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Second Acts
What do you do for an encore? Here are portraits of people who are taking new paths and changing their lives.
He Decides What's for Dinner
Lee Stevens, 64, always loved a good home-cooked meal. Growing up, his mom was an excellent cook, and during his 38-year career in banking, Mr. Stevens always tried to make time for a healthy dinner.
More in Next: The New Retirement
Four years ago, he decided to start a new career as a personal chef—with a goal of bringing the nightly meal back to time-starved families.
A member of the American Personal and Private Chef Association, Mr. Stevens today runs his own company, Let Lee Cook, and prepares fresh food for people in their homes. He specializes in classic dishes such as eggplant parmesan, chicken pot pie and split-pea soup, but uses low-fat, organic ingredients. He adapts recipes to suit individual tastes—adding Asian, Mediterranean or Mexican flavors, avoiding allergens and modifying recipes for picky kid palates.
"A lot of my clients don't even know how to use their kitchens, so I sit down with them and ask about the foods they loved as a kid and what their health goals are," says Mr. Stevens, who lives in East Patchogue, N.Y. "Within a few weeks, I start to pick up on people's tastes."
Lee Stevens
Age: 64
Home: East Patchogue, N.Y.
First/primary career: Retail banking management
Current path: Personal chef and certified yoga teacher
Why this path? "What I enjoy most about being a personal chef is being able to directly affect people's lives through diet. That's very satisfying."
His current career, of course, is a big departure from banking. He enjoyed working as a branch manager at banks such as HSBC and Bank of New York, but the job began to wear on him in his late 50s.
"The stress of being in management got to me, and I lost my enthusiasm for the banking industry," says Mr. Stevens, who retired in 2007 at age 60. Though he gave up a larger pension by retiring a few years early, he doesn't regret his decision. "I retired at the right time, because I had to take the plunge to do something I loved, instead of staying in a job I didn't enjoy."
Mr. Stevens is also a fitness buff and does yoga daily. He recently became a certified yoga instructor and often weaves fitness coaching into his chef business, since many of his customers want to get in shape. "I'm sort of a health coach to many of my clients," he says.
Though his job as a personal chef doesn't pay as much as his previous career, Mr. Stevens says he's happy with the pace he's made for himself. His part-time schedule, cooking two or three days a week, leaves time for traveling, gardening and bonsai—hobbies he enjoys doing with his wife, Terry.
"I could have made a lot more money if I stuck with banking," he says, "but I would have been miserable."
Adventure Calls, And Classic Cars
Dina Bennett gets carsick and dislikes driving. But when her husband, Bernard Gateau, came up with the idea of participating in the Peking to Paris Motor Challenge—piloting a restored 1940 La Salle over 7,400 miles of mountains, plains and deserts—she went along for the ride.
Dina Bennett
Age: 56
Home: Walden, Colo.
First/primary career: Software marketing and sales
Current path: Writer, rancher and "road-tripper"
Why this path: "I see the world in terms of narratives and characters, whether I'm looking at camels carrying salt blocks out of Ethiopia's Danakil Desert or a street child splashing in a hydrant in Calcutta."
In the four years since, Ms. Bennett has become a veteran of adventure travel and is now pursuing a career as a travel writer. This wanderlust is something that's "in my blood," says the 56-year old Ms. Bennett, speaking from a hotel in Katmandu, Nepal.
Ms. Bennett retired from her first career in software marketing and public relations in 1998. At that point, Mr. Gateau sold his Boulder, Colo., software company, and the couple suddenly had enough money "to make a huge change," Ms. Bennett says.
The two bought a 2,200-acre working cattle ranch near Walden, Colo. Ms. Bennett grew up outside New York, while her husband was raised in the French Alps; neither one had any idea what ranching would be like.
"When we sold the company, we considered that our retirement. But we were still young," Ms. Bennett says. "We threw ourselves into ranching with entrepreneurial gusto and learned by doing."
But after seven years of ranching, Ms. Bennett and her husband found themselves growing restless. Both love to travel. Ms. Bennett's mother is French and her father Austrian, and she grew up seeing the world with them. In 2007, Mr. Gateau, an auto enthusiast, raised the possibility of participating in the 100th anniversary Peking to Paris road rally. The race, started in 1907, requires drivers and passengers to travel overland in a classic car from Beijing to Paris. Past routes have crossed Mongolia, Russia and Ukraine, among other countries.
Since 2007, the couple has gone on at least one long car journey every year, driving one of their classic cars or their Land Rover. They just finished a six-week trip from Istanbul to Kolkata, and have also driven across Ethiopia, Peru, Bolivia and India. Another favorite trip was a six-week drive through Patagonia. Ms. Bennett also does trips on horseback and has ridden through Kenya, Botswana and Namibia.
Now, she is turning her journeys into a third career: travel writer. She maintains a website and blog and has completed a book, which an agent currently is trying to place with a publisher.
When not traveling, Ms. Bennett and her husband live on their ranch in Colorado. They spend three or four months a year on the road—and the rest of the year "planning for our next adventure, caring for our land and making sure the hay gets cut," says Ms. Bennett. "Kolkata and Colorado are certainly extremes, and I'm grateful to experience both."
Jumping Right In For the Deaf
After a 36-year career at Northrop Grumman Corp.—including negotiating the original development contract for the B-2 stealth bomber—Gaston Kent retired in June 2011, but not by choice.
Gaston Kent
Age: 65
Home: Palos Verdes Estates, Calif.
First/primary career: Executive at aerospace and electronics company
Current path: Heads a nonprofit that helps deaf children and their families
Why this path: "I personally understand the hurdles deafness presents, so I jumped at the chance to lead a world-renowned nonprofit. I wanted to turn retirement on its head and stay busy, challenged and engaged in meaningful work."
"Northrop has a mandatory retirement rule that officers retire at 65, but as my birthday approached, I would lie awake at night and worry about my impending retirement day," says Mr. Kent. "I had been working since I was 14 years old and wasn't ready to throw in the towel."
Mr. Kent, who lives in Palos Verdes Estates, Calif., with his wife, Glenda, grew up in the small town of Haleyville, Ala. After getting a finance degree from the University of Alabama, he spent six years in the Air Force. Later, on the GI Bill, he got an M.B.A. from the University of Texas; he was thrilled to land a job at Northrup Grumman, where he could continue to indulge his love of airplanes. He served in many roles, including head of investor relations and corporate vice president of finance.
Upon his retirement, Mr. Kent wanted another full-time job but had no idea how to land one. "I only knew I wanted to stay in L.A. and do something challenging, and a plus would be to do something completely different," he says.
Mr. Kent had been retired exactly 18 hours when he got a call from the John Tracy Clinic, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit that provides free education and services to deaf children and their families, where Mr. Kent had served as a volunteer board member for several years. (He lost full hearing in one ear at age 40 after contracting a mystery virus, so he was drawn to helping deaf children.)
The chairman of the clinic asked Mr. Kent if he would consider taking on the job of president and chief executive. Though he had never been closely involved with managing a nonprofit before, Mr. Kent "jumped at the chance," he says.
"I spent my whole career worrying about the bottom line, and now I spend all day worrying about the top line," jokes Mr. Kent, who is responsible for, among other things, high-level fund-raising. "Every day I have to ask people for money, and that's not at all my natural skill set."
Despite the challenges, Mr. Kent is a convert to the nonprofit world. He visits daily with the children who attend the on-site programs and has met every family, he says. Even after the children leave the preschool—which aims to help them acquire language so they can be mainstreamed into traditional classrooms—they keep in touch. Seeing children succeed is what Mr. Kent says he loves best about the job.
"A 12-year-old who went through the program came back for a visit and showed me his report card with all A's, and I felt so proud of all he's accomplished," Mr. Kent says. "I'm surprised at how quickly this job has gotten inside me. I just expected to manage the organization—not fall in love with these amazing kids."
From Fashion To Religion
Susan Turchin's life has been anything but a straight line, with time spent in the fashion industry, charity work and counseling. As it turned out, her path had one final turn: She is now an ordained interfaith minister, a calling that's still something of a surprise to her.
Susan Turchin
Age: 60
Home: New York
First/primary career: Fashion merchandising and sales
Current path: Interfaith minister
Why this path: "As I got older…I longed for work that authentically reflected who I am and who I aspire to be. My work allows me to do this and help others."
"I had no idea I'd ever do a job like this," says Ms. Turchin, 60, who lives in Manhattan.
Ms. Turchin worked in the fashion industry for more than 20 years, doing merchandising and wholesaling in New York for Macy's and clothing manufacturers. Her busy career involved extensive travel to Asia and seven-day workweeks. She loved the pace—until she didn't anymore.
"When I attained success and was making a six-figure salary, it suddenly all began to get stale," says Ms. Turchin, who grew up working in her uncle's clothing store and studied fashion design in college. "It just became a job, and I no longer had a passion for it."
So, at age 36, she gave it up and headed for Puerto Rico, where she lived for six years, mostly doing charity work. "For the first time in my life," she says, "I had oodles of time to sit and reflect on things, and I began searching for what I really wanted out of life."
Her search first took her back to New York, and back to the fashion industry. In her 40s, she returned to school to become a substance-abuse counselor and, eventually, began working with addicts to help them get their lives back on track. She enjoyed the work but still felt it wasn't quite the right career for her.
Finally, one day she attended an interfaith worship service with a friend and "felt like I had arrived home," she recalls. "I had finally found my people."
She enrolled in an interfaith seminary program and became an ordained minister. A few months later, Ms. Turchin took a part-time job as a dean at the school. Aside from her salaried job at the seminary, she began performing weddings for a fee. (She estimates she has married more than 600 couples of all faiths—Buddhist, Jewish, Catholic, Protestant and Hindu, among others.)
Today, she is director of admissions and a dean at One Spirit Learning Alliance in New York, a seminary she started with friends several years ago.
Her work is far from lucrative, Ms. Turchin says, and her husband Robert's job in the fashion industry provides the bulk of their income. The payoff, she says, is what she gets from helping others.
"I touch the lives of hundreds of people every year, and that is worth more than money to me."
In the future, Ms. Turchin and her husband hope to move to California or a similarly warm climate. But her career direction, she says, is set: practicing as a minister, conducting weddings—and teaching yoga, her other passion. "It doesn't really matter where I live at this point, because my work is a spiritual path."
Second Acts looks at the many paths people are taking in their 50s and beyond. Kristi Essick, author of these profiles, is a writer in California. You can reach her, and let us know how you're starting over in later life, at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Fourth of July signifies more than just a day to fire up grill
It doesn't seem our focus anymore to bring up the meaning of holidays we celebrate, which explains why increasing numbers of citizens don't know much about holidays like Independence Day or Memorial Day. These holidays are, after all, something more than good opportunities to get something to eat and shop for a good deal on a washer and dryer.
If you think I might be exaggerating that a disturbing percentage of our nation's population lacks knowledge about the Fourth of July, I might remind you that a poll in 2010 found that one in four Americans couldn't name the country the United States declared its independence from on July 4, 1776.
I suspect if you want to feel especially bleak about our grasp of our nation's history, ask a few people to rank by order of occurrence four wars: the Civil War, the Revolutionary War, World War I and the War of 1812. I'm going to bet the results of this question will be less than encouraging.
It might be helpful to remember that most national holidays exist, at least in their beginning, as a time of celebration and/or reflection on certain values or events that should be remembered, not just as historical happenstance but, as in the case of the Fourth of July, a time of bravery, intellect and more than a bit of that uniquely American boldness.
It was a bold time when the upstart American colonies thought they could unhitch themselves from the mighty British Empire. The colonies were in a difficult zone where they were too important to let go but thought not strong enough to fight themselves free.
What made this a unique experience in history was that the American Revolution was essentially a "small c" conservative one. This was no peasant revolt or Marxian-type revolution with workers seizing the means of production. This was an economic and philosophical revolution based on a belief in the natural rights of individuals with inherent and God-given rights to liberty — both personal and commercial.
Safety and security were thought to be of small worth compared to the inherent value in the freedom to choose one's destiny. Benjamin Franklin's quote that those who would sacrifice liberty for safety deserved neither was oft repeated during the War for Independence.
My feelings are especially strong about the Fourth of July because I know that in 1744 a German immigrant by the name of Hans Jacob Wagner came to this country. My great-great-great-grandfather was so taken with this land and the idea of freedom that he and my three equally great uncles enlisted in 1776 and served with Capt. John Arndt's Associators and Pennsylvania Militia during the Revolutionary War, which all of them survived.
I feel much the same way about our nation and our state. It is for this reason that on this Fourth of July I wonder at the casualness of citizens when we trade liberty for so very little – oftentimes, not even for small security.
Each July many new laws in the state of Colorado go into effect; none of us are even aware of the existence of most of them. Each law criminalizes or directs our behavior and limits, sometimes necessarily, our personal freedom.
But this constant growth imperils the very lifestyle it often hopes to protect. This led author Harry Silverglate to pen his book "Three Felonies a Day," a prediction of the average number of violations the typical citizen probably commits due to broad and vague statutes, regulations, and these days, I suppose, executive orders that invisibly surround us.
Here in Colorado, I can make a stack of the Colorado Revised Statutes in standard book form that is taller than a St. Bernard and much less likely to rescue you or bring you brandy.
If we were to include the associated Colorado Code of Regulations, the United States Code and the Code of Federal Regulations, we would create a Titan.
With that in mind, when we send our state and national legislators back to our capital cities next year, perhaps we could ask them to remember our founding and do less to us — and perhaps undo more.
Rick Wagner writes more about politics on his blog, The War on Wrong.

