific, expectations. Living in Hidden Valley, a Orlando neighborhood, gives residents access to restaurants nearby, such as Nine 18 in the neighborhood of Grand Cypress. Apartments for rent in Hidden Valley are bordered by Grand Cypress and Doctor Phillips.
In your quest for the next great place, be sure to use our powerful apartment finder tool and check apartment ratings and reviews.
Neighborhood School Stats
The schools near the apartments in Hidden Valley are Dr. Phillips High School, Hunters Creek Middle School and Montessori World School. Though the information here is meant to give you a good approximation of the school district options near the apartments for rent in the area, it's generally a good idea to confer with local district officials for the ultimate word on what schools your children will attend.
The Orange County Public district has 143 elementary schools, 52 middle schools and 40 high schools, and the ratio of students to teachers is more favorable than Schooldistrictof Osceloa County School District. Orange County Public district also has a smaller population of students than Schooldistrictof Osceloa County School District. Orange County Public district has a higher Great Schools score and more blue ribbon schools than the Schooldistrictof Osceloa County School District.
Cost of Living and Select Demographics
The neighborhoods of Hidden Valley and Grand Cypress are the same in terms of household size. The average household size in both neighborhoods is 2.56 inhabitants.
With an average household income of $155.1K, Hidden Valley's pay scale is similar to that of Grand Cypress.


text: Presented by Cahaba Cycles and Bici Coop. Faris is boosting the series once again by supplying the goods for you guys, be sure to thank him. Bici Coop are providing the muscle and time required to make the magic, be sure to stop by the coop if you are around to see what they are all about – equal access!


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LTE1800: Sierra Wireless Whitepaper
January 1, 2011
Technology, Refarming
LTE, 1800 MHz
Technical paper
A Versatile Platform for Connected Devices and Applications: This paper examines the growing industry adoption of LTE and LTE1800, and the reasons for this growth. It discusses the unique requirements of LTE1800 and how device manufacturers and application developers can most effectively meet them. Finally, the paper details the best practices and qualifi cations that should be considered when evaluating cellular technology partners for LTE-connected devices and applications.Back


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Employer -
Vision for Education
Job title -
Design, Textile & Food Teacher
Reference number -
Sector -
Public - local government
Department -
Education Department
Location -
Salary -
£105 - £157.50 per day
Hours -
Closing date -
18 Jul 2014 23:59
Job description
Vision For Education are looking for , Food specialist with a second subject of Textiles for schools in the Teeside Area to cover long term assisngments and day to day cover. The successful candidate will assess pupils' learning, differentiate where needed and create and maintain a positive learning environment within the classroom. Vision for Education was started in 2008 by a group of like minded individuals with a desire for providing a quality service to customers. Our promise is to serve the education community, be it Teachers, Schools or Students alike to the highest possible standards. It is vital that you hold a valid, recognised, teaching qualification and have had at least 6 weeks recent experience of teaching in the UK. You must also be eligible to work in the UK as a temporary worker. We must be able to obtain references from schools where you have previously taught.
Vision also offers a pension (Qualifying Periods Apply).
Contact information
Heather Matthews
Vision for Education
251 - 255 Linthorpe Road
01642 241480
Contact email:


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Paul E. Sokolofski
April 26, 2013
Paul E. Sokolofski, 38, of Conyngham passed away suddenly Friday from injuries sustained in an automobile accident near Fern Glen.
Born in Hazleton on April 18, 1975, he was the son of Paul R. and Ingeborg (Johanson) Sokolofski, and resided in Conyngham for the past year after moving from Sugarloaf.
He was employed as a machine operator by Bimbo Bakery, Valmont Industrial Park.
He was a member of the Army Reserve for six years.
Paul was a member of St. John Bosco Roman Catholic Church, Conyngham, and also attended Penn State University, University Park.
He was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Joseph P. Sokolofski, and maternal grandparents, Anthony and Emma Vendetti.
Surviving, in addition to his parents, are a brother, Jesse Sokolofski, Sugarloaf; and paternal grandmother, Clara Sokolofski, West Hazleton.
All services will be held privately and at the convenience of the family.
Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, or online at www.st jude.org.
Harman Funeral Homes and Crematory Inc. (West), 1265 Rock Glen Road, Rock Glen, is assisting the family with the arrangements.
Online condolences may be entered and more information is available at www .harmanfuneral.com.
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Tensions in Family Farm Businesses
Posted: November 8, 2004
Family business and conflict go hand in hand. Some families can deal with the conflict in a healthy way and turn it into creative energy; other businesses struggle with silent or open conflict and watch as it wrecks the business in either the short or long term. Conflict among spouses can be especially damaging. Recent research by the University of Minnesota helps shed some light on conflict among farm business owning couples.
Husbands and wives were asked about business issues that generated tension in the family. They agreed on the amount of tension caused by role conflict (issues such as who does what and who has authority) and succession. However, significant differences exist among husbands and wives over issues such as unfair compensation and workloads, and especially regarding competition for resources between family and business. In each case, wives found these issues to be significantly more upsetting than husbands.
The spouses were asked to rank order ten family and business goals from most important to least important. Husbands' top five, with most important first, were: profit, good family relationships, balance between work and family, long-term business viability, and secure future for younger family members. Wives' top five were: good family relationships, profit, balance between work and family, growth of the business, and longer-term business viability. It's interesting to note that the lists are more similar than different.
