text:
January 4, 2008
John McCain, still doing conference calls with the bloggers.
ADDED: There's a lot of talk about the town hall meeting he did in New Hampshire yesterday — and especially the role Joe Lieberman played alongside him there. McCain (and the blogger he is talking to) say, it was particularly effective when Lieberman said, referring to some attacks from Mitt Romney: "To say that John McCain ever supported amnesty for illegal immigrants is simply a lie." McCain effuses about a young girl who spoke at the meeting. I hope there's video of that somewhere.
MORE: He's pleased with the role he played in fending off the change in Senate rules over the confirmation of the new Supreme Court justices. "Can you find me one republican who now thinks we should have only 51% to confirm a judge?"
AND: The time for questions ends, and he's all "Oh, no, can I have one more?" He's asked how he can be the agent of change. He says he changed the Rumsfeld strategy. "I was criticized, because I was, quote, disloyal." So, he's the "most important agent of change." That is, he was instrumental in turning the Iraq war around. He cites many other achievements in the past. "Look at my record. And look at their record." He's stuck with his positions, and he's stuck with conservative principles. And that — somewhat paradoxically — is why he's best for change.
He requests yet one more question. It's about money. Does he have enough? "It's comin' in fine. And if we win in New Hampshire, it will trigger another flood." The questioner suggests that the Huckabee win will make people want to spend money opposing him. McCain responds by stressing that he won't go negative.
"I think we've got our bearings." He's been around a long time, he says, and because of that, what he cares about is the judgment of history. He starts to say "it's almost more important than winning," but he stops at "almost," restarts, and says "It's very important."
MORE: Some other bloggers who were on the phone call: Brainster ("Senator McCain... was upbeat and confident, and the callers were much more positive in their questions."), Matt Lewis ("I've probably been on a dozen, or so, calls with McCain, and I've never heard him this fired up, and this passionate about defending his positions."), Jennifer Rubin ("he sounded like he understands he has to win over the base of the party").
38 comments:
- dax said...
Connecting with bloggers? He should have been connecting with the HAWKEYES! ;-)
- Middle Class Guy said...
Forget politics. There is a larger crisis at hand. I need an experienced attorney and I need one or a team yesterday. For I am a convert. I have prayed for this moment on my rug made of hemp. My head and knees are bloodied. My prayers have been answered and the rapture of Global Warming, Allah Gore be praised, is nigh.
I have read the Goran. All praise to the merciful prophet, Allah Gore. I have embraced environmental Jhihad. His prophesies are coming true before my very eyes.
As part of my Jihad, I purchased several thousand acres of land in Nevada on the border of California. God has blessed me with the Armageddon of global warming. Storms are battering California from north to south. The seas are rising and bashing the state. Ten or more inches of snow are predicted. There are reports that soon there will be massive mudslides. California will slide off the face of America and into the sea.
Allah Gore be praised. I will be wealthy beyond any oil sheik. I need the attorneys to prepare the scrolls and documents to sell all of the land in Nevada. It will be the new ocean front property. I will be the new Donald Trump. I will be in the envious position to make the most famous statement in America. "You're fired!"
- Invisible Man said...
And the nuttiest unfunny post of the day goes too.....Middle Class Guy at 9:24 am.
- Simon said...
"MORE: He's pleased with the role he played in fending off the change in Senate rules for over the confirmation of the new Supreme Court justices. "Can you find me one republican who now thinks we should have only 51% to confirm a judge?"
Heh. Setting aside the Constitutional issues, I love that the Gang of 14 have been completely vindicated as a matter of practical politics and yet there are still many people who lambaste McCain's role in saving the party from its own stupidity. Good for him for sticking by it.
- peter hoh said...
A conservative politician who sticks to conservative principles? That would be a change.
51%: Not enough.
14%: Just right.
- rcocean said...
The gang of 14 was the ultimate sellout by McCain. Read Hewitt on it.
We needed an up or down vote and cloture and McCain - because of ego and to get the need for WaPo approval - stabbed Freist and the GOP in the back.
He thinks giving 41 senators veto power over judges is good. Wrong. The POTUS is elected by the People to appoint judges. The Senate's job is just to make sure they are competent and not unqualified POTUS cronies.
The Republicans should wake up and bounce this egotistical, grandstanding, open borders,faux Democrat, from the Primary.
How much more of this McQueeg MSM poser do we have to take?
- Middle Class Guy said...
How much more of this McQueeg MSM poser do we have to take?
They stole the strawberries. They hid the strawberries...
- Doyle said...
McCain became a critic of the Rumsfeld strategy years after the war began, when it had become incredibly unpopular. Up until that point he was shoulder to shoulder with Bush, claiming progress was being made. 6 more months, etc.
I agree with the conservatives who say McCain is an opportunistic sleaze who gets by on his MSM rep as a "maverick."
- Simon said...
rcocean said...
"The gang of 14 was the ultimate sellout by McCain. Read Hewitt on it."
The Gang of 14 were right about the Senate rules, right about the Constitution, and right about the practical politics of eliminating the filibuster. The only door that remains even ajar is whether they were correct about the platonic normative value of the filibuster, and I take no position on that. As for Hewitt, Hugh was totally wrong about it, and ought to have known better - but in a pattern you saw repeated during the Miers nomination, he has an unfortunate tendancy to place the transient concerns of the Bush administration above all else.
- JohnAnnArbor said...
I'd have a lot more respect for McCain if he'd admit how "campaign finance reform" has dramatically failed, making the process LESS instead of MORE transparent.
- Richard Dolan said...
"McCain is an opportunistic sleaze," says Doyle, attributing the view to "conservatives." McCain is many things, but "opportunistic sleaze" is not one of them. Some people have no sense, let alone any concept of shame. It's the same mindset that thought "General Betray-US" was a catchy put-down.
- Doyle said...
Some people have an overdeveloped sense that it's immoral to criticize military men.
"Opportunistic sleaze" is I think pretty tame compared to what spurned Republicans were saying about him when he opposed the Bush tax cuts and supported comprehensive immigration reform.
I don't have to go to far up this very thread to find an example:
"The Republicans should wake up and bounce this egotistical, grandstanding, open borders,faux Democrat, from the Primary.
How much more of this McQueeg MSM poser do we have to take?"
- Doyle said...
Note: McCain now supports the Bush tax cuts and reads verbatim from the Supply Side Crank Hymnal.
- Chip Ahoy said...
[...it was particularly effective when Lieberman said, referring to some attacks from Mitt Romney: "To say that John McCain ever supported amnesty for illegal immigrants is simply a lie."]
Not so.
Amnesty / path to citizenship that you have a proven inability and no interest to enforce, call it what you will, that wasn't a lie. No, this quote would be the lie.
- jeff said...
"Setting aside the Constitutional issues, I love that the Gang of 14 have been completely vindicated as a matter of practical politics and yet there are still many people who lambaste McCain's role in saving the party from its own stupidity. Good for him for sticking by it."
I would disagree. I think if one side wants to filibuster something, they should go ahead and actually do it, not have a pretend filibuster that everyone just goes along with.
"Some people have an overdeveloped sense that it's immoral to criticize military men."
No, Doyle. Criticizing is fine. Slandering is despicable. Telling that you can't see the difference.
- Bissage said...
McCain/Lieberman 2008!
- rcocean said...
From Hewitt's Blog:
"Never --never!-- in American history had a Senate majority so abused the appellate nominees of a president in his first two years in office. Never --never!-- had a Senate minority used the filibuster to block any federal appellate nominee, much less many of them.
Only once in the 20th century had a SCOTUS nominee failed to receive an up-or-down vote, and the circumstances of scandal and the literally "last months'" timing of LBJ's Administration led to a single refusal of cloture and the face-saving opportunity for Justice Abe Fortas to withdraw his nomination for Chief Justice rather than see it rejected in an up-or-down vote on the Senate's floor. The record guts the Fortas fiasco of any precedential value, and even a dishonest radical would have to admit there is only one instance in modern times of a SCOTUS nominee who wanted one, not receiving a timely up-or-down vote on the floor of the Senate..
From June of 2001 through April of 2005, the Senate's Democrats radicalized the nomination process, further dismembering a process already disfigured by their disgusting attacks on Robert Bork and Clarence Thomas, and which had not recovered despite the GOP's rejection of such tactics during the confirmation hearings of Justice Ginsburg and Justice Breyer.
Finally, in April of 2005, the GOP's 55 member majority had identified at least 50 from among its numbers to confirm a ruling from the Senate's Chair that would have delivered on the promise of "up or down votes on the floor of the Senate for all judicial nominees," by declaring that it was not acceptable under Senate rules to filibuster judicial nominees.
Had such a vote occurred, a crucial part of the constitutional order would have been restored. There would have been political aftershocks, but the vast majority of GOP senators and, crucially, the voters and donors who had elected the 55, were ready to fight for this key principle.
And then Senator McCain threw the principle --and many fine nominees-- under the bus. The window dressing for this surrender was the confirmation of some fine judges. But, and this is a key "but." they would have been confirmed anyway after the vote on the "constitutional option."
- Doyle said...
"Opportunistic sleaze" is slander? If that's the case then no I can't tell the difference.
- Meade said...
Bissage said...
McCain/Lieberman 2008!
You already know I'm on that bandwagon, bro! And if Joe says no, I say John McC and Freddy T.
- Simon said...
Jeff, I don't think we do disagree, actually, unless you have more in mind than you wrote. I don't have any beef with the suggestion that filibusters ought to be mounted rather than announced. I don't really have a strong opinion either way on the filibuster as a normative matter.
RCOcean, none of that is useful. Nothing in the Constitution of the United States prohibits either House of Congress for setting their own procedural rules - indeed, quite the contrary, Art. I § 5 expressly authorizes them to do so. It's of no relevance to the Constitutional question whether Senate liberals are cads (they are) or whether Bush's nominees were good judges (they were). The fact that by long tradition nominees are not filibustered is a strong argument that they should not be filibustered; it may even be an argument that the rules should be changed to recognize the tradition, eliminating the filibuster for nominees; but it is not an argument that the Constitution of the United States prohibits the filibuster of nominees, which was the predicate for the nuclear option. That argument was wrong then, is wrong now, and will continue to be wrong until you amend the Constitution to say otherwise. Hugh's idea that there is a sub silentio simple majority requirement for confirmation votes in Article II is dubious at best and his idea that this implicit requirement trumps the explicit text of Art. I § 5 is absolutely untenable. His position is understandable - misbehavior by Senate Democrats to block good judges nominated by a President Hugh would follow off a cliff - but misguided.
- gullyborg said...
How has the gang of 14 been vindicated?
We still have a Republican President. Now it is even harder for him to get any appointment filled. Before 2006, had he had the 51 vote rule, he could have appointed anyone. Today, with the 51 vote rule in place, he could still, at least, succeed in appointing decent people by simply winning over one or two democrats.
Instead, we have had 7 years of filibusters, and now there is NO CHANCE of pushing through a controversial appointment by winning over one or two liberals.
We elect Presidents to do the things Presidents do: run the executive branch, serve and commander in chief, approve or veto legislation, act as the chief foreign policy officer, and appoint judges and officers of the United States.
If you don't want bad nominees, elect better Presidents. Don't let the Senate run rough shod over the process and hijack nominations with only 41 votes against.
- Simon said...
gullyborg said...
"How has the gang of 14 been vindicated?"
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_elections,_2006. You're going to find out why the proposal to eliminate the filibuster was bad practical politics when President Clinton sends a Senate with 55-or-so Democrats the nominations of Barack Obama and Joe Biden to fill the vacancies left by Justices Stevens and Scalia retiring next year. When we're able to prevent that disaster despite having fewer than fifty Senators, I think even Hugh will have the common sense to admit he was wrong, at least in private.
"We still have a Republican President."
This one will be gone in roughly thirteen months, quite possibly to be succeeded by a Democrat. I'm not interested in how tough the administration has it for the next twelve months, I'm interested in the ground rules for the next twelve, twenty-four, forty-eight years.
