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Opinion: Mission Accomplished in Iraq?
AEI fellow Fred Kagan on the 10-year anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Photo: Getty Images
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
... opinion Journal why Mary Kissel ... I'm it's the anniversary of the invasion of Iraq does anybody in Washington or the rest of the nation ... remember that it was a bipartisan affair ... here's Bill Clinton from February nineteen ninety eight ... there is ... no more clear example of this threat ... than Saddam Hussein's Iraq ... his regime threatens the safety of its people the stability of this region ... and the security ... of all the rest of us ... and someday ... some way ... guaranteed ... to use the arsenal ... American Enterprise Institute fellow Fred Kagan joins me now from Washington friends ... dwell too much on history here cuz I wanna look to the future of the region ... but just to remind our audience ... of Clinton's fears about weapons of mass destruction ... it wasn't that Sharon by Democrats allies and others ... not just in the late nineties that also through much of the two thousands ... yes absolutely there was ... there was a widespread and bipartisan ... an international belief that Saddam is pursuing weapons of mass destruction program ... up and that was extremely dangerous and that's why there were no international sanctions it's what Bill Clinton ... ordered military force to be used against the law the number of occasions why we maintain a no-fly zone there under that administration ... and you know part of that was says alma as it turns out was actively trying to persuade everybody that he had no weapons of mass destruction ... the program when in fact he didn't ... um then he didn't count on Mon eleven and was actually taking them seriously about it ... we've got a couple of fun quotes to put up on the screen from ... Nancy Pelosi and Howard Dean John Kerry will just ... put them up by an order of the audience can read them as they as they well ... I'm afraid I wanna look for it however ... I didn't even ... more active ten year anniversary ... um ... how would you assess the current state ... of political stability in Iraq and its relationship with the United States today ... both things are going very badly in Iraq and things began to deteriorate ... of very rapidly when ... the Obama missed ration pull all of our troops out and actually ... that very day after ... the last American soldier left Iraq ... up from Minister multi when after of the city vice-president charcoal Afscme and started ... up a very aggressive the series of attacks on the Sunday ... of political leadership ... culminating a year later with a similar move against the finance minister of Rockville's Ali ... which has led to Sony protests across the country that have been lasting ... up for many many weeks and it seems some skill ... and really look to be the harbinger of the unraveling of the political settlement in Iraq that the ... U S forces helped to broker ... in the course of two thousandseven two thousandeight ... but ... that doesn't this matter for the safety and security of the Iraqi people and also matters from a ... national security perspective of the United States ... New speak a little bit about what ... an unraveling Iraq means at a time when we have ... in Iran is pursuing nuclear weapons and we have unrest across much of the rest of the region's him ... yell we're already seeing very very bad um spillover effect sweet dog among other things all Qaeda in Iraq is re established soften it safe havens ... within Iraq um after our forces pulled out ... but it's now also operating aggressively in Syria ... of where our of me from behind policy has ... really facilitated ... the or meaning of the ultimate in Iraq franchise in Syria by ... a radical elements in that that organization is supported by ... upright in Iraq safe havens within Iraq ... at the same time we've seen of resurgence in Shia militias in Iraq ... and the Iranians using Iraq as a conduit for weapons and trainers and ... of all kinds of support the Assad regime ... um and I think increasingly wilderness Iraq uses a way for the Iranians to circumvent the sanctions regime that the Obama ministrations line on ... some how to bring the to run to the negotiating table suffered we've got about a minute last aam without a strong US presence in Iraq with this deteriorate deteriorating situation ... on ... our countries in the region going to balance an emerging Iran ... are we looking ... for a simpler ... time and nuclear arms race between Iran and Saudi Arabia or my ... taking a step too far ... no I think it's very likely I think that as the US is pulling out and talking about getting to Asia and so forth ... of all the Iranians get ever closer to a nuclear weapon I do think that the Saudis are thinking about how to acquire theirs and ... I think that the prospect of a nuclear arms race in the Middle East that would be incredibly dangerous it is very real and is is approaching rapidly unfortunately ... the American Enterprise Institute fellow friends Kate and ... on the tenth anniversary of the mission in Iraq thank you for being ... with us


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BBC News
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Local Pubs in KIRKBYSTEPHEN:
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subset: commoncrawl


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Prepared Salads (Savory & Deli Foods) Market in Mexico – Outlook to 2021: Market Size, Growth and Forecast Analytics
Prepared Salads comprises of Leaf Salads (Leaf salads are salads usually served chilled or at moderate temparature containing green leaves with marinated sauces, meat cubes, bread sticks and other seasonings), Potato Salads (salads having chopped potatoes as the base. It also includes mashed potato salads with various seasonings and spices) and Other non-fruit based Salads (all vegetable salads excluding leaf and potato salads) sold in tubs or packs. Excludes fruit salads.
Prepared Salads (Savory & Deli Foods) Market in Mexico – Outlook to 2021: Market Size, Growth and Forecast Analytics is a broad level market review of Prepared Salads market of Mexico. The research handbook provides the up-to-date market size data for period 2011-2016 and illustrative forecast to 2021 covering key market aspects like Sales Value and Volume for Prepared Salads and its variants Leaf Salads, Potato Salads and Other (Non-Fruit).The research handbook also provides analytics on Sales by Brands and by Distribution Channel.
Sales Values in the handbook are depicted in USD ($) and local currency of Mexico and Volumes are represented in M Kilograms.
Furthermore, the research handbook details out Sales Value for top brands for the year 2013 to 2016 and overall market sales by Distribution Channel (Hypermarkets & Supermarkets, Convenience Stores, Department Stores, Dollar Stores, Variety Store, Cash & Carries and Warehouse clubs, eRetailers, Food & Drinks specialists, Drug stores & Pharmacies, Health & Beauty Stores, Other general retailers and others) where ever applicable.
The research handbook acts as an essential tool for companies active or planning to venture in to Mexico's Prepared Salads (Savory & Deli Foods) market. The comprehensive statistics within the research handbook provides insight into the operating environment of the market and also ensures right business decision making based on historical trends and industry model based forecasting.
*Note: Certain content / sections in the research handbook may be removed or altered based on the availability and relevance of data.
– Overall Prepared Salads (Savory & Deli Foods) market value and volume analytics with growth analysis from 2011 to 2021.
– Sales Value and Volume analytics for variants of Prepared Salads; Leaf Salads, Potato Salads and Other (Non-Fruit)
– Value terms for the top brands.
– Distribution channel sales analytics from 2013-2016.
Reasons to buy
– Get access to authoritative and granular data on the Prepared Salads (Savory & Deli Foods) market and fill in the gaps in understanding of trends and the components of change behind them.
– Enhance your understanding of the market to update your strategic and tactical plans based on volume and value changes, brand dynamics and distribution trends.
– Analyze the components of change in the market by looking at historic and future growth patterns.
– Use the data to understand future patterns of the market trends from winners and losers to category dynamics and thereby quickly and easily identify the key areas in which you want to compete in the future.


