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So many ideas in our country begin with the best of intentions and end up completely corrupted. From Lindsay Lohan's acting career to the once-noble filibuster, well-meaning stuff sometimes just gets out of hand here. But has it caught up with Kickstarter, too?
Launched in 2009, this crowd-funding platform seemed, originally, to be a brilliant concept -- especially for filmmakers struggling to secure financing. Directors who had no money could use this vehicle to attract average people as backers -- plus, retain 100 percent control of their project. Perhaps film fans just assumed it was for the struggling masses, huddled together. But considering the mostly no-name directors who used it to finance films, it wasn't a bad assumption. There was no mission statement by Kickstarter to back this up, yet it seemed custom-built for the underdog.
But then, like Lindsay as Liz Taylor, or Ted Cruz by hour ten, things got weird. Name directors Spike Lee and Zach Braff, and famous kids like Zosia Mamet, some possessing the GNP of a Benelux country, started using Kickstarter. Is this fair? Is it equitable? Should anybody name their kid Zosia? We spoke with several indie filmmakers to see if such assumptions were true and all queries could be answered.
Count Katherine Dieckmann among the skeptics. This video and film director and Columbia Film School professor (she directed R.E.M's "Stand") isn't exactly overjoyed about A-list moviemakers using Kickstarter to fund their films.
"My students often use Kickstarter," says the director of the Uma Thurman film, Motherhood. "But I don't know why Zach Braff couldn't find money after Garden State. That's ludicrous. Why are 'name' people getting money from regular folks? Is it, 'Well, other people are using it, why can't I?' John Cassavetes constantly mortgaged his house to make his movies. I think with some name people, it seems like there's a sense of entitlement there."
Dieckmann is most concerned about her film students. "I teach kids who are deeply in debt. I feel that anything I did, that might take money from them, would make me sick."
Gorman Bechard, who's made features like Psychos in Love and The Replacements' documentary Color Me Obsessed, is an artistic Yogi Berra on the subject. About Kickstarter, he feels strongly both ways.
"I think it should be for filmmakers who've no other way to get the money they need," says Bechard. "I couldn't have made my last few films without Kickstarter. Plus, it restores my faith in humanity. Remember, in the old days, you had backers called 'angels'? The people who give me, say, 30 bucks are my angels. They make my movies possible."
Still, Bechard has an interesting take on celebs trying to raise money on this ostensibly meritocratic site.
"When there's a scuttlebutt about Zosia Mamet trying to raise 30 grand for a video, it's a good thing," he says. "First, she didn't raise the money she needed. Meaning celebrity didn't help. Also, sometimes, people come to Kickstarter just to see celebrity proposals. And end up spotting something from an unknown that really excites them. Then giving that person the money. Zach Braff's doing us a favor. He's bringing people here, who might not ordinarily come."
Film critic Carrie Rickey also has mixed, mostly positive emotions about the site.
"I'd have problems with Oprah using Kickstarter. But not Whoopi Goldberg, who needed money for her Moms Mabley doc, which lost its support from HBO. Just as I wouldn't have problems giving money to Paul Schrader, to use for The Canyons. We don't have the Borgias or the Doges to support artists anymore. But we do have Kickstarter."
Last year the Voice spoke to one of the more controversial names using Kickstarter, the notoriously prickly Spike Lee. His response about it seeming a tad unfair for a "name" director using Kickstarter? "That criticism is bullshit," said Lee. "The founders of Kickstarter told me, 'Spike, Kickstarter is for everybody.' "
Those founders weren't available for comment, but Justin Kazmark, a Kickstarter spokesperson, was certainly upbeat. You could maybe even buy it.
"We're happy that filmmakers of all stripes are using Kickstarter," says Kazmark. "What's interesting is, one of the first people to talk to our creator, Perry Chen, was [actor] David Cross. When David's show, Arrested Development, was canceled, Perry said, 'Why don't you use Kickstarter to get it back on the air?' So, way before the Braff controversy, we were flexible. We've always been about anybody creative raising money."
But why does a Braff or a Lee, who have access to studios, use this site?
"Mainly, there are no strings attached to the money raised from Kickstarter," Kazmark says. "Money coming from a single backer, a banker, say, always comes with conditions. Like, 'I get to give you ideas about the film.' Or 'Put my girlfriend in.' With us, the filmmaker retains 100 percent creative control. That's the biggest thing."
Kazmark insists there's something else that directors like about his site's crowd-sourcing.
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You have successfully signed up for your selected newsletter(s) - please keep an eye on your mailbox, we're movin' in!
"Filmmakers really like the way we connect them to a community. If Spike Lee wants to have a relationship with his audience, this is the only way to do it. We narrow the distance between artist and audience. Plus, the audience feels like they are micro patrons of the arts. So, at Kickstarter? For both directors and patrons? We feel this means that everybody wins."
--Peter Gerstenzang
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I'm not asking for your direction of vote, just the reasoning behind it. And if you're not able to vote (too young, too foreign, too tardy to register) but perhaps think you know how you would/wouldn't vote, anyway, you're welcome too.
(Yes, it's complicated. It's a complicated thing. You ought to have seen it before I cut it down!)
I've been pondering this, and perhaps Mods might imagine that this should all be lumped into the Brexit thread, because of a number of questions...
Given that all major national parties were split1 on that issue at both parliamentary and voter level, is a vote for a party (or a potentially counter-viewed candidate for a party) a useful indicator of where the support is for a May-Leave approach?
In Scotland, will the election will be additionally a mish-mash including a repeat of IndyRef sensibilities?
And then there's Norn Irn, that always has Unionist/Nationalist element.
Should there then just have been a Snap Referendum (perhaps coordinated with a follow-up Snap Indyref, etc, following the processing of the first results) and keep the party politics out of it, as much as possible?
Or with both main party leaders (currently, in two senses) being 'happy' to go with Brexit, are we actually sort-of-validly voting for party policies (only one of which is Brexit) and/or the usual problematic bundle of confidence in candidates/party/leader and local FPTP conditions?
1 And even 7-10% of UKIP supporters were Remain-voters, apparently/amusingly.
But assuming that it is a separate issue, is it a foregone conclusion (even without that issue)? Does the middle-ground of the LibDems benefit from the leftwards-swing of Labour's top of the hierarchy and polarisation at that side of the spectrum? What about the right-of-centre and right-of-right-of-centre? What if there's an upset of whatever kind in the final month - a "Comey"-style one, or worse? Well, if this thread stands then this might be the place to raise it as it happens.
If you're a UK voter (or not (yet), but the results have meaning for you anyway), you now have a choice of loyalties or otherwise, depending on your local political terrain.
Furriners might even have opinions, or at least impressions, although obviously that thread might be more useful if it's solely about aspects of the particular singular issue already in play. But it's only fair to welcome international commentary, as I've definitely opined about the US elections and definitely had thoughts about the progress of the French/etc electoral process, even if I've not mentioned it here.
I'm considering a multidimensional poll, but so far I have been unable to keep it simple in my mind and fred of possible personal bias.
I had planned to leave this until after today's Local Elections were closed (though not run in my own area), but it actually doesn't hurt to set this up before we get to see the loosely-indicative results and the usual significant amount of protest voting that may show the lay of the land before us, and thus get some Wild Ass Guessing going first.
# # # # # #
For myself, so that this isn't just a post of rambling questions, I know that my personal vote will change nothing. Yet as of this moment, I can't even envisage a valid or meaningful protest vote trumping my natural inclinations (I dislike protest/tactical voting, on principle, but I have also previously promised myself that I'd definitely vote OMRLP if they ever appeared on my voting slip). I am not optimistic that the 'right' votes will be cast for the 'right' reasons, and I'm actually quite hoping for a major unforseeable upset in the month ahead just to shake things up and make it more interesting. Ideally just shaking politics, of course, not actual people or society.

