text:
So guess what? That thing about the sorority that brands its sisters in the groin with a scalding fork turns out to be quite possibly true. I just called Elyse Eisen — the Hofstra alumna who, yesterday, emailed fellow Phi Epsilon alumni in response to a report in the New York Post containing the allegations of a de-pledged sorority sister who claimed the sorority was a violent cult — and I asked her, point blank, whether it was true that her sorority brands its sisters with a three-pronged fork to represent their three "values", as we had been hearing. (Because, you know, it seemed like a bizarre claim to me, and although I knew branding was popular with African American fraternities such a practice would not seem to carry the co-opted symbolism with a bunch of suburban white chicks at school in Long Island.) And then I began receiving emails (including but not limited to this one) from Hofstra alums; emails that lent context and credibility to the emails and that claimed that the sorority had gone so far as to make its symbol a cow — a reference to the branding practice. I mentioned all this — paraphrased of course — to Elyse, dear readers. And she said: "No comment."
"No comment?" Okay then!
Reportorial duties thus totally completed, I guess I can share with you a little of what our sources are telling us about Phi Epsilon. It is, it seems, something of an anomaly at Hofstra: a "local" sorority governed by no national or academic body and with relatively low dues payable on a financial aid recipient budget; a sorority known for being "scrappy" on a campus more often associated with a word that rhymes with "scrappy" and that also conjures luxury goods and blow-outs. To its credit, Phi Epsilon purportedly celebrates diversity among its members, but that diversity yields a certain amount of "brutish" behavior. "It's not like a bunch of Prada bag toting idiots doing this," one said. According to our sources, who requested anonymity for fear of retribution, Phi Ep has a reputation for being particularly cruel throughout the hazing process; at the "Sister Dinner" referenced in yesterday's email, it is apparently common practice to order recruits to prepare an elaborate meal for their new community only to have it thrown in their faces. Girls who drop out of the process are harassed and mocked in public.
But the best part is their unique — and shockingly literal — approach to the the proverbial "Hell Night" celebrated by Greek Organizations across the land. On Hell Night, sisters are rumored to actually dig their own graves. They then spend the night in coffins. In the morning, they are "reborn as Phi Ep."
List of Social Fraternities And Sororities [Wikipedia] (Phi Epsilon is on there.)
Police Report Of Fight At Nacho Mamas [Hofstra Chronicle]
LI Co-Ed: Sorority A Hell House [NY Post]
Earlier: Would You Believe A Sorority Brands Pledges In The Groin With A Hot Fork?


text:
Gruesome story out of Turkey: A 24-year-old woman was beheaded today at a go-kart track in Adapazarı, about two hours east of Istanbul, when the cart she was riding in crashed into a safety barrier. According to witnesses, the woman's seat belt cut off her head during the crash's impact:
Tuğba Erdoğan was wearing the security belt, but she reportedly tied it around her neck instead of her chest, which eventually caused the dramatic incident.
After completing a few laps, the 24-year-old lost control of her go-cart while turning a corner and crashed into the safety barriers. Witnesses told Doğan News Agency that the security belt tightened around her neck and cut off her head with the force of the crash.
The Doğan News Agency is also reporting that Erdoğan was wearing a head scarf that may have become entangled with the seat belt. Their website has a photo gallery that includes some macabre images from the crash scene.
Update (6:27 p.m.): From the Hurriyet Daily News: "[A]fter the first inspection, police forces said Erdoğan's scarf got tangled in the shaft of the cart, which led to the tragedy."

