text:
I have a custom post type
sites registered via
register_post_type and my front page displays my latest posts. Including posts from
Is there any way I can set it up so that posts from sites (custom post type) that have no post body (no content) will NOT be displayed?
The body of the custom post type is not important, the title is. I introduced custom fields for my custom post type. I make a list from custom posts and majority of them do not have any body. So I do not want to display them. It will only make the web harder to read. I want to display only custom posts that have body.
I have not modify the loop.
How can I modify the loop (introduce custom query) as a part of plugin?


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02 May, 2012 | (01 hr)
Sign In to access this Webcast
Join our panel of investor and governance experts for a debate on whether shareholder activism has had the desired effects and moved governance in a productive direction. Our panel will discuss issues such as:
- Whether better governance creates shareholder value
- Shareholder success on specific governance issues like say on pay, majority voting, board declassification, and separation of the Chair/CEO role
- Methods of engagement, from proxy proposals and coordinated shareholder campaigns, to behind the scenes conversations – what works when?
- With recent prominent failed say on pay votes and shareholder campaigns against specific directors – what can we expect next?
Audience: Corporate Secretaries, General Counsel, Directors, Chief Governance Officers, and Corporate Governance Managers
Brandon Rees
Brandon Rees is the Deputy Director of the Office of Investment for the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO). The AFL-CIO is a federation of 56 labor unions who represent 12.2 million members. Union-sponsored pension and employee benefit funds hold appro...Full Bio
Thomas Quaadman
Thomas Quaadman is the vice president of the U.S. Chamber Center for Capital Markets competitiveness. The Center was established in March 2007 to advocate legal and regulatory policies for the U.S. capital markets to advance the protection of investors, promote capital formation, and ensure U.S. ...Full Bio
Jeffrey D. Karpf
Jeffrey D. Karpf is a partner based in the New York office of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton.
Mr. Karpf's practice focuses on corporate and financial transactions. He represents investment banks and issuers in a variety of SEC-registered and private debt and equity offerings, ...Full Bio

subset: commoncrawl


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Información sobre medicamentos proporcionada por: IBM Micromedex
Paclitaxel injection is used to treat advanced cancer of the ovaries, breast, non-small cell lung cancer, and Kaposi sarcoma. Kaposi sarcoma is a cancer of the skin and mucous membranes that is commonly found in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
Paclitaxel belongs to the group of medicines called antineoplastics. It interferes with the growth of cancer cells, which are eventually destroyed. Since the growth of normal body cells may also be affected, other unwanted effects will also occur. Some of these may be serious and must be reported to your doctor. Other effects may not be serious but may cause concern. Some effects may not occur until months or years after the medicine is used.
Before you begin treatment with paclitaxel, you and your doctor should talk about the good this medicine will do as well as the risks of using it.
This medicine is to be administered only by or under the immediate supervision of your doctor.
This product is available in the following dosage forms:
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:
Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.
Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of paclitaxel injection in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.
Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of paclitaxel injection in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have unwanted side effects (e.g., heart disease, bone marrow problems, and nerve problems), which may require caution in patients receiving paclitaxel injection.
There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receiving this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.
The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
Medicines used to treat cancer are very strong and can have many unwanted effects. Before receiving this medicine, you and your doctor should talk about the good this medicine will do as well as the risks of using it. .
A doctor or other trained health professional will give you this medicine in a hospital or cancer treatment center. This medicine is given through a needle placed in one of your veins.
This medicine is usually given every 3 weeks and is used together with other cancer medicines, such as cisplatin or doxorubicin.
You may also receive other medicines to help prevent allergic reactions and nausea or vomiting from paclitaxel.
It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure that this medicine is working properly. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.
Using this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. Use an effective form of birth control to keep from getting pregnant. If you think you have become pregnant while using the medicine, tell your doctor right away.
This medicine may cause serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. Tell your doctor or nurse right away if you have a cough; dizziness; wheezing; trouble with breathing; chest or throat tightness; swelling in your face or hands; fever; chills; rash; itching or hives; skin redness; or lightheadedness or faintness while you are receiving this medicine.
While you are being treated with paclitaxel, and after you stop treatment with it, do not have any immunizations (vaccines) without your doctor's approval. Paclitaxel may lower your body's resistance and the vaccine may not work as well or you might get the infection the vaccine is meant to prevent. In addition, you should not be around other persons living in your household who receive live virus vaccines because there is a chance they could pass the virus on to you. Some examples of live vaccines include measles, mumps, influenza (nasal flu vaccine), poliovirus (oral form), rotavirus, and rubella. Do not get close to them and do not stay in the same room with them for very long. If you have questions about this, talk to your doctor.
Paclitaxel can temporarily lower the number of white blood cells in your blood, increasing the chance of getting an infection. It can also lower the number of platelets, which are necessary for proper blood clotting. If this occurs, there are certain precautions you can take, especially when your blood count is low, to reduce the risk of infection or bleeding:
This medicine may cause peripheral neuropathy. Check with your doctor right away if you are having burning, numbness, tingling, or painful sensations in the arms, hands, legs, or feet while using this medicine.
Cancer medicines can cause diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting in most people, sometimes even after receiving medicines to prevent it. Ask your doctor or nurse about other ways to control these unwanted effects if you still have nausea or vomiting after receiving the medicine.
Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Portions of this document last updated: Sept. 01, 2020
Original article: https://www.mayoclinic.org/es-es/drugs-supplements/paclitaxel-intravenous-route/description/drg-20065247
Copyright © 2020 IBM Watson Health. Todos los derechos reservados. La información es para uso exclusivo del usuario final y no puede venderse, redistribuirse ni utilizarse de ninguna otra forma con fines comerciales.
Cualquier uso de este sitio constituye su acuerdo con los términos y condiciones y política de privacidad para los que hay enlaces abajo.
Mayo Clinic es una organización sin fines de lucro, y el dinero recaudado con la publicidad en Internet apoya nuestra misión. Mayo Clinic no respalda ningún producto ni servicios de terceros que se anuncien.
Se puede reimprimir una sola copia de estos materiales para usar en forma personal y no comercial. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.org," "Mayo Clinic Healthy Living," y el triple escudo que es el logotipo de Mayo Clinic son marcas registradas de Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.


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This uniquely designed pet gate features a walk-through dog gate door, easily secured with a sliding bolt lock. The Emperor Rings pressure mounted dog gate is made of metal to prevent chewing. This elegant pet gate safely secures dogs at doorways without the need to permanently attach it to a wall.
Gate with Measurements
Pet Gate Open
Emperor Rings Doorway Dog Gate - Pet Gate Extensions:
The Pet Gate Extension extends the length of pressure mount gates by up to 5". The extension can be used with any of the Doorway Pet Gates or Hallway Pet Gates.
Dog Crates, Dog Beds, Dog Exercise Pens, Dog Carriers, Dog Feeders & Bowls
Dog Crate Pans, Dog Crate Covers, Dog Kennels, Pet Barriers


