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Cook County Circuit Court - 1st Municipal District - Traffic Division
Richard J. Daley Center
50 West Washington Street, Lower Level
Chicago, IL 60602
50 West Washington Street, Lower Level
Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 312-603-2000
Fax: 312-603-2928
Fax: 312-603-2928
The First Municipal District Traffic Division handles traffic tickets within the city limits of Chicago. See the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th Municipal Districts for Cook County traffic tickets issued outside the city limits of Chicago.
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Nigel Magowan is an experienced Manchester Hypnotherapist, a BACP & UKCP Registered Psychotherapist, an Accredited Contemporary Psychotherapist, an EMDR Therapist, an NLP Master Practitioner, Life Coach and Ecotherapist. He has undergone significant and in-depth training in psychotherapy, EMDR, NLP and many styles of hypnosis and hypnotherapy. He has been in full-time practice since 2002, and over the years has carried out literally thousands of therapy sessions with his clients, giving him the experience and skills to work flexibly and effectively with almost any psychological issue you may have.
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South African Journal of Science
On-line version ISSN 1996-7489
Print version ISSN 0038-2353
S. Afr. j. sci. vol.104 n.5-6 Pretoria May./Jun. 2008
Lessons from aloes in the Thicket Biome: reconstructing past elephant browsing to understand the present
Dan Parker; Ric Bernard
Wildlife and Reserve Management Research Group, Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, P.O. Box 94, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa
It is very difficult to quantify elephant-induced change to vegetation in the absence of adequate historical benchmarks. In this commentary, we explore the historical distribution of aloes in the Thicket Biome of South Africa. We contend that the large stands of aesthetically pleasing aloes in the Thicket Biome can be likened to the even-aged stands of tall trees in the riparian forests of Botswana, both being artefacts of the loss of large herbivores through disease and hunting in the past. Elephant browsing on aloes may therefore be the first step in the vegetation reverting to a situation similar to the one prior to excessive hunting in the region.
The vehicle registration plates of the Eastern Cape province of South Africa have two seemingly unlikely partners emblazoned behind the textan aloe and an elephant. Unlikely, because published data from the Addo Elephant National Park indicate that although aloes are commonly encountered in survey plots outside of the elephant enclosure, they are absent in the parts of the park where the elephants have access to these preferred food items.1 This has prompted some of the country's top ecologists (and members of the 'Elephant Science Roundtable'), as recently as 2006, to conclude: 'Plant species losses have been documented in the Addo Elephant National Park and are a cause for concern.' (ref. 2, p. 393). In this article we ask whether there is, in fact, a need to be concerned at the loss of plant species in the Thicket Biome of the Eastern Cape.
The key to determining whether plant species loss through the re-introduction of elephants is of concern requires an understanding of the conditions prior to the extirpation of elephants. Written records from the 18th and 19th centuries lack detail3 and it is not possible to establish how many elephants there were a century or more ago, what their movement patterns were and what the vegetation would have looked like.2,4 In the absence of these benchmarks against which change can be measured, it is not surprising that the opinions of researchers are mixed, with some reporting change as being negative5,6 and others adopting a more neutral standpoint.7,8 This is not a trivial issue, however, because if current elephant populations are interpreted as being high and change as undesirable, then elephant populations should be controlled. If the same elephant population is not seen to be high and the change is not interpreted negatively, then the urgency for population control is reduced. Fortunately, the ecological community has realised that a holistic approach is required to manage elephant populations effectively.2,4,9 As part of this approach, we need to try to reconstruct a picture of past elephant numbers and, more importantly, what the vegetation would have looked like prior to anthropogenic influences such as the introduction of fences, artificial water-points and elephant range contraction.
It is generally accepted that woodlands in Africa tend to establish during episodic windows of opportunity when biotic and abiotic factors are favourable.2,6,10,11 These periods give rise to aesthetically pleasing, even-aged stands of vegetation, such as the Acacia erioloba forests of Zimbabwe's Hwange National Park12 and the riparian forest of the Chobe National Park in Botswana.10 As Owen-Smith et al.2 point out, however, when large, generalist herbivores that have high energy requirements, like elephants, begin to alter the structure of these woodlands, there are no historical benchmarks with which to compare the resultant state.
Seminal work by Skarpe et al.11 demonstrated that there has been a profound change in the extent and composition of the riparian forest on the Chobe River in Botswana since 1960, which is presumed to be due to high numbers of elephants and other herbivores. Most of the mature trees are dead and the area has been largely replaced with shrubland.11 However, these authors show that, based on historical records, the current situation is probably similar to the one predating excessive hunting and the rinderpest in about 1880,11 raising the question of whether there was any need to be concerned about the effects of herbivores in the first place.
We believe that a similar situation exists with aloes and elephants in the Eastern Cape province. Stands of aloes, Aloe ferox in particular, have become synonymous with the province and can reach densities of 10 individuals per square kilometre or more (D. Parker, unpublished data). Using height data collected for living aloes at five sites with elephants (re-introduced between 1 and 13 years prior to the assessment) and five sites without elephants in the Eastern Cape, we estimated the ages of A. ferox individuals using a known growth rate (2.79 ± 0.20 cm/yr).13 An overwhelming proportion (81%) of the 459 aloes at sites without elephants were estimated to be younger than 83 years old. Furthermore, living aloes at sites with elephants (n = 348) were significantly younger than those at sites without elephants (Fig. 1; P < 0.05, t805 = 3.57). It is unlikely that the significant difference in the ages of aloes at sites with and without elephants simply reflects localised site effects (such as differing geologies, rainfall patterns, aspect, land use and herbivore densities), as aloes were measured at ten sites, some separated by as much as 60 km. It is more likely that elephants are selectively feeding on aloes of a particular height and killing these individuals, leaving behind only smaller/younger aloes (see ref. 14; D. Parker, pers. obs.).
Interpreting the age structure of A. ferox populations is difficult, however, in the absence of a full understanding of natural mortality rates. The long, right-hand tail in Fig. 1 might simply imply that aloes over a certain age at sites without elephants are more likely to topple over. The shallow root systems of these plants certainly makes them more susceptible to being uprooted during strong winds (or by other large herbivores) when soil is moist (ref. 15; D. Parker, pers. obs.). Alternatively, the observed age structure may reflect the history of elephants and other herbivores in the Eastern Cape as the data show that at least some aloes can live for more than 150 years (Fig. 1). Thus, the large stands of (aesthetically pleasing) aloes currently found in the region may be derived from a cohort of seedlings that established some 100 years ago, during a period when elephant and herbivore numbers in general were low as a result of high levels of hunting.16 Whatever the case, the re-introduction of elephants to fenced reserves in the Eastern Cape can be expected to bring about a change in the height and age structure of aloes. Further, what is perceived to be damage may be the first step in the vegetation reverting to a situation similar to the one before excessive hunting sensu the results of Skarpe et al.11 When elephant and/or other herbivore numbers were much higher in the Eastern Cape,16 aloes may have depended on local refugia (such as steep gorges and slopes) to persist in the region.11,17,18 However, it is important to emphasise that a single factor is unlikely to explain the observed age structure of aloes. Previous land use and length of time under current land use (conservation or farming) may have resulted in a skewed aloe age-structure. For example, goats are known to browse the leaves of A. ferox, particularly of smaller individuals, causing extensive damage.17
It is clear that a definite answer to our original questionIs there a need to be concerned with plant species (aloe) losses in the Thicket Biome?is elusive. We believe that, even 13 years after their re-introduction to fenced reserves, elephants have already brought about a change in the height structure of aloes and will continue to do so, leading to small-scale extinctions as seen at Addo Elephant National Park.1 Whether or not this is seen as damage depends on the time scale. Over 100 years, the loss of aloes could be interpreted as serious damage, whereas over a millennium it may well be a return to a more natural state. Let us not forget the observation by Lewin: 'On the larger scale of things, change within ecosystems should therefore be seen as natural and inevitable, even if it sometimes leads to local extinctions.'(ref. 19, p. 1071)
We hope that we have encouraged scientists in South Africa, particularly those involved in elephant management, to consider and seek alternative interpretations for observed changes in vegetation structure, rather than pigeonholing these changes as being undesirable.
This work was funded by Rhodes University and we thank Randall Hepburn and Christopher McQuaid for constructive comments on the manuscript.
1. Penzhorn B.L., Robbertse P.J. and Olivier M.C. (1974). The influence of the African elephant on the vegetation of the Addo Elephant National Park. Koedoe 17, 137158. [ Links ]
