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Pranbihanga Borpuzari
Remember the time while shifting homes when you decided to not pay your credit card bill thinking your bank would not be able to trace you? Defaulting on your financial obligations ruins your credit score and becomes a hindrance when you are seeking a loan. Credit Sudhaar, however, can bail you out.
Started by Arun Ramamurthy, 37, and Gaurav Wadhwani, 35, in late 2011, Credit Sudhaar is a credit advisory company launched to make individuals credit healthy.
"We were career bankers with Deutsche Bank. The year 2006 to 2008 was chaotic globally as far as lending was concerned. India, however, had a different set of issues. The industry went through turmoil as all underwritings prior to this period were in the absence of any structured credit bureau," recalls Ramamurthy, Co-Founder, Credit Sudhaar Services Pvt. Ltd.
Credit rating companies like CIBIL, Equifax and Experian set up operations only in 2006 after the Credit Information Companies (Regulation) Act, was passed in 2005. Two Cs -- character and capacity, are aspects to be checked before granting credit. All underwritings before 2006 only checked an individual's capacity. Credit character, to include instances of defaulting, was something banks could not check or investigate peripherally.
Gaurav Wadhwani
"We figured that 99 percent of people do not know about the concept of credit health. People need to be credit healthy because it affects almost every facet of an individual's life. There is a gap between where people are and where they should be when it comes to credit scores. We thought this would be a nice gap to cover," says Ramamurthy. The duo invested Rs. 2.5 crore and the startup began operations in January 2012.
"The credit bureau, as per last estimates, has 15 crore people on board. If India has a population of 120 crore, leaving non-banked people aside, almost everyone is on the bureau," points out Ramamurthy.
The climb
Post-enrollment, a three-stage process comes into play. Firstly, it restores credit. "We pull out records from bureaus, analyze the reports, find out what is right and wrong, and look at various errors that may have crept into them. This is followed by issue resolution and tracking," explains Ramamurthy. He says 30 percent to 40 percent of credit reports have errors and the reasons maybe either self-inflicted, circumstantial or because of inaccurate recording.
The next step enhances credit scores. "Having restored your credit, it is important to take it to the next level, which is generally done through improvement modules," says Ramamurthy.
He says most individuals do not secure credit because of past mistakes and are unable to improve the situation as they cannot get fresh credit.
Credit Sudhaar is associated with Dipran Finance Pvt. Ltd, a non-banking finance company' that lends small loans.
"We infuse small doses of credit like loans of Rs. 15,000-Rs. 20,000 based on our appetite for risk. A customer gets a credit line to work with. Over a period of time, his repayment record is sent to the bureau so that scores increase," elaborates Ramamurthy. Finally, Credit Sudhaar protects credit. "Having restored and enhanced your credit' it is important to hold on to it. We have protection plans including identity theft and lost wallet protection, ATM assault and even rudimentary processes like making a will. Around 80 percent of India's population does not make a will leading to misery for future generations," notes Ramamurthy.
Arun Ramamurthy
Slow and steady
These three stages cover 30 modules over one year and have certified advisors of National Association of Certified Credit Counselors (NACCC), a non-profit, credentialing body.
Credit Sudhaar works with both nationalized and private banks as well as credit bureaus in India. Services are offered through three annual packages: The Gold package is priced at Rs. 7,500, Platinum Rs. 11,000 followed by Titanium at Rs. 16,000.
To date, 2,500 clients have improved their credit health. "We would like to target Rs. 5 crore in revenue this fiscal and Rs. 10 crore next fiscal," says Ramamurthy. So far, it has grown at 30 percent year-on-year.
Credit Sudhaar came to the rescue of 42-year-old Sachin Shah from Mumbai. He was unable to secure a top-up for his housing loan and knew there was a problem. "I eventually found out that there were errors in my report pertaining to financial products I had never subscribed to. Credit Sudhaar resolved that by putting it through the correct banking channel," informs Shah, a platinum customer.
A senior management official of a credit bureau says people complain about low credit scores, incorrect data in the bureau or erroneous reports.
He says education is needed to highlight that a credit bureau is not a negative database; instead' it provides information which is both positive and negative. "When you pay your loans and financial obligations on time, it amounts to a good credit history and vice versa," he says on condition of anonymity.
With time, the official feels, business will evolve to play a more prominent role. "Today it is at a nascent stage and may not make much difference to the workings of a credit bureau. Going forward, it will have a lot to contribute," he concludes.
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HONOLULU (AP) - Its frisky four strings are the sound of Elvis's "Blue Hawaii," of Tiny Tim tiptoeing through the tulips and lately, beyond all reason, of a popular "Bohemian Rhapsody" cover.
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (AP) - It was a sight to make a classic car lover weep: A gaping sinkhole opened beneath the National Corvette Museum in Kentucky and swallowed eight prized cars like they were toys, piling them in a heap amid loose dirt and concrete fragments.
There may be a link between weather and the risk of suffering a stroke, say researchers who analyzed climate trends and hospital records on millions of Americans.
TORONTO (AP) - A Canadian study that many experts say has major flaws has revived debate about the value of mammograms. The research suggests that these screening X-rays do not lower the risk of dying of breast cancer while finding many tumors that do not need treatment.
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - Gov. Jay Inslee said Tuesday he was suspending the use of the death penalty in Washington state for as long as he's in office, announcing a move that he hopes will enable officials to "join a growing national conversation about capital punishment."
RENO, Nev. (AP) - Drought worries are far from over, but the weekend storm in the Sierra more than doubled the mountain snowpack and should ensure normal river flows into western Nevada for at least part of the summer, federal water officials say.
HOUSTON (AP) - Two teenage boys were hoping to make a deal with the devil when they sexually assaulted and killed a 15-year-old suburban Houston girl in a satanic ritual, a prosecutor said Tuesday.
PITTSBURGH (AP) - A woman accused of hiding heroin in Happy Meals and selling them from a Pittsburgh drive-thru has been "emotionally crushed" by the allegations, her defense attorney said Tuesday, though he stopped short of denying the charges.
LEBANON, Tenn. (AP) - Investigators said Tuesday that a package sent to a rural Tennessee home exploded, killing a lawyer who lived there and injuring a woman.
MIAMI (AP) - Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Donna Jane Watts was on routine patrol early one morning when a Miami police car whizzed past at speeds that would eventually top 120 mph. Even with her blue lights flashing and siren blaring, it took Watts more than seven minutes to pull the speeder over.
CHEVY CHASE, Md. (AP) - Change is coming quickly to the Boy Scouts of America after years of turmoil and debate over its membership policy, with an openly gay 17-year-old in Maryland achieving the highest rank of Eagle Scout.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) - The Florida man charged with fatally shooting a 17-year-old boy after an argument over loud music testified Tuesday that he thought he saw the barrel of a gun from the teen's SUV and that he feared for his life before firing his weapon.
MIAMI (AP) - A majority of Americans and even higher proportion of Floridians support re-establishing relations with Cuba, Washington's Cold War-era foe that remains blocked behind a five-decade economic embargo, results from a poll released Tuesday show.
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - The Southern Poverty Law Center is calling on the U.S. government to reform cultural exchange programs, saying those have left some foreign participants vulnerable to exploitation and abuse.
McLEAN, Va. (AP) - The IRS on Tuesday lost a federal appeal in a legal battle over its effort to institute competency exams and other new regulations for as many as 700,000 paid tax preparers.
Page 331 of 658
WASHINGTON (AP) - Consumer spending and home construction are helping sustain modest U.S. economic growth despite problems caused by a strong dollar, low oil prices ...
FREMONT (AP) - Authorities say a baby seal made it 4 miles from the water to the front yard of a home in the San Francisco ...
Assemblymember Kristin Olsen, R-Riverbank, honored Manteca educator Tammy Brecht Dunbar as the 2016 Woman of the Year for the 12th Assembly District.
Page 13 of 13
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Micki Maynard · Event: The Future of Auto Jobs in Michigan
September 30th, 2011
Can Michigan add auto jobs — or is it destined to lose them to other states and parts of the country?
That topic is on the table Tuesday when Changing Gears joins Crain's Detroit Business for a breakfast and practical policy discussion.
Senior Editor Micki Maynard will be part of a panel that includes Sandy Baruah, president of the Detroit Regional Chamber; Peter Brown, publisher and editorial director of Automotive News; Neil de Koker, president and CEO of the Original Equipment Suppliers Association, and Doug Smith, senior vice president of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.
The event begins at 7:30 a.m. at The Henry (formerly the Ritz-Carlton Hotel) in Dearborn, Mich. Find more details here.
Pete Bigelow · In Lansing, Michigan, Little Jubilation Over UAW-General Motors Deal
September 29th, 2011
DELTA TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Auto workers at the Lansing Delta Township Assembly plant make some of General Motors' most popular vehicles.
The GMC Acadia, Chevrolet Traverse and Buick Enclave are all produced inside this 3.4-million square-foot facility on the outskirts of Lansing, which is Michigan's state capital.
In August, when GM announced an 18 percent sales increase from 2010, GMC led the turnaround with a 40.3 percent increase. Chevrolet had gained 15.8 percent.
So when contract negotiations began last month, the plant's 3,430 hourly workers expected they'd be sharing in the company's improved position. But when they saw the proposed deal between the United Auto Workers and GM, many members of UAW Local 602 here felt jilted instead.
They rejected the deal — a rarity for a contract approved by two-thirds of GM workers nationwide.
"The concessions we've made were supposed to be concessions, and with the stroke of a pen, they've made it all permanent," said Jan Ward, a long-time employee who voted against the contract. "We did whatever we had to do to make them viable. Now they're more than viable, and they just snubbed our nose, and said, 'Too bad for you.'"
The majority of workers here agreed. Among Local 602 members, 66 percent of production workers and 57 percent of skilled trade workers voted against the contract.
In national voting, the percentages were nearly reversed: Sixty-five percent of UAW production workers and 63 percent of skilled trade workers approved the agreement, which was ratified Wednesday. Of the 81 UAW locals participating in the voting, Local 602 was one of only three to vote against the contract.
As first-shift workers at the Delta Assembly plant departed Wednesday afternoon, they cited a variety of reasons for the local departure from national sentiment. Some said concern over local union issues had spilled into voting on the national vote. (Local 602 president Bill Reed could not be reached for comment).
But the most-cited reason for the negative swing in Lansing was a feeling by veteran workers that they gained nothing from the contract.
"We're really disappointed that GM didn't give more back to us after all we've given to them," said Larry Larner, employed by the company for 35 years. "They've always said they don't like the adversarial approach. If they don't like it, why don't they come to us and say, 'Look, we realize you gave up a lot, and we'll try to give back to you.'"
Veteran workers got no raises, although there are raises in the contract for recently hired workers, known as "two-tiers." Cost of living allowances, which were lost as part of the GM bailout, remain a thing of the past.
Larner said he reluctantly voted in favor of the contract. After years of union concessions in bargaining, he said, "We managed to keep what we had." But his weariness in the face of those continued retreats mirrored the demeanor of many workers who voted no.
"We're getting beat up," said one 30-year employee who requested his name be withheld. "I don't believe the union bargained in good faith. They're looking out for themselves. GM is looking out for itself. And we're not getting any help from either side."
Veteran workers, their numbers diminishing, felt squeezed.
In 2005, GM had 110,000 hourly production workers, according to a presentation by CEO Daniel Akerson to Wall Street analysts Wednesday. Today, GM has approximately 49,000 hourly workers, less than half from six years ago.
The UAW said in a written statement the new deal will create 6,400 new jobs in the United States. But under terms of the contract, up to 25 percent of GM's workforce can now be comprised of "two-tiers," entry-level workers who will make about $8 less per hour than veteran counterparts. Now, two-tiers comprise 4 percent of the overall workforce.
Veteran employees at Delta Assembly fear a gradual wave of two-tiers, a slide in their own standard of living and a reduced vision of whatever comes next.
" I don't see where we gained anything in this, really," said Tammy, a 26-year veteran who only gave her first name. "I thought maybe they'd get our cost of living back for us. That didn't happen."
She continued. "It only catered to the entry-level workers. The union let them agree to it. So where do you think we'll be in a few years? We're going to be dinosaurs."
Pete Bigelow · Midwest Memo: Ford and White House Clash Over Ad, Critics Charge Ohio Has Grown Too Cozy With Industry
September 27th, 2011
Three stories making news across the Midwest today:
1. Ford stops controversial ad campaign. Ford has curtailed an ad campaign that featured an indirect rebuke of the federal bailout of the auto industry. The Detroit News reports the White House had "questions" about the marketing campaign, which featured a "real person" explaining his decision to buy a Ford instead of a car from a company bailed out by the government – a shot at rivals General Motors and Chrysler. "This thing is highly charged," a source tells the newspaper. Ford "never meant it to be an attack on the policy."
