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Anger, frustration at Wellmark rate-hike hearing
The state's largest health insurer says it needs to raise rates for individual policy holders again this year, this time by at least 12 percent.
"If the increase goes into effect, we'll be near $22,500 a year," Kris Clements, of Runnells, said. "I find that ridiculous!"
This proposed rate increase effects only about 8 percent of all Wellmark's members. But they are among the most vulnerable, including people who are self-employed or out of work.
"Twenty-thousand dollars a year is a hardship," a man told a Wellmark representative.
Wellmark has been raising rates every year since 2008 adding more than 50-percent.
"In 2012, my insurance went up from $5,700 to over $7,000, this year up to $8,550 just for me," Shawn Leonard, of Des Moines, said.
"There's not anything I'm going to say today to make this rate request feel any better, I get that," Wellmark Vice President Laura Jackson said.
Jackson told the crowd that the increases were caused by chronic conditions like obesity, Iowans using health care more often, the skyrocketing cost of specialty medication and a broken system that reacts with tests and treatment rather than promotion of healthy lifestyles before there's a problem.
Jackson also said that individual policy owners will face more increases next year. She blamed President Barack Obama's health care reforms.
Iowa's insurance commissioner will make a final decision on whether to approve this rate hike by the end of the month.


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Tagged: David Weathers
5-2-09 PNC Park
Today was fireworks and Polish night, so I wasn't sure how crowded it would be. Luckily, only 22,891 came out, so batting practice was fairly sparse for a Saturday.
I got into line at 3:30 (an hour before the gates were to open), and was the 8th person in the stadium. I was the third one into the bleachers. There were 2 easter eggs, but another ballhawk got them first.
About 10 minutes or so passed with no action. I noticed a ball roll directly to the fence where the stands jut out towards the foul line in left field. I decided to vacate my spot and go grab the ball. I ran up the escalator to the main concourse, and then down the stairs and reached over the fence and grabbed ball #1. Then, I immediately went back to the bleachers. I snapped this picture when I returned to the bleacher area to illustrate where the ball was. (The small yellow X)
Game: 6 balls (3 hit, 2 thrown, 1 device)
Season: 64 balls (26 hit, 31 thrown, 7 device)
Games: 13 games (11 with BP, 2 without)
Average: 4.92 balls per game
Career: 230 balls
Average: 22,891

subset: commoncrawl


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That's what I'm calling my post because I couldn't think of another name. These things aren't necessarily weird, mind you. But they are around my house, so there. Oh, and there's cookies if you wait around until the end of my babbling. First, we have this gigantoid praying mantis that had me thinking of some crap-ass science fiction that my brother forced me to watch on a lazy Sunday afternoon maybe 25 years ago. One of my worst memories was being made to watch something called "Terror in the Jungle" about a boy who was taken by cannibals and just as they were about to sacrifice him to the god of whatever, the kid's stuffed white tiger comes to life and slaughters the whole tribe. My brother was famous for making me watch things like "Kung-Fu Theater" or "Grateful Dead at the Fillmore East" every Sunday. And by making me watch things I mean he would sit on me for about two hours. Jerk.
Next up, we have the most disgusting spider I have ever seen. Why? Because it was guarding my mail when I knew there were two more discs of "Entourage, Season 4" in there from my Netflix. God, was I pissed. My husband kept telling me to get a broom and sweep him away but I was afraid of hurting him. How stupid, right?
Now we have something that I have waited for for years…humming birds. Why, you ask? Well, a million years ago, while visiting my brother in Colorado, the house where he was living had a hummingbird feeder hanging out off the eaves of the front porch. While we were all standing around outside talking, about 6 birds came to feed off this thing. It was extremely cool. While in Maine last month for my family reunions, my Aunt Joan (pronounced Joanne, I swear) had a hummingbird feeder suctioned to one of her windows and they came to slurp nectar while we sat around watching. Then about two weeks ago, while sitting in Olivia's playroom listening to her push the same annoying buttons over and over again on some ridiculous toy she got for her birthday that seemingly has no other purpose except to irritate the ever loving shit out of the parents who have to suffer through it, i saw hummingbirds in my back yard. I had no idea that we got them in this area. What did I do? Why I went to the Foster and Smith website and ordered myself an assload of outdoorsy shit including a butterfly house, a butterfly feeder, a bat house, and of course, a hummingbird feeder and some nectar. It only took a week until they came a flying my way to feed. Yay! I hope that all didn't just make me sound REALLY gay. Oh well.
In this next photo we have what will be the equivalent to whatever made Van Gogh cut off his own ear: A drum set for a two year old. What kind of evil jerkface buys one of these things for a toddler? Oh wait, that would be own husband, on Ebay again without telling me. "Look honey! I won this pink drum set for Olivia!" I wanted to bury him in the back yard. No one will notice, I told myself. He won't be missed, I'm sure of it. The lovely irony is that she keeps waking him up with it every morning. Sucka!!!
As stated in my previous post, I will be slowly making my way through an ebook posted on Hannah Kaminsky's blog that you can purchase for five bucks. She's the author of "My Sweet Vegan," an obviously vegan dessert cookbook. Duh. I'm not going to post the recipe here. If you want it, pay for it cheapo. The girl's putting herself through college, help her out. You can part with five bucks. The new Alanis cd will just have to wait another week. Here are a few pictures of me making the "Steel Cut Oatmeal Cookies." She said they would be a great breakfast treat but they didn't even last until bedtime in my house.
Here's the oatmeal I made for the cookies. It took half an hour to cook. Steel cuts oats look weird, fyi. And while they were cooking, there was a weird greenish looking discharge oozing off the top of the oats and onto the sides of my pan. I should have taken a picture. It reminded of something they might show you pictures of in high school health class, seriously. "This is what an STD looks like! Don't have sex, kids!"
These are the dried apples required for the recipe. I could have gone out and bought two bags at four bucks each, or I could have just peeled, chopped, and dried the pile of apples on my counter. Which is what I did. About two hours at two hundred degrees, in case you were wondering. Don't forget to spray your baking sheet with no stick. Good times.
I made a batch and a half of these and I got twelve giant cookies out of this recipe. In her regular sized recipe she says she got twelve cookies. Hmm…what did I do wrong? Were they too big? IS there such a thing? I did use my three ounce ice cream scoop to dole out the batter. Oh well, they were fantastic nonetheless!! And now they all live in our bellies!!
She also states that you can use whatever dried fruit you happen to have lying around. If you have to be one of those weird people who like raisins with your oatmeal cookie, then go crazy with it. One thing I would like to point out: you cannot tell this is oatmeal. It doesn't have the texture of a regular oatmeal cookie. You know what I mean- the giant oat that sometimes you just wish weren't there. It was a more smooth, more moist cookie. Just better, in this baker's opinion.
This is my middle child Abbey plowing through her third cookie. She loved them. "Do we really have to wait for breakfast to eat these?" Pay no attention to the fact that her glasses are missing an arm. We're getting that fixed This week. They broke while she was at Six Flags Ohio with her best friend Taylor. Oops! And she wanted me to point out that her hair doesn't usually look this…odd. Get a good look at her, folks. Someday, she's going to cure cancer. Or at least solve all my foot problems. Abbey the podiatrist. I like it.
Next time I will do the "peanut butter bombshell blondies." I actually already made them but they turned out awful so I'm going to redo them because one of about eight things could have gone wrong. Sometimes I like to think I know better than the people who write recipe books. I don't. I mean, they tasted delicious, they were just kinda undercooked and mushy. I'll get it right, I swear! Plus, I bought the rootbeer extract to make the rootbeer pudding I swore I'd never make. Turns out my friend Robert really wants me to make it. Sigh…
See you next time!!


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MendoCoastCurrent, June 24, 2010
Public institutions and private sector organizations from across the country should form a coalition to help states, localities and regions develop and deploy successful and cost-effective electric demand response programs, a new Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) staff report says.
The coalition effort is the centerpiece of the National Action Plan on Demand Response Report , issued today, that identifies strategies and activities to achieve the objectives of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.
"There is strength in numbers. Coalitions harness the combined energy of individual organizations, producing results that can go far beyond what can be accomplished on an individual basis," FERC Chairman Jon Wellinghoff said. "The success of this National Action Plan depends on all interested public and private supporters working to implement it."
The public-private coalition outlined in the National Action Plan would coordinate and combine the efforts of state and local officials, utilities and demand response providers, regional wholesale power market operators, electricity consumers, the federal government and other interest groups. Demand response refers to the ability of customers to adjust their electricity use by responding to price signals, reliability concerns or signals from the grid operator. Demand response is a valuable resource for meeting the nation's energy needs.
The 2007 law required FERC to identify the requirements for technical assistance to states so they can maximize the amount of demand response that can be developed and deployed; design and identify requirements for a national communications program that includes broad-based customer education and support; and develop or identify analytical tools, information, model regulations and contracts and other materials for use by customers, states, utilities and demand response providers.
The National Action Plan applies to the entire country, yet recognizes Congress' intent that state and local governments play an important role in developing demand response. It is the result of more than two years of open, transparent consultation with all interested groups to help states, localities and regions develop demand response resources.
The National Action Plan on Demand Response is available at here.