2. Owen-Smith N., Kerley G.I.H., Page B., Slotow R. and Van Aarde R.J. (2006). A scientific perspective on the management of elephants in the Kruger National Park and elsewhere. S. Afr. J. Sci. 102, 389394. [ Links ]
3. Bernard R.T.F. and Parker D.M. (2006). The use of archaeological and ethnographical information to supplement the historical record of the distribution of large mammalian herbivores. S. Afr. J. Sci. 102, 117119. [ Links ]
4. Van Aarde R.J., Jackson T.P. and Ferreira S.M. (2006). Conservation science and elephant management in southern Africa. S. Afr. J. Sci. 102, 385 388. [ Links ]
5. Barnes R.F.W. (1980). The decline of the baobab tree in Ruaha National Park, Tanzania. Afr. J. Ecol. 18, 243252. [ Links ]
6. Western D. and Maitumo D. (2004). Woodland loss and restoration in a savanna park: a 20-year experiment. Afr. J. Ecol. 42, 111121. [ Links ]
7. Leuthold W. (1996). Recovery of woody vegetation in Tsavo National Park, Kenya, 197094. Afr. J. Ecol. 34, 101112. [ Links ]
8. Guldemond R. and Van Aarde R. (2007). The impact of elephants on plants and their community variables in South Africa's Maputaland. Afr. J. Ecol. 45, 327335. [ Links ]
9. Van Aarde R.J. and Jackson T.P. (2007). Megaparks for metapopulations: addressing the causes of locally high elephant numbers in southern Africa. Biol. Conserv. 134, 289297. [ Links ]
10. Mosugelo D.K., Moe S.R., Ringrose S. and Nelleman C. (2002). Vegetation changes during a 36-year period in northern Chobe National Park, Botswana. Afr. J. Ecol. 40, 232240. [ Links ]
11. Skarpe C., Aarrestad P.A., Andreassen H.P., Dhillion S.S., Dimakatso T., du Toit J.T., Halley D.J., Hytteborn H., Makhabu S., Mari M., Marokane W., Masunga G., Modise D., Moe S.R., Mojaphoko R., Mosugelo D., Motsumi S., Neo-Mahupeleng G., Ramotadima M., Rutina L., Sechele L., Sejoe T.B., Stokke S., Swenson J.E., Taolo C., Vandewalle M. and Wegge P. (2004). The return of the giants: ecological effects of an increasing elephant population. Ambio 33, 276282. [ Links ]
12. Seymour C. and Milton S. (2003). A collation and overview of research information on Acacia erioloba (camelthorn) and identification of relevant research gaps to inform protection of the species. Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, Pretoria. [ Links ]
13. Shackleton C.M. and Gambiza J. (2007). Growth of Aloe ferox Mill. at selected sites in the Makana region of the Eastern Cape. S. Afr. J. Bot. 73, 266269. [ Links ]
14. Steyn A. and Stalmans M. (2001). Selective habitat utilisation and impact on vegetation by African elephant within a heterogeneous landscape. Koedoe 44, 95103. [ Links ]
15. Prasad M.N.V. (1997). Plant Ecophysiology. Wiley-Interscience, New Jersey. [ Links ]
16. Skead C.J. (2007). Historical Incidence of the Larger Land Mammals in the Broader Eastern Cape, 2nd edn. Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth. [ Links ]
17. Breebaart L., Bhikraj R. and O'Connor T.G. (2002). Impact of goat browsing on Aloe ferox in a South African savanna. Afr. J. Range For. Sci. 19, 7778. [ Links ]
18. Edkins M.T., Kruger L.M., Harris K. and Midgley J.J. (2007). Baobabs and elephants in Kruger National Park: nowhere to hide. Afr. J. Ecol. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2028.2007.00798.x [ Links ]
19. Lewin R. (1986). In ecology, change brings stability. Science 234, 10711073. [ Links ]
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Author Archives: Andrew Powers
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Your peers use their space at OSM to dance, play music, paint, throw pottery, write poetry, workshop sketch comedy, start businesses… and much more. All that it takes is an idea and energy.
Apply to be a tenant today. The rewards are right around the corner.
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U.S. Men's Update: Polish Finals Down to 1 Match
B.J. Hoeptner Evans, Manager, Communications, Phone: (719) 228-6800, E-Mail: email@example.com
USAV Facebook - @USA_Volleyball
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (April 15, 2013) – All the news about U.S. men's volleyball players in the U.S. and around the world.
|Paul Lotman attacks for Asseco Resovia Rzeszów
during the CEV Champions League
U.S. outside hitter Paul Lotman (Lakewood, Calif.), a 2012 Olympian, and his Polish league team Asseco Resovia Rzeszów are 2-2 in the Polish league finals against ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle and will play the deciding match on April 20. On April 13, Resovia Rzeszów defeated Kędzierzyn-Koźle, 25-20, 25-22, 25-20. Lotman scored five points on five attacks. He was also credited with 20 receptions, 50 percent positive. To view photos from the match, click here. On April 14, Kędzierzyn-Koźle beat Resovia Rzeszów 25-19, 30-28, 25-23. Lotman scored one points on one block. He was also credited with 31 receptions, 39 percent positive. To view photos from the match, click here.
U.S. middle blocker Russell Holmes (Fountain Valley, Calif.), a 2012 Olympian, and Jastrzębski Węgiel are 2-1 with Delecta Bydgoszcz in the playoff for third place in the league. On April 9, Jastrzębski Węgiel beat Delecta Bydgoszcz, 25-20, 23-25, 14-25, 25-22, 15-11. Holmes scored 12 points on six attacks and a match-high six blocks. To view photos from the match, click here. On April 15, Jastrzębski Węgiel won 19-25, 25-19, 25-17, 27-29, 15-12. Holmes scored 13 points on seven kills, a match-high four blocks and two aces. The teams are scheduled to play again on April 16.
U.S. outside hitter Scott Touzinsky (St. Louis, Mo.), a 2008 Olympian, setter Kawika Shoji (Honolulu, Hawaii) and the German league team the Berlin Recycling Volleys have advanced to the playoff finals after sweeping TV Ingersoll Bühl, 3-0 in the playoff semifinals. Berlin completed the sweep on April 10, when it defeated Bühl, 25-20, 25-23, 25-14. Berlin will play Vfb Friedrichshafen in the finals, which begin on April 21.
U.S. middle blocker Max Holt (Cincinnati, Ohio) and his Italian Serie A league team Copra Elior Piacenza are 2-1 in the playoff semifinals against Cucine Lube Banca Marche Macerata. Macerata started the series with a 1-0 advantage due to its second-place finish in the regular season standings. On April 10, Piacenza defeated Macerata, 17-25, 25-20, 25-17, 29-27. Holt was one of four players who scored 13 points for Piacenza. Holt scored on seven kills (63.6 kill percent, .455 hitting efficiency), two blocks and a match-high four aces. On April 13, Piacenza beat Macerata, 18-25, 25-22, 25-20, 18-25, 22-20. Holt scored 15 points on seven attacks (63.6 kill percent, .636 hitting efficiency), a team-high four blocks and four aces. The teams are scheduled to play again on April 17. If Piacenza wins, it will advance to the finals against Itas Diatec Trentino.
The three Turkish league teams with U.S. players on them have all advanced to the playoff semifinals.
U.S. outside hitter Reid Priddy (Richmond, Va.), a 2004, '08 and '12 Olympian, and his Turkish league team Halkbank Ankara are playing Fenerbahçe Grundig in one semifinal. U.S. opposite Brook Billings (Santa Barbara, Calif.), a 2004 Olympian, and Istanbul BBSK are playing U.S. setter Kevin Hansen (Newport Beach, Calif.), a 2008 Olympian, and Arkas Izmir Spor in the other.
In Halkbank's first semifinal match on April 13, Priddy and Halkbank defeated Fenerbahçe Grundig, 25-18, 22-25, 30-32, 25-15, 15-12. Priddy scored 15 points on 13 kills and two blocks. He was credited with 29 receptions, 52 percent positive. The teams will play again on April 17.
In the first semifinal match between Istanbul and Izmir on April 13, Izmir won, 25-19, 30-28, 25-23. Billings scored 11 points on eight attacks, one block and two aces in the match. Hansen did not play. The teams will play again on April 17.
U.S. middle blocker David Smith (Saugus, Calif.), a 2012 Olympian, and the French league team Tours are 1-1 in the playoff semifinals against Narbonne. On April 12, Tours defeated Narbonne, 25-23, 25-22, 25-21. Smith scored 11 points on nine attacks (81.8 kill percent, .818 hitting efficiency) and two aces. On April 13, Tours fell to Narbonne, 15-25, 18-25, 25-20, 28-26, 15-12. Smith scored 10 points on eight attacks (61.5 kill percent, .538 hitting efficiency) and two blocks. The teams will play again on April 19.
Cannes, the French league team of U.S. outside hitter Robert Tarr (Cape Canaveral, Fla.) and middle blocker Matt Rawson (Los Angeles) are 0-2 against Paris in the playoff semifinals. On April 12, Paris defeated Cannes, 29-27, 25-22, 25-19. Tarr scored seven points on six kills and one block. He was credited with 10 receptions, 40 percent positive. Rawson did not play in the match. On April 13, Paris defeated Cannes, 25-23, 30-28, 25-19. Tarr started the first two sets and scored five points on five attacks. Rawson did not play. The teams will play again on April 19.
In France's B league, AS Orange Nassau, including U.S. libero Dustin Watten (Long Beach, Calif.) and outside hitters Damien Scott (Santa Ana, Calif.) and Eric Vance (Camarillo, Calif.), ended its season on April 13 with a 3-1 victory over Canteleu. Orange finished the season second in the league. However, it did not get to compete in the four-team league playoffs due to the "late submission of financial documents by the new club," according to a press release translated from French.
U.S. outside hitter Matt Anderson (West Seneca, N.Y.), a 2012 Olympian, and his Russian Super League team Zenit Kazan are 2-0 against Kuzbass Kemerovo in the playoff quarterfinals. On April 13, Kazan defeated Kemerovo, 25-20, 25-14, 25-22. Anderson scored 11 points. To view photos from the match, click here. On April 14, Kazan beat Kemerovo, 25-15, 25-15, 25-18. Anderson scored nine points. To view photos from the match, click here. To view photos from the match, click here.
U.S. setter Donald Suxho (Korce, Albania), a 2004 and '12 Olympian, has completed his season with Drean Bolívar, which fell to UPCN San Juan Voley Club 3-1 in the semifinals of the Argentinian league playoffs. On April 8, San Juan defeated Bolívar, 14-25, 25-22, 25-20, 25-19. Suxho scored three points on one kill and two blocks. He set Bolívar to a 46.6 kill percent and a .405 hitting efficiency.
Tickets for all three U.S. stops for the 2013 FIVB World League are now on sale. For information on how to purchase tickets, click here.
The U.S. Men's National Volleyball Team will play Argentina on June 7-8 at Charles Koch Arena in Wichita, Kan. It will play France on June 14-15 at the Tulsa Convention Center Arena in Reno Nev. It will play Bulgaria on June 28-29 at the Reno Events Center in Reno, Nev.