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Food & Drink
5 European bike rides for amateurs
Annie Fitzsimmons, Special to CNN • Updated 19th July 2012
View Gallery
5 Pictures
That moment when you first learn to balance on a bike has to be similar to how a bird feels learning to fly. When you're 4 or 5 years old and the training wheels come off, fear has been replaced by possibility.
Many of us have done the college tour of hostels in Europe or perhaps a grown-up weekend getaway to Paris. But biking trips through lesser-explored regions of Europe are becoming more popular as travelers seek to not only immerse themselves in the culture, but also pursue personal goals of health and a feeling of accomplishment.
A European bike tour at its best covers
with rolling hills and roads that hug lakes, mountains and fields. Castles and vineyards rise and fall in the distance as hill climbs give way to exhilarating, breezy rides down.
The reward after 15, 30, maybe 45 miles a day of riding? A great dinner and a glass of local wine to soothe sore muscles, and trading stories with fellow
As you read, the 2012 Tour de France is under way and leaders have emerged in the cutting-edge race. Armchair viewers wince at the tortuous mountain climbs and breathe sighs of relief at easy downhills. Riders are pedaling toward an always epic finish line on July 22 on Paris' Champs-Elysees.
While it's possible to follow parts of the Tour de France route, the best routes for amateur riders have little traffic, great beauty and minimal hills. It's best to have at least some experience on a bike, but each of these companies can help you better gauge what level of ride is right for you. And don't worry -- there's always back-up support, complete with a van, in case you need it.
Check out these five tours for miles of beautiful amateur riding:
1. Ciclismo Classico's Ireland
It seems travelers dream of Ireland more than other countries, perhaps because so many have roots there. The Ireland that we seek can be found on its Western Coast, and biking it gets you deep into the country. And of course, to pubs for a pint or two.
"The Irish are renowned storytellers, but nothing tells the story of Ireland better than cycling the breathtaking landscapes of the West Coast. From the soaring Cliffs of Moher to the atmospheric peat bogs of Connemara National Park, the wild heart of Ireland is one of the most rewarding cycling trips in all of Europe," said Lauren Hefferon, who founded
Ciclismo Classico
in 1989.
The tour takes you to Galway, the rocky land of the Burren, the live music capital of Doolin, the stunning Aran Islands and to unspoiled Connemara.
Priced from $4,295 for 8 days/7 nights.
2. BikeSherpa's Dresden Bike and Beer Tour
On September 11, 2001, the New York offices of Robert Reimann's company, Sherpa Corp., were destroyed in the terrorist attacks against the United States. Reimann decided to explore the Middle East on a solo bike trip to Iran, and his inspiration for
was born.
"There's no better (or more fun) way of traveling than by bicycle," he said via e-mail.
The Dresden Germany Bike & Beer Tour takes riders along the car-free Elbe River bike path, the most popular bike path in Germany.
Related content
Cycling routes that'll take your breath away
The itinerary includes stops at quintessential "biergartens" and cafes, with other visits in historic but lesser-known cities like Dresden, Meissen and Pirna. Reimann maintains a close relationship with hotels and local guides, which helps him keep prices fair while offering great accommodations, he said.
For beginners, there is the option of using an e-bike with a motor and rechargeable battery that helps you climb hills if you need it.
Priced from $1,598 for 6 days/5 nights.
3. Trek Travel's Provence Explorer
Biking in Provence.
Courtesy Trek Travel
Trek Travel
was born from Trek Bicycles, which was founded in 1976 and is now one of the more popular bike retailers in the world. Trek Travel says that traveling by bike allows you to become part of a region rather than just moving through it, and it offers bike tours all over the world, including itineraries in Latin America, Europe, North America and Asia.
The Provence Explorer tour celebrates a slower pace of life, with a cooking class after shopping at a local market, and riding through sweeping French landscapes. For those wanting an extra challenge, there is the option to climb Mont Ventoux, a mountain made famous by being part of the Tour de France.
Priced from $2,795 for 6 days/5 nights.
4. DuVine Adventures' Mallorca
For the amateur cyclist, the island of Mallorca in Spain is close to perfect -- easy rolling seaside roads, little traffic and a temperate, sunny climate year-round. Plus, many of the world's best cyclists have pedaled the island, where more than half of the roads are designated cycling routes.
DuVine Adventures'
Mallorca trip takes riders on these roads, through orange groves, small villages and romantic countryside.
Related content
8 great cycling cities around the world
"The terrain on Mallorca is diverse, which makes it perfect for couples and families, as there is something for everyone," said owner Andy DuVine.
This tour involves stays in exceptional hotels, including La Residencia in the foothills of the Tramuntana mountains, where Richard Branson has been spotted, and Cap Rocat, a former military fortress that now overlooks the Bay of Palma.
Priced from $4,995 for 6 days/5 nights.
5. Austin-Lehman's Danish Isles Bike Tour
Touring the Danish Isles by bike is a natural fit for travelers, as cycling plays such a big role in Danish culture.
"The numbers tell it all: Out of 1.2 million residents, roughly 500,000 commuters choose to bike to work each day in Copenhagen! The infrastructure seems as if it were custom-made for cyclists. Some of the bike lanes are as wide as car lanes," said Ron van Dijk, director of European operations for
Austin-Lehman Adventures
This tour takes riders to palaces, castles, museums, beaches and gorgeous mountain vistas with stops in Copenhagen, Helsingor, Svendborg and Faaborg and multiple opportunities to interact with the famously friendly Danes.
Priced from $3,998 for 8 days/7 nights.
A year of the world's
Best Beaches
There's a perfect beach for every week of the year. Join us on a 12-month journey to see them all
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Big GovernmentU.S. History
If you like high taxes, crony capitalism, central banking, and a central authority that can regulate everything you do, thank Alexander Hamilton.
Global EconomyWorld History
"Green" parties gained too, and unfortunately, the big winners share an important similarity: they all advocate for more government interventionism in one way or another.
World History
Angela Merkel has caused cultural blowback with seemingly unchecked migrant flows while simultaneously harming business with higher taxes and more anti-business regulation. The results have not been great.
Global Economy
Chile would be even better off today had it adopted Mises-style laissez-faire over Milton Friedman's monetarism. But even a Friedmanian regime is far superior to the Keynesian economies that have ruined Argentina and Brazil.
Taxes and SpendingWar and Foreign Policy
Talking about Russian imperialism is the modern version of talking about what fine clothes the Emperor is wearing in that fairy tale.
Protectionism and Free Trade
According to Mises, economic nationalism "is incompatible with durable peace," and efforts to fan the flames of a trade war between the US and China are dangerous.


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Applause Guitars
So, what are the traits that set these guitars apart from others? The most important one is the curved back. Ovation's founder, Charles Kaman, was an aeronautical engineer before he went into the luthier business, and that gave him enough experience working with composite materials to design a guitar back unlike any other. You'll find those same bowl backs on the Applause series, which gives them fantastic volume and projection while making them easier and more comfortable than standard guitars to hold.
A great introduction to the Applause guitar lineup would be the Balladeer models. Built for beginners and intermediate guitarists, they've got a classic look on the front with the futuristic Lyrachord body in behind. Interested in an even more unique sound and style? Check out the Applause Elite Mid-Depth Bowl Acoustic-Electric Guitar. Its special soundhole pattern makes its tone extra clear and articulate, and since it's an acoustic-electric model, you can connect it to an amp or mixer when you want huge volume or an easy way to record your first demo tape.
Just like their Ovation cousins, Applause guitars are great examples of what you can get when you combine a passion for music with great technical know-how and craftsmanship. Great for new players, intermediate musicians or veteran strummers in need of a reliable "daily driver", these instruments have what it takes to carve their own special niche in the guitar scene.