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Today, health insurance is a necessity for most families. Health insurance helps subscribers pay for a portion of most routine and unexpected medical costs. There are many varieties of health insurance on the market and choosing the right one for an individual's personal situation can seem like a daunting task. Some plans can pay directly to the care provider while others require the subscriber to pay the provider first and then submit the receipt to be reimbursed through the insurance plan. Wirefly is available to help subscribers compare health insurance plans in Monrovia, MD and receive free quotes online.
Most residents in Monrovia, MD usually receive health insurance through their employer sponsored plan or through private insurance. Senior citizens may be eligible to receive their health insurance through Medicare while families falling into the low-income brackets can usually get their insurance through Medicaid programs. Medicare and Medicaid programs are often less expensive than other private health insurance plans.
The future healthcare needs of any person are quite unpredictable. As such, correctly determining the amount of coverage you will need for the coming year might prove difficult. An individual's past is the best indicator to use for his/her future healthcare needs since it offers an educated guess about what one might need in future. For instance, if you are healthy more often than not and rarely need to see a medical service provider, you will most likely get adequate coverage from a low-cost health insurance plan. On the other hand, looking into a medical insurance plan that offers a broad range of coverage is probably the best option if you are suffering from a chronic health condition and need to pay a specialist or your primary healthcare physician regular visits.
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A Health Maintenance Organization plan or HMO requires you to choose a PCP or primary care physician, to oversee all their healthcare needs. That means if you need to see a specialist, such as a cardiologist or a dermatologist, you will need to see your PCP first and get a referral from them before your insurance will cover the costs. Even though most HMO plans usually cost less, policyholders must choose from a network of doctors for their care, and there are some providers that don't accept HMO insurance. The upside of this type of plan is that there are usually no deductibles and any out-of-pocket fees you must pay are sensible.
A Preferred Provider Organization or PPO is a popular choice for those in Monrovia, MD who want the freedom to choose from a larger network of providers, and visit a specialist without a referral. While it is advised that those on a PPO plan visit doctors, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities that are within their network, you can get partial coverage for health care services received out-of-network. A PPO plan can be very flexible, but you must pay for these benefits. They have co-payments, deductibles, and limits to how much you can pay out-of-pocket.
A Point of Service plan or POS combines the benefits of an HMO and PPO plan by offering policyholders with a large network of physicians to choose from. If you stay within the network, you will not have to pay out any deductibles, and your co-payments will be affordable. However, if you ever need to see a physician outside the network, you can expect to pay a high deductible and more expensive co-pays.
There are also several non-traditional health insurance plans in Monrovia, MD that some individuals consider to be convenient. These include Health Savings Accounts (HSA), Medical Savings Accounts (MSA), and Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRA). With these plans, money is set aside either by yourself or your employer in a savings account that covers all your medical expenses. The money in this tax-exempt account may be used to pay for everything from surgical procedures to prescriptions. These plans can be very flexible in terms of what the money is used for, and some allow unused funds to be rolled over to the next year.
A premium is the monthly payment you need to make to be covered by health insurance in Monrovia, MD. Your insurance carrier does not refund your premiums irrespective of whether you are using the insurance or not.
Deductibles are the additional payments you are supposed to make to a primary care physician before your insurance provider begins paying for your medical expenses. A deductible is an annual financial obligation you have to commit to prior to receiving medical benefits from your insurance carrier. Out-of-pocket expenses refer to the amount of money you are required to spend before your insurance provider pays your whole bill.
Deductibles and your out-of-pocket expenses start a fresh at the beginning of the year. For example, if you have a $5,000 deductible, and your out-of-pocket expenses amount to $2,500, and you have the same insurance coverage at the beginning of a new year, your deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses will start at $0. However, there are some packages in Monrovia, MD, that enable you to roll over any paid deductibles to the next year.
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Insurance carriers also have maximum lifetime benefits in their plans. This means that there is a maximum total cost that an insurance provider will pay for a person's health care. When this maximum limit has been reached, the insurance no longer pays for your medical claims.
Your work status affects the type of health care cover you can access. If you are employed in a large organization, you will probably be included in their group health care plan. While there is no law requiring employees to join a group health plan, they are cheaper than private insurance.
If you are unemployed or self-employed, you can purchase a private or individual health coverage. For seniors who are out of work, you can receive financial aid through government sponsored Medicare. Individuals with low income can also get financial aid through Medicaid.
When choosing a health insurance plan, you should check with your doctor to determine what plans they accept in Monrovia, MD. You should also inform your doctors when you change your insurance coverage, and also check with your provider if you have any questions on the services covered in your plan.
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First Look: January 2013
Eager to know where consumers stand as we begin the New Year?
We've got the latest details on consumer confidence, employment, purchase plans, financial goals as well as what's hot (or not) in our January 2013 Snapshot Summary. Here are some of the highlights:
– Did the fiscal cliff free fall we nearly experienced lead to more fragile sentiment for the New Year? For January, just over a third (35.3%) is very confident/confident in chances for a strong economy, down two points from last month.
– Though the U.S. unemployment rate remained stagnant at 7.8% for December, consumers maintain slightly higher hopes for the job market compared to thirty days ago. Look for unemployment to remain a hot topic in 2013, though: year-over-year; consumers look less optimistic about the pink slip situation.
– Perhaps some of those holiday gift cards are leading consumers to less practical pastures…this month, while nearly half are poised for pragmatic spending, this figure has declined three points from 30 days ago.
– New Year's Resolution #1: Fix the Finances…in January, more than a third affirm that they plan to pay down debt and/or decrease overall spending over the next three months, rising from December as well as Jan-12 and Jan-11.
– With the annual average price of gas the highest on record in 2012, it should come as no surprise that drivers haven't relegated this issue to the back seat…two-thirds are still affected by the pain at the pump. Drivers' pump price prediction for the end of January is $3.52/gal, just under what was expected at the close of 2012.
– In this month's retail roundup: In Women's Clothing, Kohl's bests Walmart for January, while the big discounter seems to be thisclose to losing the top spot in Shoes as well…stay tuned. Amazon proves it's the biggest-freight-train-that-could in Electronics, nearly doubling customer share Y-O-Y. And, in an interesting development in Health & Beauty: it appears that 2013 could be a battle between Target and Walgreens…
– Evidence of a holiday hangover? With the gift-giving season in the rearview, consumers take a downward approach to spending compared to December.
– It's blue skies ahead for vacationers in this month's BIG Ticket, as 6 month purchase intentions for vacation travel have increased M-O-M and Y-O-Y.
– Not only is Amazon's the world's largest online retailer, but it's the hottest as well…nearly four out of five consumers voted Amazon what's hot in January. Plus: "Made in America" products, exercise/going to the gym, Super Bowl XLVII, and Walmart.
Our monthly Consumer Snapshot video analysis of the State of the Consumer for 2013 will be released tomorrow, January 16. This special edition includes quick insights on the five things you need to know about consumers in the New Year. To sign up to be a BIGinsight™ VIP and receive our Consumer Snapshot email notification, please click here.
And, to view the Snapshot Summary in its entirely: January 2013.
Source: BIGinsight.com
© 2013, Prosper®
BIGinsight™ is a trademark of Prosper Business Development
The IT List 2012: Other Notable Trends
With a big list of 145 personalities, trends, and current events vying for a position in our Top Ten Hottest Trends for 2012, we thought we'd take a look at some of the other noteworthy findings from the past year:
Golden Girl: The top personality on our list of 145 was one of my four favorite Golden Girls, Betty White (May-12, #18). The nifty nonagenarian bested other celebs – and royals – including mom-to-be Kate Middleton (Dec-12, #31), late-blooming action star Liam Neeson (Oct-12, #40), The Avengers' Scarlett Johansson (May-12, #44), and Las Vegas favorite Prince Harry (Sept-12, #64).
Making History: The past proves not-so-boring when paired with additive stories from the likes of Pawn Stars, American Pickers, and Hatfields & McCoys, with the History Channel (Jun-12, #12) finishing just shy of the top ten. It appears that portraying "Devil Anse" Hatfield was a boon to Kevin Costner's stock with consumers; the veteran actor (Jun-12, #65) landed six spots ahead of Magic Mike's Channing Tatum (Jul-12, #71) #whatistheworldcomingto?
Big at the Box Office: Among last year's blockbusters, The Amazing Spider-Man (Jul-12, #17) seemed to be the most highly anticipated, though The Dark Knight Rises (Jul-12, #23) and Marvel's The Avengers (May-12, #26) weren't too far behind. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (Dec-12, #32), Prometheus (Jun-12, #37), Twilight: Breaking Dawn, Part 2 (Nov-12, #51), The Hunger Games (Mar-12, #56), Total Recall (Aug-12, #58), and Skyfall (Nov-12, #59) landed a bit lower on the list.
Fashion Trends to Try: By their very nature of not appealing to most of the male portion of the population, fashion trends tend to fall a bit lower on our list, but here are the top trends consumers were willing to try in 2012: 1. Ankle Boots (Oct-12, #61), 2. Skinny Jeans (Oct-12, #76), 3. High-Low Skirts/Dresses (Aug-12, #80), 4. Jean Jackets (May-12, #82), 5. Colored Denim (Aug-12, #83). Trends to avoid? Hip-enhancing Peplum Tops (Sept-12, #144) and Elmer Fudd-like Trapper Hats (Jan-12, #143).
Not-So-Honorable Mention: At #145 on our list this year, Man Candles (Jun-12) wins the prize as the unhottest (coldest?) trend for 2012. So, it's confirmed: guys prefer the smell of fresh cookies over mowed grass, lumber, and other icky boy stuff. #noththattheresanythingwrongwiththat
See also: The IT List: Hottest Trends for 2011
Source: BIGinsight.com
© 2013, Prosper®
BIGinsight™ is a trademark of Prosper Business Development
The IT List: Hottest Trends for 2012