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A tool to assist procurers in the construction pipeline to implement the Balanced Scorecard Approach developed by government.
Learn More
No results found
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
CPA offers a full and varied events calendar, with a range of activities including committee, research group and forecast panel meetings, receptions and networking forums hosted throughout the year.
We're also an active presence at key exhibitions and conferences aimed at the UK construction industry.
Some CPA events are open to members only. You may already be a member of a qualifying organisation.
Please contact Fabi Flamini, Membership and Events Executive Tel: 020 7323 3770
Discover the extensive range of benefits available to CPA members.


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- +27 (0)87 353-4194
- email@example.com
Ephesoft mailroom automation solutions help businesses run more efficiently and respond to changes in a cost effective manner by automatically classifying, separating, sorting and extracting data from documents in paper, fax and electronic formats.
Ephesoft makes business critical information available to business processes and customers faster and more accurately.
Ephesoft capture solutions enable business and government organizations to maximize the value of their documents and data.
Ephesoft reliably eliminates the tedious and error-prone manual steps often used to classify and separate documents, extract data elements, validate this data via other systems and then seamlessly integrate with your ERP, ECM, or workflow system.
Ephesoft uses a unique approach to content classification and does not rely on templates or hard coding of forms.
Learn more about Ephesoft to see if it's right for you
i-Kno has extensive experience in the configuration and implementation of Ephesoft. With successful deployments and integration with Alfresco, our solutions capture thousands of paper images on a daily basis. Automatically classifying and extracting the correct data out of documents to ensure that workflows are triggered and the right information reaching the right people at the right time.
In addition to the work that we have done with Alfresco and Ephesoft, we have successfully integrated Ephesoft with eXo Platform and Seafile. Our work in this area broadens the delivery of Smart Capture™solutions to other platforms.