subset: commoncrawl


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Kid Cudi is rapping again. He let loose this track tonight, out of the blue, with Complex on the premiere. It's Scott Mescudi himself on the production as well, which is a story in and of itself. He took "Ghost," reversed it and added new guitars. What do you think?
Kid Cudi – "Dennis, Hook Me Up With Some More Of That Whiskey!"


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Mixing up your decor has never been easier than with this reversible cotton quilt in a classic French blue. Featuring a quirky circle print on the front and a dashed stripe on the other, this quilt pairs seamlessly with our French blue C3 coordinates, classic white sheets and shams, and even other brights like green and fuchsia.
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Tyler French Blue Quilted Sham
The pairing possibilities are endless with this reversible cotton sham, featuring two modern geometric prints in a classic French blue. Mix and match with our French blue C3 coordinates, tailored white sheets, or other brights like fuchsia and green.
• 100% cotton.
• Straight edge.
• Coordinating stripe on back side and piping.
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All offers to be submitted by midnight 9/14/2016. Amazing opportunity for investor or owner to occupy in highly desirable location near UW Hosp & campus. 2 owners since '38, immaculately maintained w/original character, solid all-brick 2-unit (built as such) offers gracious spaces. Identical 1st & 2nd flr units complemented by walk-up attic for storage or future finishing & full bsmnt w/high ceiling, storage rms & open space. Updated boilers, tankless water htr, laundry facilities incl. The icing on the cake is a detached garage for 2 cars + storage & extra pkg on the newer concrete driveway!
Features Multi Family
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LTS NB-6/9 mnths Girl Clothes Altheda+3 35 kids; North Carolina 2316 postsNov 9th '12
I have noted where things are stained in the picture comments. Everything is from a smoke/pet free home. It was all washed prior to storage, but they have been packed away for a while.
Need these things gone, we're overrun by clothes!


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Brownings are manufacturers of three types of Flex Face signs; Econoflex, Fascia Frame and Retro Frame.
Econoflex Flex Face Sign Manufacturer
The design of the ECONOFLEX system was customer driven. By incorporating the box and tensioning system into one profile we have made performing maintenance functions on the sign easier than ever. By simply having the ability to release the face of the sign, maintaining and changing the sign is fast and simple, unlike traditional hinged frames or removable access panels.
Fascia Frame Flex Face Sign Manufacturer
The FASCIA FRAME enables you to attach a flexible vinyl face via tension clips to a simple aluminium tension frame. The resulting sign can be left as non-illuminated, or alternatively, can be frontlit via troughlight. Both options can be a relatively cheap and very effective way of advertising.
Retro Frame Flex Face Sign Manufacturer
RETRO FRAMES can be manufactured to suit the shape of any box. When combined with a frame brace and a frame support tube, the retro frame turns existing rigid faced lightboxes into light boxes that are flex face compatible. Retro frames can be back lit, front lit or non-illuminated.


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JEI Learning Centers
Expert Review
ConsumerAffairs Research Team
The ConsumerAffairs Research Team believes everyone deserves to make smart decisions. We aim to provide readers with the most up-to-date information available about today's consumer products and services.
With their acclaimed Self-Learning Method, JEI Learning Centers help children learn at their own pace. Each child's strengths and weaknesses are assessed to determine strong suits and areas for improvement. Once this report is complete, the child begins the JEI Learning Centers curriculum for math, English, reading and writing.
- Step-by-step learning process: Students work at their own pace, following a step-by-step procedure that helps them learn core concepts until they are proficient in each area.
- Future-focused: JEI's belief is that education is the key to a better life, and teachers strive to help all children learn now so they can lead better lives later.
- Longstanding legacy: Sung Hoon Park developed this step-by-step approach to learning in 1977, and it remains popular internationally.
- Convenient locations: With centers located all across the country, it is easy to find one nearby.
- Individualized education plans: Each teacher works with five or fewer children at a time, this ensures every student gets a hands-on learning experience.
- Best for Students who require personalized attention to help them thrive in the educational environment.
Question and Answers - JEI Learning Centers
What problem is JEI Learning Centers trying to solve?
- Our mission is to support, facilitate and help children by providing a high quality supplementary education so that all children can achieve academic success. This is a key to a better life.
What sets JEI Learning Centers from the competition?
- JEI is different than other tutoring companies because it has a low instructor to student ratio.
What needs do your products or services fulfill?
- JEI offers tutoring to students that include common core aligned subjects and builds critical thinking and problem solving.
How does JEI Learning Centers measure success?
- "A Better Life Through Better Education" is the philosophy behind JEI's internationally acclaimed Self- Learning Method. The JEI Self-Learning Method enables all children to learn and reach their full potential with its unique individualized study program. Children have a strong intellectual curiosity that must be nurtured with the proper guidance and care. Believing in the unlimited potential of children, JEI strives to create an educational environment where all children have the ability to become strong leaders of tomorrow by helping to develop their critical thinking and problem solving skills.
Has JEI received any recognition your customers would like to know about?
- JEI has been ranked number 198 in the Franchise 500 list by Entrepreneur.
Compare Tutoring
JEI Learning Centers Company Profile
- Company Name:
- JEI Learning Centers
- Year Founded:
- 1977
- Address:
- 4465 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 302
- City:
- Los Angeles
- State/Province:
- Postal Code:
- 90010
- Country:
- United States
- Website:
- http://www.jeilearning.com/