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Some scientists believe that six is definitely a bigger number than three. Yes, it is understandable that for some this is hard to comprehend, but it is true. It is simple math. During the 82nd Academy Awards of 2010, the Hurt Locker by Kathryn Bigelow (she's the one that made Point Break) proved that six is a bigger number than three.
To put someone in a "hurt locker" is to physically mess someone up, badly. It is roughly associated with causing someone "a world of pain". According to the movie's official web site: "In Iraq it is soldier vernacular to speak of explosions as sending you to "the hurt locker". The Hurt Locker threatens us with "hurt" throughout the duration of the movie – and delivers – in a stylish, gritty and exciting package.
Set in modern day Iraq, the film explores a bomb disposal squad's descent in to what appears to be madness, led by their adrenaline addicted squad leader Staff Sergeant William James (Renner), whose recklessness in action borders on the insane.
With awards such as Best Achievement in Directing, Editing, Sound, Sound Editing, Best Picture and Best Writing/Screenplay under its belt – and nominations in virtually every category available – the Hurt Locker proved that going 3D is not a necessary commodity to make a classic movie.
Like Neill Blomkamp's District 9 and the lesser-known sci-fi project Primer by Shane Carruth; Kathryn Bigelow – director of the Hurt Locker – proved that a massive budget isn't necessary to make a good movie. Costing only $15million dollars to make it seems utterly dwarfed by: you've guessed it … Avatar. Costing in excess of $300million, James Cameron's latest adventure would surely give The Hurt Locker a run for its money.
Avatar had been in production ever since early humans discovered tools and fire. Throughout the Renaissance as the script developed and technologies became available, Cameron's dream child started to grow legs. Several millennia had passed before the first stills appeared of Cameron himself wielding some massive bastard of a gun; we knew already that this was going to be a big film. The biggest film ever in fact: in the history of the world according to the hype.
The story, however; goes as follows: disabled man takes on job on mysterious hostile planet. Man uses a Navii Avatar to move around the environment where he meets and falls in love with a native Navii (much like the avatars on xbox live, but with more spears … and weapons … and problems.) It is all very spectacular, but it has been seen before. Our main character Sully turns against the evil humans and helps save the Navii. An extremely happy ending indeed that washes over the audience in an awesome wave.
It's pretty much The Smurfs meets Dances With Wolves, with some of the best visuals witnessed in the history of cinema. It's a conflicting film that keeps its audience feeling satisfied, yet confused and angry. Here's why…
Having waited several years for Avatar to smash out of the screens and in to the audience's face, we were expecting a miracle. We were expecting James Cameron to deliver "the" movie; the one that helps us get away from all the straight-to-dvd, Robert Pattinson jerk fests: the very same guy who does to movies what Prison Warden Percy Wetmore does to Eduard Delacroix in the Green Mile. In short, he gets royally screwed over.
The point being is that for a film to win best film selection at the Academy Awards, it has to be a film of substance, not just ground breaking visuals. As cool as they are in Avatar, they are sometimes not enough to win best picture. The Academy Award for Best Motion Picture is considered the most important of the Academy Awards and as it's the final award presented; directing, acting, and writing efforts put forth for a film are all considered. This is why Avatar did not win.
To bundle Avatar in to the 'experimental film' section would be wrong. It was truly 3D, not like My Bloody Valentine, a film that uses 3D only as a gimmick. A poor, "why-did-I-spend-my-money-on-this?" style gimmick. Bigelow's Hurt Locker involved the audience through tension and reality, masterfully exploring the depths of human emotions brought on through war. The opening title, an excerpt from American war journalist Chris Hedges' book, War is a Force That Gives Us Meaning reads: "The rush of battle is often a potent and lethal addiction, for war is a drug." An addiction so potent, we would be led to believe that the lead character is completely insane.
As well narrated as Avatar is, it is the story alone that makes it flawed. Unlike trying to defuse a bomb in the sweltering heat of Iraq, Avatar doesn't leave us wondering what might go off. Throughout the Hurt Locker we are presented with the days left in the unit's cycle, an addition that leads us to believe something bad is going to happen – a count-down timer – like a roadside bomb grinning at you before exploding in your face, completely ruining your day.
The Hurt Locker is as gritty piece of film. While Avatar feels fresh and clean, with its otherworldly colour schemes and studio perfect lighting Hurt Locker feels sand-blasted, coarse and realistic. Understandably, the whole point of Avatar is to take us to another world, to a different reality, brought to us through the power of silky smooth high-def projections; but it is the Hurt Locker's realism that makes it a more powerful film. There are men like this risking their lives daily. On screen, it makes for harrowing, intense and dramatic story.
Yes, Avatar is purely sci-fi, a completely different genre of film altogether from Hurt Locker. Surely this would invoke outrage: that a sci-fi film has been compared to a war film. Some would even go as far as saying this is a mockery. Well, it essentially is. Avatar's story line was predictable, and most importantly, lame; full of lack luster and all the makings of a great episode of the Smurfs. Avatar needed only to be less predictable. Of course Sully (Worthington) was going to weave his way in to the Navii lifestyle. Of course he was going to save the day by harnessing the power of that great big bastard of a flying beast that everyone was so scared of and of course Sully would become one of the good guys in the end, leaving his dead-legged body behind for a considerably taller and bluer Navii body. Suitably bored by this turn of events, one would be hard pressed to find anything tedious in Bigelow's desert warfare classic, unless you do not like war films…or Bigelow's sense of direction.
Avatar is Cameron's baby as some would put it, and for what it's worth he has done a fantastic job as always. Jim Cameron has created some of the most entertaining cinema ever brought to our screens. The Abyss, Terminator 2: Judgment Day … Titanic was okay despite the ever-present danger that is Bill Paxton (Twister). He also created Aliens, sequel to Ridley Scott's Alien – a film considered in some circles to be the only sci-fi film that actually works in scaring its audience – whereas Aliens is a balls to the wall action/infestation romp. Not like The Fourth Kind, which generally fails as a film.
Like Titanic for example – the film with most Oscars under its belt at the 70th Academy Awards – for many, it was not the best film of choice. Cameron's Avatar – as visually amazing as it was – lacked story and substance, leaving many of its audiences shifting in their seats, wondering when the hell it was going to end. The Hurt Locker proved that massive blockbuster images, seemingly endless budgets and a 3D perspective are not needed to progress cinema or win awards. The audience didn't need to wait for a plot twist that never arrived or hang around for an inevitable story structure to unfold.
You are left exhausted and exhilarated by the balls-to-the-wall intensity of the Hurt Locker, not tired, angry and hungry. Its six Academy Awards are a testament to classic film-making. As ground breaking as Avatar is, 3D format does not mean all films made this way are going to be better than hardcore front-line filming. Truth hurts.


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Investors have built up considerable cash holdings since the start of the financial crisis and are positioned to increase their financial investments after the election, a recent UBS study found. Plus, affluent and high-net-worth investors are more optimistic than a year ago, according to UBS, in both the short and long term.
Nine in ten investors feel now feel they have enough or too much cash, the poll of 2,000-plus investors found. Investors with $1 million and up of investable assets—half of those polled—are more likely to move out of cash in the next 12 months than affluent investors—with $250,000 to $1 million of investable assets.
"Most investors expect the election outcome to impact their outlook on the economy and investing, and accordingly, nearly half plan to revisit their financial plan post-election," UBS explained in the report, which was released Oct. 18.
The following five trends were highlighted by UBS in the report:
1. Investor optimism much higher than a year ago
Some 35% of investors are very or somewhat optimistic about the short-term economic outlook, up from 21% a year ago. While 38% are pessimistic, this number is dramatically lower than a year ago, when 60% of investors had a negative outlook, UBS says.
In addition, investors are much more likely to feel excellent or very good about their financial situation, a strong improvement from last year. This shift is due to their improving views associated with drops in the unemployment level, reduced market volatility and overall improved performance of the financial markets.
As for their long-term outlook, most investors are optimistic about the economy over the next three to five years. Two out of three are optimistic about the next 10 years.
As a result, nearly half of investors polled by UBS say they feel "highly confident about achieving their financial goals."
2. The flight to cash appears over
Investors have built up a large cash allocation in recent years, and the average cash holding is around 20% of most portfolios.
Some investors clearly "are starting to feel they have too much cash, and plan to begin decreasing these holdings over the next year," UBS notes. New money is increasingly being earmarked for investments rather than savings or debt payments. Close to 40% of high-net-worth investors would invest any extra money received immediately.
3. Investors are starting to spend
After spending cutbacks of the past few years, investors have been spending more time and money on leisure and "experiential activities such as travel and dining out with friends and family," the survey says.
For example, 37% have increased spending on travel in the last year vs. 26% who have decreased their travel spending.
When asked about their plans for the next year, 39% plan to increase travel spending.
4. Investors remain concerned with economic issues
Six in 10 investors say they are highly concerned with the size of the national debt and with rising healthcare costs—the top two concerns overall.
In addition, a large number, 56%, of investors have become quite anxious about the 2012 elections, and 39% are now concerned about possible tax changes tied to the elections vs. 31% a year ago.
5. Half of high-net-worth investors plan to revisit their financial plans after Nov. 6
Nearly half of high-net-worth investors plan to revisit their financial plans after the election, the UBS poll finds.
Overall, "signs point to increased action post-election," the report concludes.


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In their latest short video, web series ASAP Science explains what happens to your mind and body during sex. Images from MRI scans reveal that while orgasms have a similar impact on brain activity in men and women, the effects are more pronounced in women because their orgasms tend to last longer. Mitchell Moffit and Gregory Brown, who produce the videos, talk about the making of the series in an interview with the Atlantic Video channel here.
Follow ASAP Science on YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook. Check out more from ASAP Science on the Atlantic Video channel.
We want to hear what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editor or write to email@example.com.


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Discussion area for topics regarding interior work, such as seats, steering wheels, pedals kits, upholstery, consoles, gauge panels, etc.
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Top 10 Foods for Thanksgiving Day
In all probability, you've been planning your Thanksgiving Day meal for a little while now. However, every year the issue surfaces of what to make and how much to serve, as the number of guests change, along with their eating habits. And I'm sure that you are not likely to want a fridge full of leftovers.
If you're hesitating which food what to do, we have compiled this Top 10 list of Thanksgiving musts-haves. It must be a useful reference for your Thanksgiving-dinner-preparing.
Top 10 Foods for Thanksgiving Day
#1 Stuffing/Dressing
#2 Turkey
#3 Mashed Potatoes
#4 Ham
#5 Cranberry
#6 Pumpkin Pie
#7 Rolls/Bread
#8 Sweet Potatoes
#9 Green Bean Casserole
#10 Turducken
You can find more about the top 10 Thankgiving foods from the following presentation or PowerPoint-made video:
|PowerPoint: Top 10 Foods for Thanksgiving Day
|Video: Top 10 Foods for Thanksgiving Day
|Download PowerPoint Presentation
|Watch on Youtube
Have a nice Thanksgiving meal!