- Amid reports of a ho-hum holiday season, you really have to wonder about current consumer mindset. After a strong turnout Black Friday weekend, Hurricane Sandy hit, we witnessed tragedy in Sandy Hook, while those on Capitol Hill literally left us hanging on the fiscal cliff. Retailers continued to give consumers what they really wanted – deals, deals, and more deals – but ultimately it appears that practicality and a focus on needs were at the forefront of consumers' thoughts as we approached December 25. To top everything off, NBC revealed record ratings for its Christmas Eve showing of It's a Wonderful Life…coincidence? Perhaps not.
- We at BIGinsight tallied up all of the votes in the lively "Hot or Not?" segment for the whole of 2012 to see which of the 145 trends, personalities, and events really got consumers (Adults 18+) buzzing last year. And while items like holiday shopping online and the New Apple iPad landed high in the rankings, the top 10 list points to consumers focused more on what really matters:
- #10 NFL (Sep-12)*
Football: America's new favorite pastime? With its top ten ranking, the NFL is certainly giving Major League Baseball (Apr-12, #46) a run for its money. The Giants-Patriots match-up for Super Bowl XLVI (Jan-12, #19) finished within the top 20 this year; however, it was the Packers-Steelers bout in Super Bowl XLV that took top honors in this list back in 2011.
#9 New Apple iPad (Mar-12)
At #9, Apple's third iteration of its popular iPad was the top tech gadget we polled in 2012, while the more recent releases of the Apple iPad Mini (Nov-12, #25) and Kindle Fire HD (Oct-12, #27) – which sparked the great tablet debate – ranked lower in our list overall.
#8 London Summer Olympic Games (Jul-12)
Fresh off of 2011's royal wedding, the British invasion of sorts continued for Americans in 2012 with the London Olympic Games. Ranking higher than any other athletes on our lists, swimming superstars Michael Phelps (Aug-12, #21) and Ryan Lochte (Aug-12, #36) proved that they were certainly the pride of the yanks.
#7 Farmers' Markets (Jul-12)
Perhaps it's because they offer fresh fare or maybe it's their "shop small" charm, but at #7, Farmers' Markets were hit among consumers getting back to the basics this year, though Community Gardens (Aug-12, #81) and Gluten-free Diets (Jul-12, #106) didn't rank quite so highly.
#6 2012 Presidential Election (Sep-12)
While those of us residing in the swing states couldn't wait for the endless barrage of phone calls, mailers, and commercials to end, this year's Presidential Election was certainly very important to all who exercised their right to vote.
#5 Coupons (Jun-12)
Indicative of a consumer group prioritizing budgeting, practicality, and – most importantly – saving money, Coupons scored a top five position in this year's list. Note to retailers and manufacturers: keep 'em coming in 2013.
#4 Voting (Nov-12)
You lose your right to complain when you don't exercise your right to vote…right? Whether their candidate won or lost the election, Americans set precedence on voicing their opinions this year.
#3 "Made in America" Products (Jan-12)
While they may be few and far between, at #3 on our list, "Made in America" Products seem to be what consumers prefer. Or perhaps it's logical reasoning for boosting our sagging unemployment rate…
#2 Holiday Shopping Online (Dec-12)
Arguably one of the few bright spots for retailers over the past holiday season (gift cards were pretty popular as well), shopping online – whether via a traditional computer/laptop or a mobile device – just clicked with consumers this year. With free shipping offers abound, gift givers were able to skip crowded malls, long checkout lines, and stock-outs in favor of cruising the web for the big bargains, competitive pricing, and compelling customer reviews from the comfort of their couches. However, with Holiday Shopping in Stores (Dec-12) landing at #15, it appears that plenty of Santas still preferred to shop the old fashioned way.
#1 Thanksgiving (Nov-12)
While the Black Friday shopping tradition is increasingly encroaching on the fourth Thursday of November, consumers are seemingly taking a stand on the Thanksgiving holiday, placing it atop our list this year. (Giving Thanks was #2 last year.) It's a Wonderful Life, right?
* The month/year each item was asked is denoted in parenthesis (MMM-YY).
This post originally appeared on Forbes.com as a contribution to the Prosper Now blog.
Hot Trends for December: Not a Creature Was Stirring, Except for a Mouse…
Do you hear what I hear? That wasn't eight tiny reindeer up on the housetop recently, but the soft sounds of mouse clicks bringing joy to all of those good little girls and boys, as holiday shopping online topped out "Hot or Not?" segment for December.
Those who love the annual Christmas tradition of fighting for a parking space, scouring the [sale] racks for perfect gifts, and braving the long checkout lines, however, kept holiday shopping in stores alive at #2 in our heat spectrum this month. Buoyed by a large proportion of celebrants under 35, New Year's Eve Parties clocked in at #3.
And perhaps one of the stories we'll hear most about in 2013, mom-to-be Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, bested the results for Princes William and Harry earlier in the fall. She's certainly shaping up to be the next people's princess [at least among us Yanks] – particularly among women 35+.
Proof that you can put anything in front of the word "diamond" and find gift-giving success among the female crowd: about two in five women gave brown/chocolate diamonds two thumbs up. Ditto for cashmere. And rounding out fashion, while ugly christmas sweaters registered pretty cool on our heat-o-meter this month, those under 35 found the humor in this new holiday tradition.
Finally, while it appears that consumers certainly intend to celebrate as the ball drops for 2013, don't expect them to be rockin' with Ryan Seacrest.
For more on what we found "Hot or Not?" for the month of December, plus other consumer highlights, check out this month's video briefing:
Happy New Year!
Source: BIGinsight.com
© 2012, Prosper®
BIGinsight™ is a trademark of Prosper Business Development
3 Reasons Why 2012 Might be the Year of the Gift Card
Holiday 2012 has been an interesting selling season. Consumers are cautiously optimistic, planning to spend slightly above what they did in 2011, though the economy / unemployment are still troublesome and the fiscal cliff could still turn out to be the Grinch who stole Christmas. Undoubtedly, though, the shining star of the season has been the resurgence of gift cards.
While gift cards have been perennially touted as the perfect last-minute gift, a look at this year's insights shows us that gift card buying patterns are shifting. For 2012, consumers aren't waiting until Christmas Eve for these purchases; they are checking them off their lists much sooner. According to the National Retail Federation, nearly one-third (32.6%) of Black Friday Weekend* shoppers made a gift card purchase, up a whopping 40% from a year ago (23.1%). Further, as of the first week of December, holiday shoppers overall continue to pace ahead of previous years' buying habits; two out of five (39.2%) have already purchased these stored-cash cards as gifts this season, up 25% from 2011 (31.4%).
So is 2012 shaping up to be the Year of the Gift Card? You betcha. So let's take a look at three reasons why gift cards are a "must buy" among holiday shoppers this year.
1. We want gift cards – badly.
While they have been atop consumers' wish lists since 2007, intent to buy gift cards sputtered during the recession as consumers reached for bargain merchandise that wouldn't quite reveal the total dollar amount paid. This year, though, a record number of consumers are requesting them (59.8%, much higher than the second most request gift – apparel and accessories – at 49.1%), and a record number of shoppers are responding that they are planning to buy them (59.2%, nearly eclipsing the most purchased category – again apparel and accessories – at 59.7%).
Bonus: Buying a gift card spares the giver and receiver from that awkward "here's the receipt for the return" exchange.
2. Gift cards are still practical gifts.
Gift cards may be tempting this year because they can still be perfectly practical, which is on what the near majority of consumers are remaining focused in this uncertain economy. Recipients can buy what they want or what they need – and either way, it's money well spent on behalf of the giver and better than a sweater relegated to the back of someone's closet, no? Shoppers may have a little extra cash in their pockets this year, but if they are going to spend their hard-earned (and hard-saved) pennies, they'll do it wisely. And remember, a $50 gift card to a discounter might be one man's (or woman's) groceries at Target but another's new home décor from Tar-Zhay.
Bonus: And speaking of sweaters, gift cards are one-size-fits-all, so no worrying about whether or not Aunt Clara really did lose that 10 lbs. this year when debating between a medium and a large [oy].
3. We can buy gift cards "on sale."
Back in the day (so…five years ago), buying a $50 gift card meant that the purchaser would fork over $50 cash. And these days, with retailers and restaurateurs bending over backward to bring customers through their doors, it seems that incentives to buy gift cards are becoming increasingly creative as well as prevalent. Nowadays, a $100 gift card might come with a $20 bonus to use later (Merry Christmas to me, right?) Or, and this is one of the examples I saw a few times during my Black Friday exploits, a pack of five $20 gift cards might be discounted 20% to $80. Gift card purchasers may also be receiving more indirect incentives to purchase, such as grocery stores offering frequent shopper / fuel rewards or salons giving away coupon books for future services with gift cards purchases.
Bonus: Shop wisely and gift cards purchases can still come with that "you'll-never-guess-what-I-paid-for-it" cachet, which was the feel good saying among holiday shoppers during the recession.
So are gift cards changing the way we approach shopping for holiday gifts? Certainly. However, when and if gift exchanges turn into gift card exchanges, I'll bet we'll see a renaissance of more traditional gift giving.
* "Black Friday Weekend" is defined as Thursday (Thanksgiving), Friday (Black Friday), Saturday, and Sunday.
This post originally appeared on Forbes.com as a contribution to the Prosper Now blog.
New December Insights in a Snap!
This month's Consumer Snapshot is ready! The video below is a concise look at a few trending topics for the month of December, designed to give you a BIG picture view of current consumers.
Here's a brief overview of what we're seeing from consumers in December 2012:
– Will the fiscal cliff prove to be the Grinch who stole Christmas? Confidence backs down two points from November.
– While the official unemployment rate registered at 7.7% for November,this doesn't seem to be quite the hiring miracle consumers were hoping to see this season.
– After the buying bonanza that was Black Friday and Cyber Monday, consumers' penchant for practicality rises in December.
– It appears that along with trimming the tree this month, consumers will also be trimming their budgets.
– Walmart versus Kohl's is a toss-up this month in Women's Clothing.
– Amazon.com climbs to record customer share in Electronics.
– It's a frosty 90 Day Outlook with spending plans looking downward from Nov-12, Dec-11.
– What's Hot? Holiday shopping…online.
Be sure to check out the NEW Consumer Snapshot InsightCenter™. When you register for complimentary access to this InsightCenter™, you'll have the ability to segment an advance preview of our all-star insights on consumer confidence, employment, shopping strategies, and future purchase plans by several key demographic groups. You can also download this month's text summary (which includes additional insights) as well as the PowerPoint analysis through this InsightCenter™.
Interested in becoming a BIG VIP? Please click here to sign up for access to a host of complimentary insights, from our briefings and webinars to press releases and more.
Source: BIGinsight.com
© 2012, Prosper®
BIGinsight™ is a trademark of Prosper Business Development Corp.