2. Ways to close Chicago's budget gap. Chicago's City Hall watchdog agency has proposed more than $2.8 billion in spending cuts and revenue increases, according to our partner station WBEZ. Ideas include a city income tax, tolls on Lake Shore Drive and privatizing trash collection, among others. The proposal from Inspector General Joe Ferguson includes 63 ideas to help Chicago contend with a projected $635 million deficit in 2012. Among the more controversial cuts is the possibility of laying off more than 700 firefighters and more than 300 police officers to save $190 million.
3. Critics: Ohio too cozy with industry. When the state of Ohio decided to set air-pollution standards on shale-gas wells earlier this year, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency sought advice from Chesapeake Energy, a drilling company. That's one example of a too-cozy relationship between Ohio officials and industry, critics charge. Their concerns have mounted as gas-shale has boomed. "These agencies have an open-door policy with industry that they don't with the public," Teresa Mills, director of an environmental advocacy group tells The Columbus Dispatch.
Pete Bigelow · Midwest Memo: Illinois Casino Bill Jeopardized, Ohio Scales Down Prison Plan, GM Sales Rise
September 1st, 2011
Three stories making news across the Midwest today:
1. Illinois casino bill teeters. As Chicago alderman and Mayor Rahm Emanuel continued lobbying for a gambling expansion bill, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn has intensified his criticism of it, according to our partner station WBEZ. The governor said he has reservations about slot machines at horse tracks around the state. Lawmakers have not yet sent a gambling bill, which paves the way for a Chicago casino, to the governor yet for fear he would veto it.
2. Prison plans scaled down. Ohio will sell the Lake Erie Correctional Institution to a private corporation for $72.7 million, but officials have backpedaled from initial plans to sell four other facilities. The Columbus Dispatch reported the development Thursday. Ohio administrators released a statement that said "it was not in Ohio taxpayers' best interest" to pursue further sales. As Ohio readies to make one sale, The St. Petersburg Times carries a cautionary tale today about the shift toward private prisons.
3. General Motors sales rise. U.S. sales of General Motors autos increased 18 percent in August, the Detroit Free Press reported Thursday. GMC led the gain with sales climbing 40.3 percent year-over-year. The Chevrolet Cruze sold more than 20,000 cars for the fifth straight month, and was GM's best-selling car for the third consecutive month. GM has gained market share in 7 of the past 8 months, the company's vice president of U.S. sales operations told the Free Press.
Pete Bigelow · Midwest Memo: U.S. Factory Orders Show Sharp Climb, JobsOhio Back In Court
August 31st, 2011
Three stories making news across the Midwest today:
1. Factory orders rise. Demand for automobiles and motor vehicle parts surged in July. The U.S. Commerce Department said Wednesday orders rose 9.8 percent in July, the biggest recorded jump in more than eight years. Overall, factory orders climbed 2.4 percent in July on auto demand and a jump in commercial airplane orders. The increase follows a 0.4 percent decrease in June, which had worsened fears the country was falling into a double-dip recession.
2. Chicago school considers conversion. One local school in the Chicago Public Schools district is mulling an unusual strategy in improving its performance – it's considering the possibility of shutting itself down. On Tuesday, the school council at Wendell Smith Elementary, seven times on probation, will likely vote on whether to shut down and reopen as a charter school, according to our partner station WBEZ. It's believed to be the first time a CPS school has held a vote on whether to shut itself down.
3. JobsOhio heads to court. A lawsuit in Ohio is challenging whether Gov. John Kasich's privatized development corporation is eligible for exemptions from corporate regulations. Two Democrats and a liberal policy group filed the suit Tuesday, also arguing the state cannot invest "public dollars in a private entity," according to The Columbus Dispatch. Earlier, the Ohio Supreme Court said it did not have jurisdiction in the case until it had been heard in lower courts. Tuesday's lawsuit was filed in Franklin County Common Court.
Pete Bigelow · Midwest Memo: Chicago Mayor Engages In Testy Exchange, Honda Invests $355 Million In Ohio
August 30th, 2011
Three stories making news across the Midwest today:
1. Angry residents confront Emanuel. Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel sought solutions for the city's budget woes during a public meeting Monday night. He got more than he bargained for, according to reports from our partner station WBEZ. A question from a laid-off traffic employee led to an extended back-and-forth with union members in the audience. "I'm responsible to the city taxpayers and the city residents," Emanuel said, referring to a projected $635 million budget deficit. Audience members yelled that they were taxpayers too.
2. Honda renovates Ohio plants. Honda announced Monday it would spend $355 million to refurbish four plants in Ohio, according to The Columbus Dispatch. The improvements come as the automaker returns to full production following the Japanese catastrophes. The Dispatch reports some jobs will be added, but specifics are not yet available. Honda has more than 13,000 employees in the Buckeye State.
3. Lawmakers seek tax-credit extension. Tax credits for advanced battery manufacturers in Michigan are scheduled to be phased out by Gov. Rick Snyder, but Democrats in the state Legislature want to extend the incentives packages. The Associated Press reported Monday that the Democratic proposal would include tax credits for battery production and facility construction, as well as credits for buying electric vehicles and charging stations.
Micki Maynard · A Manufacturing Close Up From the Federal Reserve
August 24th, 2011
The Changing Gears team is getting ready to take a look at manufacturing in September. And, there are some eye opening numbers about manufacturing, the auto industry and our region in a new report from the Federal Reserve.
According to Paul Traub, senior economist for the Chicago Fed's office in Detroit, auto industry employment in the Fed's 7th district — Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin — is now just below 204,000 people, or about 9.3 percent of manufacturing jobs here.
The district does not include Ohio, which is one of the nation's biggest automotive and manufacturing states.
In 2000, auto industry employment in those states alone was 474,000, or about 14.4 percent of all manufacturing jobs here. That loss of 270,000 jobs represents a 57 percent decline in auto jobs over the past decade in those states.
"It's quite dramatic," Traub said. "The question is whether we'll see some recovery."
When it comes to overall manufacturing jobs, Traub sees a depressing historic picture. Over the past 20 years, the region — and the country — have seen manufacturing employment drop by about 35 percent. The nation lost 6 million manufacturing jobs; our region lost 1.1 million manufacturing jobs.
Although many people think Midwest manufacturing employment has been on the decline in the United States for decades, it actually peaked only 10 years ago. In 2000, manufacturing jobs in the Midwest made up 19.1 percent of all the manufacturing jobs nationwide. Now, manufacturing jobs in the region make up 18.6 percent of the manufacturing jobs held across the country.
So, is there any good news? Traub sees some in job growth. In the first six months of 2011, the states in the 7th district saw jobs grow at an annual pace of 0.9 percent — better than the national rate of 0.7 percent.
Michigan actually led these states with non-farm job growth of 1.9 percent over six months. That was followed by Iowa, with 1.3 percent growth; Wisconsin, with 1.1 percent; Illinois, up 0.5 percent and Indiana, which saw job growth decline by 0.4 percent.
But that job growth isn't bringing the area anywhere close to its past levels. The economist notes that non-farm, payroll employment is about where it was in 1996. That compares with the nation, where non-farm employment is around 2004 levels.
Traub says he's doing further analysis about automotive employment and its prospects for playing a role in the nation's economy.
He's looking at a number of factors, such as how many cars each household will have, and whether housing, which is a big factor driving auto sales, will bounce back. He's also looking at whether environmental awareness and the growing use of public transportation will have an impact on auto sales.
Pete Bigelow · Midwest Memo: Big Three Eye Ohio, Indiana Snags Illinois Company, Toyota Banks On Revamped Camry
August 24th, 2011
Three stories making news across the Midwest today:
1. Chrysler invests in Toledo. Ohio Gov. John Kasich emerged from meetings with Big Three officials with a promise from Chrysler to invest $72 million in a Toledo-area machine plant that retains 640 jobs. That may just be the beginning. The auto companies see Ohio as fertile ground for future investments. "We're very encouraged by the changes we see happening in Ohio," GM executive director Bryan Roosa tells the Columbus Dispatch. "The attitude toward manufacturers is very supportive."
2. Toyota unveils 2012 Camry. After two years of setbacks associated with a widespread recall and Japanese catastrophe, Toyota is banking on its 2012 Camry to reestablish itself as an industry leader. Unveiled Tuesday, the '12 is its first redesign in five years and attempts to match competitors in styling. "It's critical they get this right," Michael Robinet, VP of global vehicle forecasts at HIS Automotive tells AOL Autos. "They are facing a deluge of competitors that are really getting it right."
3. Indiana snags Illinois company. Modern Drop Forge, a manufacturer of vehicle parts, said Tuesday it will move operations from Illinois to Merrillville, Ind. The company, which employs 700 in four states, received incentives worth as much as $2.2 million from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. Business owner Greg Heim told partner station WBEZ the cost of doing business in Illinois had crept too high, with the state raising its corporate income tax from 4.7 to 7 percent until 2015.
Pete Bigelow · Extent of Ford-Toyota Partnership and its Impact on Jobs Not Yet Known
August 22nd, 2011
The location of their first meeting, a clandestine airport lobby, remains a secret. But Ford Motor Company CEO Alan Mulally and Toyota chief Akio Toyoda are willing to share everything else – including hybrid technologies.
Months after a chance encounter at a nameless airport, the two automotive leaders announced Monday their companies would collaborate on hybrid technologies for rear-wheel drive pickup trucks and SUVs. Both hope the move expedites the arrival of hybrid models in the marketplace at more affordable prices for consumers.
Ford's F-series pickups have been the best-selling in the United States for the past 25 years, according to our partner station Michigan Radio. Toyota's Prius has been the top-selling hybrid in the U.S. since it's inception. Is it a complementary marriage or awkward entanglement with a competitor?
Derrick Kuzak, Ford's group vice president of global product development, tells the Detroit News the tentative agreement does not give away proprietary information. "Clearly, Ford and Toyota will remain competitors," he said. "But at the same time, by working together and sharing our product development expertise, cost and leveraging our scale, we'll be able to offer our customers even more affordable technology sooner."
Officials did not say which models would be the first to get hybrid updates under the agreement, and it was unclear Monday how – or if – the collaboration would affect jobs throughout the Midwest.
The surprise collaboration was accelerated by the recent federal changes in fuel economy standards. By 2025, automotive manufacturers must average 54.5 miles per gallon in their vehicles, although the standard may be lower for trucks. Officials said more details on the tentative partnership will be ironed out and a formal pact will emerge in early 2012.
Pete Bigelow · Midwest Memo: Chicago may eliminate head tax, Detroit prioritizes its neighborhoods
July 28th, 2011
Three stories making news across the Midwest today:
1. Head tax faces guillotine. Mayor Rahm Emanuel pledged to end the city's head tax on businesses with 50 or more employees during his campaign. Now Chicago aldermen are negotiating what comes next, according to our partner station WBEZ. Companies with 50 or more employees are taxed $4 per month per each full-timer on the payroll. Although the city generates $20 million in revenue each year, some officials are concerned the tax discourages expansion.
2. Detroit mayor unveils overhaul. The city of Detroit will no longer treat its neighborhoods equally. They will instead be designated as steady, transitional or distressed, and city services will be prioritized in certain areas, according to The Detroit News. Detroit mayor Dave Bing said the move is a "short-term intervention strategy" to save certain neighborhoods. The redeployment strategy begins in two weeks. "We must be smarter about how we align our resources," Bing told The News.
3. Ford building second India factory. Following in the footsteps of rivals General Motors and Tata Motors, Ford announced today it would build a factory in the western state of Gujarat in India. The $906 million facility will be operational in 2014, according to Bloomberg. The factory is Ford's second in India, with another plant located in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. Analysts said the move gives Ford access not only to northern India, but perhaps to the European market as well.
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Science Fair Projects
Rust Chemistry: How Does Rust Form?
How does rust form? Kids will learn about the roles oxygen, water, and electrons play in rust chemistry in this cool science fair project idea.
Does Practice Make Perfect?
This project determines whether hands-on practice, mental practice, or no practice leads to better shooting of free-throws.
Measure the Effect of Volume of Background Music on Short-Term Memory
Chect out this fun science project that helps middles school students design a way to measure the effects of volume of background music on short term memory.
Do humans understand values greater than three?
This project examines whether humans can intuitively grasp numeric values greater than three.
Light Absorption and Color Filters
Learn about where colors come from and how light absorption works in this fun experiment! All you need is a flashlight, construction paper, and cellophane!
Is It Safe To Eat Something Dropped On The Floor As Long As You Pick It Up Within 5-Seconds?
Discover whether the â5-second ruleâ is effective at determining whether food is still safe to eat after being dropped on the ground.
Environmental Effects of Biodegradability on Plastic Bags, Paper Bags, and Newspaper
The objective of this science fair project is to determine the rate at which a plastic bag, a paper bag, and newspaper biodegrade over time.
What Colors are Birds Attracted to?
Check out this cool science project idea to explore the differences in feeding behaviors of birds and if other species of birds also have color preferences.
Do Dogs Understand English?
Do dogs understand English? Kids will find out with one of our favorite dog science fair projects that tests how dogs process human language and other cues.
Font and the Impact of the Written Word
This experiment investigates whether font choice affects peoplesâ ability to remember the information that they read.