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JASPER ENGINES AND TRANSMISSIONS has been the industry leader since 1942. With their extensive research, they have insight to correct problems in original manufacture design, improving their products performance, reliability and durability. We proudly recommend JASPER Engines & Transmissions remanufactured components and have worked dilligently to earn our Preferred Installer rating through top performances and awards in service and sales. Why do we choose JASPER?
1. PROVEN: Pioneering 75 years of leadership in the automtotive remanufacturing industry. JASPER Engines & Transmissions assure trouble-free performance and peace of mind for our automotive customers.
2. QUALITY: Remanufacturing fuel components in a climate controlled environment and computer assisted calibration assures precise fuel delivery and efficiency. JASPER remanufactured products exceed factory specifications and improve OEM inherent design flaws with updated parts and precise machining.
3. TESTED: Live run dynamometer testing of every running complete diesel allows engines to be tested under varying loads to simulate in-the-vehicle operation. Live run dynamometer testing of every automatic transmission, including Allison, assure trouble-free performance and reliable day to day operation.
4. WARRANTY: JASPER Engines and Transmissions has a 3 YEAR | 100,000 MILE PART & LABOR WARRANTY (IT IS TRANSFERRABLE) - for most consumer and commercial applications up to, and including, 1-ton chassis.
Mike Clark's Automotive is a Preferred JASPER Installer. JASPER Preferred Installers attend JASPER Technical Training classes, have toured our facility to see our remanufacturing process, and are large volume installers of our products. A JASPER Preferred Installer utilizes the broad range of informational tools JASPER has available to help you make an informed decision about replacing the engine, transmission, differential.


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Electro-Voice Digital Speaker Processor
Based on a 2-in, 6-out topology, the DC-One is a rackmountable loudspeaker controller from Electro-Voice designed primarily for users of small-to-medium sized sound systems in both mobile and installed applications. Based on a powerful SHARC processor, it is 100% compatible with all settings from other Electro-Voice signal processors. Includes software for optional control via a PC.
A large part of EV DC-One's development was aimed at ensuring that users can easily handle its serious digital horsepower and high-end audio performance. Though free PC-Editor software is available, the DC-One speaker controller can be easily operated via the front panel. Direct access buttons, 6 predefined configuration modes (1 being free configuration), straightforward output delay settings, and true professional metering all allow for safe operation.
The DC-One's unique front-panel access control allows the user to select a personal library of accessible presets (out of 60 factory and 20 user presets). In addition, the user can determine which individual parameters in each preset are locked (e.g. factory predefined output parameters) or editable (e.g. master EQ or delay settings).
The EV DC-One has a 19" chassis that is deep enough to match typical amplifier depths, a front-panel USB connector for the PC-Editor, and accepts either analog or digital (AES-EBU) input signals; a 6-dB input pad is available. The RS232 on the rear also provides 8 contact closures for preset changes or allows 2 units to be linked for larger systems. The PC-Editor software, as well as firmware updates allowing additional functions, will be available on Electro-Voice's website.
We Also Recommend
Behringer ULTRAGAIN DIGITAL ADA8200 - 8 In/8 Out ADAT Audio Interface with MIDAS Mic Preamps


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Georgia State uses Google Cloud Platform to improve disaster recovery
By shifting their backup data storage into Google's cloud, Georgia State improves operations and ensures seamless data recovery. Working with Commvault and Google eased their transition while keeping data secure.
As a large teaching and research institution, Georgia State University faces significant challenges in designing a disaster recovery plan. Its seven campuses and more than 50,000 students are spread out across 71 acres in metropolitan Atlanta. The university manages an enormous (and ever-growing) amount of data for an extended community who need reliable access, even when working remotely. Kelly Robinson, Director of Enterprise Infrastructure, explains that "we need an anytime, anywhere approach to services to support a digital university. We want to develop resources so that you don't always have to physically come to campus to leverage available services." And, of course, all this data must be kept private, secure, and accessible, even in the event of unplanned emergencies. With storms, fires, computer hacking, and other threats to digital systems in the news every day, how could Georgia State's Instructional Innovation and Technology department plan for its data backup and recovery systems to survive natural disasters and any other new potential challenges around the corner?
Their solution: migrating their backup data to Google Cloud Platform (GCP) as a key component of their disaster recovery process. Google Cloud Storage within GCP is a web service for storing and accessing data on Google's infrastructure. The service combines the performance and scalability of Google's cloud with advanced security and sharing capabilities. Georgia State already had a working relationship with Commvault, a leading provider of data management services, so when Commvault and Google established a strategic partnership, Georgia State leveraged the resources of both to ease their migration to the cloud.
"It can take minutes to begin restoring data now with GCP and Commvault where it used to take hours to get access to offsite backups."Kelly Robinson, Director of Enterprise Infrastructure, Instructional Innovation and Technology, Georgia State University
Using cloud technology to improve operations
Until recently, Georgia State stored all their data on tapes in off-site data centers, like most large enterprises. These were expensive and inconvenient to maintain. Backing up their many terabytes of data on a weekly basis meant dedicated employees manually changing the tapes and being on call until the backup process completed, often during weekends and after hours. Restoring data involved a complicated chain of events that included calling the service provider to manually deliver tapes to campus, locating the correct files from multiple backup tapes, and staying onsite until the full backup process was complete. It was a time, and energy, consuming process.
Together Georgia State, GCP, and Commvault created a customized hybrid solution to streamline this process. According to Robinson, with GCP, data is accessible, protected, and automated to backup continuously. She notes that "it can take minutes to begin restoring data now with GCP and Commvault where it used to take hours to get access to offsite backups. It's an easy online process to start data recovery." Georgia State's hybrid solution consists of keeping daily data at several on-premise sites that backup to GCP regularly. Travis Remington, who directs Enterprise Computing and led the collaboration with GCP and Commvault, says, "in the event of a system failure we can restore quickly now using this cloud solution."
The new system was tested in September 2017 when Hurricane Irma threatened the Atlanta area. With power outages expected across the state—and across Georgia State's multiple campuses, it was critical to ensure there was no loss of data and minimize any interruption in service. After all, even offsite data centers might be within the range of a natural disaster like this, but GCP would not be impacted. Their cloud solution helped them feel confident they were prepared, and it worked. When prolonged power outages resulted in certain systems needing to be restored, they were able to quickly bring the systems back online. Robinson says, "While we were able to protect our data before, GCP has made it much easier to perform data recovery after an event like this one."
Why Google Cloud and Commvault?
Robinson explains that Georgia State chose to shift their disaster recovery to Google Cloud Platform because its backup is cost-effective, secure, and convenient, and its data recovery is fast and efficient. Robinson attributes the ease and efficiency of the transition to the partnership with Google and Commvault. Georgia State's Instructional Innovation and Technology team was able to work through challenges together and both companies offered great support and resources. Her advice to other IT administrators looking to improve operations by transferring systems to the cloud? "Find someone you can truly partner with and road map what you are trying to accomplish. Look for the low-hanging fruit, like data recovery, which is also high value."
This migration to the cloud is just one step in a larger enterprise transformation toward a digitally-enabled university. Robinson and her team assess how new initiatives can leverage cloud resources so they are designed from the start to take advantage of these new capabilities and efficiencies. GCP is part of Georgia State's overall cloud strategy and planning for the digital future.
About Commvault
Commvault is a leading provider of data protection, cloud and information management solutions, helping companies worldwide activate and drive more value and business insight out of their data. With solutions and services delivered directly and through a worldwide network of partners and service providers, Commvault comprises one of the industry's leading portfolios in data protection and disaster recovery, cloud, virtualization, archive, file sync and share. To learn more about Commvault—and how it can help make your data work for you—visit www.commvault.com.
"I'm just back from an industry conference and it surprised me how many people are continuing to use tapes. It's time to look at the cloud. It can save you money and save you worry."Travis Remington, Enterprise Computing, Instructional Innovation and Technology, Georgia State University


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|Chelmsford, MA
|High School:
|Club Team:
|Crimson Aquatic
2011-12: Placed first in the 1,000 yard freestyle in the dual-meet against Wagner with a time of 10:37.87...Earned third place in the dual-meet against Vermont in the 1,000 freestyle with a time of 10:38.13...Finished third as a member of the 400 freestyle relay team with a time of 3:45.70...Swam a 5:15.12 in the 500 yard freestyle against UNH for fourth place...Finished 10th in the 1,650 yard freestyle with a time of 17:46.63 at the Northeast Conference Championships...Placed 12th in the 500 yard freestyle at the NEC Championships with a time of 5:08.79.
2010-11: Placed eighth in the 500 freestyle and ninth in the 1,650 freestyle at the NEC Championships.
Before Central: Earned four varsity letters at Chelmsford High School... Was named a Lowell Sun All-Star four times...Three-time Boston Globe All-Scholastics selection...Competed at Junior Nationals in 2009.