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If You Go
What: 300 Suns Brewing
When: 2-8 p.m. Monday-Thursday; noon-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday; noon-6 p.m. Sunday
Where: 335 1st Avenue, Unit C, Longmont
Info: 720-442-8292 or 300sunsbrewing.com
LONGMONT — The lights are on and the beer is flowing at 300 Suns Brewing, the first start-up craft brewery to open in Longmont since Left Hand Brewing Co. was founded in 1993.
Partners Mark Lusher and his fiance, Candace Newcomb, and husband and wife Dan and Jean Ditslear put in years of planning, several rounds of crowd-sourced and private financing and a lot of "sweat equity" to make their dream of opening a craft brewery a reality, Lusher said.
A sizable crowd showed up for last weekend's grand opening to check out the fruits of their labor.
Patrons found a bright, inviting space that bears little resemblance to the nondescript warehouse on First Avenue the partners used as their blank canvas to create 300 Suns. The 1,250-square-foot tasting room features handsome wood paneling stained in a spectrum of warm tones, as well as a striking bar top that Dan Ditslear created using thousands of pennies, a few nickels and embossed gold medallions that pay tribute to 300 Suns backers.
A variety of seating options — including high-top tables that sport 300 Suns logo and several picnic-style community tables — ensures that groups both large and small will be comfortable. In warmer weather, two garage-style doors can open onto a large front deck, with plenty of room out front to park a food truck.
Lusher, the brewmaster, also outfitted 300 Suns' seven-barrel brew system from scratch. He purchased a brew kettle from Bennett Forgeworks, made by Tom Bennett in Ridgway, Colo., and bought a mash tun constructed from a converted dairy tank by Dairy Engineering in Denver. A stout and an India Pale Ale were bubbling away in the two fermenters last weekend, with plenty of room to add more equipment.
"We designed this place with expansion in mind," Lusher said.
The brewery opened with four beers — Rabbit Mountain Red Ale, a tasty red ale brewed with a touch of honey; Sun Worshipper Brown Ale, which features a lightly roasted, nutty flavor; Colorado Sunday SMASH 1.0, the first in a planned series of beers brewed using a single variety of malt and a single hop strain, and 1st Avenue River Pale Ale, a crisp and citrusy pale ale named in homage of the floods that swept through the area just weeks after the partners signed the lease in September.
Lusher expects that both the IPA and the stout will be ready to serve by this weekend and will round out 300 Suns' lineup of core beers.
Lusher, who got into the business as a homebrewer, is also planning a series of "collabeeration" beers. Homebrewers will be invited to submit beers along certain style guidelines, and the winning brewer will have an opportunity to brew and serve his or her beer on the 300 Suns system.
Lusher and Dan Ditslear also enrolled in a brewing immersion course offered by Tom Hennessy of Colorado Boy Pub & Brewer in Ridgway to help get acquainted with brewing on a production-sized system and to get a clear picture of the business specifics related to running a brewery.
"The two of us went down there, and I hung out with the brewer and learned the brewing process, and Dan hung out with Tom and learned the business side of things," Lusher said. "It was very helpful to see what running a brewery actually looks like."
Lusher also brewed a few batches with brewers from Twelve Degrees Brewing in Louisville and Echo Brewing Co. in Frederick, both of which are alumni of the course.
For the most part, 300 Suns' core beers are moderate in strength, well balanced and brewed to style. Even casual craft-beer drinkers should have no problem finding something to like on tap among the diverse selection.
For now, 300 Suns will concentrate on tap-room sales and growler fills, with an eye toward distributing kegs to area restaurants in the near future, Lusher said.
"We have at least 16 recipes that are solid at this point," he said. "We'll keep brewing and see what people like."
The brewery also will pour beer at two upcoming events: the Hops & Handrails Beer Fest & Rail Jam, presented by Left Hand Brewing Co., on March 29 at the Longmont brewery (lefthandbrewing.com), as well as the New Brew Fest: Boulder County, sponsored by the Colorado Beer Trail and Bootstrap Brewing and scheduled for May 10 in Niwot (facebook.com/events/1445548125679759).
The New Brew Fest will feature more than 20 of the region's newest breweries, including 300 Suns, City Star Brewing, Echo Brewing Co. and many others that are helping to solidify the Front Range's reputation as the Napa Valley of beer.
Contact Tom Wilmes at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Common Ground: The Kinship of Metaphysicians
A syncretic approach to esoteric teachings - the golden threads that connect Pagans, Yogis, Rosicrucians and Masons.
You Will Know Them By Their Fruits
I periodically run across blogs proclaiming that the shadowy guides who control spiritual evolution on this planet are divided into Good and Evil contingents—and that our religious and metaphysical organizations have become unwitting pawns of the Evil ones. According to these disaffected souls, any organization you can think of has been taken-over by the Dark Side: the Catholic Church, the Masons, the Theosophical Society, A.M.O.R.C., Self-Realization Fellowship, Eckankar, the Mormons, Wicca. You can't trust anyone!
How to evaluate such extreme accusations? This is what my life experience has taught me:
All human organizations consist of individuals at various levels of development and understanding. Every church, every temple, every mosque, every order, every fraternal or metaphysical lineage, contains a jumbled mix of people. Some are well on their way to enlightenment, and these perceive in the teachings of their organization a message of Unity and Oneness between themselves and all created beings. Others in the very same organization are in the earliest stages of their spiritual evolution, and are mired in superstition, fear and bigotry. They perceive in the teachings of their group (the very same teachings, mind you) a message of exclusivity and separation between themselves and all others who hold different points of view.
An individual receives, from the group, vibrations exactly equal to those that he or she brought into it. The Beatles said it concisely: "And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make." A less flattering way is, "Garbage in, garbage out." This is why it is so unhelpful to judge an individual by his or her affiliations.
Jesus didn't say, "You will know them by their membership cards." He said, "You will know them by their fruits." People should be evaluated by the effects they produce in the lives of those they touch, much more than by their past histories or self-identification. Until you interact with somebody intimately, you can't know what motivated him to join a group, nor the degree to which he has bought the party line, nor the extent to which he retains his own power of discrimination, interpretation and judgment.
Jesus found individual supporters even among the religious sects that ran the Temple and generally drew his condemnation. As we have no record of those good men resigning their offices, his observations must have motivated them to correct their organizations from within.
There used to be a moral warning when I was a kid, that you should never judge a book by its cover. But that is exactly what we do when we lump together all Masons, all Rosicrucians, all Catholics, all Muslims, all Hindus, all Jews, all Mormons, all Republicans, all Democrats, all Wiccans, all Heathens. Shame on us! This is the height of spiritual laziness.
I am most bewildered by conflicts between the members of metaphysical organizations, considering that their groups all promote the same basic principles: Our souls reincarnate in various bodies on different planes of existence, depending on the level of spiritual development we attained in our last lifetime and the direction in which our actions in that life sent us—either forward or backward—but eventually we are all destined to attain enlightenment and perfection, releasing us from the necessity of physical rebirth, at which point we will become helpers of the Divine on the spiritual plane. There are Ascended Masters, some no longer in the flesh and others who still return periodically, who direct the progress of these reincarnational events. The more powerfully gifted an individual is, the greater potential he or she has for creating both good and evil in this world, for energy is neutral and this physical realm exists through the balance of opposites.
All of these groups believe in vast cycles during which the spiritual vibrations of the planet expand and contract—though there is little agreement between them as to the exact length of those cycles, or in which direction the energies are moving at any given point in time. They do agree, though, that great spiritually-enlightened civilizations existed on Earth in times past, in such places as Atlantis, Lemuria, Mu, the Americas and the Vedic India of Lord Rama, and that they all have some sort of common connection to Egypt and the mystery schools that held initiations in underground chambers beneath the Pyramids and Sphinx. Many of them claim direct spiritual descent from Akhenaton or Christ, though there is considerable disagreement between them as to exactly what those Masters taught their disciples in private.
