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Woah, the new BSG is pretty great so far (am only in the middle of season 2) so here's hoping his love of the Outlander books will contribute to a great adaptation!
Oh, Jamie Fraser...what a man to try and cast; with so many of us picturing our own versions of all our favourite characters, this will be a hard choice! Much like LotR.


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Establishing plants at any desired capacity, Alapala Machine is a company that exports 95 percent of its current production today and has hundreds of references in over 75 countries in 4 continents including developed industrial countries such as Belgium, France, Italy, Canada and USA. Alapala continually develops and expands thanks to its superior technology infrastructure, perfectionist staff and management, and its quality and customer-oriented approach.
It renders the best before-sales and after-sales services with its staff specialized in their industry, overseas representatives, strong service networks and spare-part stocks.
Alapala can manufacture quality and high performance machinery where the best efficiency ad products can be obtained in the production facilities that have the most developed and state-of-the art technology.
Alapala's lines of business:
• Wheat flour mills,
• Semolina mills,
• Corn flour mills,
• Rice processing plants,
• Feed mills,
• Cereal storage systems,
• Weighing, conveying, packing equipment
• Harbour facilities under the licence of Tramco Inc-USA
Visit the website HERE.
The Global Miller
This blog is maintained by The Global Miller staff and is supported by the magazine GFMT
which is published by Perendale Publishers Limited.
For additional daily news from milling around the world: global-milling.com

subset: commoncrawl


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Maybe we just have a hard time getting excited about a feature-film adaptation of a decades-old made-for-TV movie, but this first full trailer isn't really spooking us in the right ways.
"Don't Be Afraid of the Dark," a remake of the 1973 tele-movie of the same name, stars Katie Holmes and Guy Pearce as your classic "couple with a kid who move into a creepy old house only to find that it's scary the bejeezus out of the little girl." OK--so Holmes isn't the girl's mother, but still... There's even a grouchy old gardener who tries to warn them the "house isn't safe for a little girl!"
Del Toro co-wrote the new screenplay, and served as producer for the film, while comic book artist Troy Nixey directed. The trailer looks OK, but haven't we seen this all before?
U.S. & World
Stories that affect your life across the U.S. and around the world.
Del Toro has said that they original sought to make the film PG-13, but the MPAA gave it an "R for 'pervasive scariness.' We asked them if there's anything we could do, and they said, 'Why ruin a perfectly scary movie?'"
It's a good line, but the MPAA finds the human body and history to be "perfectly scary," so take that as you will.
"Don't Be Afraid of the Dark" opens Aug. 21.


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This Red Matte 1/2" Skinny Waist Belt for Women will add a touch of class to any outfit! The Top Quality Red Genuine Leather strap is perfectly understated. The front tab is wider, adding a unique detail that sets it apart. The Shiny Brass Omega Belt Buckle features beautiful curves which is sure to make any outfit shine!
This Red Belt is made of 100% Genuine Leather. The strap is 1/2" Wide with a 2" tab and a shiny Brass Plated Belt Buckle.


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About Bertoni
Scandinavian design
Our business idea is to design, manufacture and sell commercial fashion garments with a clean, sharp, Scandinavian expression.
Bertoni has a long tradition for making suits, which is our key product. We proudly design, construct and manufacture a wide range of suits in long lasting materials, from leisure time suits to real formal suits.
The perfect fit
Over the years we have successfully developed our own fit for suits: young, comfortable, and following international trends. As we have all know-how in house, from design to construction and pattern making, we have the capacity to proudly manufacture genuine Bertoni garments.
Bertoni presents four annual collections for two different lines: Bertoni White and Bertoni Black. Each brand has its own individual story. White and Black are for the same man, ranging from formal suiting to leisure time. Essential pieces to complete a perfect wardrobe, easy to combine and long lasting in both style and quality.
Our dreams and set of values
It is Bertoni's core value to make an honest product of good quality and fit, with ambition to offer all garments at an attractive price level, and our set of values are: openness, quality craftsmanship, and pro-activity.
At Bertoni we believe in having respect for the environment, which we operate in, and sustainability and ecological solutions are deeply rooted in our company.
From design to development of our collections, we truly hope our values are visible in the way we approach our customers and business partners.


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Reprinted with permission of Daily Dose of Fresh.
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Gellot Surname Ancestry Results
Our indexes 1000-1999 include entries for the spelling 'gellot'. In the period you have requested, we have the following 15 records (displaying 1 to 10):
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gell-woolley gellingham gellins gellion gelliott gellis gellisbia gellisen gellison gellispie gellispy gellit gellitley gellitly gellitt gellity gellius gellman gellmen gellner gellop gellott gellow gellowe gellows gells gellsmn gellson gellsthorp gellsthorpe gellstroppe gellt gellus gelluys gellvear gelly gellybrand gellye gellyng gelman
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Topic: My Inbox Is Full!
I dont know if its my retarded brain that is just going blank, but....................
I forgot how to empty out my inbox and sent messages.
Its mind-boggling! :? I used to empty out my inbox almost DAILY! Now, it seems like some selection from my user's private messaging panel is GONE!
Am I going crazy!??
[color=blue]Listen to My Rap Songs!![/color] [url=http://www.myspace.com/dinonkeys]www.myspace.com/dinonkeys[/url]


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On Saturday, April 6, 2013, the Mid-Atlantic Germanic Society (MAGS) is hosting their "Germans from the South" Spring 2013 meeting at the Holiday Inn Laurel West located in Laurel, Maryland.
Dr. Kenneth Heger will present his lectures entitled "Those Other Germans: Introduction to the Hapsburg Empire" and "Austrian Germans: Bohemia." Dominic McDevitt-Parks will present "Using Wikipedia for Family History," and John Deeben will present "Documenting the War of 1812 Army Service."
If you register before March 23rd, the cost is $40 for members and $45 for non-members. After that date the cost is $45 for members and $50 for non-members. Registration includes lunch. The brochure can be found at http://www.magsgen.com/
images/MAGS_Meeting_Flyer_-_ Spring_2013.pdf. Register now to enjoy an interesting and educational event!


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Cultural knowledge and personal responsibilityComments
Somebody — I think it may have been the most overrated philosopher of all time, J.S. Mill — said that truth goes through three stages. First it's mocked as absurd. Then it's declared to be against religion. Finally, it's said to be what everyone has believed all along.
I think we're getting to stage three in regard to the proposition that law school has turned out to be somewhere between a very risky proposition and a flat-out ripoff for the vast majority of people who are attending today, and who have graduated in recent years.
This statement, which as little as three years ago would have been treated as either "crazy" or at the least a gross exaggeration by almost everybody in legal academia, is rapidly heading toward the status of conventional wisdom. One sign of this is that a National Jurist poll of the most influential people in legal academia, which was conducted by surveying a group made up in large part of law school deans, has selected Brian Tamanaha as #1 on this list, with Bill Henderson as the first runner-up, should Brian for any reason not be able to fulfill his duties at some point during his reign. (Modesty forbids me from pointing out that I won Mr. Congeniality).
Think about that: law school deans — probably the single most status-quo regarding group within legal academia — selected somebody who wrote a book arguing that the current model of legal education in America simply doesn't work any more, and is in need of radical reform, as the most influential person in the business.
In other words, the conventional wisdom about law school, both within higher education and in the culture at large, has been changing with lightening speed. This is important to remember when people start reflexively victim-blaming recent grads and even current law students for not being more reasonably prudent rational maximizers of their own utility when they signed up for this thing of ours.
Consider, for example, the class that will be graduating this spring. The class of 2013 applied to law school in the fall of 2009, which means that it is mostly made up of people who got serious about going to law school no later than 2008 or so, if not much earlier (it takes most people awhile to study for the LSAT, pull together letters of recommendation, etc.).
Think about what information was available to prospective law students five years ago about immediate outcomes for law graduates, let alone the long term career trajectories of aspiring lawyers. Compared to today, there were almost no warnings about the fact that, because of the rising cost of law degrees and long-term trends in the market for attorneys, the net present value of a legal education had been declining for at least two decades, and was likely to continue to do so. Bill Henderson made his very first public observations about the bimodal salary distribution around this time. (This Tamanaha post at Balkinization, which is barely two and a half years old, indicates implicitly how little these trends had been recognized outside the still very underground world of scamblogging).
All of which is to say the extent to which responsibility for acting on what has suddenly become the "obvious" truth that law school is a high risk enterprise can be imputed to law graduates and even current law students is very limited. Indeed the cultural lag time involved pushes me, at least, toward the conclusion that only people who enrolled in law school this year can be reasonably held responsible for having some realistic sense of what they are getting themselves into.