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Fairy tale heroes and heroines all take the same journey. Most begin with an abusive home, but some start out on a quest. Cinderella is tormented by cruel stepsisters and Snow White's step mother tries to kill her. Without parental protections, the main character is soon lost in a threatening dark forest. Although extreme challenges beset them in the woods, invariably helpers appear in the form of godmothers, helpful animals, or dwarfs. Strong inner resourcefulness is discovered as they master tasks of strategy and use empathic ways with others. Ultimately, the standard path leads to a high exalted place in society. The stories teach that quick wittedness and kindness leads one to a good end despite the necessary struggles along the way.
Some parents are concerned about the violent themes. Fairy tales often revolve around child neglect and abuse, such as in Hansel and Gretel, wherein the parents abandon the children to the forest, or the Girl without Hands, where the story centers on the father's pact with the devil that ultimately leads him to chop off his daughter's hands.
More than ever before, modern times are filled with the threat of violence and discord in the forms of terrorism, global warming, school shootings and myriad other representations. Because of rapid advances in communication technology such as the internet, it is impossible to hide these core realities. Children need models and guides for mastering threatening situations.
The fairy tale hero or heroine invariably finds the means to master disturbing events. Thus they teach that it is within one's own power to thrive through creative and strategic action despite what appear to be overwhelming odds.
For example, In the Grimm's tale, The Three Little Gnomes in the Forest, one learns that through a willing attitude to try difficult tasks, success follows. As the heroine successfully faces impossible challenges, such as gathering strawberries in bitter cold of winter, she gains strength.
"A man with a daughter loses his wife and marries a woman who has lost her husband and also has a daughter. The stepmother favors her own daughter and makes her stepdaughter do the nasty work. One winter day she tells the maiden to gather strawberries in the woods. The girl objects but is forced to the task. In the woods she comes upon a little house with three little men living in it. They pity her being in the snow and ask her why she is there. She tells of her task and shares her meager breakfast with them. They tell her to sweep the snow from the back door, which she does. So they grant her three gifts: that she shall become more beautiful each day, that gold will come from her mouth, and that a king shall take her for his wife. Meanwhile she has discovered ripe strawberries shooting from the ground; she fills her basket and returns home."
Parents become concerned when their children are fearful. Yet it is part of normal child development to become afraid. During preschool, small ones may get distressed over the dark, monsters and ghosts, animals and noises in the night. During school years, fears shift to fear of rejection or failure, being hurt, natural disasters, an angry teacher, being home alone, scary news and death. These are frequently the main motifs in fairy tales! In symbolic language, classic stories encode the means to master fears. For example, the essential theme, the "dark forest" always resolves with the heroine's finding her way to safety.
Contrast the beginning of the story The Ugly Duckling, wherein "the ducks bit him, the hens pecked him, and the girl who fed him kicked him aside….." "….Even his mother said "I wish you were miles away" with the ending wherein "He thought of how he had been scorned……and now he was the most beautiful of all birds".
Tales teach although frightening situations exist, it is within one's own power and resources to find the path to safety and eventual success.
Bette Kiernan, MFT is a psychotherapist in private practice in Palo Alto, California. She works with individuals, couples, groups, and families. Depression, anxiety, life transitions, eating disorders, and anger are frequent treatment focal points Corporate crisis interventions are her specialty. She intervenes at major Silicon Valley worksites during bank robberies, airplane crash impacts, employee deaths layoffs and train accidents. She has taught widely at California universities including Santa Clara University, University of California Santa Cruz Extension, University of California Berkeley Extension, and Sofia University. Massachusetts Institute Technology presents her theoretical work on fairy tales and sacred texts at their International Conference on Media in Transition. She welcomes new client appointments in her Palo Alto office.
- The Uses of Fairy Tales in Psychotherapy Bette U. Kiernan, MFT -MIT …
- Uses of Fairy Tales database
- Examining Sacred Texts, Bette U. Kiernan, MFT – MIT
- Bette U. Kiernan, MFT
- 430 Sherman Avenue
- Suite 203
- Palo Alto, California 94306
- firstname.lastname@example.com/
- (650) 324-3639


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jQuery Time Picker
Improve your forms with this usable and easy to deploy jQuery time picker.
Design your own background! (original PNG file provided with 2 examples included)
- Slider works with keyboard cursors (jquery UI Slider)
- Useful and intuitive
- Easy deployment (jQuery plugin)
- Well commented source code
- Fade in / out effect (jQuery 1.8.18 UI effects, like blind, clip, drop, explode, fold, puff…)
- Background image (2 provided)
- Button label text
- Default hour and minute on show
- 12/24h Time format
- Hour and minute separator, by default :
- Input field pointer (so you don't have to css your form)
- Setting Input field to readonly (so user have to use time picker to modify form, which ensures a valid time format
- Showing "am" / "pm" sufix in popup window.
- Returning "am" / "pm" sufix to form
- Expert options, including slider values, which will let you configure time picker with minute steps (requires some calculations)


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Cartoonist, Darth Vader and Son
Jeffrey Brown is the author of the New York Times #1 bestseller Darth Vader and Son, along with its sequel, Vader's Little Princess. Brown teaches comics at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where he earned his MFA in 2002 with his debut graphic novel memoir Clumsy. In 2012, Save The Date—the film Brown co-wrote and created artwork for—premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and was subsequently released by IFC Films. Brown's newest graphic memoir, A Matter of Life, will debut at San Diego Comic-Con 2013.


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¹ 5% of your order (without delivery cost) will be donated to Lucy Air Ambulance for Children + Free delivery on all orders over £30. Promotion is valid from 1st-31st October 2020. Lucy Air Ambulance for Children is a registered charity 1138457.
* LECHUZA sets and spare parts are excluded from all promotional discount codes.
**No cash payment possible. Promotion does not apply to previous or open orders. In addition to that you do not pay shipping costs within the UK Mainland on all orders over £30.00


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I would love a program to help tag and automatically sort files... picture something a lot like a Gmail inbox, where new and unsorted files remain in the inbox, and files can be searched, tagged, etc.
I'm actually considering starting a project like this, but on the long shot something like it exists, I figure I might as well save the time. Is there anything like this, either as a Nautilus extension or a standalone program?
I just upgraded to 11.04, and it looks like something is in the works with this... if I right-click a file, the context menu has a "Tags..." option which lets me tag files (this is also available in file properties via a "Tags" tab). A handful of my files appear to be automatically tagged, even. ...or did this happen when I installed Tracker?
The only problem is, I can't find any way to make use of the tags. Is there a way to search them? Using the Unity search bar doesn't appear to do the job (yet).


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If your tivo has a USB port on the back, then this is the place for support. Don't post newbie questions here, but this is the place for legitimate support issues. This includes both DirecTiVos and standalone TiVo units. NO DTV HACKING TALK
There are currently 5 users browsing this forum. (0 members & 5 guests)


