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Political observers say campaign cash already flowing steadily to some U.S. Senate and House candidates in Massachusetts will likely become a flood by the 2012 election.
Political observers say campaign cash already flowing steadily to some U.S. Senate and House candidates in Massachusetts will likely become a flood by the 2012 election.
Donors poured $17.5 million last year into the race developing between Republican U.S. Sen. Scott Brown and likely Democratic challenger Elizabeth Warren as the contest gained national attention, according to Federal Election Commission records.
New campaign finance filings also detail how the state's U.S. House delegation raised a combined total of more than $5 million in 2011 as members faced the prospect of running this year in new districts redrawn to reflect population changes.
Overall, it's an unusual year for a state where federal incumbents are usually comfortable, according to Maurice Cunningham, a political science professor at UMass-Boston.
"For Massachusetts, where there's almost never an outbreak of democracy, this is really a different sort of year, with a lot of races where people can see a chance and an opportunity to pick up a seat," he said recently.
That probably will make this an especially costly election year, particularly in the Senate race, political observers said.
"You're probably going to see a lot more outside groups, super (political action committees), getting involved," said Marty Linsky, a longtime lecturer at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. "This is going to feel more like the presidential campaign than we've come to expect."
Campaign fundraising records shed new light on how much candidates collected in the final months of last year and in 2011 overall.
The Senate race attracted the most money by far, but political experts predict spending could pick up in at least a couple of U.S. House districts.
With U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, D-4th, planning to step down at the end of his term, his reshaped district is up for the taking. Democrat Joseph Kennedy III's recent entry should draw new attention to the contest, which also includes Republicans Sean Bielat and Elizabeth Childs and Democrat Herb Robinson.
"That figures to be the big, high-profile congressional race," said Kenneth Manning, a political science professor at UMass-Dartmouth.
Other districts could prove lively, too. While campaign records show U.S. Rep. John Tierney ended 2011 with more cash on hand than GOP challenger Richard Tisei, the Republican raised the most money in the final three months of the year.
In a major change of turf, U.S. Rep. William Keating, D-10th, plans to run in a new 9th Congressional District that stretches from the south coast to Cape Cod and the islands.
Observers said spending in the Senate race will likely climb as both national political parties struggle for control of the chamber, observers said.
"I think it's going to be a close race, down to the wire," said John Ambacher, professor emeritus of political science at Framingham State University.
Senate race
Despite launching her Senate bid only last fall, Warren outpaced Brown in fundraising in the last three months of 2011 and for the year as a whole, according to Federal Election Commission records.
Donors poured $5.7 million into the Harvard Law School professor's campaign coffers from October to December, compared to $3.3 million for Brown.
Altogether, Warren raised $8.9 million in 2011, besting Brown by about $310,000.
However, Brown held a formidable advantage in that he began this year with $12.9 million in his campaign war chest, thanks to prior fundraising.
After spending $2.7 million of her campaign funds, Warren ended the year with $6.1 million in cash on hand – less than half Brown's total.
Brown, elected in a 2010 special election, raised about $6.8 million of his year-end total from individual donors. Signaling the race was picking up steam, he collected nearly 40 percent of that total from October to December.
The bulk came in amounts of $200 or more, meaning the campaign was required to itemize who donated them. Roughly 59 percent of the donations that Brown's campaign itemized last year came from within Massachusetts.
In the last quarter of 2011, Brown received the most in-state contributions from Boston, followed by Wellesley, Newton, Weston, Andover, Chestnut Hill and Brookline.
After the Bay State, New York, California and Illinois were the next three biggest sources of individual donations over $200 for Brown.
Warren relied on individual donors for her money far more than Brown, raising the vast majority of her funds from them, or about $8.6 million. A little less than half came in increments of less than $200.
Bay State donors delivered about $1.8 million in itemized donations to Warren's campaign last year, or about 36 percent of her itemized total.
Cambridge, Boston, Brookline, Concord, Weston, Winchester and Lexington were her biggest sources of in-state support in the last quarter of 2011.
After the Bay State, California, New York and Washington, D.C. proved to be Warren's next three biggest sources of itemized individual donations.
EMILY's List, a national organization dedicated to electing pro-choice Democratic women, bundled about $312,000 in individual contributions for Warren's campaign last year. Liberal moveon.org similarly collected nearly $50,000 in donations for Warren.
Brown, a Wrentham Republican relied more heavily on political action committees, or PACs, than Warren. He received roughly $1.1 million in donations from them last year.
PACs delivered $352,000 to Brown's campaign in the last quarter of 2011. Such committees contributed about $142,000 to Warren's campaign last year.
Two other Democrats in the race lagged in fundraising. Jim Coyne King, an attorney from Dover, raised nearly $67,000 last year and loaned his campaign $23,500 of his own money, records show. After campaign expenditures, he ended 2011 with $1,660 on hand.
Marisa DeFranco, a Middleton attorney, raised close to $33,000 last year and began 2012 with $7,030 in her campaign coffers.
Rep. Barney Frank
U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, D-4th, announced in late November he will not seek re-election this year. But until then, donors were still contributing to him, making him the dominant force in fundraising in the 4th Congressional District last year.
Frank received about $155,000 between October and December, but his campaign refunded almost half that amount, or roughly $76,000, to donors by year's end.
Earlier in the year, contributions flowed in at faster clip. Frank collected about $873,000 before refunds, more than any other Bay State congressman or woman last year.
Since Frank announced his plans to retire from Congress late in 2011, candidates who hope to succeed him had little time to raise money before the New Year.
Republican Elizabeth Childs, a Brookline School Committee and Town Meeting member, announced her plans to run for Frank's seat in October, before his decision to not to seek re-election. She brought in about $48,000 in the second half of 2011.
More than half that amount flowed into her account since October, most from individual Massachusetts donors. Childs ended the year with roughly $29,000 in cash.
Sean Bielat, a Republican who challenged Frank in 2010, announced in January he would run again. Last year, he collected roughly $18,000 in campaign donations and spent about $21,000 of his campaign cash. He ended the year with under $6,000.
Herb Robinson, a Newton software engineer and Democrat seeking Frank's seat, raised just $400 in contributions. He donated more than $5,000 of his own money and loaned an additional $8,000 to his campaign.
Robinson, who initially ran for U.S. Senate before deciding to seek the congressional seat instead, ended 2011 with a little more than $1,600 in cash on hand.
One of the biggest names in the race, Democratic hopeful Joseph Kennedy III, reported no fundraising in 2011. He only made his candidacy official in February. Paul Heroux of Attleboro, another Democrat seeking the seat, also reported no fundraising last year.
More than 70 percent of Frank's contributions in 2011 came from individual donors. The remainder came from political action committees, to which he refunded $26,000 by year's end. Frank ended the year with about $390,000 cash on hand.
Among his major contributors from Massachusetts were Paul Funk of Cambridge, who gave $5,000; Eitan Milgram of Newton, an executive at investment firm Weiss Asset Management in Boston, who donated $5,000; and Shelley Hoon of Milton, president of Hoon Companies, who contributed $3,500.
Attorneys and people who work in the fishing and banking industries were well represented among Frank's donors.
Committees that delivered the most to Frank's campaign coffers included the American Seniors Housing PAC and Goldman Sachs Group PAC, each of which donated $10,000 over the course of 2011. The Human Rights Campaign, which works on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights, also gave just under $10,000.
Groups representing insurers, banking and financial services made up a significant number of Frank's PAC supporters.
Redistricting caused major changes to Frank's district, and he said that was one reason he decided not to seek re-election. He picked up considerable new territory to the west and along the SouthCoast while losing towns he already represents in that area, including New Bedford and much of Fall River.
Rep. William Keating
U.S. Rep. William Keating, D-10th, began a year in which he will seek election to a brand new district with about $305,000 in his campaign account.
