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Book Review: Extract: The Pipeline Wars Vol. 1: Enbridge
Written by: Carrie Saxifrage, Tzeporah Berman, Alexis Stoymenoff, Jenny Uechi, David P. Ball, and Beth Hong.
Photography by Andrew S. Wright.
Edited by: Linda Solomon
As we approach the end of 2012 Planet Earth is a condemned prisoner, sentenced to death and strapped into an electric chair, gasping its last, terrified breath as it awaits a final throw of the switch to burn it alive.
The execution switch is none other than oil sands development, which companies like Enbridge want to export to markets in Asia by building pipelines through B.C. to tanker terminals, from where oil can be shipped to markets in China and other countries.
Most notable is Enbridge's Northern Gateway pipeline, which if built, would pass through B.C's Great Bear Rainforest, and is now ground zero in a battle whose outcome could mean life or death for planet Earth, according to experts like climatologist James Hansen and 350.org founder Bill McKibben.
That's all according to the Vancouver Observer's new release, Extract: The Pipeline Wars, an explosive, shocking warning that if the pipeline goes ahead, it's checkmate for climate change as Earth's icecaps melt, oceans rise, and ultimately people and animals die as billions of tons of greenhouse gases are pumped into the sky.
Extract is the final result of one year's in-depth reporting by a team of Observer reporters, and is written in an easy to read, engaging, and fluid style that grips a reader from the first lines. Its opening chapters flash between people living in Northern Gateway's proposed path and big oil executives planning it out, like a recurring, terrifying nightmare that makes you wake up screaming every time.
It then builds up like a deafening staccato rhythm to its dark finale, spelling out in no uncertain terms what this pipeline, and others in the works, will do to both B.C.'s environment and Earth's climate. All in all, it slams you like a left hook from an MMA fighter.
Extract is not meant simply to terrify, but forces people to ask: at what price is development? Is it worth bulldozing and digging up one of the world's last remaining temperate rainforests for the sake of a few jobs?
Not only that, B.C. is home to powerful environmental groups including North America's only Green Party seat, alongside First Nations bands who've lived on the land for centuries. Any struggle between Big Oil and Big Environment could yet turn ugly if the pipeline is built, something that Extract only touches on briefly but is well worth exploring in much more detail.
Peaceful protests against Northern Gateway could possibly escalate into violent clashes. Don't forget B.C.'s forested mountains are perfect for guerrilla warfare. Such a result would be a political and social disaster for Canada.
Extract needn't be a prophecy set in stone of destroyed forests, polluted seas, and rising temperatures. Rather it's a signpost at a crossroads giving us two choices for the future: continued reliance on fossil fuels that could well destroy human civilization and trigger a mass extinction not seen since the dinosaurs; or weaning ourselves off oil to more eco-friendly energy sources, which can preserve both B.C.'s beauty and our planet for future generations.
Canada's economy could be developed by scrapping Northern Gateway and instead investing our millions in "green collar" jobs, such as solar, geothermal, or wind energy. This will create thousands of new, sustainable, long-term jobs. Good news indeed for a global economy still struggling with recession, not to mention preserving Canada's values of Peace, Order, and Good Government.
A timely reminder for us to think outside the box in stopping climate change, Extract's message could be made even stronger by adding some more pictures of the Great Bear Forest and its unique wildlife, contrasting them with oil wells, pipelines, and shots of tar sand oil extraction.
For now, apocalyptic visions of a burning planet will have to do. Buy this book. Strap yourself in. Best keep those beta-blockers handy. For it will set your heart racing, and you'll sweat bullets as if you yourself are strapped down on that electric chair. But there's still time to grant both our planet and ourselves one final reprieve from the death sentence of global warming.


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Several years ago, my sister, Theresa, lost her white collar job when the large company she worked for shut down.
Nine months unemployed, she found a job from midnight to 8 a.m., unloading trucks at a loading dock.
Along the way she applied for public assistance and was given $11 in food stamps.
She stopped at a grocery after a long night of work. Exhausted, she unloaded her cart slowly, with the food stamps on the counter.
The guy behind her said, "Excuse me, could you hurry up? SOME of us have to go to work.â€
Theresa got right in his face. She said, "Listen (jackleg). Do you know what they give you when you are unemployed for 9 months? Eleven dollars in food stamps.â€
She looked at him and said, "Maybe I shouldn't work. Maybe I just should marry some lucky son of a (gun) like you, sit home and eat bon bons.â€
The man cowered in fear and shut up. The checkout clerk ran Theresa's food through the scanner in record time.
The jerk had articulated a commonly held myth. He just picked the wrong person to articulate it to.
There has long been a stigma against food stamp users. Maybe it's time we get over it.
I hadn't thought about food stamps in years until I saw an article in The Christian Science Monitor. It said that every tax dollar spent on food stamps generates $1.73 for the economy.
You can't say that about the tax dollars spent on bailing out Citigroup and Merrill Lynch.
The positive economic impact makes sense.
Grocery stores sell food and employ people. Truckers bring food to stores and employ people. Businesses make, package and can food. They employ people too. Farmers grow food and raise animals. They employ lots of people too.
Along the way, those industries buy equipment, insurance, services and advertising. They employ lots of people too.
For all of the initial hype about Wall Street money trickling down to Main Street, it never happened. Food stamps, however, will be spent on Main Street and will be spent more wisely.
You can't use food stamps to buy a private jet.
For many people, there is a horrible stigma about receiving food stamps. It's seen as the ultimate sign of failure.
Wall Street investment bankers don't have hang-ups about taking taxpayer dollars. But unemployed factory workers do. I've watched grown men cry when they were forced to go on food stamps.
I've also seen how the food stamp program can be horribly abused. I understand how the stereotype about food stamp users gets perpetrated.
In high school, I worked in a corner grocery that was a poorly disguised front for a bookmaking operation. (You can read about it my book, Son of a Son of a Gambler.)
Because illegal activity was ongoing in the back, the grocery store in front followed the absolute letter and spirit of the food stamp laws.
We were one of the only small groceries in town that did not trade food stamps for cigarettes and beer. Many customers gamed the system. They would buy a penny piece of candy and get 99 cents in change – several times a day.
Some would buy the candy, take the change and then turn around and buy a pack of cigarettes.
Some of my food stamp customers could have been running Wall Street firms. They were just as creative in spending taxpayer dollars.
Even then, I resented the waste. I don't want tax dollars wasted by Wall Street, Washington or anyone else.
It's been more than 30 years since I was around food stamps, and better technology has apparently reduced waste, fraud and abuse. The government can track food stamp money better than they can track money going to Wall Street.
Of course, that's not saying much.
No matter how you feel about the possibility for abuse, statistics show food stamps help the economy.
I don't have a dog in the food stamp fight. My sister died five years ago. Her $11 was the only time my family ever received food stamps. Unless life really changes, I'll never use them myself.
I am for a program proven to boost the economy on Main Street.
The next time the jerk who insulted my sister gets in a grocery line, he ought to thank the food stamp users instead of snubbing them.
A program that gives back $1.73 for every dollar spent is a better return than Wall Street is offering.
Don McNay, who lives in Richmond, Ky., is an award-winning financial columnist for Huffington Post Contributor. You can learn more about him at www.donmcnay.com.