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Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Did I manage to mention that Adam Shankman's "Hairspray," made under the invaluable aegis of producers Neal Meron and Craig Zadan, is a movie musical?
Meron and Zadan have eased up to this triumphant moment with a handful of network TV musicals and, of course, finally revived the musical on screen big time with the Oscar-winning "Chicago" (2002), directed by Rob Marshall. An aside: Baz Lurhmann's "Moulin Rouge" (2001) doesn't count. As wonderful as it is, it is too much of an abberation, and along with Bob Fosse's "Cabaret" (1972), something of an anti-musical.
Still, as fine and divine as "Chicago" is, it is surpassed by "Hairspray," if only because "Hairspray" is not the least bit timid or ashamed of being a musical. Bill Condon, who adapted "Chicago" for the screen, as well as the recent "Dreamgirls" (2006), has perfected the knack for backing into his material's musical numbers. In "Chicago," he made singing on screen acceptable by conceiving the numbers as fantasy moments; in "Dreamgirls," the songs are performed either on stage or in a recording studio or dressing room, thereby making them more appropriate for people who are embarrassed by musicals.
Hollywood lost its way when it attempted to make film musicals for people who don't like film musicals. It was futile because these audiences would balk no matter how cautiously on-screen singing was presented. In the meantime, the studios alienated those fans who do like musicals.
With "Hairspray," it found its way back and, for once, gets it right. The people who made this film instinctively know that the best way to introduce a song on screen is to jump right into it. And that's what "Hairspray" does, it immediately opens with the big production number, "Good Morning, Baltimore!" It wastes no time. No timid tiptoing here: It grabs you by the collar and dares you not to have fun.
Shankman's accomplished direction (and, for that matter, his choreography) has raised a few eyebrows, with most critics citing his unwatchable previous film, "Cheaper by the Dozen 2" (2005). What they conveniently overlook is the fact that Shankman also directed "The Wedding Planner" (2001), a tidy, appealing little comedy that actually moved like a musical - a musical without songs, so to speak.
His exultant choreography here, which is virtually non-stop, is equalled by his assured direction. It speaks well of Shankeman's ability that there is not one weak performance in "Hairspray." Everyone shines - newcomers Nikki Blonsky, Zak Efron and Elijah Kelly, veterans Michelle Pfeiffer, Queen Latifah, Christopher Walken and Allison Janney and familiar faces James Marsden and Amanda Bynes, both of whom prove to be revelations here. This film has been wonderfully, adventurously cast, which is not something you could say about the film versions of either "The Producers" (2005) and "Phantom of the Opera" (2004).
And then there is John Travolta in the cross-dressing role of Edna, the mother of the film's young heroine. Travolta's game turn here has been the film's one point of controversy and has also been identified in some quarters as the movie's only weak link. That's because Travolta doesn't really play the role in drag, even though he's been made up as a woman. This Edna is not a broad charicature, a la Divine who played in the original John Waters 1988 movie, or Harvey Fierstein, who played the role on stage.
Travolta attempts to humanize the character, bring a sad poignancy and sweetness to Edna. A.O. Scott put it best in his review of the film in The New York Times when he wrote that Travolta's is "the most realistic, least stereotypical character in the film."
Unlike Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick whose staleness was mangified by the film version of "The Producers," Travolta brings a newness, a sense of wide-eyed discovery to "Hairspray." And thank you to Adam Shankman, Craiz Zadan and Neal Meron for supporting this most wonderful experiment. It works.
And a word about Pfeiffer: Is it me or is she channeling Constance Towers, circa 1963, in "Hairspray"? Everytime she came on screen, impure thoughts of "The Naked Kiss" invaded my mind.
Note in Passing: There were several references to the Styne-Sondheim musical, "Gypsy," in the stage version of "Hairspray." But only one is retrain in the film version. During "Welcome to the Sixties!," Travolta sings, "Momma's gotta let go," a direct quote from "Rose's Turn."
But missing from Leslie Dixon's otherwise fine adapation of the Thomas Meehan-Mark O'Donnell book for the stage musical are two rather witty references to "Gypsy." There was a point on stage when Fierstein, playing Edna, shouts, "For me, For Me, FOR ME!," which of course closes the song, "Rose's Turn."
Also, when Prudy Pingleton sees her daughter all sexed-up for the dance contest and disapproves, Penny declares, "I'm a pretty girl, Momma," a line immortalized by Natalie Wood in the 1962 version of "Gypsy."
Great stuff and, given that Meron and Zadan are "Gypsy" devotees, the deletions surprised me.
(Artwork: Poster art from "Hairspray"; Travolta, dancing it up with Blonsky and Walken in two production numbers from the film; film musical auteurs Neal Meron and Craig Zadan, and Pfeiffer channeling ... Constance Towers)
* * *
Anyone interested in perusing some 2060 of my film reviews, dating back to 1994, can do so by simply going to RottenTomatoes.Com
10 comments:
Great insight into "Hairspray" and the movie musical, Joe! Loved it.
I was thrown at first by Travolta's performance in "Hairspray." I kept seeing Divine in the role, and Travolta's take on it is so different. But it grew on me. I think it's a really brave and, in a way, daring performance. He really did make the character real.
I agree just about entirely with your observations on the film. I
also missed is Penny's "Gypsy" line (in the play) to her mother when Mrs. Pingleton sees her daughter decked out in a swank dress: "I'm pretty -- I'm a pretty girl, mama." I've a hunch that while that line might have meant something to Broadway audiences, the cineplex crowd just wouldn't get it.
Funny, I never missed Travolta when he wasn't on screen. I didn't like his performance at all.
Weird thing about musicals: Many of them are among the most successful films of all time, and yet it's like the culture woke up one day (in the 70s?) and suddenly said, "People bursting into song and dance? I can't buy it!" Killer androids from the future; hairy-footed trolls looking for a magic ring; mega-ton robots from outer space transforming into cars and trucks? No problem.
A lot of guys these days seem to think musicals are too "gay" for them, but I don't recall that ever being an issue when I was growing up (mid-to-late 60s). Frankly, I feel sorry for anyone who can experience an Astaire dance or a Rodgers and Hart song and react with anything less than awe.
But there's clearly still a market for musicals, at least occasionally (the huge success of Disney Channel's High School Musical bodes well). I hope to catch Hairspray before it leaves theatres. Looks like a lot of fun.
- joe baltake said...
To J. Bryant: I can't figure out exactly when men became so self-conscious and insecure, and so limited, about their likes and dislikes in regards to movies - or so defensive about them. Both my wife and I had fathers who loved the musical theater and who took us both to out-of-town tryouts of big splashy '60s musicals in Philadelphia. And without apologies or hang-ups. They never considered them "feminine" or rather "effeminate." We also commiserate often about how going to the movies with our fathers was always widespread - a Western one week, a musical the next, followed by a war film or spy drama, then a comedy, then another musical. They really didn't discrimate. They were opened to everything, and my dad in particular loved musicals. I don't get it. Exactly when did men become so pathetically uptight?
Beats me, Joe. I grew up in Kentucky, and Mom and Dad took us to the drive-in a lot. Genre was never an issue. I saw and loved "Mary Poppins" when I was about six, and I somehow grew up straight (I remember vividly grabbing an umbrella on the next windy day and jumping off the family Oldsmobile in order to "fly" around the yard).
I recently found out that my stepfather, who is very much a regular, small-town guy, names "The Sound of Music" as his favorite movie.
Could it be that these days the open display of emotion in musicals (and melodrama, for that matter) is just too "feminine" for guys who dread being seen as uncool?
We disagree on Travolta but you explained my problem with his performance. The only thing that bothers me about Travolta's performance is that he simply isn't funny.
Great Post! I sent this to Carrie Rickey on the same subject:
Aside from men being uptight these days (about everything it seems, not just musical films), people have also grown out of the habit of going to musicals because so few of them have been made in the past few years. People in general see them as something alien, akin to subtitled films, while men in particular think they impinge on their manhood. Nothing is worse for a man or boy to hear than the words "sissy," "fairy," the other "f" word, or to hear that they "play like girls." How often have you heard macho men refer to other men, disparagingly as "ladies." Nothing is worse than for a man to be compared to a woman. I'm really starting to believe that homophobia is rooted in a general hatred of women. Anyway, I got off the point. Few musicals have been made in the past couple decades and when they were made, critics treated them as an offense to mankind. I'm thinking of the excessively negative critical reactions to "Annie" and "Th Best Little Whorehouse in Texas," movies that - from where I sat - were perfectly fine. Not perfect, just perfectly fine. BTW, I think both made money, despite the reviews. Anyway, back to my point: People have to get back in the habit. If they can get back in the habit of seeing corny pirate movies, why not corny musicals?
Travolta is not mean't to be funny, he represents a group of people in our society that are brow-beaten about their looks. there are many people who would've seen themselves in the role of Edna, and for her'coming out' it would've been a joyous experience. You miss the point if you think she was mean't to be funny, I thought 'she' was fantastic, and Travolta deserves big thanks for having the courage to play such a demanding role so well.


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I love me some Guitar Hero, but I'm not sure enough to upgrade to Logitech's wireless drum and guitar for the Wii. Having the best is cool, but $200 for the guitar and $230 for the drums!?
Sure that is more than Guitar Hero for Wii (including guitar and drums) will cost you but for those that love to have the best for rocking, the Logitech stuff is made from the best stuff on earth (just like Snapple). The wireless guitar has a maple neck, rosewood fingerboard and metal frets. Even the wireless controller has a white finish with a glossy-black pick guard.
Like those for the PS3, the Logitech Wireless Drum Controller for Wii has got three drum pads and two cymbals. You can adjust them to your liking and there is a recessed-rim around the pads that help avoid accidental rim shots. And haven't you always wanted a kick pedal made of stainless steel. The Wii remote fits into the panel on the drum set (and into a slot on the back of the guitar).
Logitech also released a wireless drum set for the Xbox360 which is pretty much the same as the one for the Wii without the opening for the remote. Same pricing and all.
For those watching the cash, you can always find the closest pub with a Rock Band jam session and totally mooch on their instruments. [Logitech]