That's less than many of his colleagues, but Keating compared well with his fellow congressional representatives in fundraising last year. The former Norfolk County district attorney raised roughly $168,000 in the last three months of 2011, reaching a total of about $481,000 for the full year.
A little more than half Keating's haul came from political action committees, or $252,000. Most of them hailed from outside Massachusetts.
His two biggest PAC supporters represent organized labor: The Drive Committee, or Teamsters, and the Machinists Nonpartisan Political League, each of which gave him $10,000 over the course of the year.
That reflected a significant amount of union support for Keating last year.
In the last quarter of 2011, his top PAC contributors also included the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi's PAC to the Future. Each donated $7,000 to Keating.
Inside Massachusetts, Rep. Barney Frank's committee delivered $4,000, while Cubist Pharmaceuticals of Lexington and the Mass. Biotech Council each gave $1,000.
Individual donors accounted for about $228,000 in contributions to Keating. The majority lived in Massachusetts, including 10 from Sharon, where the congressman used to live.
Top donors included James and Patricia Messenger of Lexington, an attorney with law firm LeClair Ryan and a Bedford High School teacher, respectively. They gave a combined $10,000.
Philip J. Edmundson Jr. of Hingham, chairman and CEO of insurance brokerage William Gallagher Associates, also gave Keating $3,700.
While the freshman congressman lived in Quincy during his first term, he will have to move to stay in Congress.
Redistricting shifted Quincy into U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch's territory. Keating said last year he planned to move to his Bourne vacation home and run in the new 9th district.
Keating also loses Weymouth, Abington, Hingham, Cohasset, Scituate and Hull under redistricting. The new district cobbles together parts of the South Shore and SouthCoast with Cape Cod and the islands.
Bristol County District Attorney Sam Sutter is weighing a run in the 10th District too, but he reported no fundraising in 2011.
Rep. Stephen Lynch
Lynch heads into an election year with some major new territory to try to win and about $674,000 in his campaign war chest, more than many of his colleagues in Massachusetts.
But his 2011 fundraising lagged behind many of his counterparts. Lynch raised about $65,000 in the last quarter of 2011, bringing his year-end total to roughly $257,000.
Asked if he plans to do more fundraising in 2012, Lynch spokeswoman Meaghan Maher said in a written statement he is focused on running for reelection and preparing for both Democratic and Republican challengers.
Most of Lynch's 2011 donations, or nearly $162,000, came from nearly 70 political action committees. Only six were based in Massachusetts, including Waltham-based utility National Grid, Boston-based PACs for investment firms Fidelity, Putnam and State Street and Springfield's Mass. Mutual Life Insurance Co.
A former ironworkers union president and ranking member on a committee that oversees the U.S. Postal Service, Lynch saw key donations from PACs representing organized labor and Post Office interests.
Among his biggest donors was the Ironworkers Political Action League, which gave $10,000 in October.
"Congressman Lynch worked for 18 years as an ironworker alongside many of these workers and their support is appreciated," Maher said in a statement.
Earlier last year, the National Association of Postal Supervisors and the National Postal Mail Handlers Union also delivered $10,000 each to Lynch.
Individual contributors gave Lynch about $85,000 in 2011, most from within Massachusetts.
His biggest supporters included John E. Kavanagh III of Ipswich, head of Danvers development and management firm Kavanagh Advisory Group, who gave $2,400. Other top contributors were Susan Oliverio, a Milton resident and Massachusetts General Hospital physician, and Dennis A. Smith, a partner in Boston lobbying and consulting firm Dennis & Rauschenbach, each of whom donated $2,000.
Lynch faces big changes in his district heading into the 2012 election. If re-elected, the five-term South Boston Democrat would pick up the South Shore communities of Quincy, Weymouth, Abington, Hingham, Cohasset, Scituate, Hull and a piece of Raynham, while giving up Walpole, Medfield, Needham and Hanson.
Matias "Matt" Temperley, a Quincy Republican, announced plans in February to challenge Lynch. He reported no fundraising in 2011.
Lynch spent about $231,000 from his campaign funds last year.
Rep. Edward Markey
U.S. Rep. Edward Markey, D-7th, wrapped up last year with the biggest campaign war chest of any Bay State congressman, with $3.1 million on hand.
However, Markey raised the vast majority of that cash in the past. He collected only about $381,000 in 2011, less than many of his colleagues.
Nearly two-thirds of his contributions last year, or about $244,000, came from political action committees (PACs), the vast majority from out-of-state.
They included committees representing interests in telecommunications, broadcasting, health care and energy. Among those that donated to Markey more than once last year were the National Broadcasters Association, wireless carrier Sprint Nextel Corp. and Time Warner, which contributed via two different committees.
The American Association for Justice, representing trial attorneys and law firms, gave Markey $10,000, the most of any single PAC that supported him last year. Overall, well over 100 PACs with addresses outside Massachusetts supported Markey.
Within the Bay State, a dozen committees delivered about $25,500 to Markey.
In the last quarter of 2011, he received $2,000 each from PACs for Weston biotech firm Biogen Idec, Cubist Pharmaceuticals in Lexington and Thermo Fisher Scientific in Waltham; $1,000 from utility National Grid and Atlantic Tele-Network, a Beverly telecommunications company; and $500 from the Massachusetts Biotech Council.
Earlier in the year, two Waltham PACs gave Markey $5,000 each – Fresenius Medical Care North America, a dialysis provider, and Holcim, a cement maker. Lexington defense contractor Raytheon delivered another $3,000.
EMD Serono of Rockland, a division of drug maker Merck, gave $2,000. Lakeville juice company Ocean Spray donated $1,000.
Last year, Markey also received nearly $137,000 in contributions from individuals, most in amounts over $200. About two-thirds of that cash came from out-of-state.
Inside Massachusetts, health care executives gave Markey a significant number of the donations he received in the last quarter of 2011. A dozen or so Partners Health Care executives contributed about $7,000 in November.
They included McLean Hospital President Scott Rauch of Bedford, Spaulding Rehabilitation President David Storto of Concord, Newton Wellesley Hospital COO Jordan Patrick of Reading and Joseph Alviani of Plymouth, a Partners vice president.
Over the course of the full year, Markey's biggest supporters included Partners CEO Gary Gottlieb, who gave $2,500, and three Fresenius Medical Care executives: CEO Robert Powell of Andover, CFO Michael Brosnan of Westford and Executive Vice President Ronald Kuerbitz of Wellesley, each of whom gave $2,400.
Altogether last year, Markey spent about $367,000 in campaign funds, including about $120,000 transferred to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
He also made contributions to several specific campaigns, including $2,000 to U.S. Rep. John Tierney, D-6th, in December, as well as a number of charitable donations.
Lexington Republican Jeffrey Semon announced last October he plans to challenge Markey in this year's election. He raised about $10,000 last year, including about $7,000 in individual donations and roughly $3,000 of his own money.
Semon spent most of the money he has collected on payments to Four Tier Strategies, a campaign consulting firm. He ended 2011 with $597 in cash on hand.
Redistricting forces fewer drastic changes on Markey than some of his colleagues. He picks up Ashland, Holliston and Southborough from Rep. Jim McGovern, Sudbury and Wayland from Rep. Niki Tsongas and parts of Cambridge from Rep. Michael Capuano.
Rep. Jim McGovern
U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, D-3rd, headed into this election year with about $373,000 in his campaign coffers and some significant new turf to try to win.
McGovern raised about $591,000 last year, but also spent $225,000 in operating expenses and nearly $20,000 on other costs, mostly local sponsorships and charitable donations.
Spokesman Michael Mershon said in a statement the congressman feels good about his fundraising and is prepared to run an aggressive campaign in his new district, which shifted a huge swath of his territory to the northwest.
McGovern raised the bulk of his 2011 funding from individual donors, or about $351,000. About 81 percent hailed from Massachusetts, Mershon said.
"People contribute to the McGovern campaign because they appreciate Jim's work on behalf of working families throughout Massachusetts and across the country, and we're very grateful for their support," he said in a statement.
McGovern's top donors included Michael Cummings of Chestnut Hill, founder of LTC Group, which runs nursing homes in Fall River, Melrose, Dighton and New Bedford; Abby Rockefeller of Cambridge, owner of composting toilet maker Clivus Multrum; and Lee Halprin, a Cambridge resident who listed his profession as retired professor.
Each donated $5,000.
Political action committees, most from out of state, contributed another $239,000 to McGovern last year.