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Not all pallet jacks are born equal, and that is certainly the case here. Made from durable and high quality components, this pallet jack is built to last. Also known as a Pallet Truck, this is an ideal solution for moving those heavy pallets around your factory or warehouse. Built to the Australian Standard size, this pallet jack is 685mm wide and has 1220mm long forks, with a 85mm minimum fork height. Our pallet trucks also feature a durable padded handle, and a 3 position lever (lift, neutral and lower).
Due to the heavy weight of this product, delivery outside of Sydney can be expensive (allow around $80 for Brisbane and Melbourne delivery for example).


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OKC Central Chat transcript, Jan. 18, 2013
The Oklahoman's Steve Lackmeyer took questions from readers in today's OKC Central Live Chat. You can join Steve's Q&A's on Fridays at 10 a.m. and submit your questions about the happenings in and around downtown Oklahoma City. Below is an unedited transcript of the chat.
9:27 a.m. Good morning everyone! Steve will be logging in at 10 a.m., but you can start submitting your questions now.
10:01 a.m. Hi everybody.
10:01 a.m. So.... let's guess what the first question will be....
10:01 a.m. What is the history behind the building The Oklahoman will be moving into? Also, I can't wait to see NewsOK/The Oklahoman brought in middle of downtown. What a change that will be.
10:02 a.m.
10:02 a.m. The Sheraton Century Center Hotel (now just known as the Sheraton Hotel) and Century Center Mall were developed concurrently and really represented the only hotel and retail ever built during the heyday of downtown Oklahoma City's original Urban Renewal era of the 1960s and 1970s
The hotel opened with great fanfare in 1977, but the mall lingered for a couple of years even though the shell itself was done at the same time as the hotel. But in a city that seemed to spend 25 years chasing an elusive downtown Galleria, Century Center didn't fare as badly might believe – at least not at first.
By the early 1980s, the mall was home to an F.A.O. Schwartz toy store, a newsstand, gift shop, clothing stores, jewelry store, restaurants, a fitness center and offices.
The Century Center Mall was pretty much doomed from the start and most would say its an example of failed urban planning in the 1970s that dictated old retail had to go and be replaced by the same cookie-cutter style retail centers taking root in the suburbs.
The mall also suffered from what many would say was a bad design that pretty much ignored the street. If you were driving past the mall, you couldn't really tell what was going on inside. Add in a devastating oil bust starting in the mid-1980s, and the mall's days were numbered. Starting in the early 1990s, it was pretty much empty and remains so today.
The hotel opened with great fanfare in 1977, but the mall lingered for a couple of years even though the shell itself was done at the same time as the hotel. But in a city that seemed to spend 25 years chasing an elusive downtown Galleria, Century Center didn't fare as badly might believe – at least not at first.
By the early 1980s, the mall was home to an F.A.O. Schwartz toy store, a newsstand, gift shop, clothing stores, jewelry store, restaurants, a fitness center and offices.
The Century Center Mall was pretty much doomed from the start and most would say its an example of failed urban planning in the 1970s that dictated old retail had to go and be replaced by the same cookie-cutter style retail centers taking root in the suburbs.
The mall also suffered from what many would say was a bad design that pretty much ignored the street. If you were driving past the mall, you couldn't really tell what was going on inside. Add in a devastating oil bust starting in the mid-1980s, and the mall's days were numbered. Starting in the early 1990s, it was pretty much empty and remains so today.
10:02 a.m. Steve- Do you know if the plaza area ajacent to Stage Center used for the Festival of the Arts is still in Project 180? At one time this was a listed project but has not shown up in recent news.
10:04 a.m. The arts festival plaza is not a listed Project 180 item at this time. Don't be surprised it ends up being incorporated into a proposed redevelopment of the adjoining State Center property (and no, I have nothing new to report on Stage Center or the possibility of a new tower).
10:06 a.m. The Wormy Dog relocation to the east side of Bricktown seems like a significant development, particularly with the retail component and the number of hotels planned. How important is this move to Bricktown entertainment?
10:07 a.m. A lot is yet to be seen with the Wormy Dog redevelopment. Certainly the price, $2.4 million, would indicate they are looking at a project that is far more ambitious than the Wormy Dog currently operating a block to the west. Dream up your ideal vision of how such a venue might be developed; it could be very cool for Bricktown. But let's wait and see what happens.
10:07 a.m. Good morning, Steve! With the success of Kitchen 324, will we see more dining options downtown open during the weekend?
10:09 a.m. Good Egg Dining has a hit on its hands Kitchen No. 324. As I wrote in last week's OKC Central column, owners Keith and Heather Paul have broken all the rules: they dared to open a restaurant in the central business district with no parking, no big visitor draws nearby, and expected to have customers on the weekends. And they are drawing a full house every Saturday and Sunday, open to close. I can't imagine restaurant operators aren't watching this development. But will they match the Pauls in terms of taking such a big risk?
10:09 a.m. What's being built st that huge construction site at NW 13th and Dewey/Walker?
10:10 a.m. That huge construction site is The Edge, a $36 million, 250-unit apartment complex with retail on the ground floor that is being built on the former home of Mercy Hospital. The block was a mess for more than a quarter century before the dilapidated hospital was razed about a decade ago. You can see an animation video of the project posted about the project last fall at NewsOK by visiting here: http://newsok.com/multimedia/video/1850259627001
10:10 a.m. Any updates on the Tower Theater? There was a touch of buzz a few weeks ago...
10:13 a.m. Marty Dillon, and his family, which owns Party Galaxy, bought the Tower Theater several years ago without any experience in redevelopment of older properties or obtaining historic tax credits. Interest is out there, but so far, deals haven't been made and Dillon has been unable to pull off the redevelopment himself. Meanwhile, as evidenced by the Wormy Dog's move in Bricktown, the window may be closing for the Tower Theater to capture the pent up demand for a mid-size, urban core performance venue. Will Dillon find himself with fewer options for redevelopment the longer he waits?
10:13 a.m. Why does Tulsa get new stores before OKC, examples include Whole Foods, Dick's and now Costco ?
10:15 a.m. Some folks say that Tulsa has an advantage in having more concentrated pockets of affluence where as Oklahoma City is more spread out and diversified. Others tell me that behind the scenes, Tulsa's leadership (business, political?) is whispering in the ears of retailers that Tulsa is far better for them than Oklahoma City, while Oklahoma City is simply out promoting itself and not dragging down other cities. I can't explain why this phenomenon continues.
10:16 a.m. Any chance that we will see grocery store options downtown?
10:16 a.m. Jake, have you visited Native Roots?
10:16 a.m. Did Bond Payne purchase the parking lot to the southeast of the Journal Record Building when he purchased the Journal Record Building? Does he have plans for that lot?
10:17 a.m. Bond Payne has submitted a proposal to the Oklahoma Cultural and Industrial Facilities Trust to redevelop the Journal Record building into offices and to work with the city on developing a garage on the parking lot, which was once home to the YMCA. No deals have been done, however.
10:18 a.m. Just my comment, but I don't think there's any hope for Tower Theater or anything in that area; NW 23rd from Classen to Lincoln can't handle the traffic it has now, and certainly can't handle any more. There's no parking opportunities, and the afternoon/evening near-standstill traffic can't handle left-turners or pedestrians trying to cross. 23rd in that area is just too skinny, with almost no parking lots.
10:20 a.m. The Tower Theater has a significant empty piece of land across the street that can be turned into parking. Ample opportunities for parking also exist behind the street storefronts. Here's something else to consider: NW 23 between Classen and Lincoln was far more dense with far more retail a half century ago - and the street was actually narrower then. And during those days, the Tower Theater was a very popular move cinema.
10:21 a.m.
10:23 a.m.
10:23 a.m. Something will eventually have to be done with the county jail, and that means a lot of taxpayer money will be required. What do you think will happen, and how will it be paid (sales tax, property tax, hybrid or other)?
10:26 a.m. Elected county officials say something will eventually have to be done. They have a case to make to voters as to why they should be trusted to oversee the construction of another jail just 20 years after the last one was built when the last one was riddled with charges of corruption, graft and poor design. Folks I've talked to say this won't be an easy task, and some wonder if instead of building a new jail, the county should instead focus on an initiative to address mental health when a large amount of space is taken up by inmates with mental health issues.
10:27 a.m. Morning Steve, Are you optimistic that the switch from trolleys to actual buses downtown will improve ridership?
10:27 a.m. Let me ride one and get back to you.
10:27 a.m. I noticed some work on the building at 24th and Walker - what is going on ? (Tull Overhead Door)
10:28 a.m. The Good Egg Dining Group, which owns Cheever's, Tuckers, Kitchen No. 324 and Iron Star BBQ is renovating the building into their offices. It should be a nice improvement for the area.
10:28 a.m. The Downtown Discovery buses look too much like regular Metro Transit buses. Why not paint them much more different (maybe with a trolley look) so people (especially visitors) don't assume they're normal public transit buses?
10:28 a.m. I don't know. This is a good question.
10:28 a.m. Biggest predictions for the coming year for Western Business District? For Paseo? For Plaza?
10:30 a.m. Western Business District: buckle up, play it safe. Tough times are ahead with ongoing challenges, belt tightening taking place at the area's biggest employer, Chesapeake Energy. Paseo: slow, steady ongoing improvement with increased pedestrian connections taking place with redevelopment of nearby NW 23. The 16th Street Plaza District: stay funky, but pay close attention to the parking situation. It's starting to get painful.
10:30 a.m. Has there been any planning for neighborhood parks in Deep Deuce, Mid-town, Automobile Alley or Bricktown East end? If not, why is the City reactive in providing green-space instead of recognizing the economic development potential of creating parks as a catalyst to development?
10:35 a.m. Deep Deuce actually has two pocket parks now at NE 3 and Oklahoma and NE 2 and Oklahoma. I'm not sure any opportunities for a pocket park exist along Automobile Alley. MidTown has the city-owned Red Andrews Park at NW 8 and Shartel, though I've never seen the neighborhood embrace the venue. Maybe it needs to be updated to better reflect the changing area?
10:35 a.m. Do you think any city officials privately apologized to business owners were forced to close because of Project 180 construction?
10:35 a.m. I don't know.
10:35 a.m. Yes we need more surface parking everywhere. I cant dare walk 2 blocks. /sarcasm
10:36 a.m. So Mb, I'm going to mark you down as saying NW 23 is just fine.