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Nurses at Gaylord Hospital throw prom for Wallingford teen battling cystic fibrosis
Nurses at Gaylord Hospital throw prom
Published 11:12 pm, Saturday, May 10, 2014
WALLINGFORD >> Margarita Norris and Courtney Fletcher, Brianna Dragunoff's nurses at Gaylord Specialty Healthcare, recalled Saturday how the 17-year-old cystic fibrosis patient expressed her sadness over the fact the disease was keeping her from attending her senior prom.
To cheer her up, Norris and Fletcher proposed a logical solution: to throw a prom of their own for Dragunoff.
"It's her night," Norris said as guest began arriving to the healthcare center's Brooker Hall. "We couldn't bear to see her miss out on the experience."
The ballroom was clad in all things purple, matching Brianna's dress and honoring the color of Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month, which happens to be May.
"Masquerade prom 2014 is the real deal," Norris added.
Cheryl Dragunoff, Briana's mother, said her daughter has been in and out of the hospital since January and will miss the night of her senior prom.
"She's been missing everything that happens during your senior year," she said.
Dragunoff said her daughter will undergo surgery on May 19 to remove one of her lungs. Cystic fibrosis is a condition that causes the body to produce thick and sticky mucus that clogs lungs and leads to life-threatening infections. Before she required hospital treatment, Brianna competed on the high school swim team.
"I was sick when I was on the swim team," she said.
Brianna remembered telling her nurses how disappointed she was over not being able to make it to her senior prom.
"Then they told me I better get ready," she said.
Within a week the room was booked at Brooker Hall and donations began coming in. Gaylord staff members volunteered to help out with everything from styling hair, painting nails, organizing the DJ and inviting photographers.
Carrie Palange, Brianna's school tutor, has worked with her since freshman year and said it was Brianna who showed her how to play lacrosse.
"I did a lot more chasing the ball than catching it," Palange said.
Friend Anthony Popolizio is high school senior and said he met her the second week of high school.
"She was the one who approached me," he said. "Tonight is amazing. And Brianna has always been the smartest kid, such a sense of humor."
Brianna's 13-year-old brother Jacob made sure to dress for the occasion, complete with a purple mask. Jacob, who has cerebral palsy, said when they were younger it was always his sister who looked out for him.
For Brianna it was a night she said she'd never forget.
"I just feel so lucky," she said.
Call Evan Lips at 203-789-5727. Have questions, feedback or ideas about our news coverage? Connect directly with the editors of the New Haven Register at AskTheRegister.com.


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(Science: botany) The fleshy pome, or fruit, of a rosaceous tree (pyrus communis), cultivated in many varieties in temperate climates; also, the tree which bears this fruit. See Pear family, below. Pear blight.
(Science: botany) The larva of a sawfly which is very injurious to the foliage of the pear tree.
Origin: OE. Pere, AS. Peru, L. Pirum: cf. F. Poire. Cf. Perry.
Please contribute to this project, if you have more information about this term feel free to edit this page.


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Givenchy: Digital Ecosystem Review
Givenchy provides a seamless social media experience that uses celebrities and KOL fashion influencers to amplify its brand message. The success of its autumn and winter fashion videos demonstrate the brand's clear understanding of what their consumers find engaging. The brand even goes as far as creating gender-specific mobile apps to better target their key demographic, making efficient use of its online space.
Givenchy uses its brand site, Weibo, WeChat, Youku, mobile apps, and KOLs to create and disseminate its digital brand image in China. We'll show you in this report how Givenchy reaches Chinese netizens and enhances their customer journey via Chinese media channels.
What You'll Learn
- Brand Website: Discover how Givenchy uses its China website to promote its fashion show live streams. Find out how Givenchy encourages Chinese consumers to shop on its mobile apps as part of its digital commerce strategy.
- Weibo: We'll show you how the brand highlights memorable moments with world famous celebrities wearing Givenchy under the unique hashtag "Givenchy's Classic Moments". The brand also draws specific recognition to its Creative Director, Riccardo Tisci and explores his creative vision.
- WeChat: Find out how Givenchy uses WeChat lures users to its offline stores by providing a directory of its boutique shops around the Greater China region. Givenchy uses its WeChat blogs to introduce its flagship stores around the world, from the Four Seasons in Macau to the store in Le Marais, Paris. It also provides a photo collage of its newest collections on its WeChat blog.
- Mobile App: We will show you how Givenchy tailors its 2 gender-specific mobile apps–menswear app and womenswear app, to target their specific consumer group. ncrease mobile ecommerce sales.
- Youku: Discover how Givenchy uses TVC videos to yield the highest views.
- Key Opinion Leaders: Givenchy works with a number of influencer accounts to directly publish posts promoting the brand. Additionally, the brand uses celebrities to retweet campaign and fashion show content.
Expert Consulting Support
Have a question not covered in the report? Need additional data, or a quick insight to help round out your team's understanding? Once you've purchased any of our reports, our China social media experts will be available to consult and support you and your team in the understanding and eventual application of reported top global brand strategies across China digital and social media.
- General Clarification: Ask us to clarify or expand on sections of the report.
- Request More Information: Ask us to get additional data on any part of our reports.
- Insight & Implications: Ask us to summarize or apply the report's findings to your brand.
After you become a member, you'll have immediate email access to ask our experts questions. We're standing by to ensure you get the most benefit from each report.


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Burgers & Burgundy, the chef-driven fundraiser for DIFFA, returns on Oct. 2 to the same Preston Hollow estate where it has been for the past two years. And once again, the lineup of local and national celebrichefs. In addition to organizing chef John Tesar (Knife, Oak, El Bolero), among those area chefs coming up with creative takes on the traditional sandwich will be: Blaine Staniford (Fort Worth's Grace, pictured at last year's event); Matt McCallister (FT33); Tre Wilcox; Brian Luscher (The Grape, Luscher's Red Hots); Jason Campbell (Whole Foods) and Kevin Williamson (Ranch 616). In addition, newcomers will be Joshua Smith (Maine's Moody Delicatessen), Kris Morningstar (L.A.'s Terrine, who recently was part of another Knife fundraising dinner in Dallas), Justin Brunson (Denver's Old Major).
Tickets range from $85 to $150, and benefit DIFFA.


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NEW YORK (The Deal) -- Make no mistake about it: private equity wants PayPal But a combination of a bevy of bidders, as well as the industry's newfound disdain for club deals, could push an asset valued at more than $35 billion just out of their range.
With activist Carl Icahn rattling his saber at owner eBay's (EBAY) digital gates and the company facing lackluster stock performance, a spinout into private ownership for PayPal could be the optimal move. More than a decade after eBay's acquisition of PayPal (then, at a comparatively paltry $1.2 billion), the asset's dependence on the marketplace has been turned into eBay's reliance on its subsidiary, now a fully developed technology company that is fully capable of standing on its own.
There's only one thing standing in private equity's way: Everyone else. Sources said that, while they expected PE players to perk up their ears if and when PayPal hits the block, many potential big technology bidders -- Google (GOOG) Apple (AAPL), even Facebook (FB) -- would have traditional payment processors and credit card companies -- Visa (V) and American Express (AXP) -- nipping at their heels in a rush to outbid each other.
"It's a rare asset because you can expect that guys from a number of sectors will come out," one banker told The Deal.
Still, if there were a time for PE firms to take another stab at a more successful version of an leveraged buyout approaching $40 billion, factors are aligned for that to happen now, more than at any other point in recent history.
One private equity general partner, whose firm not too long ago reeled in more than $10 billion to put to use in M&A, called the prospect "difficult but not impossible" before saying that, until eBay and its activist settle their differences, he wouldn't even instruct his lieutenants to lift so much as a calculator.
"It's too early to tell," the PE pro said, noting that the company has not yet even made a decision as to whether or not it will divest PayPal, or spinout the company.
Private equity firms rarely commit more than 10% of a fund to any particular transaction, and the LBO shops out there that are likely to have the expertise as well as the balance sheet to support a transaction for PayPal number less than 10. Yet, now, PE firms have more dry powder than ever before: according to Dow Jones & Co. research, the $216 billion raised by LBO shops last year is the biggest since 2008. A substantial portion of those funds raised also went to large-cap LBO shops and, all of a sudden, the $10 billion buyout fund is back in vogue.
One source suggested that four private equity firms together could easily put up the $6 billion that, in the current debt market, might go far enough to leverage a deal. All they would need is for eBay to retain a stake in its spinout, which is exactly what the company did when it unloaded Skype Technologies to a private investment consortium.


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5 Places in Your Home That are Breeding Superbugs
Sweden's state-owned railway station developer, Jernhusen-AB, first proposed using the heat generated by Stockholm's Central Station to warm a newly built office building (called Kungsbrohuset) in 2008. "Central Station gets very hot from all the passengers passing through," Klas Johansson, head of Jernhusen's environmental affairs, says. "Because of this we use cooling machines. We've connected heat exchangers–or devices specifically created to transfer heat from one medium to another as efficiently as possible–to the cooling machines so rather than letting [all that body heat] go to waste, we can ship it via pipes to Kungsbrohuset." The system was up and running in a little more than a year, and now Central Station provides about 25 percent of the building's heat.
Israeli-based technology developer Innowattech specializes in the development of patented IPEG Piezo Electric Generators, which use the piezoelectric effect–the ability of a material to produce electricity when under mechanical stress–to retrieve the wasted energy vehicles create along roads, runways and rail. In December 2010, Innowattech lined a commercial railway track near Israeli's Haifa station with a series of all-weather piezoelectric pads, similar in both size and shape to the plastic pads most railways place between their ties and tracks as stabilizers for passing trains. The difference is, these pads use piezoelectric sensors to capture energy created by the weight, motion and vibration of those passing trains, referred to as "parasitic energy." Now when trains fly by, their excess parasitic energy can be stored in nearby batteries or fed back to the grid. At the same time, Innowattech records the weight, length and speed of the train and health of the overall track by using a data transmitter.
Step-by Step Heart Surgery


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glass breaking on table
Folding Paper
opening a garbage bin and throwing a bag. Edirol R-1
Mixing of many sounds. I used it in my school project.
This sound was used for my sound synthesis classes, to represent a laser canon, or an ion-beam (whatever it is ...
Closing a door of medium weight
For game development. If you want to support me check my profile page.
metallic fireplace tool
One-shot sample of a metal ping sound. Recorded with Zoom H4n on-board stereo mics.
Me eating some chips.
Bell loop.
Another recording of the sleigh bells.
A good vocal sound effect to sample in your sampler for Art of Noise-like music.
Had a request for a psychotic laugh thought I would oblige since I'm Crazy