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Government - Research Resources
Government Documents at the SLU Libraries
The St. Lawrence University Libraries are a Selective Federal Depository Library, and as such serves to provide access to and services for the Federal Depository Library program as required by 44 U.S.C. 19.
The United States Government has converted most of its publications including census and statistical publications to online formats. The Canadian Federal Government has ceased publishing print material. Our government documents collections are on the lower level of ODY, on the west side of the building facing Park Street.
FDLP Basic Collection: Core U.S. Government Resources
Key Federal and legal resources.
Comprehensive index to U.S. government publications
American FactFinder
Gateway to national and regional census demographic, economic, and health statistics.
Digest of Education Statistics
Overview of state and national statistics on education, all levels.
USDA Census of Agriculture
Comprehensive agriculture data for every state and county in the United States
Government of Canada
Portal to publications from the Canadian Federal Government
Legislative database of the Library of Congress, for searching both the US Code and bills before Congress. Also a source for the Congressional Record, committee assignments, and bill tracking.
Budget of the United States Government
From 1996 to the present.
Legal Information Institute
Cornell University sponsored collection of Federal and State Codes, includes United States Supreme Court Decisions.
Internal Revenue Service
Complete Federal tax information and forms
New York State
Information from the Governor's Office and all state agencies
St Lawrence County
Budget and department information from St. Lawrence County
For assistance using the collections or finding a specific document contact Laura Frank email@example.com


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WASHINGTON (AP) — Guest lineups for the Sunday TV news shows:
ABC's "This Week" —Eli Capilouto, president of the University of Kentucky; Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of Reddit; Berin Szoka, president of Tech Freedom.
NBC's "Meet the Press" — Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo.; Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill.; journalist Glenn Greenwald.
CBS' "Face the Nation" — Denis McDonough, White House chief of staff; Daniel Dellinger, national commander of the American Legion; former Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner; former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
CNN's "State of the Union" — Gov. Deval Patrick, D-Mass.
"Fox News Sunday" — Dick and Lynne Cheney; Ryan Gallucci, deputy director of the Veterans of Foreign Wars' National Veterans Service directorate.


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I would say it had been a joyous year, but it hasn't. I mean, not especially. I would say that it has been an eventful year, but it hasn't. I would say that it has been an annus horribilis, but it hasn't been that either.
It's just been one of those years that goes from one month to the next. I have spent it mostly wiping down an Ikea highchair, opening the door to the Ocado man and marvelling at that thing where you spend 20 minutes tidying the kitchen only for it to still look like a fucking bombsite.
And it's been a year of TV suppers, eating off our knees in our 1.5 hour telly and dinner watching slot before our eyes glaze over and we can't concentrate and we simply must, must, must go to bed before we fall down. I have slumped entirely out of the habit of cooking for more than two people. We spent months and thousands on a kitchen extension only for us to have 3 dinner parties in 7 months. But Kitty likes it.
What of Kitty? She is a child now, almost no longer a toddler - though still toddlerish to her destructive habits, lack of reason, lack of responsiveness to bribery but she is at least old enough to sit quietly on the sofa watching Peppa Pig for nine hours.
So Merry Christmas, then. See you in the New Year. I've got a bread and butter pudding to tell you about and also a chicken, pork and apricot raised pie - if it works out.