subset: commoncrawl


text:
All Phase Environmental, Inc.
B-292919.2,B-292919.3,B-292919.4,B-292919.5,B-292919.6,B-292919.: Feb 4, 2004
Additional Materials:
- Full Report:
(202) 512-8278
Kenneth E. Patton
(202) 512-8205
Office of Public Affairs
(202) 512-4800
All Phase Environmental, Inc. protests the award of a contract to Professional Diversified Services, Inc. (PDSI), under request for proposals (RFP) No. F08650-03-R-0032, issued by the Department of the Air Force, for grounds maintenance services for Patrick Air Force Base, Florida.
We deny the protests.
B-292919.2; B-292919.3; B-292919.4; B-292919.5; B-292919.6; B-292919.7, All Phase Environmental, Inc., February 4, 2004
The decision issued on the date below was subject to a GAO Protective Order. This redacted version has been approved for public release.
Matter of: All Phase Environmental, Inc.
File: B-292919.2; B-292919.3; B-292919.4; B-292919.5; B-292919.6; B-292919.7
Date: February 4, 2004
Edward J. Kinberg, Esq., for the protester.
Clarence D. Long, III, Esq., and Martin F. McAlwee, Esq., Department of the Air Force, for the agency.
John L. Formica, Esq., and James A. Spangenberg, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision.
1. Information requirements provided in the solicitation's proposal preparation instructions are not evaluation criteria and do not establish minimum evaluation standards.
2. Protest challenging the agency's consideration of a contract referenced in the awardee's past performance proposal is denied where the agency's actions were within the broad discretion afforded the agency to determine whether a particular contract is relevant to the past performance evaluation.
3. Agency is not required to analyze proposals for price realism where the solicitation does not provide for such an analysis.
All Phase Environmental, Inc. protests the award of a contract to Professional Diversified Services, Inc. (PDSI), under request for proposals (RFP) No. F08650-03-R-0032, issued by the Department of the Air Force, for grounds maintenance services for Patrick Air Force Base, Florida.
We deny the protests.
The RFP, issued as a competitive set-aside under section 8(a) of the Small Business Act, provided for the award of a fixed-price contract for a base period of 1 year with four 1-year options. The contractor is required to provide all personnel, equipment, tools, materials, and other items (with the exception of certain government-furnished property and services) to perform the grounds maintenance services required.
Offerors were advised that the agency would make a best value award decision using a Performance Price Trade-off (PPT) source selection. RFP M-2. The RFP explained that under the PPT procedure, proposals would be evaluated on a pass/fail basis for technical acceptability under the technical capability factor (comprised of two subfactors--organizational effectiveness and phase-in plan), and evaluated under the past performance factor as either exceptional/high confidence, very good/significant confidence, satisfactory/confidence, neutral/unknown confidence, marginal/little confidence, or unsatisfactory/no confidence. RFP M'3. The RFP stated that in accordance with the PPT procedure, the agency would determine which technically acceptable proposal represented the best value by performing a trade-off of past performance' and price.'[1] RFP M-2.
The agency received proposals from All Phase (the incumbent contractor) and PDSI by the RFP's closing date, and evaluated both proposals as technically acceptable. All Phase's proposal was evaluated as very good/significant confidence under the past performance factor at a proposed price of $5,573,711.50, and PDSI's proposal was evaluated as satisfactory/confidence under the past performance factor at a proposed price of $4,854,157. The contracting officer found that PDSI's lower-rated, lower-priced proposal represented the best value to the government, explaining that because of the non-complex nature of the services, the slight increase in performance confidence (Satisfactory to Very Good) associated with All Phase's proposal was not worth the very significant difference in price. Agency Report (AR), Tab 8, Source Selection Decision, at 1-2.
Technical Capability Evaluation
All Phase argues that the agency's evaluation of its and PDSI's proposals, and selection of PDSI's proposal for award, were inconsistent with the RFP's stated evaluation scheme. The protester first argues that the RFP required that the agency conduct a two part plan to select its new contractor, with part one consisting of an objective evaluation of proposals for technical acceptability, past performance, and price, and part two consisting of a subjective evaluation of the proposed price and the contractor[']s ability to perform the contract based on [an] integrated assessment of price, technical capability, present performance and past performance. Protester's Comments (B-292919.4) at 2; see Protest (B-292919.2) at 5; Protest (B-292919.3) at 5; Protester's Comments (B-292919.2; B-292919.3) at 6.
In support of this argument, the protester points out that in addition to providing that the agency would evaluate proposals under the technical capability factor on a pass/fail basis, and make its best value award determination using the PPT procedures described above, the RFP also provided that [b]est value [would] be determined based on an integrated assessment of each proposal in terms of Past Performance, Technical Capability, and Price, and that Past Performance and Technical Capability, when combined, are significantly more important than Price. RFP M-2 (emphasis deleted). The protester also points out that the solicitation stated that the agency would identify and review relevant technical . . . capability, present and past performance, and then make an overall risk assessment of the offerors['] ability to perform this effort. Id.
The protester concludes that because of these provisions, the solicitation indicated that offerors with a high quality proposal and substantial high quality present and past performance would have a reasonable chance at award even though their price may be higher than an offeror with a lesser background, and that [i]n so doing, the Agency encouraged offerors such as the Protester, who was the incumbent, to bid a price consistent with their level of experience and quality of service they were offering to provide. Protester's Comments (B-292919.4) at 2.
Where a dispute exists as to the actual meaning of a solicitation requirement, our Office will resolve the matter by reading the solicitation as a whole and in a manner that gives effect to all of its provisions. Sea-Land Serv., Inc., B-278404.2, Feb. 9, 1998, 98-1 CPD 47 at 5.
Although this solicitation is not a model of clarity, the protester's interpretation that the solicitation required a two-step process, with the second step providing for something other than the consideration of the offerors' technical proposals on a pass/fail basis, is unreasonable. As set forth above, the RFP clearly provided in a number of places that each proposal would be evaluated under the technical capability factor on a pass/fail basis to determine technical acceptability, and in describing the technical capability factor and the relevant evaluation subfactors, included provisions that define[] an acceptable (pass) rating. RFP M'2, M-3(a). The solicitation also referred in a number of instances to the use of the PPT procedures for the selection of the best-value proposal, referenced the relevant Air Force Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement section that details the PPT procedure, and explained that the PPT procedure here provides for the best'value determination to be made from those technically acceptable proposals based upon a trade-off of past performance and price. RFP M-2. Given the RFP's repeated references to the evaluation of proposals under the technical capability factor on a pass/fail basis, and the RFP's statements that only those proposals found to be technically acceptable would be eligible for award, we find the protester's argument that the RFP provided for the consideration of technical merit on a basis other than technical acceptability (or pass/fail) to be without merit.
All Phase nevertheless argues that PDSI's proposal should have been rejected by the agency as technically unacceptable under the organizational capability evaluation subfactor because, in the protester's view, PDSI's proposal failed to comply with the minimum requirements of the RFP. Protest (B-292919.4) at 7. In this regard, the protester points to section L.14.a(1) of the RFP, which under the organizational effectiveness subfactor to the technical capability factor provided in relevant part:
Two submittals will be used to evaluate this subfactor; specifically the offeror shall provide a staffing summary that delineates the proposed workforce composition strategy in a matrix format and a staffing plan describing the proposed use and management of manpower resources as it relates to the skills, experience, training, and rotation of personnel. The offeror's proposal shall provide an approach for the following:
a. How will you accomplish fulfilling the Statement of Work [SOW];
b. Manning/staffing summary of employees (i.e., type of position permanent/full/part-time[;]
c. Certification and resume of key personnel, i.e., management, superintendent[;]
d. Type of equipment to be used[;]
e. Quality Control Plan to effectively accomplish the work required by the SOW.
The protester argues that PDSI's proposal failed to properly describe how it could manage the contract and how it would accomplish the work required by the RFP. Protest (B-292919.4) at 7. In this regard, All Phase points to a checklist prepared by the agency evaluators, which notes that PDSI's proposal quoted the SOW verbatim rather than providing a description of how PDSI would perform the contract. Id.; AR, Tab 14, Technical Evaluation Report, attach.
Again, although the solicitation is not a model of clarity, we agree with the agency that the RFP did not provide for a qualitative evaluation of the offerors' proposed approaches to accomplishing the SOW, as argued by the protester. We first note that information requirements provided in section L of an RFP are not the same as evaluation criteria in section M; rather than establishing minimum evaluation standards, the instructions of section L generally provide guidance to assist offerors in preparing and organizing proposals. Cascade General, Inc., B'283872, Jan. 18, 2000, 2000 CPD 14 at 10. The information required by section L does not have to correspond to the evaluation criteria in section M. Id.; JW Assocs., Inc., B-275209.3, July 22, 1997, 97-2 CPD 27 at 3-4.
Here, section M-3(a) of the RFP specifically informed offerors that [t]he following defines an acceptable (pass) rating under the organizational subfactor:
Demonstrates a manning approach delineating all workforce composition strategy, staffing plan, position descriptions, and hiring and training plan, which ensures compliance with the SOW and contract requirements (Section L.14.a(1)).
Although, as noted by the protester, section M-3(a) refers to section L.14.a(1), we note that section L.14.a(1) (quoted above) specifically provided that proposals would be evaluated under the organizational effectiveness subfactor based upon two submittals: a staffing plan and a workforce composition strategy in a matrix format. Accordingly, we think a reasonable reading of the RFP is that it required that proposals be evaluated for technical acceptability under the organizational effectiveness subfactor based only upon each proposal's staffing plan and staffing matrix, and not the other items requested by section L.14.a(1).
All Phase asserts that the agency's evaluation of PDSI's proposal as technically acceptable under the organizational effectiveness subfactor was nevertheless unreasonable, arguing, for example, that PDSI's proposal did not provide a Manning/Staffing' summary or indicate what positions would be filled on a full- or part-time basis. Protester's Comments (B-292919.4) at 5.
Contrary to the protester's assertions, PDSI's proposal included a staffing plan, set forth in part in matrix format, which provided specific position descriptions, such as project manager and grounds maintenance laborer, as well as each position's proposed work schedule, total hours per day, total productive hours per year, primary and secondary responsibilities, and full- or part-time status. AR, Tab 26, PDSI's Proposal, at 19-20. The awardee also provided the resume of its proposed project manager and an organizational chart, and stated that its staffing philosophy includes [DELETED]. Id. at 8-9, 26-28. Based on our review, we cannot find the agency's evaluation of PDSI's proposal as technically acceptable under the organizational capabilities subfactor to be unreasonable.
Past Performance Evaluation
The protester argues that the agency's evaluation of PDSI's proposal as satisfactory/confidence under the past performance factor was unreasonable.
The RFP provided that the agency would assess relevant performance on contracts of a similar nature, size, scope, dynamic environment, and complexity, utilizing a comparable number of personnel with like skills. The RFP specified that [f]or the purposes of this evaluation, similar' refers to experience in providing non-personal services in operations and maintenance, that the agency would consider each offeror's past performance experience as a prime contractor or subcontractor, and that the past performance of key personnel, teaming partners, subcontractors, and predecessor companies would be considered.[2] RFP M-3(b).
PDSI provided information regarding 10 contracts in its proposal. The agency found that none of the four referenced contracts, which had been performed by PDSI, and only one of the referenced contracts, which had been performed by PDSI's subcontractor, American Services Technology, Inc. (ASTI), met the criteria set forth in the RFP for consideration under the past performance factor. The one contract performed by ASTI that was considered by the agency was for pest management services, which the agency determined merited consideration because many tasks (basic lawn care, herbicide application, fertilizer application, management of a large workforce on a similarly complex contract) . . . are the same, or substantially similar to tasks required under the RFP here. The record reflects that ASTI's performance of this contract was rated as exceptional overall. AR, Tab 7, Summary Past Performance Evaluation for PDSI, at 2.
Although the solicitation stated that the agency generally [would] not consider performance on an effort that concluded more than three (3) years prior to the issuance date of this solicitation, RFP M-3(b), the agency nevertheless decided to consider the past performance information of ASTI on another contract, which had been performed in 1997-98, because in the agency's view it was significantly relevant to th[is] acquisition. AR, Tab 7, Summary Past Performance Evaluation for PDSI, at 2. The questionnaire received by the agency for this contract rated ASTI's performance as marginal overall. AR, Tab 5, Past Performance Questionnaires, PDSI and ASTI; Tab 7, Summary Past Performance Evaluation for PDSI, at 2.
The agency rated PDSI's own past performance as neutral, given the agency's determination that PDSI itself had not performed any contract similar to the contract to be awarded here. The agency noted that although ASTI had recent and relevant exceptional ratings, ASTI's rating here was offset to some extent by the marginal rating received 5 years ago. The agency concluded that considering material from all sources, PDSI's proposal merited an overall rating of satisfactory/confidence. AR, Tab 7, Summary Past Performance Evaluation for PDSI, at 2-3.
The protester contends that the agency erred in considering ASTI's performance on the pest management contract in evaluating PDSI's proposal under the past performance factor. Specifically, the protester contends that there is nothing in the record to support the evaluators' conclusion that this contract required similar tasks to the instant contract, and that because of this, the agency's position . . . is arbitrary and capricious. Protester's Comments (B-292919.2; B-292919.3) at 10.
Where a solicitation requires the evaluation of offerors' past performance, an agency has the discretion to determine the scope of the offerors' performance histories to be considered, provided all proposals are evaluated on the same basis and in a manner consistent with the solicitation's requirements. Acepex Mgmt. Corp., B-283080 et al., Oct. 4, 1999, 99-2 CPD 77 at 5.
The pest management contract, as described by the awardee in its proposal, involved the provision of pest management services at McDill Air Force Base, and included overall responsibility [for] 129 military family housing [units], approximately 411 habited buildings, outdoor recreational facilities including tennis courts, a swimming beach, two 18 hole golf courses, man-made ponds, athletic fields, a skeet range, a marina, and playgrounds. AR, Tab 26, PDSI's Proposal, vol. II, at 14. The record reflects that this contract was similar in dollar value to the contract to be awarded under this RFP, and in our view, the agency reasonably determined that the performance of this pest management contract involved many of the same tasks, such as basic lawn care, herbicide application, fertilizer application, and management of a large workforce, as will be involved here. As such, giving due deference to the agency's broad discretion to determine whether a particular contract is relevant to the evaluation of past performance, we believe that the agency's consideration of the pest management contract was unobjectionable. See Acepex Mgmt. Corp., supra; contrast KMR, LLC, B-292860, Dec. 22, 2003, 2003 CPD 233 at 5-6 (protest sustained where agency failed to explain how reference contracts were relevant in past performance evaluation). Based on our review, we find no basis to question the evaluation of PDSI's proposal as satisfactory/confidence under the past performance factor.[3]
Price Evaluation
All Phase contends that the agency's evaluation of PDSI's proposal under the price factor was unreasonable, arguing that PDSI's price for the contract line item numbers relating to special events (such as the 4th of July), and the phase-in period, were unrealistic. Protest (B-292919.5) at 4. The protester argues that because of this, the agency was required by the terms of the RFP to reject PDSI's proposal, because in the protester's view, [w]hile the RFP may not have used the words price realism,' price realism is at the core of the evaluation procedure established by the Agency. Protester's Comments (B-292919.5) at 4.
Before awarding a fixed-price contract, an agency is required to determine that the price offered is fair and reasonable. Federal Acquisition Regulation 15.402(a). An agency's concern in making a price reasonableness determination focuses primarily on whether the offered prices are higher than warranted. CSE Constr., B-291268.2, Dec. 16, 2002, 2002 CPD 207 at 4. The fact that a firm, in its business judgment, submits an offer that may not include any profit or be below'cost, or may be an attempted buy-in, does not render the firm ineligible for award. Property Analysts, Inc., B-277266, Sept. 12, 1997, 97-2 CPD 77 at 6; McDonnell Douglas Corp., B'259694.2, B-259694.3, June 16, 1995, 95-2 CPD 51 at 9. This is so because below'cost pricing is not prohibited and the government cannot withhold an award from a responsible offeror merely because its low offer is or may be below cost. McDonnell Douglas Corp., supra. Nor can an agency, in evaluating an offeror's fixed-price proposal, make upward price adjustments for cost elements that agency contracting officials think may be priced too low. Id. Although not required, an agency may provide for a price realism analysis in a solicitation for the award of a fixed-price contract for the purpose of assessing whether an offeror's low price reflected on its understanding of the contract requirements or the risk inherent in an offeror's approach. CSE Constr., supra. Where there is no relevant evaluation criterion pertaining to realism or understanding, a determination that an offeror's price on a fixed-price contract is too low generally concerns the offeror's responsibility, i.e., the offeror's ability and capacity to successfully perform the contract at its offered price. Id.
We agree with the agency that the RFP here did not provide for the conduct of a price realism analysis, but rather, provided only for the evaluation of the reasonableness of the proposed price (that is, whether the price was unreasonably high). Specifically, the RFP repeatedly refers to the evaluation of price for reasonableness or unreasonableness, and nowhere refers to the evaluation of price for realism. RFP at M-2; M-3(c).
We recognize that, as pointed out by the protester, the solicitation included a single sentence--Any inconsistency between promised performance and proposed price shall be explained in the proposal--indicating that the agency may evaluate the offerors' price for something other than reasonableness. RFP M-3(c)(3). However, considered in the context of this solicitation, which repeatedly referenced only price reasonableness, and did not provide for the submission of cost or pricing information that would allow the agency to determine whether a low proposed price on a particular item reflected a lack of understanding of the contract requirements, this single (and perhaps misplaced) reference did not obligate the agency, in our view, to conduct a price realism evaluation as advocated by the protester.
The protester argues that the agency improperly conducted discussions with only PDSI, pointing to a statement set forth in the legal memorandum accompanying the agency's report in response to All Phase's protest that referenced [i]nformational requests to offerors. Protest (B-2929919.6) at 1; AR (B-292919.4) at 7. The protester also infers that discussions must have been conducted with the awardee, based upon a notation in the evaluators' checklist that if awarded the contract PDSI plans to [DELETED], given that PDSI's proposal did not specifically state that it intended to [DELETED] if awarded the contract. Protest (B'292919.6) at 2-3; Protester's Comments (B-292919.6) at 3; AR, Tab 14, Technical Evaluation Report.
The agency states that [o]ne, and only one, instance of communication with PDSI was made prior to award, and that this communication was to clarify an apparent mathematical/clerical mistake in PDSI's proposal. AR (B-292919.6) at 2. The agency denies that any other communications took place, stating that it was able to glean PDSI's plan to [DELETED] from its phase-in plan and list of equipment. Given the agency's statement and explanation here, as well as the fact that the record does not otherwise evidence in any way that the agency engaged in any improper communications with the awardee, we find this aspect of All Phase's protest to be without merit.
Alleged Bias
All Phase argues that the record here, including amendment No. 4 that extended the closing date for receipt of proposals and eliminated phase-in costs from the price evaluation, the agency's evaluation of proposals, and a purchase order issued by the agency, makes it clear that the agency molded the evaluation in order to leave PDSI in the competition and that PDSI was given substantial preferential treatment.[4] Protest (B-292919.4) at 11; see Protest (B-292919.7) at 4. We have reviewed the record and find no credible evidence of bias or bad faith on the part of the agency. Prejudicial motives will not be attributed to contracting officials on the basis of unsupported allegations, inference, or supposition. McDonnell Douglas Corp., supra, at 28. In our view, as the above discussion demonstrates, the agency's actions during this acquisition, including the evaluation of the offerors' competing proposals, were reasonable and in accordance with the evaluation criteria set forth in the solicitation.
The protests are denied.
Anthony H. Gamboa
General Counsel
In our view, the RFP did not require the performance of a separate evaluation of the past performance of an offeror's key personnel where the offeror had submitted adequate contract references for itself and its subcontractors. We note in this regard that All Phase apparently so interpreted the RFP because the past performance volume of its proposal did not include past performance information regarding its key personnel.
[3] We find no merit to All Phase's contention that the agency's cost-technical tradeoff gave insufficient weight to All Phase's higher-rated past performance. As indicated above, the tradeoff analysis specifically recognized this superiority and explained why it was insufficient to overcome PDSI's significant price advantage.
[4] All Phase argues that the agency's modification of the solicitation by amendment No. 4, by deleting the phase-in prices from the agency's determination of each offeror's total evaluated price, was improper as well as evidencing bias in favor of PDSI. This argument, raised for the first time in All Phase's protest filed with our Office on November 6 (docketed as B-292919.3), was dismissed by our Office as untimely, given that this protest of an alleged solicitation impropriety was not raised until after All Phase had been informed that PDSI had been awarded the contract. See 4 C.F.R. 21.2(a)(2) (2003); Parcel 47C LLC, B-286324, B-286324.2, Dec. 26, 2000, 2001 CPD 44 at 6 n.7 (challenges to alleged apparent solicitation improprieties incorporated into the solicititation after the solicitiation's initial issuance must be filed prior to the time set forth receipt of proposals following the date of incorporation). All Phase, in a subsequent filing, attempts to revive this same basis of protest by arguing that it is not based on the modification itself but the underlying reason for the modification, which the Protester was unaware of prior to receipt of the Agency Report. Protest (B'292919.4) at 8. A protest that could have been filed in a timely manner but was not cannot be subsequently revived by an event--such as the protester's receipt of documents indicating the agency's reasoning for the solicitation modification--that may only serve to confirm the untimely basis of protest. See Joppa Maint. Co., B'281579, B-281579.2, Mar. 2, 1999, 2000 CPD 2 at 6'7.
Oct 30, 2020
Kathleen N. Cole & Associates, LLC
We deny the protest.
Navient Solutions, LLC
We dismiss the protest.
Oct 29, 2020
GSI Construction Corporation, Inc.
We deny the protest.
Nelnet Diversified Solutions, LLC
We deny the protest.
Oct 28, 2020
Tetra Tech, Inc.
We deny the protest.
Inalab Consulting, Inc.
We deny the protest.
Quanterion Solutions, Inc.
We deny the protest.
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text:
In the photo above I added the larger crocheted hearts on the ear flaps which can also be removed after the holiday.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Needlework: Valentine Bear Hat
In the photo above I added the larger crocheted hearts on the ear flaps which can also be removed after the holiday.
38 comments:
- A Whole Lotta Magic said...
So cute! Love the little hearts.
- February 1, 2012 at 9:06 PM
- Linda said...
What a sweet hat!!!
- February 1, 2012 at 10:54 PM
This is so cute! Please come by and link it to my Pinterest post!
I'm coming by from the Thursday Blog Hop and following via GFC.
- February 2, 2012 at 5:58 AM
- Ms POSH said...
Stopping by from the Thursday Hop to say hello.
Have a great day!
- February 2, 2012 at 2:21 PM
- Unknown said...
I have seen this cutie at a few blog links...has to be the cutest of the links! Just had to tell ya!
- February 2, 2012 at 10:00 PM
- Kathleen said...
So cute---I looove it it in the red, and the hearts are a perfect addition, too. Excellent Valentine-izing! :D
- February 3, 2012 at 7:08 PM
- Unknown said...
Such a sweet little hat! Just dropping by to say hi from the TT&J link up :)
- February 3, 2012 at 10:25 PM
- Lorraine said...
That is the cutest thing!! What a cute little bear hat! Love the Valentines twist on it. Thanks for sharing. Happy Pink Saturday!! ~Lorraine ♥♥♥
- February 4, 2012 at 1:10 PM
- Karima said...
How adorable!
- February 6, 2012 at 6:23 AM
- Jill @ KitchenFunWithMy3Sons.com said...
Love this! We are hosting our first Kitchen Fun and Crafty link party this Friday (the 10th) and would love for you to share this! Feel free to stop by and grab a party button! http://kitchenfunwithmy3sons.blogspot.com/
- February 6, 2012 at 8:40 AM
- momto8 said...
soo cute!! the hearts are perfect!
- February 6, 2012 at 6:35 PM
- Jacqueline~Cabin and Cottage said...
What a darling little hat!
- February 6, 2012 at 7:12 PM
- Jan M said...
So sweet, and perfect for a little Valentine! I admire anyone who can crochet. I just end up with knots when I try!
- February 6, 2012 at 7:20 PM
- Mid-Atlantic Martha said...
Now how precious is that!
- February 6, 2012 at 9:16 PM
- Jill said...
Oh that is such a cute hat!! :)
Thanks for linking to a Round Tuit!
Hope you have a fabulous week!
Jill @ Creating my way to Success
- February 6, 2012 at 10:09 PM
- Bri @ The Modern Parsonage said...
How cute is that! Makes me want to learn to sew/knit :)
- February 6, 2012 at 11:01 PM
- Huda said...
new follower of your blog
now follow my blog
- February 7, 2012 at 12:54 PM
- Stephanie said...
What a cute, sweet hat :) I'm sure it will looks ADORABLE on any little one!
I'm popping over from the blog hop -- I hope you can stop by Gumdrop Pass and say hello when you get the chance.
Have a good Tuesday <3
- February 7, 2012 at 2:38 PM
- Maria@BubblegumandDuctTape said...
That is really cute, specially good for this cold weather. Thanks for all the links.
- February 7, 2012 at 3:40 PM
- LV said...
You did a very nice job on this cap. It definitely is one a little one would enjoy.
- February 7, 2012 at 8:02 PM
- Elaine said...
How sweet this hat is.. I could see both my great-grandaighters wearing it for valentine's day.. Thanks for sharing this project.
- February 8, 2012 at 11:52 AM
- Trish - Mom On Timeout said...
Sooo cute! I'd love for you to share with my readers if you get a chance. http://www.momontimeout.com/2012/02/taking-timeout-thursday-no-16.html
- February 8, 2012 at 8:02 PM
- Mecky said...
that is so cute!!!
- February 8, 2012 at 9:31 PM
- makeyourhomesing said...
That is adorable! Such a bright cheery red and any child would look adorable in it. Thanks for linking up to Making Your Home Sing Monday!
- February 11, 2012 at 9:46 PM
- Lindsi B said...
I saw you on Tater Tots and Jello. Would you please be willing to share this fabulous post with my readers for Fun Stuff Fridays? http://www.toysinthedryer.com/2012/02/14-days-of-valentines-fun-stuff-fridays_10.html
- February 11, 2012 at 9:52 PM
- Kitty Deschanel said...
Happy Valentine's Day!
I just wanted to swing by and let you know that you've been nominated (again! you talented gal) for the Best in Show award on my blog! Congrats and good luck :)
- February 11, 2012 at 11:21 PM
- Hazel from Hazel Loves Design said...
That has to be the cutest hat I have come across this Valentine's Day!!! Soooo adorable! I can imagine my little jellybean wearing one!
:) Hazel
- February 12, 2012 at 3:54 AM
- Terri said...
Adorable bear hat! The addition of the hearts is so sweet.
This is my first time to your blog. It was your blog name that caught my eye. I love a little bit of everything too!
- February 12, 2012 at 2:10 PM
- Lori said...
Glad to find a new great blog to follow. I'm following on the new Linky tool, so please come by and follow back so we can stay connected. Feel free to follow on GFC and Linky, as I love em' both, Lori
- February 12, 2012 at 2:12 PM
- Blissful & Domestic said...
Saw you over at Blissful and Domestic for the Linky Follower Blog Hop. Following you now and hope you can follow back:> Love your cute blog!
- February 12, 2012 at 6:53 PM
- Mandy said...
Oh so cute! Thank you for sharing this adorable hat at Project Queen last week.
I will be featuring it tonight at the Valentine's Day Highlight Party.
- February 12, 2012 at 7:25 PM
- momto8 said...
what a sweet beautiful hat!! the flowers are gorgeous!!
I am your newest linky follower..pls follow back if you can.
- February 12, 2012 at 11:29 PM
- Trish - Mom On Timeout said...
So so cute! Thank you so much for sharing at Taking A Timeout Thursday!
- February 15, 2012 at 10:43 AM
- Unknown said...
ADORABLE! I'm such a sucker for hats with ears. :)
Thanks for sharing at Shine on Fridays!
- February 17, 2012 at 2:38 PM
- 3rnigerians said...
Wow! It's too cute. Thank you for sharing.
- February 25, 2012 at 2:49 PM
- HIBISCUS HOUSE said...
This is simple adorable! I love it.
- February 26, 2012 at 3:53 PM
Such an adorable hat!!
- February 14, 2014 at 1:00 PM
- Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson said...
So Beary Beary sweet! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
- February 17, 2014 at 9:43 PM