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Can other planets harbor life? Do we have company out in the far-flung universe?
Earthlings since Aristotle have pondered these questions. Now, writes James Kasting, a planetary scientist at Penn State, "Astronomers are on the verge of being able to answer [them] observationally."
Over the last two decades, Kasting has been a world leader in developing the concept of the habitable zone, that window of distance from a parent star within which a planet can sustain liquid water. In this engaging book he discusses how Earth came to be habitable and why it has remained so throughout a sometimes tumultuous history. Then he lays out the ways in which today's scientists are looking for life in all the right places.
Like the late Carl Sagan, whose footsteps he has followed, Kasting is optimistic that extraterrestrial life exists. And like Sagan, he acknowledges a youthful debt to science fiction for firing his own ability to imagine.
James F. Kasting, Ph.D., is distinguished professor of geosciences and meteorology in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences; email@example.com.


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Purchase and payment of period tickets
You can buy period tickets in Västtrafik shops, at Västtrafik's points of sale and as mobile tickets in the Västtrafik To Go app. In some areas, period tickets are also sold on board vehicles. Period tickets that are not purchased using the Västtrafik To Go app must be loaded onto a Västtrafikkort.
For more information about period tickets, visit Västtrafik's website.
Activating a period ticket
Flexible start date
Most period tickets on a Västtrafikkort have a flexible start date, which means they are activated the first time the ticket is used by holding it against a card reader. Flexible period tickets with validity of 30 days and 90 days must be activated within 30 days of the date of purchase and are valid from the time they are activated until 23:59 on the final day of validity.
Fixed start date
With a fixed start date, you decide at the time of purchase what date the period will begin, but this must be within 30 days of the date of purchase. This applies both to period tickets on a Västtrafikkort and in the Västtrafik To Go app. Fixed periods are valid from 00:00 on the first day of validity to 23:59 on the final day of validity. Period tickets on a Västtrafikkort that are valid for 365 days are only available with a fixed start date.
If you top up your card with more than one period ticket at the same time, it is important to remember that each period ticket is subject to the terms and conditions in force at the time it is activated. For example, if you buy youth tickets just before your 20th birthday but do not activate them until after your 20th birthday, they are not valid for you. You will then have to exchange the ticket at a Västtrafik ticket office.
Exchanges and refunds of period tickets
You can exchange a period ticket for any other ticket product within 30 days of purchase if it has not yet been activated. If you have already activated the period ticket, you can exchange it for another ticket product within 24 hours of activation. This does not apply to Chalmers top-ups and period tickets in To Go.
A period ticket can be refunded if Västtrafik changes the transport services available. In this case, the services available must have changed more than could reasonably have been expected at the time of purchase. The change must also have a major impact on you. In such cases, the value remaining at the time of the refund will be repaid.
Period ticket validity
You can see the validity period of your period ticket and the zone or zones for which it is valid on the receipt, at a card reader or on a validity receipt. For more information about our various period tickets and the areas in which they are valid, visitVästtrafik's website.
Öresundståg trains in 2nd class on the route Gothenburg-Kungsbacka-Åsa
Line 615 on the route Frillesås-Bua-Varberg. Also valid for onward travel within the arrival zone.
Line 777 (Västtrafik/Hallandstrafiken) on the route Kungsbacka-Åsa-Frillesås-Bua-Varberg. Also valid for onward travel within the arrival zone.
Validity receipt instead of card reader
There are no card readers on these lines. You must carry the validity receipt for the ticket with you to show that it is valid. You can obtain a validity receipt from a driver or from our ticket offices and sales points.
If you are over the age of 20 and have an adult period ticket, three people under 20 can travel with you for free. Great for those travelling together!
How the offer works
- The offer is valid for period tickets and 24-hour and 72-hour tickets for adults and those with a Senior citizen card.
- It is valid on Västtrafik's trains, buses, trams and ferries within Västtrafik's operating area (Västra Götaland region and Kungsbacka municipality).
- It is valid on Öresundståg trains between Gothenburg and Åsa.
If you lose your ticket, you can get back any value remaining on it. All you need to do is register your ticket with us first.
If you have a ticket on a Västtrafikkort
- Create an account
- Register your card.
- If you lose your card, log in and block it. A new card will then be sent to your home address.
If you have a ticket in the Västtrafik To Go app
- Create an account in the Västtrafik To Go app.
- The period ticket you have bought in the app is registered when you log in to the app.
- Log in to the app from your new phone if you lose your old one. Your ticket will move to your new phone and no longer be available on your old phone.


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Black Mirror was one of the most ambitious, haunting pieces of television we've seen in years — so it's excellent news that we're apparently getting three more hours of it.
According to SFX, Channel 4 has commissioned a second year of Charlie Brooker's audacious anthology program, comparing Brooker to Dennis Potter as well as Brasseye's Chris Morris. Says Channel 4 head of comedy Shane Allen:
British drama seems particularly obsessed with murder and the past, often together. Black Mirror is a rare modern look at where society and individuals could be headed, given the all-pervasive deluge of social media and technology.
Oh, and apparently the first episode of season one, in which the British Prime Minister gets blackmailed into a very sticky situation, received 322 official complaints.
The second season will start filming in August, and Brooker is writing all three episodes. [Thanks Benjamin!]


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There was a time before the BBC held the trademark on police call boxes and TARDIS-like kiosks lined British streets. But as we look back at these Google streetview images mashed up with vintage photographs, we can imagine that each picture represents a past visit from the Doctor.
Mark Dando created this "Ghosts of the TARDIS" series, combining the old and the new to show where these police boxes once sat. (The one up top was on Goldhawk Road in London.) It's fun to cook up Doctor-centered vignettes that might go with each photo, but it also shows how something that now triggers a sense of the fantastical was once commonplace. Once, a blue callbox didn't evoke wondrous adventures through time and space; it simply summoned the police.
Ghosts of the TARDIS [Retronaut via The Mary Sue]
Charing Cross
Hampton Hill
Old Kent Road
Plumstead Common


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Armed Forces Reserve Medal
Service: All Services
Instituted: 1950
Criteria: 10 years of honorable service in any reserve component of the United States Armed Forces Reserve or award of "M" device.
Devices: Bronze, Silver and Gold Hourglass, Bronze Letter "M" , Bronze Numeral
Authorized in 1950 for 10 years of honorable and satisfactory service within a 12 year period as a member of one or more of the Reserve Components of the Armed Forces of the United States.
An executive order of Aug. 8, 1996 authorized the award of a bronze letter "M" mobilization device to U.S. reserve component members who were called to active-duty service in support of designated operations on or after August 1, 1990 (the M device was not authorized for any operations prior to August 1, 1990 although it had been previously proposed). Units called up in support of Operations Desert Storm/Desert Shield were the first units to be authorized the "M" device. If an "M" is authorized, the medal is awarded even though service might be less than 10 years. Previous to this change, only bronze hourglasses were awarded at each successive 10 year point (first hourglass at the 20 year point).
The front of the medal depicts a flaming torch placed vertically between a crossed bugle and powder horn; thirteen stars and thirteen rays surround the design. The front of the medal is the same for all services; only the reverse design is different (see designs below). Bronze numerals beginning with "2" are worn to the right of the bronze "M" on the ribbon bar and below the "M" on the medal, indicating the total number of times the individual was mobilized. Bronze, silver and gold hourglasses are awarded for 10, 20 and 30 years service, respectively.
The medal reverses are as follows:
Army has a Minuteman in front of a circle with 13 stars representing the original colonies.
Navy has a sailing ship with an anchor on its front with an eagle with wings spread superimposed upon it.
Marine Corps has the USMC emblem, eagle, globe and anchor.
Air Force has an eagle with wings spread in front of a circle with clouds and includes the inscription, "ARMED FORCES RESERVE."
Coast Guard has the Coast Guard emblem, crossed anchor with the Coast Guard shield in the center.
National Guard has the National Guard insignia on the reverse, an eagle with crossed fasces in its center.