It's important for every business, especially family ones, to discuss goals and make plans for the future of the business. Different family members often have different points of view about which business and family goals are most important and how they should be achieved.
Danes, S.M. and Yoon, G.L. (2004). Tensions generated by business issues in farm business-owning couples. Family Relations, 53, 357-366.
Richard Stup, Senior Extension Associate, Human Resource Specialist, Penn State Dairy Alliance


text:
National Association of Practical Nurse Education and Service (NAPNES) offers courseware for LPN/LVN and Allied Health Professional certifications. The NAPNES Certifications are nationally recognized and respected as the premier educational tool against which Practical and Vocational Nurses and other Healthcare Professionals measure their knowledge, build skills, and demonstrate their employability.
The NAPNES Advanced Education Certifications will give the LP/VN and Allied Healthcare Professional an edge in the industry, where many employers will pay an additional hourly rate for certified professionals in specific areas. That can mean an additional monthly pay increase; better retention and advancement of your position and employability!
In our ever-changing world of healthcare, it is important that you seek additional education and training whenever possible. The NAPNES Advanced Education Certifications are designed to help you develop the skills, knowledge, and professionalism to launch your new career or advance in your current position.
Explore our certification programs that are designed to help you develop the skills, knowledge, and professionalism to launch a new career or advance in your current position.


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Man charged with selling counterfeit gold, silver
A Luzerne man accused of peddling fake gold and silver bars and coins on Craigslist was hiding hundreds of dollars in cash in his rectum when booked in jail, according to police.
David E. Steele, 42, of 484 Charles St., is charged with two felony counts of theft by deception, a felony charge of illegally possessing a controlled substance and misdemeanor counts of resisting arrest and possessing drug paraphernalia.
According to a police affidavit filed in court, brothers Johnathan Luckenbaugh and Justin Luckenbaugh contacted investigators about 9 p.m. Friday to report the fraudulent transactions.
The pair told police they had paid Steele $12,655 for multiple 10-ounce silver bars, 1-ounce silver coins, 1-ounce silver bars and a 1-ounce gold bar between January and April 11.
The men reported that Steele would contact them by phone and they would go to his home to buy the metals.
But after their last transaction, the men examined the supposed Engelhard silver bars and realized there were no serial numbers.
"Victims stated that is when they knew something was not right with the gold and silver and realized they were fake," the affidavit says.
Police say the brothers contacted Steele, who told them they could get their money back because the metals were not gold or silver. But Steele was supposed to call them back and never did, police said.
Police got a search warrant and arrived to see Steele look out his window, turn off all the lights and then hide, according to the affidavit.
Investigators entered the home, finding Steele hiding in a cabinet in a front work room containing 15 bundles of heroin, police said. Police seized fake gold and silver bars from the house along with drug paraphernalia found in the basement.
When he was being booked into the Luzerne County Correctional Facility on a probation violation, authorities found $330 stashed in his rectum, according to police.
Steele is due in court for an arraignment at 11 a.m. April 25.
firstname.lastname@example.com, 570-821-2058
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|Back to the search
Opening Hours:
When special exhibitions are shown Tue-Fri 5-7 pm, Thu 10 am - 12 pm and 3 - 5 pm, Sat 11 am - 1 pm, groups / school classes also outside the opening hours by appointment
The establishment of the "Stadtmuseum Pinneberg" (Pinneberg town museum) was begun in January 1995. It is housed in the "Alte Amtsgericht" (old county court) from 1855 in the centre of the striving town in the environs of Hamburg. Changing exhibitions are presented on the ground floor. On the first floor the practice of the dentist and painter Rudolph Grothkop, who was born in Pinneberg in 1908, is shown. It dates from the early 20th century and was a studio at the same time. A small section on town history is located in the annexe.
Changing exhibitions are also presented in the "Landdrostei" (bailiwick) nearby.
thematic focus: Regional history/ Town history, Folklore
Guided tours
Holiday activities
educational offers for school classes
museum café
museum shop
Catalogue on the Rudolph Grothkop exhibition
Brochure on the school history of Pinneberg
Responsible body of the museum is the town of Pinneberg
Träger des Museums ist die Stadt Pinneberg
Motorway A 23 exit Pinneberg Mitte, in the direction of the train station


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Community Status Updates
open your eyes and get a grip. stop posting shit on facebook cause when the shit his the fan every prick under the sun will laugh at youMay 31 2012 02:08 AM
TreeFittyCome with me
And you'll be
In a world of
Pure imagination
Take a look
And you'll see
Into your imagination
We'll begin
With a spin
Traveling in
The world of my creation
What we'll see
Will defy
If you want to view paradise
Simply look around and view it
Anything you want to, do it
Wanta change the world?
There's nothing
To it
There is no
May 31 2012 09:38 AM
TreeFittyeh, no one really knows the rest of the words anyway.
May 31 2012 09:39 AM
trathenI love you all too :)
May 31 2012 11:42 PM


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Archive for August, 2011
Social networking for business benefits, YES it works!
Aug 18th
Why am I waving my fist in the air? You will just have to click on the video to see!