subset: commoncrawl


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The patch is live and with it the usual suspects - API problems ^^
Importing or updating your pet collection from the armory currently returns zero pets. This is an issue on Blizzards side and we'll need to wait until it's been addressed.
In the meanwhile, it's the perfect opportunity to build some better error messages in so you know what's going on when trying to update your collection :-)
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In the last weeks, Xu-Fu got a lot of additional help, both from veteran Xu-Fu collaborators and new people. Most of the work has been put into guides and they are definitely worth a shout-out here.
One by one, the page now hosts:
Pet Powerleveling Guide
Written by Nyari and translated by Shenk, this guide explains in detail where and how to level up your pets in the most efficient ways possible, from Super-Squirt days all the way to great farming spots for wild pet battles.
Most used PvE Pets
Another addition by Nyari, a Tier list of pets depending on how often they are used in PvE strategies (against tamers or pet challenges). While not strictly necessary, the top spots on this list make a great shopping list for new battlers to be able and beat many different fights very quickly.
New PvP guide
The PvP section also got a lot of love by Shenk and Rosqo.
In this article, you will find detailed information about the most common team setups and strategies, as well as concrete team suggestions. This new article also allows you to add your own PvP teams if you like :-)
TD and Rematch Guides
We already had a guide on how TD scripts work and how to write them, written by Wazzak and Celellach.
Nyari and Shenk now followed up on this with a guide on how to use Rematch + TD Scripts.
And on the matter of TD Scripts, if you feel like trying your hands on writing them but feel stuck or just have a question, jump onto our Discord and we're happy to help! It's not too difficult and you don't need any programming knowledge to understand how it works and put your own scripts together :-)
Big thanks to the authors for their work on these articles!
JH wrote on 23.05.2019
wrote on 06.05.2019
The recent maintenance paved the way for some big changes on Xu-Fu's Pet Guides. If you joined us on Discord, you will have seen the beginnings of it already. Now it's time to unveil the big news: Xu-Fu is going to transform from a page dedicated solely to providing the best strategies, to becoming the best pet trading platform on this planet!
We are going to introduce tools for you to compare collections, find compatible trading partners, offer up pets for others and to look for people who could give you a specific pet you might still be missing.
But we are not stopping there! We are already partnering up with other games to promote cross-trading, and once our user base is broad enough, ultimately offer the very same services for your beloved real life pets! Just imagine being able to trade your collection of Iron Starlettes for a cute puppy, with only a few clicks!
It truly is an exciting time, and to make all of this more obvious to each visitor, we are going to do a full rebrand.
Even though Xu-Fu lasted us a long time as a mascot, from this day onward, we will embrace the new direction with a title and logo:
All Pets, Excel and Xchange
Or in short: A.P.E.X.
What can I say, it will be truly Legendary!
wrote on 01.05.2019
Elm wrote on 16.04.2019
Aaron wrote on 02.04.2019
wrote on 02.04.2019
wrote on 01.04.2019
Activity has picked up on Xu-Fu and I'm really excited to introduce you to the latest addition in pet collection tools: The Pet Moocher! Not an April fools joke, it's a real thing!
Ever wanted to compare your collection to someone else for any duplicate, cageable pets you can trade between each other? Or maybe just be selfish and see which ones you could mooch from someone else? That doesn't have to be a tedious task with lists and formulas, enter the Pet Moocher!
Sounds like a bad commercial, I know, but it is pretty sweet! So, how does it work? It's not a tool here on the page but over at Xu-Fu's Discord channel. Once you're in (you need a Discord account for that, but that's free as well), just head over to the channel trade-eu or trade-us and read the instructions. It's super easy to use, you just enter your own character name + realm and those of another player, and within seconds the Pet Moocher will tell you something like this:
Yuvilee has 2 tradeable Pets, that Aranesh does not own:
Bananas, Thistleleaf Adventurer
Neat! Give it a try, and please join me in thanking Shepard for creating this awesome tool :-)
wrote on 29.03.2019
wrote on 30.03.2019
Pet battle PvP has never been my strong suit, making me rely entirely on other people to provide content for this part of the pet battling world. The latest newcomer to the Xu-Fu team kindly offered to provide his knowledge on that, admittedly lacking, part of the page: Welcome to Shenk!
The first new section up is focusing on the achievement Family Brawler, providing teams for every family right there, but you are of course more than welcome to add your own teams and ideas or leave comments.
wrote on 28.03.2019
OriginalNyla wrote on 15.03.2019
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wrote on 05.03.2019
Long time no proper announcement, it's time to change that! And not just because WoW just turned 14 in Europe - Congrats to that!
But there is another thing that's overdue to mention:
For a couple of weeks now, Xu-Fu has seen some immense improvements. Most notably in loading times, which are reduced drastically, but there have been changes in the background in most areas that make the page faster, more flexible and more secure. All of that is thanks to Schlumpf!
Piece by piece he has worked through my own code and optimised it, changed it or replaced it with much better versions. I am immensely grateful for all the help and wanted to make sure that it's known who you need to thank for all the recent improvements.
wrote on 07.03.2019
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wrote on 17.02.2019
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wrote on 13.02.2019
In the last weeks I had much personal stuff to do, but today was reserved for Xu-Fu and was able to catch up with a lot of stuff! The list is longer than usual, hang tight ^^
1. Giveaway winner
Sadly Machiavelli never claimed his Cap'n Crackers, so I had to draw yet another winner. This time it goes to:
SeiriCerin#2343 as shown in this super cute image!
Please get back to me within 2 days to grab your loot code :-)
2. New addition to the team
Not exactly "new", Jagûar has been around for a long time and worked very hard to get the entire Falcosaur strategy section up and filled with strategies! Strategy Curator is only a logical next step. Welcome to the team (again^^)!
3. Patch 8.1 Preparation
The next patch brings a new pet battle dungeon: Gnomeregan, as well as a new family achievement. Family Battler! Both sections are set up and can be filled with strategies already.
4. New alternatives sorting
A tiny change, but it will have some obvious effects. I made a tiny tweak to the sorting of alternatives.
Favourite > Pets in Collection > Tags > Average Rating
Favourite > Pets in Collection > Average Rating > Tags
Having tags overrule the rating had some weird effects, and with the rating and favourite system being used widely now, it makes more sense to swap this around. Sorry for any confusion this might cause now!
5. Hazelnutty's videos
Long established in the pet battling world, Hazelnutty is putting out some awesome videos that I can only recommend.
Very recently she published a video with her best tips and tricks for BfA pet battling, including some very nice words about Xu-Fu!
It's only appropriate to return the favour, so go watch the video and ideally her channel, it's worth it for every pet battler:
Watch the video
6. More absence, oh no.
Last but not least I have another personal note. The last two weeks of October I will be almost entirely offline and there will not be much new coming from my side on Xu-Fu. That might stretch well into November - depending on how this "real life" thing works out. But I'm not gone for good and will continue working on the page once I'm back! Promise :-)
wrote on 08.11.2018
wrote on 29.10.2018
wrote on 23.10.2018
wrote on 18.10.2018
wrote on 17.10.2018
wrote on 16.10.2018
wrote on 15.10.2018
It turns out that Pantonia already got the little Crackers and was kind enough to pass on, thank you very much for the honesty and friendliness!
That means I was able to draw a new winner from all submissions, aaaaand the lucky one is:
Machiavelli#2856 with his trusty Captain Snips!
Yarrrr! Congratultions, please check your messages to collect your prize :-)
Otte wrote on 30.04.2019
wrote on 14.10.2018
So many great entries! Way too hard to pick among the cool, cute and piratey pics, so a random roll made the decision for me. And the winners are:
Franky651 with Captain Nibs
Pantonia with Brightpaw
I will message you here on Xu-Fu, please respond to the message within the next 48 hours (until Wednesday 10/10) or I will have to select a new winner.
And a big thank you to everyone for participating, as well as to Blizzard for sponsoring the codes :-)
Sefers wrote on 11.10.2018
wrote on 11.10.2018
wrote on 08.10.2018
wrote on 10.10.2018
The Giveaway has concluded and no new entries will be accepted! Winners will be announced and contacted shortly. Thank you for participating!
All hands hoay! 'tis time to grab ye some bounty!