subset: commoncrawl


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Dear Editor:
In the March 29 Dolores Star front-page article, "Emotional School Board Meeting Draws Large Crowd," I was quoted as telling the school board, "Don't let a handful of parents derail you." Taken out of context, it could easily be construed to mean, "Don't listen to parents," something one would never hear uttered from this educator whose doctoral study and postdoc research focuses on family and community engagement.
What I did say was that I was unaware of specific incidents to which Mrs. Plewe had referred. I attended the board meeting for the purpose of commending the board, faculty, and administration's dedication to academic achievement and the maintenance of inclusive learning environments. As a veteran teacher of 31 years I recognize this urgency; therefore I voiced support for the decision to pursue mediation and anti-bullying training and offered a donation for guest speaker Jamie Utt.
As I stated in a letter addressed to Superintendent Scott Cooper and the Dolores School Board, the success of our children depends on their ability to understand, appreciate and work with others. It would be a disservice to students and families not to prepare students to live in communities that will invariably become even more diverse than they are today. For this reason, cultural competency and respect for diversity is embedded in teacher education courses. As a professor of teacher education at Fort Lewis I am committed to such.
In order that your readers have the opportunity to understand my quote in context, I was not responding to statements made by individual parents at the board meeting. I was, and am, urging Dolores Schools to stay focused on academic excellence. The district has garnered a state-wide reputation for excellence -- becoming "derailed" by controversy is a threat to the success of Dolores Schools and to the community itself. I support positive mediation and believe many members of the community do too.
Dr. Kay Phelps
Adjunct Faculty
Teacher Education Dept.
Fort Lewis College


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The link above will take you to the Mozilla wiki for the UI and theme mockups for the Firefox 4.0 release. Quite interesting but what I did not like is that the Linux mockup looks more like chrome. Not sure why mozilla would want to do that 🙂
- Tabs-on-top: Defaut tabs to top of UI.
- Hiding the Menu Bar: Hide the menu bar and add Page and Tools buttons.
The post is brought to you by lekhonee-gnome v0.9
Related articles by Zemanta
- Mozilla shares tentative vision for Firefox 4 (engadget.com)
- Mozilla Reveals Firefox 4 Plans (news.slashdot.org)
- Mozilla\'s Plans for Firefox 4: Faster, Sleeker Interface & Better Privacy Controls (Frederic Lardinois/ReadWriteWeb) (techmeme.com)
- Firefox 4: fast, powerful, and empowering (Mike Beltzner/beltzner) (techmeme.com)
- Firefox 4 coming soon; beta as early as June (blogs.chron.com)
- An Early Look at the Next Version of Firefox (cbsnews.com)
Link to this post!


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Dog food reviews
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Royal Canin Mini Dental Hygiene 24
Date of last review
Thu January 10, 2008
Recommended By
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No recommendations
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None indicated
Feeding guideline:
A 15lb dog should be fed 1 3/8 - 1 7/8 cups
Calorie Content
This product contains 3855 kilocalories/kilogram or 320 kilocalories per cup ME (metabolizable energy) on an as fed basis (calculated).
Chicken, brown rice, brewers rice, chicken meal, corn gluten meal, chicken fat, natural chicken flavor, dried beet pulp (sugar removed), dried egg powder, soya oil, salmon oil, sodium silico aluminate, dried brewers yeast, potassium chloride, calcium sulfate, fructo-oligosaccharides, cellulose, DL-methionine, salt, sodium tripolyphosphate, Vitamins [dl-alpha tocopherol acetate (source of vitamin E), L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of vitamin C*), biotin, d-calcium pantothenate, niacin supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), vitamin A acetate, vitamin D3 supplement, thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin supplement (vitamin B2), folic acid], choline chloride, Trace Minerals [zinc proteinate, zinc oxide, ferrous sulfate, copper proteinate, copper sulfate, manganese proteinate, manganous oxide, sodium selenite, calcium iodate], L-tyrosine, taurine*, tea (green tea extract), L-carnitine, preserved with natural mixed tocopherols, rosemary extract and citric acid.
*Not recognized as an essential nutrient by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profile.
Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein Minimum 24.0%
Crude Fat Minimum 14.0%
Crude Fiber Maximum 3.6%
Moisture Maximum 10.0%
Vitamin E Minimum 600 mg/kg
Vitamin C* Minimum 300 mg/kg
L-Carnitine* Minimum 50 mg/kg
Nutritional Statement:
Canine Health Nutrition MINI Dental Hygene 24 Formula for small breed adult dogs who have dental health problems is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for maintenance.
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Registered: October 2005
Posts: 3953
Review Date:
Thu January 10, 2008
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First and fourth ingredients are named meat products
Insufficient meat content, low quality grains, controversial filler
The first ingredient is a named meat product. This is not a meal ingredient, but is inclusive of water content (about 80%). Once that is removed, as it must be to create a dehydrated product, the ingredient will weigh around 20% of its wet weight. Ingredients are listed in order of weight, and the dehydrated ingredient would probably be more accurately placed much further down the ingredient list. It is unlikely that this ingredient makes any significant contribution to the overall meat content of the food. The main meat ingredient in the food is the fourth ingredient, which is a named meat product in meal form. This is too far down the ingredient list to give us any confidence that the food contains an adequate amount of meat.
The main grains in the food are rice, brewers rice and corn. Rice is a decent quality grain, but brewers rice is a low quality ingredient and byproduct. Corn is a difficult to digest grain of limited value in dog food. It is also commonly associated with allergy problems. Corn gluten meal it is that part of the commercial shelled corn that remains after the extraction of the larger portion of the starch, gluten, and term by the processes employed in the wet milling manufacture of corn starch or syrup. In plain English, the remains of corn after most of the nutritious bits have been removed.
Beet pulp is controversial filler which appears to be used in large quantities in this food. It is a by-product, being dried residue from sugar beets which has been cleaned and extracted in the process of manufacturing sugar. It is a controversial ingredient in dog food, claimed by some manufacturers to be a good source of fibre, and derided by others as an ingredient added to slow down the transition of rancid animal fats and causing stress to kidney and liver in the process. We note that beet pulp is an ingredient that commonly causes problems for dogs, including allergies and ear infections, and prefer not to see it used in dog food. There are less controversial products around if additional fibre is required. Cellulose is purified, mechanically disintegrated cellulose prepared by processing alpha cellulose obtained as a pulp from fibrous plant materials: otherwise known as sawdust.
Overall, this product has very mixed quality ingredients and minimal meat content for the canine.
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Committee and floor votes on technology nominees could come this week.
Senate confirmation of federal CTO nominee Aneesh Chopra, the former Secretary of Technology for Virginia, could come as soon as this week after he testified Tuesday to the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.
Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., told his fellow committee members that Chopra would bring tremendous potential to the dual role of federal CTO and the associate director of the Office of Science and Technology. Warner appointed Chopra to a series of boards during his time as Virginia's governor from 2002 to 2006.
"Last year Government Technology magazine named him one of the 25 Doers, Dreamers and Drivers, and as someone who has spent a great deal of time with Aneesh -- keeping up with all of his ideas -- he's a bit of a whirlwind, and I know that he'll bring that same energy to this new position," Warner said.
As federal CTO, Chopra would work closely with federal CIO Vivek Kundra and chief performance officer Jeffrey Zients.
"If confirmed by the Senate, I intend to channel that passion [for service] to execute on the president's vision for a 21st-century economy -- one where jobs are more plentiful, American firms more competitive, communications more affordable, broadband more abundant, families more connected, and the nation more safe and secure," Chopra told the committee.
In Virginia, Chopra championed projects such as the Physics Flexbook, a Web-based open source textbook that supplements existing materials. He backed a social network built on Ning to connect health-care clinicians in small towns. He also initiated a scorecard system to rate the performance of Virginia's state agencies, and launched a one-stop Web site for business-to-government transactions and services. Last year the National Association of State Chief Information Officers awarded Virginia first-place honors for technology management.
"We worked to build a culture of innovation in the public sector that saw state employees translate simple ideas into funded prototypes expected to 4 to 1 return on taxpayer investment and aligned directly with legislative and executive priorities," Chopra said.