I'm just not much of a video guy but hey, I'm trying! Here's a little story about a wide web of social connections coming together over a period of two years to create extraordinary new economic value for me, a university, a client, and several valued business partners.
Social networking for business benefits, YES it works!
What is your best social networking story? Would you share an experience in the comment section?
How to grow your blog like a Fortune 500 company
Aug 17th
By Srivinas Rao, Contributing {grow} Columnist
If there's one exercise that continually causes my blog to grow, it's conducting a quarterly review. If you want your blog to turn into a business you have to treat it accordingly. Fortune 500 Companies do quarterly reports, so why not model some of their best practices?
Why You Should Do This
As bloggers we're often caught up in the day to day activities of writing posts, commenting on blogs and interacting with people across various social media channels and it can feel like we're not accomplishing much. We have a tendency to focus on how far we have to go rather than looking back at just how far we've come. The process of conducting a quarterly review will motivate you to keep charging forward because you'll get a very clear look at just how much you've accomplished. It will also give you insights into what worked, what didn't work and what you can do differently.
The Review Process
Conducting a review is something you should expect to spend a few solid hours on if you want to get the most value possible out of it. The review can be broken up into 3 main categories: traffic+subscribers, revenue, and projects.
Traffic + Subscribers
Traffic is the biggest concern of many early stage bloggers and you should remember that not all traffic is created equal and that quality always trumps quantity. That being said reviewing your traffic on a quarterly basis can give you some deep insights into things you can do differently to increase it.
1. Compare to the Previous Quarter:
Perhaps the most important thing to consider when it comes to traffic is that you are showing a pattern of growth. If you do a comparison and your traffic has declined, then you'll need to think about what might be the cause:
- Are you posting enough?
- Are you building the right relationships?
- Is your content worth sharing?
- Do you need to write more guest posts?
There are a number of factors that could cause your traffic to decline or increase. Choose one area to improve and stick to it over the course of the next quarter.
2. Look at Referral Traffic:
Take a look at where your referral traffic is coming from. You'll notice that you get much more traffic when you guest post on certain blogs. If that's the case reach out to the author of the blog and ask if you can be a guest contributor again. Connect with the readers of that blog by visiting theirs.
3. Look at Subscribers
After two years of blogging, all I can say is that your email list is gold. Every successful blogger will tell you "the money is in the list." While RSS subscribers are nice and bring people back to your blog, I'd recommend shifting your entire focus to your email list. Many of us neglect our lists because we're writing so much content for our own blogs. While the numbers are important, what you need to concern yourself most with is a pattern of growth. If you're not seeing growth, then you'll want to make some adjustments. Below I've suggested a few ideas to improve your email list.
- One simple thing that will help you to improve your newsletter is repurposing content from your archives. Most blog archives are sitting around collecting dust. You can take 5-6 of your best blog posts and make them the content of your autoresponder sequence.
- Interview somebody well known in your niche and give away the interview as a bonus for signing up for your newsletter
- Create a free e-book. But make sure it is just as good as something people would pay for. If the things you provide for free are of no value then it's unlikely anbody will buy from you.
I usually have between 2-3 project goals every quarter. Here are some sample projects that you could work on over the course of any quarter
- A Guest Posting Campaign
- A free E-book or Manifesto
- A course or product
In the review process you really want to make sure that you have made some progress on at least one of your projects. If you've made no progress on any of your projects from the previous quarter, you might want to consider taking some of them off your list.
The final thing that I tend to review every quarter is the revenue that I've generated. The best way to do this is to break up the revenue by categories. For example you may generate revenue in the following ways:
- Consulting
- Products
- Advertising Revenue
It's important to break this up into categories so you can get a sense of what efforts are giving you your highest ROI. This helps you to prioritize your revenue generating efforts.
Setting up Your Quarterly Marketing Plan and Goals
Don't have Too Many Goals
This might seem counter-intuitive, but the more goals you set the less you seem to get done. The list will seem so daunting that you'll never take any action towards the goals on the list. That's why I recommend you set less goals. If you happened to get those goals done you can always add more to the list later in the quarter. Set 1-2 Goals in Each Area.
Traffic + Subscriber Goals:
Traffic and subscriber goals are interesting because the end result is really not completely in your control. All you can do is take certain actions to move in the direction of your goal. That being said, I think it can be quite valuable to set a traffic and subscriber goal since it's keeps you focused on how to grow your audience. For example, you could set a goal of reaching 1000 total subscribers by the next quarter if you are at 500 now. The real value is not reaching the number itself, but learning how to reach it. Once you've done it once, you can repeat the process and grow by another 1000 subscribers. Just have a target to aim for over the course of a quarter.
Project Goals
I recommend that you make it a goal to complete at least one project every quarter. Rather than set a number of different project goals and scatter your effort, focus on one and make it your mission to finish it. If you want to write an e-book or launch a product make that your project for the quarter. As I said before, you can always add more projects when you complete one. In fact if you have less things on your list and complete them you'll be motivated to keep moving forward.
Revenue Goals
When you set a revenue goal, set something that you think is actually achievable. Chances are that if you are a beginning blogger you are not going to make a million dollars by the end of the quarter. Setting that kind of goal and not meeting it will only frustrate you. Once you start with a number in mind, you'll be able to start brainstorming the different ways that you'll hit your revenue goal. It could be a combination of the following:
- Product Sales
- Consulting
- Speaking
- Advertising Revenue
If you have an opportunity to capitalize on low hanging fruit, then do it. Even if it is not a lot of money it will give you the confidence to keep going.