Cap'n Cracker be here t' find a new crewmate, 'n it could be ye! Sponsored by Blizzard Europe 'n up fer grabs are two shiny EU loot codes fer this colourful companion. But don't let his appearance fool ye, he's got a nasty beak. Figuratively speakin'.
All ye needs t' be doin' is put on yer finest freebooter clothes, strike a darin' pose next t' yer best loved companion, 'n make a screenshot! Post it here 'n ye got yourself a chance fer Cap'n Crackers unendin' loyalty.
Them Rules:
- The 2 pet codes only work for EU, sorry!
- You have to post with a Xu-Fu account. If you don't have one, top right to sign up, they are free :-)
- Your post must include a link to an image of your character with your favourite pet of choice. Pirate clothing optional but for extra style!
- You can post a picture until October 3rd. Shortly after, the 2 winners will be selected at random
- Winners are announced here and notified via direct message on Xu-Fu's. If someone doesn't claim their code, new winners will be selected.
- Only one entry per user, obviously :-)
Good luck and fair winds t' ye!
wrote on 04.10.2018
wrote on 03.10.2018
wrote on 02.10.2018
wrote on 01.10.2018
wrote on 30.09.2018
Hey :)
Thanks everyone for reaching out about volunteer positions! Still looking, so if you're interested, give me a shout on Discord.
Meanwhile, I have a few news to share around Xu-Fu:
1. A warm (re-) Welcome to the first three volunteers: Nyari, Remte and Morazor!
Nyari will work mostly as News Writer and Content Creator for the German version of the page and I will help develop some better tools to make localized versions of the page easier to navigate.
Remte has always been very active in posting advice and finding errors on the page and will now be a Strategy Curator.
Morazor is the author of Magpie and as such the role Content Creator can't be more fitting!
2. You now have the option to include the strategy steps within rematch strings! It is on by default, but you have a slider right below the Rematch button to turn that off, if you wish.
3. A shout out to all strategy creators: I will remove the option to modify tags. Unfortunately, the tags system has been used very inconsistently, and sometimes even to push new strategies to the top by adding every positive tag available without them being true. In the future, more tags will be automated (especially the "Reliable" one), and only strategy curators will have access to tags. In that light, I will also remove all custom tags that have been added so far.
Sorry for any confusion or inconvenience because of this!
Pike wrote on 23.09.2018
With the addition of user-created-strategies, Xu-Fu has entered a new phase and is supporting more and more pet battlers out there in the world. Time to become a bit more structured and organised!
Volunteers have been a key part of Xu-Fu and I am both proud and grateful for the help I have received. Going forward, I want to make it a better experience for everyone involved, with a clearer role description, better access rights and more decision power for those who help with the project.
Here is what I need to make Xu-Fu even better:
News Writer (1-2)
Are you always up to date with everything pet related that's going on? Would you like to moderate the News section of one of the most visited pet battling pages worldwide? Get in touch, I would love to hand over the News to someone who is eager to share news and updates on the pet battling world!
You'll have access to my own article editor and it will be your decision what to post and when to post. And if you need any new tools, I am more than happy to add what you need!
Content Creator
As a Content Creator, you own a section of the page containing your favourite topic. Are you a mad pet PvP mastermind who wants to share your insights? Do you love the funny interactions pets do and want to write about it? Or maybe you created a tool that you want to host somewhere and Xu-Fu's might be a good place? Let me know, let's discuss, and if we agree on it, you'll get your own section with full editing rights and my support if you need any custom features coded.
Strategy Curator (1-2)
Every day new strategies are added to Xu-Fu's. As a strategy curator, you will be the checks and balances. That does not mean going through each and every strategy to test it, but to have an eye on trends, to identify the very best ones and flagging them as staff picks. It could also mean reaching out to strategy creators who made mistakes and asking them if they want to fix that, or worst case, removing it from the page. This role comes with full editing rights for all strategies on Xu-Fu.
Many parts of the page are being auto-translated already, but there are some gaps and some languages are not covered at all. If you visit Xu-Fu in your native language and want to help fill those gaps, please get in touch! The same languages as World of Warcraft are supported: German, French, Spanish, Italian, Polish, Russian, Portuguese, Korean and Chinese (simplified).
Any of this sounds good to you? Please send me a private message on Discord (Aranesh#6150) and let's talk!
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29 April, 2011 in Movies | 3 Comments
25 years later and the mom is still doable lol.
That camera must have had a fast shutter speed. Michael J. Fox doesn't look like he's moving at all.
Big Matt
Oh! Because he has parkinsons! I see what you did there!
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text:
Fly Fishing in the Ruapehu Region
Ruapehu and the surrounding area boast world-class wilderness fishing.
Ruapehu and the surrounding area boast world-class wilderness fishing. With it's crystal clear waters flowing through remote native bush, Anglers return year after year as the secluded locations of the local fisheries allow the fishing enthusiast to escape from it all.
The fly-fishing season runs from 1st October through to May, though selected public areas such as the Ruatiti Domain (manganui-o-teao river) and parts of the Mangawhero River are open year round. Most spawning rivers are closed between fly-fishing seasons.
Brown and Rainbow Trout are abundant in the Ruapehu reigion, the average size starting from 1.5 to 2.5kgs.
Some river systems are located on private land, typically farmland, so owners will need to be contacted for permission. It is very rare that access is denied on private properties. Always leave gates as you find them, don't park vehicles that obstruct gateways and do not interfere with livestock, crops or machinery.
A license needs to be purchased to any local or visiting angler. These are available at TCB Ski, Board & Bike –Ohakune, The Ohakune Top 10 Holiday Park or can be purchased online at www.fishandgame.org.nz.
Fly-Fishing Spots
The Manganui-o-tea-o River
A favourite among local and returning anglers, the Manganui-o-tea-o River is a heritage river rich in beautiful native scenery. Flowing through native bush and local farmland this river offers diversity of fishable waters with its high water quality, large boulders, overhanging bush, deep pools and papa ledges. It is recommended only experienced anglers fish this river as the waters are fast flowing and there are many obstacles. A common spot on the Manganui-o-tea-o is the Ruatiti Domain, located 22kms west from Ohakune, This area is open year round for fishing and also have free camping facilities available.
The Whanganui River
In a remote backcountry setting, the Whanganui River and its tributaries provide top quality Brown and Rainbow trout fishing for intermediate to advanced anglers. It's waters being in the Tongariro National Park, running through native forest, over shingle and stone beds with deep pools and small rapids. The waters eventually exit into the Tasman Sea, through the city of Whanganui. The water is generally clean, some times with a slight tinge of colour which can assist in fishing as it is easier to approach trout without spooking them.
Ongarue River
The upper and middle reaches of the Ongarue River provide excellent fly fishing waters. It's clear waters run over a gravel and stone bed, with bankside vegetation providing great trout habitation. The river is small in size allowing easy movement up and downstream.
Whakapapa River
The Whakapapa River, with its extremely clear waters and turbulent rapids, begin on the slopes of Mt Ruapehu before eventually joining on to the Whanganui River near Kakahi. The upper reaches of this river are for the more experienced angler, the depth of the waters is deceiving and the current a lot stronger than it looks. The lower areas of the river are easier to navigate and most popular for fishing enthusiast with the fish count a lot higher than the upper sections of the river.
The Mangawhero River
The Mangawhero River begins on the western banks of Mt Ruapehu and runs through the township of Ohakune before eventually connecting with the Whangaehu River. The upper Mangawhero contains mostly Brown Trout from 1.5 kgs and access can be found from public land within Ohakune itself and off Burns Street. During spawning season the Mangawhero is closed from the Waimarino Golf Club Bridge.
Tokiahuru and Waitaiki Streams
Found in the Karioi State Forest, a short drive from Ohakune township on Mt Ruapehus southern slopes. These streams are characterized by clear, cold, fast water over graveled bottom with springs in the headwaters and vegetation to hold back the rainfall. It is great to keep in mind that the Tokiahuru and Waitaiki Streams can still been fished when other locations are in spate and discoloured by heavy rain.