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When I sit down to use my computer, the first thing I usually do is double-click the icon that opens up an internet browser. I do this so often, that even when I need to use the computer for purposes other than internet-browsing, I mindlessly open up the internet browser anyway. This action is an example of a learned automatism -- an unconscious behaviour that is generated as a result of trained associations in previous experiences.
Learned automatisms can last a long time, and the contexts in which they are acquired and retained can vary substantially. A couple of bizarre reports suggest that Christian individuals who learned to make the sign-of-the-cross hand gesture (also known as Signum Crucis) after having epileptic seizures may exemplify a form of long-lasting, deeply-engrained learned automatism.
In one of the reports, 4 out 530 epileptic patients at a clinic in Brazil displayed sign-of-the-cross gestures as automatic movements during seizures. None of the patients were aware of their own movements. The researchers evaluated these patients with electroencephalography (EEG) to measure electrical brain activity while seizures were experienced.
The figure above shows what the electrical brain activity of one of the four patients looked like at the time of seizure onset (first arrow), seizure duration, and sign-of-the-cross gesture onset (second arrow). The activity was measured at the right temporal lobe, the area in which all four patients regularly experienced seizures. All four patients were Christian and were raised in a religious manner, but it was not reported whether the patients learned the sign-of-the-cross gesture at a young age nor if they had a history of intentionally making these gestures at the time of seizures.
However, a second case report of an epileptic patient in Toronto demonstrates that the sign-of-the-cross gesture during seizures may be a learned automatism. The patient wasn't aware that she was making the cross gesture during her seizures, but when told that she was doing it, she explained that during childhood her mother used to teach her to cross herself at the end of her seizures. The authors of this study speculate that the patient was trained to make the cross gesture during seizures, and somehow a neural memory circuit for making the gesture gets recruited by spontaneous brain activity during her seizures.
This patient also had seizures in the right temporal lobe -- the same area as the four patients in the first study. Areas of the temporal lobe have been implicated in religious cognitive-emotional experience, although these findings are controversial. The association between epilepsy and religion has a rich history, with early Greeks referring to epilepsy as the "sacred disease."
However, although these cases provide an interesting insight to consciousness, it is unlikely that there is something special or miraculous about the sign-of-the-cross gesture during seizures. If the movement is due to a learned automatism, or some other mechanism, other gestures can likely be trained to be associated with seizures too. Maybe even single-clicking to close internet browsers.
Lin K, Marx C, Caboclo LO, Centeno RS, Sakamoto AC, & Yacubian EM (2009). Sign of the Cross (Signum Crucis): observation of an uncommon ictal manifestation of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy. Epilepsy & behavior : E&B, 14 (2), 400-3 PMID: 19059360
Wennberg R, McAndrews MP, Zumsteg D, & Velazquez JL (2009). The sign of the cross as a learned ictal automatism? Epilepsy & behavior : E&B, 15 (3), 394-8 PMID: 19393765
Thursday, October 21, 2010
The faithful Christian seizure
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More than 30 Maryland cab companies are suing Uber, saying the company is hampering their ability to do business.
The lawsuit was filed Thursday in Baltimore Circuit Court, reported the Baltimore Sun. The lawsuit claims Uber's surge-pricing model is similar to price fixing, and the car service is creating an unfair marketplace.
Taxi companies have begun to fight Uber, a popular ride-sharing company that uses an app to summon rides. In D.C., taxis affiliated with the D.C. Taxi Operators Association closed down Pennsylvania Avenue last month in a protest against Uber that gridlocked traffic.
U.S. & World
Virginia has barred Uber from operating in the state, and in San Francisco, the head of one of the oldest cab companies in the city has said that traditional taxis may not survive 18 months in the face of competition from Uber.
Maryland has become a new battlefront for the dispute, with cab companies lobbying against proposals to regulate Uber differently than cab companies.
The cab companies claim that services like Uber aren't regulated the same way that taxis are. Uber has countered that the ride-sharing model isn't a taxi service, and pointed to the consumer demand for the product.
Two of the companies that sued in Maryland -- Barwood Tax and Sun Cab -- are based in Montgomery County.
An Uber spokesperson says it's too early to comment on this lawsuit, but the company will defend itself if it has to.


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A couple weeks ago I wrote an Examiner article about roasted fall vegetables. I love my roasted veggies & loved the new dishes I had to roast them in even more!
I teamed up with CSN Stores to offer one extremely lucky reader a brand new set of Rachael Ray's 2-piece "Bubble & Brown" Stoneware Baker Set in blue. Here is some more information from CSN on the set:
Excite your dinner guests by bringing these vibrant, fun, contemporary-shaped stoneware bakers to the table. Whether it be a roasted chicken or classic mac n' cheese, food has never looked and tasted so fabulous.
- 1 x 1-Qt. Bubble & Brown Stoneware Baker
- 1 x 1.5-Qt. Bubble & Brown Stoneware Baker
- Multiple Use Stoneware – Dishwasher, microwave, freezer safe and oven safe to 500°F for convenience and versatility. The glazed interior is nonporous so foods won't interact
- Contemporary Design – Contemporary, playful shape in a vibrant and fun color goes directly from oven to table. The shallow sides result in crunchy tops for each serving
- Easy Storage – all bakers conveniently nest together to save space in your cupboard
- Wide Handles – Extra wide handle holes allow you to remove the stoneware from the oven even with bulky pot holders
- Small Baker Dimensions: 4.5″ H x 11.5″ W x 7″ D
- Medium Baker Dimensions: 4.5″ H x 14″ W x 9.75″ D
- Material: Stoneware
- Color: Blue
- Lifetime limited warranty
All you have to do to enter the contest is below (choose 2 of the 3):
- Visit CSN Stores and leave a comment on my blog telling me what you would buy from their site.
- Tweet about this contest & include @kbouldin in the tweet so I know you tweeted (if you don't have twitter, don't worry)
- Blog about this contest & link back or add me to your blogroll.
Good luck! Contest will end at Midnight on Friday night.
Filed under: Family, Gluten-Free, Gluten-Free Recipes | 30 Comments »