Deviate from Your Plan (when it makes sense)
One final caveat I'd like to add is that you shouldn't be afraid to deviate from your plan. Opportunities will arise, your business will go through changes, and certain actions will make more sense than the ones you originally planned out at the beginning of the quarter. If you're too stubborn about your goals, you might miss out on fantastic opportunities. For example, if somebody comes to you and asks you to partner with them on a product launch, be open to that because it could lead to many other things in the future.The quarterly review might be a time consuming process, but it's a very worthwhile one. It will give you a tremendous amount of insight into the growth of your blog and if you act on those insights your blog will continually grow.
Below you'll find links to sample monthly/quarterly reviews from my blog and two others that I think do a fantastic job of breaking down everything they're up to.
- The Smart Passive Income Monthly Reports
- Think Traffic Monthly Reports
- The SKool of Life Quarterly Marketing Plan Q2 Review
How do you manage the long-term goals of your blog?
Srinivas Rao is the host and co-founder of BlogcastFM, a podcast to help you take your blog to the next level. He also writes about personal development at The Skool of Life. You can download his free webinar on the 7 Pillars of Blog Traffic.
10 ways to use psychology to lure web customers
Aug 16th
I've been researching and thinking about the psychology of the social web and our Internet relationships. There are many common psychological techniques you can use in your every day Internet marketing. Here are a few ideas to "psych" your visitors into spending more time on your website and your blog.
1) Social proof is king
In real life, "social proof" is the trappings of society that impart influence. A person's height, a fancy car, a diploma … all help determine influence, subconsciously. Since we don't have those physical clues in the online world, we look to "badges" like Twitter followers and Klout scores to provide a shortcut assessment.
With the density of information in today's world, these badges are more important than ever. In fact they may be even more important than your real knowledge, experience and accomplishments. Strange but true. Think about your favorite blogger. I'll bet you notice some of their badges like followers, AdAge rank, or tweets on a blog post, before you investigate their education or level of professional experience.
We make the same assessments about websites and blogs. If you see a lot of tweets and comments, testimonies and awards, you assume something good is going on there.
Another way to accomplish this on a website is product reviews and ratings. Make sure ratings and reviews are clearly displayed on your site or product pages. Allow users to include information about themselves such as their gender, name, location and occupation. This makes the reviews even more compelling since it can create a connection to the demographics of your site visitors.
2) Give web tourists a reason to become residents
In the first few seconds you have a visitor on your site, are you giving them a reason to stay a little longer to learn about you? This is commonly called a "call to action." On my website, you can click to see free materials, download an eBook, watch videos, read case studies, listen to a podcast, read my blog … basically I give people lots of reasons to hang around by providing valuable material that would interest my target customer.
On my blog one of the most effective devices I have to help people stick around is the "Linked Within" app at the bottom of each post suggesting further reading. This dramatically increases time on the site and increases page views on my blog by about 8 percent.
3) Put the most important action at the top
When you're plotting out your call to actions, put your most important one first. The idea behind this is simple: what comes first is unconsciously regarded as the best. I've been experimenting with this myself. One other consideration — if you're stacking your calls to action down the right side of your page, keep in mind that the top right corner of your website is a blind spot. This is spooky but it really is true.
One time I was offering a free download at the upper right corner of my site. I was in a meeting with a web designer and was talking about the problem in front of a huge display screen of my website. I said "Without looking at the screen, can you tell me if I have a free download offer on my landing page?" Although we had been looking at the page all morning, he completely missed this element. So, highlight your best offers first, but watch where you place them!
4) Provide instant gratification
When deciding to make a purchase, we are often influenced by how fast we can have the product. Reduce or eliminate fields required to purchase or engage. The other day I was required to register to comment on a blog. FAIL!
In a famous experiment participants were asked to choose between getting $5 now or $40 at a later date. MRI scans showed that when people thought about getting the money right away, the mid brain, or emotional center of the brain fired up. Even if you're not selling something, use words like "instantly" or immediately in your content and headlines.
5) Illusion of scarcity
When something has a limited amount to it, its assumed value increases. We will want it even more. Make your product/offering limited by showing a limited stock quantity or limited time frame. This is a common tactic that most Internet marketers and offline/online retailers use. And it works. Because we feel good when we gain objects of value.
6) Build reciprocity
Reciprocity is a big deal on the social web. I'm not sure it created influence, but adding up all these little low-impact "likes" and "tweets" can certainly create leverage over time. This is one of the oldest sales tricks in the book. When you give something away on your web site, it triggers a sensation of indebtedness in your visitor's mind. You can give away things like free product add-ons, guidebooks, content, downloads, free shipping etc.
Studies show visitors are twice as likely to complete a survey form after they were given access to free useful information.
7. Be sexy
Sex sells. Always has. Always will. Even Zappos the online shoe store is using pictures of naked people in their ads. This is a powerful human motivator but I haven't quite mastered this on my website! I'm not sure sex is what comes to mind when you read my blog. If it does, please let me know. I'd like to hear about that!
8. Speak to your visitor by using the word 'You'
Let's compare this simple website copy:
"This new web service has many built-in features that allow for photos to be uploaded, organized, and stored. Photos can be searched for with only a few steps."