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Displaying items by tag: business process review
We are pleased to announce that we are assisting Goodwill Industries of South Florida in implementation of new case management software. Goodwill is dedicated to providing rehabilitation, on-the-job training, work experience, and placement services to help people with disabilities and special needs overcome barriers to employment and become employed in the community. Goodwill of South Florida is one of the largest Goodwills in the country and serves a diverse population.
The anticipated benefits from this change include:
- Streamlined processes
- Reduced redundant work
- Better data and improved ability to access data on clients, programs, and services provided, both for daily operations and for strategic decisions
- Better insights into outcomes achieved, and
- Improved and easier reporting.
With Catoctin Consulting, we will assist Goodwill with the change process, from requirement validation and planning onward. We look forward to working closely with them to make this effort a success!
There comes a time to re-assess business processes and information technology in use. The catalyst may be recognition that processes are not effective, that the business is facing new challenges, that technology needs a refresh and people are stuck in their old ways. Frequently, there is pressure to do more with less.
Ursa Major helps clients align business processes with strategy. We start with the big picture, and ask for the strategic plan and other guidance to understand where the organization is focused. In some cases, we've conducted a gap analysis or facilitated strategic planning to update an organization's goals and objectives, prior to delving into the details of its business processes.
Our approach is to work closely with client personnel, to both model their existing processes and lead them though an innovation process to encourage creativity and explore new alternatives. In key areas, we help them conduct benchmarking with other organizations to identify best practices. Based upon the results, we model and facilitate concensus around new processes and develop an implementation plan.
This process is called Enterprise Architecture (EA): alignment of business processes to achieve mission objectives, supported by appropriate technology, and measurable by appropriate performance measures. The Federal government has realized that business-led architecture is more successful in meeting strategic goals and responding to changing mission needs than technology- or budget-driven architecture. The Federal EA Practice Guidance summarizes it in the image below:
The EA provides a shared view of the current and future state. Prioritizing investments by segment helps define the implementation and funding strategy, and executing implementation plans provide strategic results that are measured by improved mission outcomes. The results also provide feedback into the architecture development processes for additional phases of improvements.
We have done EA for federal agencies, using federal standards, and for commercial and nonprofit organizations. We have conducted workshops and focus groups nationwide both in person and using virtual / social networking technologies, to develop integrated processes and systems spanning organizational boundaries. The abilities and expertise are in your organizations -- you just need some help to get it all organized. The results are always impressive!
Most recently, in 2013, we conducted an EA analysis of Management Touchpoints for the U. S. Marine Corps' Enterprise Business Transformation Office.
Content management systems empower ordinary people to update websites and add content. This means that changes and updates can be made and reviewed immediately by those people who understand their own domain -- without needing extensive knowledge of html and web coding. However, the sticking point that delays websites is often getting the content together.
It's all about content, isn't it? The message, the meaning, communicating with the appropriate audience, and accomplishing the mission, without delay or aggravation? There's still sometimes a catch. The content isn't sitting there on a shelf ready to go.
Ursa Major Consulting straddles the line between technology and business savvy. We work with you to set up not just a pretty shell of your website, but to support you in making it a tool to meet your objectives. That means we get inside your head and learn your domain and help you get that content and communication flowing.
We interview your people, read your documents, help get your content structured and recast the material for your approval, accelerating the process you would otherwise have to go through. We not only get your content to your website, we get out your electronic newsletters and other communications as appropriate to your audiences, we plan and facilitate your working groups and your off-site meetings.
We are expert in the Joomla! open source content management system and are also fluent in WordPress. In addition, with our significant Government contracting background, we are expert in writing proposals and a broad range of analytical reports and deliverables. Let us help you with your content!


text: Seller: ancient_house (321) 99.3%, Location: Kitchener, Ontario, Ships to: Worldwide, Item: 164142616870 UP for Auction… Rare Antique Faience Amulet Figurine of Ancient Egyptian Amulets: In ancient Egypt, amulets might be carried, used in necklaces, bracelets, or rings, and—especially—placed among a mummy's bandages to ensure the deceased a safe, healthy, and productive afterlife. Egyptian amulets functioned in a number of ways. Symbols and deities generally conferred the powers they represent. Small models that represent known objects, such as headrests or arms and legs, served to make sure those items were available to the individual or that a specific need could be addressed. Magic contained in an amulet could be understood not only from its shape. Material, color, scarcity, the grouping of several forms, and words said or ingredients rubbed over the amulet could all be the source for magic granting the possessor's wish. DIMENSIONS: + 4 x 1.7 x 0.8 cm (1.6" x 0.7" x 0.3" Inches).+ 5 grams in weight. CONDITION: + Intact in original condition, No repairs or restoration Terms of Sale: + All items are %100 guaranteed to be authentic antiques + We only Accept PayPal + If you have questions about a specific auction please contact us at least 24 hours before the auction ends so we have enough time to reply. Shipping: + ALL items are packed and shipped with utmost care. + Buyer is responsible for shipping and handling costs as stated in the auction unless 'FREE SHIPPING' is indicated. + Insurance is included in any shipping costs/quotes. Returns: + ANCIENTHOUSE fully guarantees your satisfaction with each and every purchase. Items are always described to the best of our ability, and we guarantee our descriptions to be as accurate as possible. Upon receipt of your item if you are dissatisfied for any reason please contact us and return it within 5 days in the same condition in which it was sold for a full 'no questions asked' refund excluding shipping fees. Authenticity: + All items listed by ANCIENTHOUSE have been legally acquired from Legitimate Sources, Antique shops and Private collectors in Egypt. + Bid with confidence! We guarantee your full satisfaction with every sale. About US: + We only sell Quality, Fine Arts, Antiquities & Very Unique items…You won't be disappointed. + ANCIENTHOUSE have been involved in antique trading since 1965. Contact US: + Feel free to Contact us with any questions before bidding. Track Page Views With Auctiva's FREE Counter Condition: Intact in Excellent condition, No repairs or restoration, Material: Faience, Provenance: Private Collection


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Yes, I am getting a bit tired of all this Bush-bashing. Frank Rich's column in the NYTimes today is a good example. I agree with everything in it, but really, what's the point? Here's the opening, emphasis added:
WE like our failed presidents to be Shakespearean, or at least large enough to inspire Oscar-worthy performances from magnificent tragedians like Frank Langella. So here, too, George W. Bush has let us down. Even the banality of evil is too grandiose a concept for 43. He is not a memorable villain so much as a sometimes affable second banana whom Josh Brolin and Will Ferrell can nail without breaking a sweat. He's the reckless Yalie Tom Buchanan, not Gatsby. He is smaller than life.
Uh…I'm not sure I get the logic of that clever allusion to Hannah Arendt, but I"m sure Rich's smart fans do. Or think they do. And his references to all of us leads to the old joke about the Lone Ranger and Tonto: "What you mean "we" white-man?" Behind it all, Rich is separating himself and reaping satisfaction with his "I told you so's" heaped on the Republican right.
Well, if he is going to say "We like …," he ought to face up to the unpleasant fact that we elected him. Yes, even those of us who didn't vote for him! We live here. We aren't renouncing our citizenship. It's our country, our society, and it made a big mistake. If you want to talk about our country in the collective, you have to own up to its failures, too. It's like being in a family – the sins of the wayward are, in some sense, your burden, if you are truly a family.
Intellectuals like to harbor the secret thought that if everyone were just smart enough to listen to them, the one's who are really smart, everything would go fine, but it never works that way. People are just too…well, let's say it, dumb! (Or are they not dumb enough?)
Rich isn't talking about all of us, he's talking about himself and his friends. I happen to agree with him completely, but those yahoos who supported Bush aren't going away, and neither am I. We're just going to have to find a way to exist together.