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COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (Friday, January 10, 2014) – The Colorado Rapids announced on Friday that club icon Pablo Mastroeni has joined the team's technical staff and will hold the position of Special Assistant to the Technical Director. Colorado's career leader in games and minutes played, Mastroeni will start his position by assisting Technical Director Paul Bravo with the Rapids efforts at this week's MLS Player Combine and next Thursday's MLS SuperDraft.
"In addition to a playing career that few can rival, Pablo is also an intelligent, passionate leader who has the respect of everyone in our organization," said Rapids President Tim Hinchey. "His experience as a player, knowledge and understanding of the Rapids and our goals, and dedication to the growth of this club will serve us well moving forward."
"I'm excited at the opportunity to return to the Rapids and get started in my coaching career," said Mastroeni. "This is a great chance for me here at the club and in the state that I call home. I'm looking forward to finding some talented young players at the Combine and SuperDraft, and then seeing them on the training field back in Colorado in a couple weeks."
Mastroeni, 37, finished his playing career in 2013 and is Colorado's most decorated player, having been named to the MLS All-Star Team in his first seven years with the club (2002-2008), and earning Rapids MVP honors in 2007, 2008 and 2010. He currently holds club records for most games played (225), games started (217) and minutes played (18,669), and served as the Rapids captain from late 2004 until his trade to the LA Galaxy during the 2013 season.
Mastroeni on decision to retire
Mastroeni came to MLS with the Miami Fusion as the 13th overall selection in the 1998 MLS College Draft after a standout four-year career at North Carolina State. In four years with Miami, Mastroeni appeared in 100 regular season games, made two MLS All-Star teams, and earned a spot on the MLS Best XI in 2001 while helping the Fusion to the Supporters' Shield with the league's best regular season record. He joined the Rapids in the 2002 MLS Allocation Draft after Miami was contracted, and played in 13 seasons with Colorado before a trade to the LA Galaxy in June of 2013, where he finished his playing career. In total, Mastroeni played 334 MLS regular season matches, eighth most in MLS history, and 27,522 minutes, fifth on the all-time list and second among non-goalkeepers.
Also a veteran with the United States National Team, Mastroeni made 65 appearances for his country over the course of nine years. The holding midfielder played in both the 2002 and 2006 FIFA World Cups, playing three games at the 2002 World Cup in Japan/Korea as the U.S. reached the quarterfinals, and two more at the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Mastroeni was also a member of the U.S. squad in the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2007, helping the United States win the tournament in 2005 and 2007, while also appearing in the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2003. Mastroeni made his National Team debut in a friendly against Ecuador in June 2001 and made his final appearance in June 2009 in a World Cup qualifying victory over Honduras.
Colorado holds the 11th overall selection in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft, to take place on January 16 in Philadelphia, and the Rapids will open preseason in late January. The Rapids season starts on March 15 at New York Red Bulls, with the Home Opener at Dick's Sporting Goods Park against the Portland Timbers on March 22. For more information on the club, or to purchase season tickets, visit www.ColoradoRapids.com or call 303-825-GOAL.