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Truman Slatten
Truman L. Slatten, 68, of Peabody died Friday at Peabody Care Center. He was born May 19, 1945, in Liberal to Frank and Wennona Lubbers Slatten.
He lived in Missouri for many years before moving to Peabody. He was a farmer, mechanic, and truck driver.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Tammy Slatten; a brother, Kenneth; and three stepsons, Darren, Daniel, and Derrek Hopkins.
He is survived by his wife, Donna of Peabody; a son, John of Boliver, Mo.; two daughters, Kathy Stark of Haysville and Samantha Hudson of Boliver; two brothers, Herman of Tyrone, Okla., and Robert of Lefors, Texas; a sister, Sandra Trimble of Fort Worth, Texas; and eight grandchildren.
The funeral was Tuesday at Peabody Christian Church. Interment was to be at 11 a.m. today at the Tyrone Cemetery in Oklahoma. Visitaiton was Monday at Lamb Funeral Home in Whitewater.


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|2010-08-21, 16:13
|Link #461
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Yesterday!
It's also very disturbing, the idea that Beatrice 2 is younger then Rudolph yet he had incest with her or whatever.
Seriously, Kinzo is becoming a hole we can shove all the wrongs in the serie to.
... I'm more comfortable with the idea that Beato 1 either never existed (cause I think that submarine story makes Kinzo into a worthless jerk instead of a genius of timing) at this point.
Guy hates his life, hates being the head of the Ushiromiya and hates his wedding.
Then he still has 3 child.
He hates life enough he joins the army to get killed.
He also hates every women.
Instead he falls in love with a Submarine, an italian girl (even tho she's a women) and 10 tons of faded away marked gold.
She dies giving birth to a child, younger then his own children.
The daughter he supposedly loves of the women he supposedly loved (while hating everyone else, especially women) he forces to live in seclusion and keeps her more ignorant then an average elementary school student.
Somehow around the same time he has another daughter he hates from his wife he hates from his family he hates. He doesn't put her however through half the shit he put Beato-2.
While that happens he start to loan tons of money to his children, accept their husband/wife in the family (even allows Eva to keep her name for his love of Hideyoshi, whom he nontheless supposedly hate as he hates everyone)
He even apparently forces them to chose specific names, all western of course. He loves the west. He hates his family. 1 -1 =/= 2.
He even gets very upset at Rosa not naming Maria the way he wanted her to be named.
He hardcore incest/rape Beato-2, however she somehow magicallly remains innocent of the world. Even after giving birth. She then dies after of innocence overdose.
While he thouht it would be a good idea to keep Beato-2 secretly raised in Kuwadorian forever, he decided to make her own child be adopted by Krauss/Natsuhi. It doesn't work well and the child apparently dies. HE FINDS IT FUNNY.
He realizes somehow the child is still alive (after going through the same fate as her mother, but somehow miraculously surviving it) and sends it to an orphanage.
He eventually hires her to work under a false name and let her, whom he supposedly love, be abused by the rest of the family, including Natsuhi/Krauss who he supposedly hate.
He even makes her go through the troubles of doing two shifts at once by the sake of Kanon, cause Kinzo loves more men (not sexually... well as far as we know at least).
He makes her somehow his successor, HOWEVER, he also puts up the epitaph, to give the rest of the family, people he all hate and despise, a chance to become the successor.
Then he plans to bomb everyone on the island with a nuke after his own death.
Several of his close friends is aware of most to all of that and they don't mind, and continue to respect him and consider him a truly inteligent person.
So what's Kinzo in the end? A psychopath who spontaneously contradicts his own self every few mins? Who suffers froms tons of sins, including some which didn't even bring him anything, and often where he still in the end treat the people he's supposed to hate better then the ones he's supposed to love.
Either Umineko is the most far fetched ridiculously story ever, or this is all false informations.
|2010-08-21, 16:18
|Link #462
Local Crackpot
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Somewhere?
Also, it's quite possible that half of that isn't even true. Just fan speculation.
|2010-08-21, 16:21
|Link #463
Back off, I'm a scientist
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: In a badly written story.
Spoiler for Size:
|2010-08-21, 16:23
|Link #464
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Sleeping
Age: 28
EDIT: And I'm not saying that the rest of the family didn't have a chance to solve it, but...
|2010-08-21, 16:26
|Link #465
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Yesterday!
You don't need an epitaph to make a rigged succession, you need a lawyer.
My point is he still publicly displayed it before his own death.
@ Olivier
I don't LIKE what I said. I wanted to really respect Kinzo, but after what I learn of arc 7, your signature became literally the truth about the Umineko world.
|2010-08-21, 16:38
|Link #466
Join Date: May 2009
I don't like it either. But I am biased, I think, as I really like Kinzo. I kinda downplay some of the bad stuff he has to have done, but I still very much doubt these depictions of him. If for no other reason than, as Usagi has masterfully outlined, they don't really make a whole lot of sense put next to each other. Human beings can be full of contradictions, sure, but this aggregate portrait of Kinzo makes him out to be The Joker.
|2010-08-21, 16:38
|Link #467
Back off, I'm a scientist
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: In a badly written story.
|2010-08-21, 16:39
|Link #468
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2003
|2010-08-21, 16:44
|Link #470
Back off, I'm a scientist
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: In a badly written story.
|2010-08-21, 17:21
|Link #471
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Sleeping
Age: 28
Interesting connection, given how many similarities that tea party game has with EP4.
|2010-08-21, 17:40
|Link #472
Back off, I'm a scientist
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: In a badly written story.
Having decided that Kanon's corpse must be in the well since all other corpses were located in the places Kyrie's story told they would be, he spends much of his remaining time trying to cut the bars on the well, so it's not too big a stretch to think that he never opened the parlor, or, for that matter, Kinzo's study -- which is a room he doesn't even have a key to.
I should say we're FAR from being done with the first four episodes.
EDIT: Also notice that Out of Kyrie's group, Kanon was the first to die. And according to Bern's story, Leon was the first of the cousins to be killed...
|2010-08-21, 17:42
|Link #473
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Yesterday!
Then it came out, and I started to feel doubt. What's the point of making an arc that's nearly entirely a troll right next to the end? Suppose nearly everything in arc 7 is wrong, then once arc 8 comes out and tells the real story, what'll be the worth left of arc 7? Basically there has to be a purpose of arc 7 that remains true to the whole story. I guess, if that's the case and my supposition isn't wrong it's probably to show us the "equation that leads to disaster".
But there's much more worst to consider. Hoping that this is all nonsense until arc 8 comes out, realize it's actually the truth, and be in utter deception 3 times more then I am now.
Frankly I don't get Ryukishi.
I vote for the later myself, but I lost faith in him I think, and expect Umineko's truth to be along the lines of stackable rooms puzzles rather then sensical story. Honestly with the type of answers arc 7 gave out, I'm more satisfied with the fantasy explanation of the story right now.
I'd be really happy to be proven wrong.
|2010-08-21, 17:45
|Link #475
Senior Member
But to clear some things up, several things here are not that right, at least not as far as I remember, so please correct me back if I got something wrong.
He's just of a generation that still regarded men as superior to women, as wrong as this may be, he wasn't alone in his conception of marriage and women at all. He just grew to despise the concept of arranged marriage and arranged life...so in a way it also makes sense to put his children (who he doesn't love) through the same thing.
This also means that he didn't "put her [...] through shit", from his perspective he protected his beloved Beatriiiiiice~ from the world. What happened to his other children was pretty much none of his business.
We can't even know if it was an accident at all when she tripped and fell. Maybe she commited suicide on purpose...
He himself couldn't raise a child without drawing suspicion, so he used that fact that Natsuhi had fertility problems (or maybe it was Krauss) and tried to force it unto her.
He never found it FUNNY at all when the child (apparently) died, he as distraught over the fact that he had to loose someone he loved another time and possibly went down the last few steps to insanity.
And Kinzo never knew that the child had survived until Genji brought Yasu to him, when s/he had solved the epitaph many years later. According to what Genji said, he made Nanjo forge the documents to create a child 2 years younger, who was send to Fukuin and then back to the island. So it was a secret between Kumasawa, him and Nanjo which they kept to keep the tragedy of Beato#2 from repeating itself.
Why Genji was okay with how they were treated I don't know, but Kumasawa shows how much she regrets it, having to stand by and not being able to do anything. But let's be honest, Shannon is not the only one being maltreated in that house.
Genji waited for her and showed her to Kinzo, who was surprised and glad he could make someone his successor he cared about. But after Kinzo's death, Yasu announces that he does not care for neither gold nor title, because he never was an Ushiromiya to begin with (and possible other horrible reasons, according to the flashbacks)...so he keeps the epitaph up and wants to see who will continue the title instead of him.
Any Beatrice was never in danger of being hurt, because the bomb was devised in a way that Kuwadorian would stay unharmed. It would have only been the Ushiromiyas who would have died and the servants at that time and the current Beatrice (#1 or #2) would have survived.
I don't think that it is all so far fetched...considering this is a mystery/detective story and we have to have people with a dark past. If we look back on this genre, Kinzo is a typical father figure of an important household...they all had terrible backgrounds like that, be it with Doyle, Christie, Dine or modern Japanese writers like Ayatsuji, Kyougoku or Orihara...
|2010-08-21, 17:45
|Link #476
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: A lake
Age: 25
Trying not to drift off topic and disrupt this discussion so I'm going to throw this out there. The "Golden Nocturne" bgm is from this episode, right? If so, has anyone got a download link for that music in particular? I can't find any downloads no matter how hard I look. D:
|2010-08-21, 18:11
|Link #477
Back off, I'm a scientist
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: In a badly written story.
Episode 7 is meant to be an object lesson about what it means to "have love" -- for the author, the characters, and the story. As such, it is the most important episode in the entire series, even though it contains little to no new information, and what it does contain is extremely misleading or an outright lie. It is specifically assembled from fan theories and written up in a typical Ryukishi style which makes it feel acceptable. It also selects those theories in such a fashion as to push the highest possible amount of emotional, ideological and spiritual buttons. There is, in fact, a chance that some of these theories were seeded by Ryukishi himself to make that object lesson, (see "OZ" earlier up the thread) though that's speculation, to be honest.
The episode is deliberately designed to attack everything that someone might hold dear, targeting as wide a range as possible. The narration even comments on how well it all fits, hoping that we'll take it as the sign that this is all it. If you don't rebel after all that, you don't deserve to have the solution, because you have not really been thinking.
Of course, the above is just my opinion. But if my opinion is wrong, Ryukishi is committing a knowingly evil act.
|2010-08-21, 18:17
|Link #479
Join Date: May 2009
|2010-08-21, 18:20
|Link #480
Back off, I'm a scientist
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: In a badly written story.
|Thread Tools


text:
"For those looking for security, be forewarned that there's nothing more insecure than a political promise." ~ Harry Browne
Who Is Running This Choo-Choo Train?
The crumbling has begun, methinks. Congressmen, a few only now, speak of withdrawal from Iraq. A small thing, but for the White House a worrisome step toward vertebracy in that body of polyps. The numbers of the dissenting will grow as they see that they do not get hurt. Military recruiting is way down, and will stay down: The gullibility of the young cannot forever be relied upon. The House has summoned the courage to vote against parts of the Patriot Act. The president's polls drop and drop. The crumbling has begun, methinks. Is this surprising? If I may risk repeating myself tiresomely, the way to defeat the American military is to avoiding giving it clear targets, keep the body bags flowing into Dover or Travis, and wait. It is that simple. The insurgents know this. They are doing it, and it is working. Five Marines today, three tomorrow, twelve GIs one week, nine another. On and on. So far we have killed 1700 of our soldiers, closing in on 2000. Sooner or later, even Middle America will notice. Is victory still possible, if it ever was? The military can't stop the bleeding, or it would have. Short of a miracle, of perhaps a serious attack within the United States, actually or apparently by terrorists, the casualties will continue. The public will weary of the war, and it will all be over. No? Wars are marketed as involving moral principles or geo-strategic necessity, but they can become grudge matches, contests of vanity grown stubborn. A president who has led his country into a war has his ego on the line. He cannot easily say, 'In the light of events, the adventure appears to have failed, and so we will return home.' The world would regard him as a fool and a knave. Further, humble men do not become presidents. Such a man will struggle on desperately, unwisely, with no real purpose any longer than to avoid the personal ignominy of defeat. When his pride has been engaged he can't stop. For this men die. One sees a similar approach in the gambler who, having lost his car, bets his house in hopes of redeeming himself. As the news worsens the lying, begun long ago, increases. Democracies of course have to be lied into aggressive wars, since no one really cares about the form of government in an obscure and remote nation. Thus as losses mount, the enemy's successes are described as defeats, as the last throes of a failing force. (I would not be surprised to find that Tokyo described the bombing of Hiroshima as a sign of American desperation.) The government forbids reporters to photograph the coffins, punishes soldiers who talk to the press. The horribly wounded are discreetly hidden. Generals who are not upbeat are fired. Dissidents become labeled as traitors. War crimes become isolated incidents: Only those which are discovered have occurred. Etc. Historians tend to see wars as consequent to abstract currents of history. They speak of the balance of power, the clash of civilizations, of economic rivalry, and it all sounds dispassionate, reasoned, and occasionally majestic. It might be more accurate to say that wars are the hobbies of half-informed children who have somehow come into possession of the levers of power. Can anyone possible believe that Mr. Bush knew anything about the Arab world when he set out to conquer it? That Hitler understood the Russians, or the Japanese Army, America? Getting into wars is so often easier than getting out. In terms of national and presidential vanity, the prospects of Iraq, short always of a miracle, vary between bad and ghastly. If the United States pulls out, in a sort of exploitus reservatus, the One Remaining Superpower will be seen not to be. No one will be afraid of us any longer. In particular, countries like Iran will not be afraid. One wonders whether this may not be what Mr. bin Laden had in mind. Of course in material terms the United States will not be weaker. If driven out of Iraq, America will still be superior in remarkable aircraft and fast carriers and extraordinary submarines. But submarines are of use only in certain kinds of wars, which the enemy will avoid. The good ship USS Thundertrinket can destroy Japan, yes. It cannot defeat a few thousand determined men with rifles. Militaries seem never to learn this. It is curious. The French, having underestimated both the enemy and the potential of guerilla warfare, got thrashed at Dien Bien Phu. The Americans, equally full of themselves, then went into the same country and got similarly thrashed. The French, having learned nothing, tried again in Algeria, with the same result. The Israelis tried to hold down southern Lebanon, encountering the same problems and equally losing. The Russians, having seen all of this, invaded Afghanistan and got thrashed. Now the United States is in Iraq. For militaries, the learning curve seems to be flat. The problem is not that soldiers are stupid. They are not. Rather it is (I think) that they become excessively taken with the technology and power of their weapons, with the computers and precision and speed, with themselves, and just do not stop to ponder the difficulty of killing hornets with a howitzer. The future? Having restored the Vietnam complex, presumably the US will be very hesitant for a decade or so to throw its weight around. Then, having forgotten again, it will invade another country defended by only a few contemptible men with rifles who, in any case, will be expected to throw flowers. If America loses the White House war'what? I suppose that Mr. Bin Laden will come out of his hole a hero in the Moslem world, laughing pointedly at Mr. Bush. I do not know what part he actually had in the events in New York, but he gets credit for them, which is enough. He would be able to say that he had goaded the Great Satan into a losing war in Arabia that left America defanged and no longer able to give orders to Moslem nations. Isn't that what he set out to do? What price nothing? A couple of thousand dead kids, countless cripples who will remain crippled when the current administration has been forgotten, a country wrecked, God knows how many dead Iraqis (I know, they don't count), thousands of sisters and mothers remembering Bobby every Christmas and looking at his last year book from high school, a tremendous diminution in America's influence and prestige as China rises, unforeseeable consequences in the Middle East. For what, Mr. Bush? For what?