In the last quarter of the year, he received contributions from eight Bay State PACs, including $1,000 each from Boston-based investment firm Fidelity Corp. and Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, and Lakeville-Middleborough juice maker Ocean Spray.
Waltham utility National Grid also delivered $500 in October in addition to $1,000 in June.
Earlier last year, McGovern received $4,000 from former U.S. Rep. Marty Meehan's campaign committee; $2,500 each from Belmont child welfare group KidsPAC, a Rockland-based division of drug maker Merck called EMD Serono and Hopkinton data storage company EMC Corp.; and $1,000 from Boston Scientific in Natick.
Organized labor groups also were a significant source of support for McGovern, such as the Washington, D.C., Laborers Political League, which donated $2,500 in December.
Under redistricting, McGovern is losing a number of MetroWest and SouthCoast communities. If re-elected, he would pick up new towns in the Milford area and significant territory in central Massachusetts.
No challengers have emerged for the seat and none reported any fundraising in 2011.
Rep. Richard Neal
Even if he wins another term this year, U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-2nd, will only represent his territory in the Milford area until the election. He lost that turf under redistricting, which shifted much of his district to the west.
Neal boasted roughly $2.5 million in his campaign war chest at the end of last year, second in Massachusetts only to Rep. Edward Markey's $3.1 million.
Neal raised a little more than $294,000 in the last three months of 2011, more than any other Bay State congressman or woman. That brought his year-end fundraising total to about $672,000.
The vast majority of Neal's cash came from political action committees, or about $535,000, more than any of his Bay State colleagues. Most came from committees outside Massachusetts.
Asked how the public should view such contributions, a spokesman for Neal indicated donations do not sway the congressman's views on legislation.
"Congressman Neal welcomes the support of individuals and PACS, but he always votes in the best interests of the people who elected him," spokesman William Tranghese said in an email.
PACs that supported Neal reflect a mix of interests, including the health care, high-tech and financial sectors.
In the last three months of 2011, Neal received $3,000 each from Boston Scientific in Natick and Weston biotech firm Biogen Idec. A PAC for Abiomed, a Danvers maker of cardiac devices, donated another $2,500, while Lexington-based defense contractor Raytheon delivered an additional $1,500.
Topping Neal's list of donors for the full year was the American Resort Development Association PAC from Washington, D.C., to the tune of $10,000. Among others that contributed at least $5,000 each were the Seniors Housing, Real Estate Investment Trusts Inc. and American Health Care Association PACs.
Neal also raised nearly $137,000 from individual donors. Again, a majority was from out-of-state.
In the last quarter of 2011, Neal's Bay State supporters included Richard Renwick of Westwood, a principal of financial services firm PRW Associates, and James McDermott, a Watertown resident and an attorney for law firm Holland and Knight.
Each donated $1,000. Holland and Knight is helping the state negotiate a potential Native American casino in southeastern Massachusetts.
Neal faces primary challenges from western Massachusetts Democrats Andrea Nuciforo Jr. and Bill Shein.
Nuciforo raised about $98,000 last year, all from individual contributions. He also loaned $30,000 to his campaign. He started the year with nearly $137,000 in cash on hand. Shein reported no fundraising in 2011.
Rep. John Tierney
GOP candidate Richard Tisei outpaced U.S. Rep. John Tierney, D-6th, in fundraising in the last three months of 2011, gathering just over $305,000.
Tierney pulled in about $160,000 in the same period. But the incumbent had more cash on hand at year's end, having amassed about $546,000 compared to Tisei's $260,000.
Records show Boxford Republican Bill Hudak, who dropped out of the race in January, lagged behind his competitors. He collected about $45,000 in donations in 2011, and after expenditures, he ended the year with a little less than $17,000 in cash.
Tierney raised the bulk of his money, or about $307,000, from individual donors. Most contributions came from Massachusetts residents, many of whom live in his district.
The congressman received the most donations from Salem, Marblehead, Ipswich, Swampscott, Gloucester and Boxford last year.
In the last quarter of the year, key Tierney donors included Mary Jane Powell, a longtime Democratic supporter from Andover, who gave $2,250.
Andy Devereaux of Danvers, an executive at venture capital and private equity firm American Capital, and John C. Warner of Winchester, president and chief technology officer for the Warner Babcock Institute for Green Chemistry, each gave $2,500.
Earlier in the year, Tierney's biggest donors included Karen Keating Ansara of Essex, a board member at Beverly-based nonprofit Harborlight Community Partners; Michael J. Harrington of Beverly, proprietor of the Hawthorne Hotel in Salem; and Gregory Torres of Winchester, chairman of the Mentor Network and MassINC president. Each donated $5,000.
Political action committees delivered another roughly $267,000 to Tierney last year, most out-of-state. Organized labor and political and teachers' groups were well represented.
His biggest supporters included the American Postal Workers Union, Association of Trial Lawyers of America and the National Education Association Fund for Children and Public Education. Each gave $10,000.
Since October, Tierney received $5,000 from Rep. Michael Capuano's PAC and $2,000 each from PACS for Reps. John Olver and Edward Markey. Earlier in the year, former U.S. Rep. Marty Meehan's PAC delivered another $2,000. Local Democratic committees gave smaller contributions, including Newburyport and Georgetown groups.
Almost all of former state Sen. Tisei's contributions came from individual donors in the last quarter of 2011, finance records show.
His top contributors included Charlie Baker of Swampscott, who ran for governor in 2010 with Tisei as his running mate; Jim Davis of Newton, chairman of New Balance Athletic Shoe; Burlington developer Arthur Gutierrez Sr.; and Robert Rotondi of Melrose, owner of D&R Paving. Each gave $5,000.
The vast majority of Tisei's supporters are in-state, and he has sought to highlight that against Tierney's largely out-of-state PAC donations. Kathryn Prael, a spokeswoman for Tierney, disputed that characterization.
"John continues to receive widespread support from across the district and will have the resources necessary to run and win in November," she said.
Redistricting moved Billerica and Tewksbury into the district Tierney and Tisei hope to represent, as well as a piece of Andover.
Rep. Niki Tsongas
U.S. Rep. Niki Tsongas raised about $706,000 in campaign contributions last year, more than most of her Bay State colleagues. Yet she ended the year with about $292,000 in cash on hand, less than most other congressmen from Massachusetts.
That's largely because Tsongas spent about $365,000 in campaign funds last year. Most went toward publicizing her work to constituents, her office said. Tsongas last year also paid off about $12,000 in loans she had made to her campaign.
Tsongas has been in office a shorter time than most members of the Bay State congressional delegation, said her finance director, Carol Kanin. Many of Tsongas' colleagues have had longer to build up their campaign accounts, she said.
"Our campaign feels confident that we will be able to raise and spend the needed amount to wage a strong campaign this year, as we have in the past," Kanin said in a written statement.
Carlisle businessman Jonathan Golnik, who ran against Tsongas in 2010, announced late last year he plans to challenge her again this year. He reported no fundraising in 2011.
Eighty percent, or roughly $567,000, of the money Tsongas raised last year came from individual donors. Kanin said that shows "a broad base of grassroots support." The vast majority of that funding came from Massachusetts donors.
Tsongas' biggest Bay State contributors included MassINC CEO Gregory T. Torres of Winchester; Anna and Neil Rasmussen of Concord, of preservation group Save Our Heritage; Elizabeth Pattullo of Winchester, founder and chairwoman of Beacon Health Strategies; Concord retiree Nancy Beeuwkes; and musician Don Henley of Lincoln.
Each donated $5,000 to Tsongas last year.
Tsongas also received $139,000 from PACs, with Washington D.C.-based groups represented more than any other state.
Generally, organized labor and health and tech companies were key donors for Tsongas.
Among her biggest supporters were the American Health Care Association, which represents for- and nonprofit health care providers for elderly and disabled people, and the Laborers' Political League, representing labor unions. Each gave $10,000.
Other top PAC contributors represented drug maker Merck, unions for machinists, electrical workers, longshoremen and teachers and defense contractor Raytheon.
Inside Massachusetts, three PACs delivered $2,500 to Tsongas in December: Waltham-based utility National Grid, the American Science and Engineering PAC from Billerica and former U.S. Rep. Marty Meehan's campaign committee.
Earlier in 2011, Tsongas also landed $1,000 from National Grid and $1,500 from Thermo Fisher Scientific of Waltham, among other donations.
Tsongas saw major changes in her district from redistricting. She picked up considerable territory to the west from areas now represented by Reps. Jim McGovern and John Olver. She lost much of Wayland and all of Sudbury to Rep. Ed Markey, while giving up Billerica and Tewksbury to Rep. John Tierney.