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Who was/is Johnny Horton ? - CDs, Vinyl LPs, DVD and more
Johnny Horton
There's no telling how far Johnny Horton would have gone or how he'd be thought about today had he not died in the small hours of November 5, 1960. That fatal car wreck ensured he'd be remembered as so many whose lives are cut short in their prime... young, vital and brimming with talent. In ten years he'd gone from talent show contestant to country and pop singing star, recording a wide range of material that rode the crests of a rapidly changing music scene. From the strong Western influence of the early Abbott sides recorded in 1950 and 1951 in Los Angeles to post-Hank Williams Nashville at Mercury through the mid-1950s and finally with Columbia Records beginning in 1956... Johnny Horton recorded everything from barroom weepers and straight country to rockabilly and bona fide pop hits.
Horton covered that much musical geography because he could, he was a damn good singer... a GREAT singer. His voice was big, infectious and friendly, bursting with charisma and personality. While he is much admired for the rocking up-tempo tunes and the mega hit Battle Of New Orleans, Johnny Horton is less remembered as the great ballad singer he was. Record companies leaned toward tempo for the A-side of singles to attract air play. Very often the flip side of the record was where the heart felt ballad was hiding or maybe a few would turn up tucked into a long playing album. It's these overlooked treasures that make up this set and, with the exception of When It's Springtime In Alaska, none were released as A-sides while Meant So Little To You from 1954 remained unissued for 37 years.
I was in London working on a recording project when I received a note from Richard Weize asking if I would assemble this CD of Johnny Horton ballads. I was immediately taken back to 1956 when as a youngster I first became aware of a song on the radio called I'm A One Woman Man. I was pulled into that record, the sound, the drive, the click-clock of Bill Black's string bass. Mostly though, I was drawn to the fellows voice who was singing it. From that day forward I always sought out Johnny Horton's records and later when my contemporaries scrambled to be the first to have the latest Beatles or Rolling Stones release, I delighted in the great and grand luck of finding a Horton single on Mercury in a dime store close-out bin for nine cents! Those were touchstone records for me then as they are now.
In so many ways his music and those recordings have informed my life as a professional musician having gone from country to styles far a-field and occasionally back again.
In compiling this collection I have chosen ballads that span Horton's entire career and those that I like as songs. He sang so well that he could sell nearly anything... well almost. A few songs just don't hold up for me and I've omitted those. I'm sorry if they happen to be your favourites, but it's simply one reporter's opinion. Thought has been put into the sequencing of this set... how it runs musically and the mix of styles through the years. Included are a few tunes that might have questionable pedigrees as ballads. Today a ballad is generally accepted to be any slow piece of music, but I've always felt a ballad to be a song that tells a story regardless of tempo. Also, ballads of the 1950s were often recorded at a brisker tempo than their modern equivalents. With that in mind, I have taken some liberty.
Johnny Horton was at the top of his game with North To Alaska playing on every pop and country radio station that autumn of 1960 when he died. I speculate he would have had a long and productive career ahead of him, all the while adapting as he did so well to musical trends that lay ahead. Some of his later recordings already foreshadowed the coming of strings and voices. He negotiated that countrypolitan approach beautifully and would have been very much at home with 60's style Nashville and beyond with it's increasing emphasis on ballads. For Johnny Horton there would have been many more ballads.
Richard Bennett
Nashville, Tennessee
from the booklet BCD16384 - Johnny Horton The Ballads Of Johnny Horton
Read more at: https://www.bear-family.de/horton-johnny-the-ballads-of-johnny-horton.html
Copyright © Bear Family Records