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Chai Tea
Chai teas. That perfect combination of famous Indian spices with quality loose tea. Chai teas are perfect for those who like a carnival of flavours and aromas.
Adopting Indian Ayurvedic principles, Wan Ling Tea House stocks a range of Chai teas that aim to blend great flavours and aromas with health benefits to bring you relaxation and harmony. Ayurveda comes from the Sanskrit 'ayus' and 'vedas' or, science of life, a form of traditional medicine and increasingly popular form of modern Complementary and Alternative Medicine.


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What are you doing now:
Now? I am officially retired and loving life as much as I can.
Please visit my website http://eraya.fotki.com/ and view hundreds of photos, and many are from Vietnam.
Other Comments:
After retiring from the Army in 1991, I worked part-time at a Radio Shack in the Hampton Mall in Hampton Roads, VA. Moved from VA in 1993 to Gatlinburg, TN and lived and worked about six months for a Chalet Company. Moved from Gatlinburg in June 1993 to Cookeville, TN, and graduated from an Architectural Drafting School in Livingston TN, then moved to Dale Hollow Lake in Pickett County TN where for about ten years I ran my own Professional Photography business and also worked part-time at a local Funeral Home. In 2004, I moved back to Scott County Tennessee where I was born and raised, in Norma to be exact, and for a few years I worked for FOUR OAKS FUNEERAL HOME before finally retiring for good.
Now, I'm loving retirement, and just trying to stay out of trouble!


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Samsung finally announced the rumored Galaxy S4 Mini smartphone. This mid-range handset is the stripped down version of the company's flagship Galaxy S4 smartphone. The 5 inch full HD display, octa-core processor and 13 megapixel camera found in the Galaxy S4 has been replaced with a smaller 4.3 inch qHD display, less powerful dual-core processor and 8 megapixel camera. However, this handset runs on the same Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean) Operating System and packs all the gimmicky features which was first seen in the original Galaxy S4.
JK Shin, President of IT & Mobile Communication Division at Samsung Electronics, said,
"We appreciate such unprecedented demands for the GALAXY S4 that we aimed to provide users with life companion for a fuller, richer and simpler life. And now, we want to give people more choices with GALAXY S4 mini, similar look & feel of Galaxy S4 for more compact and practical usages. "The new GALAXY S4 mini provides consumers with a new way to enjoy the flagship Galaxy S4 experience."
Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini features a 4.3 inch qHD Super-AMOLED display, sporting a resolution of 960 × 540 pixels, 1.7 GHz dual-core processor, Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean) OS, TouchWiz Nature UX, 8 megapixel rear-facing camera with autofocus and flash, full HD (1080p) video recording and playback, 1.9 megapixel front-facing camera for video chats and much more.
It also comes with a 3.5 mm headset jack, Stereo FM Radio with RDS, Smart stay, Smart pause, Smart scroll, 8 GB internal memory, 5 GB user memory, microSD card slot, 64 GB expandable memory, S-Travel, S-Health, DLNA, HDMI out, Bluetooth 4.0 with EDR, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, 3G/4G Connectivity, 1.5 GB RAM, Wi-Fi Direct, NFC, Bluetooth 4.0 and a 1900 mAh battery.
This handset measures 124.6 x 61.3 x 8.94 mm and weighs just 107 grams. The Galaxy S4 Mini will be available in two colors – White Frost and Black Mist. Samsung has not yet announced the price and release date of this handset. The Galaxy S4 Mini will be showcased next month at the company's Galaxy and Ativ focused event in London.


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- 4 Beds
- 4 Full, 1 Half Baths
- 3,618 +/- Sqft
- New Listing
Property TypeResidential – Duplex
Listing Date09/08/20
Year Built1998
Lot Size0.29 Acres (12,632 SqFt)
Property Description
Incredible VIEWS of Beaver Creek, Bachelor Gulch, the Sawatch Range and New York Mountain. One of the best views in all of Wildridge. This is a turn-key RETREAT! This Duplex has upgrades galore. New Anderson double pain Windows, 3rd garage addition, new Hot Springs Hot Tub with 'soft-salt'water system, New Great Room Deluxe Gas Fireplace, remodeled kitchen with high-end appliances, granite counter tops, Master bath and walk-in closet remodel, new irrigation/drip system, new flagstone front porch entry way, replaced upper deck, new water heater, and many, many other great features of this house. You will be amazed at how wonderful it is. Move-in Ready for the perfect buyer. A great entertaining home that accommodates many people. Located on a quiet street and overlooks a park. Access to many hiking and biking trails. A quick drive to Avon shopping and restaurants and to Beaver Creek! Only 15 minutes to Vail. Once you get here you will never want to leave.
Presented By
- Mountain(s)
- Trees/Woods
- Trail(s)
- Fireplace - Gas
- Jetted Bath
- Multi-Level
- Patio
- Spa/Hot Tub
- Wired for Cable
- Natural Gas Available
- Phone Available
- Radiant
- Ceiling Fan(s)
- Dryer
- Washer
Financial Information
4 Beds 4 Baths
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Listing courtesy of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices - Villa Montane


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Facts About Child Nutrition
- Missing meals and experiencing hunger impair children's development and achievement. Studies published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Pediatrics, and the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry document the negative effects of hunger on children's academic performance and behavior in school. Hungry children have lower math scores. They are also are more likely to repeat a grade, come to school late, or miss it entirely.
- Eating breakfast at school helps children perform better. Studies published in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, the International Journal of Food Science and Nutrition, and the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition show that academic achievement among students who eat school breakfasts tends to rise, especially in math.
- Students who eat breakfast at school have better attendance records and exhibit fewer behavior problems. In studies of school breakfast programs in Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, and Rhode Island, scientists have found that students who eat breakfast at school have better attendance records, are less likely to be tardy, and exhibit fewer behavioral and psychological problems. Schools report that offering all students free breakfast improves behavior and increases attentiveness.
- Obesity is a major — and growing — problem among American children. The rate of obesity among U.S. children has tripled in the past 30 years. Today, one in five American children is obese, which increases their risk of lifelong health problems such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Obesity is thought to be a product of several interacting factors, including genetic susceptibility, behavior (diet and level of physical activity), and environment (home, school, and community).
- To be effective, nutrition standards must encompass all food sold in schools. Establish national nutrition standards for all foods sold on the school campus throughout the day. While school meals must meet federal nutrition standards, foods sold individually outside the meal programs, such as those available in vending machines, are not required to meet comparable nutrition standards. Thus, students can purchase soft drinks, sports drinks, fruit drinks, salty snacks, candy, and high-fat baked goods throughout the school day.
Sources: Food Research and Action Center (FRAC), U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
I need more info:
Get the facts about successful implementation of school nutrition standards
Learn more about NEA member Education Support Professionals – many NEA members are school food service workers who are successfully serving healthier school meals
Learn more about NEA Health Information Network's efforts to promote healthier school meals
Hear one school food service worker share her story