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The Holy Spirit in Mark
Mark records that activities and descriptions of the Holy Spirit in a similar manner to the way that Matthew described the Spirit. (See "The Holy Spirit in Matthew.")
Thus, in Mark, as in Matthew, we see John the Baptist proclaiming that Jesus will baptize with/in the Holy Spirit (Mark 1:8). We also see the Holy Spirit descending on Jesus after John baptized him (Mark 1:10) and leading (driving) Jesus into the wilderness for a time of fasting and temptation (Mark 1:12).
Mark also warns against blaspheming the Holy Spirit (Mark 3:29). Mark also records that Jesus said that the Spirit inspired David to pen one of the Psalms (Mark 12:36). Finally, in Mark, Jesus tells his followers not to be concerned about what they should say when they are arrested because the Holy Spirit will speak for them (Mark 13:11).
All of these passages concerning the Holy Spirit are recorded by both Mark and Matthew. There are several additional passages in Matthew that Mark does not record. However, in the passages that Mark does record, he occasionally gives more (or different) information.
For example, in Matthew, the Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness, but in Mark, the Spirit drives Jesus into the wilderness. In Matthew, John the Baptist says that Jesus will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire, while Mark simple has John saying that Jesus will baptize with the Holy Spirit.
While some may be concerned about these differences, I am not. To me they show the perspectives of two different authors.
But, the fact is, there is very little (if any) new information about the Holy Spirit in Mark compared to the information that we found in Matthew.
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- The Holy Spirit in John | The Assembling of the Church - [...] far, I've looked at what the authors of Matthew, Mark, and Luke wrote about the Holy Spirit. In this…


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Credit Card Center Advertiser Disclosure†
I have both Cap1 Cash Reward and Discover More BT offer for 12 months no interest with 3% fee.
I was thinking of BT my account about $4500 from Honda car @ 5.9 APR to maybe save some $$$.
Current car payment is $369
Both cards have $6500 limit. BT form Honda to Cap1 4500 + about $135 fee will be paid off in about 12 X $400.
Discover card have about $100 in recruiting bills from cable company. Will my payment be applied to the $100 first then rest goes to BT ?
Say $500 payment to Discover, $100 to recruiting charge and $400 to BT.
I'm trying to avoid interest other then 3% BT fee.
09-10-2012 04:03 PM - edited 09-10-2012 04:04 PM
A few thoughts, verify what your minimum payment will be after the transfers, i know when I did a BT of $1800 to another card the minimum payment shot up to $77. Make sure your minimum payment is not higher. than what you expect to pay. Also verify that you aren't actually paying more with the BT, I know the 3% seems a lot less than 5.9% but the 3% is front loaded so you get hit with fee on the front end instead of acrued each month as your balance goes down. Also verify the impact that the extra $39 a ,month would make on the loan replayment. Time to break out a spreadsheet and compare. Paying off the auto loan early also have effects on your credit report if its your only open car payment. Your score may also take a hit for the UTL, autoloans are not considered part of your UTL in your fico scores.
jsucool76 wrote:
Afaik with discover they will apply payments to your 0% BT. Not sure about cap1 but probably the same thing.
I thought part of the CARD act was that they had to apply payments first to the highest interest balances, so the paymetn should go to any new purchases, then if there is an overpayment it would be applied to the BT balance. But I haven't done a BT since then so I would verify.
09-10-2012 04:09 PM - edited 09-10-2012 04:12 PM
Walt_K wrote:
jsucool76 wrote:
Afaik with discover they will apply payments to your 0% BT. Not sure about cap1 but probably the same thing.
I thought part of the CARD act was that they had to apply payments first to the highest interest balances, so the paymetn should go to any new purchases, then if there is an overpayment it would be applied to the BT balance. But I haven't done a BT since then so I would verify.
I believe it is that minimum payment will be applied to the lowest interest first, and anything above minimum payment will go towards the highest interest. -researches- will check back after I look.
Edit: From cardhub and I think it's right
"As of February 2010, however, the CARD Act has prohibited this disadvantageous payment allocation system and requires credit card companies to apply consumers' credit card payments to the highest APR first. It is important to note that this rule only requires that payments above the minimum payment be applied to the highest APR balance. In this example, if your minimum payment is $20, then that amount would still go towards your lowest APR balance (0% APR in this case). The remaining $80, however, would go towards paying down your highest APR balance (15% APR in this example) – leaving you with a lot less debt at the highest APR."
If I do the BT I'll keep it simple and transfer it to a card with zero balance.
That's the best way to do it. I remember reading a post a few weeks ago about someone doing a 0% BT to their discover card and they ended up accruing a bunch of interest on their balance because their minimum payments went to their 0% BT. Quite a wake up call.
Completely unrelated, may I ask if your Cap1 Cash Rewards started at that limit or if they CLId you to it?
Cap1 started at $200 converted to Cash reward 3 weeks ago.
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warfarin (generic name)
Jantoven (brand name)
It is used to treat or prevent clots in the veins, arteries, lungs, or heart
(WAR far in)
Table of Contents
Top Learning Centers(Recursos en Español)
What is this medicine?WARFARIN (WAR far in) is an anticoagulant. It is used to treat or prevent clots in the veins, arteries, lungs, or heart.
What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
How should I use this medicine?Take this medicine by mouth with a glass of water. Follow the directions on the prescription label. You can take this medicine with or without food. Take your medicine at the same time each day. Do not take it more often than directed. Do not stop taking except on the advice of your doctor or health care professional.
A special MedGuide will be given to you by the pharmacist with each prescription and refill. Be sure to read this information carefully each time.
Talk to your pediatrician regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.
What if I miss a dose?It is important not to miss a dose. If you miss a dose, call your healthcare provider. Take the dose as soon as possible on the same day. If it is almost time for your next dose, take only that dose. Do not take double or extra doses to make up for a missed dose.
What may interact with this medicine?Do not take this medicine with any of the following medications:
This medicine may also interact with the following medications:


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Kaleen - Evolution EVL03-95 Purple Rugs
Write Review
- Style : Transitional
- Collection : Evolution
- Brand : Kaleen
- Material : Wool
- Weave : Hand Made
- Origin : India
- Returns : Returns Accepted Within 14 Days of Delivery.
Description : The Evolution collection completely embraces the history of classic elegance and traditional expertise of Kaleen Rugs, while perfectly capturing the evolving high fashion and hot new trends of today's design. Dramatic patterns showcasing precise attention to details and a unique twist of color will add the perfect addition to your home. Each rug is Hand-Tufted in India with a 100% soft and luxurious wool.


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While training for his eleventh season in the National Football League, former Patriots Guard Joe Andruzzi experienced severe pains in his stomach, a life-changing event for the three-time Super Bowl champion.
While training for his 11th season in the National Football League, former Patriots Guard Joe Andruzzi experienced severe pains in his stomach, a life-changing event for the three-time Super Bowl champion.
Andruzzi, who also played for the Green Bay Packers and Cleveland Browns, underwent tests and doctors found a large mass in and around his colon, which was diagnosed as non-Hodgkins Burkitt's lymphoma, a rare form of cancer that doubles in size within 24 hours.
"Here I was 31-years old with 10 years in the NFL trying to play my 11th year and I was stricken by cancer," said Andruzzi.
Andruzzi underwent chemotherapy in Boston and spent 50 days in the hospital while he was undergoing treatment.
"I battled every day," he said.
Cancer free since 2007, Andruzzi called his bout with cancer the biggest battle of his life and stressed the importance of self-checkups, getting an annual physical and not ignoring pain to St. John's High School students last Thursday morning.
"Younger kids are our future," said Andruzzi, who played five seasons with the Patriots from 2001-2005. "We have to stay on top of them. They think they're invisible."
Partnering up with the 15-40 Connection, an organization dedicated to eradicating cancer for young adults and adults between the ages of 15 and 40, Andruzzi told the students to get exercise on a frequent basis and eat healthy, as well as performing self checkups, knowing family history and going to annual checkups to help avoid the spread of cancer.
"You need to stay on top of it," said Andruzzi. "If you feel like something is bothering you, get it checked out. Stay on top of your life."
Chris Coghlin of the 15-40 Connection said the organization got its start because nearly 70,000 15 to 40-year-olds are diagnosed with cancer every year, however, cancer survival rates have been stagnant since 1975.
"The reality is we want to be here in 10, 20, 30 years," said Coghlin. "You have to commit to self-help awareness. You can all make a difference."
Since beating cancer, Andruzzi and his wife, Jen, organized the Joe Andruzzi Foundation, which provides financial assistance for patients and their families, as well as funding pediatric brain cancer research.
Through his foundation, fundraising efforts and appearances, Andruzzi hopes he can help prevent the spread of the disease that nearly took his life.
"I look at life in a whole new light," said Andruzzi. "It changed my life drastically. I'm looking forward to my life."


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LONDONDERRY punk legend Feargal Sharkey will be conferred a doctorate by the University of Ulster this summer.
A graduation ceremony at the Magee campus in Londonderry will see the honour conferred on the former Undertone singer.
Former frontman of the seminal Londonderry punk group The Undertones, Sharkey provided the vocals to such pop-punk classics as Teenage Kicks, Jimmy Jimmy, True Confessions and My Cousin Kevin.
Community leader Paddy Doherty (familiarly known as "Paddy Bogside") and Pat Hume, wife of the former SDLP leader Nobel Laureate Professor John Hume, will also be honoured in recognition of their service to the community.
Mr Sharkey, who is now CEO of UK Music, an umbrella organisation which represents the collective interests of the UK's commercial music industry will receive the degree of Doctor of Letters ( DLitt); Mr Doherty and Mrs Hume will receive the degree of Doctor of Laws (LLD) .
Professor Richard Barnett, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ulster,
said: "The University is delighted to be able to honour the achievements of these distinguished individuals, who have all made an outstanding contribution to society through their commitment to excellence in their chosen fields of endeavour.
"We look forward to welcoming them - and their fellow graduands - to our graduation ceremonies this summer."
Elsewhere the University of Ulster is to honour policing leaders Sir Hugh Orde andProfessor Sir Desmond Rea, who head the list of distinguished figures from the worlds of culture, science, business and public life who will receive honours from the University of Ulster at its graduation ceremonies this summer.
The top policeman, who led the transition from the RUC to the PSNI will share the Waterfront stage with the former University of Ulster academic who chaired the Policing Board from its inception until spring 2009.
Both will receive the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws (LLD).
Writer Colin Bateman, will receive the degree of Doctor of Letters (DLitt).
He has published many comic novels over his career, most recently "Day of the Jack Russell."
Former Northern Ireland Office Minister Sir Richard Needham,will receive the degree of Doctor of Laws (LLD), as will legal expert Denis Moloney .
From the worlds of business and science come John Crossl, founder of the Crossl Car Company in Holywood., Co Down; Denis Rooney, Chairman of the International Fund for Ireland, and David Kirk , Belfast-born Silicon Valley IT entrepreneur. All three will receive the honorary degree of Doctor of Science (DSc).