"We elect Presidents to do the things Presidents do: [inter alia] ... appoint judges and officers of the United States."
We elect them to appoint judges by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. And the Constitution explicitly gives the Senate authority to determine its own rules for how it does business. The Senate doesn't "hijack" the nomination process by adopting rules that govern how it gives its advice or consent (unless that rule violates some other constitutional provision - a rule that said "the senate refuses its advice and consent to all Catholic nominees" or "the senate refuses its advice and consent to all female nominees" would obviously be unconstitutional). That charge is rhetorical not substantive. Although it's true that the grant of power to the Senate to confirm judges comes from a different article from that granting it legislative authority, and although it's true that the Senate has maintained separate calenders for executive and legislative business since its inception, those distinctions are too gelatinous to support the construction that Hugh urges us to rest on them.
- jeff said...
"Jeff, I don't think we do disagree, actually, unless you have more in mind than you wrote."
No, that was pretty much it. If the minority feels strongly about something enough to bring the business of the Senate to a screeching halt then they should do it. But this Gentleman's agreement where they have a virtual filibuster and life goes on doesn't cost anyone anything.
- Bissage said...
- This comment has been removed by the author.
- Bissage said...
Meade, my friend, I remember it well.
And I have the good people of Iowa to thank for giving me cause to officially un-resign myself to the inevitability of a Hillary! presidency.
And Joe won't say no. See, I've invited him over for dinner. I'll show him the pansy, geranium and rose mallow seedlings already growing in the basement and he'll have to say yes. He won't have the heart to forsake them to the machinations of the embreasted Clinton and her fearsome powers of eminent domain.
USDA zone 6b rocks!!!
- LonewackoDotCom said...
I'm not surprised he'd ask for more questions, since the ones he was asked were so incredibly weak. Are you an agent of change? Do you have enough money? Fifth graders running for student body president could field those with ease.
In fact, I'll send Althouse $5 via PayPal if she asks McCain this question for the next call.
All she has to do is read it and write down (or record if permitted) the response, and she'll get $5.
- rcocean said...
McCain's main defense of the Gang of 14 is that preserved the right of a future Republican Senate minority to Filibuster some "extreme" Democrat nominee in the future.
Which is insane. We gave up the chance to get rid of the filibuster and confirm many POTUS judges. We got nothing substantive in return.
If the Democrats ever get a Democrat senate and the POTUS they will -if necessary- do the nuclear option. The fact that the Republicans in 2006 wimped out will have no bearing on *their* using the option. They have shown in the past 20 years that precedent and 'Gentlemen's Agreements' mean nothing when Judicial appointments are involved.
Further, the Republicans approved Ginsburg & Breyer even though we had the majority. Its impossible to imagine any Obama or Clinton nominee being more left than Ginsburg.
So, McCain, Grahame, and friends gave away a number of confirmable judges for nothing more than a vague "precedent" which will be broken by the Democrats whenever they have the will and the power to do so.
- Simon said...
rcocean said...
"McCain's main defense of the Gang of 14 is that preserved the right of a future Republican Senate minority to Filibuster some 'extreme' Democrat nominee in the future. Which is insane. We gave up the chance to get rid of the filibuster and confirm many POTUS judges. We got nothing substantive in return."
What we got in return is the fact that we prevented the abuse of the Constitution to further a transient goal. That is reason enough in itself to shut it down. Moreover, your comment is incoherent; you first parry left, seeming to argue that you'd like to "get rid of the filibuster," lamenting that McCain "gave up the chance to get rid [of it]," but then tack right, bemoaning that the Democrats will abolish the filibuster.
The bottom line is, if you want to change the Senate rules, do it properly, at the beginning of the session, as Gupta & Gould (inter alios) outlined. And if you want to blame someone for the situation re Bush's nominations, blame Frist for his failure to do precisely that, not those who thwarted his attempt to make up for his ineptitude using means that were not permissible.
There's good reasons to oppose McCain, but this isn't one of them, and may even be a stroke in his favor to the extent that it bears on his views of the Constitution, which in turn bears on the kind of judges he would appoint, which is of course the whole ball game.
- Trooper York said...
It "bears" on the type of judges he will appoint. He's going to appoint bears. I hope he doesn't appoint Yogi. Or Boo Boo. Now Smokey I could see. Even Gentle Ben. He could be a regular Oliver
Wendel Horribilis.
Has everybody just forgotten McCain-Feingold? Has everyone just forgotten his opposition to the Bush Tax Cuts?
And despite his repeated denials, his Amnesty bill *was* an amnesty bill, and when John Cornyn tried to improve it, McRino told him to "F--- off!"
And we're just supposed to forget any of this ever happened?
McCain is the master of inauthentic authenticity. He says just enough to go against the conventional wisdom, but never enough to actual imperil his candidacy. And the media swoons. "He's telling conservatives what they don't want to hear. We love people who tell conservatives what they don't want to hear."
I will vote for anyone against McCain, except maybe Edwards, and then I'd just sit out.
I also notice the Democrats repaid McCain's generosity by gaveling phony sessions in the Senate over Christmas... to prevent Bush from making recess appointments.
Maybe McCain should talk to his "good friend" Ted Kennedy. Or tap him as a running mate.
- Simon said...
Blogger V the K said...
"Has everybody just forgotten McCain-Feingold? Has everyone just forgotten his opposition to the Bush Tax Cuts?
Nope. Haven't forgotten that, like the current President, he's for amnesty, too. He's not my first choice for the nomination. But I'm afraid that where BCRA is concerned, I take an "are all the laws but one" position - McCain is weak on the first amendment. We get it. All of the Democratic candidates are weak on the entire Constitution. This isn't rocket science. If McCain is the nominee, he gets my vote. If I thought McCain was the most electable candidate, he'd get my vote. Don't throw out the baby with the bathwater. Don't fool yourself into thinking that we can risk four years with a Democratic House, Senate and White House won't cause incalculable harm to this country.
"I also notice the Democrats repaid McCain's generosity by gaveling phony sessions in the Senate over Christmas... to prevent Bush from making recess appointments."
First, they would have done that with or without McCain's actions. It's silly to blame him for that. Second, since the posts Bush would have filled didn't comport with the recess appointments clause in the first place, I'm not losing sleep over it.
- rcocean said...
I'm a little puzzled as to why the Nuclear Option is "Unconstitutional".
I've read the constitution and didn't find the word "filibuster'.
My point on the Nuclear Option is simply this: First, I don't like the filibuster of Judges, period. But even if we accept as a practical matter that filibusters were OK, McCain's defense of his actions (We've preserved the right to Filibuster Democrat nominated Judges) is B.S. Every session of the Senate writes its own rules.
And the Democrats will NOT be bound by precedent or "gentlemen's Agreements" when it comes to Federal Judges. In 2009, they will pass the nuclear option if they consider it necessary to get more liberals on the bench.
As a conservative, and not a Republican, I will not vote for McCain period. Your assumption he would appoint OK judges is wishful thinking. McCain at heart is a liberal on social issues and is only constrained by the views of Arizona and the Republican nominating base.
Once President, he will be able to revert to his "Maverick" self and bask in the approval of the New York Times Op ed page.
- Simon said...
rcocean said...
"Simon: I'm a little puzzled as to why the Nuclear Option is "Unconstitutional". I've read the constitution and didn't find the word "filibuster'."
Rcocean, calling the nuclear option "unconstitutional" is an adequate shorthand, but it's linguistically a little difficult (which is why I didn't use that term, although I have done in the past). I feel like I'm repeating myself a little, but so be it. The process of the nuclear option involved making a claim that the Constitution says something that it does not say in order to trump the rules of the Senate. As I noted above, the Constitution gives the Senate authority to make its own rules of proceedings, but obviously a rule that conflicted with a countervailing Constitutional requirement (the establishment clause, for example, or a rule that provided that the President of the Senate would preside over all impeachments, including that of the President of the U.s., contra Art. I § 3) would be invalid and could be voided by the ruling of the presiding officer. The scam in the nuclear option was that when a cloture vote failed, someone would raise a point of order that the Constitution requires a simple majority for confirmation votes, which of course it doesn't. While the background supposition is certainly that the baseline would be simple majority votes, the rules and procedings clause gives ample power to Congress to deviate from that baseline by adopting both de jure and de facto supermajority and submajority rules, except for those matters on which the Constitution explicitly requires supermajorities (the afore-mentioned impeachments clause, for example, the veto override clause, or the make treaties clause).
"McCain at heart is a liberal on social issues and is only constrained by the views of Arizona and the Republican nominating base."
I have no idea what candidate you're talking about. You seem to have him confused with Rudy Giuliani. He's pro-life, he's anti gay marriage, what socon hot button issue is he "liberal" on? The principle concerns with Giuliani are his total contempt for the first amendment (see BCRA) and his support for amnesty on immigation, neither of which can be called "liberal" policies with precision.
- rcocean said...
Thanks for your response on the nuclear option being "unconstitutional." I won't dispute your analysis except to say that the rules of the Senate are -within limits -what a majority say they are.
Given that a majority of the Senators adapt rules regarding super- majorities at the beginning of each session, I see no reason why a majority can't change them whenever they wish. Further, a new session is not bound by the rules of the previous one.
The unconstitutionality argument which formed the basis of the "nuclear option" may be unpersuasive but that is, IMO, irrelevant. The filibuster itself is simply an illegitimate devise for a minority to block the majority from approving a POTUS nominee.
Which is why the only SCOTUS nominee to be filibustered since 1900 was Fortus. And even that was simply a delaying tactic.
- rcocean said...
"I have no idea what candidate you're talking about. You seem to have him confused with Rudy Giuliani. He's pro-life, he's anti gay marriage, what socon hot button issue is he "liberal" on? The principle concerns with Giuliani are his total contempt for the first amendment (see BCRA) and his support for amnesty on immigation, neither of which can be called "liberal" policies with precision."
Sorry, for not making myself more clear. Given McCain hostility to the Religious right and his love of the MSM and need for their approval, I'm suggesting that his social conservatism is an expression of political expediency & not a firm personal belief. See his stance on the confederate flag issue in 2000.Further, I remember in 2000 campaign McCain stating that he didn't want Roe v. Wade overturned.
McCain votes conservative on SoCon issues but never talks about them unless asked. And as stated before, given his stance on other issues and the fact that he is from AZ, one of the most conservative states in the union, it would be political suicide for him to come out in favor of Gay Marriage or Abortion.
Should he be elected POTUS, we will see what the REAL McCain thinks on these issues. Given his love for MSM approval and the love Ted Kennedy and John Kerry feel for him, I think he would "grow in office" in a rather rapid manner.
- Simon said...
rcocean said...
"I won't dispute your analysis except to say that the rules of the Senate are -within limits -what a majority say they are."
That's correct, but when the rules adopted by the majority include a process for amending the rules, that process has to be followed. So in January every other year, when a new Senate convenes, absent objection the rules of the previous Senate continue with unanimous consent. The time to object to the rules is when the Senate convenes. Frist didn't do that, which meant that any subsequent change to the rules had to be done within those rules. The problem is that once the rules are adopted, the rules permit the filibustering of a motion to change the rules, which is precisely why it was so difficult to adopt a rule providing for cloture (Julian Zelizer's book The American Congress has an excellent treatment of that fight, IIRC).
"The unconstitutionality argument which formed the basis of the "nuclear option" may be unpersuasive but that is, IMO, irrelevant. The filibuster itself is simply an illegitimate devise for a minority to block the majority from approving a POTUS nominee."
It's irrelevant if you're moving to change the rules without suggesting that the Constitution demands it - that is, if you're just asserting that it's illegitimate as a normative matter. But when it's asserted that this is a constitutional problem and that the Constitution trumps the rules, then what the Constitution actually says is not only relevant, it's dispositive.