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Galen Beckett
Much as my Regency handle should Mr. Darcy drop by is Miss Eliza, Mark Anthony also has an alias, that of Galen Beckett, though I don't believe his was to ensnare an Austen hero, but more to give that right fantastical authorial feel to his Mrs. Quent trilogy. Mark spent his childhood summers in a Colorado ghost town falling in love with the mountains as well as the fantasy stories he read "pushed" on him by a pair of older sisters. Of course this shouldn't be a surprise to anyone who has read his Mrs. Quent trilogy which is a delicious combination of magic and nature. Instead of veering into the realm of fantasy right away he initially trained as a paleoanthropologist. Along the way it wasn't so much human evolution which called to him, though you will see that it does work it's way into his writing, but the evolution of man that is reflected in myth and the literature of the fantastic. This shift shouldn't have surprised anyone, what with Mark growing up on a steady diet of Tolkien, McCaffrey, and LeGuin.
Mark was interested with "how myths and archetypes provide mirrors to our mundane, everyday lives. I think there's a lot in myth that we can learn from, and fantasy provides a wonderful means for exploring those ideas." Of course there is one outlet that has been a constant for many years for those wishing to go into fantastical realms, and that is Dungeons and Dragons. Mark got his literary start penning novels and short stories for various Dungeons and Dragons game settings. After ten years of writing for Dungeons and Dragons the first book in his Last Rune series, Beyond the Pale was published. Sadly Mark's pointed out there is not any magic to getting published, but lots of work, perseverance, and being willing to keep going after multiple rejections. You just can't give up, and he even has a day job. But his exploration of the idea that reason and wonder need not exist in conflict reached it's pinnacle, in my mind, with his next big project which began with a binge reading of 19th Century classics and asked the question, "What if there was a fantastical cause underlying the social constraints and limited choices confronting a heroine in a novel by Jane Austen or Charlotte Brontë?" You'll have to read his Mrs. Quent trilogy to get that answer, but let's go to Mark for answers to some other questions.
Question: When did you first discover Jane Austen?
Answer: I came very late to the dance! I remember my older sisters talking (excitedly) about Jane Austen when I was younger. And of course I read the prescribed amounts of English literature in high school and college. But somehow Austen's novels were never on the syllabus.
So I was well along in my 30s before I decided that I really hadn't read as many 19th century novels as I wished. I started in on Dickens, Shelley, Wilde, the Brontës, and of course Austen. And just as I had years before, upon first reading The Lord of the Rings, I felt that an entire new world was opening up before me as I devoured Pride and Prejudice. It was a world I loved so much, I couldn't resist creating my own version of it!
Question: What do you think Jane Austen would think of her impact with so many literary offshoots, from parody to pastiche?
Answer: I would never be so bold as to try to guess what Jane herself would think of it all—she was a far better judge of people than I! But I do think that any work which made a genuine (and genuinely wry) attempt to seek the point of this achingly silly and marvelous game we call life is something she would have approved of. So while zombies shambling around Netherfield Park for no apparent reason might get a sideways look, I think a delightfully clueless stand-in for Miss Woodhouse in 1990s Beverly Hills might win an approving nod.
Question: Where do you get your inspiration from?
Answer: I don't think it's so much where inspiration comes from that's important—it really can come from almost anywhere. Novels, movies, music, scientific works, histories, walks out doors, ancient ruins, even the pixelated art in a video game—all are things that have inspired me at some time or another. What's important are the connections that can occur between any and all of these things. When you are suddenly struck by an unexpected link between two thoughts that didn't seem related at all, that's when the spark happens.
For The Magicians and Mrs. Quent, it was the connection I glimpsed between the circumstances of women in Regency and Victorian England and scientific work that had been done using mitochondrial DNA to trace the lineage of most European women back to seven "clan mothers" who lived many thousands of years ago. What if, my brain that is ever inclined to make things fantastical postulated, those seven women had been witches?
Question: What makes the early 19th century mesh so well with magic?
Answer: It really does, doesn't it? I think maybe because on the one hand it was a time of reason and mastery—when people were trying to understand the world, and to force an order upon it. Yet on the other hand there was so much they didn't really understand, and so much that they had marvelously wrong. It makes it fun to imagine a world in which all those things they thought were true, but weren't, in fact really were.
Question: The world building and system of magic varies greatly in the regency fantasy genre, how did you go about creating yours?
Answer: I tried to keep the magic as limited and focused as possible. As I mentioned, I started with a premise that there were seven clan mothers back in the misty past who became witches, and from whom all witches were descended. Magicians, who are always men, traced their origins to the same time period, and were born of an opposing magic. So the tension between the sexes that existed in 19th Century England took on new meaning in my alternate realm of Altania—it went back to a magical conflict lost in the mists of time, but now coming to a head after all these millennia.
Question: If you had to choose between writing only period literature or only fantasy literature, which would win?
Answer: Well, clearly with The Magicians and Mrs. Quent, I didn't want to choose, and so did both at once! But since you are forcing an answer to such a dreadful question, I would have to say that fantasy would win. It's my nature to look at everything through a lens of magic and myth and wonder. If you ask me to write a Western novel, or a mystery, or spy thriller, It's pretty much a guarantee I'm going to find a way to sneak magic into it!
Question: Be honest, have you ever dressed up in Regency clothes just to pretend for a moment you are in the past?
Answer: Well, I did wear a puffy shirt to a Renaissance festival once. Does that count? :)