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An hour into the city's Santa Parade on Saturday, as Christmas-themed floats slowly travelled down the street, the voice of a man yelling at startled children that Santa Claus doesn't exist was heard over the crowd.
Police arrested arrested a 24-year-old man around 6 p.m.
"It was pretty despicable that someone, during this time of the year, would tell kids Santa isn't real — which of course we would argue," Const. Steve Koopman said.


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With the price of gas reaching $4 per gallon, gone are the days when a fill-up and Big Gulp cost a few bills in your wallet. Today, gas is a major expense that warrants a line in your budget, just like insurance, groceries and entertainment, if you still can afford it. While individually we can't do much to lower the price of gas, there are several ways we can reduce our consumption and, therefore, reduce the amount of dough we spend on our drives. Here are a few. — Susan Thurston firstname.lastname@example.com
Save at the pump
Look for stations that offer discounts for customers who pay with cash, including many local BP stores. Don't top off your tank, which can overflow and waste gas. Buy in the early morning or late evening when it's cooler and gas is densest. Pumps measure volumes of gasoline, not densities of fuel concentration. Stations also are inclined to raise prices during rush hour.
Rethink errands
Get in your exercise by walking, biking or jogging to the grocery or drug store for a few small items. To beef up your workout, bring a backpack or sturdy bag to haul heavier items, such as a gallon of milk. If you must to use your car, lump together errands so you don't go out of your way for one stop. Visit businesses close to home or work.
Know your gas mileage
Estimate ahead of time how much a trip is going to cost you. If your buddy's house is 100 miles away round-trip, and your car gets about 25 miles per gallon, that means it will cost you four gallons of gas, or about $16. Worth it? Then grab your keys. Not worth it? Make other plans.
Take mass transit
It's obvious, but often difficult to practice. We like our cars and, quite frankly, we need them in the Tampa Bay area. That said, try experimenting with alternative ways of getting around, be it carpooling to dinner with friends or taking a bus to work one day. Commit to doing it once a week at first, then expand as you get more comfortable with it. Subscribe to: It's about journey, not the destination. For a list of park and ride locations in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, go to hartline.org/ride_guide and psta.net/parknride.htm. To find potential carpool-mates, try EZ Ride online matching at tampabayrideshare.org.
Be kind to your car
Find your auto manual and read the maintenance schedule. Replace your air filter every 20,000 miles or so, check fluids at every oil change and spark plugs every 30,000 miles. Replacing a clogged air filter can increase gas mileage by 10 percent. If you anticipate stopping for a few minutes, turn off your car. Restarting your engine consumes the same amount of gas as idling for one minute.
Price shop
Before filling up, check Web sites that monitor and post the lowest gas prices. Try TampaGasPrices.com, GasPriceWatch.com or gasprices.mapquest.com. All update their prices frequently but may not be up the minute.
Hi-octane or regular?
Unless your engine is knocking, save your money and go with the cheap stuff. Experts have concluded that engines designed for regular unleaded don't improve with premium fuel. Furthermore, don't feel guilty about putting regular into a car designated for premium. The power loss is so slight, most drivers won't notice the difference.
Watch your speed
Generally, each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph increases your cost per gallon by about 20 cents. Anticipate traffic to avoid slamming on your brakes or accelerating quickly, which can drastically reduce your fuel efficiency. And don't load your trunk with heavy junk, which reduces your gas mileage.
Check your tires
Keeping your tires properly aligned and inflated can increase your gas mileage up to 3 percent. Buy a pressure gauge or go to a gas station with a coin-operated air pump. (Some are free.) Low tires burn through more gas.
Sources: Fueleconomy.com; MarketWatch,com; GasBuddy.com; Consumer Energy Center; Bay Area Commuter Services; www.ftc.gov/savegas.


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Some weeks after the EPCA Conference in Disneyland some thought keep coming back in my mind: payments business will never be the same … Let me summarize: 1. people's behaviour is continuously changing giving way for new ways of transacting. Social networks, mobile phones, growing e-commerce, businesses and supply chains integrate 2. the banking i
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Big Band Music to Kick-off GCSU Jazz Band Season
POSTED: October 26, 2006
Access News & Events page
Big Band Music to Kick-off GCSU Jazz Band Season
Big Band music from the post-World War II era will kick-off this year's music season for the Georgia College & State University Jazz Band. The opening performance at the Russell Auditorium will be held at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 2, with an encore Friday, Nov. 3. General admission is $6 and $3 for students.
The band will perform a variety of jazz standards, including "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy," which was made famous by drummer Buddy Rich, Sonny Rollins' "Tenor Madness," and Nat King Cole's "Straighten up and Fly Right."
"The swing tradition is alive and flourishing at Georgia College & State University," said Dr. Todd Shiver, associate professor of music and director of bands at GCSU. "With the variety of music offered on this concert, there will be a 'favorite' piece for everyone in the audience."
The program will also feature a performance of "Gospel John" in tribute to the great jazz trumpeter Maynard Ferguson, who passed away last month. In addition, the concert will also feature new jazz compositions, including "Why Musicians Can't Dance" and Michael Bublé's "Feeling Good."
He added that many of the tunes will also be featured by the band when it travels to the Czech Republic next May.
Serving as emcee for the evening is Dr. Bob Wilson, who has supported the jazz band in this capacity for many years.
The GCSU Jazz Band has continued to delight big band fans, not only in Milledgeville, Georgia's old capital, but throughout the state and the Southeast. Featuring a crisp, finely-tuned ensemble, it has earned sincere accolades from many jazz artists who have heard it or played with it.
The band has also recorded two albums, "As Long as We're Swingin'" and "Jump, Jive and Wail" both of which are available for order. More information about each CD and their song lists can be found by visiting the Georgia College website at: http://band.gcsu.edu/jazzcd.html.
Access News & Events page
For more information, contact Binky Strickland in University Communications at (478) 445-4477.


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SCO is the company suing Linux vendors (such as IBM) for patent infringement. According to this CNet article, SCO lost a lawsuit to Novell a month ago, and another trial "was scheduled to begin Monday to determine how much SCO owed Novell as a result of last month's ruling, according to Groklaw ..."
IBM appears to not have made any comment today. This September 4th article by CBR Online (after the Novell ruling last month but before today's bankruptcy filing) gives lots of details on (reportedly) IBM's stance and its own evaluation of SCO's status. It concludes "... as far as SCO's core claims against Linux are concerned, the game appears to be over."
For details, see:
- The SCO Group Files Chapter 11 to Protect Assets as It Addresses Potential Financial and Legal Challenges (SCO press release)
- Novell's Trial Brief (Groklaw)
- SCO Group files for bankruptcy protection (CNet)
- SCO files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection (ComputerWorld)
- SCO seeks bankruptcy protection (InfoWorld)
- SCO files for bankruptcy (ZDNet blog)
- SCO's New Theme Song: "Running on Empty" (Information Week blog)
- ZDNet blog posts on SCO Group Inc. (ZDNet)
Disclaimer: Although I work for IBM, I don't know anything about this news except what I've read in the sources I've cited.
Technorati Tags: sco, novell, ibm, linux, unix, bankruptcy, lawsuit || Digg it | Slashdot it | Post to del.icio.us |


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- 3 total posts
- 1 review
- 2 comments
Reviews & Stories
Having Cellulaze in 12 Hours! - Houston, TX
Hi ladies! I am scheduled for tomorrow & I can't sleep a wink so I thought I'd start my review now! I am 29, 5'6, fluctuate btwn 130-140, size 4. I lift weights, take Pilates reformer, hot yoga & spin classes & do some form of cardio daily. I also follow a well balanced plant based diet, but for the life of me, I can't make my stubborn cellulite disappear! I am having the backs of... READ MORE
Recent comments from Jessica3981
I just updated & yes, my cellulite is still there. The initial swelling did a great job of concealing it. I feel bad that I jumped the gun & was so gung-ho on Cellulaze's results & effectiveness. As for now, I'd say that it was not... READ COMMENT
Yes, my post-op is tomorrow morning. I am doing great! And I swear that my cellulite is already gone! I'm almost in shock, I can't even believe it! My bruising isn't as bad as I expected it to be. I did start w/ the arnica... READ COMMENT


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Two-time Olympic men's 66-kg champion Masato Uchishiba announced his retirement from competitive judo on Saturday.
"I've decided to step down from the top level of competition with pride," Uchishiba said. "I'm making a fresh start to become a judo instructor."
After winning gold at the 2004 Athens and 2008 Beijing Olympics, Uchishiba continued his career as a judoka while coaching a collegiate judo team since the spring of this year.
"I fought really hard and came up with those results," the 32-year-old said, reflecting on his career. "I'm ready to use my experience in coaching now."