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At first glance, the idea that Bram Boo's Overdose Desk Tidy can help you pull your desk into order seems preposterous. But at closer glance, one realises that the helter-skelter design still allows for everything to be put into its right place, with room for documents, office supplies and anything else that lacks a proper home on your workspace.
The latest in a collection of much larger pieces, the polygonal silhouette of the Overdose, which comes off as three-dimensional even in a photo, simply screams postmodern. But the nice wood finish and manageable desktop size will allow you to add a little modernity to your space without sucking warmth and lifelessness out of the room. [Wallpaper]


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There is a new doggie pin available for sale in my Etsy shop – a Spinone Italiano!
I had not heard of this rare breed until one of my Twitter friends suggested I make one, so here it is! This piece was created by stitching tiny size 15 glass seed beads to felt 2-3 at a time. I used 7 different colors for the first layer of beadwork. Then, using brown thread, I layered clear-glass beaded fringe over top of the other beads to create the dog's furry legs & ears..
I am really proud of how it turned out! It looks great as a pin, but it can also be worn as a pendant. Please click the pics to view the listing on Etsy. What kind of dog should I bead next? 😀


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New CMS Forms Required as of April 1
Starting April 1, 2014, Medicare will accept only the revised version of the form.
With the transition to ICD-10 set to take place Oct. 1, 2014, the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has revised the CMS-1500 claim form. The revised form more adequately supports the use of the ICD-10 diagnosis code set.
The revised form (version 02/12) replaces the current form, (version 08/05). Medicare began accepting the revised form Jan. 6, 2014. More important, starting April 1, 2014, Medicare will accept only the revised version of the form.
New CMS 1500 claim forms are available for purchase through the AOA Marketplace.
Prepare for the transition
In preparation for the ICD-10 transition, the revised form gives providers the ability to indicate whether they are using ICD-9 or ICD-10 diagnosis codes.
ICD-9 codes must be used for services provided before Oct. 1, 2014, while ICD-10 codes should be used for services provided on or after Oct. 1, 2014. The revised form also allows for additional diagnosis codes—expanding from four possible codes to 12.
Only providers who qualify for exemptions from electronic submission may submit the paper CMS-1500 Claim Form to Medicare. The CMS encourages practices that use service vendors to determine when they will switch to the new form.
More infomation can be found in the March edition of AOA Focus (p. 50).