text:
FBI arrests historic Houston hospital's CEO, son, 5 others
After 30 years as CEO of one of Houston's most historic hospitals, Earnest Gibson III, along with his son and five others, was arrested on Thursday - part a national Medicare fraud sweep involving $430 million in bogus billings and 91 health care providers in seven states.
If the allegations against the 68-year-old Gibson are true, that he and others at the hospital bilked the Medicare program of $158 million over a period of more than seven years, it could prove lethal for Riverside, once the primary hospital for the city's black population.
Gibson and his son Earnest Gibson IV, 35, were charged with 13 counts: conspiracy to commit health care fraud; conspiracy to defraud the United States and pay and receive health care kickbacks; one count of money laundering and ten counts of violating the anti-kickback statute.
They are among dozens of individuals who were arrested or surrendered Thursday as indictments were unsealed nationwide. The Gibsons are accused of teaming up with Riverside's previously indicted assistant administrator, Mohammad Khan, who pleaded guilty in the scheme in February.
Together, the indictment alleges, the three created a plan that paid up to $3,200 in cash to "patient recruiters." The recruiters, in turn, would pay Houston-area group-home owners to send patients to Riverside's satellite clinics offering "partial hospitalization programs" for the mentally ill.
Son blames employee
"In Texas alone, these indictments say these alleged defrauders, including doctors and nurses, submitted $258.3 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare," said U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady. The Woodlands Republican - along with Rep. Gene Green, D-Houston, and Harris County District Attorney Pat Lykos - contacted Medicare authorities three years ago about explosive fraud in Houston.
Gibson has been president and CEO of the hospital since 1982.
His son told the Chronicle in July that the hospital, which was the Houston Negro Hospital until 1961, was being penalized for one rogue employee: Khan.
"These are people who need help," the younger Gibson said. "The Medicare fraud team is fraud themselves. It's not like I'm doing what Dr. Khan was doing."
Although licensed as a general hospital by the Texas Department of State Health Services, Riverside's client base is mostly the mentally ill or patients with substance abuse problems.
The older Gibson told the Chronicle earlier this year that $60 million had been paid to Riverside and its clinics by Medicare in the last five years.
According to the indictments, Medicare-eligible patients were supposedly lured to Riverside's programs with cigarettes, food and coupons redeemable in the hospital's on-site "Country Store." The items in the store, according to a price sheet, cost from $2 to $30 and included a variety of goods - from Kleenex and candy bars to radios and disposable cameras.
Partial hospitalization clinics offer an intensive, five-day-a-week counseling program designed to avoid costly, overnight psychiatric stays.
According to prosecutors, the clinics, including Devotions Care Solutions, run by the younger Gibson, filed claims using Riverside's Medicare provider number. The claims, the indictment stated, "were not medically necessary and, in some cases, not provided."
$46.2 million in dispute
Of the $158 million in phony claims filed between January 2005 and June 2012, Medicare paid $46.2 million to Riverside.
Three of the five recruiters: William Bullock III, Robert Ferguson and Regina Askew, were charged with all but the money laundering charge. A fourth recruiter, Leslie Clark, faces 11 charges involving kickbacks, and the fifth, Robert Crane, a driver for Riverside and a recruiter, was charged only with conspiracy to defraud via kickbacks. All but Clark were released on bond Thursday.
Jackson Lee intervenes
What happens to Riverside or its patients now is unclear.
On June 8, four months after Khan's arrest, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services stopped all payments to Riverside.
Ten days later, U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Houston, whose husband, Elwyn Lee, once served on Riverside's board, urged acting Medicare administrator Marilyn Tavenner to reconsider.
"It appears that, in suspending the Medicare payments you in effect have jeopardized some of the most vulnerable patients whose access to Medicare is literally their lifeline," the congresswoman wrote in a letter.
Sometime in August, 70 percent of the payments to Riverside were restored. The agency did not respond to requests for comment Thursday.
"None of us condone the heinousness of widespread fraud in our medical care system," Jackson Lee said in a statement Thursday. "This historic hospital with many valuable programs should not be closed. And I hope the community will rally around those patients who come every day for help."


text:
David Lehman
Photo: © Star Black
About the Author
David Lehman is the author of Sign of the Times: Deconstruction and the Fall of Paul de Man, several books of poetry, and is Series Editor of The Best American Poetry. His essays, poems, and reviews have appeared in all the major literary publications, from the Times Literary Supplement, to The New Yorker to The Paris Review. He is the recipient of numerous prizes and fellowships, including a Guggenheim and the Award in Literature from the American Academy and Institution of Arts and Letters. He lives in New York City.


text:
Nation & World
U.S. ready to begin major drawdown of troops, equipment from Afghanistan
As the United States begins the major phase of its withdrawal from Afghanistan, military officials say equipment and vehicles are moving out of the country briskly but that planning the final details has been complicated because negotiations with the Afghan government have stalled over how many American troops might remain.
The complex push to get the equipment and vehicles out of land-locked Afghanistan and back to the U.S. is expected to cost up to $7 billion.
A year ago, the U.S. had about 50,000 vehicles in Afghanistan. About 25,000 are left, along with 20,000 shipping containers. About 1,200 damaged, worn-out or outmoded mine-resistant trucks will be chopped up and sold for scrap, and other vehicles will be loaned to partners in the NATO-led coalition here, turned over to Afghan forces or sold to friendly nations, said Brig. Gen. Duane A. Gamble, the deputy commander of the 1st Theater Sustainment Command in Kabul.
The coalition's combat mission ends in December 2014. Senior U.S. commanders say they expect Afghanistan to sign an agreement calling for some U.S. troops to remain in the country as trainers and advisers, but negotiations over those remaining troops have been on hold for months now.
That's forced logistics commanders to develop scenarios for what they'll do if there's no agreement and all U.S. forces are sent home, simply because they must have plans ready for all the possible situations.
An interim drawdown goal set by President Barack Obama is to reduce the 62,000 U.S. troops here to 34,000 by mid-February, and the departure of equipment and vehicles is essentially keeping pace with that of the troops, Gamble said.
The amount of materiel being shipped out has been relatively steady for months, but it's expected to accelerate soon as the main part of that drawdown begins with the end of the summer fighting season.
It shouldn't be a problem to handle that jump in volume, said Col. Jim Utley of U.S. Transportation Command, which oversees the logistics of getting people, vehicles and equipment to and from the United States and foreign operations.
"As the fighting season winds down and units start to redeploy, we're sure the cargo pace will pick up, but I think we've built enough capacity that we can definitely meet the requirements, and we're on a glide path to meet the presidential drawdown goals, so I think everything is going as well as could be expected," Utley said.
"To be honest, up to this point, we haven't really touched our capacity yet in terms of moving things out," he said. "We built a lot of capacity; we have a lot of different routes, a lot of ways to move things out."
The main route, via truck through Pakistan to the port of Karachi, for example, has about eight times the capacity that the Army currently is using, he said.
The U.S. has three basic ways to ship people and things out of Afghanistan. The cheapest by far is south through Pakistan. More expensive is the so-called northern distribution network, which is a host of convoluted routes across Afghanistan's northern boarder through central Asia and various former Soviet bloc nations to several ports. The most expensive route is by air, either short hops to ports such as Dubai or directly back to the United States.
Sensitive cargo such as weapons and communication systems has to be flown, as does most equipment that belongs to units headed home, since they must refurbish it and get it ready in case they're called to duty.
The military tries to ship most of the rest out via Pakistan to save money, but the Pakistani border is subject to frequent closings for reasons large and small.
After U.S. helicopters fired on a Pakistani border outpost in 2011, killing 24 Pakistani soldiers, that country closed the route for seven months. Earlier this year, road shipments out of Afghanistan were halted for several weeks when Afghan officials began charging customs duties. A few weeks ago, the route shut down for a week because of a port strike unrelated to the U.S. shipments.
Cultural differences also come into play. In July and August, the shipments by road were essentially halted for several weeks because truck drivers, security guards and border officials took time off for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
After that, the traffic through Pakistan, which for much of the year has carried about 70 percent of the materiel being shipped, resumed its normal pace.
The volatility of the route means it's vital to keep the other options open, such as the routes to the north, by regularly shipping modest amounts of equipment through them, Utley said.
"We call it keeping it warm," he said. "What we're trying to do is maintain the entire network, and to do that we need to ship at least a minimal amount of cargo along those routes. That keeps the tactics, techniques and procedures fresh not only for our folks, but also keeps the officials working those locations engaged."
One problem with using the northern routes as a full alternative is that some of the countries involved don't allow shipments of U.S. combat vehicles. For now, only cargo in shipping containers goes that way.
If something unforeseen happens that prevents moving vehicles through Pakistan for an extended period, either they'd have to be flown out or the United States could try to negotiate their passage with the countries to the north, Gamble said.