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Kansas' Nature Centers Enhance Outdoor Experiences
OutdoorHub 04.25.12
The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) operates five nature centers across the state, each offering great outdoor education experiences for visitors of all ages. On your next outdoor outing, take advantage of one of these or other nature centers. Information on KDWPT nature centers may be found online at ksoutdoors.com, and those operated by other entities may be found at naturalkansas.org, including center details, events, and other wildlife links.
Learn more about the wildlife and ecology of outdoor Kansas, and enjoy the next camping, hunting, fishing, or birdwatching trip all the more, buy visiting a KDWPT nature center this spring or summer.
Great Plains Nature Center — 6232 E 29th Street North, Wichita, KS 67220, phone 316-683-5499
The Great Plains Nature Center (GPNC) is operated and maintained jointly by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism; and the Wichita Department of Park and Recreation. All three entities share the common goal of providing recreational, interpretive, and environmental education opportunities to the public. This nature center is an exciting place to learn about natural resources, especially the wildlife and habitats of the Great Plains.
Nature-related programs are offered quarterly. These are advertised on the nature center's website, www.gpnc.org, and in the newsletter Prairie Reflections.
GPNC's biggest event of the year takes place the second Saturday in June. Walk With Wildlife, entering its third decade, provides a glimpse of native Kansas wildlife to approximately 1,500 visitors annually and includes a fishing clinic for kids 12 and younger.
Other opportunities include wildlife programs, field trips, discovery boxes, adult workshops, junior naturalist classes, scout programs, and nature hikes.
Kansas Wetlands Education Center — 592 NE K-156 Highway, Great Bend, KS 67530, phone 620-786-7456 or 1-877-243-9268
Operated by Fort Hays State University as an annex of the college's Sternberg Museum on KDWPT land, the Kansas Wetlands Education Center (KWEC) includes a 2,000 square-foot exhibit gallery, classroom, auditorium, and gift store. A handicapped-accessible ½-mile nature trail displays grasslands, marshes, and woodlands. A vast expanse of windows allows visitors to comfortably view wildlife on the wetland.
From a spiny soft-shell turtle to grasshopper mice, visitors can view some of the lesser known inhabitants of Cheyenne Bottoms in the KWEC classroom. Children can discover the feel of animal furs, snake skins, and feathers; match animals to their tracks; and make their own track stencil or rubbing.
Combine a visit with a drive through the 19,857-acre Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area and The Nature Conservancy's 7,600-acre reserve. The largest interior wetland in the United States, Cheyenne Bottoms is one of only 22 U.S. "Wetlands of International Importance," where more than 330 bird species have been observed.
Milford Nature Center — 3415 Hatchery Dr., Junction City, KS 66441, phone 785-238-5323
Located near beautiful Milford Reservoir in the Flint Hills, the Milford Nature Center offers visitors a better understanding of the natural communities of Kansas. Visitors can see and touch native animal furs, print their own animals tracks, and use their sense of touch to identify natural mystery items. Dioramas line the halls, depicting an aquatic system with more than 300 life-like fish, turtles, snakes, and insects and a terrestrial system showcasing wildlife from the prairies, marshes, and woods.
Live animal exhibits feature snakes, amphibians, turtles, lizards, prairie dogs, and more. A large bird of prey exhibit outside the building features many native raptors, including both bald eagle and golden eagle. Adjacent to the raptor cages is the bobcat display. Nature trails, a birdwatching wall, and a backyard habitat area can also be enjoyed on the center's grounds. The educational sites housed in these areas demonstrate how to attract birds, butterflies, and other animals to your backyard. The Butterfly House Exhibit is open from late May through early October (weather and butterflies permitting).
The Nature Playground has quickly become a favorite among visitors. This playground gives kids a chance to slide through the belly of a snake or jump on the back of a spider. A picnic shelter can be found next to the playground area and is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Milford Fish Hatchery is adjacent to the nature center, and visitors are welcome to walk around the outside raceways during their visit. Hatchery tours are offered on weekends at 1 p.m. or by appointment.
Prairie Center — 26235 West 135th Street, Olathe, KS 66061, phone 913-856-7669
Just five minutes from downtown Olathe, the Prairie Center is a 300-acre tallgrass preserve and education site with trails winding through remnant and reestablished prairie and riparian woodlands. Most of the eight ponds on the property serve as intermittent wetlands for wildlife. There is a small lake for fishing and water studies. Visitors can explore a bedrock creek provides for aquatic life and a look back in time through the fossil remains embedded in the limestone creek bed. In mid-summer, native grasses grow taller than a living room ceiling.
The primary goal of the Prairie Center is to serve as a preserve for local flora and fauna. There are no public buildings, and public access is restricted to trails and a few gathering areas. No horses, bicycles, or motorized vehicles are allowed, and dogs must be on leashes. Pit toilets and an archery range are available. The Prairie Center is open to the public from dawn to dusk seven days a week for trail walking or fishing in the lake.
The center also provides educational opportunities for the public. Most of the programs are educator-led, with supplies provided by the Prairie Center. One such opportunity is Stations Programming, where students rotate through 10 stations with specific studies such as mammals, soil, water quality, macro-invertebrate exploration, birds, and reptiles and amphibians. Other educational programming is also available. The center will help tailor a program to fit your needs.
Pratt Education Center — 512 SE 25th Ave., Pratt, KS 67124, phone 620-672-5911
Numerous displays, dioramas, and exhibits provide close encounters with the native birds, fish, mammals, and reptiles of Kansas. The center's winter diorama provides a glimpse at how wildlife deals with the snow and cold of Kansas winters. The grassland display depicts the three grasslands (short, mixed, and tall) of Kansas and wildlife common to each region, as well as a rare black-footed ferret mount. The raptor exhibit features owls, hawks, falcons, and kite mounts. The wetland wall depicts Cheyenne Bottoms, one of the five most important wetlands in North America.
The Aquarium Room contains 12 aquaria, ranging from 400 to 600 gallons and displaying fish species native to Kansas or that have been successfully introduced into Kansas. Wall panels feature the early history of the Pratt Hatchery and the catfish rearing program, along with a working model of the hatchery's innovative incubating trough. More than 128 species of birds and their eggs are displayed in the Bird Room. Across from this room, visitors can enjoy duplicating the tracks of Kansas animals using the vinyl replica tracks. Numerous interactive exhibits test knowledge of Kansas wildlife.


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Scholarship working to close diversity shortage gap in medicine
Nefertiti Clavon struggles to keep up with rising tuition costs and other college expenses.
"There were times I felt I was going to have to leave school because of financial situations," said Clavon, a 22-year-old health promotions student at the University of Houston in Texas.
Clavon's dilemma is not uncommon. Rising […]


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Today the "Coffee Shop Diaries" became simply the "Coffee Diaries" as we've extended this section to include a (hopefully) day by day report (a blog I suppose) from Steve Leighton ("Steve"), our good friend who is now a world-famous Cup of Excellence judge.
Steve flew out to Nicaragua yesterday to become part of the judging team for this year's production from that origin. We're very proud of him, and hope he enjoys the experience.
Watch out for daily reports from the intrepid traveller and judge! BTW, another TMC member ("peterj" aka Peter James) is also on this year's panel too. Way to go, Peter!
Footnote - I have shedloads of new "Mocca Club Diaries" entries from the excellent Joey. If I don't fall asleep you may see some of these tomorrow!


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Listen free for 30 days
The Other Great Depression
How he got there, how he finally got on the road to recovery, and how he copes with being sober on a daily basis are the subjects of The Other Great Depression, Lewis' very funny, deeply honest, inspiring, but very unsentimental book.
Critic reviews
What listeners say about The Other Great Depression
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- Janet
- 11-12-11
disappointed not a good writer in my opinion
i love richard lewis as a comedian and actor but this book proves that he is not a good writer in my opinion. as a fan i really wanted to like this book. i really did but in the end i was just willing myself through it. the book jumps around different periods of richard's life in a very chaotic fashion. it starts with some stories from his children and then just wizzes back and forth through emotional chapters of his addiction and recovery. to hear about his emotional states and experiences is of course interesting but a longed for more basic facts to put it all in context. how he started in comedy, what it is really like to do stand up etc. the book is very repetitive in my opinion - he keeps describing his lack of self-worth and how rough it feels to be addicted but we don't really get to hear how he actually got to those points. there are some really funny bits - for example his description of a recurring day dream where he meets actor and comedy heros on brooklyn bridge while he contemplates jumping. and there is an amusing story about meeting bill clinton and chasing a women in car to chat her up behind his girlfriends back. but it just doesn't hand together very well. i'm pleased that he is on the other side of his addiction and wish him all the best health but will hold back from buying another of his books.
- Pamela Harvey
- 11-10-08
Not your average drunkalogue
I have been a Richard Lewis fan since I started watching "Curb Your Enthusiasm" on DVD.
This book, read by the author, is an insightful and profound odyssey into the depths of alcoholism and addiction, combined with his spiritual journeys in recovery. There were some excellent sound-bytes and one-liners and I had to keep rewinding in order to memorize them.
I found the delivery a little flat in Part 1 but he warms to his subject and sounds more animated in Part 2. I think the book was originally written some time in the early 2000's, with an "Afterward" from 2007. I couldn't understand why he refers to flight attendants as "stewardesses" unless the outdated term was purposely used in the context of the past.
I'll give this one a "five" as the dominant theme is that chemical sobriety is only a beginning, and that it takes work to stay on the path, while still having fun.
8 people found this helpful
- Lauri
- 11-03-09
The Other Great Depression (Unabridged)
Richard Lewis has been funny to me for many, many years. To learn of his struggle was sad, but very uplifting, when he relates that he conquered his demons 15 years ago. He is funny and straight, at the same time. And this seems to be his success story. I am in awe of what he has done and how he has told his story.
3 people found this helpful
- Kelley
- 16-10-09
I think I dated this guy
Not really. Just someone like him. If you've ever dated an alcoholic, you might find it as painful to listen to his chapter on how PMS destroyed his relationships as I did. Maybe you will also find it an opportunity to gain insight into why such relationships fail, and some forgiveness. I tried to do that - but eventually gave up.
2 people found this helpful