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I'm back after a week in Phoenix.
The biggest issue? The weather spoiled me!
It was sunny and 70 all week there – when I got back to PA, it was snowing.
And so you can share my sorrow, here's some photos of the crystal blue sky.
Happy Monday, everyone!

subset: commoncrawl


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Traditional phone service has been used for many years, and it's frequently referred to as a landline. The network that a landline uses consists of many physical connections. Underground wires comprise a large portion of the network, and when telephone calls are made through a landline, they must pass through the network of wires. To use a traditional landline, a phone must be connected to a jack, and the connection is very quick and easy to make. Traditional phone service has been used for a long time, but many consumers are ditching the landline and choosing wireless alternatives.
The main benefit of using a landline service is the reliability. It's difficult to beat the reliability available from a landline service in North Highlands, CA. The stable connection provides excellent call quality but significantly reduces mobility. Consumers who decide to use a landline connection are restricted to making calls from within their home. The physical jack is hardwired into the home, and to make calls, the phone must be connected to the jack. Another issue with traditional phone service is the cost, which is significantly more expensive than most wireless options. The monthly cost of a landline service might be two to three times as expensive as competing wireless options.
Among the many options for home phone service in North Highlands, CA, wireless service is perhaps the most popular one. The mobility of this option is the reason why it is so popular. Wireless services can be either billed or prepaid depending on the carrier and the plan chosen. There is certainly no shortage of wireless phone service providers in North Highlands, CA, so it is important that you consider the pricing and features each offers. You should also do your research regarding each provider's network reliability so you do not find yourself dealing with dropped calls and insufficient network coverage. Among the many features that are often include in wireless phone plans are caller ID and voicemail, as well as the ability to use your phone as a mobile hotspot for times when you need internet service on the go. You can compare cell phone plans in North Highlands, CA using Wirefly.
By far, the most popular reason consumers choose wireless phone services is the mobility it provides. Whether you are running errands or traveling across the country, you are able to make calls easily with wireless service. The higher prices associated with wireless phone services can sometimes be prohibitive, however. While the average monthly cost of a wireless phone plan with unlimited minutes is around $50, choosing additional features can significantly increase the monthly cost. Another disadvantage is that reliability can be an issue at times, and signals may not be available in certain areas.
Wirefly offers great deals on a large selection of smartphones, cell phones, tablets, mobile hotspots, and other wireless devices for the nation's most popular carriers. Use Wirefly's innovative cell phone and plan comparison tools to ensure you are getting the best deal on the market. Shop with confidence knowing that Wirefly wants to help you find the best prices on cell phones, cell phone plans, TV, and Internet service.