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Regional Archives The Altamont Enterprise, August 20, 2009
After jail or rehab
By Philippa Stasiuk
"The stars aligned for me," said David Hussey, a banquet captain at the Schuyler Inn in Menands, describing the day when he was given the option of drug treatment over jail time.
The boyish looking 25-year-old was about to do six months for driving drunk when his lawyer learned that an Honor Court representative was in the courtroom. Honor Court, a 26-year-old program of Father Peter Young, offers non-violent offenders who have committed alcohol- or drug-related crimes an opportunity to go to drug treatment instead of jail.
Within 15 minutes, Hussey was evaluated and deemed a good candidate for the program. For the next five hours, administrators in Young's employment guided Hussey through the various bureaucratic hoops and he entered Altamont House for inpatient treatment by eight that evening.
Before getting caught, Hussey spent 20 of his 25 years addicted to drugs, he said. His parents were both heroin addicts and "deadheads," followers of the music band the Grateful Dead, he said. He traveled with them around the country while his father transported LSD and his mother injected him with drugs to keep him from fussing, he said, after birthing him while high on LSD in the back of a bus.
Hussey is one of thousands of New Yorkers who, before sinking further to prison, serious criminal behavior, or homelessness got caught in the web of help that Father Peter Young has spun in the last half a century. Young began helping the needy over 50 years ago, working the streets of Albany's south end. Today, he oversees a $20 million organization that has 90 residential sites in the state, in-patient treatment centers, halfway houses, and contracts with various agencies and companies to hire the people he is training.
Young's program is called Glidepath and his mission is to create taxpayers. He describes what addicts need to recover as a stool with three legs: treatment, housing, and employment. Throughout the state, under his various organizations, Young's workforce performs the behemoth task of helping over three thousand people a day who are facing every difficulty imaginable.
Peter Kelsey, director for the school for culinary and hotel operations at the Schuyler Inn, one of Young's properties, described how Glidepath works. "We identify the services that people need when they come into our programs," he said. "They might have issues pertaining to criminal justice, maintaining employment, suffer from spousal abuse, learning disabilities, or are simply disenfranchised. Usually the common denominator is addictive behavior."
Glidepath, Kelsey explained, is a name that comes from Young's years in the Navy over 50 years ago. "The concept comes from aircraft carriers," he said. "Flagmen need to bring planes down to a level field on the ship. We don't give mandates, but instead try to give leadership and guidance so the pilot can land. It's a step-down process from intensive treatment and we're the flagmen."
Despite the perpetual struggle for funding and the threadbare appearance of the Schuyler Inn, which was a motel in a former life, there is robust evidence that Young's programs work. A study done by the State University of New York School of Criminal Justice in 1997 found that people who went through the Father Young programs returned to prison or violated their paroles only 8 percent of the time, as opposed to 80 percent for those who did not participate.
Up from the underbelly
Like the hotel that it once was, the Schuyler Inn provides rooms and hospitality for a shifting group of residents. War veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan who have just completed treatment at the facility on the Berne-Altamont Road perched above the village can rent a room cheaply while they slowly jigsaw their lives together.
On Tuesday morning, in room 102, Mashama Burns, the executive chef and culinary teacher, is describing the kitchen hierarchy with her latest batch of students. They don't seem to mind that the class is in a dingy hotel room complete with textured "popcorn" walls, stained carpet, and a shower.
Ron, who grew up in Queens, heard of Young's programs while in prison and decided to write to him before he was even released. (The Enterprise is using just the first names of the Schuyler Inn residents who requested anonymity.) "He said when you get out, you come and see me and I've been rolling ever since," said Ron. "My biggest dream is to live life and never go back to jail."
Many who work at the facility on Broadway in Menands went through Young's job training and perhaps drug treatment before that. Kelsey describes the practice of hiring their own graduates as Young's "philosophy of the wounded healer" whereby, "an individual who has been wounded by the disease of addiction can recover by working hands-on with other students."
Sous-chef Sylvester Floyd, who cooks meals and helps with classes, is an example of this philosophy 14 years in the making. Floyd began his rehabilitation in prison but continued his treatment with Young once he got out. He then embarked on culinary training, citing a love of cooking, and has been moving up the kitchen's ladder ever since.
Burns, the head chef, reiterates the symbolic importance of having him around. "Sly is the connection between recovery and the culinary program. He shows that this is not a waste of time," said Burns. "It can change your life around."
According to Judy Troilo, director of Vocational and Employment Services with Peter Young, the kind of person who benefits from job training is returning to the surface of society after living in its underbelly.
"Nine times out of 10, their brain muscle has atrophied," said Troilo. "Maybe if they get in a class," she said, "they can get their skills up again." Troilo said the reason that the culinary training is so popular is because it's a "forgiving industry" where a record tarnished by a drug- or alcohol-related offense is not a roadblock to getting a job.
Burns says that in her cooking classes, many students already have some experience but they need to return to the basics. "The most important things we learn are kitchen safety and sanitation, which we plug away at from beginning to end."
Graduation day
On Aug. 7, the latest batch of Young's students, including Hussey, graduated from their four-month training course. While students and their families sat at the tables in back, the front comprised the cheering sections: the multitudes of staff working at Young's different agencies to address the individual needs of the students.
Young described the strategies for catching people as they fall as synergy. "We want to offer people a positive, clean, and sober environment," he said. "Then we want to train them for a job and we try to avoid a silo kind of action. We have various programs that specialize in different things but we want them to relate to one another so we can best serve our clients."
The gratitude from these "clients" is palpable. As Hussey presides over a lunchtime event, he describes his overall goal as "anything I can give back to Father Young. He got me clean after 20 years of use and now I have a future."


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Real estate is not rocket science. It is a function of economics and psych-ology. We cannot control the former, but should strive to under-stand it.
The latter we can use astutely, but that is another column.As every student knows, the first lessons in Economics 101 distinguish between "wants" and "needs." Both home buyers and sellers should always, especially in our current market, take time to objectively differentiate these. Identify the length of time you plan to hold a home, the importance of location, neighborhood and lot, and the house's "bones."Ten years ago, how many of us were concerned with granite in kitchens and baths? And now it can be the deciding factor in the purchase of your home.Something seems askew with our thought processes these days. Cosmetic items are just that - shallow features easily changed. Besides, the kids will probably crack or stain something anyway. You can update later. By then, granite may well look dated. And those evenings in the backyard catching fireflies are more vividly remembered than what color your countertops were.Next in Economics 101 come the laws of supply and demand. These are self described "laws" simply because they reflect strong forces that, time after time after time, prove true.High supply with low demand equals decreasing prices. Today, we are facing such a scenario in our housing market - a glut of inventory accompanied by a decrease in buyers with a volatile mortgage market tossed in the mix.However, there are some mitigating factors. Charlotte continues to be a destination mecca. People, young and old, continue to move here, or at least aspire to move here. The rust belt is relocating to the Sun Belt. Retirees are simply tired of snow. But they may have not sold their homes in Ohio or Florida or Pennsylvania. Or they sold but walked away with $50,000 or $100,000 less than anticipated, leaving them both skittish and with less cash on this, their buying end.Are home prices falling? Yes and no. It depends on the individual situation.Are you comparing the current price with upwardly adjusted 2005 values or with inflated 2006 values? If your house is one of 50 active comparables, well, you have to stand out to get sold. And buyers are price driven.But there is a line in the sand past which sellers simply cannot tread. Is now a good time to buy? Yes, without doubt! So, look for a value, but do not shoot yourself in the foot by waiting too long and searching for too much of a steal.Remember, this is the home you come back to each evening and where the Christmas tree stands proudly. Value can be more than money.


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On the Shelf
The Typefaces of Blade Runner, and Other NewsBy Dan Piepenbring
- At ninety-seven, Lawrence Ferlinghetti is still telling stories, hanging out with Sterling Lord, and drinking Merlot, as one does: "The partnership between Mr. Ferlinghetti and Mr. Lord, two towering legends in the publishing world, traces back to the heady, early days of the Beat movement, when a literary and cultural revolution was ignited by a band of iconoclastic writers … Both men attribute the longevity of their lives and careers partly to the fact that they weren't as wild as the Beat writers they championed. Mr. Lord, who cycled through four marriages, hung around with many of the rebellious, semi-feral writers he represented, but he was always the straight man. He never even smoked cigarettes, at least not in the last half-century. 'I did smoke a little, in my thirties,' he said. 'But I didn't inhale.' "
- The biographer Michael Shelden would like to say that Herman Melville had a mistress, and William Giraldi would like to say that it doesn't really matter: "Biographers have long known about Sarah Morewood, the Melvilles' bewitching neighbor in Pittsfield, Massachusetts—an indefatigable thrower of parties and the Berkshires' top literary hanger-on—but Shelden wants you to know her in the Biblical sense. 'Sexy beyond measure,' Morewood is 'one of the great unsung figures in literary history,' a woman who 'didn't like to take no for an answer.' Shelden describes her as Melville's 'goddess in his Berkshire paradise,' the 'powerful key to unlocking his secrets,' an 'untamed spirit' whose 'seductive powers worked their wonders on more than a few men.' Her supposed years-long affair with Melville was 'so intimate and revealing that it colored every aspect of his life.' Shelden's panting, cliché-choked style soon has you reaching for the light switch and candle, then the cigarette and bonbons."
- Eliot, Auden, and Yeats all praised David Jones's 1937 In Parenthesis as a masterpiece, the best long poem to come out of World War I—so how come no one reads it anymore? "Fuelled by direct experience, but highly composed, with a frame of reference that reaches across centuries, In Parenthesis works at the level of poetry, yet isn't verse, nor, I'd argue, a poem. Multiple narrative possibilities are deployed throughout, fragmented lyricism giving way to sections of prose, dialogue, stream of consciousness, slang and song. The flow between these modes and registers never feels anything less than organic, and yet the work is built upon a parenthetical structure of mathematical precision; a subterranean architecture of image, pace and movement that provides a governing background rhythm to the multiple transitions of voice, perspective and cadence … In the seventy years since its publication it has been too rarely read, or even known, though it has maintained an influence on writers and poets working in its wake."
- Isn't it time you took a good, hard look at the typefaces and art design in Blade Runner? The movie is set in 2019, and that's right around the corner—best to be prepared. Don't worry. A lot of it will be familiar, including "a neon advertisement for popular American food processor manufacturer Cuisinart … Cuisinart are far from the only 1980s company advertised in 2019's Los Angeles cityscape, however. We once again meet American flag-carrier Pan Am … popular carbonated sugar-water Coca-Cola … perennial halitosis-mitigator Dentyne … extraterrestrial game manufacturer Atari … regularly product-placed watch manufacturer Bulova … alcoholic beverage brand Budweiser … and genius, irreverent, sexy mythical perfume brand Jōvan."
- Spending time in Berlin this summer? I know this cool artists' collective curating this cool Biennale you might want to che—oh … wait … "the Berlin Biennale has, under DIS's curation, transformed from one of Europe's most critical pinnacles of contemporary art into a vast obsolescent pageant of irrelevance, a disposable cobranding opportunity made to measure for privileged shareholders with little (if any) connection to the numerous issues facing Germany, Europe, or the international community today. Instead, what DIS have come up with is an exhibition so vacuous, ideologically apathetic, ahistorical, sarcastic, and dehumanizing, it's a wonder it hasn't been blacklisted solely on account of its conformity to commodity fetishism."