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There are so many benefits to co-sleeping. Any mother who has been up and down a dozen (or more!) times at night with a fussy newborn can attest to the fact that it is much easier to have your baby at your side to comfort easily, rather than across the room, or even in a separate bedroom.
Besides the convenience for mama, there are other benefits, the most important of which is the fact that babies tend to sleep better when they are closer to you, especially in the early weeks and months.
Dr. William Sears, the well-known pediatrician and author/co-author of many books, including The Baby Sleep Book, lists 7 reasons and benefits of sleeping close to your baby:
Sleeping close to your baby is obviously beneficial and highly recommended by experts…but it is critical that it is done safely!
On the Arm's Reach website, leading expert Dr. James McKenna has a great article on co-sleeping safely with an infant. I know I have always had concerns about sleeping with my baby actually in bed with me. The few times I have tried, (out of desperation on hard night with a newborn,) if I sleep at all, I do not sleep well, since I am worried about rolling onto or suffocated my precious bundle with blankets or pillows or something. Or even just bumping her as I move in my sleep and God-forbid, waking her up!
The Arm's Reach Co-Sleeper features all the safety precautions you could possibly imagine and fits every requirement listed by Drs. McKenna and Sears.
In preparation for my review of their Curved Mini Co-Sleeper, I talked to Jake from Arm's Reach, and it was refreshing to hear how excited they are about their products and how dedicated they are to the safety of our babies, as well as our convenience!
What's more, they are working hard to provide options suited for every household, accommodating your room size, decor style and price range!
Just a few of the available options!
Arm's Reach's co-sleepers easily convert into bassinets if and/or when you decide to move it away from your bed. I have used one of their Original Co-Sleepers with my girls and loved this feature.
After the first two months or so, when my girls were sleeping longer at night, and I was only needing to get up once, maybe twice, I could move the co-sleeper over to a nearby corner of our room, making it easier for me to access my bed again, (I have a very narrow spot between my side of the bed and my desk.)
I am thrilled to have the Curved Mini for this baby. The Mini is significantly smaller and is so much more suited to the way our bedroom is set up! Not only that, but the Mini is easier to travel with! When I go on our annual girls' beach trip with my family later this year with my little one, it will be easy to fit this co-sleeper in the room with me, no matter how small the space is.
Setting up the Co-Sleeper is a simple process, and a quick look through the illustrated instructions gives you all you need to know to get started!
While we found it uncomplicated to set up, (the process is very straight-forward,) some steps are not easy. Getting the sides to snap up into place was pretty difficult, as well as getting them to snap down when you are collapsing the bed. I struggled with this step for a long time the first time, and then made John do it after that. It seems mostly to just require a lot of hand strength, and when I discussed this with Jake from Arm's Reach, he explained that this feature is part of what keeps the bed completely safe.
This makes sense to me, and of course, I'm willing to put up with a bit of difficulty in set-up and take-down if it ensures my precious baby's safety!
The Co-Sleeper comes in a zippered case and the mattress piece conveniently folds around the rest of the bed when packed away.
Snap the top bars up first, making sure they are rigid and firmly in place before locking the bottom bars
Sometimes you have to jerk them up quickly to get them to snap into position:
After all four top bars are locked into place, lock down the bottom bars. You can use or hands or your foot to do this. We found it was helpful to turn the bed completely upside down to get better leverage, since, as I mentioned, it is pretty difficult to get it to actually snap into its position.
Put the provided sheet on the mattress, lay it in, and voila! It is up!
It is important for safety reasons to have the crib at the perfect height next to your bed, so take a look at the measurements of the co-sleeper you choose, and then at the height of your bed.
After you add the enclosed feet and wheels, the mattress of the co-sleeper should be 4 inches below the top of your mattress.
There are two wheels for one end of the co-sleeper, and two feet for the other, making it easy to move it around the house as needed. There are brakes on the wheels that you should set once the co-sleeper is in place to keep it from rolling.
If you have a tall bed or mattress you may need to order their leg extension kit! In 2 inch increments, you can easily raise the co-sleeper up to 6 more inches with this kit.
You can add the wheels and other included feet onto the bottom of these extensions. The extensions should only be used when the co-sleeper is attached to an adult bed.
The final step in setting up your Arm's Reach C0-Sleeper is to configure the strap attachment.
Simpler than it probably looks at first, you slide the straps under your adult bed mattress, fitting the large plastic square firmly against the opposite side of the bed.
Back over on the co-sleeper side, you snap the straps into the corresponding latch on the co-sleeper bed itself. The straps are adjustable and should be tightened until they are holding the co-sleeper firmly up against the adult mattress. This prevents any possibilities of a gap happening in between the two beds and rolling-out or dropped babies!
Here we have Katie's baby doll, (currently answering to "Steven") demonstrating the set-up and installed co-sleeper!
And here, we have the much more precious, hours-old Calvin, my nephew, showing it off. You can also see the super-soft "Nature's Perfect" sheet that was sent along with the co-sleeper.
At the bottom, on the back of the co-sleeper, there is a zipper to allow you to conveniently store miscellaneous baby items in the lower level.
This is a great spot for diapers, clothes, extra sheets, and other essentials.
Your 3-year-old may also think it's a great hiding spot, so beware.
When you are ready to move the crib away from your bed, the conversion process is simple.
It is important to make sure you remove any leg extensions when you detach the bassinet from the adult bed.
They are designed only to be used when the co-sleeper is supported by the bed and straps.
To raise the side bar, partially fold down that side by pressing the middle tabs and pushing down.
Then, 1.) pull the tab and lift as directed to detach it from its original plastic receiver on each side, 2.) unlatch the straps holding the extra fabric down, 3.) lift up the whole bar and slide the plastic connector into the upper plastic receiver, and 4.) tuck the loose straps into the special pockets provided on the side and close the velcro on the pockets, making quick and tidy work of your co-sleeper-to-bassinet transformation!
Learn more about safe co-sleeping and the wide variety of Arm's Reach products at their very informative website!
Arm's Reach Facebook fans can now enjoy a 20% discount, (expires May 2012!)
Arm's Reach is generously giving one lucky Mama Chocolate reader their very own Curved Mini Co-Sleeper in the Toffee Hibiscus print!


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A collection of scholarly works about individual liberty and free markets. A project of Liberty Fund, Inc.
Oeuvres completes de Frederic Bastiat, mises en ordre, revues et annotees d'apres les manuscrits de l'auteur (Paris: Guillaumin, 1864) 7 vols. Vol. 7. https://oll.libertyfund.org/titles/949,
|Available in the following formats:
|Facsimile PDF
|This is a facsimile or image-based PDF made from scans of the original book.
|Facsimile PDF small
|This is a compressed facsimile or image-based PDF made from scans of the original book.
Volume VII of Bastiat's collected writings in 7 volumes, which contains numerous shorter works, sketches, book reviews, journalism, and letters.
The text is in the public domain.
This material is put online to further the educational goals of Liberty Fund, Inc. Unless otherwise stated in the Copyright Information section above, this material may be used freely for educational and academic purposes. It may not be used in any way for profit.


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The opening of Mass Effect 3 says Reapers come to purge the galaxy of organic life every 50,000 years.
I know it's fiction, but life evolves much slower than that, in fact the human race is already 50,000-200,000 years old in current times, depending on what you consider a human. There's been life on earth for hundreds of millions of years and it seems an odd oversight for a plot driven, sci-fi game to make.
Does the game mean that the Reapers only purge the galaxy of sentient/humanoid life or is this not elaborated on in the game's story?


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Unforgiveable Black by Sean John (m) type Fragrance Oil at Black Butterfly Bath & Body, home of over 300 Fragrance oils for men & women.
We pride ourselves in keeping you in the most up to date fragrances as well as the timeless classics.
Be sure to check out our 👉🏾Fragrance Oil Disclaimer.


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Job Information
Anthem, Inc. Nurse Disease Mgmt I - FHPS (2:30pm - 11pm Eastern Time) in Alexandria, Virginia
SHIFT: Day Job
SCHEDULE: Full-time
Your Talent. Our Vision. At Anthem, Inc., it's a powerful combination, and the foundation upon which we're creating greater access to care for our members, greater value for our customers, and greater health for our communities. Join us and together we will drive the future of health care.
This is an exceptional opportunity to do innovative work that means more to you and those we serve at one of America's leading health benefits companies and a Fortune Top 50 Company.
Location: Work From Home position, but must reside within 50-60 miles and/or an hour or less commute of an Anthem Office.
Shift: 2:30 - 11 PM EST Zone.
The Nurse Disease Management will be responsible for outreach, enrollment and management of Disease Management members. Provides education and coordination to address gaps in care for multiple managed conditions to ensure cost effective and efficient utilization of health services. Conducts assessment, planning, implementation, coordination, monitoring and evaluation of members.
Nurse Disease Management I
Responsible for participating in delivery of patient education and disease management interventions and for performing health coaching for members, across multiple lines, for health improvement/management programs for chronic diseases.
Primary duties may include, but are not limited to:
Conducts behavioral or clinical assessments to identify individual member knowledge, skills and behavioral needs. Identifies and/or coordinates specific health coaching plan needs to address objectives and goals identified during assessments.
Interfaces with provider and other health professionals to coordinate health coaching plan for the member.
Implements and/or coordinates coaching and/or care plans by educating members regarding clinical needs and facilitating referrals to health professionals for behavioral health needs.
Uses motivational interviewing to facilitate health behavior change.
Monitors and evaluates effectiveness of interventions and/or health coaching plans and modifies as needed.
Directs members to facilities, community agencies and appropriate provider/network.
Nurse Disease Management I
Requires an AS/BS in nursing; 2 years of condition specific clinical or home health/discharge planning experience; or any combination of education and experience, which would provide an equivalent background.
Current unrestricted RN license in applicable state(s) required.
Prior disease management experience preferred.
Must be eligible for multi-state license.
Experience with Coronary Artery Disease and COPD a plus.
Anthem, Inc. is ranked as one of America's Most Admired Companies among health insurers by Fortune magazine and has been named a 2019 Best Employers for Diversity by Forbes. To learn more about our company and apply, please visit us at careers.antheminc.com. An Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran.
Anthem, Inc.
- Anthem, Inc. Jobs