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The complaint is that President Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize before making any peace. It comes at a time when he is waging war in Afghanistan and is in a showdown with Iran that already has military overtones.
Let's look, then, at whether the prize will help Obama get results in his diplomatic efforts.
The award is a stamp of approval from the international community or, rather, from one part of it. Still, even the White House was surprised. Worldwide, even friends of the U.S. administration harped on the fact that Obama's presidency is not yet a year old and has no "tangible results" to show, in the words of Turkish professor Soli Ozel.
The reaction from Iran was telling. Ali Akbar Javanfekr, a close adviser to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, said he was "not upset" about the award as long as Obama does "more to bring an end to global injustice." There was no mention of the Islamic Republic's contested nuclear program.
Indeed, the prize comes at a time when some people are wondering if U.S. foreign policy is falling apart. Obama's soaring oratory in Prague and Cairo seems to have found little echo in the seemingly intractable problems in the Middle East, Afghanistan, North Korea and Iran. And the rejection of Chicago as an Olympic site, though both the president and his wife traveled to Copenhagen to plead the Windy City's case, added insult to injury. Looking at things this way, one has to say that the Nobel Prize is progress — a slap on the back rather than a slap in the face.
That is not much. Teddy Roosevelt won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1906 for leading talks to end the Russo-Japanese war. Woodrow Wilson, the only other sitting U.S. president to win the prize, received it toward the end of his time in office. Wilson had already led the allies in defeating Germany in World War I and then tried to create a new world order with the League of Nations.
Obama, on the other hand, is in the first flush of writing himself into history. Will the Nobel Prize help him? Will it make him a more formidable negotiator? Will it convince his adversaries that the U.S. president now has the world at his back and that they had better watch out?
The short answer is a resounding no. People say the prize was given to Obama before he accomplished anything. The reality is that it was given to Obama for convincing the world that America is no longer a boogeyman. America was hated more widely under President George W. Bush. That has changed, even if conservatives in the United States charge that Obama has been too apologetic, too reluctant to be unabashed about American exceptionalism.
In any case, it's done. In Prague, in Cairo, in sitting down to talk with the new Iranian government, despite charges of electoral fraud in the Islamic Republic, the United States is on a new course. Now what? The war in Afghanistan is going poorly. North Korea has pulled away from talks. And the Iranians are not about to change their tactics because of the peace prize.
The Iranian crisis is a good example of tentative progress from the Obama phenomenon, but the heavy lifting is still to come. The accomplishment for which Obama got the prize — his policies of engagement and multilateralism — can be credited with helping to lead to an incipient breakthrough. Iran has agreed — in principle — to ship out of the country most of the enriched uranium that raises fears that it seeks nuclear weapons. Some doubt that Iran will follow through with the agreement. Some say this is merely a feint and that Iran will gear up its enrichment production to make up for the uranium it is giving up. But others see Iran yielding a bit in order to parry the pressure it is under, both domestically and internationally.
Iran may be trying for breathing space against sanctions — or worse, from adversaries such as the United States and Israel. If the process stalls, Obama, the peace laureate, will be faced with the choice of either being tough, perhaps very tough, or letting Iran get the bomb. This, more than the prize, will determine his place in history.
Obama's status as a Nobel laureate will not change the dynamic of the problems the president now faces. The Nobel committee did no more than recognize that there is a new push taking place. That push is Obama's take on how to do foreign policy. So it is not surprising that the award becomes fodder for politics in the United States.
The bottom line is that the Nobel Prize doesn't solve anything. That will be Obama's job, and the work is yet to be done.
Michael Adler is a public policy scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington.
Obama's Nobel doesn't solve much
Heavy diplomatic lifting lies ahead
The complaint is that President Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize before making any peace. It comes at a time when he is waging war in Afghanistan and is in a showdown with Iran that already has military overtones.


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Before House Ways and Means Committee Chairman David Camp, R-Mich., could reveal on Wednesday his plan to overhaul the tax code, Senate Republicans nixed any chance of passage of tax reform this year.
Indeed, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is quoted as saying Tuesday: "I don't see how we can" advance tax reform this year.
Political strategists say Republicans are already taking issue with Camp's plan, since it hikes taxes on the rich and banks, eliminates the lower tax rate on carried interest and would get rid of popular tax breaks.
Brian Graff, executive director of the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries, said in an early Wednesday statement that at first blush he supported Camp's plan."This proposal is a serious attempt at threading the needle – raising revenue in the budget window while substantially maintaining the incentive to set up and maintain an employer-based (retirement) plan."
Graff said ASPPA believed Camp's proposal "accomplishes a fine balance and is preferable to the disincentives to coverage and savings rates created by capping or eliminating existing limits."
However, after further review, Graff released a statement Thursday stating his concern with Camp's double taxation of retirement plan contributions. "Chairman Camp's tax reform proposal would subject all retirement plan contributions to the 10% surtax. The result is double taxation of these contributions — totally ignoring the fact that these contributions are just tax–deferred, not a permanent exclusion, and will be subject to ordinary income tax when they are withdrawn after retirement."
Should this proposal become law, Graff said that a small business owner "could pay a 10% surtax on all contributions made to a qualified retirement plan today, then pay tax again at the full ordinary income tax rate when they retire." Penalizing small business owners for contributing to a plan, he continued, "is going to make them think twice about sponsoring a plan at all, and their employees could lose their workplace retirement plan. Double taxation is hardly what we hoped to see in any tax reform proposal."
Graff added that ASPPA is also "very concerned about the freeze" on contribution limits until 2023. "The cost of living in retirement is not going to be frozen. On top of the double taxation, this is a real blow to employer-sponsored retirement plans, and to American workers' retirement security."
Camp said that his plan would not change how the tax code treats the money Americans have already saved. Going forward, it would maintain the 2014 contribution limits for individual retirement accounts and for defined contribution plans, like 401(k)s.
"Today, when saving for retirement, a taxpayer decides whether to put the money away for retirement after taxes and save tax-free (Roth accounts), or put the money away tax-free and then pay taxes when they withdraw the funds during retirement (traditional accounts)," Camp said.
For future contributions, Camp's plan allows up to $8,750 (half of the contribution limit) to be contributed either to a traditional or Roth account.
Robert Moore, president of Advisor and Institution Solutions for LPL Financial, and vice chairman of the Insured Retirement Institute, told ThinkAdvisor in a Wednesday interview from Capitol Hill that while he hadn't seen all of the details of Camp's plan, IRI and LPL are lobbying lawmakers to preserve the tax-deferred status of retirement plans. "Deferral is not avoidance; it's creating a set of incentives for enhanced savings."
This is just part of the message that he and other IRI executives were delivering Wednesday during their meeting with more than two dozen lawmakers.
Indeed, IRI President Cathy Weatherford noted that while Camp's discussion draft "will certainly reignite the conversation on tax policy in America, it will be important for policymakers to recognize the overlap between tax policy and retirement security."
In a Wall Street Journal op-ed Wednesday, Camp said he was releasing a plan to create "a simpler, fairer tax code." The discussion draft states this will be achieved in three ways:
- Providing a significantly more generous standard deduction so that 95% of taxpayers will no longer be forced to itemize their individual tax deductions.
- Reducing the size of the federal income tax code by 25%.
- Tackling fraud, abuse and mismanagement at the IRS to protect hard-earned taxpayer dollars.
Camp's plan also reduces and collapses today's brackets into two brackets of 10% and 25% for virtually all taxable income. More than 99% of taxpayers face maximum rates of 25% or less.
The plan would also impose a 10% surtax on certain types of earned income over roughly $450,000 a year, hitting salaried professionals but not the super-rich, whose income often is derived primarily from interest and investments.
Said Camp in the op-ed: "So many changes have been made to the tax code over the past decade that it is now 10 times the size of the Bible, but with none of the Good News." While "that factual statement usually gets a good laugh back home in Michigan," he continued, "what isn't funny is the effect that constant tinkering with taxes has had on the people who pay them, and on the economy."
Camp cited comments made by Nina Olsen, the National Taxpayer Advocate at the IRS, who has stated that Americans overall spend more than 6 billion hours and $168 billion every year to file their returns. "This is stark testimony to the complexity of the tax code," Camp wrote. "Meanwhile, owners of small businesses face tax rates as high as 44.6%, while the total (state and federal) U.S. corporate rate, 39.1%, is the highest in the industrialized world."
The Joint Committee on Taxation has already analyzed his plan, Camp said, and estimates that "after this streamlining of the tax code, the size of the economy will increase by $3.4 trillion over the next decade, or roughly 20% compared with today." This will lead to nearly 2 million new jobs — and producing up to $700 billion in additional federal revenues that can be used to lower taxes even further or reduce the debt.
If tax reform doesn't occur this year, Joe Lieber of Washington Analysis predicts that Camp's blueprint will no doubt be used as "a template" for the next Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, which Lieber said is "widely expected" to be Paul Ryan, R-Wis. "Of course, his proposal will differ from Camp's, but many provisions will likely be similar," Lieber said.
Also, while it's unclear how the newly installed chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Ron Wyden, D-Ore., will react to Camp's proposal, "given that he is generally seen as being more liberal" than the previous chairman, Max Baucus, D-Mont., "Camp's willingness to include a bank tax and a 10% surcharge on the upper income will surely be welcomed."
Lieber goes on to note that House Republican leadership never wanted Camp to introduce a bill in an election year, "since they knew politically sensitive provisions (e.g. limits on mortgage deduction, muni bond interest deductions, state and local taxes) would be included."
Indeed, Mike Nicholas, CEO of Bond Dealers of America, released a statement that BDA is concerned about several provisions of Camp's plan including the implementation of a 10% surtax on tax-exempt bond interest income and outright elimination of advance refundings and private activity bonds.
"BDA member are especially concerned about how this will impact the ability of state and local governments to finance critical public infrastructure projects like highways, hospitals, and water treatment facilities, by driving up borrowing costs and increasing state and local taxes," he said.
Steve Judge, president and CEO of the Private Equity Growth Capital Council, released a statement that he was "disappointed" with Camp's decision "to single out private equity, real estate, and venture capital investment by exacting a 40% tax increase that will discourage new investment." Last year, Judge said, "private equity invested over $400 billion in thousands of businesses of all shapes and sizes across all 435 congressional districts."
Camp's proposal "penalizes long-term capital investment, which he and other members of the House Ways and Means Committee have purported to support."
Check out the discussion draft of Camp's tax plan.
Read Changes Afoot in Washington Well Ahead of Midterm Elections on ThinkAdvisor.


text:
Science A-Z ensures that teachers have the resources they need to develop students' science knowledge and practices while also supporting key literacy skills.
Science A-Z is an award-winning curriculum resource that provides a robust library of multilevel informational texts, hands-on experiments, and other engaging learning opportunities.
Science A-Z offers an abundance of resources for teachers and students offered in comprehensive units across four scientific domains: Life, Earth and Space, Physical, and Process Science.
Science A-Z provides a library of developmentally appropriate content to teach students science concepts, literacy skills, and the practices of science and engineering through printable and digital books and other resources.
Science is best learned through hands-on experiences. Science A-Z delivers an extensive collection of engaging activities, guided experiments, and open-ended projects that allow students to think and investigate like scientists and engineers.