text:
|Having trouble viewing this email? View the online version here.
|(New York, New York, February 26, 2014) The Professional Accountants in Business (PAIB) Committee of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) today issued proposed International Good Practice Guidance, Developing and Reporting Supplementary Financial Measures, for public comment. This guidance seeks to establish a benchmark for the use of supplementary financial measures, in order to improve understanding of an organization's performance among management, investors, and other stakeholders.
The proposed guidance provides principles regarding the qualities measures should have and disclosures that should accompany them if reported externally. Building on the qualitative characteristics of useful financial information, the guidance recommends professional accountants consider a number of attributes when developing and reporting supplementary financial measures. The guidance also provides a number of tips for disclosure of supplementary financial measures.
The guidance is meant for all organizations that want to use supplementary financial measures, regardless of size or structure, private or public. Many such measures are widely used in both internal and external reporting, for example, Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA); Underlying Profit; and Free Cash Flow.
"High-quality information is crucial for well-informed decision making about an organization, both internally and externally," said Charles Tilley, chair of the PAIB Committee. "Well-developed supplementary financial measures increase users' understanding of an organization and its performance."
Supporting the profession and accountants in business is a key objective of the PAIB Committee. This type of principles-based guidance is an important aspect of achieving that objective.
"This guidance will help professional accountants in business and their organizations improve communications with their stakeholders," said Karyn Brooks, chair of the PAIB Committee's Business Reporting Task Force. "It will enable organizations to provide their stakeholders with improved financial and non-financial measures."
Professional accountants, their organizations, and other interested parties are encouraged to respond to the proposed guidance to help improve its applicability in organizations of all sizes.
How to Comment
The PAIB Committee invites all stakeholders to comment. To access the Exposure Draft and submit a comment, visit the IFAC website. Comments on the Exposure Draft are requested by May 26, 2014.
About International Good Practice Guidance
International Good Practice Guidance issued by the PAIB Committee cover areas of international and strategic importance in which professional accountants in business are likely to engage. In issuing principles-based guidance, IFAC seeks to foster a common and consistent approach to those aspects of the work of professional accountants in business not covered by international standards. IFAC seeks to clearly identify principles that are generally accepted internationally and applicable to organizations of all sizes in commerce, industry, education, and the public and not-for-profit sectors. Previously issued guidance is available on the IFAC website, including Preface to IFAC's International Good Practice Guidance.
About the PAIB Committee
The PAIB Committee serves IFAC member bodies and professional accountants worldwide who work in commerce, industry, financial services, education, and the public and the not-for-profit sectors. Its aim is to promote and contribute to the value of professional accountants in business by increasing awareness of the important roles professional accountants play, supporting member bodies in enhancing the competence of their members, and facilitating the communication and sharing of good practices and ideas.
About IFAC
IFAC is the global organization for the accountancy profession dedicated to serving the public interest by strengthening the profession and contributing to the development of strong international economies. IFAC is comprised of 179 members and associates in 130 countries and jurisdictions, representing approximately 2.5 million accountants in public practice, education, government service, industry, and commerce.
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text:
FamilySearch will soon release a feature called "hinting." With this tool, the site will automatically search for records that match people in your family tree. When you go to an ancestor's page, the web site will show you what it has found just for that person amongst the vast collections of records. FamilySearch does the searching, and finding, for you.
Of course, as always, it is up to the user to confirm whether or not the individual found is really the correct one.
You can read the details in an article by David Green in the FamilySearch Blog at https://familysearch.org/blog/en/family-history-research-easier.


text:
The D. B. Cooper Mystery
The world's only unsolved hijacking case is filled with misinformation.
by Brian Dunning via skeptoid
Read transcript below or listen here.
On July 12, 2016, the FBI finally closed the files on one of its most famous unsolved cases. They called it the NORJAK case — short for Northwest Hijacking — but you probably know it by the name given to the hijacker,
D. B. Cooper. Most people are familiar with the basic facts: that in 1971, a man hijacked an airliner, demanded and received cash and a parachute, and jumped out the plane's back door over the Pacific Northwest and was never caught or identified. Whether he got away clean, or was killed in the attempt, could never be determined. Even though the D. B. Cooper case continues to capture the public's imagination, there is a lot of fact and fiction unknown to many fans.
On the afternoon of November 24, 1971, a man who looked mid-40ish, wearing a business suit, walked up to the counter of Northwest Airlines in Portland, Oregon. Using the name Dan Cooper, he bought a $20 one-way ticket to Seattle, Washington. He was the second-to-last person to board the plane, and while waiting for takeoff, he ordered and drank a bourbon and soda — unfortunately spilling half of it. Once airborne, he handed flight attendant Florence Schaffner a note, which said something to the effect of "I have a bomb which I will use if necessary, this is a hijacking, please sit next to me." She showed it to fellow flight attendant Tina Mucklow and to the pilots. Cooper then asked for the note back, which is why its exact wording is not known.
Schaffner took the empty seat next to him as ordered and he opened a briefcase, and showed her what she described as red sticks with a battery and wires. He then dictated to her the following demands:
Take this down. I want $200,000 by 5:00 PM in cash. Put it in a knapsack. I want two back parachutes and two front parachutes. When we land, I want a fuel truck ready to refuel. No funny stuff, or I'll do the job.
Schaffner conveyed this information to the pilot. Almost nobody on the plane knew anything unusual was happening; the whole episode was handled discreetly. Cooper added that if these instructions were followed, he would safely release everyone on the plane, except for the flight crew.
The airline agreed and contacted the FBI for assistance making the exchange safely. The FBI collected the money from the Seattle First National Bank. Some FBI records say they used a Recordak high-speed microfilm machine to image the serial numbers of all the bills; other records say the bank had the money on hand with its serial numbers already recorded. The airline got on the phone and collected the four parachutes from local contacts. Two hours later, the exchange had been successful, and the plane taxied for takeoff, fully refueled.
Cooper instructed that the plane was to fly a specific route, from Seattle to Portland, to Medford, to Red Bluff, and then to Reno, all while staying below 10,000 feet and keeping the flaps and landing gear down. The plane was a Boeing 727, featuring the nifty "Airstair" rear access stairway under the tail. Cooper had released two of the flight attendants along with the passengers, but had kept Mucklow on board so she could show him how to operate the Airstair.
Frustrated that the money had not been delivered in a knapsack as he'd requested, Cooper began cannibalizing one of the parachute's cords to do what Mucklow thought was tying the bundles of money to himself. About a half hour after takeoff, Cooper ordered Mucklow up to the cockpit with the pilots and closed the door, ordering them not to open it. At 8:13pm, over southern Washington, the pilots got a number of warning lights. The Airstair had been lowered, cabin pressure had dropped, and the cabin temperature fell sharply — it was -7ºF outside. Not knowing whether Cooper had jumped or not, they continued on to Reno as ordered and landed, causing a nice display of sparks (but no damage) as the Airstair briefly scraped the runway. After receiving no response from Cooper over the intercom, they chanced to open the door, and found him gone; all that remained were his clip-on tie, and a ton of cigarette butts. Nobody would ever see him again.
Continue reading @ skeptoid – – –
10 Shocking Conspiracies About 9/11
By Alltime10s via YouTube
More than a decade after the terrorist attacks that shook the nation, questions still surround what happened during 9/11.
From the collapse of the twin towers, to whether the White House had inside knowledge, AllTime 10s brings you, the 10 most shocking conspiracies about 9/11.


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KRL complete big opening win
It took just three balls of the final day in Sialkot for Khan Research Laboratories to complete a thumping win over Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited. Nine wickets down overnight, Rehan Riaz could not even last an over of day four as he was bowled by Yasir Ali without adding to the score.
The majority of the work in ZTBL's second innings was done on day three by Nayyer Abbas, who bowled close to half the overs and picked up 5 for 75. He snuffed out any resistance the batting side could offer with the wickets of Zohaib Khan and Mohammad Khalil.
Zohaib's fightback was brisk. He struck two sixes and four fours in his 59-ball half-century before being bowled by Nayyer. Khalil was the second top-score of the innings; his 33 with five fours came from No. 9 and long after any hope of ZTBL saving the match had disappeared.
ZTBL were always staring down the barrel after they conceded a first-innings deficit of 302. Their top order provided a platform with 50 from opener Sharjeel Khan and 74 from No. 4 Babar Azam - his innings lasted 145 balls but his patient work was in vain as there was no other support. Azam eventually fell to Mohammad Irfan who claimed 4 for 73 in 13.3 overs and followed up the effort of his side's batsmen.
KRL had actually been inserted on the first morning but solid contributions from the top order laid the platform for the middle order to put the team in a commanding position. Naved Yasin made exactly 100 in 145 balls but Shoaib Ahmed was able to take his century to 152 with 19 boundaries and a six. Their total of 496 provided sufficient scoreboard pressure for the bowlers to dominate the remainder of the match.
Some tight second-innings bowling by Habib Bank turned the President's Trophy match in Lahore their way, helping them win by five wickets against National Bank of Pakistan. Habib Bank reached their target of 196 on the final day thanks to strong middle-order batting, after being four down for 61.
The match wasn't one-sided till the second innings as both teams notched up competitive first-innings scores, with NBP taking an 11-run lead on the third day. But some lacklustre batting by them, bowled out for 184, shifted the odds in Habib Bank's favour.
The match included a century from Pakistan player Fawad Alam in NBP's first innings, and three fifties. However, there were plenty of starts by batsmen from both teams. Mohammad Imran and Ehsan Adil took six wickets each in the match. Left-arm spinner Mohammad Aslam's four wickets in NBP's second innings were crucial in turning the match in his team's favour.
In another game without much to choose between the competing sides, State Bank of Pakistan were two down for 92 in their final innings in their chase of 245 against Pakistan International Airlines after four days in a drawn match at the National Stadium in Karachi.
PIA's middle-order batsman Faisal Iqbal scored 100, including 13 boundaries and two sixes, and led his side to a competitive 321. SBP's No. 3 Usman Arshad scored 113, and with contributions from Usman Saeed and Mohtashim Ali, SBP eclipsed PIA's score by 17 runs.
They built on that small lead to post a strong 261 for four, led by three half-centuries. By the time the declaration came, it was too late for any result other than a draw. Arshad, nevertheless, ensured SBP were safe in their 26 overs of their chase, following his century with an unbeaten fifty.
Khurram Shehzad held his nerve to steer Sui Northern Gas Pipelines to a three-wicket win over Water and Power Development Authority in Faisalabad. Shehzad made an unbeaten 31 to guide his side home as wickets tumbled in a tricky chase of 115.
After Naeemuddin was bowled by Junaid Khan for 1, SNGP settled as Taufeeq Umar made 32 but a second wicket for Junaid and two for slow left-armer Zulfiqar Babar put them under pressure. Junaid and Zulfiqar removed three more batsman, all for single-figure scores, but Shehzad held firm to ensure the win with a 46-ball innings.
It was a thrilling end to a close contest that in the final analysis had the 66-run first-innings lead SNGP achieved playing a critical role. And that took a lower-order 68 from Mohammad Rizwan after they had slipped to 151 for 6 after an opening stand of 57.
WAPDA found themselves four down before they had wiped out the deficit thanks to Asad Ali removing the top four, three of them leg before. Sohaib Maqsood could not repeat his rescue act of the first innings - he made 95 out of 200, the next highest score was 25 - as his side fell for 180 and set a challenging target that proved ultimately too small.
Umar Amin was the mainstay of Port Qasim Authority's batting in the second innings as his 71 helped secure a draw on the final afternoon in Karachi to deny United Bank victory.
From their overnight 142 for 4, United Bank batted on for another 18 overs on the final morning to extend their lead to 311. And for a while PQA were in the chase with the runs coming at four-an-over and Amin and Daniyal Ahsan adding 85. But Amin was run out to end his hundred-ball innings and the attention turned to saving the match. Kashif Bhatti removed Ahsan to complete his second five-wicket haul of the match but wicketkeeper Mohammad Salman and Tanvir Ahmed batted together almost to the close.
The game began with PQA deciding to bowl first but Ali Asad's 59 was the highest of several useful contributions that helped United Bank make 323. And after Bhatti had picked up 5 for 55 to help bowl PQA out for 237, having been 72 for 0, United Bank were in charge of the match but couldn't complete the win.