text:
User:Rdeckard/Installation guide
A guide for installing a minimal booting system. It gives several options along the way, depending on your system.
- For UEFI, EFISTUB is used to boot the kernel directly.
- For systems needing BIOS, syslinux is used.
- Gives options for encrypting the system if desired.
- Gives notes on using btrfs subvolumes if desired.
You may need additional packages for video drivers, etc.
- 1 Pre-installation
- 2 Installation
- 3 Configure the system
- 4 Reboot
Download the Arch ISO and GnuPG signature.
Verify signature
If you have GnuPG installed on your current system, verify the download:
$ gpg --keyserver-options auto-key-retrieve --verify archlinux-version-dual.iso.sig
Create bootable disk
Create a bootable USB drive by doing the following on an existing Linux installation:
# dd bs=4M if=/path/to/archlinux-version-x86_64.iso of=/dev/sdx status=progress && sync
/dev/sdx is the USB drive.
Boot the live environment
Now boot from the USB drive.
Set the keyboard layout
If using a keymap other than US, temporarily set the keyboard layout by doing:
# loadkeys de-latin1
de-latin1 to a layout found in
Verify the boot mode
Verify that you have booted with UEFI mode by checking that
/sys/firmware/efi/efivars exists. If you're not booted in the UEFI, you should setup your motherboard to do so to follow this installation guide. If you are not able to use UEFI, this guide has an option to boot from BIOS using syslinux.
Connect to the internet
If you have a wired connection, it should connect automatically.
If you have a wireless connection, first stop the wired connection to prevent conflicts:
# systemctl stop email@example.com
A list of interfaces can be found with:
# ip link
Then connect to a wifi network with wpa_supplicant:
# wpa_supplicant -B -i interface -C/run/wpa_supplicant # wpa_cli -i interface > scan > scan_results > add_network > set_network 0 ssid "SSID" > set_network 0 psk "passphrase" > enable_network 0 > quit
Get an ip address with dhcpcd:
# dhcpcd
For both wired and wireless connections, check your connection with:
# ping archlinux.org
Update the system clock
# timedatectl set-ntp true
Partition the disk
/dev/sda. Change if needed.
lsblk to identify existing file systems.
Here is the layout this guide is using. Modify to your needs.
|Example partition layout
|Mount point
|Partition type
|Suggested size
|550 MiB
|Linux x86-64 root (/)
|Remainder of the device
Use GPT fdisk to format the disk:
# gdisk /dev/sda
- Create a new empty GUID partition table by typing
oat the prompt.
- Create a new partition by typing
nat the prompt. Hit
Enterwhen prompted for the partition number, keeping the default of
1. Hit
Enteragain for the first section, keeping the default. For the last sector, type in
+550Mand hit
- For an EFI system, type in
EF00to indicate it is an EFI system partition for the partition type. Otherwise, use the default.
- For an EFI system, type in
- Now create at least one more partition for the installation. To create just one more partition to fill the rest of the disk, type
nat the prompt and use the defaults for the partition number, first sector, last sector, and hex code.
- If setting up a BIOS system with syslinux, enter expert mode by entering
x. Then enter
aand then
1to set an attribute for partition 1. Then enter
2to set it as a legacy BIOS partition and then
Enterto exit the set attribute menu.
- If setting up a BIOS system with syslinux, enter expert mode by entering
- Finally, write the table to the disk and exit by entering
wat the prompt.
For EFI:
# sgdisk -o -n 1:2048:+550M -n 2 -t 2:EF00
For BIOS:
# sgdisk -o -n 1:2048:+550M -n 2 -A 1:set:2
Create LUKS container
If encrypting your system with dm-crypt/LUKS, do:
# cryptsetup lukFormat --type luks2 /dev/sda2 # cryptsetup open /dev/sda2 cryptroot
Othwerwise, skip this step.
Format the partitions
Format your ESP as FAT32:
# mkfs.fat -F32 /dev/sda1
ext4 with the file system you are using in all of the following.
To format the LUKS container on an encrypted system do:
# mkfs.ext4 /dev/mapper/cryptroot
To format a regular (not encrypted) system, do:
# mkfs.ext4 /dev/sda2
Mount the file systems
For the encrypted setup mount the LUKS container:
# mount /dev/mapper/cryptroot /mnt
For the regular setup mount the root partition:
# mount /dev/sda2 /mnt
In both cases make a mount point for the boot partition and mount it:
# mkdir -p /mnt/boot # mount /dev/sda1 /mnt/boot
/mnt and remount your subvolumes to the appropriate mount points. For example, for the encrypted setup:
# mount /dev/mapper/cryptroot /mnt # btrfs subvolume create /mnt/@ # btrfs subvolume create /mnt/@home # umount /mnt # mount -o compress=zstd,subvol=@ /dev/mapper/cryptroot /mnt # mkdir -p /mnt/home # mount -o compress=zstd,subvol=@home /dev/mapper/cryptroot /mnt/home # mkdir -p /mnt/boot # mount /dev/sda1 /mnt/boot
Select the mirrors
If you desire, edit
/etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist to select which mirrors have priority. Higher in the file means higher priority. This file will be copied to the new installation.
Install the base packages
Instead of installing base, we're only installing a select group of minimal packages needed. Almost all of the base group is installed with these packages through dependencies, and this eliminates a few packages that will not be needed (like netctl and various filesystem userspaces):
# pacstrap /mnt linux pacman systemd btrfs-progs vim licenses man-db man-pages texinfo inetutils iproute2 iputils diffutils file gettext pciutils procps-ng psmisc sed tar usbutils which
- linux, pacman, and systemd are the minimal packages needed to boot the system and pull in most dependencies that you will need.
- btrfs-progs is needed only if you are using btrfs. If using another file system, install the required user-space utilities instead.
- vim is a text editor for editing configuration files. Replace with your favorite editor.
- licenses installs licenses used in the packages you install.
- man-db, man-pages, and texinfo install manpages and info manual.
- inetutils iproute2 iputils contain network utilities like ip(8) and ping(8).
- The remaining packages are helpful utilities that are not pulled in by other packages in the list and highly recommended.
Append additional packages you wish to install to the line. You will have the opportunity to install more packages in the chroot environment and when you boot into the new system.
If you have an AMD or Intel processor, you will want to go ahead and install the amd-ucode or intel-ucode packages, respectively to enable microcode updates later in the guide.
Configure the system
Generate the fstab for your new installation:
# genfstab -U /mnt > /mnt/etc/fstab
chroot into the new installation:
# arch-chroot /mnt
Time zone
Set the time zone:
# ln -sf /usr/share/zoneinfo/Region/City /etc/localtime
Set the hardware clock from the system clock:
# hwclock --systohc
Uncomment needed locales in
/etc/locale.gen (e.g.,
en_US.UTF-8). Then run:
# locale-gen
Set the
LANG environment variable the locale:
If you are not using a US keymap, make they keyboard layout permanent:
Network configuration
Set the hostname:
127.0.0.1 localhost ::1 localhost 127.0.1.1 hostname.localdomain hostname
systemd-networkd will be used to connect to the internet after installation is complete.
Create a minimal systemd-networkd configuration file. Here
interface is the wireless interface or the wired interface if not using wireless.
[Match] Name=interface [Network] DHCP=yes
Enable the
systemd-networkd.service unit.
If using a wireless interface, install the iwd package now:
# pacman -S iwd
Additionally enable the
iwd.service for wireless on boot.
[Unit] Description=Wireless service on %I BindsTo=sys-subsystem-net-devices-%i.device After=sys-subsystem-net-devices-%i.device [Service] Type=dbus BusName=net.connman.iwd ExecStart=/usr/lib/iwd/iwd --interface %i LimitNPROC=1 Restart=on-failure
Then enable the
firstname.lastname@example.com and disable
If using an encrypted system, add the
encrypt hook to your mkinitcpio configuration as shown below.
Add the
keymap hook if you are not using the default US keymap.
If using btrfs, you can remove the
fsck hook.
HOOKS=(base udev autodetect modconf block filesystems keyboard fsck keymap encrypt)
keyboard in front of
autodetect if using an external USB keyboard that was not connected when the image is created.
Regenerate initramfs:
# mkinitcpio -p linux
Root password
Set the root password:
# passwd
Add normal user
# pacman -S sudo
Add a normal user, add it to the
wheel group, and set the password:
# useradd -m -G wheel user # passwd user
Open the sudoers file and uncomment the
wheel group, giving that user access to sudo:
# EDITOR=vim visudo
Swap file
If using btrfs, first create a subvolume for the swap file to reside on. Then, create an empty swap file and set it to not use COW:
# btrfs subvolume create /.swap # truncate -s 0 /.swap/swapfile # chattr +C /.swap/swapfile
If not using btrfs, simply create a directory:
# mkdir /.swap
In all cases do:
# dd if=/dev/zero of=/.swap/swapfile bs=1M count=2048 # chmod 600 /.swap/swapfile # mkswap /.swap/swapfile
Update fstab with a line for the swap file:
/.swap/swapfile none swap defaults 0 0
Boot loader
Two options are provided here. If you have a UEFI motherboard, use #EFISTUB. Otherwise, use the BIOS setup with #syslinux. In either case, you will need your #kernel parameters.
In the UEFI setup we are not using a boot loader. Instead we are booting the kernel directly via EFISTUB. Previously you should have created a EFI system partition of the size 550MiB and marked it with the partition type
Exit the chroot and reboot the system. From your Arch Linux live disk, boot into the UEFI Shell v2. Then do:
Shell> map
Note the disk number for the hard drive where you are installing Arch Linux. This guide assumes it is
Now create two UEFI entries using bcfg.
Shell> bcfg boot add 0 fs1:\vmlinuz-linux "Arch Linux" Shell> bcfg boot add 1 fs1:\vmlinuz-linux "Arch Linux (Fallback)"
Create a file with your #Kernel parameters as a single line:
Shell> edit fs1:\options.txt
F2 to save and
F3 to quit. Now add that file as the options to your first boot entry:
Shell> bcfg boot -opt 0 fs1:\options.txt
Repeat the above process for your second, fallback entry, creating a text file named
options-fallback.txt containing a single line with your kernel parameters, chaning the intird to the fallback image (i.e.,
Add it to the entry using
bcfg boot -opt 1 fs:1\options-fallback.txt.
In the BIOS setup we are using syslinux. Previously you should have created a boot partition that was marked with the attribute "legacy BIOS bootable".
Now, while still in the chroot install syslinux:
# pacman -S syslinux
Create the following configuration file:
DEFAULT arch LABEL arch MENU LABEL Arch Linux LINUX ../vmlinuz-linux APPEND kernel-parameters LABEL archfallback MENU LABEL Arch Linux LINUX ../vmlinuz-linux APPEND fallback-kernel-parameters
kernel-parameters is from #kernel parameters.
fallback-kernel-parameters is exactly the same except with
initrd pointing to the fallback initramfs (i.e.,
Exit the chroot and unmount all of the partitions:
# umount -R /mnt
Then install the bootloader:
# syslinux --directory syslinux /dev/sda1
And install the MBR:
# dd bs=440 count=1 conv=notrunc if=/usr/lib/syslinux/bios/gptmbr.bin of=/dev/sda
Kernel parameters
No matter what boot loader you use, you need to pass some kernel parameters to it as indicated in the above sections.
For an encrypted system, the kernel parameters will contain at least:
root=/dev/mapper/cryptroot ro initrd=/initramfs-linux.img init=/usr/lib/systemd/systemd cryptdevice=/dev/sda2:cryptroot
:allow-discards after
cryptroot to allow trimming if using an SSD. Then enable the
fstrim.timer to trim the device weekly.
For a regular system, the kernel parameters will contain at least:
root=/dev/sda2 ro initrd=/initramfs-linux.img init=/usr/lib/systemd/systemd
- In either case, if using btrfs, and you want to boot from a specific subvolume, add
rootfstype=btrfs rootflags=subvol=/@, where
@is the subvolume you will mount as
- If you have an Intel or AMD CPU, enable microcode updates by adding an
/amd-ucode.img, respectively to
initrd=with a comma separating the two images. It must be the first initrd entry on the line. For example:
When you reboot you should be prompted for your LUKS password if you decided to encrypt the system. See User:Rdeckard/Post-installation.