text:
In this section, please provide the details of the purpose of the event. Examples include raising money for a specific organization, to spread awareness of a specific organization or to promote a program within the organization. This can also include information about the event such as who the donations raised will benefit or the financial goal of the event. The more information you provide, the better Raising Cane's can help you reach your goal.
Our standard turnaround time for request is 3-6 weeks, but we understand the importance of your request. Please continue to finalize and submit your information; however, due to the timing, we would recommend contact the GM directly after the request has been submitted.
Any event, sponsorship or support requested for an education institution such as a school or university. Examples include project prom, field day, teacher appreciation, school athletics program ads and high school field signage.
Active Lifestyles
Any event, sponsorship or support requested for an athletic organization (not school) or other active lifestyle programs. Examples include 5Ks or fun runs, golf tournaments, community sports organizations field signs and sports team sponsorships (not school).
Feeding the Hungry
Any event, sponsorship or support requested for a food bank or food collection organization. Examples include: food drives, fundraisers and soup kitchens.
Pet Welfare
Any event, sponsorship, or support requested for a pet welfare organization such as a pet adoption center or animal shelter. Examples include pet adoption days, dog parks and fundraisers.
Chamber or Professional Organization
Any event, sponsorship or support requested for the Chamber of Commerce or other professional career advancement or entrepreneurship programs. Examples include Chamber membership dues, SCORE and Future Business Leaders of America.
Public Advertising
- logo on print ads (newspaper, magazine, publications)
- logo on billboards
- Raising Cane's on PSAs
Media Coverage
- morning show appearance
- TV news story
- newspaper article
- magazine article
- logo on website
- event with banners
- Logo on t-shirts
- Logo on eblast
Printed Materials
- logo on tickets
- logo on newsletters
- logo on posters


text:
Mint Rose Stud Earrings
♡All sales are final
♡All orders are ready to ship between 1-2 business days. You will be provided with a tracking number once items have been shipped
♡I will be accepting custom orders on Rosaries. If you would like to have a personalized rosary with a loved ones picture incorporated feel free to contact me
♡I am going to be adding new designs weekly so be sure to check back!
made with love,
xo, angie crystal


text:
ikleida posted a photo 3 years, 7 months ago
Stella McCartney Spring 2017
#stellamccartneyss17 #SS17 #fashionshow #fashionweek mccartney-clp-rs17-6975
Cute Couture at Giovanni Bedin Spring Summer 2020 during Haute Couture Fashion Week
Since founding his label in 2017, Giovanni Bedin has officially completed his first fashion show, presenting his Runway Spring/Summer 2020 collection of Ready-to-Wear haute couture in Paris, France. The feminine collection was full of delicate details and lightness in motion.
The Italian designer focused on shapes and cutouts, drawing attention to the female figure and uncovering precision. He used his favorite accessory of whalebones for corsets and miniskirts, sculpting the body and creating subtle dimensions. Bedin limited his color palette to neutrals of black, white, light pink, and blue, rather than using vibrant colors that may distract attention away from the details.
The catwalk took place at Hotel de Crillon, a Rosewood Hotel, which was an ideal location for an afternoon show in 30-degree heat! The models made an entrance through large open doors, weaving their way around a light and airy room with wooden floors, passing mirrors and reflections showing the elaborate and grand gold ornamentation of the building. Walking with a potent stride and always on the move, the models represented the innocence yet fierceness of women, with natural, 'barely there' makeup and slicked-back hair.
A lot of skin was on show; sleeveless and transparent dresses – almost representative of lingerie – revealed the midriff and silhouette underneath. The lace-up boots and floral prints emphasized the cute, pretty, and girly aspects of the collection. It was lovely to see influencers in the front row wearing similar styles, with fashion model, Marianne Fonseca, even wearing one of Giovanni Bedin's dainty, baby blue designs!
written by Tess Hardy
Click HERE to view the full Giovanni Bedin Spring Summer 2020 collection.
#article #giovannibedin #giovannibedinarticle #giovannibedinss20 #tesshardy #hcfw #hcfwarticle #kcdworldwide #kcdworldwidearticle
Creative Knitwear at MLRR and Papel de Punto Fall Winter 2019 during Bogotá Fashion Week
MLRR – also known as Mulierr – and Papel de Punto were two more clothing brands who had the chance to show off their new designs at Bogotá Fashion Week 2019. Latin American brand, MLRR, uses organic cotton for every garment, supporting sustainable practices while also helping the environment and taking responsibility for our planet. The designs for their handmade embroidery and knits are inspired by the natural geometry and textures of everyday life.
Papel de Punto is the perfect balance between art and fashion, offering neat but fun knitwear made in Colombia. Laura Acevedo, the fashion and textile designer, works alongside her partner, Felipe Guerra, the brand architect and editor of style, creating collections with a global vision of both fashion and gender.
Both of these brands presented aesthetic collections at Bogotá Fashion Week 2019, full of creative knitting. The Mullierr team believes, 'a day without knitting is like a day without sunshine…creativity is experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking the rules, making mistakes, and having fun'. It is all about the enjoyment of details in these collections, bringing unique and diverse style to the runway.
Papel de Punto brought us some sunshine with their Fall/Winter collection, with pops of yellow, baby blue, and orange combined with distinctive dolphin and cheetah designs. In contrast to MLRR with no bold graphics, Papel de Punto had a mix of rainbows, smiley faces, and grid formations. The designer has admitted how the weather of Bogotá affects her work. In this collection, waves of water and palm tree designs represent the tropical country of Colombia. In contrast, they are printed onto cozy fabrics, which are needed in the colder city of Bogotá.
written by Tess Hardy
Click HERE to view the full MLRR Fall Winter 2019 collection.
Click HERE to view the full Papel de Punto Fall Winter 2019 collection.
#article #mlrr #mlrrarticle #mlrrfw19 #papeldepunto #tesshardy #bogfw #bogfwarticle #ccb #ccbarticle
Pasarela – MLRR y Papel – BFW 2019Pasarela – MLRR y Papel – BFW 2019Pasarela – MLRR y Papel – BFW 2019Pasarela – MLRR y Papel – BFW 2019
Sparkling Chic at Steven Khalil Fall Winter 2019 during Haute Couture Fashion Week
One of the most outstanding shows during Paris Fashion Week has to be Steven Khalil's collection 'Dame En Fleurs.' As Khalil was inspired by the delicacy of flowers and the strength of their beauty, many pieces of this haute couture collection sparkled with numerous embroidered flowers. In an interview with Vogue Australia, Khalil explains his vision for the designs: "I wanted to examine the anatomy of flowers in their different stages of bloom — they are so delicate but also have a strength and beauty that appeals to everyone. I was interested to see how these elements could work together."
The result proved to be a dazzling haze of both breezy and skin-tight shimmering dresses. The breathtaking creations of the Australian bridal and red carpet fashion designer were made in various soft, romantic colors like dove grey, silver, and white, but also in dramatic black. Organza and sequins were materials that returned in various designs. The necklines changed from strapless to deep v-necks and elegant high-necks. One of the most outstanding dresses has to be the asymmetrically cut-up viridian blue tulle dress that came near the end of the show. The combination of the various tulle layers with the romantically embellished bodice created a highly dramatic effect.
As for accessories, most models wore fabulous high-heeled strappy sandals, often in a simple nude, so one's attention was immediately captured by the stunning dresses. The fairytale vibe of the collection could also be noticed in the details, as different romantic hairstyles consisted of soft, loose curls, and the make-up looks supported the illusion of ultra-feminine porcelain beauty. Debuted alongside Khalil's couture was his new jewelry collection, featuring delicate and luxurious designs, representing everything we expect from the lavish world of couture jewelry. The Versailles themed setting, with its numerous glistening chandeliers added to the dreaminess of the show.
written by Elena Van Meirvenne
Click HERE to view the full Steven Khalil Fall Winter 2019 Haute Couture collection.
#article #stevenkhalil #stevenkhalilarticle #stevenkhalilfw19 #elenavanmeirvenne #hcfwarticle #mephistophelesarticle
All About Retro Feels at Bendita Seas Fall Winter 2019 during Bogotá Fashion Week
Founded in 2005 by the publicist and designer Viviana Alba, the Colombian brand Bendita Seas designs highly original garments for creative, fun, and tasteful women. The brand is famous for its coats, dresses, skirts, boots, and its unique, feminine, and colorful details.
Their collection for the autumn-winter 2019 shown in April during Bogota Fashion Week, was a real feast for the fashion eye. The collection featured many unexpected contrasts of color and textures, with irregular cuts, square patterns, and floral embroidery elevating simple dresses, skirts, and jackets. All of the looks featured a mixture of retro and avant-garde with subtle kitsch touches while remaining very wearable.
Rock N' Rock Chic at Ducky Black Fall Winter 2019 during Bogotá Fashion Week
Ducky Black is the punk rock chic brand of Colombian designer Luisa Alvarado. It caters to adult women who maintain a passion for the punk attitude, but who also like to incorporate a vision of a romantic lifestyle in their wardrobe. Handmade with innovative cuts, and using materials such as Spanish Nappa leather, Ducky Black offers sophisticated pieces with a rock-'n-roll vibe.
Their collection for the autumn-winter of 2019, shown in April during Bogota Fashion Week, brought the brand's serious punk vibes to the runway. The show opened with a kimono-style dress in a combined bluebird and green dragon pattern. Flowy flared trousers in bright colors like yellow and pink were combined with black and purple biker jackets, next to all-black outfits. The rock-'n roll factor was established by choice for black biking shoes, spiked chokers, and dramatic black eye-makeup, creating the illusion of the models wearing a mask.
written by Elena Van Meirvenne
Click HERE to view the full Bendita Seas Fall Winter 2019 collection.
Click HERE to view the full Ducky Black Fall Winter 2019 collection.
#article #benditaseas #benditaseasarticle #benditaseasfw19 #elenavanmeirvenne #bogfw #bogfwarticle #ccb #ccbarticle 611090a870a9a3755a922a9fc5fb8f07267769706f2fb62455d34838fce21f13588f9c926777811ea448c6b14d21c599a9c66700e7ca3d26778544ab828ae9131ee13a84ced22de732e762677819


text:
Generic terms to Mailservers
If you don't know the meaning of the words in the setup sections, you might find the uncompressed version over here.
Local Host Aliases
An alias is another name for your machine. One machine in general may serve several domain names (like a mycitadel.com and mycitadel.org); enter yours here. Don't forget to have a look at your DNS Config
Smart Hosts
If your citadel is a Satelite system (maybe you're behind a dial-in and are not allowed to send out mail directly) you can specify a host which citadel should send your mail out through ("Relay"). You can specify a login here if you like (remember, citadel just supports plain auth) in this syntax username:email@example.com. You could also want to relay through some other local running MTA [Mail Transport Agent] like Postfix (who will provide more sophisticadet client auth mechanisms for example)
RBL Hosts
A Realtime Blackhole List is usually a DNS that decides whether a domain / ip you ask it for is in suspect of sending spam or not. The FAQ has some examples.
SpamAssassin Hosts
An IP or Domainname of a machine you've got the Spamassasin Scanner running, to decide wether you want to receive the mail or reject it at the gates, because of it only will try sell you cheap watches.
Masqueradable Domains
You've got a Domain where your users should be allowed to send mail from, but that shouldn't be delivered locally? Add them here.
Directory Domains
Is a Citadel specific Internode feature. Its for clustering multiple citadels and sharing users between them. See the Citadel Administration Manual for Details.