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Clubs and DestinationsbyPublished on 06-16-2019 10:17 AM
As seems to be the issue with every pre-planned boating weekend in West Michigan, the weather forecast was making the planning interesting. Depending on what weather person you listened to, or what forecast you looked up on the internet, the weather could be anything from 6 to 8 foot waves on the lake with gale and small-craft warnings with a 90% chance of rain. To partially sunny and 2 to 3 footers with a 20% chance of rain or less.
Heading out the Muskegon Channel
Although there was a bit of rain during the street show on Thursday evening, the overall weather was fine. The boats on display stayed almost completely dry, and ...byPublished on 06-03-2019 10:53 PM
West Michigan Offshore is inviting you to be in the middle of the high-performance powerboat action aboard the Aquastar on Saturday, June 15 at 11:00 am.
The Aquastar, Muskegon Lakes sightseeing fun ship, will take a Make-A-Wish Cruise on Saturday, as riders donate for a ride on Muskegon Lake and out to Lake Michigan. Be a part of the Parade of Power high-performance boat parade.
Watch as the powerboats take off on the Poker Run.
Join the Grand ...
Chief Powerboats Bringing a Flagship Pleasure Model to WMO's Muskegon Powerboat Weekend Friday, June 14thbyPublished on 06-02-2019 11:40 PM
Chief Powerboats will be making a showing at West Michigan Offshore's Muskegon Powerboat Weekend Event.
The Crew at Chief Powerboats is excited to be a part of West Michigan Offshores Muskegon Powerboat Weekend. They will be bringing one of their flagship pleasure models with them to participate in the 4:00-9:30 Powerboat Street Party in Downtown Muskegon in collaboration with the Taste of Muskegon.
The 42 Chief Platinum Warrior is a modern ...byPublished on 02-09-2019 06:44 PM Number of Views: 9071Categories:
In just a few short days, the Grand Rapids Boat Show will kick off at the DeVos Place in downtown Grand Rapids.
One of the special events that will take place at the Boat Show is the opportunity to win an Offshore Powerboat Adventure Ride! Everyone 18 years of age or older will be able to sign up to win an Offshore Powerboat Adventure Ride with a member of the West Michigan Offshore Powerboat Club*. The winner will get to take up to 2 people (ages 12 and up) on the Adventure Ride.
The event will showcase two of the West Michigan Offshore members boats. Brian Hartmans ...byPublished on 08-20-2018 09:00 AM Number of Views: 14424
The first Traverse City Invitational Poker Run, put on by the Offshore Powerboat Association and the Offshore Classic group, was a great success for participants and beneficiaries. From the beginning on Friday where participants started showing up to the hotels, to the finale on Sunday where rides were given to both Bigs and Littles from the Big Brothers Big Sisters, everybody we spoke with had a great time and good things to say.
Getting ready for the start on Saturday morning.
Saturday started out overcast, but the water was nice for running. The drivers meeting at 10:00 went off without a hitch, it looked as if every ...byPublished on 07-26-2018 07:58 PM Number of Views: 5983Categories:
The WMO Muskegon Powerboat Weekend's Poker Run was almost a Deja Vu all over again. The forecast was calling for rain and possible thunderstorms, just like in June. Because of the conditions, the helicopter had to be cancelled at the last possible minute before it had to leave its home airport to arrive for the scheduled photo shoot with Pete Boden of Shoot 2 Thrill Pix. But, even though there were weather issues, almost 40 of the 100 plus registered boats decided to do the run from Grand Haven to lunch at the Boat Werks waterfront restaurant in Holland.
Leaving Holland's Lighthouse Behind
Heading Out Grand Haven Channel
Although the plan was for the ...byPublished on 07-19-2018 06:02 PM Number of Views: 4642
What else can be said. Almost perfect weather. Almost perfect water. Almost perfect events. And almost perfect food. Boyne Thunder once again improved the package which had already become known as the "World's Best Poker Run".
This year's Boyne Thunder Poker Run was maybe the best yet. We had some rain Friday during the street party and Stereo War, but other than that there was not much to complain about. A bit of near shore fog on Saturday on Lake Michigan, but that burned off fairly quickly.
The event started with the lunch run to Bay Harbor on Thursday, leaving Round Lake around 10:30 AM. Well, there was rain and thunderstorms in the forecast, so many of the people drove up by car instead of their planned boat trip, ...byPublished on 06-21-2018 10:09 AM Number of Views: 4877
West Michigan Offshore's only 2018 Poker Run certainly had its challenges, all weather related. Mother Nature decided to not be very motherly for some reason this June 16th. Thunderstorms started rolling through fairly early in the morning on Saturday, postponing many of the boats arriving by water and delaying the launch of many others. But, that was not the only thing happening over the course of the Muskegon Powerboat Weekend.
The beginning of the postponed Poker Run start.
The Friday evening street party by Muskegon's Hackley Park had perfect weather, all of the storms stayed to the north. The food and drink provided by the Taste of Muskegon, live bands in the park, along with the ...byPublished on 08-30-2017 11:12 PM Number of Views: 10831
It seems as if the summer boating season had just begun, but West Michigan Offshore's final run of the year just took place this previous Saturday. Hard to believe the first signal of the end of the boating year has already taken place.
Start of the run in the Grand Haven channel. Special escort by the County's fire patrol boat.
They must have known there was a group of "Hot" boats heading out.
The day started out a bit cool. The forecast was for a high of 71, and the Lake Michigan water temps were in the high 60's. There were major decisions to be made. Like, shorts or jeans??? Lake Michigan was supposed to be flat to 1', making the big offshore boats think the run would be a bit on the boring ...byPublished on 06-05-2017 05:27 PM Number of Views: 9350Categories:
Every winter there is a dilemma for West Michigan performance boaters. How soon can everyone count on getting boats in the water? How soon can they be tested to make sure they are ready to do a run? Followed by, how soon can those boats actually do an organized run followed by some fun conversations at a get together?
Some years it still seems there is snow on the ground late in May. Some years there are late winter and spring storms. And some years everything is so perfect all are wondering why there is no run scheduled the week before Memorial day, instead of waiting for June. What is a Michigan Performance Boating ...byPublished on 04-18-2016 08:45 AMCategories:
As West Michigan Offshore has their one year anniversary, the importance of the giving spirit of the performance boating world once again jumps out into the spotlight. Those outside people who tend to believe that performance boaters are nothing but a bunch of belligerent egotists have never taken the time to see the many ways performance boaters try to help those less fortunate than themselves. And we are proud to say that the West Michigan Offshore members are continuing that proud tradition.
The Weather at the Boatwerks could not have been any better!
As people arrived at the Boatwerks Restaurant in Holland, Michigan to ...byPublished on 11-05-2014 10:49 AM
Courtesy Shoot 2 Thrill Pete
Stock Outboard, the only class where the world's rules match the US rules, also appears to be strong this year. There are a few boats who will have the role of favorites, the wider Doug Wrights being the boats with the advantage over the narrower tunneled competition. But, there is one boat that we will be keeping our eyes on closely to see how it does. Risky Business, a 1992 Skater 28 with a pair of Mercury Racing 200 XS outboards (running approximately 240 HP), will be competing against ...byPublished on 11-05-2014 09:55 AM
Wow, all reports from Key West are saying the fleet for the Superboat Unlimited class will be the largest ever assembled, nine competitors. We will update this story as it progresses, but we wanted to make sure you were prepared for the 1:30 PM start today. We figured a short blip is better than no blip, sorry. The races will be carried on Livestream starting at 9:30, so if you're not in Key West, watch if you get the chance because the Wednesday races are short.
2014 National Champion, ...byPublished on 11-04-2014 10:37 AM
Superboat in SBI has been growing since they modified the rules for the class a couple years ago. As the combined classes of the old Superboat 750, Superboat 850, and Supercat, the class had a group of teams to choose from. The only question was, would they all buy in to a class that almost mimicked the old Supercat Rules before the changes early in this century.
Many of us can remember the 12 or 13 boats that competed on a regular basis in the Supercat Class in the late 90's and early 00's, but it disappeared into a multitude of classes where the rules seemed to change annually. Well, that seems to be the case no longer and the teams appear ...byPublished on 11-03-2014 09:24 PM
The Superboat Vee class in Key West for the 2014 SBI World Championships appears to be a five boat contest. Notables missing are Phantom 9 and BoatFloater.com. Steve Kildahl of BoatFloater is still recovering from his flip in the P1 Championship races, so his son will be in Sunprint with Steve Miklos. Stephen Kildahl will be driving with Steve Miklos on the throttles. We are all still wishing Steve a speedy and full recovery so we can watch father and son out there competing again.
This is the first race where these five boats will be running together ...