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Kathy Mae Westmoreland : ObituaryObituaries July 16, 2013
Kathy Mae Westmoreland, age 54, of McCaysville, GA passed away Sunday, July 14, 2013 at her home. She was born September 7, 1958 in Baltimore, Maryland. She worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant and was of the Baptist faith. Ms. Westmoreland was preceded in death by her mother, Barbara Ann Saine Curtis and a brother Bobby Junior Curtis.
She is survived by her companion of twelve years, Terry McClure of McCaysville; son, Jamie Lee Westmoreland of Murphy, NC; daughter, Stephanie Marie Deal of McCaysville; father, Bobby Curtis and his companion, Marie Hughes of Epworth; sisters, Susie Bolling and Janice Ann Curtis, both of Blue Ridge; and four grandchildren, Kaelyn Marie Deal, Bryson Bolling, Alyssa Bolling, and Lilly Bolling.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, July 18, 2013 a 2:00 p.m. from the Akins of Blue Ridge Chapel with Rev. Denise Caldwell and Rev. Max Curtis officiating. Music will be conducted by The Beach Family. Pallbearers will be Jeremiah Bolling, Daniel Bolling, Bradley Deal, Chad Deal, and Rick Westmoreland. Interment will follow in Epworth Baptist Church Cemetery.
The family will receive friends on . Donations in memory of Ms. Westmoreland may be made to help defray final expenses. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.akinsfuneralhome.com.
Akins Funeral Home of Blue Ridge was in charge of arrangements.


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cPanel is a web hosting control panel which is rather popular. Unfortunately its also badly coded, hacked together by a bunch of shell scripts and balanced to work on a thin thread of pure luck. These days the cPanel developers seem to have made millions out of their product and retured to some exotic island...
So what is dcpumon? cPanel gives no documentation, their forums don't even know of its existance and google returns very few results about its data, stored under /var/log/dcpumon.
Apparently, dcpumon is a CPU/Memory accounting script which stores percentage values of CPU and Memory usage under /var/log/dcpumon.
The script itself is of no use, it just generates statistics at the above directory. What is interesting is that there is a script for reading all that data and displays your top CPU/Memory eaters! As a result, it can be very useful if you are trying to figure out what is eating your CPU.
So, without further ado, running the script: /usr/local/cpanel/bin/dcpumonview
The script dcpumonview will print the user owner, then each top process. At the above example, there are two users, "mysql" and "root", each with their own top process.Code:# /usr/local/cpanel/bin/dcpumonview ----------------------------------------------------------- |User |Domain |CPU%|MEM%|MySQL#| ----------------------------------------------------------- |mysql | |1.50|0.10|0.0 | | Top Process | 1.5 | /usr/sbin/mysqld |root | |0.17|0.60|2.0 | | Top Process | 3.0 | /usr/bin/perl /scripts/cpbackup | Top Process | 0.1 | spamd child -----------------------------------------------------------
If you are short on disk space, you may delete the data logs stored under /var/log/dcpumon, or even disable the script from your cron jobs (crontab -l, to list cron jobs, crontab -e, to edit them).
- Cloud VPS HOSTING
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Someone who has used the crusting bc please let me know how happy you were with it and which recipe you used? I am about to go and use true fondant as badly as I hate to ( taste wise) if I cant get a solution in a short while
I use the Wilton Butter Cream Recipe - it crusts -
1 cup shortening
2 tbsp water
1 tsp flavoring
1tbsp meringue powder
16 oz. powdered sugar
cream shortening
add water and flavoring and mix
then add dry ingredients and stir - once all ingredients are combined mix for 1 to 2 minutes to get a good consistency.
2tbsp water - stiff icing
3tbsp water - medium icing
4tbsp water - thin icing
Thanks hun! I went ahead and used regular fondant this time. However I saved your recipe and will try it soon!


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"Thank You! Our wedding day was so memorable because you were there, your thoughtfulness & generosity are truly appreciated. Thank you for being a part of our fairytale!" Featuring up to 3 photos from your wedding day, this personalized wedding thank you card is custom-designed to your personal taste and needs. The washed gray & green colors can be changed to match your wedding colors, and we can also leave the accent line simple without any text or put a pattern there (such as polka dots or damask).
You can also completely change the wording to your needs when you personalize this design here: Three Photo Wedding Thank You Card (just pick this version in the form if desired).


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Our legs get tired and heavy after a long day's work. Footlogix 8 Tired Legs Formula has been devised to particularly target the stressed skin of tired legs, so that you get to experience instant relief from pain and discomfort. Making your leg skin more resistant to tiring, this cream foam contains Urea, Horse Chestnut and Witch Hazel. It smooths and tones the skin and also has vasoactive properties. Non-greasy in texture, the fast absorbing Footlogix 8 Tired Legs Formula also improves moisture content in your skin. It is recommended for use for all those who work on their feet for a major part of the day, or have very sensitive skin.


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Madonna, Pele, Cher, Maradona and Tiger are all well known by just one name.
Dick Draz has become such an icon on the aquatics scene that he goes by just one name now.
He's just "Draz.''
It seems as if anyone who has been on a pool deck in San Diego County knows Draz, and if you have been in a pool within the last six months he knows. Just by walking past him, Draz can pick up the telltale scent of chlorine.
That also means you either played water polo or swam for him at Crawford High or San Diego Mesa or he has officiated enough of your water polo matches over the years to know your name.
In this county, Draz is the embodiment of water polo.
Draz, who turns 80 in November, remains a fixture on the pool deck for boys water polo in the fall, girls water polo in the winter and boys and girls swimming in the spring.
He's also the tournament director for the San Diego Section CIFplayoffs in all those sports.
"I have to stay busy, so why not be at the pool,'' Draz said. "If I had to sit around on the couch, I'd probably be dead within a year.''
Instead, he has carved out a career in aquatics that spans almost five decades.
"When he started coaching swimming at Crawford (in the 1960s) he couldn't swim a lick,'' said Gary Sadnick, a '69 graduate of Crawford and the water polo and swimming coach at Escondido. "But he went to a lot of clinics. He picked it up so quickly.''
But Draz was waiting for a shot at becoming the Colts' varsity football coach. He coached the Colts' freshman team while he learned about swimming.
That wait lasted until the fall of '69 when boys water polo started at Crawford. The next year the Colts won the San Diego Section 2A championship.
Draz, who admits he has broken his fair share of clipboards over the years as a coach, never gave football another thought.
"That's the only reason he's in water polo because they wouldn't give him the football job he really wanted,'' Bishop's water polo coach Doug Peabody said. "Water polo won that trade.''
He stayed on with boys swimming, winning five section titles to go with two section crowns in boys water polo.
Draz, who was recently elected president of the San Diego Water Polo Officials Association, continues to fight for aquatics, whether it is trying to rally support for it in the face of pending budget cuts or trying to create a third division for water polo playoffs.
Division I and III would have 19 teams and Division II would have 20 teams all vying for 12 playoff berths in each division.
Everything he does is for "his'' sport, his passion.
"It would just kill me to see water polo, or swimming, go away,'' Draz said. "I just love aquatics. I don't want to see it slip.
"If there's a way to better the sport, I'm all for it. The sport has grown to the point that two divisions is not enough now. There are too many really great programs at the top and a lot of schools have no chance to win a CIF title.
"Maybe if there was a chance for them to win a CIF, they'd work harder and their players would get better because there is some incentive that doesn't exist now.''
Contact staff writer Terry Monahan at (760) 739-6648 or email@example.com.