text:
I have Los Angeles Card, and the new Autumn Braille cards for trade
Looking for NY, SF, SD, DC and any of the older cards or different country cards.
Im new to the SB Card collecting so most old cards will be appreciated.
If we do a trade I prefer 2 of each atleast
more is better but even if its just one i will be interested.
You can email me at email@example.com


text:
Let Earth's Inhabitants Rejoice
31243, Hymns, Let Earth's Inhabitants Rejoice, no. 53
1. Let earth's inhabitants rejoice
And gladly hail the glorious hour;
Again is heard a prophet's voice,
And all may feel the gospel's pow'r.
2. The blissful time will soon arrive,
The day by holy men foretold,
When man no more with man will strive,
And all in each a friend behold.
3. Oppression will no more be found,
Nor tyrant hold relentless sway,
But love to God and man abound
Thruout the long millennial day.
Text: William Clegg, 1823-1903
Music: Leroy J. Robertson, 1896-1971. © 1948 IRI


text:
basket is empty
While other soaps can attract insects with their scent, Camper's Choice will repel bugs for several hours. For further protection, complement the soap with Citronella Mist, a wonderfully-scented natural alternative to DEET.
Use Ant Away on surfaces—your kitchen counter, sills, floors and picnic blanket—to keep ants at bay.
We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, PayPal, personal checks and money orders.
Phone orders are welcome.
We absolutely guarantee your satisfaction.
©2020 Herbaria, LLC


text:
Rand Paul and Realism
Will Inboden was not impressed with Rand Paul's foreign policy speech:
At the outset of his remarks Senator Paul oddly claims the mantle of being a "realist." This seems to have triggered some affection from other professing realists, which is curious since one looks in vain through Paul's speech for much realist content.
Since I'm apparently one of the "professing realists" in question, I suppose I ought to identify which parts of the speech I thought made sense. I have already commentedon the speecha fewtimes and focused on the parts I didn't accept, so I'll try to sum up briefly what I did like about it.
Paul's argument that containment should be an option isn't the position that I prefer in the Iran debate, but it represents enough of a departure from the "prevention" consensus view that it merits some praise. Since containment was used against Hagel as a bludgeon at his hearing just a few days before the speech, Sen. Paul's decision to praise the concept and its original author seemed to me to be a meaningful signal that he didn't share the bipartisan desire to dismiss it out of hand. He contrasted Kennan's original view of containment with the more aggressive and global Truman Doctrine, whose supporters he correctly likened to contemporary hard-liners that have scarcely ever seen a foreign conflict that they didn't think imperiled U.S. interests in some way. Given the modern Republican hawkish tendency to celebrate Truman as one of their heroes, his derision of contemporary hard-liners as the "Truman caucus" was remarkable and most welcome.
Paul was trying to reach a Republican and conservative audience that wasn't closely aligned with non-interventionists or neoconservatives. That is how I understood his quixotic attempt to reconcile Kennan and Reagan. Of course it's true, as Leon Hadar says, that Kennan and Reagan were not in agreement on many things at the time, and Kennan didn't think much of Reagan or later claims lauding the supposed effects of his administration's policies. Sen. Paul was choosing to emphasize the better parts of Reagan's record, focusing on the small number of Reagan's military interventions and his later arms control negotiations. I am guessing he was trying to use Reagan to bridge the gap between the audience he was addressing and the arguments for restraint and prudence that he wanted them to hear. Finally, I have been calling on Republicans to adopt a foreign policy of restraint and prudence, and Sen. Paul's speech represented a first attempt to do just that.
As for my being a "professing realist," I have never claimed to be one, but I am frequently identified this way because I am often sympathetic to arguments made by self-identified realists. I recognize that hostility to those arguments has made U.S. foreign policy substantially worse over at least the last twenty years, and so I'm pleased when they enjoy a revival. The fact that I am often mistaken for a realist underscores the problem with how the term is used: it is applied very liberally to a wide range of people. This includes virtually anyone who thinks war should be a last resort, those who see some value in diplomatic engagement, and those who look askance at Wilsonian fantasies of democracy promotion and nation-building. One could meet all of those criteria (as Sen. Paul does) and not be a realist according to the peculiar definition provided by Inboden's colleague Paul Bonicelli. Using an entirely different standard, one might conclude that Obama is a realist. Realist often means whatever the person deploying the term wants it to mean, and when it is used positively it often just means "not a warmongering ideologue."
The label is not very useful as a descriptor any longer because it has become a catch-all term to refer to almost anyone opposed to a narrow range of hard-line and hawkish views. Thus Sen. Paul identifies as a realist because it is a designation with a Republican pedigree that does not commit him to identifying solely with his father's views or the prevailing views in the GOP. Considering the alternatives that antiwar conservatives and libertarians have to work with, that is a significant improvement over what his colleagues are offering. That doesn't make him the next Fulbright or the next Taft, but such a figure will always be as elusive as looking for the next Reagan.


text:
Uploaded by
UploadedJul 19, 2010
Size11.97 KB
Supported WoW Versions
- 3.2.0
Merge: d2a7a5b 9472c25
Author: Shadowed <email@example.com>
Date: Mon Jul 19 11:23:10 2010 -0700
Merge branch 'master' of github.com:Shadowed/ActionBarSaver
Added "ActionBarSaver" global so other addons can access ABS functions
Added Totem multi-bar saving support
Date: Mon Feb 15 11:49:45 2010 -0800
Disabled sound when restoring profiles
Date: Thu Dec 10 15:29:57 2009 -0800
Updated to support saving/restoring of equipment set buttons
Moved over to using the new addon namespaces provided in 3.3
TOC Bump
Date: Wed Sep 23 18:53:33 2009 -0700
- Fixed macros that are auto-edited by mods with names not being restored (Now restores by id -> content -> name, if no duplicate names)
Date: Sat Aug 8 21:54:13 2009 -0700
- Removed some upgrade code, been long enough that it's not needed
- Fixed an error with AddonLoader
- TOC Bump
Author: unknown <Shadowed@.(none)>
Date: Thu May 7 14:17:56 2009 -0700
* Agh stop complaining
Author: Shadowed <firstname.lastname@example.com>
Date: Sun Apr 5 16:04:50 2009 +0000
* fixed spellRAnk typo
Date: Sat Apr 4 22:25:04 2009 +0000
* Whoops, TOC is supposed to be 30100 not 31000
* Stripped the old Action Bar Saver -> Action Bar Saver 2 conversion code it's been almost a year "should" be fine
* Stripped all of the companion saving for 3.0, it doesn't work half the time and is ugly anyway
* Removed localization.deDE.lua and localization.frFR.lua not like I ever use them
* Actually stripped Ace3 so SVN would commit
* Changed companion saving to use the new Blizzard functions that actually work (And only took like 6 months to work)
* Cleaned up some code in general to be less ugly and weird in general
* Updated TOC to 3.1
* Stripped Ace3, can't remember why I added it in the first place
Date: Thu Jan 8 22:10:31 2009 +0000
* Added debug code if the companion scanning fails, hopefully this will let me narrow down whats causing it to happen (HOPEFULLY)
Date: Mon Jan 5 04:16:33 2009 +0000
* Added support for AddonLoader
Date: Sun Jan 4 17:10:09 2009 +0000
* Added an option to restore the actual spell rank saved, instead of defaulting to the highest rank (/abs rank, restores highest rank by default)
Date: Sun Nov 23 17:02:46 2008 +0000
* Added a check to prevent profiles from being restored in combat
* Since down ranking was removed, we don't really benefit from having lower ranks of spells restored, meaning it will now default to restoring the highest rank, and if that fails it'll restore the rank saved
Date: Thu Oct 30 22:05:14 2008 +0000
* Fixed an issue with saving profiles as a Paladin or Warlock because Blizzard likes inconsistencies because they're evil bastards
* Updated libraries
* Updated TOC
* Removed build 30000 checks
Date: Sun Sep 21 18:32:22 2008 +0000
* Fixed one button in the restore failing if you had an action on the cursor when you started a restore
* Updated AceDB-3.0
* Changed the macro check to 36 global/18 character since Blizzard lied apparently
* Added a work around for companions not returning a valid GetActionInfo
* Stripped out AceConfig, AceDBOptions, AceEvent, AceGUI, as I can't think of any case I'm going to use these in the future
Date: Sun Sep 7 20:54:48 2008 +0000
* Apparently blizzard didn't up the per character macros to 36 yet, so removed that check
* Fixed /abs macro and /abs count not giving the correct response and always saying disabled
Date: Sun Aug 31 22:09:37 2008 +0000
* Should mostly work with WoTLK now, just need to add mount/companion parts in
* Added Bazaar support
Date: Sun Aug 3 04:21:56 2008 +0000
* Fixed macro check, only does it if we find a macro we need to restore
* Fixed /abs macro not actually working and letting you disable it
* Added spell linking, this is very basic and for general substitution like if you have a Tauren Druid and a Night Elf Druid, you can set it up so if it can't find War Stomp it uses Shadow Meld in it's place and vica versa.
Date: Fri Jul 4 23:57:43 2008 +0000
* Fixed a bug with the DB upgrade possibly erroring
* Fixed the class categories not being filled in unless you had upgraded in the first place
Date: Thu Jul 3 23:42:45 2008 +0000
* Fixed profile list not working correctly due to DB profiles
Date: Wed Jun 25 17:37:47 2008 +0000
* Fixed spells not being restored if they were the max ranks
* Fixed /abs delete not deleting unknown profiles
* Cleaned up the restore code slightly
* Added /abs rename old new for renaming profiles, also will move them to your current classes category
Date: Fri Jun 20 23:44:59 2008 +0000
* Moved ABS to Ace3 to clean up the code a bit more, game restart IS required
* Slash command is still /abs
* Added /abs count toggles checking if you have an item in your inventory before restoring, may need this enabled on this like Arena Tournament Realm to prevent disconnecting issues
* Cleaned up the storage format, we now store profiles per class so you can use names like pve/pvp for different class sets without issues, you can now also only restore sets that were saved on that class
* Improved the code in general, saving, restoring, adding macros and such are all less ugly and good things like that
Date: Sun May 18 00:23:11 2008 +0000
* Added a quick check to string format for macroID to prevent a nil error
* Fixed a bug in macro searching, will actually search for macros now if they go missing or the ID changed