If all these groups, traditions, lineages and organizations promote basically the same universal principles—then where do some of them get off, accusing the others of being under the thrall of Evil?
Isn't it exactly this sort of exclusionist message that keeps justifying the crimes of lynchings, witch hunts, pogroms, inquisitions and wars? "Our group is holy but your group is evil. We are smart enough to see the difference, but you are too stupid."
Another thing: Have you noticed how these negative people come out of the woodwork just when you have committed yourself to a certain course of study? Why was it, do you suppose, that you never heard from them when your interest was dormant?
Another metaphysical principle is that there is some downward-pulling force that doesn't want us to become enlightened. It will try very hard to dissuade us from a path of Truth—including trying to convince us that there is something dangerous about it, and that we had better stop.
So, I would respectfully ask the well-meaning folks (I can only assume that they are well-meaning) who post hysterical blogs against metaphysical and religious societies, and promote mistrust, paranoia and division, how they can be so bloody sure that it's not their shadowy guides who are promoting misinformation.
After all—you will know them by their fruits.
Thursday, 11 September 2014
Great stuff! I generally agree, with one exception. Let me tell a story:
For decades, I dealt with a tradition whose practitioners kept hurting people. I tried to keep an open mind, told myself it was only individuals in the tradition, not the group as a whole. After decades, I had to come out of my denial, because every single member of the tradition who I let in my life eventually burned me badly.
I finally had to admit the enormous evidence of wrongdoing to me and others allowed no denial that the tradition's energy line is tainted, its teachings are subtlety corrupting of the kindest souls, and its gatherings attended by demons who take over its attendees' minds. I have seen wonderfully aware individuals enter the tradition and suddenly act so irrationally and unkindly that I finally had to admit to those demons.
This tradition is an exception to your premises—the exception that proves the rule?—but it is important to mention, bc the number of deaths, incidents of child molestation, incidence of psychotic breaks, and other tragedies consistently occurring within that tradition motivate me to say that discernment is paramount. In other words, it is possible for a system to be corrupt, and we must allow that possibility, instead of being in denial. We know them by their fruits.
I daily pray for the people in that tradition.
Your essay is excellent. Among other things, it urges us not to shadow project. I just do not want anyone to take it to the opposite extreme and be in denial when confronted by real evil. Blessings on you for an essay that is spot on and motivated by love.
Thursday, 11 September 2014
You are absolutely right, Francesca, and while I didn't have such a case in mind when I wrote the piece, in the interests of balanced reporting I should add a paragraph dealing with corrupted and demonic traditions. (I don't know, for example, how I would get close to a member of the Nazi party or skinheads.) And for my own information and protection, I would appreciate your emailing me the name of that group you have referenced. firstname.lastname@example.com
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ADRIAN, Mich. – The Adrian College Institute for Study Abroad is hosting "Passport Day" on Thursday, November 7, 2013, in the institute office from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. A staff member from the United States Postal Service will be on hand to process completed applications from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Applicants wishing to complete everything at the event will need to bring the following items with them:
(1) a government issued photo ID (i.e. a driver's license)
(2) a photocopy of the ID, with both sides of the ID copied onto the same sheet of paper
(3) proof of U.S. citizenship (i.e. a certified birth certificate)
(4) one recent passport photo (these will be taken for $5 at the event)
(5) Passport fees in 2 separate checks of $110 payable to the U.S. Department of State and $25 payable to the Postmaster.
For those with passports who wish to renew them, the cost is $110 for a new passport and the application may be made via mail. There is no fee for execution of the application. Passports are valid for 10 years and also serve as a proper form of identification.
Applicants not wishing to process their applications on February 14th may take their unsigned application (applicants can only sign the application in the presence of a certifiable individual) along with necessary documents and fees to the Adrian Post Office, located at 413 E. Maumee Street in downtown Adrian.
The event is open to the area community. Passport photos will be taken and applications will be available. The cost is $5 for two passport photos. Personnel will be available to answer any questions regarding the passport application and process.
It is important to have all proper travel documents completed to travel out of the country including to Canada and Mexico, where passports are now required. The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), the Federal legislation requiring a passport to travel to or from the United States is currently only in effect for air travel. For travel by sea and land (by car), travelers must present a valid passport or passport card.
The Institute for Study Abroad is located in 131 Valade Hall at the corner of Williams and Madison St. on the Adrian College campus. For more information about passports, prospective applicants should visit the U.S. Department of State's web site at www.state.gov. Additional information regarding the WHTI can be found at www.getyouhome.gov.
More information about Passport Day may be obtained by contacting Dr. Robin Bott, director of the Institute for Study Abroad, at 517- 265-5161, ext. 4080 or via e-mail at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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As we say so long to January, we look forward with hope to February. Maybe in this month we will have warmer temperatures and no snow or ice. I know that you would agree with me that December and January were very hard on us with the frigid weather and snow taking its toll on us physically and mentally.
So think warm thoughts, for daylight savings time is only 35 days away, followed by the beginning of spring, which is only 46 days away.
Recently there was a graduating class from the Police Academy. As I have stated, our 102nd Precinct has never received the additional police officers that we need. This year we have good news; we have received eight new police officers.
It is so important, for our Woodhaven needs additional fine professional men and women for our precinct. We thank you our 102nd Precinct Deputy Inspector Henry Sautner, our lieutenants, sergeants, and police officers for holding the line and you know that our good thoughts and prayers are with each one of you always as you patrol our streets and keep us safe.
Remember, leave your porch lights on! Also if you see people loitering where they don't belong or walking into driveways or on the side of your homes, do not confront them, call 911.
If anyone presents themselves as a police officer, ask to see a badge and identification, both before admitting them to your home, if they hesitate call 911. Also, beware of counterfeit money. For $100 bills, look for "77" on the back image of these fake bills.
I have always wanted benches installed along our Woodhaven's Jamaica Avenue, because it is always good to sit during shopping on our Woodhaven's "Everything Avenue."
Recently our WBID was offered by the city really nice metal benches, free of charge. They were installed at two locations, so look for them and make use of them. The WBID will be getting more benches before the spring weather arrives.
During the last few weeks, Honorable Nydia M. Velasquez, our Woodhaven congresswoman, was visiting in our Woodhaven community. Our congresswoman could not have been more gracious and gave us excellent insight into what is happening in Washington, D.C.
As I have always stated, our Woodhaven is so fortunate to have such great and supportive elected officials. This lady exemplifies the professional and committed representatives that through the years have worked with us and have always had our community's best interest at heart. To them I state we are thankful for your representation and thank you.
For our entrepreneurs, the U.S. Small Business Administration will sponsor "How SBA Can Help Your Business" on February 12 at 10:30 a.m. at the Flushing Library, 41-17 Main Street. The SBA will also host "Business Plan Writing" on February, same time and location. For more information, call (212) 264-7060.
Please fly our American flags above all others in Woodhaven, for we are still at war against evil terrorists. May God bless our leaders, may God bless our armed forces, and most of all may God bless our America.