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2010 News Releases (Search: "quail")
(10 Releases)
Dec. 20, 2010
- Far West Texas Wildlife Trail Debut Marks Milestone
[Print –
Plain Text –
AUSTIN – Some of Texas' most remarkable natural history and most iconic wildlife can be found at sites featured on the Far West Texas Wildlife Trail whose debut this month completes a statewide wildlife trail system launched 15 years ago to bolster birding and other forms of nature tourism.
Dec. 9, 2010
- Dallas Safari Club Tops $750K in 5 Years for Texas Projects
[Print –
Plain Text –
DALLAS — Since 2006, Dallas Safari Club (DSC) has granted more than $750,000 in funding for wildlife and habitat conservation, youth and public education, and hunter advocacy programs within the state of Texas.
Nov. 18, 2010
- 18 Schools, Nonprofits Win Healthy Habitats Grants
[Print –
Plain Text –
AUSTIN — A total of $174,469 in Texas Healthy Habitats Grants has been awarded to 18 schools and non-profit youth organizations across the state, including ones near Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, Houston, Bryan, Lubbock and other cities.
Oct. 26, 2010
Aug. 24, 2010
- Deadline Approaching to Enter Big Time Texas Hunts Drawing — Entry deadline is Oct. 15 [Print – Plain Text – Permalink]
Aug. 2, 2010
May 27, 2010
- Panhandle Rancher Jim Bill Anderson Receives 2010 Leopold Conservation Award for Texas [Print – Plain Text – Permalink]
May 6, 2010
April 20, 2010
- Students Begin Work On Healthy Habitats Grants Across Texas — Projects Help Implement Texas Wildlife Action Plan [Print – Plain Text – Permalink]
March 11, 2010
Publication — Permission is granted to publish, in whole or in part, any news releases on this page.
Print — A print-friendly version of the news release shows only the release with font sizes set to the browser default.
Plain Text — Plain text versions of TPWD news releases are provided for copying and pasting into editing software.
To copy text into an editing software:
- Click a Plain Text link to display the plain text page in your browser.
- Select all.
- Copy.
- Paste in a document in your editing program.
Permalink — This is a direct link to the news release, omitting the navigation context from the URI.
English/Spanish — News releases posted in both English and Spanish have one of these links.
If you have any suggestions for improving these pages, send an e-mail to firstname.lastname@example.com and mention Plain Text Pages.
(5.4.16 i)


text: This professional grade font package includes high quality MICR CMC-7 fonts at various width intensities to support multiple printer types for bank check printing in Brazil, Mexico, France Spain and most Spanish speaking countries. This CMC-7 MICR font contains ten specially designed numeric characters 0 through 9, and five special symbols for magnetic recognition and optical character recognition systems. TrueType, OpenType, PostScript and PCL font versions are included in this Magnetic Ink Character Recognition font. Compatible with Microsoft Windows, Pocket PC, Macintosh, UNIX, Linux and others. With a purchase of the Developer License or above, a full set of Web Fonts are included in WOFF, EOT and SVG formats to easily display barcodes in any web browser.


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Sansom indicted | April 18, story
Sansom case shows need for reform
All taxpayers in the state of Florida owe a debt of gratitude to the 18-member Leon County grand jury that indicted former House Speaker Ray Sansom and college president Bob Richburg. Not only did these good citizens have the courage to officially condemn the conduct of two men who sought to enrich themselves at taxpayer expense, they went further and used the opportunity to censure the appalling behavior of the movers and shakers in the Florida Legislature.
The arrogance and ruthless wielding of power of this body has long been disgusting to many Floridians but they feel powerless to change the system — a system that gives unreasonable access to lobbyists with suitcases full of cash who often are given complete discretion in crafting legislation that shapes public policy and channels public dollars.
This is yet another example of why we need meaningful campaign finance reform laws that rein in the amount and sources of money that can be given to legislators — and to Congress. Until and unless this happens, those with fat wallets will continue to have inappropriate influence over where our tax money goes.
Jan Allyn, Largo
Push to protect panther habitat
The Conservancy of Southwest Florida is awaiting the federal government's response to its petition to provide additional legal protection for the Florida panther by designating critical habitat. Only 80-100 of these endangered animals remain, and loss of habitat is the greatest threat to their survival.
Best available science suggests that current lands in conservation do not provide enough suitable habitat area to support even the limited number of existing panthers. A designation of critical habitat does not mean that no further development is allowed in an area; it simply requires additional review when projects requiring federal permits would impact habitat considered essential to preventing the Florida panther from going extinct.
Entitlement for at least 45,000 acres of intensive development (an area twice the size of Miami) is currently being pursued in Southwest Florida, the primary remaining habitat that panthers depend on for survival. So this measure is more important than ever.
It's not too late for the public to encourage President Barack Obama and members of Congress to support the Conservancy petition. Simply visit www.conservancy.org and click on "Take Action."
Andrew McElwaine, president & CEO, Conservancy of Southwest Florida
Freshwater turtle harvest bagged | April 16, story
Think of turtles too
Craig Pittman's article is great news. Florida's indigenous wildlife is what makes this state unique. The Times should keep an eye on this issue as the final version of turtle regulation comes out in June to see how honestly the regulations are followed.
I've seen a dying softshell turtle on Alt. U.S. 19 as its shell was crushed by a passing vehicle. Although it was broad daylight, this large, slow- moving turtle was run over by a driver who couldn't slow down for a few moments. The Alt. 19 corridor, still fairly green, has many adjacent bodies of water that are prime habitat for turtles. Unfortunately, Alt. 19 is seeing more and more commercial development from Dunedin to Tarpon Springs.
Pinellas County and city officials can make the turtle harvest ban really matter by implementing an equally important strategy of protecting habitat. Setting aside as much land as possible to preserve the habitat for the softshell and other threatened native Florida wildlife.
The county is practically built out. Let's save what green is left for future generations to appreciate. The native plants and wildlife truly define the special character of our state.
Joseph Weinzettle, Dunedin
Controversial voting bill gets fast-tracked April 18, story
Undermining democracy
The Saturday paper carried an article about "a sweeping rewrite of Florida elections laws." The arrogance of the legislator who permitted speakers just "one minute" to testify and the complete disregard for fundamental democratic values are shocking. The obvious intent of the proposed legislation is to undermine voting rights of many Floridians.
We must tell Tallahassee of our outrage at their high-handed manipulations and remind them that this is not how we conduct business in a free society.
Arnie Frigeri, Sun City Center
GOP power grab is an affront to voters April 19, editorial
Agenda-fueled objections
I was somewhat amused by this article displaying the St. Petersburg Times' righteous indignation at the GOP's attempt to make voting harder in Florida by fast-tracking this legislation and preventing debate.
Where were you guys during the most recent spate of legislative initiatives that Congress passed on a fast-track basis, and stifled debate in chambers, regarding the so-called "Stimulus Package"?
The only instances the Times ever objects is when it fits your liberal agenda. In this recent objection you cloak your agenda in the mantle of voting and democracy.
You have abdicated your role as true journalists who are to report the truth, and have instead become cheerleaders for the Obama administration and its ultraleft liberal agenda that is spending us under mountains of debt to the Chinese, of all nations.
Maybe, as more facts come out, we'll find out (on our own) that this effort in the Legislature is an attempt to control organizations, such as ACORN, from stealing more elections by having everyone held accountable regarding their voting status.
Joseph O'Neill, Safety Harbor
The gift of education
While Florida's Legislature struggles over education funding, we should be thankful for the free public education that is available in this country. As the global economic crisis continues, children are suffering the most. Millions miss school because they must work or can't afford it. Some 75 million children in developing countries don't have access to basic education. Research shows that when girls especially go beyond the third grade, they ultimately have fewer children, they are healthier and better able to take care of their families — all this leading to a more stable world.
During the campaign, President Barack Obama pledged $2 billion to create a Global Fund for Education that would be funded by several countries and address this crisis. He needs to make good on his pledge so more of the world's children enjoy the wonderful benefits of education.
Linda Schatz, Lutz


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World-leading manufacturer Sylvania is the maker of our large range of Sylvania Halogen PAR Reflectors. They are the professional way to highlight your displays to bring out true colour and detail.
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To mark the start of his tenure with the Topeka Symphony, music director Kyle Wiley Pickett wanted a program that would showcase the orchestra.
"We don't have a soloist on this concert because we're really highlighting the new relationship between conductor and orchestra, so I needed pieces that actually treat the orchestra as a soloist in many ways," Picket said.
He will conduct the program at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in White Concert Hall on the campus of Washburn University.
"We're opening with Beethoven's Seventh, which is one of the most powerful and significant Romantic symphonies," said Pickett, who added the work also was "one of my all-time favorite pieces."
The concert will continue with the intermezzo from Act III of Giacomo Puccini's opera "Manon Lescaut," which Pickett called "a lush, gorgeous, beautiful piece." He also described it as a "short but kind of astonishing pretty music." Principal cello and viola are featured on solo passages.
However, it is the concert closer, Ottorino Respighi's "The Pines of Rome," which will really let the orchestra show off.
Pickett called "The Pines" a "virtuoso orchestra showpiece."
"It's about showing off the technical prowess of the orchestra," said Pickett, adding the piece has solos throughout it, including trumpet, clarinet, piano, strings and brass.
"It really showcases the players," in addition to being an audience-pleaser, Pickett said.
"It should be a spectacular concert, a spectacular opening," he said.
Following the resignation of John Wesley Strickler at the end of the
2011-12 season, the symphony conducted a national search for a successor with Pickett selected as one of five finalists. Each of them conducted a tryout concert last season. Pickett was the candidate favored by symphony musicians, patrons and the search committee.
In addition to starting his career as only the fourth music director in the Topeka Symphony's 67-year history, Pickett is the new conductor of the Springfield (Mo.) Symphony Orchestra. He also is wrapping up his positions as music director of the North State Symphony in California and the Juneau Symphony in the Alaska
To accommodate the concert schedule of all four orchestras, guest conductors will lead some of the other cities' programs, but Pickett will conduct all seven Topeka Symphony Orchestra concerts, season tickets to which are available. Subscriptions for three to seven concerts start at $63.
New subscribers who purchase at least three concerts receive 50 percent off the regular subscription price, and a flex pass, good for any combination of four admissions, is available for $118. Single tickets are $34, $29 and $24, half-off for students.
Pickett will discuss the music of the season opener at a "Concert Conversation," free to ticket-holders, at 6:30 p.m. in the Bradbury Thompson Alumni Center, across the street from White Concert Hall. Tickets can be purchased at the door or by calling 232-2032.
Information about the full 2013-14 season can be found at www.topekasymphony.org.


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Choral Conducting
This profile trains choir conductors with technical proficiency and artistic integrity to a high international level.
The studies can include advanced-level choral conducting and advanced studies of form, ear training, intonation, composition and arrangement, score reading, repertoire studies and, where relevant, singing or piano.
You will be working with the KMH Vocal Ensemble, a group of 16 professional singers engaged as a practice instrument for M.A. conducting students.
A video recording must be enclosed with your application.
For more information in English on entrance examination details, please send an email to email@example.com.
Read about Master in Music 120 ECTS