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"Current Adrenal Cancer Research"
Adrenal Cancer~Endocrine Cancers
Due to the rarity of Adrenal Cancer many doctors may not be familiar or experienced with ACC and the unique requirements involved with treatment and it's surgery.
OverComeACC is an informational resource website designed to help you in your search to acquire knowledge and locate Doctors and Hospitals with Adrenal Cortical Cancer experience, as well as locate support groups for sharing of information that may be helpful to you in your search for treatment of this Ultra Rare Cancer:
Adrenal Cortical Carcinoma.
Additionally, there is an ACC Community out there that has been traveling this road before you and accumulatively they have a wealth of knowledge to share and they do so willingly.
will allow you to donate online
to help support
Adrenal Cancer Research
helping to change the world
and make a difference!
Together we can be the change we want to see in the world!
Bracelets and ACC Awareness Note card Page
Contact us @ OverComeACC @ gmail.com


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Peppermint OS Three Review
Peppermint OS Three, released yesterday picks up from where it left off in version two of this great lightweight distribution. It is based on an Ubuntu 12.04 variant, called LUbuntu which is geared towards the lightweight end of things. Peppermint OS Three is using Openbox as its desktop environment.
Peppermint OS Three is available in both 32-bit and 64-bit installations and allows you to try it before installing it on your system. Read more
Peppermint OS Two Review
Peppermint OS is a distribution that is based on LUbuntu 11.04 (LXDE Desktop) and is geared to use more cloud applications. It's sleek and simple desktop reminds us that a desktop doesn't have to be cluttered to be useful.
Peppermint can still allows you to add applications like any other distribution and note that it can easily be used on older machines. Read more


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The Riverside County Board of Supervisors last week approved Temecula Valley Unified School District's proposal to sell about $35 million in general obligation bonds, including controversial capital appreciation bonds that have forced taxpayers in some areas to pay as much as 10 times the principal to retire the bonds.
District administrators, however, say their repayment plan is far more conservative than recent headline-grabbing plans -- Poway Unified's will ultimately cost its taxpayers $1 billion on a $105 million bond issued in 2011. In Temecula, the bond sales will lead to a cost of roughly $2.39 in interest for each dollar borrowed.
Late last month, legislation was introduced in the state Assembly seeking to cap districts' repayment ratios at no more than $4 in interest and principal for every dollar borrowed, and Temecula's plan falls well within those recommendations, said Lori Ordway-Peck, assistant superintendent of business support services.
She says the district did its homework long before it asked its taxpayers for help.
"It's frustrating to be tarnished with one brush when every district has a unique financial profile," Ordway-Peck said.
Voters approved the $165 million bond measure in November to generate money to pay for a number of facilities and infrastructure projects across the district's 33 schools.
"The thing I would say is each district needs to be understood on its own merit," Ordway-Peck said. "My board was well-informed throughout this process. … We understand the issues and we're taking the responsive and responsible action to give people the best schools we can."
Ordway-Peck said Temecula Valley Unified's package consists of 16 percent capital appreciation bonds, 16 percent current interest bonds and 68 percent convertible capital appreciation bonds.
The district's governing board approved the plan three weeks ago, just days after state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson and state Treasurer Bill Lockyer cautioned districts against the issuance of capital appreciation bonds -- which charge little to no interest in the beginning -- until reforms could be considered to protect taxpayers.
"In too many cases, CAB deals have forced taxpayers to pay more than 10 times the principal to retire bonds," Torlakson and Lockyer said in a joint letter to county and district superintendents. "Also, the transactions have been structured with 40-year terms that delay interest and principal payments for decades, resulting in huge balloon payments and burdens on future taxpayers that cannot be justified."
Ordway-Peck said Temecula homeowners will never pay more than $36 per $100,000 of assessed value on planned 30-year terms associated with the Measure Y bonds, which come with a total debt service of about $395 million through 2053. If only current interest bonds were issued, that debt service would have been about $267 million.
With the Board of Supervisor's approval Tuesday on County Treasurer Don Kent's recommendation, the bonds issuance will hit the market in late February or early March.
It's all part of a plan that district officials began devising more than a year ago when they drew up a campaign to ask for taxpayers' help for the first time since 1989, when voters approved a $65 million bond measure that the district will pay off in 2025.
Without taxpayers' recently approving a new bond, Ordway-Peck said, the district would have had to wait another seven years to begin addressing maintenance issues that have fallen by the wayside during the economic downturn.
Now, districts across the state are beefing up the technology available in their schools in preparation for new standards beginning to make their way into the classroom.
"We do not have the infrastructure in place for that," Ordway-Peck said. "This bond will do that for us. If we had to wait seven years, we would not have had the resources to do it."
After modernizing its classrooms, the district has a number of big-ticket safety and maintenance projects to tackle at its sites, as well as a number of to-do items that the board will prioritize at a later date, including planning the building of as many as seven more schools in the district and all-weather track and football fields at Temecula Valley and Chaparral high schools.
To pay for all that, the district planned four sales of the bonds every three to four years, with a plan that Ordway-Peck says substantially differs from Poway's.
"It's a very low number and a very sensible number, as compared to the story in Poway," Ordway-Peck said. "I'm sure they had a reason to do what they did. Compared to that, ours is a very low number and well within the recommendations."


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Perspective 2012
Mar 20 2012
When I wonder what it's all about, why I am where I am, and whether all my decisions or in/out-of-control direction changes in life were good ones, I usually need to drink lots of red wine and stay away from the hard liquor! When my 6, soon to be 7, year old daughter tells me to take a break from cooking dinner and see what she made and affixed to my home office desk (photo to left), everything makes sense for a few moments.
I tell her that I need to save all these precious notes and drawings she makes me because when she's a teenager she'll want nothing to do with me. She denies it adamantly and tells me she will always love me. I tell her I know that's true but she might not express it the same way as she does now, but I will always love her which thankfully she believes. I doubt she'll be writing me the same heart warming notes and drawing me butterflies when she's 16, but the fact that she thinks she will is sweet. Although I'm sure her peers and society might think it weird if she's drawing hearts to her friends and mom when she's older, I hope she continues to be comfortable expressing her love for people because it's not an easy thing to do without judgement when you get older.
I don't recall my now 9 year old son writing too many "I love mommy" notes when he was 6, but I do have a few of those that I've saved and stuck to the fridge or put in his box. He mostly
wants to play with my iPhone and the Wii runs into me to show his affection and randomly hugs me sometimes in odd places like Office Depot. He still likes me to sit next to him when he's watching TV and cuddle with him for a bit before he goes to sleep. When I ask him why he is hugging me in a superstore, he says "I don't know, I just wanted to." I sigh, laugh, roll my eyes a bit and say "Ok sweetie, I'll take it when and where I can get it," hug him back and muss his hair.
I'm so lucky when it comes to my kids (knock on wood) and I guess I am where I need to be right now for them. If I'm penniless in my 80s, I'll show them the notes and see if they remember writing them and the feelings they were trying to express at the time. Deep stuff, I know.Author: Aruni | Filed under: parent stories, parenting, working mom, working mother | Tags: i love mommy, iPhone, office depot, Wii | 11 Comments »