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Who doesn't love a unicorn?
Featuring a beautiful unicorn appliqué design, this coral pink t-shirt from Kite will be a go-to style this season. Made with organic cotton with a little bit of stretch for extra comfort.
- Coral pink
- Round neck
- Short sleeved
- Coconut button shoulder opening
- Appliqué unicorn design
- 95% organic cotton 5% elastane
Dispatch Times
We aim to process an dispatch orders as soon as we can. To ensure same-day dispatch please place your orders before the times stated below:
- Monday: 1pm
- Tuesday: 1pm
- Wednesday: 11am
- Thursday: 1pm
- Friday: 11am
- We do not process any orders on Saturday, Sunday or Bank Holidays
Some items may come direct from the manufacturers in which case we cannot guarantee same day dispatch.
UK Delivery
- Standard UK delivery (Royal Mail 2nd Class or equivalent) - £3 or FREE with orders over £40
- Express Delivery (Royal Mail 1st Class or equivalent 1-2 days) - £6.50
Eco Packaging Option
We are currently trialling an 'Eco Packaging' option. If you select this option your delivery will be packed with card and paper only - no plastic. This option costs 25p due to the increase in packaging costs. (We'll hopefully make this cheaper if we get good take up!)
- For bulk or heavy orders we may need to charge additional delivery costs.
- Express Delivery is not always available for certain addresses in Scottish Highlands.
- Express Delivery is usually a Next Day service - but it depends on the delivery address
- The Express delivery option does not deliver on a Saturday, Sunday or Bank Holidays. So your order will be delivered on the next working day. Please place orders before the timings above to ensure a next day service.
International Delivery
**We have currently stopped all international deliveries due to Covid-19. We hope to reinstate these again soon.**
European Delivery:
- Standard Service (Royal Mail or Hermes): £15 (Up to 6 working days)
- Express Courier Service (DHL or alternative): £30 ( 2-4 working days)
- *If a product is over 2kg or bulky we may need to increase this charges
Rest of the World:
- United States: Express Delivery 2-3 Days (DHL) - £35
- Canada: Express Delivery 3-4 Days (DHL) - £40
- Japan: Express Delivery Up to 5 Days (DHL) - £40
- Malaysia: Express Delivery up to 5 Days (DHL) - £40
- Hong Kong: Express Delivery up to 5 Days (DHL) - £40
- If there are any destinations you'd like us to ship to, please contact us
- *If a product is over 2kg or bulky we may need to increase this charge.
- Next day deliveries need to be placed before 1pm, otherwise they will be send the following working day.
- Will will aim to ship orders placed before 1pm Monday-Friday the same day.
- During busy periods order can take up to 2 days to be dispatched.
- We do not dispatch on weekends or UK bank holidays.
- Orders placed after 1pm will be dispatched the next working day - including Next Day Delivery orders.
- We usually use Royal Mail, DHL, UPS or Hermes, depending on the size and location of the order. We reserve the right to change the courier depending on the item and location.
- Tracking information is not always available.
Direct from supplier deliveries:
Some of our products are shipped directly from the supplier - usually due to their size. If this is the case you may receive your order in split packages. Even if your order arrives straight from a supplier, your sale is with Little Nutkins, so please contact us with any queries. We hope you won't experience any loss in service when an item is sent direct from the supplier - but if you do please contact us immediately.
If you have any questions or feedback, please contact us.
We aim to respond to your enquiries within 24 hrs.
- Chat via Live Chat
- Phone UK: 01656 511016
- Email: email@example.com
We want you to be happy with your products, therefore if you decide within 14 days that your product is not the right fit for you, contact us and we will issue you a full refund. For further information, check out our Legal page.
Little Nutkins are excited to introduce two new payment options from Klarna:
Pay later with Klarna now available.
Get the goods first and pay up to 30 days after delivery. That's smoooth.
Buy it. Love it. Pay for it.
- 30 days to pay with no interest or fees for the service - ever
- Enjoy your goods before paying
- Simple, safe and secure
To take advantage of this amazing payment option:
- Find everything you love at Little Nutkins, add it to your bag and go to checkout
- Select 'Pay later with Klarna' payment option during the checkout'
- Enter a few personal details - name, email, postcode and DOB. No card information required!
- Complete the purchase and your items will be shipped.
- Receive payment instructions from Klarna via email
- Enjoy your goods and pay when you're ready within 30 days!
Pay in 3 with Klarna
3 payments. How nice.
Slice your purchase into 3 equal payments, automatically deducted monthly from your chosen payment card. No interest, fees or late payment charges. That's smoooth.
Forget FOMO. Pay in 3 equal instalments.
- Get what you love now. Pay over time.
- One part payment at purchase and 2 further payments at 30 and 60 days
- Automatically collected monthly from your chosen debit or credit card
- No interest or fees - ever
- No credit application required
- Simple and safe
Ideal for birthdays, Christmas or just when you want to spread the costs.
To take advantage of this amazing payment option:
- Find everything you love at Little Nutkins, add it to your bag and go to checkout
- Select 'Pay in 3 with Klarna' payment option during the checkout'
- Enter your address, email, mobile and card details
- The first part payment will be taken from your card when the goods ship.
- Receive your goods and enjoy!
- The two remaining payments will be taken at 30 and 60 days. You will receive notifications when payment is due and when it is collected.
Find out more in our Slice it in 3 FAQs >
What you need to start
- A UK bank account
- To be 18 years of age or over
- A UK residential address
- Klarna may have rejected your application to pay on account. We'd recommend choosing another type or payment or placing an order for a smaller amount.
- You may have outstanding payments on previous Klarna invoices.
- You may have missed a required field at the checkout, such as filling in your Date of Birth.
Shopping with Klarna
You can view all of your Klarna purchases and payment schedule simply by logging onto Klarna.com/uk. If you need further assistance you can contact our customer care team for free, or use our online chat service.
* Please note, your credit score will be affected if you don't pay Klarna for your order.


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Lekki, a French company specialising in the restoration and resale of old electronic devices, has recently turned their eyes towards the PAL version of the Super Nintendo console.
Fixing old units, cleaning them up and giving them a new coat of paint, they're not cheap—around €150—but considering the work that's gone into it, and the fact you'll be one of the only people on the planet with an orange SNES, for many it'll be worth it. Especially since it also comes with a Super Mario World cartridge.
You can check out their store below (where they also sell Game Boys).
Super Nintendo [Lekki, via NWE]


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For anyone not keeping track, a big story in 2013 is zero-drop running footwear with more cushion than the "barefoot" shoes of prior seasons. This geometry caters to runners who like a level platform but aren't huge fans of the bare-bones pounding of models with little to no underfoot padding.
The Ascend Glove is Merrell's solution for runners who want a zero-drop trail shoe with a bit of protection. Compared to the more minimal Trail Glove, the Ascend Glove should excel on more technical or rugged trails. According to Merrell, the Ascend Glove is expected to come in at 8 oz for the Men's model.
What to Watch For
- MotionMesh: A new open mesh pattern allows for optimal breathability and flexibility without compromising security.
- Zero Drop: The Ascend Glove is designed with stack heights of 10.5mm in both the forefoot and heel to encourage an uninhibited stride.
- Vibram Outsole: A lugged outsole offers durability as well as traction on a variety of terrain types.
Launch Date
July 2013 August 2013
Men's Color
Zest Merrell Ascend Glove
Women's Color
Black/Pink Merrell Ascend Glove