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The First Gardener
- Denise Hildreth Jones Author
- 2011 3 Aug
EDITOR'S NOTE: The following is an excerpt from The First Gardener by Denise Hildreth Jones (Tyndale).
Chapter 1
Ten days earlier
The heat of the stone bathroom floor warmed Mackenzie London's entire body as she took her first steps of the day. Beauty surrounded her. Every fixture, fabric, element in this home had been redone to perfection by the previous occupant. The day she moved in, she had determined that she would appreciate every moment she spent in this exquisite place—because she knew those moments were numbered.
There might not be much certain in this world. But in Mackenzie's world this much was certain: she would not live here forever. She had known that when she moved in. And her Italian-Irish heritage pushed her to embrace every facet of life passionately, wildly, and completely. She was determined not to waste one moment of this opportunity she had been given.
Today, however, the mansion was the last thing on her mind.
"My, my, that's a good-looking man standing in front of that mirror." She leaned against her side of the brown marble countertop and gave her husband a sad smile.
Gray London leaned over his sink, electric razor in one hand. The other hand tugged at the base of his neck, where salt-and-pepper stubble clung. His blue eyes met hers, and she saw their delight in her arrival. "How's my girl?"
"Heartbroken." She scooted up behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist and resting her hands against the top of the towel tied around his hips. She laid her head against his bare back and listened as the buzz of the razor evaporated. Her heart felt heavy inside her chest.
He laid the razor down and placed his hands on top of hers. "It's a new stage of life, huh?"
She moved her cheek up and down against his back.
He laughed and turned so he could face her. His six-foot frame towered over her five-foot-four. He wrapped one arm around her, lifted her chin, and wiped at a tear that had left its wet trail down the side of her cheek.
"I know it's silly." She dabbed a tissue at her nose. She had one in virtually every pocket she owned. "It's just kindergarten. But maybe we should have waited until she was six.
You know, five is still really young."
"She's an old five, Mack."
She leaned her head against his chest. "She was an old two."
He laughed. "Yeah, she was. But we talked about this, and she wants to go. I know it's going to be hard. It will be for me too, but it doesn't happen until tomorrow. So let's enjoy today and deal with tomorrow, tomorrow."
She raised her head and batted her eyes. The tears fell freely. She knew he was right, but it didn't change the way she felt. Natural childbirth had been less painful.
He leaned down and pressed his lips against her face, then moved his mouth to her ear as one hand grazed her stomach. "Plus, who knows? You might have another baby here in about nine months."
"I pray so."
He leaned back. "So you want me to give you your shot before you get in the shower?"
She moved her hands up to the soft curve in her hips, a smile fighting with the tears.
"You just want to look at my bootie."
"Prettiest one I've ever seen."
The smile won. She reached for another tissue and swiped at her eyes, then walked back over to her side of the bathroom. The Pregnyl stayed in prominent sight in her top drawer.
It had taken her and Gray almost ten years to conceive their Maddie—ten years plus four miscarriages and thousands of dollars. But when Maddie came along, Mackenzie finally had the one thing she felt her life was missing—a child. And now, five years later, she was desperate for another. Wanted it like an ache in the soul wants a healing balm.
The latest round of fertility treatments had begun again almost a year ago. They'd bypassed the Clomid altogether this time and gone straight to the injections. To date, the only thing they had to show for it was a sore behind.
Mackenzie let her robe fall to the marble floor. The matching lingerie set in black was all that remained. She saw Gray's expression change. "Just the shot, mister. You might get action this afternoon, but right now, just the shot."
He had been a good partner in this journey. Though she knew he sometimes wearied of the routine, still he was at every doctor's appointment, shared each piece of heartbreaking news, and was a pretty good nurse. He'd even become fairly handy with a needle. As she leaned against the cabinet, she suddenly got the giggles.
He moved the needle back. "You've got to be still, or this is liable to end up in your side. What's so funny anyway?"
She could hardly talk now. The laughter had all but taken over. "Wonder what Tennesseans would think if they knew that their governor was putting shots in his wife's bootie this morning. That would make a front-page picture."
"I'll tell you what they would think. They'd think, 'Man, I knew that governor could do anything. What a specimen.'"
She turned her head toward him, and that was it. She threw her head back and laughed until she was wiping a different set of tears. He crossed his arms, the syringe still between his fingers. But it would take another five minutes before the governor was able to take care of his first order of duty on this beautiful Sunday morning in Tennessee.
The twenty-minute drive from the governor's mansion in Nashville to downtown Franklin, where Mackenzie had grown up, encompassed almost everything she loved about middle Tennessee. America's perception of the area seemed to be limited to country music, rednecks, and the term NashVegas. But natives like Mackenzie knew there was so much more. A straight shot down Franklin Road took her from her present house to her childhood home. And along the thirteen-mile stretch, she passed twenty-one churches, acres of gently rolling farmland with grazing cattle and horses, golf courses, schools, antebellum homes, and dozens of "meat and three" restaurants offering sweet tea and chocolate pie that were so good you'd want to slap your mama.
Of course, Mackenzie could never slap her mother. Her mother would declare that none of it was even capable of being as good as hers. Mackenzie couldn't argue because her mother was one of the best Southern cooks she knew. And Sunday afternoon dinners with Eugenia Quinn were as much a ritual as Friday night football in the fall.
The screen door of the recently remodeled Victorian home slammed against the white wood casing, the noise potentially heard two blocks over on Main Street. "Are y'all still taking my granddaughter to that church where the preacher says 'crap' in the pulpit?" Mackenzie's mother asked.
The same words had greeted them every Sunday afternoon since they had taken Eugenia to their church. It just so happened their preacher used a word she disapproved of that Sunday. She had never let them forget it.
Eugenia was carrying a big bouquet of zinnias and daisies from her garden, but she still managed to reach down and scoop her granddaughter up in her arms.
Gray gave her a kiss on the cheek. "What? You don't do that, Mom?"
Eugenia turned her pink, powdered cheek away from him in mock disgust and returned her affection to Maddie, kissing her multiple times on the face. Maddie giggled beneath the kisses. When Eugenia leaned back, a smile spread wide across her pink-painted lips.
Mackenzie chuckled and shook her head at the exuberant display. Eugenia had been almost as desperate for Maddie as she had been. Since Mackenzie was an only child, Eugenia's hope for grandchildren rested solely on her. A load she rarely forgot.
Maddie wrapped her arms around her grandmother's neck. "Gigi, I learned about midgets today!"
Eugenia raised expressive eyebrows above her crystal-blue eyes and turned her head, her coiffed bleached-blonde bob moving as a unit. Beauty shop day was every Monday. Tomorrow she would get it redone to look just like it looked today. "Of course you did," she answered Maddie, looking straight at Mackenzie. "Your pastor says the c word, darling. Why wouldn't they teach you about midgets?"
She put Maddie down, handed her the bouquet to hold, and led the way through the house to the kitchen, her silver pumps clicking on the refurbished pine floor. When the door of the oven opened, the fragrance of heaven flooded out. The faithful metal pan that held their Sunday afternoon feast was placed on the counter, the aluminum foil piled up in a mound.
Mackenzie knew what was underneath that silver dome. Paradise. The aroma had already leaked into every pore of her skin.
She walked over to the cabinet and pulled out the glasses. "Smells amazing, Mama."
"We're almost ready." Eugenia took the flowers from Maddie and started arranging them in the cut-glass vase that sat on the kitchen table. "I went out and cut these right before you got here. Look as good as flowers from the governor's—"
The back door opened. Mackenzie looked up to see her mom tug at the bottom of her baby-blue linen suit jacket. She still hadn't changed from church herself. Eugenia had attended Southeast Baptist Church since before Mackenzie was born, and at Southeast Baptist they dressed up for Sunday service—another thing she often pointed out to Mackenzie.
Eugenia reached up to pouf her hair just as Burt Taylor's voice boomed through the kitchen. "Well, good afternoon, everybody."
Gray walked over and extended his hand. "Good afternoon, Burt."
Eugenia, fussing with the flowers, spoke to Burt as if he were a last-minute invite. "Hello, Burt. Glad you could join us. Now, dinner will be ready in a few minutes."
Mackenzie stifled her smile. She hadn't seen her mom this nervous in a long time. Eugenia had always been a symbol of strength to Mackenzie, who had seen her cry only once—when Mackenzie's father died ten years earlier. Once the funeral was over, Mackenzie had never witnessed another tear, and she'd only heard Eugenia weeping a few times behind a closed bedroom door.
Eugenia was tough, a rock. Mackenzie envied that about her. If anything happened to Gray, she couldn't imagine surviving.
"Hey, Burtie!" Maddie squealed and took a leap into Burt's arms. He let out a half chuckle, half groan.
"Easy, Maddie," Gray said.
"I love it," Burt responded, leaning down and planting a kiss on Maddie's cheek. "I don't get to see my grandbabies much now that they have all moved away, so it's mighty nice having a little one in my arms." The edges of Burt's plaid suit jacket crinkled beneath her weight.
"Maddie," Gray said, "let's go sit outside with Mr. Burt while Gigi and your mom get dinner ready. You can tell him what you learned in Sunday school about midgets." His laughter erupted as he turned toward Eugenia.
She fluttered her hands at them. "That's a great idea. Y'all shoo on out of my kitchen."
Maddie jumped from Burt's arms, and the three of them walked out onto the front porch. "I think the midget's name was Zach something. . . ." Maddie's words faded as the screen door slammed behind her.
Mackenzie started to put ice in the glasses. "Burt has been coming over a lot lately, huh?"
Eugenia didn't even look up. "He's old. He's hungry. And I'm a good cook."
"That you are. But you and your friends are a pretty wild bunch."
Her mother huffed as she pulled the chuck roast from beneath the foil and laid it on a white platter. "I'm not wild, Mackenzie London. I hang out with old women who get winded playing Skip-Bo and think Starbucks is a newly discovered planet. Trust me. I'm boring."
Of all the adjectives Mackenzie would use to describe her mother, she was certain boring had never been one. She was a quintessential lady, a master gardener, a lover of beauty, but she would just as soon cuss you as look at you—though she would never do it in church. She kept her husband's 12-gauge under her bed and would shoot you first and ask who you were later. She was opinionated and her tongue could be downright withering, but she was also loyal—fiercely loyal.
And if the world ever fell apart, Mackenzie was certain that Eugenia Madeline Pruitt Quinn alone could put it all back together.
As usual, Maddie was the first one to burst through the door of the governor's mansion when they finally made it home late that afternoon. Mackenzie heard her pounding up the stairs to the family quarters as she and Gray walked through the front door.
Following Maddie up the stairs, she was greeted first by her daughter's skirt, draped carelessly from one tread to the next. Her eyes moved up the stairwell at the trail of clothing Maddie had deposited on her way to her room. Gray had been the first to use the word poop for what Maddie often did with her stuff. Mackenzie had thought the term was gross, but Maddie was five—she loved it. So it had stuck. And in less than two minutes flat, Maddie had "pooped" her skirt, then her sweater, her shoes, and her socks, leaving a trail of clothing up the stairs.
Mackenzie sighed. When Maddie was three, this habit had been cute. Now, not so much. And though they had been working with her on this for the past year, in moments like these, Mackenzie wasn't sure what all the effort had been for.
"Maddie." Her voice traveled down the hall as she picked up the skirt.
The tiny voice came from what she assumed was Maddie's bedroom. "Yes, Mommy?"
"Want to go outside and play?"
"I'm getting ready to."
"Well, why don't you come here first and see how quickly that is going to happen."
She heard little feet patter in the hallway. Maddie stood at the top of the steps, blue jean shorts already buttoned, yet still topless. She looked down and giggled. "Oops."
Mackenzie held out the skirt. "Yes, oops."