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subset: commoncrawl


text:
By Janine John
Good communication can improve our response to many environmental and social issues, and there is a lot that all practitioners in sustainability can learn from this fascinating area of work.
|Ed Gillespie, co-founder of Futerra Sustainability Communications
Ed Gillespie, co-founder of Futerra Sustainability Communications in London, recently visited the University of Cumbria's Ambleside campus and gave a talk for the IFLAS (Institute for Leadership and Sustainability) series of open lectures. As someone with a particular interest in the communication of sustainability issues, I was really looking forward to attending this presentation, and I wasn't disappointed. Here, I share some of the notes I made during the lecture:
'Telling a new story: How heartfelt, authentic communication can effectively enhance your leadership for sustainability'
The stories we tell ourselves
Ed focused his talk on how important good story-telling is to being an effective sustainability leader, and how we frame our narratives. He has spent 20 years in sustainability, starting out as a marine biologist. However, he says that he didn't want to spend the rest of his career saying that if we don't stop catching all the fish, there won't be any fish left (and it happening anyway). He therefore co-founded Futerra with Solitaire Townsend, starting out with a small office in Brixton.
Ed argues that in order to subvert the current dominant paradigm, we need to be having more fun than the rest, and to be seen to being doing so. Futerra's own mission is about 'making sustainable development so desirable it becomes normal'.
At the heart of Futerra's work is the ability to tell stories. This is because stories are how we make sense of the world and it is narratives that hold us together. Our brains are wired to understand stories and they are something we need.
"After nourishment, shelter and companionship, stories are the thing we need most in the world." Philip PullmanSome of the famous stories we can look to include:
- Nelson Mandela's use of the term 'Rainbow nation'.
- Cool Britannia during 'the age of Blair', in which Britain was branded a creative, design-led country.
- The Age of Austerity, a dispiriting narrative, which suppresses our sense of what can be done.
In the age of the Anthropocene, humans are now the primary driving force influencing the future of the planet. Ed says that he finds this inspiring, as we are the first generation fully aware of how we're getting things wrong, and can act on this knowledge. As a result, we need to reconnect. Ed also asks, what is the point of economic growth if it doesn't make us happier? Consumer spending and GDP are both increasing, but life satisfaction is not. Our current cultural narrative is to buy more.
Psychological mechanisms which are limiting
For me, this next bit is the most interesting, because we move on to understanding human behaviour, and a number of useful terms to boost our communications vocabulary:
- The first term to get to grips with is the single action bias. This is where we feel we've done our bit (for example, we've recycled) and that we've therefore earned our flight abroad.
- The second term worth getting familiar with is the bystander effect. According to Ed, if you have a fall, you need only one person to be near you at the time. This is because one person will help you, whereas a crowd of people will look to each other, thinking that someone else will do something. He argues that climate change suffers from the same bystander effect because everyone thinks that someone else must be doing something about it.
- The fog of concern and the 'finite pool of worry' also limit us. We feel distanced, as though bad things are happening to someone else, somewhere else. In reality though, we now live in a complex, interconnected world in a way we never have before.
- Denial is a big problem – humans simply don't like change.
In his presentation, Ed also tried to address an issue he sees with environmentalism, which is the perception that some environmentalists don't like people. As well as clarifying that he likes people (!), he argues that it's not the planet that needs saving but ourselves – the planet will still be here long after we have destroyed our own existence.
It is an astonishing fact that in 40 years, 50% of vertebrate biomass has been lost. Humans are subject to what's called shifting baseline syndrome, in which we don't recognise the change going on around us. This is perhaps simply because we are unfamiliar with how bountiful things once were.
We also need to add to this that we have a growing population and climate change to think about. Ed compares our response to climate change as 'like turning up to an earthquake with a dustpan and brush', although he is optimistic about how we can solve these problems.
For his book Only Planet, Ed travelled around the world in 13 months using any transport method except air flight. Apparently this had a grounded 'Overview Effect' on him, comparable to that astronauts report experiencing when they look back on earth from space. This means that he could view all of our problems from a distance. He says that from all the experiences he has had across the world, what divides us is petty and what unites us is powerful.
On his trip, Ed was also particularly inspired by the story of the Monarch butterfly, which migrates from Mexico to Canada and back, but takes five generations to do so. In the same way, he argues that our problems will not be solved in one (or our) lifetime, but rather over a series of generations.
Stories on progress and climate change
One thing for certain is that facts and evidence don't tend to work, whereas stories do, and Ed reflected on what those in the Mayan civilization might have been telling themselves before they were finally beaten by climate change.
The story we tell ourselves now is the story of progress, where things keep getting better and better. But in actual fact, progress happens in peaks and troughs, and it is very easy to fall into 'progress traps' which undermine our ability to make the future better. It could be that fossil fuels, whilst they have been incredible in transforming our lives, will now set us back. Ed argues that in order to change, we do not need to blame the past but look to a better future. We are currently looking to tar sands and deepwater extraction etc., which is probably something we shouldn't be doing, whereas equally there are examples of communities across the world who are successfully becoming 100% renewably powered.
"We are not blindly opposed to progress… we are opposed to blind progress." John MuirWe now see in common use the terms unburnable carbon and the carbon bubble, as well as huge interest in divestment programmes. Big names are discussing and supporting these ideas, including Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the Governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney.
Climate change is extremely tricky to talk about because it is a 'wicked problem'. As such:
- it resists definition
- it's ambiguous
- it's chaotic
- it's social
- there's no right or wrong
- it requires change to belief, behaviour and identity
- there's no precedent
- there's no intention
"Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it." Mark TwainClimate change is also a very awkward subject to talk about with friends, and can be a complete no-no in social circumstances. Naomi Klein argues that climate change doesn't need to be a story about constraint, and that instead things can be better. It is also completely wrong to say that we cannot fix the economy and the environment at the same time.
The rational vs the irrational
One of the major obstacles we need to overcome is the irrationality of humanity. It is easy to assume that as humans we are rational, and that we make decisions based on cost and benefit. In reality, we are emotional, and act on instincts and habits. Daniel Kahneman, in his book Thinking, Fast and Slow, says that parole prisoners should always hope to appear in court after lunch, because apparently the time before lunch when a judge is hungry is also when they are least likely to get parole.
Behaviour change has used facts and strategy instead of emotions and feeling, but this doesn't work very well. In fact empathy and emotional connection produce chemical changes in the brain with the release of oxytocin, creating a lasting emotional connection. Although we like to think we are in conscious control, we are not. An analogy in common use is that of the rider and the elephant. The rider thinks they are in control, but the elephant actually decides. Worse still, the rider acts as an apologist for what the elephant does. Note that most advertisements don't contain facts and statistics, but are instead more likely to use talking animals. This makes content sticky in your brain, because your brain chemistry has been affected.
The future for businesses and the 'consumer'
We're in disruptive times and it is important not to ignore that. Consumers want to 'live meaningfully and engage brands with purpose'. It's worth noting that whilst companies may argue people are not bothered about sustainability, research in fact shows that 'most people would not care if 73% of brands disappeared'.
The key to success is to identify a purpose, because if we don't have a purpose to serve, we will only end up serving ourselves. It is important to avoid a 'Kodak moment' by ignoring the currently changing circumstances. Kodak ignored the possibility of the digital camera because they thought it would be damaging to their existing business, but the lesson is, if you don't do it yourself, someone else will do it for you. This presents huge challenges for leaders, as most businesses have shorter lives than they used to. Now companies are asking, what purpose can we have in the world where we can have commercial success at the same time?
In Ed's opinion, it is important to kill off the word 'consumer', which changes the way we behave and makes us individualistic, selfish and concerned with our own rights.
For further insights into storytelling, he highly recommends the book Winning the Story Wars by Jonah Sachs, and quoted three great storytelling rules by John Powers, the world's first copywriter:
- be interesting
- tell the truth
- live the truth.
In conclusion, Ed says that we now have two divergent approaches facing us: either to treat the earth as an inert commodity, or as something living with intrinsic rights. In terms of cultural narratives, we now need to unravel progress and find a story that serves.
Please note that the contents of this blog post are a personal interpretation of Ed Gillespie's presentation, and are not a complete account of the whole lecture. Headings have also been included to adapt the talk to the format of a blog post. IFLAS will be posting a video of the lecture online shortly, which it is highly recommended you take the time to view. You can follow Ed on Twitter: @frucool
Janine John is a communications consultant based in the Lake District, and has a particular interest in the communication of sustainability issues.
Twitter: @janinemjohn
Website and blog: www.bloominggoodcommunications.co.uk