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Facebook Photos: The Key to a Successful Social Media Campaign
While Facebook marketing strategies shift with every new iteration and development from the network, one thing remains the same: The stories that jump out from our Timelines and News Feeds are told with photos.
If you doubt the relative importance of photos, take note of the only permanently anchored module on the new Timeline pages. This is clearly a strategic decision in light of our increasingly visually-oriented consumer culture. The role photos play in creating engaging content cannot be understated:
Posts that include a photo album or a picture generate about 180% and 120% more engagement than the average post respectively, according to Facebook's internal data.
More than 250 million photos are uploaded to Facebook each day.
Pinterest, the virtual pinboard for photos, has seen exponential growth thanks largely to its deep integration with the Facebook Platform. This integration was one of the first and most important "design" decisions for the startup.
To ensure a brand is breaking through in this visual storytelling ecosystem, marketers need to look beyond attaching a generic image to a status update and think about specific business goals. Here are some ways brands can become better Facebook storytellers through attention-grabbing visuals.
Showcase Your Fans With Products
Verizon Wireless has pulled off a storytelling trifecta that combines photos, fans and product into a powerful brand story. The company featured fan-submitted images to adorn its cover photo, tagged with the fans' profiles, and of course, the Verizon Wireless device used to capture it. The result is an authentic cover photo that gives fans a reward, all while showcasing products in a positive light.
Turn Real-World Interactions Into Shareable Visual Stories
Events, sponsorships and retail promotions are valuable opportunities to turn your customers into brand storytellers via photos. Brands such as Johnnie Walker, REI and JetBlue have utilized photo apps to turn their events into visual marketing extravaganzas. For example, when JetBlue wanted to promote its new route from Hollywood, CA to Hollywood, FL, the company took to its terminals with a socially-connected photo solution, converting hundreds of in-person connections into hundreds of thousands of stories created and shared in one day.
As Stories Become Ads, Images Are Big Business
Some of Facebook's newest ad offerings — Sponsored Stories, Featured Stories and Reach Generator — all have one thing in common: They amplify stories. This blending of content, analytics and media planning is highly disruptive throughout the marketing services industry. The days of a content manager planning updates, creative folks tuning copy and images, and media planners buying ads are over. We've collapsed these roles into one: the story planner. And can you guess the most important weapons in his arsenal? Compelling visuals, images, graphics and photos, of course.
How do you use images to tell a compelling brand story on Facebook? Share your strategies in the comments.


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This appears to be the first image of the all-new unibody 2012 Ford Explorer. Let's look at what this shot can tell us most about — the electric razor-like styling.
The image, tracked down by the 'stang-lovers at The Mustang Source, looks to be the first image of the all-new 2012 Explorer. While we have no firm details yet, we can tell you it's built on Ford's D platform — a platform that until now has only produced pedestrian soft-roaders like the Ford Flex and the Lincoln MKT. Ford's planning a non-auto show unveil for sometime in the near future — but for now let's talk about the looks of the replacement to the king of the body-on-frame SUVs.
Basically, it looks like either a current-gen Ford Explorer mated with a Ford Flex or somebody knee-capped a late-gen model Explorer. What say you?
[TheMustangSource via Autoblog]