Maddie snatched up her skirt and the rest of her clothes and raced back up the stairs. "Maddie went poop," she announced as she made her way down the hall, filling it with laughter.
Mackenzie had to smile. She was way too lenient with Maddie, she knew. Gray reminded her of that often enough, and so did her mother. But she couldn't help it. Maddie was her miracle baby. And there hadn't been children in the governor's mansion since the Lamar Alexander years. Mackenzie was grateful she and Gray had been able to bring this kind of life back into this magnificent house.
Restored by the former first lady in a massive renovation project, the mansion displayed all the beauty that a governor's residence should. But there was something about children in a home. They brought fingerprints to the artwork and syrup-covered hands to the marble side tables. They brought cartwheels to the foyer and a slight irreverence to what could be an often-stuffy environment. Formal dinners could be interrupted with bedtime stories, and hallways lined with pictures of former governors could turn into dance studios for little ballerinas. Best of all, Maddie and her friends brought a contagious laughter that the entire staff loved.
More footsteps pounded, and a camouflage streak left the smell of sweaty little boy in its wake. "Hey, Oliver," Mackenzie said as their seven-year-old next-door neighbor ran past her on the stairs. She glanced at her watch. "We've only been home a full five minutes."
"I know. I was watching ya from my driveway. Headed up to see Maddie—okay, Mrs. London?" The boy's disheveled curls bounced on his head as he took the steps two by two.
Mackenzie laughed. "Have at it, buddy." The fact that he had just entered the governor's mansion without so much as knocking was lost on Oliver. But Mackenzie didn't care. She liked having him around.
Oliver and Maddie had become bosom buddies last summer when his family moved into Minnie Pearl's old house next door. His mother, Lacy, had tried to keep him away, but Mackenzie had assured her that Maddie loved him. And he had pretty much become as permanent a fixture around here as Eugenia. The security and house staff knew to let him come and go. Maddie adored him and he her. And Gray declared that marriage was in their future.
Mackenzie reached the top of the steps and walked into the family quarters just as Maddie and Oliver rounded the corner. "Mommy! Mommy!" Maddie said. "Oliver has a new French word."
Oliver's family had lived in France for two years, and he did know a little French, but for the most part he simply spoke words with a French accent. But to Maddie, who was American and Southern through and through, he might as well be a French interpreter.
"Oh, you do?" Mackenzie said. "What is your new word?"
Maddie chimed in, "He can say lightbulb."
"Oh my." Mackenzie tried not to smile. "Go ahead, Oliver. Let me hear it."
He shook his head as if all of it was silly, but his expression gave his delight away. He squared his shoulders like a French gentleman. "Leetboolb."
Mackenzie nodded, her lips pressed firmly together to keep from cracking up. "That is wonderful, Oliver. Keep teaching those to Maddie, and before you know it, she'll be speaking French too."
The two smiled. Maddie threw her hand up, yelled "Bye, Mommy," and the pounding footsteps resumed, this time headed to the backyard. Mackenzie walked to the palladium windows in the family quarters living room. The two flashes darted across thick grass and headed straight for the trampoline. Their energy could bust through brick and mortar.
Mackenzie smiled as she sank into the deep, plush sofa and picked up her pink- and white-striped folder from the glass top of an iron side table. Her assistant, Jessica, always prepared her weekly schedule on Sunday afternoons and left it here for her. She thumbed through her responsibilities for the coming week. Tomorrow she was slated to speak to state educators at a luncheon meeting about volunteerism in elementary schools.
It was a subject dear to Mackenzie's heart, a cherished part of her heritage as a native of the Volunteer State. The term went back to the War of 1812, when General Andrew Jackson mustered thousands of citizen volunteers to fight the British in the South. It had been reinforced during the Mexican-American War, when then Tennessee governor Aaron Brown requested 2,800 men and 30,000 showed up. And it still applied in Tennessee today, at least as far as Mackenzie was concerned.
Convinced that the initiative of volunteerism needed to begin early, she had helped devise an elementary school curriculum to help even the youngest see not only the importance of volunteerism but the endless opportunities as well. She was a firm believer that if you reminded people of what they were created for, they would rise up to meet the challenge—and the earlier it happened, the better.
Her own experience as a young volunteer had started over a bowl of fried okra, which Eugenia had set in front of her at a Sunday lunch. Mackenzie, who normally loved fried foods, had popped one of the cornmeal-encrusted balls in her mouth—and hated it. Hated it. That first complaint had resulted in a trip downtown to feed the homeless and hungry. "Next time you whine about okra that I picked from my own garden and fried with my own hands," Eugenia had told her, "you need to think about people who don't have food and would love some of your mama's okra."
That one experience didn't change Mackenzie's opinion of okra, but it did change her life in significant ways. Helping at the soup kitchen so touched her heart that she began to refuse food just so she could go again. Eugenia caught on after the third showdown, and they started volunteering regularly at the Nashville Rescue Mission.
Mackenzie had gone on to major in social work at the University of Tennessee and later worked as an advocate for children in crisis. Now she had the opportunity to help children themselves recognize the needs around them. That was one of the benefits of her role as first lady. She could be a mouthpiece for the issues most important to her.
Mackenzie scribbled down a reminder to review her notes before bedtime and checked to see what else her calendar held. It was going to be a full week, especially with Maddie's first day of kindergarten and the big soiree on Wednesday night honoring the volunteers and heroes of a string of natural disasters that had hit the area the past few years.
It had all begun with the horrific flood a few years back—an unprecedented disaster for Tennessee. For the first two days in May, some areas of Tennessee had received a record-breaking nineteen inches of rain. There had been twenty-one deaths and more than 1.5 billion dollars in damages. The devastation included some of Nashville's most precious landmarks—the Grand Ole Opry, the Ryman Auditorium, and the Opryland Hotel and Convention Center. And because few outside the state even knew about the floods—they coincided with an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and an attempted car bombing in New York City—Nashvillians had mostly been left to fend for themselves.
But Tennesseans had done what Tennesseans do. They hadn't complained. They hadn't blamed. They'd just dug in their heels and served . . . each other.
Mackenzie had been right in the middle of those efforts—and similar efforts in the wake of a massive tornado in northwest Tennessee and an ice storm that crippled two-thirds of the state for a full week. Each time, she had recognized the spirit that made her state special.
That was the reason for Wednesday's dinner. Mackenzie was determined to honor those local heroes she had come in contact with day after day, those heroes the national media or People magazine would never interview. She had been involved in every detail of the celebration, and she couldn't wait for it to get here.
"What're you doing, babe?"
She looked up. Gray was in his running shorts and red Nike T-shirt. Sweat clung to his face and glistened as the light hit it. He paced around the room, trying to cool off.
"Seeing what the week holds. Good run?"
"Felt great." He leaned down and kissed her lightly on the lips.
She closed her folder and set it down. "Getting hungry?"
He was back to pacing. "Yeah. Have time to shower?"
"Sure. Maddie's out with Oliver. She'll enjoy not being rushed."
He wiped the top of his head with the sleeve of his shirt. "Maddie figured out what kind of pizza she wants tonight?"
Sunday nights at the governor's mansion were pizza nights. Maddie's favorite. The child could smell a pepperoni six streets over. She spotted pizza deliverymen quicker than Mackenzie spotted a nice pair of shoes.
"She's not branching out this week, if that's what you're thinking."
He laughed. "I guess after almost three years of the same meal every Sunday night, I should quit hoping. But what's life without a little hope, huh?"
She smiled. "A little hope got us a long way, didn't it?"
"That's what I'm saying."
The phone rang on the side table by Mackenzie. She picked it up. In a few moments she said, "Sure, Joseph, send him up."
Gray looked at her. "For me?"
She nodded, certain the disappointment showed. "Yep." She had hoped for an entire day to themselves without an interruption.
He looked at his watch. "Well, we made it almost twenty-four hours. Unfortunately not all of those were in the same day."
The buzzer sounded at the entrance to the mansion's family quarters. Mackenzie watched as Gray walked down the long, carpeted hallway.
This was a piece of the sacrifice—the only piece that really got to her. The capitol hill bickering she tried to ignore. The picketing of events outside the mansion she saw as people's rights to their opinions. The media's interest in Gray's breakfast choices she simply found silly. But the constant interruptions to their life and the heavy demands on their time challenged her on her best days.
Gray opened the door to Kurt Green, his frazzled-looking chief of staff. Kurt's white polo shirt hung loosely over his khaki shorts as he hurried through the door. He had been in a rush since Mackenzie had met him. And except for his bald head, he looked virtually the same as when he and Gray were Kappa Alphas at the University of Tennessee.
Gray closed the door and moved past Kurt. "What happened to your phone? It's Sunday. You should be doing something. Family something."
Kurt's flip-flops beat against his heels as he followed Gray across the thick damask carpet and into the living room. "Okay, sure. I'll call next time." He extended a folder from his hand. "But today we've got a lawsuit on our hands."
Gray reached out and took the file from his friend's hand. "I know. The lawsuit from that victim's advocacy group over the prisoner release." He raised an eyebrow at Kurt.
"The lawsuit we agreed to look over next week."
"That was before the press got wind of it and decided it would make a great Monday morning headline." Kurt ran his hands across his hairless skull—a bad habit Gray jokingly claimed had led to his present state. "Stuff like this is what completely destroys reelections." Kurt had been thinking about the reelection since the day Gray took the oath of office. Maybe even before.
Gray scanned the file. "A reelection campaign won't prevent me from doing what needs to be done, Kurt."
Kurt shook his head. "Well, that's fine, Gray, but we've got to respond to this now. There are Democrats and Republicans alike who want you out."
"And there are Democrats and Republicans who will change their minds tomorrow. It's those same Democrats and Republicans who have left this state with no choice but cutbacks. I would prefer to not release prisoners either. But it's nonviolent offenders only, and it's better than firing schoolteachers." Gray closed the folder and handed it back to Kurt. "Though I still haven't ruled out shutting down the government and letting everybody go a couple of months without paychecks."
Kurt looked at the file in his hands, then back at Gray, his expression utterly dumbfounded. "We are just a little over a year away from an election, Gray. We have made huge progress in this state in spite of all the budget issues we've faced, and there's so much more we need to do. We can't let something like this lawsuit prevent the voters from seeing the real impact you've made here. Remember, voters have short memories."
Gray's sigh was heavy in the room. Mackenzie felt her shoulders sag. She knew he was going to work now. "I'll give you two hours," he told Kurt.
The veins in the front of Kurt's head stopped bulging. "I'll call Fletcher. He can come over and help us draft a statement."
"You can call him from my office." He motioned toward the stairs, but Kurt was already there. Gray walked over to Mackenzie, gave her another small kiss, and ran his hand through her soft black hair. "Sorry, babe. Save me some pizza."
She puckered her lips. "Yep, I'm sorry too. And no one likes your pizza, remember?"
He laughed. He was sensitive to dairy, so his pizza never had cheese. Maddie declared it gross. Oliver found it intriguing. "Good thing, then, huh?"
"Two hours only, right? It is Sunday. Even the governor deserves some rest."
She watched his brow furrow, and he opened his mouth to speak.
"I know. I know," she interrupted. "We knew this part when we took the job."
"I'll be done as soon as I can."
She watched him as he too headed downstairs toward the office he kept there. And sighed. Over the last three years, it seemed, she had seen more of him going than coming.
Copyright © 2011 by Denise Hildreth Jones. All rights reserved.
Visit Tyndale's exciting Web site at www.tyndale.com.