text:
…Out like a Lamb.
You'd think that the scene from the above picture–taken as I exited the Court after Carachuri-Rosendo–would indicate that something exciting was happening inside. But you'd be wrong.
Probably a third of those on the right side were the lawyers, law students, and aspiring law-types who remained from 7am but could not get into Carachuri. Moments later, a handful of these folks would be ushered in to see Robertson v. U.S. ex rel. Watson.
The rest of the orderly mass outside came to sate their Supreme Court curiosity while in town for Spring Break or the Cherry Blossom Festival. I hope they get in for a three-minute glimpse of the Court in session. Otherwise, at least they can bask in the beautiful day.
Meanwhile, I am now back home and trying to figure out what to make of this morning's session.
Justice Stevens read the Court's opinion in Padilla. The decision, joined by Justices Kennedy, Ginsburg, Breyer, and Sotomayor, punted on whether Padilla could claim ineffective assistance of counsel for his lawyer's mistakenly assuring him that he needn't worry that a guilty plea would result in his deportation. The Court did hold for the general principle that a lawyer for an alien charged with a crime has a Sixth Amendment obligation to tell his client that a guilty plea may result in deportation. Justice Alito, joined by Chief Justice Roberts, read that obligation narrowly in his concurrence in the Court's judgment; going one step further, Justice Scalia, in a dissent joined by Justice Thomas, called the obligation "permanent…overkill."
Carachuri-Rosendo proved equally unsatisfying. The main argument was whether an alien, charged with a second state misdemeanor drug offense, could be considered a felon under federal immigration and drug laws when the prosecutor failed to charge him as a recidivist offender. Lawyers from both sides ably argued and the justices asked spirited questions, but the substance of the law at issue so obscured the case's broader ramifications that even Justice Breyer's crazy "cat burglar" hypothetical–which, to his merit, involved pillows and ice cream–could not save this reporter's story.
As far as F1@1F is concerned, then, the Court's March sitting was a bust. No big arguments, no big opinions, and the argument and opinion that could have been contenders fizzled out today. Even this morning's line, though fun and massive, held no story!
But so it goes for March: in like a lion and out like a lamb. April, on the other hand, will be different.


text:
Brockway wrote:I've always heard that people tend to resemble their art style, or I guess the other way around. Either way, cuuuuuuute Eve!
Eve Z. wrote:this is what bored people do with a slow camera...
I'm so zexy, it hurts.
McDuffies wrote:Justin, where's Britney?
Dr Legostar wrote:McDuffies wrote:Justin, where's Britney?
he's james franco, not timberlake.
Killbert-Robby wrote:What's this, a camwhore challenger?
Dammit there can be ONLY ONE
[AlmightyPyro] wrote:lol, I'm enjoying this quite a bit actually.
Also: Snow?! I could never imagine it snowing this early. I once saw snow in the middle of the summer on Pike's Peak, and it blew my mind for a week!
Pimpette wrote:It won't fit into an email.
Hey Lego, how's that teleporter coming along?
Laemkral wrote:Son of a BITCH. Lego is camwhoring. LEGO. IS. CAMWHORING.
The world as I know it is officially over.
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests


text:
Etihad Airways wins Middle East's leading airline award
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has been named the Middle East's Leading Airline for the eighth consecutive year at the World Travel Awards Middle East.
The prestigious accolade was one of three awards won by Etihad Airways at a special gala ceremony last night in Dubai. The airline was also named the Middle East's Leading Airline – First Class and the Middle East's Leading Cabin Crew.
The World Travel Awards was established in 1993 to celebrate excellence in travel and tourism, with industry professionals and travel consumers voting for the winners. Described as the Oscars of the travel industry by the Wall Street Journal, winners are initially selected at six regional ceremonies, including the Middle East event, followed by a year-end global finale.
The number of qualified votes for the World Travel Awards 2014 global program is expected to be a significant increase on last year's tally, which was over 530,000, with 25 per cent of this total originating from industry professionals and 75 per cent from travel consumers.
James Hogan, Etihad Airways' President and Chief Executive Officer, said: "On the back of another milestone year for Etihad Airways, we are delighted that the travel and tourism industry has voted us the Middle East's Leading Airline, the Middle East's Leading Airline – First Class and the Middle East's Leading Cabin Crew at the 2014 World Travel Awards Middle East.
"These awards are testament to our customer-centric approach, with guests placed at the heart of everything we did last year. Our service enhancements in 2013, from the launch of our Flying Nanny service to the continued rollout of Wi-Fi internet and live television across our fleet, highlight a commitment to delivering best-in-class products and services."
"The airline launched its ground-breaking A380 and B787 product and service offer yesterday at the Etihad Innovation Centre in Abu Dhabi. This is another example of the continued commitment to excellence, as recognised by the World Travel Awards," Mr Hogan said.
The year also saw Etihad Airways achieve its third consecutive net profit, up 48 per cent to US$62 million, underpinned by record passenger numbers, freight volumes and revenues.
Graham E. Cooke, World Travel Awards President & Founder, said: "This is another fantastic achievement for Etihad Airways. Over the past decade the carrier has grown from a regional player into a global powerhouse and this achievement has again been recognised by the voters of World Travel Awards. The airline's strategy of organic growth and savvy partnerships, coupled with an unrivalled commitment to quality and service, has delivered record results and soaring passenger growth. The airline looks forward to another record year in 2014."
The success at the World Travel Awards follows another triumph for the airline this week. At the 2014 Business Traveller Middle East Awards, also held last night, Etihad Airways took home the titles for Airline with the Best Economy Class and Airline with the Best Frequent Flyer Program.
Background Information
Etihad Airways
As an airline, Etihad has come a long way in a short time – just like its home Abu Dhabi.
The airline was established by Royal (Emiri) Decree in July 2003 and is wholly owned by the Government of Abu Dhabi with a mandate to operate safely, commercially and profitably.


text:
If he's celebrating a birthday, this card is a great way to let him know you're thinking of him and wishing him well. A delicious-looking chocolate cake is topped with blue candles, all lit up and ready for him to blow out. It's a chance to remind him that this day is all about him, as he looks ahead to another year of making unforgettable memories, starting with this moment.
What do you give a man who seems to have it all? How about a super rad birthday card and some encouragement to make good use of his birthday wish! Send the One More Wish Happy Birthday Card to let that guy know you think his life is pretty awesome– but you still think he deserves a little bit more!
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This card is made for the greatest man you know. If you are looking for a special birthday card to send to that person, why don't you send this one? You can also add a message when you send it.


text:
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"I'm not sure if I would have been able to conceive without the work we did together. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!"
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text:
rockhopper necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 129 diseños de 25 diseñadores freelance.
Rockhopper Coffee
ROCKHOPPER Coffee is a start-up gourmet coffee company. We are intent on serving the highest quality gourmet coffee online and in retail locations. We offer coffees from all over the world. We also intend on carrying a line of retail merchandise, including custom-branded mugs, hats, T-shirts, and much more. We want our coffee and product line to be highly sought after by a growing base of loyal customers, who continue to enjoy our products long after their first experience with Rockhopper Coffee.
We want to target coffee drinkers (20-50) that appreciate a gourmet coffee without any pretense. In essence, we want to remain fun but high quality and would like to attract these customers. Our coffee has the best combination of strength (imagine a rockhopper's "personality") and taste (a super fresh variety).
We require that the finished product be delivered in a digital format and color space so that it can be manipulated by printers and suitable for print. The logo will be used in a website. The logo will be used on coffee bags, cups, tshirts. The winning design should provide a layered RGB file in Photoshop PSD or Fireworks PNG format or Adobe Illustrator. We need a flat JPEG version, as this demonstrates how the layered file should appear.
Any commercial fonts included in your design should be rasterized, outlined, or acquired legally by the contest holder.
The Rockhopper penguins are small, aggressive, crested penguins so named because of the way they hop from boulder to boulder when moving around their rocky colonies. Rockhoppers have distinctive crest feathers on their heads, bright orange-red bills and red eyes. We want the logo to incorporate these personality traits and characteristics.
We want the logo to include 2 things:
1) A Rockhopper Penguin
2) The words "Rockhopper Coffee"
The logo should strike a balance between hip and fun. As a reference, companies and logos we like range from Caribou, Bad Ass Coffee, Gorilla Coffee.
Please contact us with any questions.
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.