text:
Sun Fin wrote:This is the site which is often the reason I'm inactive. It was set up by Ricky, who has left the forum world twice since then. The forums new head is SparkingAC195 who I belive was here at one point. There are a few joint members between here and there, me, Jebus, Guan Yan and others. Anyway I hope to see some of you other there soon.
Adam wrote:I've started a game review website with some folks and then Kristina came along and made us all look like crap.
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests
Copyright © 2002–2008 Kongming's Archives. All Rights Reserved


text:
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The economy grew faster than initially thought in the third quarter as restocking by businesses provided a big boost, but consumer and business spending were revised lower in a sobering reminder of the recovery's underlying weakness.
Gross domestic product expanded at a 2.7 percent annual rate, the Commerce Department said on Thursday, with export growth also helping to offset the weakest consumer spending and first drop in business investment in more than a year.
It was the fastest growth since late 2011 and much quicker than the 2 percent rate the government estimated last month. But it was hardly a sign of strength as the lift from inventories will likely be lost in the fourth quarter.
Growth in consumer spending, which accounts for about 70 percent of U.S. economic activity, was cut by more than half a percentage point, suggesting the rise in inventories reflected unwanted goods piling up in warehouses.
The possibility of an inventory overhang, the drag from superstorm Sandy and fears over the so-called fiscal cliff look set to undermine the economy in the final months of the year.
Separately, retailers reported unexpectedly weak sales in November, which many pinned on the storm that ripped into the East Coast late last month.
"The headwinds for fourth quarter GDP have kind of intensified. At best, the economy may just coast its way into 2013," said Ryan Sweet, a senior economist at Moody's Analytics in West Chester Pennsylvania.
The fiscal cliff could suck $600 billion from the economy early next year and fuel a fresh recession, unless Congress and the Obama administration agree on a less-severe plan to cut budget deficits.
A separate report from the Labor Department showed initial claims for state unemployment benefits dropped 23,000 to a seasonally adjusted 393,000 last week. Still, they remain well above where they stood before Sandy hit.
There are fears the monster storm could severely dent employment growth in November, further undercutting the economy.
"Employment growth could slow dramatically in November to around the 100,000 range (from 171,000 in October)," said Millan Mulraine, a senior economist at TD Securities in New York. The government releases data on November employment on December 7.
Prices for U.S. government debt rose for a fourth straight day on the GDP data and lack of progress on the fiscal cliff talks in Washington. Stocks on Wall Street closed higher for a second day in a row on bargain hunting.
The dollar fell marginally against a basket of currencies.
Business inventories added more than three quarters of a percentage point to third-quarter GDP growth, rather than being a drag as previously reported.
Excluding inventories, GDP rose at a revised 1.9 percent rate, underscoring the sluggishness of demand. Final sales of goods and services produced in the United States previously had been estimated to have increased at a 2.1 percent pace.
A smaller trade deficit was also a factor behind the upward revision to GDP as export growth outpaced a rise in imports. But the trend in exports is unlikely to be sustained given slowing global demand, especially in China and debt troubled Europe.
Government spending rose sharply in the quarter, but that is not expected to last given belt-tightening in Washington.
Other details of the report were rather weak. Consumer spending was cut to a 1.4 percent growth rate - the slowest since the second quarter of 2011 - from the 2 percent gain previously reported.
Even more worrying, there were downward revisions to personal income and the saving rate, which suggests consumer spending will remain lackluster in the months ahead.
Business spending was revised to show a much deeper cutback, with equipment and software spending the weakest since the second quarter of 2009.
"It is hard to have a strong economy when households are not hitting the malls hard and businesses have assumed the turtle position fearful of a crash due to the fiscal cliff," said Joel Naroff, chief economist at Naroff Economic Advisors in Holland, Pennsylvania.
There was a modest downward revision to spending on residential construction, which continues to benefit from the Federal Reserve's ultra accommodative monetary policy stance, which has driven mortgage rates to record lows.
The firming housing market tone was captured by a third report showing contracts to buy previously owned homes surged in October.
Additional reporting by Jason Lange; Editing by Neil Stempleman, Tim Ahmann and Andrew Hay


text: Son of King Saul, and devoted friend of David, who was to succeed Saul and whom Jonathan protected from his father's jealous wrath (1 Sam. 19: 1–7; 20: 30). Indeed Saul was even jealous of Jonathan's military success against the Philistines (1 Sam. 14: 44). Jonathan and Saul were both killed and David is credited with a poignant lamentation for Jonathan (2 Sam. 1: 25–7).


text:
Excellent snack for just about anytime and very easy to make!
Karo Syrup or Honey
Creamy Peanut Butter
Popcorn (unbuttered kind works best). I usually make about 3/4 of a cup of popcorn in the air popper. See *** below
-Mix together a 1/2 cup sugar & a 1/2 cup Honey or Karo Syrup (either one is fine), in a small pot.
-Turn on heat and stir continuously. You just want it to be hot enough to melt together into a syrup like mixture, and then you can turn off the heat.
-Mix in 1/2 cup creamy Peanut Butter and stir it all together until it's all melted and creamy.
-Pour over a bowl of popcorn. I suggest a larger size bowl so it's easier to mix together without popcorn flying out everywhere
It will be very hot so make sure you mix up the popcorn using a big spoon or spatula. Wait a few minutes for it to cool and then enjoy!
***Note***, it pays to sift out as many lose kernels that didn't pop as you can before putting in the peanut butter because biting down on kernel doesn't feel so good on your teeth We usually pour the popcorn into a colendar and shake it up alittle bit so the unpopped kernels fall to the bottom and then you more easily get the good popcorn out and put it in a big bowl.
It's really good and so easy to make, plus you can make peanut butter popcorn balls for snacks later on. You can make the popcorn balls any size, grab a handful of the popcorn and ball it up and you're all set. Just keep them in a ziplock bag so they stay fresh and you have quick snack on the go or kids lunches and stuff.


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Ho ho ho! It's Friday, and it's nearly Christmas, and if you're still working you almost certainly wish you were not. There are parties to attend, family to greet, gifts to wrap, cards to send off, and so much to do in the next five or so days.
But before you head out into the world, come chat with Gizmodo staff for a little bit. Things you liked this year? Sure. The story behind that crazy Morgan Freeman iPad picture? Why not! Hit us with anything you've got.