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Nation & World
Syria's Assad says his agreement to give up chemical arsenal is unconditional
Syrian President Bashar Assad said Wednesday that he is committed to relinquishing Syria's chemical arsenal without conditions and as quickly as possible in a Fox News Channel interview that is the latest installment in a charm offensive intended to counter portrayals of him as a bloodthirsty dictator.
Responding to questions for an hour, Assad appeared as a mild-mannered bureaucrat explaining in fluent English why he's waging an unfortunate but necessary war against al Qaida extremists, the same ones who fought U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.
He bristled at calling the rebel forces fighting to topple him as "opposition" and claimed that 80 to 90 percent are al Qaida-linked terrorists. He played down the high death toll of the war, claiming that most of those killed were terrorists.
"Opposition doesn't mean to carry weapons and kill people, innocents, and to destroy schools, destroy infrastructure," Assad said. Later in the segment, he added, "This is war. You don't have clean war."
He didn't dispute U.N. findings that sarin gas was used in a deadly Aug. 21 attack, but he blamed it on the rebel forces, which he said are made up of jihadists who've streamed into Syria from more than 80 countries. He derided sarin as a "kitchen gas," saying it can be made at home, and blamed its use on fighters that are "supported by governments," a veiled reference to Persian Gulf rebel financiers such as Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
The wide-ranging interview was conducted by the network's senior foreign affairs correspondent, Greg Palkot, and former Democratic congressman Dennis Kucinich, who's a commentator for the network and has met Assad on previous occasions. Last week, Assad granted an interview to Charlie Rose of CBS and PBS, but canceled an interview he'd arranged with George Stephanopoulos of ABC.
Analysts say the strategy behind Assad's media blitz goes beyond simply avoiding a U.S. strike in retaliation for deadly chemical attacks. The broader mission is to convince the West that no matter how brutal his regime appears to outsiders, the alternative is worse.
At every opportunity, Assad drove home the fact that the rebel movement is dominated by Islamist militants who've carried out beheadings, car bombings and other terrorist acts the regime knows will strike a chord with an American audience. Assad, as he did in the earlier CBS interview, pointedly mentioned an incident where a rebel leader was captured on video cutting an organ from a dead Syrian soldier's body and taking a bite from it.
At another point in the Fox interview, Assad referred to the United States as "the greatest country in the world."
"He's saying, 'I'm Westernized, I'm quiet spoken, I'm not screaming jihad, and I'm the devil you can work with,'" said Lawrence Pintak, dean of the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication at Washington State University and a former CBS News correspondent in the Middle East. "And that's what American foreign policy has been about for decades – working with the devil you can to keep out the ones you don't want."
Pintak, who's interviewed the late Saddam Hussein, Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe and several other dictators, said Assad's understated persona and background as an eye doctor who was educated in England are benefits to his media campaign. His clean-shaven, business-suited image makes for a stark juxtaposition with bearded, gun-toting rebels waving the black flag of militant Islamists.
"It's public diplomacy at its best," Pintak said. "It's fascinating to watch someone who operates in a completely controlled media environment being so deft at managing his own image in the West."
It also helps Assad's cause, analysts note, that the American public doesn't need much persuading when it comes to staying out of Syria's bloody civil war. Poll results repeatedly have shown how unpopular any form of U.S. intervention is, even after a steady flow of amateur videos showing the death and suffering in a conflict that's already claimed more than 100,000 lives and forced millions from their homes. Americans overwhelmingly oppose not only direct U.S. strikes, survey results show, but indirect help such as arming the rebels who are fighting Assad's forces.
Assad clearly was aware of those polls, saying in response to a question from Kucinich that Obama should listen to the American people.
"Listen to your people. Follow the common sense of your people," Assad said when asked what message he would send to Obama.
"Assad is watching that the support was not there, and he's seeing that there are many doubters. He knows that most of the public knows that the Iraq experience backfired – sending in troops to remove a dictator only to end up with something worse," said Jamal Dajani, an award-winning Arab journalist who advises Internews, an international nonprofit to empower local media.
Although Secretary of State John Kerry and some members of Congress – most notably Arizona Republican John McCain – try to paint the extremist threat as overblown, it's clear to close observers of the conflict that al Qaida-style extremists make up the most effective, if not the largest, rebel factions – a position former CIA deputy director Michael Morell also made in an interview that aired Sunday on CBS' 60 Minutes.
That's the message Assad wants to hammer home to counter media portrayals that have painted his regime as responsible for vicious offensives, widespread arrests and crackdowns on all forms of opposition.
It would seem he found the perfect conduit in Kucinich, an Ohio Democrat who lost his seat last year in a primary and is now a commentator on Fox. He strongly opposed the Iraq war and is a vocal opponent of U.S. military action in Syria.
In a Sept. 4 posting on his official Twitter account, Kucinich warned that al Qaida was positioned to take over Syria if U.S. action ousted Assad. He added: "What message are we sending our troops? 'Fight 'em in Iraq, support 'em in Syria."
Kucinich garnered criticism for his previous visits to Assad, including a trip in 2011 when the civil war already had begun. He claimed that the Syrian state media "mistranslated several of my statements" after receiving a backlash for quotations describing Assad as "highly loved and appreciated by Syrians."
While the Fox correspondent Palkot grilled Assad about details of his commitment to the chemical weapons deal and about his transformation from a "reformer" to a "dictator," Kucinich generally sounded more sympathetic to the Syrian leader. Even post-interview commentary on Fox News poked at Kucinich for sounding "delusional" for such propositions as a rapprochement between Assad and the opposition, or whether Assad's disarmament could spark a global peace initiative.
Kucinich brought up Assad's medical credentials and asked him how his actions squared with the Hippocratic Oath. Assad replied that doctors must protect the life of a patient, but that "sometimes they have to extract the bad member that could kill the patient," an allusion to the "terrorists" his forces are trying to rout from Syrian society.
British media first reported that Kucinich was back in Damascus this week. The Syrian presidency's social media pages later confirmed the news and said that Kucinich was part of an American delegation that included former Attorney General Ramsey Clark and former congresswoman Cynthia McKinney.
Michael Clemente, executive vice president for news at Fox, said in a statement that Kucinich had advised him Sept. 7 that he thought he could secure an interview with Assad. At the time, Clemente said, the U.S. appeared ready to strike Syria, so he asked Kucinich to pursue an interview on conditions that Fox News journalists would be included. By the time the interview was filmed, by a Syrian crew and with no restrictions on questions that could be asked, the U.S. and Russia had struck a deal to seize Assad's chemical arsenal by mid-2014.
The political and armed opposition sides have yet to master the art of public relations, in large part because they're made up of notoriously divided figures who've failed to form a united front with one message. Spokespeople are often difficult to reach, opposition leaders contradict one another. Among the rebels, media coordination is also spotty, and it's often the extremist fighters who boast the most sophisticated media wings. Opposition activists have taken extreme risks to document the grisly aftermaths of government offensives, only to find their work undermined by other videos that have been exposed as outdated or staged.
Many anti-Assad activists blame the United States and other Western powers for waiting so long to bolster the moderate opposition that now the war would appear to outsiders as a showdown between an authoritarian regime and al Qaida. Assad doesn't hesitate to exploit that simplistic narrative.
"President Obama's indecisiveness has created an opportunity for Assad to push his agenda and to peddle himself as a far better alternative to the rebels. He is succeeding," said Ammar Abdulhamid, a Syrian dissident and human rights activist. "Even the secular opposition hasn't been able to produce the right caliber leaders to rise to the PR challenges."