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Note: this is the follow-up to an earlier post. You may want to start here.
10. The historical moment
When Barack Obama spoke at the Democratic Convention in 2004, I said it was one of the best speeches I had ever heard. I also knew that I was hearing the first Democrat who I would ever consider voting for. When he decided to run for President 21 months ago, I was excited by the possibility, but knew like most that it was highly unlikely that an African-American with just two years experience as a senator could defeat the Clinton machine and be elected in a time of war. What he has accomplished already is historic, but it is nothing compared to what is to come. When my grandchildren ask me how I voted at this historic moment, I know what I want my answer to be.
9. What it says about America
I want to live in a country where Barack Obama can be elected president. The entire world will look at the United States differently if he wins, yes partly due to his name and race, but also because of the clear contrast he presents to President Bush. We'd like to pretend that our popularity is not important, and obviously our national interest should always come first, but we as a nation are better off when the rest of the world sees us in a positive light and is willing to hear what we have to say.
8. The Republican Party
Political parties regularly rise and fall. Sometimes the best thing that can happen to a party is for it to be truly humbled, to be sent into the wilderness where it can rethink what it stands for and develop a new message for new times (see the Republican Party after Watergate or the current Conservative Party in Britain). The Republican Party deserves to be in the position it is in and could only benefit from starting over again. A quick aside: I don't think any Republican could have won this year and it is a testament to McCain's broad appeal that the race is as close as it is.
7. Personal identification
All of us like to identify with our leaders, but it is rare that average Americans can relate to a president. However, Obama's age, smart, beautiful, professional wife, adorable children, family finances (until recently), and love of writing are all things that make Obama the first candidate I have actually felt a connection with (as funny as that sounds).
6. Eloquence
The ability to write an eloquent speech and deliver it is a critical skill for a leader. Do speeches make a candidate? Certainly not. As a president, though, the ability to make the case to the country and the world, to inspire, challenge and convince us, is profoundly important. When Obama delivers a State of the Union address, or speaks to the nation from the Oval Office, his skill and eloquence will demand our attention. Speeches are a huge part of who we are, and they are worth doing exceptionally well.
5. Being smart is a good thing
How strange that it's left to the Democratic Party to make the case for exceptionalism (see The Incredibles). Obama is a very smart man who has surrounded himself with accomplished advisors. He is open to ideas from different sources and has proven himself to be thoughtful and careful in his thinking, almost to a fault. His primary debate flaw was been his insistence on being careful in his word choices and exploring every nuance of an issue.
Intelligence is not the same as wisdom or good judgment, but nor is it the character flaw that the Republican Party seems to think it is. David Brooks wrote an, um, incredible piece on this exact subject.
4. One America
From his initial speech in Boston four years ago to this endless race, Obama has reached out to all parts of the country. I believe he has great respect for our nation as a whole and all political persuasions within it (more so than many of his supporters actually). He has spoken about the role of faith in politics better than most Republicans and attended a Rick Warren forum long before he was a candidate for president. I believe he truly wants to unite us a country and has resisted endless opportunities in the campaign to exploit our differences. I'm not so naive to think a new political era is coming, but I believe we can and will do better.
3. The campaign
Obama has run a phenomenal campaign and proven to be a truly impressive candidate. A campaign is no substitute for substantial political experience, but it reveals a lot about a person and his or her management style. Bill Clinton's chaotic campaign filled with emotional highs and lows, hints of scandal, and the relentless pursuit of every vote hinted at the early years of his presidency. Bush's campaign showed his tunnel focus and lack of openness. Hillary's campaign problems were traced back to her lack of decisiveness and tolerance of infighting. McCain's campaign has also been chaotic, constantly reaching for a new message or line of attack and lacking a consistent theme or underlying philosophy. His White House would likely be similar.
Obama's campaign, on the other hand, has been more impressive than any I've seen, especially during the primaries. It has been incredibly consistent, largely mistake free, and innovative in its fundraising and use of the web. Its success is one of the most remarkable achievements of modern politics and it speaks to what kind of leader Obama will be.
The campaign has also shown Obama to be a steady force, driven and consistent. He speaks often of never getting too high or low based on polls or the state of the campaign and the past two years have proven that to be the case. He has generally avoided pandering to one group or another (except for a leftward turn during the primaries). Instead of Bill Clinton's somewhat desperate need for approval, Obama seems remarkably self-assured and comfortable with who he is. These are the characteristics I want in a president.
1. When I turn on the television on January 20, 2009 to watch the inauguration, who do I want to see?
Even when I was closest to voting for Senator McCain, this question made me think twice because I knew in my heart what the answer was.
I want Senator Barack Obama to be the next president of the United States.


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text: Research shows that harnessing the unique expertise of team members is one of the most important factors in creating high-performing teams. This was the focus of the Women in the Profession's Lean In discussion on Wednesday, August 7th. Alicia Bendana, Lowe Stein, moderated a discussion on Team Dynamics. Attendees discussed the dynamics that undermine team performance and shared the ways that one can overcome the barriers to success both as a team leader and member. The final Lean In Series program will be held on September 11th at 12 noon.