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text:
by James Still, ©2014
(Jul. 1, 2014) — Following the Boston Tea Party, Parliament passed several punitive acts. The colonies referred to them as The Intolerable Acts. The Boston Port Act, the first of these acts, closed Boston Harbor.
Samuel Adams was asked to write the other colonies: "I am desired by the Freeholders and other Inhabitants of this Town to enclose you an Attested Copy of their Vote, passed in Town Meeting legally assembled this day. The Occasion of this Meeting is most alarming: We have received the Copy of an Act of the British Parliament (which is also enclosed) wherein it appears that the Inhabitants of this Town have been tried and condemned and are to be punished by the shutting up of the Harbor, and other Ways, without their having been called to answer for, nay, for aught that appears without their having been even accused of any crime committed by them; for no such Crime is alleged in the Act.
"The Town of Boston is now Suffering the Stroke of Vengeance in the Common Cause of America. I hope they will sustain the Blow with a becoming fortitude; and that the Effects of this cruel Act, intended to intimidate and subdue the Spirits of all America will by the joint Efforts of all be frustrated." Samuel Adams, The Town of Boston to the Colonies, May 13, 1774
"This Attack, though made immediately upon us, is doubtless designed for every other Colony, who will not surrender their sacred Rights & Liberties into the Hands of an infamous Ministry. Now therefore is the Time, when all should be united in opposition to this Violation of the Liberties of all. Their grand object is to divide the Colonies." Samuel Adams, The Committee of Correspondence of Boston to the Committee of Correspondence of Philadelphia, May 13, 1774
"… be assured, you will be called upon to surrender your Rights, if ever they should succeed in their Attempts to suppress the Spirit of Liberty here." Samuel Adams, The Committee of Correspondence of Boston to the Committee of Correspondence of Philadelphia, May 13, 1774
"If the Spirit of American Liberty is suppressed in this Colony, which is undoubtedly the Plan, where will the Victory lead to, and end?" Samuel Adams, Letter to Stephen Hopkins, May 18, 1774
James Still, email@example.com
Sharon Rondeau has operated The Post & Email since April 2010, focusing on the Obama birth certificate investigation and other government corruption news. She has reported prolifically on constitutional violations within Tennessee's prison and judicial systems.


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Doin' the Lindy!
Dear Miss Snark
I have a list that I guard. Ferociously. Possessively. Obsessively. My little list of Dream Agents. BUT...a couple of my top picks are solo agents.
Death, dread disease, divorce, insolvency spring morbidly to mind. Not meaning to sound cold and callous but what steps can I take to minimize the effect of these disasters should I ever land a solo agent? How solo is solo? And what are your views on separate checks (which would probably screw up the expense accounting for those manuscripts copied and couriered to the Dream Editor).
This is an excellent question, I'm so glad you asked!
First, any agent who sets up a solo shop has to establish what kind of business structure s/he will be using. Most agents set up an LLC-a limited liability corporation. You'll see LLC listed with the business name.
Look for that. If you don't see it: ASK.
LLC will protect you in case of death, divorce and insolvency. It means that the money isn't tied up in a personal account. It's an asset of a business, not a person.
ALL agents should be willing to tell you how they are set up. If they aren't , do NOT sign with them, no matter what. Ever. Got that? EVER.
Ask how they handle their client's money. I have a separate account that is used exclusively for payments to authors and to deposit checks from publishers. It's not a trust account cause the rules in NY for trust accounts are designed for people handling trust accounts in the zillions and by lawyers. This money goes in then out in about three days. I don't have clients who want to divide money at the publisher (separate checks sent to author and agent). If a client wants to do that, he's getting a thirty day notice and we're done.
Some agents handle that differently.
Dread disease is something you can't plan for. It's true when you fly solo you don't have back up on the days when you've got a migraine, or the dog bit the mailman and you have to go bail him out of jail, or vacation days in Antarctica. Its just one of the hazards of the biz. I'm sure there are hazards of a multi agent shop but I can't think of any off the top of my head.
How solo is solo? Pretty darn solo here. There are interns that come and go, but the shop is mine and I do the work. If I croak there will be a lot of unhappy clients. On the other hand, no one tells me what I can or cannot take on, or that I've had a project too long that hasn't sold and time to cut the author loose.
There is likely more info about this topic at the Author's Guild website and the National Writers Union. Both are good places to get reliable and current info.
3 comments:
- Bonnie S. Calhoun said...
Dear Miss Snark,
I just found your site, and I love your snarkness. Other than a few colorful words that turned my complexion to blue;(...and that's hard to do!) I love your attitude. You sound like I would like to. I bow to your snarkness. Could I be a snarkling?
Thanks for this informative answer. I'm a first time, unagented novelist and I never thought about this particular problem! Keep up the good work!
- 9/22/2005
- Ira Rosofsky said...
Not only in agenting. When I was looking for a pediatrician, I wanted a solo so I'd always know who the doctor was when I made an appointment. I did ask who covers when you're on vacation. "I never take vacations." Good enough for me.
- 9/22/2005
- Kitty said...
As someone who has been there, done that with pediatricians (not to mention specialists and hospitals and labs), you WANT a well-rested pediatrician, so get one who partners with at least one. Maybe even several. Any doctor who doesn't take the occasional vacation is apt to make mistakes and burn out.
- 9/23/2005


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CULTURE- FRIDAYS UPDATE Brown study: Big Payback honors the godfather
It was one of the most unpredictable twists of fate Richmond drummer Dusty Ray Simmons has faced: after nursing his love for James Brown's music for years, he finally took it upon himself to start a tribute band in February 2006. But Brown died on Christmas morning later that year, creating the opportunity for The Big Payback to fill the void in 2007.
"We didn't set out saying, 'Hey, James Brown looks like he's about to croak,'" Simmons insists with a laugh. He says the band has been bearing down on reworking their arrangements of Brown's classics, even if the older versions aren't yet road-worn.
"We constantly work on the show, because we don't want it to be the same thing," he says. "James Brown continually changed up his show– if he wasn't firing musicians, he was re-hiring them or hiring new ones."
The Big Payback's lineup has remained relatively stable, however, with musicians from assorted Richmond bands like Outback Lodge staples the DJ Williams Projekt, with whom Simmons plays drums.
It's hard to keep them all in one place these days, though, what with all the festivals and heavy gigging schedules. "Summer, as a musician, is prime working time," says Simmons. That's what landed him a slot at Charlottesville's most popular weekly musical event, a show he says will be their largest yet.
"Do you know anybody who doesn't like James Brown?" he asks. "If it's advertised correctly, I think it'll be packed. That music brings everyone together."
That's exactly what it did last summer, when the late Godfather himself graced the stage of the Pavilion for one of the last shows of his 50-year career.
"To be the band that's going to bring back whatever was there that people felt, or at least try, is an honor and a challenge," says Simmons. The hardest working man in show business may have left some of the biggest shoes to fill, but Simmons and company are sure going to try.