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Exercise can reduce the risk of neurocognitive impairment by half, according to a new study by the University of California, San Diego. This is certainly welcome news, given all the recent focus on mental health problems tied to aging with HIV.
Researchers led by David J. Moore, M.D., analyzed data from 355 people living with HIV. The participants were first asked if they had exercised within the last 72 hours and then split into two groups: 83 people were in the "exercise" group and 252 were in the "no exercise" group. Each group was then given a series of tests to evaluate seven cognitive areas commonly affected by HIV, including verbal fluency, working memory, speed of information processing, learning, recall, executive function and motor function.
The rates of global neurocognitive impairment were lower in the exercise group (15.7%) than in the no exercise group (31%). In particular, the exercise group had a better working memory and could process information faster.
The major benefit of exercise to the brain seems to be the reduction of neurocognitive risk factors, such as high blood pressure and abnormally high levels of lipids in the blood. Metabolic syndrome associated with the use of antiretroviral treatment is also linked to an increase in cerebrovascular risk factors, such as diabetes, hypertension and obesity. [...]
"Exercise as a modifiable lifestyle behavior may reduce or potentially prevent neurocognitive impairment in HIV-infected persons," says Moore. "Physical exercise, together with other modifiable lifestyle factors such as education, social engagement, cognitive stimulation and diet could be fruitful interventions to support people living with HIV."
After controlling for other compounding factors, including demographics, CD4 count, AIDS status, substance use, depression and physical functioning, the researchers still found a statistically significant mental health benefit for the exercise group.
For people living with HIV, exercising and staying active has always been important. While more long-term evaluation is needed, since the data from this study only covers 72 hours of self-reporting, the results are encouraging and just one more reason for people living with HIV to get moving.


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Braille & Talking Book Program | Newsletters | Winter 2013
Volume 8, Issue 1 | Spring/Summer 2013
PDF download , MP3 download
Inside this issue:
From the Assistant State Librarian: Automated Phone System
Recently the South Dakota State Library implemented an automated phone system.
When you call the general number or the 800 number you will hear an automated message. The message will say,
You have reached the South Dakota State Library. Please select an option from the following menu.
For Braille and Talking Book, please press 1.
When you press one you will hear the following message:
You have reached Braille and Talking Book.
- For last names beginning with A through M, press 1
- For last names beginning with N through Z, or for libraries and nursing homes or other facilities, press 2
- For schools, children and young adults, press 3
- For talking book machines, volunteers and other questions or concerns, press 4
Please remain on the line to hear the Braille and Talking Book options again or press 0 to return to the main menu.
It always takes a while to learn a new system. Please be patient and in no time you will have learned how to use our automated phone system. If you have any questions about the automated phone system, please call 1-800-423-6665, select option 6 and ask for Colleen.
Keeping You Informed
Three times a year you receive the Prairie Trails Memorandum. We let you know what is happening in the Braille and Talking Book Program and provide you with information about topics that might be of interest.
Occasionally the Braille and Talking Book Program has time sensitive news that we would like to share but until now we have not had the means to do so. Last month Connie Sullivan, Program Assistant, created a Braille and Talking Book listserv. All patrons with email addresses have been added to the listserv. When we have time sensitive information to share we will send an email on the listserv.
The listserv will allow us to keep many of you abreast of the latest news from the Braille and Talking Book Program. If you would prefer not to be on the listserv, please call your Reader Advisor and let them know. If you would like to be on the listserv, but have not provided us with your email address, please call your Reader Advisor and give them your email address. We look forward to providing you with the latest Braille and Talking Book news.
— Colleen
South Dakota Has New State Librarian
The South Dakota State Library is pleased to announce that Daria Bossman has been appointed State Librarian. She came to the South Dakota State Library in 2008 as the assistant state librarian for development services and has been instrumental in the library's transitional efforts.
Formerly the director of library services and an assistant professor for 15 years at Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa, she also served as a reference and acquisitions librarian at Briar Cliff University in Sioux City and at Morningside. In addition to her 20 years of administrative experience, Bossman taught English and history in high schools in Nebraska and Oklahoma. She holds degrees from Midland Lutheran University in Nebraska and Emporia State University in Kansas.
"Daria's background in library development, as well as her experience in education, are a solid fit for this position," said South Dakota Secretary of Education Dr. Melody Schopp. "She has the passion to continue moving South Dakota forward in its development and support of 21st century libraries."
Bossman lives in Pierre with her husband, William Bossman, chief prosecutor for the Rosebud Tribal Court. They have three adult sons and two granddaughters.
Digital Talking Book Player Accessories
The South Dakota Braille and Talking Book Program has several accessories for the NLS digital talking book player available to patrons who need them:
- Headphones--Stereo headphones are limited to patrons with hearing loss or those who live in group settings, such as a nursing home. Standard headphones and ear buds will work with the digital talking book player, so you may use a set you already own.
- Pillow speaker--Small speaker to be placed under a pillow so that only the reader can hear it. Limited to patrons who are confined to bed.
- Elbow adapter--An L-shaped adapter for use with USB flash drives playing BARD materials; it allows a flash drive inserted in the USB port on the side of the player to lie parallel with the player, rather than sticking straight out.
- Breath-Switch Adapter--Controls the play/stop function of the digital player. For use by patrons who have little or no manual dexterity to operate the NLS digital player. Requires a separate application and comes with an elbow adapter.
- Amplifier--For patrons with profound hearing loss. Requires a separate application filled out by a medical doctor. Comes with headphones.
To request one of these devices, please call the Braille and Talking Book Program at 1-800-423-6665.
Book Club Update
In the last issue of Prairie Trails we asked people to let us know if there was interest in forming a book club. Unfortunately there was not enough interest to start a book club at this time.
Changing Colors
Do you have trouble using BARD because of the color scheme? If so, you do have the option to change the colors to display black and white. To change the color to Black and White, follow these steps:
- Login to BARD
- Click on Update Account Settings
- Click on the Color Settings drop-down box
- Select Black & White
- Click the Update button at the bottom of the page to save changes
Magazines on Cassette
The Braille and Talking Book Program will no longer be receiving magazines recorded on cassette. If you are currently receiving a magazine on cassette that is sent to you by the Braille and Talking Book Program and not NLS, you will no longer receive that magazine. If you would like to receive a different magazine, please call your Reader Advisor. They can tell you what is available from NLS and what is available directly from the Braille and Talking Book Program. NLS is moving all magazines to digital cartridge, so you will need to have a digital player to receive magazines.
Cancelling Talking Books Service
If you are a Talking Books patron, family member, friend, or care institution who has decided to cancel an individual's Talking Books service, please remember that players and materials are the property of the federal government and must be returned to the lending agency. Even non-working players must be returned, since they can often be repaired or salvaged to repair other players. If you have any questions about cancelling Talking Books service, please call 800-423-6665.
Author Readalikes
If you are looking for new books to read here are some authors you might want to try.
If you enjoy John Grisham, then try:
- Lisa Scottoline
- David Baldacci
- Perri O'Shaughnessy
- Scott Turow
- Stuart Woods
- Nelson DeMille
- Michael Connelly
If you enjoy Lillian Jackson Braun, then try:
- Rita Mae Brown
- Carole Nelson Douglas
- Carolyn Hart
- Tamara Myers
- Laurien Berenson
If you enjoy Janette Oke, then try:
- Karen Kingsbury
- Terri Blackstock
- Beverly Lewis
- Tracie Peterson
- Lauraine Snelling
- Jan Karon
Kids/Teen News
Are You Ready for Summer Reading?
We hope you are planning to attend the summer reading program offered by your local public library. This year's theme for youth is Dig into READING. The theme for teens is Beneath the Surface. Karen Duenwald will be happy to help you find books to read. Please contact Karen at 1-800-423-6665, select option 1 for Braille and Talking Book, and then select option 3 for schools, children, and young adults. You can also email Karen at .
The Prairie Trails Newsletter is our means of communication with all patrons of the Braille and Talking Book Program. The Prairie Trails Newsletter is made available on audio and also in braille, in large print, or on a diskette upon request and is posted on our website.
If you have any questions or comments you would like to address, or wish to request this newsletter in an alternative format, please contact the SD Braille and Talking Book Program.
South Dakota Braille & Talking Book Program
800 Governors Drive, Pierre, SD 57501
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Phone: 1-800-423-6665
The SD Braille & Talking Book Program does not endorse any service or product listed in this newsletter.
Winter 2019 Prairie Trails Newsletter
Volume 14, Issue 1 | Winter 2019
Articles include "Celebrating 50 years of service", "Summer Reading Program", "Ten Squared Club", "Holiday closing" and more!
Also available in MP3 download
National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped Downloadable Books and Magazines
Braille & Talking Book
1-800-423-6665 (in SD Only) Option 1
605-773-3131, Option 1