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Read about the Second Grade Curriculum.
The New York State Standards guide English Language Arts instruction in the Franklin Square Schools. The curriculum emphasizes the connection among reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
As listeners and readers, students will collect facts and ideas; discover relationships, analyze information, relate literature to their own lives, and use oral and written language for effective social communication.
As speakers and writers, students will use oral and written language to acquire, apply and transmit information; for self-expression, artistic creation, and to present opinions and make judgments.
· Read and understand written directions
· Locate information in a text that is needed to solve a problem
· Identify main ideas and supporting details in informational texts
· Recognize and use organizational features of texts, including table of contents, indexes, page numbers, and chapter headings/subheadings to locate information, footnotes, italics, captions, bold print
· Relate data and facts from informational texts to prior information and experience
· Compare and contrast information on one topic from two different sources
· Identify and interpret significant facts taken from maps, graphs, charts, and other visuals
· Recognize the differences among the genres of stories, poems, and plays
· Identify and relate setting, plot, and characters in literature to own lives
· Explain the difference between fiction and nonfiction
· Use previous reading and life experiences to understand and compare literature
· Make predictions, and draw conclusions and inferences about events and characters
· Use graphic organizers to record significant details about characters and events in stories
· Evaluate the content by identifying:
o The author's purpose
o Important and unimportant details
o Whether events, actions, characters, and/or settings are realistic
o Recurring themes across works in print and media
· Compare and contrast characters, plot, and setting in two literary works
· Analyze ideas and information based on prior knowledge and personal experience
· Use at least two sources of information in writing a report
· Take notes to record data, facts, and ideas
· State a main idea and support it with facts and details
· Produce clear, well-organized, and well-developed explanations, reports, and directions that demonstrate understanding of a topic
· Support interpretations and explanations with evidence from text
· Write original imaginative texts
· Create characters, simple plot and setting
· Write interpretive and responsive essays in order to:
o Identify title, author, and illustrator
o Describe literary elements such as plot, setting, characters
o Describe themes of imaginative texts
o Express a personal response to literature
· Produce clear, well-organized responses to stories read or listened to, supporting the understanding of themes, characters, and events using details from story
· Use prewriting tools such as semantic webs and concept maps to organize ideas and information
· State a main idea, theme, or opinion and provide supporting details from the text
· Use relevant examples, reasons, and explanations to support ideas
· Express opinions and make judgments that demonstrate a personal point of view
Listen in order to:
· Acquire information and/or understand procedures
· Determine the sequence of steps given
· Identify main ideas and supporting details
· Interpret information by drawing on prior knowledge and experience
· Identify elements of character, plot, and setting to understand author's message or intent
· Connect imaginative texts to previous reading and life experiences to enhance understanding and appreciation
· Compare and contrast ideas of others to own ideas
· Form a personal opinion about the quality of texts read aloud based on criteria such as characters, plot, and setting
Speak in order to:
· Provide directions
· Express an opinion
· Ask questions
· Summarize
· Provide a sequence of steps
· Describe a problem and suggest one or more solutions
· State a main idea with supporting examples and details
· Explain a line of reasoning
· Present a short oral report, using at least two sources of information, such as a person, a book, a magazine article, a television program, or electronic text
· Use complete sentences, age and content-appropriate vocabulary
· Describe characters, setting, and plot
· Make inferences and draw conclusions
· Compare imaginative texts and performances to personal experiences and prior knowledge
· Explain the reasons for a character's actions, considering both the situation and the motivation of the character
· Express an opinion or judgment about a character, setting, and plot in a variety of works
· Skip count to 100 by 2's, 5's, 10's
· Count back from 100 by 1's, 5's, 10's using a number chart
· Skip count by 3's to 36 for multiplication readiness
· Skip count by 4's to 48 for multiplication readiness
· Compare and order numbers to 100
· Develop an understanding of the base ten system:
10 ones = 1 ten
10 tens = 1 hundred
10 hundreds = 1 thousand
· Use a variety of strategies to compose (put together) and decompose (break apart) two digit numbers
· Understand and use the commutative property of addition
· Name the number before and the number after a given number, and name the number(s) between two given numbers up to 100 (with and without the use of a number line or a hundreds chart)
· Use and understand verbal ordinal terms
· Read written ordinal terms (first through ninth) and use them to represent ordinal relations
· Use zero as the identity element for addition
· Recognize the meaning of zero in the place value system (0-100)
· Use concrete materials to justify a number as odd or even
· Determine sums and differences of number sentences by various means (i.e., families, related facts, inverse operations, addition doubles, and doubles plus one)
· Use a variety of strategies to solve addition and subtraction problems using one and two digit numbers with and without regrouping
· Demonstrate fluency and apply addition and subtraction facts up to and including 18
· Use doubling to add two digit numbers
· Use compensation to add two digit numbers
· Develop readiness for multiplication by using repeated addition
· Develop readiness for division by using repeated subtraction, dividing objects into groups (fair share)
· Estimate the number in a collection to 100 and then compare by counting the actual items in the collection
Algebra Strand
· Use the symbols <, >, = (with and without the use of a number line) to compare whole numbers up to 100
· Describe and extend increasing or decreasing (+, -) sequences and patterns (numbers or objects up to 100)
Geometry Strand
· Experiment with slides, flips, and turns to compare two dimensional shapes
· Identify and appropriately name two dimensional shapes; circle, square, rectangle, and triangle (both regular and irregular)
· Compose (put together) and decompose (break apart) two dimensional shapes
· Group objects by like properties
· Explore and predict the outcome of slides, flips and turns of two dimensional shapes
· Explore line symmetry
Measurement Strand
· Use non-standard and standard units to measure both vertical and horizontal lengths
· Use a ruler to measure standard units (including whole inches and whole feet)
· Compare and order objects according to the attribute of length
· Recognize mass as a qualitative measure (i.e., Which is heavier? Which is lighter?)
· Compare and order objects, using lighter than and heavier than
· Know and recognize coins (penny, nickel, dime, quarter) and bills ($1, $5, $10, and $20)
· Recognize the whole dollar notion as $1, etc.
· Identify equivalent combinations to make one dollar
· Tell time to the half hour and five minutes using both digital and analog clocks
· Select and use standard (customary) and non-standard units to estimate measurements
Statistics and Probability Strand
· Formulate questions about themselves and their surroundings
· Collect and record data (using tallies) related to the question
· Display data in pictographs and bar graphs using concrete objects or a representation of the object
· Compare and interpret data in terms of describing quantity (similarity or differences)
· Discuss conclusions and make predictions from graphs
Our goals are to develop healthy living habits and to provide children with information they need to prevent injury and/or abuse to themselves and others. In second grade, the learning experiences will include
· Understanding of how germs cause illness and how illnesses are spread
· Understanding how to stay healthy and prevent injuries
· Understanding and practicing fire safety
· Developing healthy, responsible values and attitudes related to substance abuse (drugs, alcohol, tobacco)
· Demonstrating personal safety skills (pedestrian, bus, etc.)
Science instruction in our schools employs a "hands-on" discovery approach to science that promotes the implementation of the scientific method. The science curriculum encourages students to think critically and reason scientifically. The science program presents in-depth exploration of three areas: Life Science, Physical Science and Earth Science. Topics for the second grade program include:
· Earth Science
o Fossils and Dinosaurs
· Physical Science
o Properties of Matter
· Life Science
o All About Plants
§ Plant Adaptations
§ Seed Bearing Plants
§ How Are Plants Grouped
o All About Animals
§ Animals With Backbones
§ Animal Adaptations
§ Animals Without Backbones
In the grade two social studies program, students explore rural, urban, and suburban communities, concentrating on communities in the United States. Students continue to learn how to locate places on maps and how different communities are influenced by geographic and environmental factors. They also study about the rights and responsibilities of citizenship in their communities.
Content Understandings:
· Foundations of a Community
o Needs and wants
o Goods and services
o Producers and consumers
o Rules and laws
· Rural, Urban, and Suburban Communities in the United States
o Communities are influenced by geographic factors
o People in communities are producers and consumers of goods
o The scarcity or availability of resources influence communities
o Communities need people
o Citizenship
§ symbols of citizenship
§ rights, roles, and responsibilities of citizenship
§ understanding rules and laws
· Geographic Concepts
o My community can be located on a map and globe
o My community is a part of a state and a country
· Holidays
Students in the Franklin Square Schools are provided with opportunities to experience learning activities outside the regular classroom. In coordination with classroom topics, these special area classes enrich learning and contribute to the students' development and knowledge. The special area subjects provide opportunities for students to demonstrate their special talents and skills in these areas:
Students will know and use art materials, learn new techniques.
· Express feelings, thoughts and experiences
· Develop motor skills and visual observation
· Experiment with mixing colors; make color choices
· Develop an appreciation of art
· Develop work habits and organizational skills
· Using a variety of art media
· Learn principles and elements of art basics
· Singing:
o Holiday songs
o Pitch differences
· Movement and Dance:
o Holiday dances
o Movement for rhythmic feel
· Rhythm:
o Basic rhythm patterns
o Echo clapping simple rhythms
· Music Reading:
o Beginning rhythmic notation
o Staff notes
· Listening:
o Continue developing good listening skills
o Music appreciation
· Skills (stressing form, eye/hand coordination, and foot/foot coordination):
- Throwing - Catching - Batting
- Dribbling - Kicking
· Physical Activities:
o Strategies (Model "team" concept and rules of basic lead-up games; develop cooperative behaviors)
o Rhythm and Dance (Introduce movement patterns and control to the beat of the music; emphasize coordination of rhythm with movement)
· Physical Fitness:
o Health Related Fitness/Wellness (Introduce pulse and respiration rate; cool down/warm up activities)
o Personal Goals ( Personal programs to improve cardiorespiratory endurance, flexibility, muscular strength, endurance, and body composition)
o Sportsmanship (Team competition and appropriate behaviors)
· Community Resources: (Develop an awareness of opportunities available to them within their community to engage in physical activity)
The students in the Franklin Square Schools have access to computers both in the computer lab, and in their own classrooms. In 2nd grade, children are provided with many motivational computer programs that reinforce the classroom curriculum, while developing the following computer skills:
· Using a word processing program
· Creating computer graphics
· Editing written material
· Using a graphics library
· Using a CD-Rom encyclopedia
When the 2nd grade students visit the school library media center, the following skills will be stressed:
· Practicing library procedures and library citizenship
· Identifying the Fiction and Non-fiction sections of the library
· Understanding library terms: author, illustrator publisher, place of publication, and copyright
· Identifying call numbers and shelf labels
· Developing an awareness of research skills
· Studying selected authors and illustrators and their works
· Developing an awareness of holidays and themes through literature
· Using computers and other state-of-the-art technology within the library program
· Using multi-media materials (videos, filmstrips,
· CD-ROMs, and audio-cassettes) for literature and pleasure
· Enjoying read aloud and storytelling in the Story Corner
· Developing a love for reading


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Smartphone Usage in Emerging AsiaEmerging Asia, Mobile | 23-Jun-2014
SGD $13,300.00 (including GST)
Audio rules over video in India and Indonesia with smartphone users in these countries preferring Music over Video apps, contrary to smartphone users in Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines, as per the latest 'Smartphone Usage in Emerging Asia' Report. A one of a kind multi-country report based on analysis from Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, India and the Philippines, released by Nielsen Informate Mobile Insights, which collects actual usage data from panels in multiple countries, bringing to you an accurate understanding of smartphone behavior.
- Overall Smartphone Usage: Understand how smartphone users engage with their devices across online and offline activities
- App Installations: Get to know the number of apps being installed on to the smartphone each month
- Browsing and Online Apps: Gain insights into the top online properties being used – via apps and browsers
- Calls and Messages: Understand how Voice and Messaging is being used on the smartphone
- Genre Deep Dive: A more detailed look into the usage of top smartphone activities
- Chat
- Social Networking
- Games
- Music and Video
- Sports
- Shopping
- Banking and Financial Services and Mobile Payment
- Data Consumption: Insights into consumption of data over mobile versus WiFi networks
For any other query on this report contact:
Zeeshan Adil - firstname.lastname@example.com or Prithvi Raj - email@example.com
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text:
The bones that form your spine are cushioned by small discs that act as shock absorbers and keep the spine flexible. When a disc is damaged, it may bulge or break open. This is called a herniated disc, slipped disc, or ruptured disc. It may push on the nerves and cause pain, numbness, or weakness in the area where that nerve travels. Most herniated discs happen in the lower back.
Last Revised:
October 9, 2012
Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine & Robert B. Keller, MD - Orthopedics
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
To learn more visit Healthwise.org
© 1995-2012 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.