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Wow, am I behind! Lots of fun things have been happening. Most notably, we bought our first house! So, yes --- I finally got to PAINT something! Granted, the only painting we've done is the front door (purple, yo), but it is OURS.
Another big deal is getting my first "grown-up" phone...on Wednesday. LOL Yes, it took me that long to get a touch screen, internet, and Words with Friends on my phone.
The last big piece of news is that I've professionally partnered with Refuge for Women, a non-profit that ministers to adult entertainment workers and victims of human trafficking. They are the only "safe house" in the country that doesn't require the women to pay or to detox before coming --- if women are ready to escape, they have a place to go! Anyway, they are currently full to capacity and have to turn away any new applicants. A bunch of us local Mary Kay beauty consultants have partnered with them to raise $30,000 for a downpayment on a second house...and we need your help! There are two ways to help. First, I need sponsors -- .50 per face, $1 per face, $2, $5, even $10 per face, to sponsor my 30 faces during the fundraiser. Second, I need faces. :) Every woman who gets pampered this month (for FREE), whether it's a facial, a makeover, or a pedicure, earns the sponsors' donations to the Refuge! So get your winter skin care update, learn a 3-minute makeup routine, and get your foundation perfectly-matched...and give back at the same time! When was the last time you could recharge your emotional batteries, look and feel better/younger/healthier, have some girl time (time to yourself or time with friends) for free AND support such an impactful ministry at the same time...? So get your girlfriends all excited and contact me, if you are a current client of mine OR if you are currently without the services of a professional beauty consultant! (P.S. Anyone in the U.S., Puerto Rico, or Guam can get pampered or sponsor!)
Here are some of the projects I've been working on. When I get a chance, I'll post tutorials. Click to see larger pictures:
My 6 year-old vinyl planner cover was cracking and falling apart, so I designed a new one! Leopard print, of course. I <3 felt!
...and who learned to read?
Each Christmas Eve, we give the boys new pajamas. This year, I found some "Agent P" thermal PJs for our 5½ year-old, but they didn't come any smaller for my 2¾ year-old. I bought a pair of coordinating plain blue thermals and then just free-handed a felt applique of Perry to sew on the front.
Last year's Christmas jammies get worn ALL.THE.TIME. Like, 24 actual hours a day, several days in a row. Even out of the house. (Hey, they're covered, they're warm, we aren't late because of getting dressed, and I don't have to fight with them to wear socks. Parenting WIN) However, as a result, there are several holes in the feet. That meant I had to learn how to darn! Who knew it was so simple?
My boys' play store has some plastic food, but they keep asking for the kinds of food we eat -- like whole wheat chocolate chip pancakes. Enter felt! These pancakes were my first foray into self-designed play food: chocolate chip on one side, plain on the other. Just for kicks, I made two with felt "chips" and two with French knot "chips". That was fun! Got in a bunch of American Pickers on Netflix while I made those bad boys.
Guess what kind of felt play food I'm working on here? My own design -- I'm so proud!
We LOVE Family Fun Magazine and always turn down the corners on several projects. Then never make them. Finally, I decided to go through the magazine with the boys and ask them which projects interested them. Then I'd have accountability! LOL Here's the first one we worked on: posable felt animals. They aren't finished yet.
That's all for now, but if one project gets a bunch more comments than another, I'll put up that tutorial first!


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Dear Lily,
I'm sending you this Baby Surprise Jacket that I knitted. I don't think it will fit you till you're 2. I hope by then you aren't old enough to wonder if something like this is cool enough, because it probably isn't.
Speaking of becoming older and cooler, when you're riding around in your stroller, do you ever hear people say, "It takes a village to raise a child"? I never agreed with that. For example, is the mayor going to help decide when you will have solid food? Will the school bus driver want to know when you first sat up? Would the mail carrier warm up a bottle? I don't think so. Aside from a lot of remarks from strangers about whether or not you should have a hat on, on any particular day, I think raising you is going to be up to your parents.
However, I can tell you right now, it took a village to make this Baby Surprise Jacket.
Think you're a film buff? Take our movie trivia quiz!
It's called that because you knit a really odd, wobbly-edged rectangle, then you fold it up and, surprisingly, it's a little jacket.
This one comes to you from me, who did the knitting, but also from Irene and Laura, my knitting friends, who encouraged me to keep going. Because even though I knew it was supposed to fold up like a sweater, it looked like a big mistake right until the end.
Also, Margaret, whose gloves were made of that pink wool, would be delighted to know the leftovers went to you. Dorette gave me the blue fuzzy wool. She will be happy you are wearing a little stripe of it. Those raspberry stripes that match the eyes of the bunnies on the buttons are from my old mittens, with my best wishes. The scratchy purple stripes are left over from your second-cousin-twice-removed Owen's mittens, and he sends his love along with them.
The greenish blue color is yours alone, courtesy of the knitting store clerk who said this is just the color babies are wearing now.
Elizabeth Zimmermann, who revolutionized modern knitting, explained how to make this jacket in one of her instruction books. Sort of. Her instructions are not what you'd expect – sleeves, front, back, sew them up. She tells you what to do in the first seven rows. "See what you are doing?" No, I mentally reply. "Work will start to look very odd, indeed, but trust me, and PRESS ON," she commands.
Think you're a film buff? Take our movie trivia quiz!
The Internet helped me press on. On a knitting website (ravelry.com) 16,000 knitters have already made Baby Surprise Jackets and posted pictures of them, in all different colors. Jaunty and unafraid, they call it a BSJ. They chimed in with all sorts of help. Many said to get different instructions that tell you what to do for each row. Those instructions came in the mail. There's a picture of the first little BSJ ever, which Ms. Zimmermann made for her grandson. Very cute. Guess who is explaining what to do, row by row? That same grandson, grown up.
I still needed help. One woman on the website said a little boy living in her house tried on the BSJ and cried when she tried to take it off him, so she knew it was meant for him. This woman grew up without a lot of spare wool to knit with. She told how she and her sister would knit a square, unravel it, and knit it again, just for practice. I thought that was more helpful than advice. That made me remember that knitting's for everyone and is a very cheerful thing to do, even with one little piece of wool.
A lot of knitters said it was really easy.
Irene and Laura looked at it every week when we knitted together. They couldn't see how it would become a sweater. I couldn't either.
But they would add, "You're so brave to do this!"
Then Irene took me to Gloucester, Mass., where I found the bunny buttons. They made me feel better.
Then I finished the knitting and cast it off the needles. It was a potholder gone berserk. Before I sewed it up, I had some fun.
Think you're a film buff? Take our movie trivia quiz!
"What is this?" I challenged my boss.
"Well," he said, pushing it around on the counter of the store where we work. "It's ..." Then he folded it right up. "A sweater, of course." He even had an idea for how to put buttons on. He's a farmer who can fix a broken tractor, so, really, he is probably just about as smart as Ms. Zimmermann. He told me stories about the special mittens his grandmother had made him. They were fuzzier on the palms of your hands. So I'm sure he's sending along that fuzzy good will to you.
Then your grandmother came over. She liked it. She is going to make one, too. For you, maybe.
If she does, act surprised, OK?
Best of all, she gave me your address. Now all that's left is for the mail carrier to bring it to your apartment.
So that is how it took a village to make Lily a sweater.
But, really, your mom and dad get to raise you. So talk to them if you don't think it's cool enough.
Lots of love,
Second-cousin-twice-removed Maggie


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Puzzle Levels
Puzzle Categories
Download a FREE Solution for your puzzles!
Click Image to Enlarge
Pentominos 40 Degrees
Product Information
|Assemble different shapes
|Level 9 - Gruelling
|Other Wood Puzzles
|9.5in x 4in x 0.4in / 24.1cm x 10.1cm x 1cm
Product Description
This puzzle consists of 20 wooden pieces in three different tones and includes all 12 known pentominos, with a few duplicate ones, except all pieces have been twisted in a 40 degree angle which makes it harder to solve. There are some shapes already included in the instructions, and besides placing all the pieces in the tray are countless geometrical shapes for you to try and solve. A superb multi challenge puzzle designed by Jürgen Reiche.
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Spicy Chipotle Ketchup
Homemade spicy chipotle ketchup made with clean ingredients you can feel good about eating!
Spicy Chipotle Ketchup
Last summer I made my own homemade ketchup which turned out so GOOD, I made it again this year… with a twist! I added some chipotle paste to give it some heat, it goes great with turkey burgers or grilled sweet potato fries!
Finally someone came up with a chipotle paste in a tube, perfect since I never use the whole can. The brand is Olo's which I found on Amazon, but of course canned chipotle sauce will work fine here, you'll have to mince the chipotles.
This is so EASY to make, just put a few ingredients in the sauce pan and let it simmer for 20 minutes. If you are planning on grilling this weekend and you like things a little spicy, give this a try!
Spicy Chipotle Ketchup
- 6 oz can tomato paste
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/2 cup white vinegar
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 tbsp chipotle paste, or more to taste
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp onion powder
- 1/8 tsp garlic powder
- Combine all the ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium heat; whisk until smooth.
- When it comes to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring often.
- Remove from heat and cover until cool.
- Chill and store refrigerated in a covered container.