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EP247: Bridesicle
By Will McIntosh
Read by: Amy H. Sturgis of StarShipSofa
Discuss on our forums.
Originally published in: Asimov's — Download and read the text
Guest Host: Ben Phillips of Pseudopod
All stories by Will McIntosh
All stories read by Amy H. Sturgis
"Aw, I know you're awake by now. Come on, sleeping beauty. Talk to me." The last was a whisper, a lover's words, and Mira felt that she had to come awake and open her eyes. She tried to sigh, but no breath came. Her eyes flew open in alarm.
An old man was leaning over her, smiling, but Mira barely saw him, because when she opened her mouth to inhale, her jaw squealed like a sea bird's cry, and no breath came, and she wanted to press her hands to the sides of her face, but her hands wouldn't come either. Nothing would move except her face.
Rated PG
Show Notes:
- Starship Sofa is the first podcast ever to be nominated for a Hugo award, in the "Best Fanzine" category. If you're eligible to vote in the Hugos, you have less than a month left to put in your vote! Please consider Starship Sofa – it's a fantastic show on its own merit, and it's a HUGE credibility booster for all podcasts if it wins!
- The Escape Pod Flash Contest ends soon! It runs June 1- July 4, stories must be under 500 words. More information at the link.
- Editor's note: Thanks so much to Dave Thompson and Peter Wood for taking on this project of securing all five Hugo stories during the hiatus of Escape Pod. Most of the work was done before I joined, and this wouldn't have happened without them stepping up.
Next week… Our final Hugo-nominated story!


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HOUSTON – Top-shelf executive pay packages at the largest U.S. energy companies shrank in 2013 as activist investors pushed firms to narrow their oil empires and steer more capital to shareholder pockets.
As industry investment returns have stagnated, both Big Oil companies and midsize producers are reluctantly ceding ground to proxy advisers like Glass Lewis and Institutional Shareholder Services, which have pressed companies to tie the bulk of their executive pay to long-term incentives like stocks and option awards. That's where many of the large oil companies trimmed compensation packages last year, regulatory filings show.
"We've always had this tension in the energy industry around whether company performance is based on leadership or commodity prices," said Chris Crawford, chief operating officer for Houston executive compensation adviser Longnecker & Associates.
Shareholder pressure: Apache CEO compensation target reduced
Since shareholders wring the most money out of oil companies when stock prices rise, there's a sense that executives should, too, Crawford said.
"Companies are tying compensation programs back into that stock price," he said. "It's a win-win for shareholders and a lose-lose for executives."
Multimillion-dollar cuts
At Irving, Texas-based Exxon Mobil, CEO Rex Tillerson's total compensation dropped by $12.1 million to $28.1 million in 2013. Tillerson's total pay in 2012 was boosted by a $13 million increase in the value of his pension and deferred compensation, which was unchanged in 2013.
John Watson, chief executive of San Ramon, Calif.-based Chevron, saw his compensation fall by $8.2 million to $24 million in 2013.
Among all the top executives listed in regulatory filings for the two energy giants, only one saw an increase in total pay last year — a $75,000 bump to $5.1 million for Chevron's general counsel.
Houston-based ConocoPhillips stood out among the largest U.S. oil producers, hiking CEO Ryan Lance's total pay by $4.2 million to $23.4 million last year.
Shareholder activism
Josh Henke, a managing director at Longnecker, said activist shareholders and proxy advisers have held much more sway with smaller, independent oil producers. In 2013, investors shook up management teams and urged many producers to sell off billions in assets. They pushed for greater shareholder rewards like stock buybacks and higher dividends.
The challenge to Big Oil's corporate management came at a time when returns on energy investments have underperformed global markets by 27 percent over the last three years, according to BlackRock, the world's largest money manager.
The Dodd-Frank Act of 2010 handed shareholders a tighter leash on executive pay with a rule known as "say-on-pay," allowing investors to vote on proposed pay packages. While the votes are not legally binding, they put significant pressure on corporate decision-making, compensation experts say.
Midsize independents
Houston-based Apache Corp. cut CEO Steven Farris' compensation by $5.8 million to $11.2 million and Anadarko Petroleum, based in The Woodlands, trimmed CEO Al Walker's pay by $2.7 million to $16.9 million last year.
At Houston-based EOG Resources, CEO William Thomas, who took the helm in July, saw his pay jump by $1.5 million to $8.8 million in 2013.
Say on pay: Apache investors reject executive pay raise in advisory vote
Occidental Petroleum, which is moving its headquarters to Houston, cut CEO Stephen Chazen's pay by $21 million to $6.9 million last year.
While oil companies are shaving pay at the highest level, some are using the leftover money to subsidize higher wages for senior-level executives, which helps in an ultracompetitive industry, Henke said.
"There's such a large gap in the market for talent," Henke said. "They're looking for the best use for those dollars, and they're using them to attract and retain executives."
Also on FuelFix:
Forbes' wealthiest oil and energy tycoons


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There are some perks to working as a blogger, and one of them is that anywhere with Wi-Fi is your office. Great! But often times, when working in a coffee shop for instance, you experience some outrageous behavior.
Right now, someone six feet from me is sat using Skype, very loudly, without a headset—and it's riling me. I can see arguments in support of it, sure; it's not unlike people having a real-life conversation just across the way from me, I guess. But I can't help but think that, on some level, it's pretty obnoxious. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't: so I thought you could help me decide. Thoughts?


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Climate Change and Sustainability Services
Let's talk sustainability
A dialogue on building a better working world
Investors demand it. Customers expect it. Shareholders rely on it.
Employees value it. What's your strategy?
As consistent economic growth is slowly restored across the world, the next great challenge is likely to be optimization of this growth in a resource constrained world. Maximizing opportunities in emerging markets such as India, while remaining within the energy threshold and environmental carrying capacity, will require unprecedented levels of determination, innovation and cooperation.
Sustainability is no longer just a fashionable word. It is a structured approach to achieving a holistic and triple bottom line growth. Apart from risk identification and mitigation, as well as a significant improvement in the efficiency of processes and systems for optimization of resources, the other proven tangible and intangible benefits of sustainability include its positive impact on employees' morale, an organization being recognized as an employer of choice, supply chains being motivated to adopt leading practices and consumers being educated on the importance of responsible behavior. After years of it being perceived as cost-centric, we are now finally realizing the true value-addition made by implementation of sustainability-related measures!


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New: Berkeley's Fair Campaign Practices Commission Meets Tonight To Consider Light Penalties for Flagrant Election Law Evaders (News Analysis)
Tonight the Fair Campaign Practices Commission meets (7 pm, N Berkeley Senior Center) to consider the stipulation offered by members of Tenants United for Fairness (TUFF)—a slate that ran for Berkeley's Rent Stabilization Board in the November election—and the landlords who illegally funded their campaign.
The proposed stipulation would fine the TUFF slate members $300 each, and their backers under $3000 total.
In comparison, at the same meeting the people who raised money to defeat the street-sitting prohibiting Measure S and who failed to properly report $500 in late contributions in a timely manner are proposed to pay a penalty of that amount—$500, the amount they received. Nothing illegal about the contributions, they're just paying the amount of the contribution for failing to report it on time.
TUFF raised and spent over $50,000 from landlords, over $30,000 from one PAC alone. Berkeley has a $250 per candidate donation limit and bars business donations, the vast bulk of those donations. Councilmember Maio's appointee to the Commission, Brad Smith, when first introduced to the violations, said they were flagrant and unconscionable, then at the next meeting urged the commission not to investigate the complaint at all, saying they were "just kids who didn't know what they were doing." TUFF was endorsed by five councilmembers including Maio, and put out illegal joint literature with two of them.
When an audience member asked him to defend his objectivity in light of the fact that TUFF's lead candidate, then Rent Board member Nicole Drake, has the exact same job he'd held for over a decade, serving Maio as her sole aide, Smith explained that he'd had lunch with Linda to explain to her that she wasn't to discuss the issue with him, to maintain his objectivity.
At that meeting the Commission decided not to investigate, and to instruct their staff to negotiate with the TUFF members and their backers over what their punishment should be, leading to this proposed stipulation.
Berkley election law specifically says that the Commission should consider fining candidates who accept illegal contributions the amount of contributions they illegally accepted, in this case over $40,000. Not only will accepting this stipulation mean that the candidates pay a pittance for their violations, but it will also mean that the candidate they successfully got elected to the Board with a campaign funded over 90% by illegal donations will remain in office, rather than be forced to resign in accordance with the law.
The Commission meetings have been poorly attended, and completely uncovered by all the local mainstream media. For anyone who feels that the Commission should formally investigate what Commissioner Smith called the worst electoral crime in the history of Berkeley election law, this will be the last chance to appeal to the Commission's integrity. There is no appeal to the Council for FCPC cases. If the FCPC accepts the stipulation, the matter will be closed, unless the State's comparable body decides to investigate.