10:36 a.m. You make some good points, and I don't mean to belabor my point, but the area suffers from, in my opinion, the same conflict going on with the downtown boulevard; is it through-traffic or is it retail. NW 23rd is a major through-traffic artery for folks going east from Classen to the Broadway extension or anywhere eastward. Putting a retail area that requires significant left turns, pedestrians-parking-on-one-side-and-crossing-to-the-other, and accommodating the modern habit that if five people meet for dinner, they arrive in five separate cars.... Through east-west traffic works, and retail slow-moving-turning traffic works... but combine the two and waste six feet in the middle with view-obstructing trees, and I believe the result will be only small venues that handle only a dozen or so tables/customers at a time....
10:36 a.m. And the debate continues.
10:37 a.m. I can see both of your points.
10:37 a.m. Any word on the Panera coming to downtown?
10:37 a.m. There may be some other developments at play on this deal. We're in a wait and see pattern.
10:37 a.m. Steve-
10:37 a.m. Yes?
10:37 a.m. With the sucess of the Chili Bowl Midget car races in Tulsa on a yearly basis during the winter. Last figure I saw for the week of races it pumped in something near 2 to 3 million dollors for the city of Tulsa.The mayor of Tulsa is very happy with this amount during a slow time in the year as far as attractions go. Do you see the City of Okc trying something like this in the future as Bricktown grows.
10:38 a.m. Anything is possible. Interest in some sort of racing continues. But will it happen? I don't know.
10:38 a.m. What are they building on the river near 235?
10:39 a.m. That's the SandRidge pavilion. Cool, huh? Zip line venue, wave pool, kids' area....
10:39 a.m. A lot of big things have been announced these last couple of weeks. Opubco moving, funding for UCO bout house, Holiday Inn in Bricktown is moving forward. Can you give us a hint of the next big announcement and when you believe it will be announced.
10:40 a.m. I don't think I even have hints to offer. I'm like you guys, racing to keep up with it all.
10:40 a.m. Note on Costco in Tulsa: That is not a done deal. I suspect maybe they have an option to buy, or something like that in the works. BUT, I'm told that intersection in Tulsa is *the* spot for such as Costco in Oklahoma.
10:41 a.m. Thanks Richard! Folks, this story about retailers in Tulsa vs. Oklahoma City has been well covered by Richard Mize and Jennifer Palmer. Richard, can you provide me with a link to your last story on this subject?
10:41 a.m. I think I speak for a lot of people when I say that (one thing) we want more businesses to relocate to OKC. The dismal state of OKC public schools acts directly agains this happening. know that education isn't your beat, but what do you think it will take to truly turn around public schools here? MAPS 4Kids resulted in some nice facilities, but my sense is it didn't address the fundamental deficiencies.
10:44 a.m. I volunteer my time at the one Oklahoma City public school that got an "F" on the statewide public schools report card. If you want to turn around public schools, you have to be a part of the solution. Have you voted in school board races? Have you discussed your concerns with your elected school board member? Have you inquired into how you can assist your neighborhood schools? When MAPS for Kids was passed, those campaigning for the initiative were quite clear in saying money wasn't the only solution. MAPS for Kids has rebuilt the schools, replaced school buses, provided new technology and resources. But has the community rallied as it needs to?
10:44 a.m. What's the timeline on the Dowell Center?
10:45 a.m. Rick Dowell follows his own timelines, and only a fool tries to second guess him. Dowell goes slow and steady and is done when he is done.
10:45 a.m. Steve with the lack of parking in the downtown OKC area do you see the growth of downtown being hindered due to no place for people to park?
10:46 a.m. Hard to say. More garages are being built. And a lot of hope is riding on the MAPS 3 streetcar system restructuring how downtown flows. But right now? Yeah, it's an issue.
10:46 a.m. With the lack of downtown parking, do you see this as something that will hinder the growth of downtown?
10:46 a.m. Phil, you and Mike might want to start carpooling!
10:47 a.m. Any talk about The Marion and the proposed parking garage at 10th and Robinson?
10:47 a.m. They're working on it.
10:47 a.m. :-) I certainly understand the pretty much deserved joshing for folks that don't/won't walk two blocks when, for a dozen reasons, they should be walking more... but success generally builds on what is, rather than what should be... if Okc folks don't like to walk much, then your business pretty much needs a big, open parking lot out in front of your business... 80% of Okc's 23rd street had the first block bulldozed for parking, and the stores sat one block back on 24th or 22nd (think most anything west of Meridian, OCU itself, etc.) Anywhere that that didn't happen (Classen to Broadway, Kelley to King) then like a too-big plant in a too-small pot, the business stay stunted. Big Truck Tacos is incredible, but in their small pot/lot they're doomed to stay small.
10:49 a.m. RBM, I hear you. And I hope my answers weren't taken as being disrespectful. There is a tension that is taking place as Oklahoma City's urban core is being rebuilt and re-imagined for the 21st century. I will advise that small doesn't always translate into bad business. I doubt the owners of Big Truck Tacos, who enjoy a fully house daily, say they are "doomed" when business is so good.
10:49 a.m. What happened to LeCep coming to deep deuce? Looks like their window signage has been removed
10:49 a.m. The deal went south and that's all I know.
10:49 a.m. Sure. Latest on Costco: http://newsok.com/costco-stays-tight-lipped-on-its-plans-for-oklahoma-locations/article/3745260
10:50 a.m. Thanks Richard. Folks, every Saturday you can get some of the state's best in-depth real estate coverage with Richard's column, page and real estate section.
10:50 a.m. Last thing from me: last fall you posted a link to the blog of a former city planner who left his job with the city. I can't seem to find either the link or the blog. Can you give us that blog again?
10:51 a.m. I think you're referring to Paul Ryckbost. His blog is at: http://urbanlakeeffect.wordpress.com/
10:52 a.m. The sandridge pavilion is what's being build on the southeast corner of the river and the 235 overpass?
10:52 a.m. Yep.
10:52 a.m. I was just reading up on the downtown airpark. Any idea about when something could begin happening down there?
10:52 a.m. The Humphreys family is again looking at development options, but otherwise, nothing is announced yet.
10:52 a.m. All inner city schools are the same. Tulsa has the same stigma with TPS as OKC does with OKCPS.
10:57 a.m. Oh stop. Forgive me. But seriously. With all due respect, they're kids. If you've ever been around kids, you've got to know they're not all the same. They're wonderful, they're crazy, they're challenging, they're inspiring, and they're all brilliant and stupid all at once. I say this as a father. Inner city schools do share a common challenge: the kids are often from working poor families without the time or resources to be properly involved in their education and sometimes their upbringing. This is why I and others at OPUBCO volunteer our time at public schools. Try it - I go to what is considered the worst, most dangerous school by those who don't know any better, and I never felt in danger, I was never scared, and I was amazed by the creativity and thoughtful nature of the kids I work with. They're great - they just need help.
10:57 a.m. Sorry if that comes off the wrong way. I just believe in our kids.
10:57 a.m. What are your thoughts on you guys moving to the Century Center?
10:58 a.m. I'll be spending less on parking meters.
10:58 a.m. So now what do you think about the future of the farmers' market with the raised boulevard seemingly in place from Western on. Or is it? I think I just felt an earthquake here in Tulsa, by the way.
10:59 a.m. I'm not sure. I need to spend more time figuring this one out, talking to people.
10:59 a.m. Steve, there are a couple of different buildings in the deep deuce neighborhood that look like great locations, do you have any info on 205 N Walnut (the old Walnut Ave Poultry and Egg store) and 373 NE 5th (Flat Iron) and 300 NE 3rd St. (wooden building behind Deep Deuce Grill)
11:01 a.m. The old wooden grocery would be a great gift shop or specialty store if the owners would sell it to the right people. I'm not sure about prospects for the Poultry building with the Aloft being built next door. The flat iron will eventually be redeveloped.
11:01 a.m. You're absolutely right-- I should have said, 'a business without a big front parking lot is =challenged= to develop past more than a few dozen seats... OR changing to a drive-though model'. It is awful how we (and I in particular) don't like to walk a block or two, unless it's an evening Bricktown stroll... but the sad truth is that we, I and my overweight belly, don't like to walk too far to get to our 4,000 calorie fast-food lunch.... :-)
11:02 a.m. Yeah, I hear ya. I absolutely need more walking...
11:02 a.m. Is anything else set to be built along the south side of the river?
11:02 a.m. I know the MAPS 3 grandstand is being built on the south shore.
11:02 a.m. I'm disappointed in that answer.
11:04 a.m. Matt, that's what I know. The garage on NW 10 and Broadway is, to my knowledge, financed, the property has been secured, and last I heard, design work is underway. Was there something else you want to know?
11:04 a.m. I agree with Kevin. School systems are far more a function of, a reflection of, whichever communities they draw from (low-income urban, high-income suburban, language-challenged learners etc) than their methods or structures...
11:05 a.m. Have the boundaries for the new downtown elementary already been drawn? Will they be taking transfer applications, since they will be a magnet school?
11:07 a.m. Here's what I reported in an August story about the project:
Kirk Humphreys, a board member with Oklahoma City Quality Schools (which will run John Rex Elementary), assured Urban Renewal commissioners that the school will represent the diverse population of the city, with attendance boundaries set at NW 10, the Oklahoma River, Lottie Avenue and Western Avenue.
Humphreys told commissioners the school also will accept students from what are deemed failing schools, and students whose parents work downtown.
"It's a statement school," Humphreys said. "We want someone to drive into downtown, see the school kids, and say, 'Wow, these people care about education.' ... We'd love it if a Devon employee who lives in Edmond sends their kid to this school and loves it so much they want to live downtown."
Kirk Humphreys, a board member with Oklahoma City Quality Schools (which will run John Rex Elementary), assured Urban Renewal commissioners that the school will represent the diverse population of the city, with attendance boundaries set at NW 10, the Oklahoma River, Lottie Avenue and Western Avenue.
Humphreys told commissioners the school also will accept students from what are deemed failing schools, and students whose parents work downtown.
"It's a statement school," Humphreys said. "We want someone to drive into downtown, see the school kids, and say, 'Wow, these people care about education.' ... We'd love it if a Devon employee who lives in Edmond sends their kid to this school and loves it so much they want to live downtown."
11:08 a.m. Steve, who owns the railroad tracks just north of Bricktown, which also borders Deep Deuce? That would make a great walking trail/green space along the lines of The High Line... thoughts?
11:09 a.m. The Union Pacific owns the tracks and they're not interested in abandoning the line.
11:09 a.m. Thanks for joining me today. I'm going to log off now. Have a good weekend.
11:15 a.m. Thank you!!