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A few weeks ago I decided that I wanted to start my own little online shop! I always find it hard to find reasonably priced and stylish rings on the highstreet. So after a little conversation with Victoria I decided I was going to give this jewellery selling a go again. I used to have a myspace jewellery business when I was 16, Selling those hideous oversized plastic diamonds, knuckle dusters and ribcage necklaces! The shop doesnt have a name, I'm rubbish with naming things so its just Shop LLYMLRS for the moment. But I will get my thinking cap on and try and think of a proper "brand" name! The basic plan at the moment is to just stock rings (because they are my favourite type of jewellery!) and keep it as resonably priced and on trend! and by on trend I pretty much mean "stuff that I like"!
These cross rings are smaller than the infamous Asos/Forever 21 ones! But they are size adjustable so those with smaller/bigger fingers can adjust accordingly. They cost £6 and then P&P depending where you live in the world! I ship worldwide! Also I'm still sourcing new items for the shop, so if you have any ideas about the types of rings you like leave it in the comments and I'll see what I can do. I've got these lush oversized turquoise stone rings on the way which I cant wait to show you!
EDIT: All the rings sold out within the first 24 hours. Im so overwhelmed with the response and Im really sorry if you've missed out. Im leaving the item up in the shop for PRE ORDER. Which basically means when the items come into stock I will ship them. It should take 7-10 days for a restock though. I will try and keep stock levels regular, but like I said, I didnt expect so much so quickly!
PS. DISCLAIMER: I wont be bombarding you with posts about my own jewellery. I am happy and proud of what I'm doing but I'm not gonna shove a brand down your throat, even if it is my own label!


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Putnam Office Chair Sero Pressure Cushion
This item is in stock
Allow 3 days for delivery
If you are not at home when the couriers attempt to deliver - they will put a card through your letterbox so that you can than contact your local depot to re-arrange delivery for a more convenient time/day
Does the price include VAT?
Yes - all our prices include VAT at 17.5%
Can I have my order sent to an alternative address?
Yes - in the check-out area you can enter an alternative delivery address if you wish


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Target-date funds aren't keeping up with S&P 500, though they are staying ahead of a key fixed-income benchmark, according to the latest data released by Ibbotson on Wednesday.
"Despite volatile markets, target maturity fund returns for the quarter fell squarely in between equity and bond returns. For the 12-month period ending in June, target maturity funds earned a respectable 11.9%, driven by the strong performance of U.S. equities," wrote Jeremy Stempien and Cindy Galliano, both directors of investments for Ibbotson (a unit of Morningstar) in the Q2 report.
In the second quarter, target-date funds declined 0.6% on average.
As the experts note, these figures put target-date funds behind the 2.9% Q2 results and 20.6% 12-month returns of the S&P 500; however, they outpaced the Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, which declined 2.3% in Q2 and 0.7% in the past 12-month period.
Target-date funds with exposure to commodities, Treasury inflation-protected securities and emerging-market equities underperformed other funds in the group over the past year, according to Ibbotson. These assets classes have been "struggling," with losses of between 7 and 10% in the quarter, the research firm notes.
Fund Flows Moderate
As for fund flows, assets moving into target-date funds in Q2 returned to "normal levels" of $12 billion, after a record-breaking positive flow of $23 billion in the first quarter. At end of the second quarter, total assets in target-date funds totaled an estimated $545 billion, representing a 27% increase from a year ago.
Vanguard and Fidelity earned the top two spots for fund families in terms of asset flows, followed by JP Morgan and T. Rowe Price.
Vanguard, Fidelity and T. Rowe Price – often referred to as the "Big Three" in the target-date field continue to capture about three-quarters of fund flows. Principal, American Funds, TIAA-CREF, Wells Fargo Advantage,JP Morgan and John Hancock each have between 2-4% of market share as of June.
Close to 50% of the target-date assets, or $261 billion, are held in the three categories: 2016-2020, 2021-2025 and 2026-2030.
Volatility Matters
The major asset classes have seen "a wide range of returns over the prior 12 months, ranging from a 25.3% gain in large-value equity, down to an 8.0% loss in commodities," the analysts point out.
Developed-market equities, excluding the United States, significantly outperformed emerging equities, they add, over the past year. Also, U.S. small-cap and large-cap value equities posted gains of over 23%.
While REITs and emerging-market equities have hurt the performance of target-date funds during the past 12 months, commodities – which have had negative returns for the last three quarters – "have been far and away the worst-performing asset class … ," the Ibbotson experts say. "The inclusion of commodities over the past year not only detracted value on a relative basis, but also on an absolute basis."


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On Monday, an ambitious renovation project will begin at the Hendersonville YMCA, according to John Mikos, COO of YMCA of Western North Carolina.
On Monday, an ambitious renovation project will begin at the Hendersonville YMCA, according to John Mikos, COO of YMCA of Western North Carolina.
The renovation is internally funded and expected to cost about $700,000, with an additional $100,000 in new equipment, furnishings and final touches before the project is complete in February.
Renovations will include an expanded lobby area and centralized reception area, new office spaces, an expanded wellness area with fast-access lockers, a new multipurpose studio, an expanded childwatch area, relocation of the playground, renovated bathrooms, a new conference room and a renovated multipurpose room.
The YMCA was built in the late 1950s, Mikos said.
"We've had issues pertaining to the roof, efficiency issues regarding heat and air systems that utilize resources at a greater rate than they should, compartmentalized spaces that are inefficient uses of space, and more administrative space that could be converted to programming space," he said.
During the renovation, members "can expect that we're going to try to do as much as we can to keep the building operating as much as we can," he said.
Personnel have already moved some exercise equipment to the building's second-floor gymnasium to clear the way for the renovation.
"I encourage people to go onto our website to sign up for text alerts" as the renovation progresses, he said. The URL is www.ymcawnc.org/centers/hendersonville.
Mikos said members are free to use other area YMCAs, including facilities in Asheville and Biltmore Park. He expects a 20,000-square foot-facility to open in September at the new Mission Pardee Health Campus in Fletcher.
"We're launching the LIVESTRONG cancer survivor program with the help of Pardee" at the Hendersonville YMCA, Mikos explained. "We have a waiting list for the program at other Ys. It's an unbelievable program. Being physically fit helps people through their chemotherapy and there's a social aspect to the program — it's also for family members and friends helping those with cancer through their treatment."
On Jan. 1, 2012, the Hendersonville YMCA joined the YMCA of Western North Carolina. At that time, "One of our commitments was to upgrade the facilities and we've been working through that process, working through a multi-phase plan," Mikos said.
"This is phase one. It is our hope that we can have the community participate in phase two and phase three through community fundraising to fund locker room renovations, parking lot development, exterior building upgrades — those kinds of things. We're internally funding the current renovation project, but we would like the community to support us once we move forward into phase two and three by contributing to a capital campaign to be announced at some point in the future."
Reach Tanker at 828-694-7871 or email@example.com.