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Moment of Silence for Time (L.A. Weekly)
Let's Have a Moment of Silence for Time, Fleetwood Mac's Most Disastrous Album
THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2017 AT 5:30 A.M. BY TIM SOMMER L.A. Weekly
Turns out trying to make a Fleetwood Mac album without either Stevie Nicks or Lindsey Buckingham is a terrible idea.
If you haunt used record stores, you probably take it for granted that most of your favorite artists have had erratic careers, full of experimentation, moments of commercial oblivion, and the terror and uncertainty of replacement band members. Mainstream, superstar acts the kinds gracing Dodger Stadium this weekend as part of the two-day Classic West festival usually want us to forget the commercial and artistic sinkholes they sometimes fall into.
But its utterly fascinating when a band goes from the top to the bottom, and then climbs back up to the top. The (very) few that accomplish this feat join an exclusive clique, which we shall call The Brotherhood of the Elder.
The Brotherhood of the Elder is named, of course, after Kisss wonderfully peculiar ninth album, Music From the Elder. In 1981 Kiss decided it was time to escape their comic book image and make a serious musical statement. Music From the Elder is a grandiose concept album swelling with orchestras, minor chords and extended instrumental passages; it is so grave and momentous that Lou Reed was recruited to co-write some songs. It was a commercial disaster and nearly ended the band. But after this debacle, Kiss returned to being the ludicrous Kiss we all know and love, and resumed churning out hit records in all their gory cartoon glory.
Anyone can go from the top to the bottom and stay there, but only a select few can climb all the way back to the top and join the Brotherhood of the Elder. As it happens, one of the best examples of this phenomenon will be at Classic West.
From 1977 to 1982, Fleetwood Mac had three No. 1 albums in the United States. In 1997, they scored another No. 1 with The Dance. But in 1995, they released a new studio album that didnt even make it into the top 200.
The album was called Time, and it was recorded by a decidedly odd and mercifully brief incarnation of the Mac that contained nary a Buckingham nor a Nicks. Instead, the band was fronted by Dave Mason, Bekka Bramlett and Billy Burnette. Mason was a founding member of Traffic, and he did some wonderful work with them; he also had a remarkable career as a sideman. On a good day, Bekka Bramlett sounded like a B+ Marcia Ball/Dusty Springfield imitator; on a bad day, she sounded like your wifes cousin who insisted on singing What If God Was One of Us at your wedding. As for Billy Burnette, by 1995 he had been in Fleetwood Mac for eight years, attempting to simultaneously channel the spirits of both Lindsey Buckingham and Peter Green; he didnt do a bad job, really, but thats a damn tough job description.
Even the cover art for Time was weirdly forgettable.
So, this odd crew abetted by the amazing Christine McVie and the greatest rhythm section in rock history, Mick Fleetwood and John McVie made Time.
Time is not an interesting disaster, as, say, Music From the Elder is, or a historically curious disaster, like The Clashs Cut the Crap, or a little gem of a disaster, like Aerosmiths Rock in a Hard Place, or a vastly listenable disaster, like The Rolling Stones Their Satanic Majesties Request, or a what-the-****-was-that disaster, like Neil Youngs Arc.
Time is dull, overwrought, overlong and occasionally dire. At its worst, theres Masons Blow by Blow, a nearly faceless, faux-muscular rocker shouted with the kind of hoarse sincerity that Eddie Money aspired to. (Note: I can forgive Mason for Blow by Blow because in 1967 he wrote and sang Traffics Hole in My Shoe, one of the greatest sugarplums of phased and goofy ersatz Hindi psychedelia ever recorded.)
Bramletts vocals on Time have a strangely subdued character, as if no one had told her that these were the actual takes. I am not sure what went wrong; bringing a female blues shouter into Mac was an interesting idea, but Bramlett just wasnt the right choice, or maybe the recording engineer hated her, or perhaps she took a couple of Benadryl before stepping to the mic. Nevertheless, Bramlett has a genuinely nice moment or two on Time. Shes quite effective on the (slightly) Sandy Dennyish Dreamin the Dream, which is the albums best non-McVie track (it also reminds me of the kind of rainy-day sad pop early Mac singer-guitarist Danny Kirwan specialized in).
Burnettes contributions to Time arent that bad, but they're so generally anonymous that I chose to delete the paragraph I wrote discussing them.
Time features a handful of very good Christine McVie songs, and I wish these had been revisited elsewhere. The lilting All Over Again belongs on side one of any McVie mixtape; it reminds me of some of her best and most sensitive moments, like Never Make Me Cry from Tusk and the exquisite, Nico-ish When You Say from her 1970 Christine Perfect album.
At the end of the day, Time is just a mediocre album with some truly awful moments, some adamantine Christine McVie songs and one downright bizarre track: These Strange Times, which features Mick Fleetwoods only-ever lead vocal, a spoken-word bit over a Burundi rumble.
Obviously Tim Sommar has no clue who Delaney & Bonnie were. The only comparison of Bekka's voice is with her mom, Bonnie Bramlett. Bekka's made a career being the #1 call in Nashville as a background vocalist. God forbid a band that got its start as a blues band would at some point have a blues singer in the band.
The [1]Time[/i] cover is GREAT, one of the better Fleetwood Mac album covers.
The only thing "disastrous" about [1]Time[/i] is Tim Sommar's opinion of it.
It's pretty obvious that your research of Fleetwood Mac history is severely lacking.
Among God's creations, two, the dog and the guitar, have taken all the sizes and all the shapes in order not to be separated from the man.---Andres Segovia
Well, sales of Time were disastrous. It didn't even make Billboard's top 200.
The album cover is more of an opinion but I think it's pretty bad. Uninteresting and uninspiring. And worse, by putting a picture of a dinosaur egg on the cover, it evokes the image the band was trying to avoid- that of a band past it's prime. They may have been trying to be amusing, but it backfired. Even the cover of Behind the Mask, which I also don't care for, is better than Time.
I still think "Another Link In The Chain" was a far better title, they should've gone ahead & used that like they original were going to.
Among God's creations, two, the dog and the guitar, have taken all the sizes and all the shapes in order not to be separated from the man.---Andres Segovia
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|FLEETWOOD MAC AUTOGRAPHED/SIGNED JOHN McVIE 8X10; CHRISTINE & LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM
|c1977 RUMOURS ERA FLEETWOOD MAC PROOF SHEET JOHN MCVIE & CURRY GRANT MID FINGER
|DENNIS WILSON of BEACH BOYS Photo CANDID Rare w/ JOHN McVIE Fleetwood Mac


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Looking for a big tablet? The iPad famously (or infamously) starts at $499. The Google Nexus 10: $399. Even the comparatively affordable Kindle Fire 8.9 will set you back $299.
For a limited time, and while supplies last, Acer (via Ebay) is selling the refurbished Iconia Tab A210 10.1-inch Android tablet for $199.99 shipped. Deal? More like steal.
The Iconia A210 features a 1.2GHz Tegra 3 processor, 16GB of storage (expandable via microSD cards), the aforementioned 10.1-inch screen (running at a competitive, if not spectacular, 1,280x800), and Android 4.0. Acer will push out an Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) update in the (presumably) not-too-distant future.
The tablet weighs 1.5 pounds, so it's a bit on the heavy side, and it has only a front-facing camera. It also lacks an HDMI output, an issue only if you like to wire your tablet to a TV.
CNET hasn't reviewed this model, but over at Amazon (where it sells for $349.99), two dozen buyers collectively rated it 4.5 stars out of 5. Most of the reviews are positively gushing.
Because it's a refurb, you get only a 90-day warranty. If you can live with that, you stand to save a full $150 on this big beauty. Who's in?
While you're mulling that over, take my new poll: How do you use your tablet?
Bonus deal: Game time! Newegg has a BioShock/Elder Scrolls: Oblivion (PC) bundle for free after a $10 mail-in rebate (PDF). Also available: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed 2 (PC) for free after rebate (PDF).
Deals found on The Cheapskate are subject to availability, expiration, and other terms determined by sellers.
Curious about what exactly The Cheapskate does and how it works? Read our FAQ.


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Morgan Stanley Smith Barney (MS) said Wednesday that it had recruited one team from UBS (UBS) and one from Wells Fargo (WFC) with total yearly fees and commissions of $4.2 million. Morgan Stanley also said Monday it had hired a team of institutional consultants from UBS for its Graystone Consulting unit.
Meanwhile, a former MSSB advisor joined Raymond James (RJF) on Tuesday, where he expects to manage some $148 million in client assets and generate $860,000 in annual production or more.
The two advisors recently joining MSSB in the Houston suburb of Woodlands, Texas, are Frank Bagrier and Wes Coyle. The former UBS team has managed $135 million in assets and had yearly combined production of $1.14 million.
Joining MSSB in Clayton, Mo., are Jeffrey Hollingsworth, William Simpson and Craig Billingsley. The former Wells Fargo team will report to complex manager Richard Lindquist. The advisors' combined trailing-12-month production is $3.2 million.
Morgan Stanley, led by James Gorman, also says its Graystone Consulting business recruited the institutional consultant John Bello (previously with UBS) and the two other members of his group, Brian Mackert and Christopher G. Olszewski. The group is based in the Cleveland suburb of Westlake, Ohio, and will report to Gregory K. Simakas, based in Pittsburg.
"We are delighted that the Greg Simakas and John Bello teams have combined to provide unified coverage of the western Pennsylvania and northern Ohio regions," said Marc Brookman, a managing director of MSSB, in a statement. "These two teams have established themselves as premier investment consultants to prominent endowments, foundations and other institutional investors and we expect their clients to benefit from their combined expertise."
For his part, Bello said in a press release, "I am thrilled to join Graystone Consulting and the Simakas team, especially since Greg and I are longtime friends who value this opportunity to join forces."
Graystone Consulting provides investment-consulting services to institutional clients, including associations, endowments and foundations, corporations, health-care organizations, insurance entities, state and local governments, Taft-Hartley funds and family offices.
In the first quarter of 2012, the number of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney advisors dropped 2% from the previous quarter and 5% from last year to 17,193, while total assets under management hit nearly $1.75 trillion, a jump of 7% from the previous quarter and a 2% increase from last year. (It had 17,512 advisors in the fourth quarter of 2011 and 18,124 in the first quarter of 2011.)
These reps produced average trailing-12-month fees and commissions of $787,000 as of March 31 and managed average client assets of $101 million; these figures were both up about 5% from the same year-ago period.
Departing Broker
On Tuesday, financial advisor Jeff Wolk and his sales assistant left MSSB to form the Wolk Group of Raymond James' employee channel in Rochester, N.Y.
"I'm delighted to welcome Jeff and Lillian to Raymond James," said Tash Elwyn (right), RJA's Private Client Group president, in a press release. "They are a talented team with great experience. Most importantly, they share our firm's values of independence and client service."
Wolk has managed more than $148 million in client assets and generated $860,000 in annual production.
"My decision to join Raymond James was one made with considerable thought and due diligence," Wolk said in a statement. "I was attracted to the firm because of the cultural fit and alignment with my own values of putting clients' interests first.
"The larger the national firms become, the greater the distance between the advisors and their clients," he added. "Joining Raymond James has felt like coming back home to me."
Wolk is a 25-year industry veteran and has served as a branch manager and senior vice president of investments. He first worked for Prudential-Bache Securities, moving on to co-found Legg Mason's Rochester branch in 1994. Following Smith Barney's acquisition of Legg Mason, he was later merged into Morgan Stanley.