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A decade ago, the Queens Supreme Court handled about 300 or 400 foreclosures a year. In 2007, that number soared to more than 7,500 foreclosures, and the court is on track to see 10,000 foreclosures before this year ends, according to an official.
In the next few years, one out of every 32 homeowners in New York state is projected to enter foreclosure, according to a report issued by the Pew Charitable Trusts.
In New York City, neighborhoods in Queens, Brooklyn, as well as parts of the Bronx and Staten Island, will be the hardest hit: In 2007, for example, foreclosures in Queens and Brooklyn accounted for 40 percent of the state's total. (Co-op foreclosures, which are governed by a different set of rules, are not processed by the court system and are not included in projected foreclosure totals.)
What media outlets call the mortgage meltdown is receiving more and more local and national attention, most of which is centered on the often tragic and personal financial consequences foreclosure presents for individual homeowners. It takes a trip to a foreclosure auction, held every Friday morning in Queens, to see another dimension of the problem: The properties aren't selling.
When the market was hot, eager speculators crowded the auctions looking for a bargain. Today, the overwhelming majority of properties are "bought" back by the bank that made the original loan. The bank must then try to recoup what it can by reselling the property, a dicey proposition in today's market. The result is a growing glut of vacant and unsold property.
The Costs of Foreclosure
The consequences of this foreclosure gridlock can be seen only a few short miles away from the courthouse in South Jamaica, Queens, where a reporter from the Daily News recently counted 32 foreclosed homes in a five-block area. None of them has fared well. A squatter moved into one abandoned property, smashed the front window and scattered trash in the yard. Another home became a crack house. "You see drugs, you see young kids coming through, adults passing through. It's a disaster," one South Jamaica resident told the reporter.
Situations like these have led some housing experts to make grim predictions about the years ahead. "Abandonment of the 1970s, where entire blocks are stripped ... is what this will look like" Sarah Gerecke of Neighborhood Housing Services told the Daily News.
No one benefits from housing foreclosure. For borrowers, it means, at minimum, a lost home and badly damaged credit. Foreclosure is also a losing proposition for lenders. According to the Pew report, the average cost of a foreclosure is $58,759 in foregone interest, court costs and other fees, or between 20 and 60 cents on the dollar.
Yet the highest costs of foreclosure may be borne by the public, in the form of falling property values, higher crime rates and other costs to government. Researcher Dan Immergluck of the Georgia Institute of Technology estimates that property values decline by 1 percent for every foreclosure within one eighth of a mile of a single-family home, meaning that even homeowners who pay their mortgages regularly are hurt by foreclosed house on nearby blocks.
Government takes a big hit as well, in the form of reduced tax receipts, including sale, transfer and property taxes. All told, the Pew report estimates that New York's property tax base will be reduced by $65 billion in the coming years as a result of what they call the "foreclosure effect". And the bill doesn't end there: Researchers at the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies identified 26 separate costs borne by government in "foreclosure related services," such as increased police patrols and trash removal, which cost $7,000 on average and as much as $34,199 per property.
The Challenge of Foreclosure Prevention
While these hefty costs mount up, there is some evidence that foreclosure prevention programs save money for everyone. According to the housing agency Freddie Mac, every dollar spent on a foreclosure prevention program based in the Twin Cities in the mid-1990s saved lenders $3 in direct costs, even though after two years only 224 of the 800 homeowners helped by the program remained in their homes.
Yet a number of obstacles stand in the way to preventing foreclosure. One is financial: Many home loans simply cannot be salvaged. A number of homeowners owe more money on their home than the property is worth or have monthly payments that exceed their income. It's difficult to imagine a scenario where these "bad" loans can be renegotiated, because they should have never been made in the first place.
As housing prices continue to fall, the problem could get much worse: One financial analyst told the International Herald Tribune that an additional 10 percent drop in home prices would lead to 20 million households nationwide that owe more on the mortgage than the value of their home. In that scenario, millions of homeowners could walk away from their homes.
Another obstacle relates to the nature of the loans themselves. About two thirds of mortgage funding is provided by institutional investors who buy mortgage backed securities, and contract out the task of foreclosure to third-party agents, known as "loss mitigators," who, in some cases, are barred from renegotiating with borrowers.
The result is paralysis. "In a healthy market, foreclosure would be rare, because it pays for a lender to forgive, say, 20 percent of a loan rather than booting the homeowner out and seeing 30 percent of the property value evaporate in the process of eviction," wrote Sebastian Mallaby in the Washington Post. "But because mortgages have been sliced up and distributed among far-flung investors, it's difficult to get their consent for partial forgiveness."
Still, there are signs that the foreclosure game is changing: In March, the Wall Street Journal reported that out-of-work mortgage lenders, fueled in part by $180 million in funding for mortgage counseling provided by Congress, are finding work counseling homeowners on ways to hold on to their homes.
The Role of the Courts
New York is one of 10 so-called judicial foreclosure states where courts manage the sad journey to foreclosure and so are struggling to catch up with the rising numbers. Along with Queens, the Bronx is experiencing caseload growth, albeit at a slower rate: 1,247 filings in 2007, compared to 881 in 2006. The increase has led to delays, as court officials are only now getting around to cases filed in December.
The court procedure has not been set up to prevent foreclosures. Officials say it's very rare to see a homeowner show up in court at any point during the process. Most never respond to the initial summons informing them of the court action.
Housing advocates believe that the judicial foreclosure process is fundamentally flawed. "People get overwhelmed when they get served papers, and there's no one they can turn to for help" said Josh Zinner, co-director of the Neighborhood Economic Development Advocacy Project. The result, according to Zinner, is a "pro forma foreclosure mill" where more than 90 percent of borrowers served with foreclosure notices default.
Ohio is one judicial foreclosure state that is trying to rewrite the rules of how courts respond. Hit by 85,000 foreclosures in 2007 --Ohio has 3 percent of all nationwide home loans, but 6 percent of foreclosures -- the state created an ambitious program, called "Save the Dream," that recruited 1,100 attorneys to provide voluntary legal counsel to homeowners facing foreclosure. Free legal assistance is available to anyone making less than $54,000 a year.
Judges also have the authority to order mediation in cases where they believe a settlement is possible. Summit County, which includes the city of Akron, has been aggressive about using mediation to settle foreclosure cases. In the first three months of 2008, mediators handled 37 foreclosure cases, which resulted in 26 settlements, according to Frank Motz, chief mediator of the Summit County Court of Common Pleas. In some cases, lenders agreed to sharply reduce interest rates on a loan; in others, they've added the unpaid balance and other fees to the end of a mortgage to help a borrower get back on track.
Mediation can even help in cases where loan modification is not an option. In what is known as a deed in lieu of foreclosure resolution, Servicers agree to forgive some debt if a homeowner agrees to an immediate transfer of the property. This has the effect of saving the servicer time and money, while letting homeowners walk away with their credit intact. Not incidentally, it also removes a burden on the court by taking a case off the books.
Motz expects the number of court-ordered mediations to triple in the months ahead. "Lenders are more and more interested in working out settlements," he said. Still, there are limits to this approach, as Motz freely admits. Even in a best-case scenario, according to Motz, more than half of all foreclosures would still proceed over the traditional court path.
What New York Can Do
Encouraging mediation is just part of what Ohio is doing to stem the foreclosure process. In early April, Gov. Ted Strickland announced a nonbinding agreement with nine large loan servicers to encourage modifications on a large scale, according to the Cleveland Plain-Dealer.
New York is experimenting with a variety of approaches. As Michelle Chen reported in Gotham Gazette, New York City recently launched the Center for New York City Neighborhoods to provide mortgage counseling and legal assistance to at-risk homeowners.
State government has also tried to address the problem, albeit with mixed results. In July 2007, New York committed $100 million to an emergency loan fund, with the goal of helping 500 to 700 families refinance at-risk loans. The program is aimed at converting interest only, adjustable rate mortgages into fixed rate 40-year mortgages. According to the Washington Post, however, only three families have signed up, leading to calls to expand eligibility criteria.
Most states can afford to help only a limited number of homeowners - and only if lenders are willing to take steep price cuts. "The numbers don't add up," said Sarah Gerecke of Neighborhood Housing Services of New York City. "The prices are too high and the conditions of the properties aren't good," she said.
A third, and more controversial, solution involves creating a one-year moratorium on foreclosures in New York. Such legislation already has 60 Assembly co-signers, according to the New York Times, and advocates believe the bill has a good chance of passing this summer. Although the Times reported that the moratorium would apply to all court-ordered foreclosures, the language of the bill seems to suggest that it would apply only to owner-occupied homes where the homeowner does not own any other property. Industry representatives have argued that, by making it harder to foreclose on a property, the moratorium would raise borrowing costs for all homeowners.
In New York, court-ordered foreclosure already takes 12 to 18 months to complete, which presumably gives borrowers time to work out a solution. And a moratorium alone is not a panacea, as officials in Philadelphia discovered after they introduced a one-month moratorium on foreclosures in March. "A moratorium just causes a freeze -- and then what," Judge Annette Rizzo told the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Many experts believe that, if anything, the foreclosure process is too long, particularly for homes that are not owner occupied. Ohio is considering creating a separate track for investor-owned properties that will allow foreclosure proceedings to occur more quickly, which, they hope will reduce the time that many properties stay vacant.
A More Comprehensive Approach
Advocates want the federal government to take a more comprehensive approach to the foreclosure problem. "[States] don't have the resources or the regulatory authority or leverage with the industry," Bill Faith, Executive director of the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio, told the New York Times. "Much more serious progress is only going to be achieved if the feds take appropriate action."
The Senate and the House has each passed different measures to address the foreclosure crisis by providing money for pre-foreclosure counseling. The House bill includes $15 billion in loans and grants for local government and nonprofits to buy and renovate vacant foreclosed homes. The Senate bill has a $7,000 tax credit for purchasers of foreclosed homes, while the House version dedicates its tax credit to first-time homeowners.
Both the House and the Senate are considering creating a $300 billion to $400 billion loan fund to encourage the pre-foreclosure refinancing of 1 million at-risk home loans. The loans would be guaranteed by the federal government and would be rewritten by lenders at no more than 90 percent of their current value.
Competing proposals in Congress will set off a major political struggle, as Americans debate whether the fund amounts to an unfair bailout for troubled homeowners and lenders. For New Yorkers, it may represent the only means available to hold off a wave of foreclosures with negative effects for everyone.
Aubrey Fox is project director of Bronx Community Solutions, aimed at changing the Bronx court system's approach to low-level crime. Â


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When contractors and owners elect a certain project delivery method for their project, it can affect all aspects of the construction, including costs, time to complete the project and amount of exposure to liabilities for each involved party. Owners and designers have long viewed the "Project Delivery Method" as the comprehensive process including planning, design and construction required to execute and complete a building facility or other type of project. Choosing the right project delivery method is integral to a successful project. Currently, there are at least four types of common project delivery methods: construction management at risk (CMR), design-bid-build (DBB), design-build and multi-prime (MP). There is a growing trend showing the more traditional design-bid-build product delivery method is losing its appeal and other options, like the design-build delivery method, are taking its place.
To understand why the design-build process is growing in popularity, it is helpful to discuss three areas where the four processes are different: number of phases and essential parties, number of essential contracts and the liability exposure under the contracts within each method.
Traditional design-bid-build is the familiar, drawn-out process where the owner of the property contacts a designer to create plans and specifications. Once complete, the owner takes the plans and specifications and begins the bidding process. After a bid is accepted, only then can construction begin. The CMR and MP methods use similar processes, though the owners may contract to different parties instead of contracting with the general contractor (we'll discuss this more later). Under design-bid-build, CMR and MP methods, a minimum of three players is necessary in every project: the owner, designer and the contractors in their various forms.
The design-build method uses an "integrated" process, whereby the designers and contractors are one-and-the-same entity. The process of designing and constructing occurs simultaneously and thus eliminates the lag time between an owner's receipt of a design and the acceptance of a bid. Also, because there is only one entity performing the design and construction, the only two necessary "prime" parties are the owner of the project and the design-build entity.
Another closely related factor to the number of phases and essential parties is the number of contracts created during the project. The traditional design-bid-build project first requires the owner to form a contract with a designer that will design the building or project in isolation and without any input from the construction team. CMR operates similarly again; however, it allows for input from the construction team as to what materials would be the most cost-effective and merchantable for the desired purpose. In these two processes, two contracts exist: one between the owner and designer and one between the owner and construction-management constructor.
MP requires the owner to contract directly with each contractor and subcontractor instead of with one general contractor. Under this process, a minimum of two contracts exists between the owner and the designers and contractors, likely increasing as the size of the project increases.
Conversely, the design-build process merges the designer and builder into one entity. Because the one entity handles both jobs, the contracting process is streamlined and results in only one contract between the owner and design-build entity.
As the volume of contracts involved in the project increases, the more fragmented the liability exposure becomes. In the design bid-build, MP and CMR methods, the owner first secures the designs from the designing entity. When the owner hires the constructing entity, he or she warrants to the constructing entity that the designs and specifications are sufficient for its hired purpose. The designer and the contractors are independently responsible for their work product, but the owner is still held responsible for any representations made to either entity. Although the CMR method attempts to foster the communication between the designer and contractors, no contract exists between the two and, therefore, liability remains on the owner for all
representations made. Further, any change orders, which frequently arise, and any other "gaps" are solely the responsibility of the owner.
Design-build removes the wall that is frequently erected when construction projects go wrong. Frequently during litigation involving the design-bid-build process, designers will attempt to avoid liability by pointing the finger at the contractors and vice-versa. Design-build, by creating a merged entity including the designer and the contractor, places the responsibility of designing and constructing with that one entity, which facilitates problem resolution instead of gearing up for an adversarial proceeding. Therefore, the design-builder is responsible not only for designing the project so that it will satisfy the desired standards, but it must also complete the project required by the owner in the contract.
As for "gaps" with the design-build process, they are essentially eliminated. The entity is performing both roles. Should the owner provide the design-builder with prescriptive designs and specifications, however, the design-build contractor is the party
responsible for discovering any inconsistencies with the performance standards by which they are bound. Any consistencies found will be the financial responsibility of the owner.
It is easy to see why the design-build process is growing in popularity. Costs are decreased by streamlining the process in many ways: an overlapping process of concurrent designing and constructing, fewer required contracts, and the ability of the contracting entity to adapt to the changes in design and construction. Although liability exposure is more concentrated in the design-build entity than in the other methods, the benefits of coordination between the designer and contractor will surely outweigh its detriments.
In addition to making the project delivery process easier, fewer bumps along the way will surely decrease the time and costs associated with the completion of a project. As we follow the trend toward a more design-build-focused construction industry, we will likely experience a positive effect on the litigation process, where claims will arise only between two parties as opposed to the requisite three parties in a traditional design-bid-build-based action.