"You can upload your photos quickly, organize them any way you want to, and then store them so that they are easy to share with your friends. You can find any photo with only a few steps."
Write as if you're talking to a person sitting right next to you. She is your prospective customer. She is your blog reader. And she is your friend. Don't be afraid to use slang or community lingo to connect to their thought processes. Communicate about what she needs, not what you sell. There's a difference.
9) Get your visitors to make a commitment
Your goal is to drive people to take some action: buy, download, register, etc. And to do that, you need to convert visitors from lurkers to engaged participants. Even the simple act of writing, typing or signing something strengthens commitment to your website/company/brand. The more public the commitment, the stronger it will be.
Getting your visitors to commit to your website can be as easy as getting them to comment on your blog. Polls and surveys work equally well too because they make your visitors interact with you.
10) Use images that demonstrate similarity and attractiveness
Use images of attractive people who are similar to your target market's demographic profile. People are most influenced by people they deem to be both attractive and similar to them. The brain is unconsciously sizing up people you see and their attractiveness can rub off on your website itself, much like how an attractive person in a cellphone ad makes the cellphone look more enticing.
This doesn't just apply to images. Most Internet marketers know that in order to appeal to a certain group of people, you need a human face that will be the focal point of their empathy and connection. Hence, the widespread use of marketing personas.
I hope you've benefited from these ideas. If the article made you think, please consider sharing it with others and commenting below. Thanks!
The evolution of social media power and influence
Aug 14th
I was recently interviewed about Klout and social influence by Vinícius Cherobino of Galileu, a scientific magazine in Brazil. I thought his questions were especially good and wanted to share this content with you:
Galileu: How do you view the rankings and people's influence score published on the Internet (such as Klout or Peer Index)? What are the main consequences of this process?
Schaefer: There are two quite interesting implications of this development. First, many people are upset over the fact that they are being publicly rated, evaluated and compared. The debates on this topic can be quite emotional! On the other hand, this is a historically important development for marketers. It's certainly not a perfect system, but we are taking the first steps toward quantifying influence, or at least a small slice of it. Companies like Klout are in the silent movie stage. Let's give them time to see how it works out.
We are currently seeing many companies creating their own influence rankings with their own methodology. How do you think this will evolve? Will it be a market with many players or only a few?
I think it will develop in several ways. Although in most industries there are frequently 2-3 strong competitors, on the Internet, typically just one company dominates a niche. We like to have companies compete for our money, but we don't like it when they compete for our attention. Humans have limited time and attention and usually we focus on one platform over time. So I think a leading company will emerge. However, I think several niches could emerge too. The entry barriers are relatively low. So why wouldn't we have applications rating teens, people in geographic regions, or single people?
After the evolution of influence scores, do you think it is possible to imagine every Internet user being judged by their position in the influence score (from possible employers to retail chains)?
There are limitless opportunities to use these scores. I heard of an interesting use where a company is looking at how connecting to people with high influence scores can affect the sentiment toward a company. It's mashing up two fields. Learning who true influencers are is an incredibly useful tool for many companies in almost any industry.
You mentioned the beginnings of a caste system in the Internet through the scores. How deep can this system can be? Do you think that a regular user will be able to defend him/herself of that?
This is a development that I think will drive some crazy, and unfortunate, behavior. People who have high influence scores will get lots of valuable gifts, even trips and vacations. People with low scores will get nothing. What do you think will happen? The people who get nothing will try any crazy scheme possible to get something or they will become resentful of those who are getting the gifts. I recommend that people stay centered and just be themselves. However, I don't think many people will follow that advice!
Some critics claimed that this kind of "influence ranking" tends to foster even more inequality on the web (VIPs have everything, regular users have nothing). How do you see this kind of critique?
Life is unequal. So it's no surprise that the web is unequal. But here is another way to look at it. Today, only the famous celebrities get free vacations, cars and endorsement deals. But now lots of normal people who just happen to be an expert and influential in something can experience a little celebrity too. It's a way for hard working people to get noticed and rewarded for their work too! Not everybody can be a movie star, but everybody can be influential in something and work hard to show it.
On the other hand, some defend the idea of democratization of influence. Not only politicians and actors, for instance, but regular users can fight for influence. What is your opinion?
I think this is definitely true. We are in the era of the citizen influencer. Everybody can have a voice. There are many common working people who can now be recognized for their authority. I think even I am an example of that. I'm not a pro athlete or celebrity. But I do work hard on my blog {grow} and it is making a difference in people's lives. So, yes, I am a common person but I have influence too.
Apparently, there is a gap between online influence and offline influence. Will the technology be able to bridge this? Or do you think this will remain in separate arenas?
This is really the core of the online influence debate. As far as I can see into the future, I think there will always be some disconnect between offline and online behavior. However, with geo-location applications it is becoming more possible to tie online behaviors with say, going to a store or eating at a restaurant. This is being recorded and connected to conversations. Augmented reality will take us even further in that direction. So there will be a bigger online-offline connection than people can imagine, I think. The technology is moving us toward that connection, not away from it.
How can the users' influence be combined with other types of data mining from social network sites? Could this mean more privacy concerns?