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Downtown Toronto 2-day AppFest
ObjectSharp Corp.
The Matrix of .NET Development is Changing!
Get ready for the next phase of Windows Development:
Windows 8 + Windows Phone + Windows Azure
Come to a Weekend AppFest near you!
You will learn from top experts how to design, develop, deploy and support your apps on the newest Microsoft platforms. Get all the tools and knowledge you'll need in this interactive 2-day AppFest.
Cost: $25 per person (includes lunch Sat and Sun)
(note: entry fee will be TOTALLY REFUNDED if you submit a new App for Windows 8 or Windows Phone within 7 calendar days of attending the event!)
Get started:
1. Order your ticket now (seats are limited)
2. Download the tools and software you'll need
3. Bring your PC and your best ideas to the AppFest
Ask Atley or Bruce:
send ANY questions to email@example.com
In order to purchase these tickets in installments, you'll need an Eventbrite account. Log in or sign up for a free account to continue.


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Snaaaaaaaaaaaaaake! Metal Gear Solid 4 is getting its own set of key chains, complete with character designs and voices.
Characters include two versions of Old Snake, Raiden, Liquid Ocelot, Otacon and the exclamation mark. Voice samples include Old Snake saying "This is Snake. Can you hear me?" The exclamation mark, of course, makes the MGS exclamation mark noise — something to annoy your friends with! Endless fun.
The keychains are actually capsule toys and available through capsule machines in Japan. It is possible to pre-order a full set for import if you like. If not, well, then don't.
Metal Gear Solid 4 Ration Sound Keychain Series 2 [NCSX via GameSetWatch]


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Snap 'o the day: Counterprotest
Good times at the Free Speech Monument August 2.
More Snaps
7 comments
Vote correct this fall, vote Traditionalist Party. Conserveratism on steroids!!
What is a Catholic Mr.Cross? The whole philosophy has been twisted to suit the needs of the church. So Catholics United is not any different by twisting what it needs for its own purpose.
It would be worth noting when you deem a "protest" worthy of putting in the Hook, that you identify who the parties are, and their motivation. Catholics United are anything but Catholic, ignoring the Church's teachings on abortion, pushing an agenda to draw attention away from the issue. Does it offend your journalistic sensibilities to identify that this group has been funded by George Soros, and is supported by a $500,000 budget to assist Congressmen like Mr. Perriello this November. Whether its union members, like SEIU, who are paid to protest at meetings around the country, or this group, identifying them as merely citizens expressing their opinion in protest is disingenuous at best, and biased reporting at worst.
Basically the Catholic church needs money and numbers in this country so they support the take over of America by Mexixo and third world. The so called healthcare is just Medicaid expanded and like Massachusetts it will fail after being exposed as a populist Hindenburg. Up very fast with great acclaim only to ...... You cant run America like a slum city such as Chicago. BO has tried buying off the Unions and other usual suspects but the result is he will get the Congress he deserves in about 95 days.
Catholics United are anything but. Due to their beliefs and protests on the issue of abortion (and others) members of this group should not be taking communion or participating in most of the other sacraments.
It's interesting to note, once again, how old everyone of the protestors look. It seems like most protests these days are almost solely populated by senior citizens.
What do they have against Baptists?Is this a way of expressing feelings of superiority over other religions? Is this a branch of IMPACT?
A bunch of white people protesting can mean only one thing.


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Johnson not worried about Harper in Derby
PHILADELPHIA -- Some managers get concerned that their players might mess with their swings by competing in the Home Run Derby.
Davey Johnson does not have that worry about Bryce Harper.
"It would [mess up someone's swing] in a lot of cases, but Bryce is swinging as hard as he can all the time anyway," Johnson said as he cracked a smile.
Harper was selected by the Mets' David Wright to be one of the National League's representative's in the Home Run Derby, which will take place on Monday on ESPN at 8 p.m. ET at Citi Field.
Harper, 20, is making his second All-Star appearance in as many seasons, and the outfielder entered Tuesday with 13 homers in 52 games this season.
"He's as strong as anybody there, so why not?" Johnson said.
Harper, last season's NL Rookie of the Year, joins Wright and the Rockies' Carlos Gonzalez and Michael Cuddyer as the Senior Circuit's participants in the event. Johnson said he did not know if Harper had picked who would throw to him during the competition.


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Without neglecting coverage of analog communications, this new edition includes coverage of emerging technologies, for example digital subscriber lines and discrete multi-tone. The author has also added MATLAB computer experiments.Haykin, Simon is the author of 'Communication Systems 5E', published 2009 under ISBN 9780471697909 and ISBN 0471697907.[read more]
{{post.questionOneAnswer|unescape}} {{post.questionTwoAnswer|unescape}}[read more]
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C:\Documents and Settings\german\Escritorio\arduino-1.0.1\libraries\Keypad/utility/Key.h:46: error: conflicting declaration 'IDLE'C:\Documents and Settings\german\Escritorio\arduino-1.0.1\libraries\GSM/GSM3MobileAccessProvider.h:37: error: 'IDLE' has a previous declaration as 'GSM3_NetworkStatus_t IDLE'
It seems to be a conflict between libraries Keypad and GSM...Any idea how to solve it?
It does seem to be a conflict, but it seems to be a simple name clash rather than something more fundamental.
typedef enum{ IDLE, PRESSED, HOLD, RELEASED } KeyState;
enum GSM3_NetworkStatus_t { ERROR, IDLE, CONNECTING, GSM_READY, GPRS_READY, TRANSPARENT_CONNECTED};
iCONTROL_V11.cpp:2101:14: error: empty character constant
const byte ROWS = 4; //4 filasconst byte COLS = 3; //3 columnaschar keys[ROWS][COLS] = { { '1','2','3' } , { '4','5','6' } , { '7','8','9' } , { '*','0','#' }};byte rowPins[ROWS] = { 7, 6, 5, 4}; // reserva de memoria en bytes, conectar a los pines de filas del tecladobyte colPins[COLS] = { 10, 9, 8}; // reserva de memoria en bytes, conectar a los pines de columnas del tecladoKeypad keypad = Keypad( makeKeymap(keys), rowPins, colPins, ROWS, COLS );keypad.setHoldTime(50); // Tiempo de pulsado de boton. Default is 1000mSkeypad.setDebounceTime(20); // Tiempo de rebote de bootn. Default is 50mS
The problems is that when I connect the GSM shield from Arduino and Telefonico to the Arduino Mega my keypad doesn't respond.
It's up to me to do that??
Quote from: dgelectron on Sep 11, 2013, 05:41 pmIt seems to be a conflict between libraries Keypad and GSM...Any idea how to solve it?I made a first attempt at including a namespace in the keypad library which I just attached below. I did this while at work so I haven't had a chance to test it out. If you want to use the attached copy of the keypad library then you will need to change the KeyState variables (IDLE, PRESSED, HOLD, or RELEASED) in your sketch to m_key::IDLE, m_key::PRESSED, m_key::HOLD, and m_key::RELEASED.


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DELTA HEAVY – 'Only In Dreams'
22nd MARCH 2019
After months of anticipation UK bass duo Delta Heavy finally drop their sophomore studio album 'Only In Dreams', out on worldwide release today via iconic imprint Ram Records.
The follow up to their seminal debut album 'Paradise Lost', 'Only In Dreams' features collaborations with Zeds Dead, Everyone You Know, Muzzy, Modestep, KUURO alongside vocalists Jem Cooke, Starling and Rae Hall and further cements their status within the bass scene on both sides of the Atlantic and beyond.
It's a work of maturity and bristling confidence from the London duo, one that should once again reap them a whirlwind of accolades from all corners of the bass-loving planet.
The needle drops on intro track 'In Dreams', an ambient interlude that interjects a surreal, dream-like soundscape with rumbling blasts of foreboding tension. It sets the scene for the entire record, as listeners are taken on journey through light and shade, from edgy underground depths to celestial melodic heights. Flexing and bending between DnB, trap, future bass and dubstep, the duo infuse every single track with layer after layer of originality, creativity and dynamism, lifting the music well beyond the norm. Tracks like 'Exodus' and the Middle Eastern-tinged Muzzy collab 'Revenge' thunder and prowl their way across the darkest of sound systems. Monstercat heavyweights KUURO bring their talents into play on the trap and DnB hybrid 'Replicant' while British dubstep and electronic act Modestep feature on 'Here With Me', a soaring and complex take on the future bass genre. 'Lift You Up', the Zeds Dead collaboration that only recently lit the online music media world on fire, gifts fans a prime example of Delta Heavy's ability to stride firmly into the Stateside world of bass, as does the glitchy halftime stomp of 'A.I.' The album climaxes with 'Show Me The Light' and 'Take Me Home', featuring Starling and Jem Cooke respectively, two anthemic vocal tracks laced with as much emotion and beauty as they are with dance-floor drive and energy.
A thorough illustration of their diversity and flexibility within the bass genres, the album's range will come as no surprise to fans of the duo. Delta Heavy, who have been producing together since 2008, have refused to be constrained by genre limitations, resulting in a plethora of celebrated productions including 'Ghost', 'Get By' and their massive debut album 'Paradise Lost', which spawned the 18 million+ streaming monster 'White Flag'.
Supporting the release of 'Only In Dreams' is a huge run of tour dates that takes in venues from North America through the UK and Europe and down into Australia and New Zealand, with more dates still to be announced in a Phase 2 album tour announcement. For fans of the duo's sound, 2019 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting and involved in years. For more information on all things Delta Heavy, from music releases through to tour dates, please visit www.deltaheavy.co.uk.
Feb 01 – Echos, Loughborough UK
Feb 08 – Heinz Gaul, Cologne GERMANY
Feb 22 – Oval Space, London UK
Feb 23 – MAAG, Zurich SWITZERLAND
Feb 23 – Cition Hall, Moscow RUSSIA
Mar 01 – Arena, Mayhorfen AUSTRIA
Mar 02 – Arena, Vienna AUSTRIA
Mar 09 – B3 Glorieta Comunidad Autonoma de Aragon, Seville SPAIN
Mar 14 – Fat Controller, Adelaide AUSTRALIA
Mar 16 – TBC Club, Brisbane AUSTRALIA
Mar 17 – Villa, Perth AUSTRALIA
Mar 21 – Catacomb, Dunedin NEW ZEALAND
Mar 22 – Winnie Bagoes, Christchurch NEW ZEALAND
Mar 23 – Studio, Auckland NEW ZEALAND
Mar 23 – Poppodium, Tilburg THE NETHERLANDS
Mar 29 – Jade Room, Portland USA
Apr 05 – Reithalle, Dresden GERMANY
Apr 06 – Conrad Sohn, Dornbirn AUSTRIA
Apr 12 – Club Hollywood, Tallinn ESTONIA
Apr 18 – Storm Club, Prague CZECH REP
Apr 19 – Le Bikini, Toulouse FRANCE
May 03 – Union Hall, Edmonton CANADA
May 04 – The Palace Theatre, Calgary CANADA
May 10 – IDL Ballroom, Tulsa USA
May 25 – TBA, Vancouver CANADA
Jun 26 – Lush, San Antonio USA
Jun 27 – Stereo Live, Houston USA
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Soundcloud | Spotify | Youtube
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Soundcloud | Spotify | YouTube