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Swimming Pool Blog
by Rob Cox June 4, 2013
How to REDUCE Your Pool's Environmental Impact
Swimming pools can consume a lot of energy in circulating, heating and lighting. They can waste a lot of water through evaporation, leaks and backwashing the filters.
However - with proper methods and modern pool technology, you can reduce your swimming pool's impact on the environment.
Reduce is the key word, and the keyword, of the day.
REDUCE: Chemical Consumption
I don't know of the actual impact of the production and transport and waste packaging of the swimming pool chemical industry, but I'm guessing the cumulative effects are measurably large.
Reducing pool chemical use of unnecessary pool chemicals - is a good thing. Some people feel like they need to buy 19 kinds of pool chemicals to maintain the pool. If your filtration and circulation is good, you should need only balanced water and a sanitizer level. Adjustment chemicals for pH, alkalinity, calcium and conditioner are necessary to have on hand. Algaecide, clarifiers, stain & scale treatments, etc... - maybe not. Use only if you need them and if not, reduce!
Chlorine is also a necessary chemical for most pool owners, but it can be reduced - cut in half, when you add mineral or ozone purifiers to your water treatment regimen. With good filtration, a proper cyanuric acid and pH level, you can run your pool under 1.0 ppm of chlorine, reducing your chlorine usage by at least 50%.
Another way to reduce, actually eliminate your need to buy chlorine, and reduce the worldwide demand for chlorinated pool products - is to install a salt chlorine generator on your pool and manufacture your own chlorine. Modern salt systems are full of user friendly features and have come down in cost in the last few years. Just connect the unit and controller, and add salt to the pool.
Regular testing and balancing of the pool water is helpful to maintaining a pool that requires fewer chemicals. Good filtration and circulation are also important, and if any of these is lacking, chemical use must increase, as compensation.
REDUCE: Energy Consumption
Pool pumps are the largest energy hog on the equipment pad. In some parts of the country, energy costs are at a premium, and a standard pool pump can cost hundreds of dollars per month to operate. States with many pools (az, ca, fl, tx) have a problem with pool pump energy use, and have passed laws requiring new pumps, or replacement pumps, over 1 hp, to be either Variable Speed or Dual Speed, to reduce demand.
Prices for Variable speed pumps are beginning to drop. Hayward recently introduced a line of less expensive variable speed pumps, mounted on the familiar chassis of the Superpump and Max-Flo pumps. For a pump that costs only about 50% more, it can reduce energy consumption by 75%.
For standard pumps, reduce usage with a timeclock, set to operate during off peak energy use hours, and run fo just enough time to properly filter all of the pool water daily. For most pools, during the summer season, you should turnover, or filter all of the water, 1 to 1.5 times daily. For most pumps, this equates to 8-12 hours of operation.
You can experiment by reducing the pump's run time every few days, until you notice the water lose a bit of clarity - then add another hour or so above this minimum. Keep in mind that during hotter weather, storms or high use, more filtering will be needed.
Pool Lighting is another energy consumer. 500 watt bulbs of last century will probably soon be unavailable. Halogen bulbs offer better economy, but the LED lightbulb is the future of pool lighting. Consuming very low energy, and very long lasting, LED bulbs give a pronounced reduction in energy use for pools that use the lights frequently.
In some areas, commercial pools are being required to replace pool lights with LED lamps, or replace the bulbs with LED bulbs.
Another advantage of LED lighting is Color! LED pool lights can bathe your pool in a palette of different colors and even display light shows of changing colors.
REDUCE: Water Consumption
In some parts of the country, water restrictions are a reality. Your pool may be a water hog - taking up more than it's share of a valuable resource.
Evaporation can take 1/4 in. of water from your pool on a hot day. Using solar covers, automatic covers or liquid solar blankets can reduce evaporation tremendously. Wind will accelerate evaporation; using wind blocks on the windward side of the pool can be another effective way to reduce evaporation.
Leaks in the pool could be hardly noticeable if they are small, and they usually are small. A big leak is something over 1/4 in. per day, and it should be found and fixed to save water, but also to prevent damage to the supporting soils around the pool.
To see if you have a leak, you can perform the 'bucket test'. Fill a 5 gallon bucket halfway full of water and place it on the top step or swimout of the pool. Use a marker or tape to mark the pool water level on the outside of the bucket and the bucket water level on the inside of the bucket. After 24 hours, mark & measure the water level inside and outside of the bucket. If they are different, the pool has a leak.
Backwashing the filter can waste 1-2 inches of water for a sand or DE filter. Cartridge filters use much less, since backwashing is not done, cartridges are rinsed off with a garden hose, using only a fraction of the amount that DE or sand filters use.
For DE filters, you can bump the filter to extend your filter cycles and backwash less. A 'bump' is a quick backwash, only for 10 seconds or less. When the DE just begins to flush out, shut off the pump and return the filter valve to the filter position. You should see the pressure gauge now lower, and it should stay lower for a week or more, before another bump is needed. Eventually, a full backwash will be needed, but this method can considerably reduce the annual water loss through backwashing.
Backwashing only when needed should be mentioned. Some folks backwash every week, whether they need to or not. These are the same people, I believe, who shock the pool every week, whether it needs it or not. Wait until the pressure gauge tells you to backwash, which will be 8-10 lbs above the clean pressure, or when you notice that flow rates are considerably diminished.
The Pain of Change
I believe that everyone would like to reduce their impact, and reduce their costs - if the pain of change' is minimized and benefits are amplified. It's also got to be easy to implement and operate.
If change involves new pool equipment, the equipment needs to be priced close to standard equipment. Even if payback is within a few years, no one wants to pay 3x the cost for an energy efficient pump or pool light, for example.
Just like hybrid automobiles; now that some are just 25% more than their standard version, adoption is much greater. As prices continue to reduce for pool owners on energy efficient pumps and lights, and for salt systems and other ecofriendly pool products, I predict that we'll also see greater use. I also predict the increase in laws requiring pools to use certain equipment, to reduce energy, water or chemical use.


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The San Francisco schools board president used a district-issued credit card to make personal purchases while the school system struggles to pay its bills, according to a new report.
An audit done by reporters at the San Francisco Chronicle shows that school board president Kim-Shree Maufas charged $4,300 on the district's Diner's Club card to pay for everything from travel to shoes to coffee.
Among Maufas' purchases were $2,000 spent on a "cultural exchange trip" to China, $40 on a pair of black Crocs shoes, $125 for a car battery and $3 for an Apple iTunes purchase.
Maufas also spent another $3,000 of the district's money on food and beverage purchases for meetings in the City, according to the report. The Chronicle also points out that Maufas was a generous tipper, leaving a more than 20 percent gratuity more than 40 times.
The president did reimburse the district in four installments for her personal purchases, the report says, but at the same time she continued to charge expenses such as gas and and food.
Maufas told the paper "there definitely was a misunderstanding" about how the card was to be used and "that it won't happen again."
Superintendent Carlos Garcia say he is making sure Maufas and others like her will not misunderstand the system again. He told the paper all credit card purchases were suspended until tighter regulations were in place, which included the prohibition of personal expenses.


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Only hotels in 67228 zip code are listed below. Search for cheap and discount hotel rates in Wichita, KS for your upcoming leisure or conference / group travel. We list the best 67228 hotels and motels so you can review the Wichita hotel list below to find the perfect lodging. Hotels in Sedgwick county and area code 316 are also listed.
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What is Lumina
Lumina is focused to show you a simple way to track your time.
The concept of Lumina is based on three columns.
- Projects: A project is a bundle of tasks
- Tasks: A tasks is a bundle of durations
- Durations: A duration is the smallest brick to calculate your total time.
If you are working for different projects you will love the project concept of Lumina.
Each project may contain different tasks and is associated to one client.
Using the archiving feature, you will not loose the overview of you active projects and never have to delete old projects.
TODO, Expense, Flat Times and Notes
Tracking time is not the only thing you can do with Lumina.
|Stopwatch will track your time.
|You can also add Flat times
|Assign TODOs to different tasks.
|Track also your Expenses.
|Little Notes will help you to remember.
Every item is associated to a task. Using this concept you can rapidly see where you are spending most of your time and your money.
Access with Menu Tool
Lumina comes with a one-click stopwatch concept. Just start Lumina, select one of the top used tasks list from the menu tool to start a timer.
The dock icon will display a mini stopwatch.
Manage your clients with Lumina. Clients are used to assign to projects. A quick report will help you to see how long you are working for you clients.
Sync with Lumina Cloud
This is the most powerful feature of Lumina 2.
Finally, Lumina 2 can be installed on multiple macs and will be able to use the same data.
Track your time outside your office using your iPhone and you will love to see how your data is faster in your office, thanks to Lumina Cloud, than you.