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Scott McRae's taste of Albury
When it comes to regional towns there always seems to be some similarities, feelings that are often carried through the communities that are universal and are often felt by those visiting. Feelings of being welcome, awaited and accepted even though you are not local. It's a feeling I adore and one that is evident in spades in the southern New South Wales gem known as Albury.
I have been a bit of a frequent flyer in these parts with my travel shows over the years and it has been a delight to watch the city go from strength to strength when it comes to offering tourists excellent choices be it via cuisine, cultural experiences or getting active on or around Australia's longest river, the mighty Murray, that flows along the edge of the city centre.
Gone are the days when the only decent restaurant available in these types of cities was the Chinese feed at the local bowlo! A lot of the biggish regional centres have attracted top chefs from the major cities and beyond who have had enough of the big city life and made the move to one that offers a more balanced being. Then again there are many home grown and nurtured chefs that have put in the hard yards and are becoming just as successful. During my few days in Albury I was lucky enough to sample the offerings from both formulas.
Let's start with one of my Albury favs, Riverdeck Cafe, sitting proudly on the banks of the Murray, The Riverdeck Café is open for breakfast and lunch seven days a week and serves dinners on Friday and Saturday nights and delivers a unique blend of modern Australian with a twist of Europe thanks to head chef Ludo Baulacky who has strutted his stuff in London and Mauritius. Managed with love by owners Christa and Alex Smit it is without doubt on of the premier dining establishments in the region. A trip to Albury must include a visit here.
A really great spot to enjoy a little culture and get a fine meal while you're at it is available in the centre of town, MAMA is a really terrific venue, a real contemporary art experience. Not only does the gallery displays an array of ever changing exhibitions from far and wide, but it also has solid connections with the surrounding region, which I think is once again a sign of what the city is about generally.
After you have perused the gallery I suggest you head to what is really the main entrance and enjoy a meal or a beverage or both at the aptly named Canvas Eatery. The restaurant is situated in a lovely spot outside in the sunshine overlooking a wonderful old church and a lush expanse of lawn area. Once again the cuisine on offer is absolutely top notch and the relaxed atmosphere makes a visit there even more enjoyable.
Now if you're partial to a wee dram of whisky a drop of gin, a morning coffee or for that matter, you're a fella in need of a beard trim or a slick new haircut, well you can get it all at iiFingers. This place is eclectic to say the least – and in a way is a step back in time.
One of the main aims was to serve the finest premium whisky to hard working blokes after a long day. It has metamorphosed slightly and is definitely not a men's only club. In fact, on my visit there were just as many females as males enjoying the relaxed and super comfy surrounds while enjoying a bite to eat, a spot of whisky or in my case a most delicious combo of gin and StrangeLove bitter grapefruit! Seriously it was one of the most refreshing, enjoyable drinks I have had in a long time. In fact, so good that I bought a case of StrangeLove to take home. Never thought I would be loving grapefruit juice!
iiFingers is certainly worth a visit, even if it's just to admire co-owner Chris Maney's outstanding beard.
I enjoyed a pre-dinner splash at iiFingers and then made my way to what from the outside looked like a very unassuming venue. On steeping inside and meeting owner operator Matt Fuller I was taken in by a very down-to-earth gentleman that oozed a certain charm. This theme continued as I eyed the restaurant space itself; nothing garish or overstated, just a comfortable, friendly atmosphere with a unique cross section of patrons all enjoying themselves.
That is where the humbleness ceased, because without doubt it was the food that is the star at Bistro Selle. Head chef Tara Davis is a genius! Creating dishes that, (and I don't mean to judge) belie her age. She has such a cherub-like face that it's as if the angels themselves have blessed her with an ability to produce food from the heavens! I kid you not, my meal here was one of the best I have encountered in my many, many travels both here and abroad. I believe Matt and Tara form the perfect team. You must visit, and you should book first!
When it came to my choice of accommodation in Albury I choose to explore the newest player in town. Mantra is well known for its contemporary comfortable properties all across the country and this is certainly evident with their newest offering in Albury. Nothing beats a comfy bed when you are travelling – I believe it just makes you feel a little loved.
The rooms are well designed and my room in particular was really well set out with an open style bathroom that had plenty of appeal. I also had a gorgeous view above the back end of town across to the mountain range in the distance, which was a pleasure to wake up to.
The hotel also has a superb location and it is an easy walk to just about everything you could want. Albury is a fairly flat town city as well so nothing is too difficult to explore. Mantra also has its own in-house dining option which unfortunately I didn't get a crack at, but it looks very inviting so I certainly will in the future.
Take a stroll along the riverbank and admire the Wonga Wetlands.
Checkout the Albury Library/Museum which houses a very engaging permanent exhibition on the local history.
Grab a bike from the www.cyclestationalbury.com.au and visit the Botanic Gardens and ride some of the 50 kilometres of bike tracks on offer.
If you want help planning your Albury adventure, head www.visitalburywodonga.com
Scott McRae is the host of Channel Ten's A Taste of Travel. Visit www.scottmcrae.com.au and www.atasteoftravel.com.au


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This was unexpected enough that I kept bugging Mary, asking her if Mrs. Plum had come in yet. Finally she just said "No! She's not here! I'd tell you if she's here! Maybe she's in a coma!"
I felt bad about irritating Mary, so apologized and went on to my next group of patients.
About an hour later Mary came back to tell me the ER was on the phone, so I picked up.
Dr. Grumpy: "This is Dr. Grumpy."
Dr. ER: "Yeah, I have a patient of yours here, Frieda Plum. Her husband couldn't wake her up this morning, and it looks like she's in a coma..."
I need to be REALLY nice to Mary. She has terrible powers.


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By DAVID GREEN
Layoff notices have gone to 13 Morenci Area School staff members as administrators prepare to deal with expected cuts in state aid.
Board members approved the layoffs of eight teachers, three paraprofessionals, one cook and one bus driver.
Notices of layoff must be given now, explained superintendent of schools Dr. Michael Osborne, even though a firm picture of next year's finances is unknown.
"We're still looking at other cuts and waiting to find out exactly what state aid we're going to receive," he told the board Monday. "There are a lot of variables that will continue to change."
Osborne said he wants to make decisions as quickly as possible to determine which staff members will be recalled from layoff. He expects to know more Monday when Governor Rick Snyder presents his plans for school financing.
District finance director Erica Metcalf explained her projections for the next school year that could result in a loss of up to $340,000 from reduced state aid. Other cost increases and funding reductions could give the district reduced revenue of more than a million dollars.
She's projecting a continuing drop in enrollment to 719 students, along with a $170 per pupil cut this year plus the governor's call for an additional $300 cut.
Retirement costs are growing dramatically and could approach a million dollars in the 2012-13 school year. The increase equals a $280 per pupil drop in funding.
Retirement pay is a great benefit, Metcalf said, but one that school districts are no longer able to afford.
The district had a fund balance of $2.1 million in the 1997-98 school year (35 percent of its assets), but it fell to $523,000 in the current year.
"If we choose to do nothing, we'll be a deficit district," Metcalf said.
The district could up $597,000 in the hole, with all cash reserves depleted.
"This is by far the most difficult position I've seen the district in," she added.
Metcalf continues to be impressed with how the staff has worked together to help the district make it through tough times.
Osborne said that Metcalf's report is not intended to scare people, but instead to give an idea of what lies ahead. It's becoming an impossible situation for districts across the state.
Despite the cuts made in the past, Osborne said, more will be coming. Final decisions can't be made until more is known about state support, staff concessions, enrollment, etc.
"But I want to make it very clear to the community that we will make it through," he said. "It won't be easy. We're dealing with people's livelihoods here."
CHANGES—Del Cochrane of the LISD told the board about changes from Lansing regarding teacher and principal evaluation and also about merit pay for teachers.
The legislation was signed into law before Gov. Snyder was elected, but Cochrane expects the new governor will have his own take on the issues.
The law contains a lot of vague wording, Cochrane said, and each district will have to define terms such as "relevant data," "significant factor" and "additional compensation."
Forty percent of a teacher's evaluation will be tied to student growth. That won't be the score on an achievement test, he said, but instead will rely on several assessments and other objective criteria.
Merit pay will be determined by an administrator. The amount of pay and the criteria for giving it will likely be different in every district, Cochrane said, however, he urged administrators to work with other districts in developing standards.
CONTRACT—Board member Carrie Dillon, representing Morenci's shared services committee, recommended extending the contract of Dr. Osborne for three more years, with no changes in compensation. The Hudson school board also recommended the extension.
Board president Scott Merillat spoke favorably of the shared superintendent arrangement—noting a significant financial savings—and of the joint discussions with the Hudson board representatives.
Board members voted to approve the contract extension, with trustee Dwight Mansfield absent.
LEAVE—Maternity leaves were granted to Natalie Zuvers and Kay Holubik.


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I just got a comment about Father Chaumont.
Things were pretty quiet on my English version of my blog about genealogy…
Click here to read the article I had written about Father Chaumont.
Hello, we are looking at our ancestory and found a birth record for our great grandmother. Here is how it reads. You will see Revd Joseph Chaumont listed on the form. I hope this helps you.
When born: November 6 1906
Where born: St Laurent
Name: Marie Jeanne
Sex: female
Name and Surname of Father: Edward Ducharme
Name and Surname of Mother: Virginia Chaboyer
Occupation or calling of father: Blacksmith
Name of Doctor in attendance or of Midwife or other person if no doctor: Mrs Chaboyer
Name, Description and Residence of Informant: Revd Joseph Chaumont St Laurent
When registered: November 9 1906
Signature of Clerk: [illegible]


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by Thomas Gartside
When I moved to Manayunk in the 1980's, I bought a house on "The Wall," a street that would become legendary in cycling circles. It was exciting in those early years, when I could sit on my step and watch the best cyclists in the world sprint up one of the steepest inclines in professional bicycle racing.
Over the years, I am sad to say, ever-increasing congestion on my street has come to ruin the experience. In the last few years, despite my interest in cycling, I have battened down the hatches and left town. Upon return, I would find the street and sidewalk paved with plastic cups, bottles, cans and other trash left behind by insensitive invaders.
Two years ago, I decided to give it another try. It was exciting. Many neighbors kicked off festivities with parties on Saturday night, which continued until the following Sunday afternoon. Thousands of spectators flowed up and down the Wall during the race, and the excitement was contagious. Nevertheless, after three or four hours of uninterrupted congestion and noise, I decided to flee to the woods.
I will never forget the moment I stepped onto the upper trail of the Wissahickon Valley Park at Jeanette Street. Though I could not see it, a wood thrush was filling the air with sounds no flute or oboe could ever attain. The song of this bird is unique because it has the rare ability to produce two sounds at once. As its melody evolves, the harmonic strains intertwine. No other creature can make these sounds. In a moment I was transported from uninterrupted cacophony to a soothing and peaceful place.
When I learned that the Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Department has proposed to lease parts of the Wissahickon in June to develop a zip line/treetop adventure course, I was appalled. I attended a meeting of the Alliance for the Preservation of the Wissahickon (APOW) and volunteered to help get petitions signed.
This was not easy for me because approaching strangers makes me very uncomfortable. Furthermore, the people to be approached have a right to their peaceful moments in the woods. I usually opened my rap with, "Excuse me. Did you know that the Department of Parks and Recreation is planning to lease part of the Wissahickon to a corporation to build a zip line/adventure course?"
Most of the people I approached were shocked to learn about the planned concession stand, paved parking lot, Porta Potties, and the desecration of 5-7 acres of parkland. My petition list filled easily as people lined up to sign.
One woman, however, decided it was time to teach me some manners. She told me I should be more polite. I should say, "Excuse me. Do you have a moment?" I should wait for an answer and then continue. Of course, she was right. My mom taught me not to speak to strangers with clipboards. I tried the approach for a while but it didn't work. This has to be stopped now and I am afraid I will have to be blunt with people.
This reminds me of the time my home was invaded. One morning on Thanksgiving eve at 3 a.m. the silence was shattered by the sound of breaking glass. Someone had smashed the window of my basement door and was now up the stairs rattling the door into my kitchen.
Instead of screaming, "Hey Mabel, pass me the shotgun! We got varmints in the cellar," I should have politely asked the invaders if, perhaps, they had the wrong address. Actually, I did what most would do. I called 911. In less than three minutes a posse of Philadelphia's finest came to my rescue.
Sad to say, the police won't come to the rescue this time.
Meanwhile, back to the wood thrush. This reclusive species is extremely sensitive to forest fragmentation, and its numbers are steadily declining. According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, "Population surveys from 1966 to 2009 show a continent-wide decline of almost 2 percent a year – suggesting an overall decline of some 50 percent in that period."
This development will disrupt another 7-10 acres of wood thrush habitat. However, considering the "edge effect" the area of disruption is far greater. Ecologists have learned that human activities compromise neighboring habitat for a multitude of reasons. Invasive species are introduced, foraging areas are disrupted, pollution and erosion are increased, etc., etc.
I mention the wood thrush because it is so unique and charismatic. There are countless less obvious species who have a right to their homes in the forest.
No, now is not the time to be polite. What will you do when invaders come tramping through your home?
Thomas Gartside is a longtime resident of Manayunk, a member of Friends of the Wissahickon, the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, the Sierra Club, and Defenders of Wildlife.