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This Sunday Ian and I are leaving Santiago to go and spend 3 weeks in Buenos Aires in Argentina. We return to Chile for only 10 days before we leave for 2 months in San Francisco. I just thought I would write a quick post about the things that I will and will not miss, and the things I wish I had done. I'll probably keep updating this as I think of things, but this is what springs immediately to mind.
Things I will miss
- SUP staff
- SUP participants
- Cheap, awesome wine
- Cero San Cristobel
- The summer weather
- Lots of easily accesible running tracks with exercise machines
- The Jewel of India
- Watching sunsets over Cerro San Cristobel from our living room
- Jazz at Thelonius
- Salsa taught by Ben
Things I will not miss
- The dogs
- The car alarms
- the winter weather
- the lack of heating in winter
- the lack of air conditioning in summer
- the smog
- having to talk Spanish every day
- the food
- Coming home from the pub stinking of cigarettes.
Things I wish I'd done
- Visited Puerto Varas, Temuco and Pucón
- Visited Atacama
- Learned more Spanish
- Spent more time in Viña del Mar
- Spent more time at the Santiago Makerspace


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Author: Stephen D. Hans
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has spent considerable researching and analyzing harassment claims related to federal anti-discrimination laws. Such laws protect individuals based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age or genetic information harassment.
According to the Chair of the EEOC, Jenny R. Yang :
"Harassment remains a serious workplace problem that is the concern of all Americans. It is important for employers to understand the actions they can take today to prevent and address harassment in their workplaces."
The Commission has opened up to the public for input on proposed enforcement guidance.
Harassment Claims on the Rise in the Workplace
Between 2012 and 2015, harassment claims from the private sector increased from slightly more than 25% to 30% to 31% percent of the federal charges filed for 2013, 2014 and 2015 respectively. Dealing effectively with harassment has been an EEOC priority since 2013.
Guidance Based on the Harassment Prevention Report
Employers can benefit from reading about the EEOC's positions on harassment law. The report gives explanatory examples and recommends practices that companies can implement.
Information Contained in the Report
The report describes the scope of hostile work environment claims. It gives examples so you understand the extent to which harassment can occur outside of the regular place of work and how it can impact the workplace. It covers subjectively and objectively hostile work environments.
It can help you determine whether the harassment is severe or pervasive. A single severe incident of harassment can result in a hostile work environment. Pervasive, which means ongoing actions, can also result in a hostile work environment, and the report provides examples of pervasive harassment.
Numerous best practices actions exist that employers can take. One is conducting anonymous employee surveys on a regular basis to detect whether harassment is occurring. Repeated communication to employees about how the company provides easy access to a complaint system is another example. You can implement practices that protect both yourselves as employers and your employees.
You can download the EEOC Proposed EG on Unlawful Harassment for Public Input and provide your feedback to the EEOC.
Stephen Hans & Associates is an employment litigation firm. We have assisted small and medium sized businesses with employment law issues for more than 20 years.


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If you don't have a password yet, stop by the circulation desk the next time you're in the library. We'll happily set one up for you.
If you don't have a library card, stop by your local library to sign up.
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LONDON - Visitors never know what they might encounter at Olympic "Park Live" gatherings.
Imagine strolling into Victoria Park last week, just as 'Bumbling Boris' Johnson, London's mayor, was stuck dangling from a zip line for several minutes, 45 metres from the ground.
Inadvertently, Bumbling Boris may have stumbled upon the true meaning of the Olympic spirit at these Games. Get out there and "give it a go," as they say in London, sample and share the Olympic feast.
A total of 2.7 million people have visited the 22 live sites throughout the UK since the opening ceremony on July 27. Mostly, they are watching Olympic events on giant screens, when they aren't posing for pictures, imitating Usain Bolt's "To Di World" pose, one arm back, the other thrust to the sky, like a human lightning bolt.
Not everyone could get a ticket to Olympic Stadium when Bolt electrified the universe with his performances in the 100 and 200-metre sprints. The next best venue was across the Olympic grounds at Park Live, where up to 10,000 fans have been cramming onto the park space of the River Lea grounds, watching events and medalist interviews on the screen, in gatherings reminiscent of the 2010 Games in Vancouver.
"This is the best place to be, if you want to watch anything and feel that you're there," says Linda Holt, a supervisor of volunteers working at Park Live. A petite woman in her 50s with short blonde hair, Holt hails from Norwich, northeast of Cambridge.
"You can hear the crowd from here, the sounds just rise out of the stadium," Holt says. "I was fortunate to go and work there Thursday for the 4 X 100 relay and the sound follows the runners around the stadium - and resounds. It's amazing."
The Park Live site at Olympic Park was no afterthought, but years in the making. The waterside ecosystem by the River Lea was, in Holt's words "a bit derelict." The site was cleaned up, and marshes were planted, giving the water's edge the look of a natural wetland. At enormous cost, some two million tonnes of contaminated soil were washed, five kilometres of riverbank cleaned up, and 250,000 wetland plants, grasses and ferns were planted, as well as 9,500 shrubs.
To honour visiting Olympic nations, flora species representative of each participating country were planted on Park Live hillsides, overseen by a botanist from Sheffield University. Nothing was left to chance. Last summer, the grounds had a garden dress rehearsal, with plants checked to ensure they would flower just in time for the Olympics.
The end result is an attractive oasis, just beyond the frenzy of Olympic Park, where masses of spectators roam between venues, stopping to queue patiently for a souvenir T-shirt or a cornish pastie.
As beautiful as it was, there was never any guarantee it would work. But something about these Games has brought the British out of themselves. It hasn't hurt, of course, that Team GB had won 54 medals as I wrote this, including 25 gold. For a variety of reasons, the Brits aren't satisfied staying home to watch the Games on the family telly.
"I think they want to feel a part of it," Holt says. "So many people can feel the atmosphere when they get here. They bring a picnic, they can sit and chat with friends, they can watch the Olympics on the big screen live - I think everybody now has got that Olympic bug."
Holt helped form the Gamesmaker Choir, an impromptu band of choralists comprised of Olympic volunteers. Twenty of them performed on the Park Live bandshell stage on Thursday, singing popular songs by the Beatles and from London musicals. By Friday, they were getting play on local radio and TV.
As Holt spoke, it was Friday morning at Park Live. People slowly filed in to take up viewing spots on the grass while kayak races aired on the big screen. Teenagers sprawled out in the late morning sun.
The Horne family from the town of Skirpenbeck, near York, settled in near the top of the hill. Peter, his wife, Kay, and daughters Laura and Alice were just back from a vacation in France, and couldn't catch up with British Games news fast enough.
"Over there," Kay complained, "the coverage is just 'France, France, France.'"
(I know how she feels, having endured nearly three weeks of homespun Brit coverage.) "It's great to be a part of this," Peter said, happily clutching four tickets for the bronze-medal field hockey match between GB and New Zealand.
"I wish we weren't watching Great Britain, to be honest, " Peter said. "These are semifinal tickets and we hoped they'd be in the final.
"You know there's no ice in there, do you?" he said, teasing a Canadian reporter.
Peter Horne smiled, but what else is new at these Friendship Games.
"People are just lovely," Holt says. "Everybody's chatted, and it's brought the community together. In London, often people don't talk to each other, particularly on the transport, the tube. You'll all sit there going to work, not speaking. But now, somebody will say, 'did you see that event last night?' And they'll start talking."


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The 11 Best Dishes at the 2011 New Orleans Roadfood Festival
Barbecue from Memphis. Pork tenderloin sandwiches from Iowa. Natchitoches meat pies from middle Louisiana. Tamales from Tucson. Where else can you dine this fine in the middle of the street?
The New Orleans Roadfood Festival celebrates the best of America's highway diners and eateries each year with an invitational festival showing off the greatest bites along the nation's roadways. Some 30 restaurants from across Louisiana and the rest of the country shared versions of their best dishes with an estimated 40,000 visitors to Royal Street in New Orleans at this year's festival.
Vendors offered small versions of their best dishes, ranging from $3 for a trio of muffuletta sliders to $13 for a pound of smoked Texas beef brisket. There was music in the streets, appearances by event Grand Marshal Jennifer Jones decked out in her finest, a beignet-eating contest between the New Orleans Police Department and Fire Department and plenty of cold, refreshing alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
My job? To find the best of the best and share it with you, the eleven best dishes discovered at this year's New Orleans Roadfood Festival. Check them out in this special slideshow, or individual dishes below:
- Brisket from Louie Mueller Barbecue: Taylor, TX »
- Mini-Muffulettas from Rouses Grocery: New Orleans, LA »
- 12 Hour Roast Beef Sandwiches from Boucherie: New Orleans, LA »
- Crawfish Enchiladas: Lafayette, LA »
- Cashew Turtles from Turtle Alley Chocolates: Glouchester, MA »
- Chargrilled Oysters from Royal House: New Orleans, LA »
- Buttermilk Delight Pie from Royers Round Top Cafe: Round Top, TX »
- Crawfish Pie from Lasyone's: Natchitoches, LA »
- Roasted Plantain Tamales from Tucson Tamale Company: Tucson, AZ »
- Creole Cream Cupcakes from Cupcakes and Comapny: New Orleans, LA »
- Soft-shell Crab Po' Boy from Oceana Grill: New Orleans, LA »
All products linked here have been independently selected by our editors. We may earn a commission on purchases, as described in our affiliate policy.