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Any slice of life or photo has this quality and if WE took a random picture of anything else, rather then a poster called Manitoba Overboard, ME could move into that space by meditating on it long enough.
Being able to share a taste of the experience of Divinity from our 'personal lives' is part of what we are teaching ourselves to do via charting these synchronicities with this new tool of synchromysticism.
I'll try and briefly explain why this poster above made me stop in my tracks and giggle out loud having to compose myself as not to alarm other pedestrians.
The image is an advertisement for a day of celebration at the Winnipeg Art Gallery or WAG in honor of the Manitoba Homecoming.
The event is described by there website as: Manitoba Homecoming is going to be a year long experience in 2010 bringing former and current Manitobans, visitors, friends and families together for events, festivals and an all around great celebration.
2010 resonates 2010: The Year We Make Contact and is syncnificant owing to the Arthur C. Clark sequel being highlighted by the entrainment of 911 in 2001 with 2001: A Space Odyssey.
See Jim Sander's 911 Inside Job video for details of the 911/2001 film evolutionary entrainment.
Manitoba is sometimes called The Keystone Province - having a relative similar shape and central position in the 'Arch' of Canada - housing Winnipeg and its Legislative Building (aka Peg Leg) at the center or heart of the North American Continent.
The Legislature is a Masonic construction modeled after Solomon's Temple marking Winnipeg as a resonator of the New Jerusalem or New Atlantis.
Winnipeg is the HEART and plays a central role in the consciousness realization on EARTH.
Manitoba celebrates 2010 all year round symbolized by a dancing man with a big heart who's knee hits the M of Manitoba.
The highlighted M (the omni-versatile 'WE3-Spinner' as M becomes all these when rotated) is also seen above the door of The Temple in the photo with a Rainbow flag above.
The big hearted 'dancing man' of the Manitoba Homecoming Logo has His LEG hitting the M just like the M hits the LEG.
Rainbow Star and Jim's The Tinman's Rainbow Lodge and the Gnosis of 42 for rainbow syncnificance.
High above the Grand Staircase inside of the building is an Arch and Keystone decorated with the head of Medusa.
See Galactic Center Temple, Scarlet Dragon and What's all this Aboot, eh? for more details on Winnipeg's Legislative Temple. Don't fret if your not familiar with this material and feel overwhelmed by a lacking of context. Just resonate with what you can and flow, it will sync in by itself. This is about a sense, a feeling in your heart, not knowing all the details and syncs with your mind. We must loose our attachment to the mind or story of me. Loose your head like Medusa...
Uma Thurman has recently played the Keystone resonating Medusa in Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief.
Uma with her crown at the 12 position of the clock, a fractal of the heavenly Arch susycntly imposed on Even Cowgirls Get The Blues over the sky/heavens.
Janus/Jupiter as the archway/doorway God is invoked by the subject matter we are addressing and shall arise again before we are through.
While visiting my family over December in South Africa I caught Overboard StarRing Kurt Russel and Goldie Hawn.
Kurt Russel has a powerful synchromystic history as he is one of the first actors used to help realize the non-local Composite Character we find when considering a Stars work as a whole. In short he lands a glider atop the World Trade Center in Escape From New York and is the first human through the Stargate in Stargate.
Kubrick called the end sequence in 2001: A Space Odyssey the Stargate, where we see David Bowman head towards the Jupiter Monolith which transforms human Consciousness.
The 911 the events also transpired in 2001 with the Millenuim Hilton as Black Monolith (an intentional design choice) overseeing the collapse of the Twins.
See StarMummy for Kurt Russel Escape and Stargate syncs and 911 Inside Job for those and Hilton as Monolith.
The similarities between the two Overboard posters we have now referenced are stunning and overt. Both have the Overboard title and profile view of a ships Bow entering from the left. In the Manitoba Overboard image the ship is in actuality one of the sharp corners of the Winnipeg Art Gallery itself.
The ship is captained by the Golden Hermes and decorated with Bugs Bunny. The Golden Boy, steering the 'ship', resonates Goldie Hawn on the Overboard poster.
Note how a ships Bow resonates Bowman, the emissary of mankind who encounters the black cuboid at Jupiter in 2001.
For another sync cluster that associates Manitoba to the Boat/Ark see WE/ME all learn in a Yellow Submarine in which Jeremy Narby finds Manitoba highlighted via sync while getting to know Jim Sanders.
The WAG is in perfect Northern alignment with Solomon's Temple. The Golden Boy or Hermes faces North Looking towards the WAG 'ship/ark'.
Above we see the Leg in shot with the WAG and a banner for the new Warner Brothers animation exhibit featuring Bugs Bunny.
Bugs coming out of the Black Whole/Stargate. The Magickal Trick Top Hat Trick.
"Time to enter the Rabbit Whole" as the White Rabbit taps his watch with the Jupiter/Index finger.
"Time to enter the Rabbit Whole" as the White Rabbit taps his watch with the Jupiter/Index finger.
Fascinatingly the same day the White Rabbit as Bugs appeared for the first time at the WAG, March 5 2010, theaters opened with Alice In Wonderland featuring the White Rabbit.
In fact I saw Brooklyn's Finest yesterday, also opening on March 5, noting with delight Jefferson Airplane's White Rabbit is played during the film. Both major screen releases and the WAG all entraining with the White Rabbit theme on March 5!
This is a sign that we are entering the Rabbit wHole another name for the Stargate.
Last weekend, Sunday 28 Feb, I walked with my friend Dianne to the Leg to show her the Pediment, the triangular edifice above the front entrance supported by large columns. I told her the same sculptor who carved the figure of Lincoln at the Lincoln Memorial sculpted the icons in the Pediment.
I asked Jim Sanders to confirm this with the man who researched and unveiled the buildings symbolism, Frank Albo.
James Sunday March 9 at 9:32am
hey frank. just a quick question. did i hear right that there is a relationship between whomever carved the Leg pediment and the those who carved the lincoln memorial in D.C.? or i am just crazy. thanks.
Frank Albo March 9 at 1:19pm
Most def. Tis true. The Piccirilli Brothers of New York were world-renowned Italian marble carvers. At the Leg, they carved the pediment, the internal caryatids on the third floor, and the four statues on LaVerendrye, Selkirk, Wolfe and Dufferin. The last three were Masons
Piccirilli Brothers Wikipedia
The syncnificance of Abraham Lincoln is that his memorial is modeled after the original Temple of Zeus making him a Jupiter resonator. Jupiter being the Stargate overseer in 2010 film and real life year also called 2010.
See The Sync Whole post 2010 Matrix Code for Abe/Zeus syncs. Or ask William Morgan, he was on to Abe syncs long before the rest of us.
Standing at the West side of the Building with my friend a huge crow is making a godawful noise. I joke it sounds like a toucan (how would I know what a toucan sounds like?), looking up to see the crow braking off a branch while perched above us in a tree. It flies off with its twig around towards the North face. We follow as this is where the pediment is also situated. Looking up my mind goes totally blank as I am flooded with the Great Mystery. It's building a nest directly behind the Trident of Neptune/Poseidon!
A few weekends prior the Trident entered my consciousness via Anne Hathaway in Valentines Day, seen above with a tri-pillared W thingemagick entraining with her crown.
Later finding Anne again attracted to the Trident on the poster for The Devil Wears Prada.
I made the above image during the week before the release of The Crazies and Cop Out. We see that both have the Red C or Red Sea a Waterdoor that Moses opens with his Staff. The Red C is also the Seeing Red Third Eye of Shiva, the doorway of Cosmic Consciousness which once opened floods our awareness with flow/Joy. Shiva represents the flooding with a waterspout coming out of his head.
See The Red Door for more about Seeing Red syncs.
Before leaving to watch The Crazies on Friday 26 February I made this The Blob's banner, noting The Crazies pitchfork as a Trident resonator also recently seen in Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief.
The next day there was one of the biggest Earthquakes in recorded history just of the coast - under the water of the Pacific Ocean - of Concepcion Chile resulting in world wide Tsunami alerts. Its clear that the resonance of the overtly water themed event was represented symbolically in the posters for the films opening the day before, Cop Out and The Crazies with the Red C and Trident/fork.
It was with the impact of all that context, that the witnessing of The Crow highlighted Trident the day after the Chile earthquake, hit me.
We read at the Wikipedia article about the Peg Leg:
"with Neptune's trident symbolizing the Pacific Ocean" and "Finally in the bottom right corner are two entwined female figures representing the Red and Assiniboine Rivers[4]."
Stunning.., the Winnipeg Solomon's Temple Trident represents the very ocean, the Pacific, which had the earthquake while the Red River highlights the Red C.
The two female figures, one of which holds the Trident, represent the two rivers (one called the Red) which join in Winnipeg at an ancient sacred meeting site (used by aboriginals for at least 6000 years) called The Forks.
The trident and the fork together in the Peg Leg Pediment.
In Overboard Kurt Russel is a carpenter who builds a 'Wonders of the World' putt-putt golf course including this ornate Pediment for a mock Parthenon. As a carpenter he resonates Jesus and the Masons, the very dudes who built Solomon's Temple.
The same man who's film roles in Stargate and Escape From New York somewhat jump started synchromysticism is seen building the Sphinx and Pyramids of Giza.
A new sync video about Russel would be very appropriate.
(Have you seen the scene where Tom Cruise has to Jump of the skyscraper in Vanilla Sky while Kurt Russell...? No time too get into that.)
The triangular pediment passes the similarly shaped Pyramid, suggesting a connection and evolution from one structure to the other.
One more very sysynct wonder Russell has sculpted is Mount Rushmore. Abraham Lincoln's head spits a golf ball above.
Remember that we noted the Pediment at the Winnipeg Legislature aka Third Solomon's Temple was sculpted by the same dudes who carved the colossal seated Abe at the Lincoln Memorial?
We have then a poster for the Legislature aligned Winnipeg Art Gallery which is a dead ringer for the film Overboard being captained by the crowning God of the building, while the film reflects the Pediment and Abe carving themes.
The posters nautical flavor resonates the Trident and Tsunami associations we have made in this sync web.
Watery syncs I connect with the current alignment of our hearts with the universal floW.
This is the Crest of Concepcion, the city nearest to the 8.8 Chilean Quake of 27 February. It sees a Dark Phoenix. This Dark Bird is also the Black Crow I saw behind Neptune's trident the day after the quake. External world events mirror the spiritual changes in Consciousness We/Me are undergoing. The quake is then symbolic of our Conceptions being violently shaken and challenged. The way we perceive is changing rapidly.
To conceive is also to become pregnant. This along with the Phoenix symbolism asociates the Quake with a rising of Spirit. Life/Being after Death.
The Dark Phoenix is a famous story line involving character Jean Grey in the X-Men comics also somewhat dealt with in the films.
Jean is transformed by an alien entity into the nearly all powerful Dark Phoenix.
I read it a while ago and loved finding how well it reflects the reality of our situation and the 2010: Year We Make Contact theme. She passes Jupiter/Janus, the God of doorways...
In the very next panel opening a Star-gate.
Aliens are Cosmic Consciousness one and the same as the self realized Being WE/ME are becoming. This is the process understood as Contact or the opening of the Stargate.
Becoming a Buddha = Opening the Stargate = Making Contact with Aliens= Finding Eternal and Everlasting PeaceJust like Mount Rushmore Janus is said to come in four headed varieties making our monument a symbolic Stargate. Above Goldie Hawn helps remove her child's stuck arm from Lincoln's mouth.
The Phoenix further resonates powerfully with the current sync web as I recently made a video entitled Phoenix Dawn showing the rising of spirit via Star Rae Dawn Chong.
Oh yeah.. Lincoln's Birthday was the same date seeing the release of the Trident and Medusa featuring Percy Jackson!
The final punch, which made it a total K.O, was when I noticed the Yellow Sun Flowers by van Gogh bobbing along in the floW.
I refuse to go near that here and NOW!