For the most part, the scores are being determined through public information like tweets and status updates. So it is aggregating and sorting information you are volunteering any way. In that respect I don't think there will be additional privacy concerns but I do think the profiling that will occur is going to startle people. But that is occurring everywhere. If I type an email in Google, moments later ads related to the subject of my email appear. That sort of profiling is at the heart of these advertising models and it will just get much more detailed and granular.
This could be another step of celebrity culture developing into the internet?
I think people make celebrities into celebrities, not the Internet! We are already in a celebrity culture. The Internet simply amplifies it.
What do you think? How is power and influence being re-defined on the Internet? Are you more influential online or offline?
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Building Community Resilience Through Action
The subject line might mislead you but I confess I'm no Robert M. Pirsig nor am I a professional bicycle mechanic. I have however been doing my own bike repairs and maintenance since I've been off my training wheels twenty some year by now. I've also read both of RMP's books several times and have found them to be essential reading and highly recommend them, especially his follow-up novel, Lila.…
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While we are busy working on the footage fro the Rally in Raleigh on November 13, 2010, we were able to put together this quick recap.
Get Out of Debt Guy – Twitter, G+, Facebook
I can always use your help. If you have a tip or information you want to share, you can get it to me confidentially if you click here.


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Interview with invasives expert Geoffrey Howard
20 May 2008 | Audio
Countries should avoid planting crops for biofuels that stand a high risk of becoming invasive species, according to a report released today.
The Global Invasive Species Programme has identified all the crops currently being used or considered for biofuel production and ranked them according to the risk they pose of becoming invasive species. IUCN's Geoffrey Howard explains. Run audio


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As parents we want to raise happy, successful people. While that might mean something different to everyone, I doubt that there are many of use who don't want our children to have a 'good' life. Why else would we put ourselves through the sleepless nights and worry and all that poop? We are working hard, every day, to advance our little ones from helpless newborns to productive members of society. Members who can take over from us, have children of their own, and [cue Elton John] take their own place in the circle of life.
It's fine to want good things for our kids, in fact there are probably few pursuits as worthwhile as raising the next generation. But where is the line between wanting good things, and projecting our own desires and personalities on to our kids? Most of us don't want to give our kids with the impression that they must achieve certain things to earn our love or esteem. We want to help our kids become the adults they were meant to be, and we probably also want them to visit us at Christmas. We don't want to leave them feeling inadequate and resentful.
I bring a whole lot of baggage to the table when I think about my children and encouraging them in their achievements. I am absolutely and completely addicted to praise. I did very well in school, and in university, too. On the whole I was always pretty well-behaved and compliant. My teachers loved me (probably because I was easy), and being the 'good' one became a part of my identity. Even as an adult I feel a certain thrill when I see a little red check mark beside my name, for any reason. I am good, good, good, and that's all I want to be.
There are downsides to being eternally good, of course. I am hesitant to pursue activities that I am not naturally adept at. I have a phenomenal fear of failure. I don't take criticism all that well. I have a false belief that if people aren't falling all over themselves to tell me how great I am there must be something terribly wrong. What I'm saying is that I have a lot of anxiety, and I do a lot of things to prove to myself and others how good I really am.
So, when I take my 4-year-old to gymnastics class, or swim class, I have to try very hard to remove my own feelings from the situation. I sit on my hands, find something else to do like knit or read, whatever I can find to distract myself. Because my daughter does not seem to share my compulsion towards goodness. She's not ill-behaved so much as a perfectly normal preschooler. Sometimes she wanders off, or fidgets, or doesn't listen. If she's at the end of a long line-up I guarantee you she will not stay in that line-up long enough to take her turn.
While I sit with the other parents some part of me is screaming, "Listen to your teacher! Be still! Don't pick your nose! You have to be good!" And an even bigger part is screaming, "What will they think of ME?!?!" Because my need for approval apparently extends to the 16-year-old kid who isn't able to convince my daughter to put her face in the water. I don't want her, or the other parents, to think I'm anything less than the perfect mom with perfect children.
I know I'm not the only one who struggles with this. I listen to the other moms as they talk about how their kids are the only ones who aren't listening, that their child is such a handful and he gets it from his father, certainly not from me. They're giving voice to my thoughts. And the funny thing is, I know that they're looking at my child and thinking she's better-behaved than their kid, even as I think the same thing about their little one. Because we're not really paying attention to what the other kids are doing we don't see every little squirm and fidget, it's always our own offspring who stand out in our minds.
I don't know what the answer is. For my part I will continue to try to butt out when my presence isn't necessary or helpful. I will try very hard not to let on how desperately I am seeking praise for myself and my kids. And I will have faith that as my children grow they will naturally have longer attention spans and be better able to listen and follow instructions. They will be able to make their way in the world, regardless of a dodgy performance at parent and tot skate. After all, there aren't many adults who leave the bank line-up because they're distracted by a shiny poster. I guess what I'm saying is that I will do my level best to trust and nurture my kids and keep my own issues to myself. I think maybe that's all I can do.
And if you have any brilliant suggestions for how to encourage children in a way that isn't overbearing I'd love to hear it. Or maybe you just have a story about how your preschooler refuses to pay attention at library story time. I'll take that, too. 🙂


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Another Failed Grand Plan In Europe
Via Peter Tchir of TF Market Advisors,
The last hour has spewed forth more disingenuous clap-trap from European finance ministers. From 'sufficiency of the firewall' to the 'absurdity of Spain needing a bailout', it beggars belief that these humans can look at themselves in the mirror every morning (as they feel the 'need' to lie' - or are simply ignorant of the reality).