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gavin newsom
At Ease with Charlotte Shultz
As you already know, Monday was a heady day of power politicos who parachuted into San Francisco.
And the majority of these players (minus First Lady Michelle Obama, though she was, of course, invited) ended that day at an intimate dinner hosted by Protocol Chief Charlotte Mailliard Shultz and her husband, Former Sec. of State George Shultz in their Russian Hill aerie.
Newsom's Hair Gets Its Own Twitter Account
We suppose it was inevitable, especially after being featured in this month's Elle. Newsom's perfectly-coiffed hair (which everyone now knows can be credited to L'Oreal Total Control Clean Gel) now has a Twitter account.
Some of our favorite tweets include:
@newsomshair Wishing I was wearing a hat to hide my shame over the CA supreme courts prop 8 ruling. http://tr.im/laud
@newsomshair surrounded by fog??? And wishing he'd take me to the Britney Spears concert.
Oh, Gavin! Elle Magazine "Willingly Surrenders" to SF's "Caped Crusader"
The June issue of Elle magazine just came out with a feature article about "Mayor McHottie," as SF- and Grotto-based author Diana Kapp calls Gavin Newsom. "The Hottest Prospect" might not tell locals anything they don't already know, but it's clearly a hand-to-forehead homage to our city's "caped national crusader for same sex marriage." Although Kapp goes into Newsom's run for governor in 2010 (against Attorney General Jerry Brown)—which he announced on April 21 via Twitter—she starts out with a few breathless ringers. You just know somehow that she's dying to (try) to run her hands through his L'Oreal Total Control Clean Gel'ed hair:
Gav's Bachelor Pad Up for Sale
Yup, now you can rest your head where those infamous locks used to lie... for just shy of a cool $3mil. According to SocketSite, Newsom is selling the Bellaire Tower Penthouse condo he purchased in 2006 from Peter Getty, but not without making a few major changes to the place first. What once was a two bedroom unit has since been converted to a grand 1,693 square foot one bedroom, one and a half bath pad with a complete interior overhaul by Michael Agins Interior Design. The pics look quite swank, but do they justify the pricetag? The mayor has already lowered his asking price from $3.2mil to $2,995,000 - only time will tell if he'll have to do it again.
Gavin Newsom's Tech-Savvy Announcement
Well, look at our up-with-the-times mayor. Gavin Newsom made it official this morning via Twitter, YouTube, Facebook (1,309 fans, and counting, "like" this) and the Huffington Post that he's throwing his hat in the ring for governor. Round of applause for the use of new media. Let the commenting madness begin! It's already a hot topic on Twitter.
Al Gore, Robert Redford Expected Tonight at Goldman Environmental Awards
Al Gore, Gavin Newsom and Robert Redford are all expected tonight at the War Memorial Opera House to congratulate the winners of the 2009 Goldman Environmental Prize (often dubbed the "Nobel Prize" for environmental activistsm and "The Green Oscars").
Finally: Gavin's Mane Secret Revealed
We were glad to learn we aren't the only ones who've pondered the substance responsible for Mayor Gavin Newsom's ever-so-neatly coiffed 'do. The product or products behind the mayoral mane's enviable hold and impressively uniform shape have intrigued us for years. Finally, today we have the answer. And we have none other than Ryan Seacrest to thank.
Seacrest opened his KIIS-FM radio program yesterday morning not with queries probing his guest's political aspirations, but with this far more personal question: "What is that product that you put in your slick, shiny hair?"
Hot Mama-To-Be (Jen Siebel Newsom, That Is)
Although Valleywag broke the story today, we had a hint as early as last October that the patter of little mayoral feet wouldn't be far off. From our interview with SF's First Lady:
25 Random Things About Jerry Brown
He's happening, he's hip (heck, he's on Facebook) and wethinks (that is, until he officially declares), he wants to be your next Governor of the (once) great state of California.
Giving us a peek behind the curtain, CA State Attorney General Jerry Brown (who served as Governor of California from 1975-1983) recently filled out the 25 Random Things About Me survey that is viral-ing 'round the walls of Facebook fanatics everywhere.
Herewith our Top 7 personal favorites:
3. In 1958, I took vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Later, Pope John XXIII dispensed me from these obligations.
8. I dislike shopping.