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Louis Vuitton Monogram Danube Bag Pre Owned
This item is no longer available
Authenticity code: Louis Vuitton SL0073
Authentic: Pre-Owned
This authentic Danube bag is ideal! It features monogram canvas, with a flat pocket with vachetta trimmings. It also has an adjustable shoulder strap and a zip top closure. It displays gold tone hardware. An amazing bag for travel or everyday, while remaining stylish.
- Exterior: Gently used
- Interior: Gently used
- Description of Interior: Cross grain Lined
- Exterior Pockets: Open pocket
- Interior Pockets: One open pocket
- Color: Brown
- Hardware Description: Gold Hardware
- Material: Monogram
- Width: 5.9 in.
- Length: 2 in.
- Height: 8.3 in.
- Handle Drop: 22 in.
Product Code: 2196021
Read more about Louis Vuitton Date Code here.
All photos are of actual item being sold. © 2007-2019 LuxeDH.
This Louis Vuitton® item is guaranteed to be authentic. Louis Vuitton is a registered trademark of Louis Vuitton. LuxeDH is not affiliated with or represents Louis Vuitton in any way or form.


text:
Prosecutors Help Set Record Number of Exonerations
ST. LOUIS (AP) - A new report released Tuesday shows that a nationwide push by prosecutors to re-examine possible wrongful convictions contributed to a record number of exonerations in 2013.
The National Registry of Exonerations says 87 people falsely convicted of crimes were exonerated last year. The joint effort by the Northwestern University and University of Michigan law schools shows that nearly 40 percent of those exonerations were initiated either by law enforcement or included police and prosecutors' cooperation.
Texas topped the state-by-state breakdown with 13 exonerations in 2013, followed by Illinois, New York, Washington and California.
District attorneys in the counties containing Dallas, Chicago, Brooklyn, Manhattan and Santa Clara, California, are among those with new "conviction integrity" units. The International Association of Chiefs of Police also is pushing to reduce wrongful convictions.


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Do you like Draw Something, but feel like it could be crazier? Drawception might be more to your taste. It combines the fun Pictionary-style guessing of Draw Something with the weird-to-weirder design of a game of "Telephone."
Here are the rules, as shared on the Drawception site:
How it Works
Like the games "eat poop you cat" and BPT, Drawception is a game of (mis)communication.
1) A game begins with a short phrase - for example, "A cow jumping over the moon"
2) A randomly chosen player draws the phrase
3) Another random player describes the new drawing
4) Yet another player draws the new description
5) Steps 3 and 4 repeat until 12 unique players have participated
When completed, the participating players are notified and can view the often unexpected and hilarious results!
There are already tons of crazy examples on the game's (at the moment, unfortunately overloaded) website. There's one for "Rock Paper Shotgun" that begins with the name of the esteemed PC publication and ends with "Conquistador delivering mail to the sun." The one pictured above was supposed to be "Skyrim" but quickly became about Sinbad. "Batman doing laundry" becomes "a pointy eared eskimo gives a press conference."
You can imagine how this will be a hell of a goofy time-waster. And as much fun as it is to play with strangers on the internet, it'd be even better if you could just play with your friends. Here's hoping it comes to Android and iOS.
Drawception [Official Page]


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Here's fashion blogger and shoe designer Chiara Ferragni, attending the Spring 2015 Dior Haute Couture Show in Paris this week. She's wearing Christian Dior Wedge Pumps, of course. They are deliciously weird, much like the rest of her outfit, which consists of (what I feel fairly safe assuming is) a red Dior pantsuit and a black birdcage veil. Dior isn't sold online, but you can shop a broad selection of glittery Chiara Ferragni flats, sandals, and pumps at farfetch.com. (We're particularly fond of her smoking slippers.)
Chiara Ferragni was the only fashion blogger to make this year's edition of Forbes' "30 Under 30″ list. According to Forbes, her shoe line is stocked in 200 stores in 25 different countries. Chiara herself is on track to make $8 million in 2015, with a whopping 70% of that coming from her shoe line and the rest stemming from other blog-related endeavors. (She's also a spokeswoman for Guess.) You can keep up with all things Chiara at her much-lauded fashion blog, The Blonde Salad.


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Dia:Beacon °
3 Beekman street
NY-12508 Beacon
artists & participants
press release
Beacon, NY— On May 17, 2008, Dia Art Foundation opens a new installation of a six-film projection by Tacita Dean, titled Merce Cunningham performs STILLNESS (in three movements) to John Cage's composition 4'33 with Trevor Carlson, New York City, 28 April 2007. Based on footage Dean shot of Merce Cunningham with Trevor Carlson at Cunningham's studio in Manhattan, in April 2007, Dean's multipartite installation is presented at Dia:Beacon, Riggio Galleries, as part of special programming marking the fifth anniversary of the museum's opening in New York's Hudson Valley. The installation will be on view through September 1, 2008.
The celebratory fifth-anniversary weekend, on Saturday, May 17*, and Sunday, May 18, 2008, also includes performances by Merce Cunningham Dance Company and the launch of two special long-term installations: Imi Knoebel's monumental 24 Colors—for Blinky (1977) and a new installation by artist Helen Mirra of Knoebel's Room 19 (1968).
For her new project, Tacita Dean shot six distinct films depicting legendary choreographer and dancer Merce Cunningham performing Stillness, his singular choreography to John Cage's radical 1952 composition, 4' 33?. In each film, the fixed camera remains focused on Cunningham, who sits in a chair and assumes a variety of attitudes. This static scene is broken twice, when Trevor Carlson, director of the Cunningham Dance Company, marks the three parts with a simple gesture. Subtly different, each performance has been filmed from a different camera angle. Each is presented on a screen whose dimensions are calibrated to render the image of Cunningham life-size.
Cage's 4' 33?, a score reliant upon the ambient sounds of the pianist, the audience, and the environment, was first performed in upstate New York in 1952. By that time, Cage and Cunningham were life-long partners, and for the next 40 years, the pair would collaborate on explorations of their respective time-based practices, dance and music. Never considering film simply as a vehicle for the documentation of his work, Cunningham has long collaborated with filmmakers, including, notably, Charles Atlas, in a pioneering exploration of the possibilities of choreography for the camera.
Dean's project is also a touchstone against which to consider Merce Cunningham Dance Company's series Beacon Events, created during a two-year series of programs at Dia:Beacon. Over eight performances, one each season, the Company is presenting original choreography and scores created in response to specific installations at the museum, initiating a rich and often unexpected dialogue between the dancer's movements and the artworks on display. Following performances in September 2007 and January 2008, the third performance in the Company's series will take place on Sunday, May 18, 2008, at 2pm and 4:30pm.
Tacita Dean Born in Canterbury, England, in 1965, Berlin-based artist Tacita Dean is celebrated for a rich and diverse body of work that includes films, drawings, photographs, audio recordings, and installations. Her artworks often revolve around historical facts and fictions, and both chance and circumstance play an important role in her narratives. Dean has exhibited internationally in solo and group shows since 1992. Recent solo exhibitions have been held at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York (Hugo Boss Prize Exhibition, 2007); Schaulager, Munchenstein/Basel, Switzerland (2006); and the National Gallery of Contemporary Art, Oslo, Norway (2006).
Dia:Beacon, Riggio Galleries Dia Art Foundation celebrates the fifth anniversary of Dia:Beacon in May 2008. The museum, which has welcomed 350,000 visitors since its opening, presents Dia's distinguished collection of art from the 1960s to the present. Situated on the banks of the Hudson River in Beacon, New York, the museum occupies a former Nabisco box-printing facility, which was renovated by Dia with artist Robert Irwin and architect OpenOffice. Dia:Beacon's expansive galleries comprise 240,000 square feet of exhibition space illuminated by natural light. The museum houses works by a focused group of some of the most significant artists of the last half century, including Bernd and Hilla Becher, Joseph Beuys, Louise Bourgeois, John Chamberlain, Walter De Maria, Dan Flavin, Michael Heizer, Robert Irwin, Donald Judd, On Kawara, Imi Knoebel, Sol LeWitt, Agnes Martin, Bruce Nauman, Blinky Palermo, Gerhard Richter, Robert Ryman, Fred Sandback, Richard Serra, Robert Smithson, Andy Warhol, and Lawrence Weiner.
The museum also presents temporary exhibitions, as well as public programs designed to complement the collection and exhibitions, including monthly gallery talks, Merce Cunningham Dance Company Events, music performances by St. Luke's Chamber Ensemble, Community Free Days for neighboring counties, and an education program that serves area students at all levels.
Dia:Beacon is easily reachable via Metro-North Railroad. Trains depart hourly from Grand Central Terminal in New York City, and the Hudson Line station in Beacon is within walking distance of the museum. For schedule and fare information, visit the MTA's website at www.mta.nyc.ny.us. The museum is also reachable by major roadways. Driving directions are available on Dia's website at www.diaart.org. Admission is $10 general, $7 for students and seniors, and free for Dia members and children under 12. Winter hours (though April 14, 2008) are Friday through Monday, 11am to 4pm. Summer hours (starting April 17, 2008) are Thursday through Monday, 11am to 6 pm. The public information line for the museum is 845.440.0100.
Dia Art Foundation A nonprofit institution founded in 1974, Dia Art Foundation is internationally renowned for initiating, supporting, presenting, and preserving art projects. Dia presents public programs and its permanent collection of works from the 1960s through the present at Dia:Beacon, Riggio Galleries. In the fall of 2007 Dia initiated a partnership with The Hispanic Society of America, where Dia presents commissions and projects by contemporary artists within the Society's galleries while seeking a permanent home for these initiatives in New York City. Additionally, Dia Art Foundation maintains long-term, site-specific projects in the western United States, in New York City, and in Bridgehampton on Long Island. For additional public information, visit www.diaart.org.
Tacita Dean
"Merce Cunningham performs STILLNESS (in three movements) to John Cage's composition 4'33 with Trevor Carlson, New York City, 28 April 2007"