European Sovereign Yields have been under pressure for most of the last month...seems the market doesn't buy the firewall idea...
The EFSF has committed €200 billion. Depending on how you viewed EFSF, the maximum was €440 billion of funding at the AAA level (which it still has from Moody's and Fitch). It could have been as much as €500 billion if it wasn't focused on that maximum rating.
So how did we get a headline of €800 billion?
€200 billion of EFSF money that has already been committed got counted. They can't commit it again. Yes this is money Europe has committed (more on how they fund it, later) which helped, but it cannot be committed again.
They also included €49 billion and €53 billion of loans already made to Greece under other EU programs as part of the firewall. Again, that €100 billion has already been spent, so it doesn't really add anything.
Prior to today, the EU had €300 billion of remaining capacity and had spent or committed €300 billion. Now they have €500 billion of free capacity.
Let's take a deeper look:
Last fall, Greece, Ireland, and Portugal had just over €600 billion of admitted debt (not the guaranteed hidden kind). So far, they have received €300 of EU commitments. Can we assume that a "bailout" is about 50% of a countries debt? Probably not, but it seems that the first round is less than 50%, but as it goes on, the amount grows beyond 50%, but it is eye opening, that 3 countries, with a total of €600 billion of debt, have needed €300 billion of support already – and look likely to need more. Ireland is getting a new extended payment plan. Portugal seems likely to need more. Greece may need more already to deal with the English law bonds, but in any case will likely draw down more.
So this €500 billion that is remaining, has to not only continue to support the existing countries, but in theory needs to deal with Spain and Italy. With €700 billion and €1.6 trillion, that seems dubious, especially once the mechanics are understood, but before we get to that, let's look at what the EFSF has already done.
EFSF has committed €200 billion, but so far has issued only €63 billion of bonds (including €9 billion of money market funds).
So EFSF has to come to market with €137 billion soon. That money only gets the highest ratings if it relies on the guarantees of the top 6 countries. The risk on this money is mainly taken on by Germany and France. Fortunately for them, these risks don't show up anywhere in their current budgets or debt. They should. The risks are real.
€30 billion of the EFSF bonds were issued to holders of old Greek bonds as PSI. In order to account for this "liability" the EFSF needed to create an asset. It did, it lent the money to Greece as part of the bailout. There is some sort of "co-financing" arrangement between the EFSF and Greece that allegedly mimics what the public sector got. If that is the case, the EFSF already has a €24 billion hole (their €30 billion asset has a market value of 20%). Who knows what exactly the EFSF is committing to, but some of it is likely to be equity in banks as part of recapitalization of bad banks. The likelihood of getting all that money back is zero. In fact, with how bad Greece is, and how desperate everyone seems to find only band-aids, it is more likely they lose 100% than that they recover 100%. So the EFSF's €200 billion is likely to have serious losses, and even today an assessment of the value of their assets vs liabilities would be horrible. We will see whether those losses are shared by everyone, or eventually wind up in the lap of France, Germany and the Netherlands (Finland already got collateral for much of their EFSF exposure).
So, a good portion of the EFSF's existing commitments are due to lose money, and the EFSF is yet to fund much of the commitments. They will be able to fund it, because of their rating, and because the ECB will happily take EFSF bonds as collateral, but following EFSF more closely is important. At some point in time, someone in Germany will notice that their guarantees have become losses and actually do count.
ESM – Paid-in Capital? Not so much
Today's press release actually had a lot of numbers, unlike many prior press releases. Conspicuously absent were the amounts of paid-in capital. The timeframe was mentioned, but the amounts were never discussed. One would almost believe that by 2014 the ESM will have its full paid-in capital. Actually, it will, it is just that the amount is €80 billion, not €500 billion. You would like to think that the total paid in capital will be €500 billion. It won't. It is only designed to be €80. That is consistent with the 15% minimum target. So once again, ESM will not have much actual capital, and will rely on issuing bonds based on future commitments and guarantees.
This is where things really start to break down.
Portugal, Ireland, and Greece may need more money. Fine, the ESM will either use up capital that has been paid in by all the members or will issue bonds and fund those requests. These 3 countries have already "stepped out" so don't contribute to ESM. Since by then EFSF will have issued €200 billion of guaranteed debt, the total program will be over €200 billion. How much appetite is there if the credit quality of the remaining guarantors continues to get worse? France will have 95% debt to GDP in 2014 if they meet their aggressive targets. Those don't include losses on their bailout contributions, so could easily get much worse from that, let alone for a slowing economy. I think there are real issues with how feasible it will be for the ESM to issue that much debt based on guarantees.