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Casey Shannon thought the worst was behind her after a car accident nearly took her life 30 years ago. From a wheelchair, she fought back against odds everyone told her she couldn't beat—yet she did. She went on to become a personal trainer and nutrition counselor which has fit her well for more than 20 years.
And then the bottom fell out again. "When I went through my horrible divorce five years ago, I lost my home and pretty much gave up on just about everything that had meaning in my life, including being a trainer," Casey admits. "I went through major depression and neglected my health. Of course my body got out of shape and I gained weight from lack of exercise and emotional eating habits."
Casey may have been down for the count, but fortunately she recognized it before it was too late to alter course.
"When the church decided to jumpstart The Daniel Plan, this was the motivation I needed to propel me forward and get excited about my life and about the fitness industry again.
"I made a decision in December 2010 that come January 2, 2011, I would begin to put my body back in top condition. So I started using some of the guidelines and information from The Daniel Plan and read some of Dr. Hyman's book The UltraSimple Diet. Dr. Oz is very inspirational regarding keeping the body healthy every day."
After a lifetime of beating the odds, Casey then met another challenge she couldn't resist. In February, a friend in the fitness business suggested she prepare for a bodybuilding competition.
"This was just the motivation to challenge myself to really get in shape and see if I could actually compete with other women my age," she said.
Pressing toward this goal, Casey knew she would require an accountability partner and start a daily food and exercise journal. Her exercise and diet had to be altered, to say the least.
"For the first two months, I incorporated working out with weights four times a week and cardio three times a week," she said. "My foods were different in the beginning because I had to gain weight. I had to eat and take in more calories, so that when I worked out with resistance weights my body fat would exchange for muscle. First you build the body for strength and then you change your caloric intake to reduce body fat and add more cardio to exhilarate and increase the fat burning process. It's tricky and the hardest part for me was to consume 2200 calories a day. Now, that is not hard to do if you eat 'junk food' – but to eat that many calories in 'good clean foods'—that is difficult to do."
Casey's reward for all that discipline came in April, when she won two bodybuilding trophies.
"I competed against 35 - 45 year olds. I was the oldest lady in the competition—a lifetime achievement for me!" She placed third and fifth in two competitions, and says, "I know I can do better!" So she's already set the bar to compete again in January 2012, and her goal is to take First Place.
Of course, Casey's real coach, since the age of 12, has been God.
"My mom was very strong in her walk with the Lord," Casey remembers. "She always encouraged all of us children to hold on to God and our faith no matter what challenges we faced in life – but still, there were many times when I became an adult that my spirit would be weak. Sometimes it was difficult to believe God would pull me through my challenges in life. "
Casey's favorite Bible verse is:
"For I know the plans I have for you … plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)
"For I know the plans I have for you … plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)
In living every day as an overcomer, The Daniel Plan has helped Casey "implement discipline. It reminds me of how God expects me to be accountable for my choices in how I manage my life, and life's choices with food as well as my spiritual walk. I believe being consistent and accountable is key in reaching whatever goals we set in everything we do in life."
As for The Daniel Plan, Casey knows from personal experience that no matter how well we begin, we are all prone to giving up or drifting off course. For that reason, she has "already started marketing myself again as a fitness trainer and food coach. I am working with friends to help them reach their weight goal through using The Daniel Plan as well as the knowledge I have gained through my former years in the fitness industry. I am excited about my life again. God has given me the 'gift of health' to share with others."
Long term, Casey says her desire is to be a "woman of influence to other women, to inspire them to love themselves enough to give themselves the gift of health everyday, and to pass that on to friends, family and children. I plan to become an inspirational speaker at women's seminars and retreats. God has given me back the passion for fitness and I want to use my gift of knowledge and experience to inspire others to live a healthy life by making better choices, for better health, to live better lives!"


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GASTONIA � Hunter Huss running back Kerrion Moore will have to sit out of Friday�s home game against Burns after the school lost an appeal with the N.C. High School Athletic Association.
Moore was ejected from last week�s game at Kings Mountain for flagrant contact when he ran over a defender while carrying the ball on his way into the end zone. The official who threw the flag said Moore lowered his head and led with the crown of his helmet, but Huss head coach and athletic director Steve Gardner disagreed with the ruling.
NCHSAA officials supervisor Mark Dreibelbis responded to the appeal Wednesday morning and upheld the initial ruling after he and two others viewed video of the play from three vantage points as provided by Hunter Huss and Kings Mountain.
�He felt like he put his helmet down and lunged at him,� Gardner said. �I�m not seeing what they�re seeing.�
Moore will be able to return for the Sept. 6 game at Bessemer City.
After receiving the video clips, Dreibelbis made them available to the unnamed official who threw the flag and then had a discussion with the official after both had watched the play.
�The official was steadfast in his belief that he got the call correct,� Dreibelbis said.
Dreibelbis said he also made the video available to an outside representative with collegiate and professional officiating experience. That unnamed person also saw nothing in the video that would justify overturning the initial ruling, Dreibelbis said.
�The problem is not that he ran over the young man,� Dreibelbis said. �The emphasis � is that you cannot initiate contact with the crown or top of the helmet.�
The play happened with 3:28 remaining and Hunter Huss trailing 28-14. The touchdown was nullified, Hunter Huss was penalized 15 yards from the 1 and the Huskies wound up losing 28-14.
Moore, a senior listed at 5-foot-8, 165 pounds, had rushed for 2,607 yards in three varsity seasons entering this season. He was named Big South Conference special teams player of the year last season. Moore committed to Duke in May and said last week the commitment still stands even though recruiting services say the two have parted ways. Moore also picked up an offer from Appalachian State within the last few weeks.
�Over the last three years, he hasn�t done anything but work hard to become the player he is now and he�s penalized basically for being bigger and stronger,� Gardner said.
Moore wasn�t available for comment Wednesday. Gardner broke the news to Moore Wednesday morning and said Moore was disappointed.
�He couldn�t believe it, but I guarantee you that same play happened three or four times in the ballgame with him and a linebacker in the middle,� Gardner said.
This was the first time in Gardner�s 17 years as head coach that he�s appealed a ruling, he said. Gardner can�t understand how the three people involved in the NCHSAA decision could all agree with the original ruling considering the feedback he�s received locally.
�From Saturday to today, I�ve talked to 20 different football officials and not one of them said they would have thrown the flag,� Gardner said.
Online comments about the issue mostly favored Moore after video of the play was published at gastongazette.com.
�They really need to fix the horrible officiating,� Scott Kagen wrote on Facebook. �I watched the film and there is no evidence of flagrant foul.�
�Now just what was he supposed to do? Ask the kid to �please move out of my way?� wrote Jennifer Davis, former Gaston County school board chairman.
Even the player Moore ran over, Kings Mountain freshman Jake Merchant, doesn�t think Moore should be required to sit out a game.
�My thought on that play is it was helmet to helmet, and it deserved a flag but I don�t know about an ejection from the game,� Merchant wrote Tuesday on the Gazette�s sports Facebook page. �For the past few days I�ve watched comments on twitter and Facebook about people�s comments on the play. Kerrion is probably one of the best running backs around and taking away from him one of his games is a decision I disagree with.�
Treondez Clinton, a 5-foot-8, 175-pound junior, will take Moore�s place at running back. Maurice Smith, a 5-foot-4, 135-pound junior, will start for Moore at cornerback.
Burns enters Friday�s game with a 1-0 record after beating Ashbrook 29-24 in last week�s opener. Friday will mark the first time since 1996 Hunter Huss and Burns have met. Gardner, a 1976 Burns graduate, will be facing his alma mater as head coach for the first time.
Phillip Gardner: 704-869-1843; twitter.com/gazettephil


text:
1304.6 - Tasmanian Key Indicators, May 2010
Previous ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 18/06/2010
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(b) Estimates have been calculated using rounded data, and may differ slightly to estimates calculated using the unrounded data.
More Detailed Source Information
National Health Survey: Summary of Results; State Tables (ABS cat. no. 4362.0)
National Health Survey: Summary of Results (ABS cat. no. 4364.0)
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