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New PwC survey dispels myths about women and work...
5 Mar 2015
NEW YORK, US: Consumer confidence fell in 25 out of 52 countries in Q4 2010 as hope for a global economic recovery evaporated at the end of last year, according to the latest edition of the Nielsen Global Consumer Confidence Index, which tracks consumer confidence, major concerns and spending intentions among online consumers.
27 Jan 2011
NEW YORK, US: After an upbeat start to the year with two consecutive quarters of increases in optimism, global consumer confidence fell three points in September to an Index of 90 as consumers' hopes for a full economic recovery this year fades in most parts of the world, according to the latest edition of the Nielsen Global Consumer Confidence Index.
27 Oct 2010


text: Fridays after five... Our annual community discount program is back! Beginning September 5, every Friday evening through March, guests entering the Aquarium between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. (exploring until 10 p.m.) will enjoy a low admission price of $8. This is a great chance for the local community to enjoy the Aquarium's 16,500 animals at a greatly-reduced price, and enjoy fall nights at the Inner Harbor! Categories: News Previous Post Next Post


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Bishop David A. Zubik of Pittsburgh and Bishop David L. Ricken of Green Bay, Wis., have placed a friendly wager on the outcome of Super Bowl XLV on Sunday. If the Steelers win, Bishop Ricken will make a personal donation to Catholic Charities of Pittsburgh; if the Packers win Bishop Zubik will do likewise, donating to Catholic Charities of Green Bay.
But wait, there's more — and it involves foods special to each bishop's home region.
The bishop of the losing team's diocese will send a package of food associated with the team's region to the winning team's diocesan bishop. For Pittsburgh, that's pierogies and kielbasa; for Green Bay, that's brats and cheese. Once the bishop with the winning team receives the food package, he'll deliver it to a local food pantry.
Besides cause for an episcopal wager, the big game has been the subject of two informative and entertaining pieces by veteran journalist James Breig, who retired a couple years ago as editor of The Evangelist in Albany, N.Y. Both articles are posted on the Fathers for Good website.
In "Faith on the field," Brieg writes about the Packers' chaplain, Norbertine Father Jim Baraniak. The priest is also featured in the latest issue of The Compass, Green Bay's diocesan newspaper.
His second piece, "Super Bowl Catholics," is about the deep Catholic roots of both the Steelers and the Packers.
When the two football powerhouses face each other Feb. 6, "you may want to pray for your team to win," writes Breig. "But you should know that both teams have equal favor in heaven with their deep Catholic roots."