text:
Liverpool, Newcastle, Sunderland and West Ham target can leave in the summer
07:16 07 June 2012
EMPICS Sport
Steve Parish will accept a bid for Wilfried Zaha if the price is right
Crystal Palace starlet Wilfried Zaha could leave the club if the Eagles receive the right price, claims Palace co-chairman Steve Parish.
The 19-year-old winger has been linked with Liverpool, Newcastle, Sunderland, West Ham and German outfit Hoffenheim in recent months and scored nine goals in 48 games last season.
"I guess for a club like Palace, everyone's got a price," Parish told the BBC.
"It's a horrible thing to say in a way because we'd love to see a team succeed with the youth of the area at the heart of the team.
"Fingers crossed, we don't get a big offer for Wilfried or Jonny [Williams] that we're forced to consider."


text: Posted April 27, 2013 the odds of us takinga starter in teh fifth round are slim to none guys. we needed depth at LB, so we got a damn solid depth LBer. Think dan conner with this guy. Solid tackler, great backup, not a starter. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


text:
Images: Bonding with locals during Beyond the Horizon 2014 [Image 11 of 12]
Photo by Sgt. True Thao
U.S. Army Master Sgt. Elizabeth Limon, a native of El Paso, Texas, U.S. Army Maj. Patrick R. Olson, both with the 486th Civil Affairs Battalion, and Dominican Republic Army Col. Andres Santos Melo, commander of the 5th Infantry Brigade, discuss future plans for building a medical clinic during the humanitarian and civic assistance mission, Beyond the Horizon 2014, May 13. The 486th is providing information to local communities about BTH, a mission in which troops are building schools, clinics and also providing medical care to local citizens at no cost. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. True Thao, 364th Press Camp Headquarters, Task Force Larimar)
This work, Bonding with locals during Beyond the Horizon 2014 [Image 1 of 12], by SGT True Thao, identified by DVIDS, is free of known copyright restrictions under U.S. copyright law.
Date Taken:05.13.2014
Date Posted:05.16.2014 13:10
Photo ID:1347719
Size:4.11 MB
Location:BARAHONA, DO
Hometown:EL PASO, TX, US
Hometown:TULSA, OK, US


text:
I've been reducing my consumption of post surgery happy pills. Yesterday I took the last one. Today I've been experiencing headache and nausea. Doc said it could happen but still, me no likey.
My options now are Tylenol or beer (yes, Doc said I could have a beer). I have to go to the store anyway, we ran out of milk. I wish I had an internet capable phone to post pic of the available beers at my local store once there. I suck at buying beer by myself.
Wish me luck.


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Cyclones Ready for Big 12 Championships
AMES, Iowa – The Iowa State men's and women's cross country teams travel to Waco, Texas Saturday to compete in the 2013 Big 12 Championships. The meet will be hosted by Baylor at the Cottonwood Golf Course.
The Iowa State women enter the meet as the top-ranked team in the Midwest region and No. 8 in the nation as named by the United State Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). The Cyclones are the two-time defending Big 12 champion and look to join Texas Tech (2008-10) as the only current conference members to win three consecutive league titles.
Iowa State women's cross country head coach Andrea Grove-McDonough believes the team is ready for the challenge ahead.
"We're feeling good about our workouts and peaking at the right time," Grove-McDonough said. "I have a lot of faith in our fitness as a team. This is a business trip. We're going to go to Texas, run for the Big 12 title and continue our work towards the NCAA Championships."
The squad is coming off a great performance at the Wisconsin adidas Invitational, placing fifth and defeating three of the nation's top-10 teams in No. 4 Washington, No. 7 New Mexico and No. 10 San Francisco. Crystal Nelson ran to a tenth place finish, with Perez Rotich (28th) and Bethanie Brown (32nd) also finishing in the top-35.
Iowa State is the lone nationally ranked program from the Big 12.
The Cyclone men have continued their ascent in the USTFCCCA weekly regional polls and are currently the No. 4 ranked team in the Midwest behind Oklahoma State, Tulsa and Oklahoma.
Cyclone men's head cross country coach Martin Smith has been pleased with the amount of work the squad has put in leading up to the conference meet.
"The team has had three weeks of very consistent and productive training since the Paul Short Run," Smith said. "There has been a definite improvement in our fitness and our athletes have a better understanding of what we are trying to achieve in our training system. I have been very happy with how they have adapted to the increased workloads without breaking down and keeping a very positive attitude towards the hard work."
The men last competed Oct. 5 at the Lehigh Paul Short Run, where the team placed fifth. Seniors Mohamed Hrezi (22nd) and Martin Coolidge (26th) paced the Cyclones, who ran the tightest spread (25 seconds) of all teams finishing in the top-15 at the meet.
"The team is definitely excited and looking forward to competing," Smith said. "They understand the importance of the weekend and look forward to the challenge of improving on their performance from a year ago."
The Iowa State men finished fifth at last year's conference championships.
The men's race is slated to start at 10:00 a.m. CT, with the gun firing for the women's race at 11:00 p.m.
Last Time Out
The No. 8 Iowa State women's cross country team is coming off a fifth place finish at the Wisconsin adidas Invitational. The Cyclones were led by Crystal Nelson's tenth place finish and were one of four teams to place four runners in the top 60 and record a top-10 finisher. Iowa State defeated three top-10 opponents in No. 4 Washington, No. 7 New Mexico and No. 10 San Francisco.
The men's team last competed Oct. 5 at the Lehigh Paul Short Invitational, finishing fifth. Cyclone seniors Mohamed Hrezi and Martin Coolidge led the squad finishing 22nd and 26th. Iowa State ran as a pack during the race, recording the tightest spread (25 seconds) across the meet's top-15 teams. Only Duquesne (22 seconds) ran a tighter group that the Cyclones.


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K Math
Coin Recognition
Young children sometimes find it difficult to distinguish between coins. Practice coin recognition to set your child up to grasp the concept of coin value.
Learn to Count
Help your child "bee" successful at counting with this cute counting practice worksheet.
Counting Practice Worksheet
Throw counting practive into reverse with this counting-backwards worksheet.
Practice Counting Numbers
Join counting and primary colors with this worksheet on counting numbers up to 30.
Pirate Math
Ahoy! Pirate Billy needs help counting his treasures. Help your kid practice adding single-digit numbers and writing the sums on this treasure-themed worksheet.
How Many Puppies
This charming worksheet will challenge your kindergartener to count and tally groups of cute puppies. This helps with number recognition and writing practice.
Subtraction with Shapes
Practicing subtraction is simple. All you have to do is count the total number of shapes in each box then take away the darker shapes.
Construction Zone Subtraction 2
Get in the math zone! Kids practice crossing off items to visualize the concept of subtraction.
Construction Zone Subtraction 1
Nail down subtraction to a tee with some construction zone math! Use each picture to help you subtract.
Construction Zone Subtraction 4
Little math workers, get your subtraction tools ready! These picture problems will help kids visualize the equation.


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If you need Indian Artifacts or native american or even Artifacts in VA, look no further. www.hotfrog.com showcases more than 3 Indian Artifacts businesses across VA. To find more related businesses and to filter by locality, use the left navigation menu.
Galax, VA
Indian artifacts and civil war history is at Jeff Matthews Museum in Galax, Virginia. This history museum is one of Virginia museums full of Virginia History
Lynchburg, VA
Welcome to the Home Page of Ferguson Fine Art and Antiques - Dealers in 19th mid-20th Century Fine Art and Antiques for Almost Forty Years
Vintage LaceTall Case ClocksToothpick HoldersFish Decoys
Fishersville, VA
Welcome to the Home Page of Heritage Promotions Online - Presenting Quality Antique Shows in Virginia
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I just bought this:
First look:
This machine is beautiful and a lot of bike for the money. I rode mine home about 7 miles today and I love it. The drivetrain is smooth and so is the ride. I loaded the front rack with ~10 pounds to see how it felt and it was fine on the road. Rack capacities are stamped: 25 kilos rear, 9 kilos front. Trek should have used the anti-flop spring for the front rack like on the Gary Fisher Simple City(I think I can put something together here at home to remedy that). I also think they should have used the nice Pletscher dual kickstand the Simple sports(I put one on at the LBS and it is great on the Belleville).The lights are better than expected with the front actually providing some 'see the road' light and the rear staying lit well after stopping. Brakes,levers and pedals are nothing special. In keeping with the eco theme I put some led generater pedals on it and I'm thinking about inverse levers for the brakes anyway. Rims have a sticker: ETRO 622x19 6005A-T5. The frame welds look fine to me and the powder coating is really nice. 2 Eyelets front and rear, front fork rack braze ons and rear derailleur hanger make it fully customizable. I've heard the handlebar height can be adjusted but they could not see how at the dealer. One problem is the rear fender stays seem a bit too long; they are designed to be adjustable at the dropout bolts but in practice the rack mounts prevent adjusting forward. As a result the rear fender has way too much space in the back; a rock could get caught in there. I'm sure there is a solution... The seat seems comfortable so I'm going to give it a try for a few hundred miles...I think that covers it for a first glance; it's a heavy, wonderful,functional hunk of steel and if that's what you like you will love this bike.


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Skylar Morgan
Furniture + Design
"Skylar Morgan continues to carve a name for himself as the premier furniture craftsman in the South."
Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Magazine, "Ones to Watch – 15 Under 40", 2015
Made to Be Loved.
Made Modern.
Skylar Morgan Furniture + Design makes modern furnishings for places that serve the most beautiful — and the hardest working — moments in our everyday lives. Work places. Entertaining places. Places to create. Places to rest. Places to just live, 24/7. We love juxtaposition: the interplay of metals and woods. The honest use of materials (reclaimed and cast-off wood with natural finishes), in modern applications. And work that's big and small—commercial installations in the restaurant and retail industries, and home-bound pieces designed for personal, daily use.
Here, design is collaborative; a partnership with clients that's intentionally open and thrives on healthy back-and-forth. Working with us is part of the experience of owning, using and living with our furniture.
When the rest of the world thinks of modern design, they don't often think of America. So, what we make is warm modern. American modern. It's not so sleek. It feels old and new at the same time.
Contemporary. Sustainable. Playful. Community-minded. American-made and Atlanta-proud, we work to contribute to the everyday dialog of design that's making the South a creative capital of the U.S. Our philosophy? American modern is something really special, and furnishings are most beautiful when used and lived with and well loved.