But that isn't the real problem. What happens if Spain wants money? Spain will then "step" out. Spain will not fund themselves. They are likely to do this ahead of one of the scheduled "paid in" capital calls, since it would make no sense to pay in capital once it becomes inevitable that it will need money. The moment Spain "steps" out, what will other countries do? If I'm one of the small, relatively weak countries, I run for the hills. If Spain is stepping out and asking for money there is almost no chance of the firewall working. So I would keep my money and start protecting myself from the fallout rather than giving away my last bit of money in a futile effort. If Italy needs to tap the "firewall" it is lights out. Not only are Spain and Italy the 4th and 3rd largest "commitment providers" they have debt that is so big, €500 billion is barely a drop in the bucket. The entire burden of a Spanish or Italian bailout would almost certainly fall on the shoulders of France and Germany as both Spain and Italy would "step out". If Italy tried to remain and play the good technocrat puppet, how long would the market be able to resist selling off their debt based on the new commitments? Probably only until traders could stop laughing at the hubris of Italy throwing money to Spain.
So at some point in the near future there will be about €40 billion of money sitting in the ESM and a bunch of promises from countries failing to live up to existing debt obligations, and that is the big firewall? The correlation between who is providing the guarantees and who will need them cannot be ignored. This new €500 billion number doesn't exist, it's not just meaningless, it's non-existent if Italy or Spain needs money.
People can take away whatever they want, but unlike LTRO which had real injections of liquidity, this is just like the July plans from last year and the November "grand" plans. It sounds great, especially when too many people are willing to blindly follow what the politicians want them to, but it doesn't work in practice.
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Wow, they never stop trying though.
Spain was coming and everybody knew it. They just couldn't put themselves to do anything about it.
Default already, bitchez!!!
What the hell is taking so long?
Why does this crap keep dragging out?
The invisible hand always appears at the last second
Roses are red
Violets are blue
If you don't see this as bullish
Then you don't have a clue
From 'sufficiency of the firewall' to the 'absurdity of Spain needing a bailout'
"Subprime is contained"...
~ Ben Shalom Bernanke
Nevermind, no one cares as the only thing that matters, stocks, are at highs of the day. Hooray for full retard USA equities.
You guys see this report on metals manipulation? : http://www.milesfranklin.com/uploads/TRReport26.pdf
"This report provides proof of massive manipulation
(suppression) of the gold price since the US sovereign
credit downgrade on 5 August 2011. There are scores
of "smoking guns" in the pages below. Rigging the gold
market violates Section 1 of the Sherman Act and Section
9(a) of the Commodity Exchange Act under US law."
Hell what hasnt been manipulated and rigged? Stocks, bonds, commodities, data, all of it has been. What theyve really done is show that none of it is real and you'd have to be insane to put any money within reach of these pirates.
Smells like the 'Emperor has no clothes' observation is starting to take root....Shouldn't be long now. Buy the shiny while they are still keeping it affordable...
Would it be wrong to assume that everything a financial institution says is a lie?
Would you risk a copper Canadian penny with one of them?
10 years from now, what will be worth more?
1. Confederate Money
2. Federal Reserve Notes
3. Arcade Tokens
4. Copper-clad pennies
Copper pennies and nickles are the silver quarters of this generation.
You left off number 5 and my choice:
5. Double rolls of toilet paper.
Actually I think Confederate Money is already worth more than FRNs. For example, right now on eBay there is a Confederate $10 note for sale and the current bid is $35.99.
Where are those bottle caps from fallout universe in your list?
77. Confederate Reserve Notes
Whenever you hear about new plans to strengthen the firewalls and so forth it means just one thing: trouble is coming.
Mr. Tchir's point of view is that the European sovereign debt is basically a math problem, and that at some point in the near future, math proves that a complete breakdown of the system will occur. This same reasoning has been discussed for more than one hundred years. I have always heard that the U.S. is broke, the U.K. is broke, that Japan and every European country is broke. Yes, of course, they are.
But that doesn't stop the game, because the 1% make the rules as they go along. There is no final score or time limit to the game. There is no debt limit. Is that not obvious?
The deck just gets reshuffled from time to time, some new rules are announced, and the game continues indefinitely. The best that we 99% can do is keep abreast of these new rules, and play along. Wishing and hoping from the sidelines that the rules won't change, and that the game ends, somehow in our favor, gets us nowhere.
The Europeans are fully professional and artful at this game.
who wants to buy onasis's island?
Beware when you are offered an island at low tide.
I look forward to the doubling down again next year.
Our economic system is getting easier to predict as we enter the exponential debt accumulation phase.
The eventual reversal however,
Now that WILL be mind-blowing...
"This new €500 billion number doesn't exist, it's not just meaningless, it's non-existent.."
Hey, this is Europe ..where socialist idealism does not have to meet capital reality at any point in the 'policy initiative' ...until the train wreck anyways!!
"So once again, ESM will not have much actual capital, and will rely on issuing bonds based on future commitments and guarantees."
And we all know what "promises, promises" are worth from politicians ..f'n worthless, like the Eurocrats themselves
ESM/EFSF : a circus for clowns, grab your popcorn for the drowning


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MD Sports 7-1/2 ft. Courtland Billiard Table with Bonus Cue Rack
Outfit your game room with the 7.5 ft. Courtland Billiard Table. This wood veneer table will make an excellent centerpiece and provide hours of friendly competition amongst friends.
This 7.5 ft. billiard table comes with all accessories you need for billiards, including a bonus cue rack that hangs on the wall and organizes your cue sticks, balls and more.
- 7.5 ft. Courtland Billiard Table with bonus cue rack
- Furniture quality wood veneer top rail with scratch resistant coating
- 3/4 inch play surface
- Complete with all accessories
- Weighs 279 pounds