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Must have been what Matt Damon and his wife Luciana told Emily Blunt and John Krasinski. And they accepted the invitation to visit them in Vancouver. Here are Emily and John leaving Vancouver on Sunday after a few days in Canada with her Adjustment Bureau co-star. They've been hanging out a lot the four of them after shooting that movie together. In New York quite often, and now in Vancouver where Matt's been working on a new film for a couple of months. Emily and John stayed with the Damons at their rental property; it's a close friendship. Let's come back to this in a minute.
Earlier in the day, before leaving for their flight, Matt took Emily and John up the Grouse Grind. He finished well before they did. They were spotted taking the tram back down together though and graciously posed for fans who eventually recognised them.
So you know who hasn't come to visit the Damons in Vancouver? Not that it means anything but the Afflecks haven't come to visit the Damons in Vancouver or in New York. Or Miami. At least not in a while. They used to couple-trip all the time. Of course they all have kids and it's harder to move them all around and break up a routine. Still, their approach to down time is rather different. Hypothetically, if you knew all kinds of secrets about your husband's best friend, would you have a hard time hanging out with his wife?
Also attached - Emily and John holding hands upon arriving at LAX.
Monday, August 15, 2011 at 7:50 AM


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Monroe County is the latest county in the state to adopt a ban on text messaging while driving. That's a step in the right direction, but it would make more sense to ban the dangerous practice statewide than piecemeal.
A recent Zogby poll had a statistic that should make all drivers shudder: 66 percent of those surveyed, ages 18 to 24, said they send and receive text messages on their cell phones while driving.
Texting is a major driver distraction, which, studies show, is almost as dangerous as drunken driving. While it was never determined whether it played a role in the June 2007 crash that claimed the lives of five Fairport High School graduates, cell phone records show text messages were sent to and from the driver's phone in the seconds before their sport utility vehicle collided with a tractor-trailer.
It will soon be illegal to send or receive text messages while driving in Monroe County. The County Legislature recently adopted a texting-while-driving ban, joining other New York counties including Westchester and Suffolk.
That's admirable.
But adopting legislation county by county is like providing an unfinished quilt when a blanket is needed. The state Legislature needs to adopt a statewide ban on texting and driving. Ontario County lawmakers — instead of adding their own patch to the quilt — passed a resolution last year urging the state to act on the measure.
Simply put, it's confusing to have bans only in certain counties. Imagine driving along the state Thruway — when can you text and when can't you? And how would you know?
The Monroe County texting ban would be superseded if a state law is adopted before it takes effect this summer. But considering how slowly the wheels turn in Albany, that seems unlikely.
Perinton state Sen. James Alesi sponsored a bill that passed his house in 2007 but didn't make it through the Assembly. Both houses now have before them several proposals pertaining to texting and driving. Alesi's bill, introduced earlier this month and now being eyed by the Transportation Committee, would not only prohibit "the writing, sending or reading of text-based communication" while driving, it would create a cell phone safety component in pre-licensing courses.
Opponents of such legislation say it would be difficult to enforce. They're right, but there is a psychological factor to laws; they tend to encourage lawfulness. Consider the percentage of drivers who wouldn't think of turning the key without buckling up their seat belts now (close to 90 percent), as compared to before a state law requiring seat belt use went into effect in 1984 (below 20 percent). A law against cell-phone use while driving is slowly reducing the number of drivers who use hand-held devices behind the wheel.
It is likely that, over time, a ban on texting would likewise increase awareness and inhibit the practice among drivers. And down the road, that can only save lives.
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Mitt Romney may not have set out on the road to the Republican presidential nomination if not for a private meeting between strangers. More than a decade ago, the 54-year-old Olympics CEO was at a crossroads as the closing ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Games approached. That's when Kerry Healey, head of the Massachusetts GOP, traveled across the country to meet with Romney. Inside the privacy of his office, Healey pressed the longtime businessman to run for governor.
Mitt Romney may not have set out on the road to the Republican presidential nomination if not for a private meeting between strangers.
More than a decade ago, the 54-year-old Olympics CEO was at a crossroads as the closing ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Games approached. That's when Kerry Healey, head of the Massachusetts GOP, traveled across the country to meet with Romney. Inside the privacy of his office, Healey pressed the longtime businessman to run for governor. French figure skating judges waited outside as the meeting ran long.
"We had never met before. It was a cold call," Healey recalls.
Romney would soon agree to run, a decision that opened the next phase of his life.
Nine months after that February 2002 meeting, Romney was elected governor of Massachusetts. The post became the launching pad for a national political career that reaches its pinnacle Thursday when he accepts the Republican presidential nomination.
Those who know him well say it was not ambition that pushed Romney into politics anew after a failed 1994 Massachusetts Senate run. Instead, they describe a man driven to lead, likely the result of growing up in a family that emphasized service above all else. They say Romney truly believed in his own unique ability to solve problems.
He ran toward challenges, says longtime friend and business partner Bob White.
"A lot of people who just tuned in this presidential year haven't seen this history of stepping forward," White says. "It's that stepping forward that his parents talked about, not necessarily just public office. It how he's wired."
Indeed, Romney's father, George Romney, served as Michigan governor. He unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination in 1968, later becoming a member of President Richard Nixon's Cabinet.
It was clear early into Romney's one term as Massachusetts governor that he, like his father, saw opportunities to lead on a larger stage.
Less than a year after taking office, Romney sought and won the chairmanship of the Republican Governors Association. He raised tens of millions of dollars to help elect Republicans across the nation. In 2005, he made his first trip to Iowa, home of the leadoff presidential caucuses, to speak at the state GOP's fall banquet some weeks before President George W. Bush's re-election.
Romney would visit Iowa three times in 2005 and nine times in 2006. That year, he spent 212 days outside of Massachusetts. One trip included a visit to Iraq and Afghanistan to enhance his international credentials as his state grappled with a devastating flood.
His national focus hurt his standing back home. The fall before he left office, two in three Massachusetts residents disapproved of his job performance.
But by that time, there was little doubt Romney would seek the presidency. He already had declined to seek a second term as governor. He announced the formation of a presidential exploratory committee for the 2008 race on his next-to-last day as Massachusetts governor.
Romney quickly proved he was a prolific fundraiser and carved out a reputation that year as the conservative alternative to Sen. John McCain by shifting to the right on key issues after tacking more to the center as Massachusetts governor. He spent millions to win symbolic test votes and millions more to support a bloated staff.
Nearly always perfectly groomed and wearing a suit, Romney ended up struggling to connect with voters. His Mormon faith proved an impediment, especially in Iowa and South Carolina. And his reversals on social issues gave rivals fodder to tag him as a flip-flopping candidate with no core belief system.
Romney, who later acknowledged that his strategy was flawed, would ultimately lose the nomination to McCain.
Ann Romney vowed that her husband would not run a second time.
But feelings had changed around Christmas of 2010 when the Romney family met at the kitchen table to discuss the prospect of another bid.
"I said, 'Is it too late to fix the country?' And Mitt said something interesting. He said, 'Well, it is not too late yet, but it is getting late,' " Ann Romney told a Florida audience recently. "And knowing that there was still time, I said, 'There is no question whether we go forward or don't go forward, because it is up to you to save the country, and so we must go forward.' "
Romney was convinced he had to do things differently the second time around.
He worked to shed his buttoned-up image by wearing more casual attire, such as jeans, sneakers and shirts with the sleeves rolled up. Facing a weak Republican field, his campaign's rallying cry became "leaner and meaner." He hired a smaller staff and listened to fewer consultants. He stockpiled tons of cash and an outside super political action committee made up of former staffers did the same.
He focused his pitch on the economy and defeating Barack Obama. And he walked a careful line between presenting himself as acceptable to the tea party — a new insurgent group — and catering to it.
Starting in Iowa, Romney and his allies eviscerated his rivals — particularly former House Speaker Newt Gingrich — on TV, burying them in negative ads.
Romney was briefly announced the victor by a narrow margin before the Iowa GOP reversed course and declared former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum the winner. But by that point, Romney had cruised to victory in next-up New Hampshire. Gingrich then rose in South Carolina, shellacking Romney after casting him as a job-killer. Then came Florida, and Romney easily overtook the competition.
He clinched the nomination months later, then quickly set his sights on his next goal: defeating Obama.
Now Romney stands at the precipice of formally becoming the party's standard-bearer, and possibly the country's next president.
It's that image that first flashed in Healey's mind after her meeting with Romney a decade ago. By the time she left, Healey — who would become Romney's lieutenant governor — couldn't help but agree with the whispers that had already begun about his future.
Says Healey: "I had no doubt on my first meeting with him that he had the potential to be the president of the United States."