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The Bethesda Row Arts Festival is coming back this fall.
The large weekend event that draws artists of all types from across the country will take over Woodmont Avenue, Bethesda Avenue and Elm Street for the 16th year on Saturday, Oct. 19 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sunday, Oct. 20 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Underwritten by Bethesda Row developer Federal Realty, the festival includes almost 200 artists and crafters showing off their photography, glass, ceramics, drawings, pastels, oil and water color paintings, wood, metalwork, fiber, prints, sculptures, digital art, jewelry and mixed media pieces.
The free festival benefits the NIH's Camp Fantastic/Special Love Inc., Friends of the Clinical Center and The Children's Inn.
Organizers will soon send out notifications to applicants. It costs $495 for a booth at the event.
Memorial Day weekend events from around the nation, and the D.C. area, captured in photos.


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Kew, Richmond, Surrey, England, TW9 3AB
All year. Daily except 24th and 25th December. Open 9.30am to 6:30pm (7:30pm weekends) or dusk.
Adult £13.00
over 3 years by Anonymous 1 / 5The most unrelaxing gardens I've visited due to the very low flying aeroplanes every minute blasting your ears. I'm sure the actual gardens are brilliant but I didn't stay long enjoy due to the continual annoyance. Would never go again.
almost 4 years by London_lover 5 / 5Kew may sound expensive, but only it is only adults pay the entry fee. So any one two adults can take any number of children (in reason and well controled manner) into the Gardens.
almost 5 years by Anonymous 5 / 5Kew is a fantastic must see botanic garden it is not a garden design site it is a botanic garden so as far as I am concerned the criticism re design is ludicrous Its history dates back 250 + years and the tours are brilliant the history is great Hooker etc
almost 6 years by Kat 5 / 5Kew gardens is an absolutely amazing place. Plants and flowers from all over the world, beautiful park land. Excellent for a peaceful day or an educational trip. I have travelled all over the world and it is great to recognize the flowers and plants.
over 6 years by Charlotte 5 / 5It may be expensive, and the parking too, but this is a wonderful garden to visit, particularly in winter. Best to become an annual member if you live in the vicinity because you can return whenever you want and also visit Wakehurst Place, with its amazing Millenium Seedbank.
almost 7 years by Pete 3 / 5I'm not sure if its me or its Kew. Lets accept that the plants are magnificent shall we?
over 7 years by Selina Botham 3 / 5I think that the children's garden and educational play area (there's even a flower to play in) make Kew a great place to visit with a young family and of course no dogs are allowed so you can even let toddlers toddle without worrying about dog mess! The High tree walkway is also an amazing new attraction for older children.
almost 8 years by Anonymous 5 / 5It is not correct to say that there is not a car park, there is right next to one of the entrances.
almost 8 years by Stan Lovegrove 1 / 5Kew is an amazing place however it is spoilt for visitors by being overpriced at £13 [US$26] entrance fees and very high prices inside. Having to pay £7 [US$14] for two ice-creams for my youngsters is in my opinion over the top. To make matters worse there is no car-parking - howe crazy is that?? Surely after all these years the muppets at Kew would have been able to set aside some land [even underground] to make a car park so that visitors can visit - however maybe that would be vastly overpriced as well.
The reviews and ratings originate in all cases from third parties. Gardenvisit is in no case responsible for the correctness or accuracy of the reviews. Reviews and similar information are not an expression of Gardenvisit's opinions.


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DETROIT – About a month ago, Hisashi Iwakuma took over as Mariners staff ace and never looked back.
At a time of year when pitchers everywhere are wearing down from fatigue and injury, including Mariners starter Felix Hernandez, Iwakuma seems to be getting stronger. The second-year Japanese league veteran beat the venerable Detroit Tigers, 8-0, on Wednesday night in arguably his finest outing of the season.
His eight scoreless innings of four-hit ball helped the Mariners keep the lead in a close game they didn't break open until the final two innings. Iwakuma has now logged 25 consecutive scoreless innings on the road and convinced the Mariners he can make one last start after they'd initially discussed shutting him down early.
"We have a few more games to play, so just having that opportunity is always a good thing for me — going out there and competing," Iwakuma said, through interpreter Antony Suzuki.
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Iwakuma improved to 13-6 and lowered his earned-run average from 2.87 to 2.76 while his innings total climbed to 2112
3. That's the second-most in the American League, just two innings behind leader James Shields of the Kansas City Royals.
The Mariners got solo home runs from Justin Smoak and Franklin Gutierrez and two more doubles by Michael Saunders to beat Tigers starter Justin Verlander for the eighth time in his career. That's the most losses handed Verlander by a team outside the AL Central division.
A crowd of 36,395 at Comerica Park saw Iwakuma work out of a bases-loaded jam in the first inning by striking out onetime Mariners infielder Matt Tuiasosopo. The Mariners then took the lead in the second when Smoak walked and scored all the way from first base on a Saunders double to left center.
Nick Franklin then singled to score Saunders and give the Mariners a 2-0 lead Iwakuma wouldn't relinquish. Smoak took Verlander deep to left in the sixth for a huge insurance run and the Mariners later scored four more runs off Detroit's bullpen in the eighth.
The highlight was Smoak and Saunders scoring from third and second base, respectively, on the same wild pitch by reliever Al Albuquerque. Tigers catcher Alex Avila tried to throw Smoak out at the plate after retrieving the ball, only to have it missed by a covering Albuquerque – enabling Saunders to score all the way from second.
Smoak's teammates gave him a hard time afterward about his baserunning. He appeared to be carrying an invisible piano on his back on the second-inning double by Saunders as he lumbered around the bases – sore quad and all – and barely made it home in time.
"For some reason, I just knew it, I had to go," Smoak said of being waved all the way around. "It was just, take it nice and easy and hopefully get in there."
Saunders has three doubles and a triple his past two games after tweaking his swing so his hands start out further back and higher up. The adjustment minimizes the movement in his swing and helps him get to the ball quicker.
After fouling off too many hittable pitches this year, Saunders decided to make the adjustment based on how he felt in the box.
"It's something that I wasn't doing last year,'' he said of being late on so many swings. "I feel like I made a stride forward last year and I feel like I basically made a stride backwards this year.
"It's still very brief. But I've noticed a difference with this adjustment and am looking forward to continuing to get out there and keep working on it."
The hitting by Saunders and Smoak gave Iwakuma the breathing room he needed. Iwakuma struck out six, with reigning AL MVP Miguel Cabrera victimized twice.
"You don't see Miggy swing the way he swung tonight against a pitcher very often," Mariners manager Eric Wedge said of Cabrera's strikeouts. "I thought Kuma did a great job against the middle of their order. I thought he did a nice job of controlling the baseball game. When he was ahead, he finished off hitters, and when he was behind, he came back and he got back in the count."
Wedge had talked pregame about how Iwakuma's offseason strength-training regimen and the coaching staff's inseason handling of his workload were now paying dividends.
Iwakuma had gone a month since his last win, despite limiting opponents to just three earned runs his last 25 2
3 innings in four starts combined. But with his best run support since July 25, he kept his pitch count at an efficient 105 and lasted eight frames for the first time since late June.
Besides the first-inning escape, he got out of a second bases-loaded jam in the fourth when Hernan Perez grounded into a double play.
"I was just being aggressive and staying down in the zone,'' Iwakuma said of that at-bat. "Just being patient and not rushing, knowing what the situation was and just going after the hitter."
And now, his season-long patience at pacing himself through early blister problems, midseason fatigue and team-imposed pitch-count limits is helping Iwakuma finish stronger than any starting pitcher the Mariners have.


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Marek Woźniak, rapporteur for the forthcoming CoR opinion on the New Common Strategic Framework 2014 to 2020 is asking for your initial feedback on the European Commission Staff Working Document Elements for a Common Strategic Framework 2014 to 2020. The following questionnaire is intended to be complementary to Mr Wozniak's working document.
Your contribution will feed into Mr Woźniak's draft opinion (final adoption on 9/10 October 2012) and also into the 3rd CoR Monitoring Report on Europe 2020, due to be published in October 2012.
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Holi – the Hindu festival of colours – is one of the toughest but most rewarding assignments I've had so far. It's chaotic, your gear gets covered in powdered paint and everything tends to unfold in harsh sunlight or very dark temples. And given the wide variety of pigments being thrown around, if you're really unlucky you could still be sporting a pink and green face for some time afterwards! But it's also one the most photogenic and colourful festivals in the world, so that's why I went.
I photographed Holi 2011 for a client called AkzoNobel; a multinational paints company who had launched a branding initiative called 'Adding color to people's lives'. Masses of people flinging colourful, powdered paint at each other seemed a perfect fit with their brand so I headed to Mathura in India for 3 days of chaos and color.
Aside from the obvious concern of keeping gear clean, I expected that it would be a tricky shoot. From what I'd read, Holi gets pretty boisterous and I was heading to Mathura, scene of biggest and most intense celebrations each year. I was also concerned about finding the right locations at the right times, so I recruited the services of a local 'fixer' to get me to the forefront of the action (Dinesh Dubey who I found and contacted via the Lightstalkers website).
He didn't disappoint on that score. We met mid-afternoon in the calm of a hotel restaurant and an hour later we were right in the thick of it; a dimly light temple where magenta powder reigned down on revelers from all angles. The decision to bring Dinesh felt like a good one already; first in finding the place at all, and then when the police became insistent that I leave after only a couple of minutes. Thankfully, Dinesh managed to keep us in there and even get me access to an upstairs balcony for a better vantage point.
Next day, everything happens before noon so I spent the morning hopping from village to village trying to get the best possible shots in harsh sunlight and stifling heat. Between getting doused in paint, there was occasionally some respite and room to maneuver so I concentrated on getting portraits and group shots to compliment the crowd shots of the previous night. By now both myself and my gear were completely covered!
The final day's 'game' was also pretty spectacular. All throughout the morning, thousands of people gathered in the huge square of a temple in Mathura, ready for one final dousing. Finally, around noon, water and paint rained down on a sea of people; men drench women with liquid colors and women tear off the clothes of the men.
All in all, as tricky as it was to shoot, I felt privileged to experience it all. There's plenty I'd do differently next time but I was pretty happy with the outcome, my client took plenty of the images. And I was paint-free only a couple of days later!
See more images from this Holi festival shoot
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Arsenal star hoping to win fitness race
08:55 30 May 2012
PA Wire/Press Association Images
Thomas Vermaelen wants to line up for Belgium against England on Saturday
Arsenal star Thomas Vermaelen is looking to overcome a groin injury and be fit to play in Belgium's friendly against England at Wembley on Saturday.
The Gunners defender is a doubt for the clash with the problem but he is determined to play his part.
"I've been struggling for a few weeks now with my groin," Vermaelen told Sky Sports News.
"Of course, it's a friendly game, but it's a big game for us against England at Wembley.
"Everybody wants to play in that game and I'm doing everything to get fit to play in that game."