text: Pediatric Otolaryngology Research Thanks to a wide range of funding sources including government and private donors, pediatric ENT research at Mass. Eye and Ear has resulted in significant breakthroughs and innovations that have advanced medical and surgical treatment. Education in Pediatric Otolaryngology Mass. Eye and Ear is considered a valuable pediatrics training resource. One major commitment of the Division is to the education of residents in pediatric otolaryngology. Dr. Cunningham is the residency program director, but all four physicians have an active teaching role. Continuing Medical Education is another focus of the Division. Harvard Medical School sponsored courses have been given for attending level physicians both in primary care as well as in otolaryngology. A one or two year fellowship is offered in pediatric otolaryngology directed by Dr. Christopher Hartnick. Those fellows who choose a second year devote that year to advanced education or research. Click here to learn more about the Mass. Eye and Ear/Harvard Residency Training Program, Fellowship Training and Continuing Medical Education. The Division's physicians lecture nationally and internationally on pediatric otolaryngology, and have played prominent leadership roles in the field's major academic societies including the American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology. Mass. Eye and Ear publishes four journals on quality measures of patient care. Links and More Information Airway/Swallowing/Voice Center Cochlear Implants Ear Infections/ Tonsillar Infections Microtia Pediatric Head and Neck Masses Vascular Malformations Pediatric Otolaryngology Research Preparing for Surgery Make An Appointment Today! 617-573-3954


text:
Services in New York and New Jersey area.
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Comfortable, easy-to-drive vehicles.
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Guaranteed rental car reservations with confirmation number.
We are an independent car rental company. We have more than 10 locations and over 5,000 cars of different sizes in New York and New Jersey area. One of our locations is 5-10 minutes away from JFK airport, NY. We meet our customers at their terminal and provide free shuttle to transport between the airport and our location. Our shuttle takes the customers back to the airport when the car is returned. We do not charge any airport rental fees. It is one of the reasons that our prices often are better than many other rental companies located at the airport. In JFK aiport you will spend 15 minutes or more to get to other car rental companies because you need to take all your baggage and take a train in order to get to the location of rental companies. Our shuttle bus is going to wait for you right outside of your terminal. The only thing you need to do is a quick and easy online reservation in advance. On the day of your arrival give us a call 718-413-0000 before you collect your luggage at the aiport and our bus is going to wait for you right outside of your terminal.


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If mathematics is already thought out and constructed by someone, it is logical that there would be no contradictions.
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Answers in Genesis is an apologetics ministry, dedicated to helping Christians defend their faith and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.


text:
|2011-01-16, 14:59
|Link #1
阿賀野型3番艦、矢矧 Lv173
Graphic Designer
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Belgium, Brussels
Age: 32
Infinite Stratos - Character Discussion - Cecilia
The purpose of this thread is to provide a place to discuss all things Cecilia related.
To keep the discussion enjoyable for all Infinite Stratos fans, please follow the guidelines below and stay on-topic!
Note: Please don't use this for the specifics (i.e. episode, chapter, game, etc. discussion) there are other threads for that stuff.Thread Guidelines
|2011-01-16, 19:27
|Link #2
Join Date: Dec 2006
Reminds me of Tessa... Of course, a lot of similarities... Mainly her voice actor.
I think it has been a while since I heard Yukana with this type of voice.
As for the character herself... Probably on the lower end right now. Talk about stereotypical... Not that her character design is bad, but definitely prefer the others more. Although, her weird arm shaking in episode 1 was funny.
And now she has already joined the protagonist's harem because he beat her. Bah, girls fall too easily for guys in harems...
|2011-01-16, 22:01
|Link #4
A Proud Lolicon
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: In front of my computer
Age: 32
|2011-01-16, 22:10
|Link #5
My Lovely Bunny Chie
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Philippines
Age: 31
I liked her desu wa~ and princess attitude. Yukana is a major plus for me, as I liked Tessa's voice so much.
|2011-01-16, 23:33
|Link #6
Mushroom Princess
Join Date: Oct 2006
Cecillia is my favorite girl in IS series. Second would be that Chinese Girl.
It is shame that she going to fall in love with the protagonist in next episode.
But then, who can blame her...when she and other girls do not have many opportunity to expose to other males. Also, in harem genre series, except the main protagonist, most of male characters have to be pathetic. Or else, the main protagonist would not be amazing or unique.
|2011-01-16, 23:49
|Link #7
Augumented Paranoia
Join Date: Nov 2003
|2011-01-17, 00:32
|Link #8
Disabled By Request
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: The 305
Age: 25
Spoiler for touma:
(lets not get into talking about him in this thread, this is just to point him out)
|2011-01-17, 01:29
|Link #10
A Proud Lolicon
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: In front of my computer
Age: 32
|2011-01-17, 01:31
|Link #11
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
I always fall for the ojou-sama types. That or the "O HO HO HO" and I have no idea why. I'm just hoping the anime will cover the stuff in the LN cause from what I've seen there's good stuff there for every girl, including Cecilia.
|2011-01-17, 02:14
|Link #12
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
My favorite of the two intro heroines. Her IS is great too (long range spam FTW)
She is bound to lose spotlight soon (as soon as episode 3) but that's natural, the popularity matter will be balanced when the harem is complete.
Really eager to see her attitude towards Ichika after their duel. Will be more tsun? Or more dere?
Oh, another thing: Her voice made the ED 1000 times better.
|2011-01-17, 11:35
|Link #14
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
|2011-01-17, 17:30
|Link #15
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
well the reason why she fell in love was mostly becouse she saw that he was stronger... and she would fall in love only to the strong ones...
she even spoiled the reason herself... becouse 90% of the fight Ichika was fighting her experianced/upgraded customized IS with a standard... maybe similar to training IS ^^ not mention he was on a huge disadventage becouse he was a close range fighter while she was useing long ranged weapons.... normaly close range would lose instantly to long range.... yet ichika was able to hold ground and even was able to get close to her and swing his sword (she was able to evade it)
only few sec before the shields run down... Ichika's IS finaly get to his orginal form and become his IS.... yet his shields were more than 50% down....and yet 1-2sec more and he would be able to defeat her....
she knows that if he was fighting in his orginal form from the very beggining and not like at the very end while wasteing more than 50% shields on his default level... he would be able to win at the very beggining of the fight ^^
anyway I wonder how she would react if she heared that it was Ichika's 2nd time he even entered a IS suit :P (first at the entrance exam... 2nd now).... and so he was on pair with representative level ^^
so its the usuall... fall for the strong one ^^
|2011-01-17, 17:45
|Link #17
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: At the Intersection of Life
|2011-01-17, 18:38
|Link #18
Know who you are
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Resides within the depths of Ned infested Glasgow
Initial impression was I like Houki's character design better, altho I do love this classic ojou-sama look, I got a real soft spot for it.
Yukana is probably the biggest draw for Cecilia atm, god I love Yukana <3
But Cecilia as a character I do love, as cliche as she may be I think they have done a quality job in protraying her.
Mugi-chan from K-On is still my favorite ojou-sama of all time but Cecilia comes damn close.
|2011-01-17, 20:23
|Link #19
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Sweden
Age: 28
*Imagines a certain scene from novels*
I've always liked ojou-samas so it's no surprise I'm not hating Cecilia. Even though I felt her reason for going all dere felt a BIT out of nowhere. I take this is because they couldn't fit everything in. But I guess we'll know more later on.
|Thread Tools


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Heavy rain on Monday, June 10 forced Lancaster Post 31 baseball officials to reset the junior team's League V doubleheader with Clover to Tuesday, June 11.
The juniors, 2-0 in League V play entering the road twin bill, will be at home tonight, Wednesday, June 12 to play Clover Blue at 7 p.m.
The Lancaster junior team is 2-3 on the season, including the unbeaten start in League V play.
The P-31 junior team is led by first-year head coach Gavin Flynn, who is assisted by Scott Flynn, Scott Caskey and Daniel Smith.
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On these pages you can find all the infos about the company and our games. If you have any questions, suggestions, wishes or complaints feel free to contact us.
We hope you had fun playing our games so far. Stay tuned because there is a lot about to happen in the next weeks. As a newsletter subscriber you would be one of the first to know.
We would like to thank everyone who enjoyed our games enough to give it a comment and a rating on the Android Market. Thank you a lot!
We just released our second game a short while ago. Pick a Stick is a classic pickup stick game. Beat your highscore and get on the top of the leader-board on Scoreloop. Choose between different skins and gain points by playing to get even more skins. Learn more about the game here.
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