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Welcome to The Tangled Web's rules page. In an effort to provide a friendly community for everyone, we have a few rules to follow, but our #1 most important rule is this - don't be a jerk!
This rule is simple and easy to abide by. While you are free to disagree with folks around here, just don't be a jerk about it. If you're going to criticize a post, do it respectfully. It's really simple. If you have questions about it, feel free to PM a Staff Member for further clarification.
We don't have a lot of rules that describe exactly how you should behave here, but we have a list of things you should definitely not do. Our entire rule list is as follows:
• Rule #1 - Don't be a jerk. That should be self-explanatory and pretty much cover everything, but if you still need more than that, it basically means no trolling, no bullying, no spamming, and no flaming. We want a kind, polite, clean, and supportive community, so typical internet comment section nonsense behavior will not be tolerated here.
• Rule #2 - Do not start new threads in the Recruiting Office unless you are posting to recruit players for a game that is ready to play, already has a GM, and is going to be run on this site. If you're using only MapTool, Roll20, OpenRPG, Skype, Discord, or any combination of those, that's okay, too, as long as you aren't trying to direct people to a different gaming forum website at any point, and if you'd like something added to that list, PM a Staff Member and we'll check it out.
• Rule #3 - Do not post in anyone's game forum unless you are a part of the game. If you wish to ask a GM to join his game after it has begun and there is no recruitment thread, politely PM him.
• Rule #4 - Do not post anything that you would be ashamed of if your mother were to see it. No pornographic material. We don't mind some casual swearing just like most media but don't overdo it, and try not to do it at all in the very public threads. Breaking this rule will earn you a 2-point infraction instead of just 1.
• Rule #5 - All Users must be age 13 or older. This is a United States Law (COPPA). If you're found to be in violation of this one, it's worth 4 points, so you'll jump straight to being Banned.
• Rule #6 - Do not post, anywhere on this site, a recruitment ad for something being run on another website. Any form of recruitment for something being run on a different website (outside of what is detailed in Rule #2) is a punishable offense. If you are unsure, just ask a Staff Member first before recruiting.
• Rule #7 - Do not post, anywhere on this site, 'Player Looking for Game' ads, except in the special Players Looking for Games forum.
• Rule #8 - Do not create posts that only serve to advertise yourself or someone else, your or someone's company, another website that you like, or any activity or performance that you or someone else will be sharing, be it live or pre-recorded, simply for the purpose of recruiting an audience. Our userbase is not a resource for you to use for your own personal gain. If you're unsure about your situation, PM a Staff Member first.
• Rule #9 - Do not create multiple accounts. This will cause all of your accounts to receive a 4 point infraction, so all of your accounts will be permanently Banned.
• Rule #10 - Do not cheat. Don't even try. A lot of code-based measures are already in place that can catch you and alert us Staff Members to it without you even knowing, but we're all so seasoned at this point that we can really just spot your attempts to cheat from a mile away even without the software's help.
• Rule #11 - No unintelligible nonsense. Sadly, our English-speaking Users are, for some reason, sometimes bigger offenders here than those for whom English is a second language. Here's the deal - just try to make a post that makes sense and is readable. If you aren't perfect but you're putting in the effort, then that's fine. But if you regularly submit posts that have no spaces, no punctuation, misspelled words, text message shorthand, and other nuisances like that on a site built around typing stories to each other, then you might find yourself asked to either improve your performance or find somewhere else to get your online roleplaying fix. Posts that look like a text message that was written in five seconds are not allowed. No posts allowed that a first grade teacher wouldn't accept.
• Rule #12 - If a Staff Member Closes your thread, do not reopen it yourself. It was Closed for a reason and you should ask a Staff Member if you don't understand why. It's usually because your thread was either quiet for a week or it hit the two-week time limit. Reopening the thread yourself will just force us to Delete the thread and you'll also receive an infraction.
• Rule #13 - Do not create threads in the Virtual Tabletop Campaigns forum or the Play by Post Campaigns forum. Those areas are reserved for Users who are have already recruited players for their game and have gone through the process of requesting their own game forum.
And I really want to stress, one more time, just for good measure, that our number one and most important rule is don't be a jerk!
Unless otherwise noted, infractions are worth 1 point each. They stay with you for 30 days and then go away if you've managed to be on your best behavior for that long. If you accumulate 3 points, you'll be automatically Banned for a week. If you accumulate 4 points, you'll be automatically Banned forever.
More rules may be added to this list if necessary, but these are all that are required right now and are the most important. Please do your best not to require us to have to add to the list.
Note: If you're new and you can't access the PM function, try making a few posts around the site. The PM function will unlock after you do so. This is a security measure implemented to foil the dastardly PM spammers.
TTW uses a Reputation feature. If you come across a person that has posted something you like, you can click on the little starburst icon at the bottom of the post box and add to their Reputation. As a member's Reputation grows, a green bar will begin to fill up under their Username and Title. It's a nice way to show that you appreciate someone's time and effort. If your current Reputation Power is 0, any Rep you give to someone will not add to their total. However, after you've received Positive Reputation a few times, your Power will begin to grow, and your Positive Reputation will begin to actually add to other Users' Reputation scores. The quickest way to increase your Reputation Power is by receiving Positive Reputation. And what's the best way to receive Positive Reputation? Leaving some for others first.
Reputation is one good way to know if a player or GM on this site is established and trustworthy, since Join Date is not always an accurate indicator of this.
Please try to understand that there are already several electronic measures in place to prevent cheating, but the Staff Members are also experts at spotting attempts to cheat. Trust us. We've been doing this longer than you think, and any idea you think you have to game the system has already been tried and has already failed.
If you have any issues or questions you can always contact any Staff Member for assistance.


text:
One year ago, MSI's in-house overclocker, Toppc, broke the DDR4 5GHz barrier using G.SKILL memory and the MSI Z170I GAMING PRO AC motherboard. Today, 1 year later, he raises the bar once again and became the first ever to push DDR4 speeds to 5.5GHz under liquid nitrogen cooling using the new MSI X299 GAMING PRO CARBON AC motherboard. With the MSI X299 GAMING PRO CARBON AC, MSI's most customizable high-performance Intel X299 based motherboard, Toppc was running G.Skill DDR4 memory with an unbelievable DDR4-SDRAM clock speed of 5500MHz. This world record shows MSI's dominant position on performance for X299 by using MSI's unique and patented DDR4 Boost technology. The MSI X299 GAMING PRO CARBON AC is not only feature packed for gamers and great for case modding, it is also perfectly suited to deliver power for heavy gaming & overclocking sessions.
More information on the DDR4 World Record https://goo.gl/6efCHu


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LETTER- Fire the water plan pols
I guess public officials and politicians don't need brains because, of course, they aren't spending their own money [September 25: "Water surprise: Reservoir halted after price doubles"].
Tom Frederick, the head of the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority, admits he has no idea what his pet reservoir will cost but insists that the taxpayers write him a blank check to pay for it.
What is his plan when the old reservoir starts silting up? Oh, I get it. Another dam. His plan is undoubtedly to flood all of Albemarle. Then he can sit in his cushy corner office, get paid, and do nothing.
He doesn't know how to get the water up the hill. What is his plan? Buckets of water in the back of a '56 Chevy?
He must go. We can't afford incompetence on a silly plan that will undoubtedly cost $700 billion. If he isn't fired, I will do everything in my power to get rid of the Board of Supervisors and whoever runs Charlottesville who support him, all allegedly for the taxpayers. I presume they plan to name the pet reservoir after themselves, to immortalize a job well done?
Derek Oppen


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Our council-manager form of government combines the civic leadership of elected officials with the managerial experience of an appointed city manager. Beyond all else, we are a service organization, and we are here to serve our community.
Roseville is the largest city in Placer County and called home by 135,000 people. Find the resources you need here.
We are a place where businesses small and large find success. Ideally located, Roseville provides first-rate services, competitive costs, solid long-range planning and an educated, growing population.
While our Center is temporarily closed, please visit our Educational Resources page for games, activities and learning fun you can have at home.
In addition to our award-winning school programs and guided group tours, the Utility Exploration Center offers workshops, special events and fun family drop-in activities throughout the year. Each program builds on the investment of Roseville's Utilities in the Community. Come explore with us!