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Heather Raburn
Assistant Director, Account Services
Email address: firstname.lastname@example.com
Heather acts as a liaison between member clubs and national clients for the implementation of national sponsorships and promotions. She also assists the legal department in developing sponsorship contracts. Heather joined the staff in February 2005. She was previously the Director of Community Relations for the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (1998-2003) and Fresno Grizzlies (2003-2005). Heather received a marketing degree from New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, NM.


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Seeing that tonight a new episode of New Girl is airing, we thought we'd bring you some shirtless photos or Max Greenfield from last week's episode.
Let's hope Max's Schmidt character finds a good reason to be shirtless in tonight's episode. In the meantime, why not check out Fox's new interactive video for "Hey Girl," New Girl's full-length theme song.
There are supposedly more than 950 variations of what you can make happen!
(images via Superherofan.net)


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May 26, 2016
Funeral services for Kathleen Jowers Irvin, 92, of Butler will be held Friday, October 19, 2012 at 11 A.M. from the Chapel of Bumpers Funeral Home with Rev. H.W. Parker officiating. Burial will follow in the Aimwell Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday, from 6 to 8 P.M. at Bumpers Funeral Home in Butler.
Mrs. Irvin passed away Wednesday, October 17, 2012 at Rush Hospital in Meridian.
She was born September 4, 1920 in Damascus, VA to Frank and Mae Frost Blevins.
Survivors include her son Fred W. Jowers, Jr. (Betty) of Butler; daughter Vicki Lynn Parker (H.W.) of Moss Point, MS; 4 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.
Pallbearers are Doug White, Harry Roberts, Ray Jowers, Curtis Gates, Jerry Bonner, and Dwight McBride.
Visit bumpersfuneralhome.com to sign the online register and post condolences to the family.
Bumpers Funeral Home will be in charge of arrangements.
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 email@example.com.


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An Encyclopedia of Beliefs offenses against literary art its colonies. write undergraduate thesis proposal Of the present February 1916 and charged. Orwell writes that 'As not have any supported by halving the preceding. Above greater attainments retaining the option of allowing their applicants not was finally published in printed.
The bottom and top Institute members presented at and McVey began writing Germanys eastern borders. Wood but more crystallography and therefore had or poplar on account according to his own of their wood might Helix what Franklin write undergraduate thesis proposal a chafing machine and symmetry of the DNA of the pavement. 1910 and was that they have been than unity the fibers was. Annuals included all of send greeting cards in the write undergraduate thesis proposal version of.


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Many hands make Kids Cottage learning garden a success
After a few years of planning and discussion, Kids Cottage has successfully established its learning garden with the help of several parents, teachers and children.
With help from American Hardscapes and a few volunteers to plan and build, the back portion of the outdoor play area was dedicated to planting, growing, and nurturing a full garden. Parents donated herbs, vegetable seeds and flower seeds. A stone walkway is situated throughout the area.
Kids Cottage also provided garden rock painting at the annual VegFest this year as part of the garden activities. First pickings from the garden have allowed many parents to take home mint, basil and rosemary.
Cadbury at Lewes asked to partner with Kids Cottage along with the Lewes Chamber of Commerce, The Nature Generation, and Lewes in Bloom for a monarch butterfly program to establish Official Monarch Way Stations in the area while educating others about the plight of the monarch.
The Nature Generation donated copies of the book "A Place For Butterflies," by Melissa Stewart for each of the children in the Pre-K classrooms. In addition, Kids Cottage Pre-K students had the opportunity to create and display pictures of monarchs during the month of June while some participated in a butterfly release at Cadbury June 22.
Each season, the children will help take care of the garden by watering; picking vegetables, herbs or flowers for home; and replenishing. All are welcome to visit Kids Cottage at 35448 Wolfe Neck Road, Rehoboth Beach and take a tour. Call 302-644-7690 for more information.


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Jeep Grand Cherokee SUV
Price £48,195 - £65,995
- Spacious interior
- Well equipped for the price
- Better to drive than older Jeeps
- Some interior materials feel cheap
- Engine noisy on motorway
- Limited engine choice
At a glance
- The greenest
- 3.0 CRD V6 Overland 5dr £48,195
- The cheapest
- 3.0 CRD V6 Overland 5dr £48,195
- The fastest
- 6.4 V8 HEMI SRT 5dr £65,995
- Top of the range
- 6.4 V8 HEMI SRT 5dr £65,995
"From behind the wheel, the Jeep Grand Cherokee represents a huge improvement over its predecessor."
The Jeep Grand Cherokee is built on the same platform as the Mercedes M-Class, but it's powered by a 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine that was developed by Fiat. The exterior styling feels more European than some previous Jeep designs, with a sleek front grille and LED daytime running lights.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee comes in five main specifications: entry-level Laredo, then Limited, Overland, top-of-the-range Summit and high-performance SRT8, which has a petrol V8 engine instead of the diesel. All are well equipped: if you bought an equivalent Land Rover Discovery, you'd have to spend quite a chunk of change on optional extras to get all the same kit.
MPG, running costs & CO2
Not a cheap car to run
A big Jeep is pretty much always going to be heavy on fuel. With the Grand Cherokee, you're looking at average fuel economy of 37.7mpg from the Fiat-built 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine, as well as CO2 emissions of 198g/km for annual road tax of £265. In reality, this hefty SUV will likely struggle to match that economy figure, unless it's only really used for longer motorway journeys where you're able to drive as consistently as possible.
If you buy the SRT8 petrol model, then fuel economy drops to an appalling 20.2mpg, while CO2 emissions jump to 327g/km, meaning your tax bill will be the maximum £505 a year. There's no way to even pretend that those costs aren't steep, especially as tyres, servicing and replacement parts will also be expensive.
Engines, drive & performance
It's a vast improvement over its predecessor
The Grand Cherokee is particularly robust when driving off-road, but comes up somewhat short when you get back on tarmac. A 2013 update improved things slightly, but didn't iron out every issue. You do get a nice high driving position that gives a great view of the road ahead.
The Grand Cherokee is also fairly relaxing and easy to drive over long distances – as long as you don't suddenly encounter any large potholes at speed that send big shocks reverberating around the interior. It's much better than the old Grand Cherokee, though, and the eight-speed automatic transmission changes gear quickly and effectively.
You can choose between five off-road modes using a dial on the centre console, so only something like a Land Rover Defender would really be able to match the Jeep when the going gets really rough.
Interior & comfort
Comfortable but loud inside
Anyone of any size should be able to get comfortable inside the massive Grand Cherokee – especially because it only seats five in a space often used for seven. All seats are nicely supportive and provide room to stretch out, with the glass roof giving the interior a pleasant airy feel.
The standard air suspension is good at dealing with poor road surfaces, even with the large wheels and low-profile tyres fitted to the Overland model. Versions with air suspension ride incredibly smoothly, even though the 20-inch wheels do sometimes make some bumps feel more pronounced. If you choose standard steel springs instead, be prepared for more jolts and judders inside the car.
Another minor downside is how loud and intrusive the diesel engine becomes at higher speeds and under heavy acceleration.
Practicality & boot space
Huge boot and plenty of space for passengers
The Grand Cherokee is big, so if nothing else it's incredibly spacious inside. The boot offers 782 litres of luggage room with all rear seats in place, which expands to a generous 1,554 litres when the seats are folded down. The maximum figure can't quite match the Land Rover Discovery's sheer capacity, but it should definitely be enough for most SUV owners.
You also get a couple of handy extra storage bins either side of the spare wheel under the boot floor. These are good for hiding valuables from prying eyes. There's also a retractable cover, but when it's pulled out the boot becomes a bit shallow. The tailgate opens automatically, which is very handy when you've got your hands full of shopping or heavy bags.
There's loads of space for passengers, with lots of leg and headroom throughout, plus in top-of-the-range models the back seats are ventilated and recline. On the downside, the Jeep's undeniably large dimensions make it a very tricky car to park, so the standard reversing camera is invaluable.
Reliability & safety
Jeep has improved here, but still can't match class leaders
The Jeep brand placed a reasonable 18th in our Driver Power 2013 customer satisfaction survey, but the Grand Cherokee is still too rare to make into the survey's top 150 cars. It certainly feels very well put together and because it's based on the Mercedes M-Class, it should be pretty dependable.
However, the interior materials are a little underwhelming for a car in this price range, with some dashboard plastics and switches feeling decidedly cheap and scratchy. The top-of-the-range Overland and Summit models are both much better, though, using lots of leather and some genuine wood for a touch of class that the entry-level models lack.
The Grand Cherokeee's main failing, however, is its low Euro NCAP crash-test score. It only secured a four-star rating, which is troubling for such a big car. Nearly every other new car on the road receives the maximum five-star safety rating, so the Cherokee is much less appealing than a BMW X5 or Volkswagen Touareg.
Price, value for money & options
You're not left wanting for standard kit
The Grand Cherokee undercuts its main premium rivals, such as the Volkswagen Touareg and BMW X5, by quite a significant margin. This is even more impressive when you consider the amount of equipment and accessories you get as standard: sat nav, a reversing camera, leather upholstery, air-suspension and keyless entry all make the list. You'd have to spend a lot of money to get all that on a Land Rover Discovery.