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Members and pledges of one of Phi Delta Theta's oldest continuous chapters will move into a new $4 million chapter house when the fall term at Wabash College begins in August. Click on the link at the bottom of this story to see a photo album.
The new house, which sits on the same footprint as the original chapter house acquired in 1903, is in the final stages of construction. Only finishes and touch-ups remain on the project that began over a year ago and is the fourth completed facility since Wabash's Fraternity Partnerships began during the Campaign for Leadership.
"Wabash continues to support fraternity membership as it fulfills its mission to educate men to lead effectively and live humanely," declares Wabash Dean of Students Tom Bambrey. "The new house is made possible by the generosity of Phi Delt alumni and funding from Wabash College as we work together to enhance the relationship between the College and the fraternity."
The timing of this current campaign was perfect, as the "White Elephant," as Phis used to call the old house, began to exhibit signs of wear and tear from everyday use by some 50 brothers and from structural fatigue, most notably basement-level flooding.
Through the process of fundraising, planning, and strategizing, the steering committee met with architects, college staff and administrators, contractors, and even an interior designer.
"Throughout this project, we had to reconsider everything about the old house and its 100-year tradition that we took for granted," comments Facilities Co-Chairman Bill Leppert '94 "Whether to build new, whether to change location, whether to move the location of rooms: we took a hard look at every aspect of that house. Five years later we like what we see!"
This fall, actives and Phikeias will take up residence in a brand new three-story, 20,300 square foot chapter house anchored on the exact same corner as the previous building. Supported by a newly formed Alumni Advisory Council, the active chapter will face new challenges as it adjusts to living in a new facility.
"Our chapter gets the unique opportunity to 'break in' an amazing new house," comments Chapter President Joe Seger '06. "After relinquishing our cherished residence at 114 West College for a year, we know that we will succeed in establishing this house in the steeped tradition of Indiana Beta."
During the course of this project, the brothers discovered that maybe the cramped quarters of the old house might have fostered such a tight brotherhood. "In designing the new house, we hope we've retained that communal atmosphere while giving our guys more room to live and study," says Brother Leppert. "At the same time, we seized the opportunity to correct some design issues in the old chapter. Before, attention of brothers studying in our library competed with the traffic through the adjacent front door."
At each step, the committee engaged their active brothers to solicit valuable input and opinions. Just like the old house, each sleep-study room in the new facility is unique. The active brothers rejected early layouts that sketched out grouped suites or cookie-cutter rooms. The brothers also bucked the current wisdom of providing incoming freshmen more privacy.
"We take great pride in the unity and loyalty present within our chapter," said Dustin DeNeal '04. "A big part of this close Bond can be attributed to the daily interaction that results from sharing bathrooms, living areas, meals, and much more. Both the design of the new house and the refusal to adopt the national trend of building more self-contained, hotel-like rooms mirror our chapter's commitment to maintaining our unique sense of unity."
The theme of "Renew the Bond" slowly emerged as a means of galvanizing brothers to the project. Its logo has adorned all mailings as the committee began quarterly update letters to all alumni.
The Fundraising Committee went to work setting up a means to renew that Bond from the pool of potential donors among the alumni. "We thought the best model for soliciting alumni for gifts was to use the guys that went to Wabash when they did: their pledge brothers," says Fundraising Co-Chairman Mark Dill '75. "So we went about identifying a guy from each class, from '37 all the way to the current senior class."
The College's Advancement Office helped train the volunteers in conference call sessions. Each volunteer then received a packet containing names and contact information for every member of his pledge class along with a sample letter geared toward the decade in which that class graduated.
The results have been impressive. Currently, more than 350 alumni, parents, and friends have made gifts and pledges in excess of $1.8 million toward the construction of a new chapter house. That's roughly half of Indiana Beta's alumni.
"From my perspective, the biggest reason the Phi Delt campaign has been so successful is the dedication of its broad network of volunteers," observes Dean for Advancement Joe Emmick. "It is a clear illustration of how the bonds of Phi Delta Theta's brotherhood last a lifetime, and it is clear the priority Phi Delt alumni place on supporting their undergraduate brothers. The way in which they have executed this campaign is an example we hold up for other fraternities to follow."
"It's certainly rare to see this kind of working relationship on a project," remarks Hugh Vandivier '91, who serves as Communications Chairman. "We really didn't worry about egos or org charts; we just set out to raise the money and build the thing! I thought we all complemented each other's talents and availability extremely well."
The brothers also were lucky to receive the guidance of some fellow brothers in high places, namely eight Wabash Trustees who received regular updates and provided much appreciated leadership gifts, support, and counsel.
"It's certainly a harrowing thought to realize that you're at the helm of a multimillion building project that relies so much on the demeanor and behavior of 18- to 22-year-olds!" admits Brother Vandivier. "But in the end, you have to trust these guys, just like someone trusted us once.
"People look at the completed house or learn about our fundraising success, and inevitably ask, 'How did you pull that off?'" he observes. "Initially, I am inclined to answer that the College and its alumni still believe that this chapter is still an essential part of our students' education. In the end, I just end up telling them, 'We have a strong brotherhood fostered by determination, loyalty, and pride.'"


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Choose COLOR:
White is a representation of light, black is the night. White Noise is the latest model envisioned by the Diesel Creative Team and turned into a reality by Foscarini. An impressive suspension lamp, inspired by the galaxies, enhances the light by using a basic and beautiful internal graphic treatment. The interior motif of the large matte black aluminum dome is not only artistic, but also functional. White Noise, the first LED lamp for the Diesel Living with Foscarini collection, uses light in a rational way. A small dome cap houses the light source, which directly illuminates the floor below through a central hole. At the same time, the dome cap also directs the light upwards where it reflects off of the white graphic that fades out towards the edge of the dome. The result is a striking burst of light that shines into the night creating a magical mood. The spray graphic, which characterizes the white texture representing the galaxy, is dense and substantial. It is created using a special hand-painted treatment that is applied by an industrial process, similar to the processing of fabric.


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Hikers crossing the Virgin River in the Zion Narrows within Zion National Park, Utah. These many river crossings on slick lava rock makes hiking the Zion Narrows quite physically demanding.
For more photos check out JonJasper.com
Many panoramas of Zion National Park's trails, views, canyons, and peaks. Zion National Park is known for it large exposure of the Navajo sandstone's steep red walled cliffs and world classic canyons and canyoneering routes.


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I have a problem with uploading of big files.
I have simple html form on client side.
On server side a have a servlet that processes multipart requests with commons-fileupload library. I set max request size :
So, if the file is too bigDiskFileItemFactory factory = new DiskFileItemFactory(); ServletFileUpload upload = new ServletFileUpload(factory); upload.setSizeMax(maxRequestSize); upload.setFileSizeMax(maxRequestSize);
throws an exception.upload.parseRequest(request);
The problem is:
When uploaded file is too big servlet throws SizeLimitExceededException and finishes his work very quickly but on client side form submit continues and I have to wait several minutes until it ends. Why this is happened? And how can I cancel client form submit when servlet throws an exception?
I use JBoss 4.2.3 and commons-fileupload-1.2.2.
Thanks in advance


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A Jesus portrait that has embroiled a southern Ohio school district in a federal lawsuit has been moved from the middle school to a high school at the preference of a Christian-based student club that the district views as the picture's owner.
Phil Howard, superintendent of the Jackson City Schools, said Friday that the portrait was moved earlier this week at the request of the Hi-Y club, which put it up in 1947 in a building that is now the middle school.
A complaint about the portrait left the district in the midst of an ongoing national debate over what displays of religion are constitutional. The lawsuit filed last month against the district by the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio and the Wis.-based Freedom From Religion Foundation contends the portrait unconstitutionally promotes religion at school.
Schools Superintendent Phil Howard said he is not sure what, if any, effect moving the portrait might have on the lawsuit, but he said the district had no choice.
"We have to respect the rights of the club," Howard said. "Failure to do so might open the district to even another lawsuit - this time by the H-Y club" - or violate the U.S Constitution by "turning the portrait into government speech."
Officials have maintained that taking the portrait down would censor students' private speech.
"It belongs to the club," Howard said. "It's student speech, not government speech."
The school board had voted last month to keep the portrait up while allowing other student groups to hang portraits related to their focuses. Howard said that the board policy created a limited public forum at both the middle school and the high school for student groups to be able to display portraits.
"The club has the right to hang it in either school," Howard said.
Bob Eisnaugle, an art teacher and adviser to the Hi-Y service club, said that the group of about 60 students decided last week to move the portrait to the high school, where the club meets and where its current members are students. He said the middle school building housed the high school when the club presented the portrait, and it had just never been moved to the newer building.
Eisnaugle said the club wants to keep the portrait up because "the club is Christian-based and it represents the club and the Christian principles that the club values."
He said the purposes of the club haven't changed through the years "and neither have the principles it values."
The portrait now is hanging on a wall alongside a trophy case.
Nick Worner, a spokesman for the ACLU of Ohio, said Friday that he couldn't comment on legal strategy, but he stressed that the group's position hasn't changed.
"It doesn't matter which public building the portrait is in," Worner said. "It's an unconstitutional endorsement of religion on the part of a public school."
The 2,500-student district is in Jackson, a city of about 7,000 in mostly rural Appalachian Ohio.


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