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For 75% off, I'll buy anything! Well, no, not really. But, if you like a good sale, then listen up. Metropolitan Market, one of my favorite fancy grocery stores in Seattle, is having their annual kitchenwares sale starting tomorrow 7/18 and running through 7/21 with stylish, high-quality kitchen gear, darling dishes and craveable cookbooks, linens and kitchen accessories at up to 70% off. To help spread the word, they asked local bloggers to visit their stores, pick out three kitchen items they can not live without and then share those items in a blog post. For that, they are giving away $25 gift cards and a chance at a $250 grand prize. Well, dear readers, that was enough to drag me out of my blogging slump. I bribed my 7 year-old with the promise of cheese samples, dragged her into the store and scoped out the kitchenwares scene.
To be honest, I'm not really into kitchen gadgets. I consider myself a purest when it comes to my kitchen. If a tool can't multi-task, I have no use for it. (Sorry rice cooker fans!) I'm also extremely picky about quality. When you buy good...stuff lasts. I'm still cooking in the same shiny pots I bought in college 20+ years ago and I still slice and dice with the gorgeous Henckels knives I received as a gift back in the late 90's. More recently, I've become a fan of vintage kitchenware...nothing beats a vintage French canning jar scored at a thrift shop for 99 cents or eating off Grandma's treasured china.
THAT SAID, sometimes things wear out and need to be replaced. Sometimes, patience is not a virtue and waiting to find just the right thing at the thrift store is no longer an option. Sometimes, a girl simply can't pass up a good kitchenware sale. But don't take my word for it...here's what I'm looking to replace....
Saddest. Cookie. Sheets. Evah. I don't bake often and this is probably why. I hate these pans. They were supposedly good, heavy ones from Sur La Table, but they are impossible to clean. And those sad little cooling racks are the only two I have...passed down from a grandmother, to mother, to me... probably while stocking my little college kitchen. Notice one of the cross bars has popped off one. Sweet.
Nasty little basting brush...this was my attempt at an environmentally friendly purchase. I was trying to avoid plastic and not spend a bundle. I liked the natural simplicity. Now I enjoy rust and stray brush hairs in my BBQ chicken.
Last, but not least, my collection of recycled designer spaghetti sauce mason jars. I have not bought Classico in at least 5 years because I switched to organic (yes, I'm one of those) so these have been around for a while. I had a nice set of large ball mason jars once...which I proceeded to systematically burst in the freezer until I finally realized that they were not freezer safe. Surprisingly, the Classico jars hold their own in the freezer...but the lids are getting kind of gross.
And now, without further ado...here are my top three picks from Metropolitan Market's fabulous kitchenware shop...
New cookie sheets and cooling racks! Technically these are two picks, but I think they go together. These pans and racks were so nice and heavy. I will probably have to leave them to my daughter when I die, because they will never wear out.
New basting brushes! I'm torn between the stainless, which looks so very sleek, and the wooden ones. I love the mini mop and can totally see myself mopping up sauce with it. But the silicone would probably last longer. The environmentalist in me shuns the silicone for the natural fibers though...but then I might end up eating stray hairs again. Decisions, decisions. What do you people think?
And the crown jewels...look at these romantic canning jars! I can just imagine my pantry stocked with gorgeous jars full of beans and lentils and rice, oh my!
So there it is. And in case you were wondering, here are my 7 year-old's picks....you didn't think she would be pacified by cheese samples alone did you? She demanded inclusion in this post! And she obviously does not share my need for multi-tasking gear...gem ring popsicle molds, faux paper plate dishes, squirrel nut grinder and a soda stream! Metropolitan Market truly does have something for everyone. ;)
Thanks Met Market for the fun giveaway opportunity. I love your stores and will be back for the sale! (And more cheese samples.) XOXO, Cindi


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"The very essence of leadership is that you have to have vision. You can't blow an uncertain trumpet."
-- Theodore Hesburgh
This month begins a new two-year political cycle in Concord, and while the slim Republican majority in the state senate might be seen by some as a stopgap to higher taxes and increased spending, the Democrats, with a new administration in the corner office, and majorities in both the House and on the Executive Council, will be largely responsible for controlling the agenda in Concord — meaning they will own the results of the next two years as well as New Hampshire's fiscal condition come 2014.
While one can argue that it may take longer than one term to see tangible results from policies enacted during such time, what won't be up for debate is whether the immediate actions taken by the new administration either set the proverbial ball in motion for future economic prosperity or move us even further down the path of economic decline and continued loss of competitiveness.
Here's the reality check: today, Granite Staters pay the third highest property taxes in the country, we have the eighth highest electric rates in the nation, our health care costs are the fourth most expensive in part because we are the fourth most aged state in the union, taxes on business are the third highest, and we have the dubious distinction of being second in the country per capita in the number of citizens who have to leave the state everyday to go to work.
None of these alarming statistics revealed themselves overnight, rather, they're manifestations of poor policy decisions made by previous governors and legislatures. In 1998, when then-Governor Shaheen made the push to dramatically transform the health care delivery system by enacting a program of "community rating" to determine individual medical costs while simultaneously increasing the number of mandates required by health insurance carriers, these policies eventually led to some of the highest health insurance costs in the country that our small businesses and other employers bear the burden of today. Similarly, four years of Democratic control in Concord between 2007-10 saw an abundance of new environmental regulations and programs which have only contributed to the soaring electric rates most homeowners and businesses have paid over the last five years. Make no doubt, while it may take years to realize the consequences of these shortsighted policy decisions, their negative effects on the economy are not difficult to forecast at their inception.
With Governor Hassan taking the oath of office this month, by the end of her administration Democrats will have held a firm grip on the corner office for the last 16 of 18 years, a time during which many of the aforementioned downward economic trends have transpired. And while Governor Hassan takes office with a politically split legislature, history has shown that the governor is still largely responsible for setting the agenda by prioritizing both budgetary spending and the major issues the legislature will tackle during the two-year session.
To that end, while Governor Hassan's priorities to extend the R&D tax credit and increase the number of students entering STEM areas are commendable, one can only hope her long-term economic plan is more ambitious than those two talking points. If making New Hampshire more "innovative" and moving it "forward" as the governor likes to say, means Granite Staters will see lower property taxes, lower electric rates, affordable health care and higher paying jobs at home, then great. But merely talking of those goals instead of taking the steps to make them a reality in the future, which will require lower taxes on businesses, more efficient government spending and less regulation coming out of Concord, not only renders those campaign season buzzwords as meaningless as the paper they're written on — it will surely provide the voters with plenty of economic metrics in two years by which the next administration can be measured.
About the author: Kevin Smith was a Republican candidate for governor in 2012. He is currently the president of Smith Enterprises.


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Other Disciplines:
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I am a professional photographer based in Athlone, Co. Westmeath, Ireland and providing photographic services world-wide.
I shoot Weddings, Portraits and Commercial work and I really enjoy what I do. It's hard to describe my 'style' but 'Relaxed and a bit arty' is probably a good start but 'Modern and free flowing' is good too!
I am a qualified Associate member of the Irish Professional Photographers Association (IPPA) and I've won several awards from the IPPA over the years for my photography in Weddings, Portraits and Pictorial genres.
By investing in the talent and expertise of an IPPVA photographer or videographer you are insuring that careful planning goes into unobtrusively capturing the key moments, people and atmosphere of your big day.
When you engage the services of an IPPVA photographer or videographer you will be working with someone who upholds the strictest professional standards, who deals fairly and honestly with you, and who strives to create images that you will cherish for years to come.


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