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P.O. Box 12068, State Capitol
Austin, Texas 78711
Tel. (512) 463-0112
November 8, 2004
On the first day to file bills for the upcoming legislative session, Texas State Senator Jane Nelson, R-Lewisville, took aim at methamphetamine labs, domestic violence, and a wide range of health care issues. The Legislature, which meets every odd-numbered year, reconvenes for its 79th Regular Session Jan. 11 to May 31 in 2005.
"With a $9.9 billion budget shortfall last session, our focus had to be on the bottom line. We need to remain fiscally disciplined, but I think we are in a much better position this session to make a difference on issues such as education, transportation, and health care, as well as a top priority for me -- reforming our protective services for children and the elderly," Senator Nelson said.
Senator Nelson, who chairs the Senate Health & Human Services Committee, has stated her intent to file an omnibus protective services bill after the Office of Investigator General releases its report on Adult Protective Services. Bills prefiled today include:
Senate Bill (SB) 42 expands on Senator Nelson's 1999 law (SB 19 77R) requiring 30 minutes of daily exercise in elementary schools. This session's bill will require the Texas Education Commissioner to assess compliance with that law, as well as an assessment of student access to unhealthy food in vending machines. "Learning to take care of our bodies should be elementary. Returning physical activity to the school day is meant to provide a true health benefit to our students," Senator Nelson said.
SB 43 creates a meth watch program patterned after an initiative in Kansas that educates retailers on identifying suspicious purchases and deterring theft of sale of over-the-counter pharmaceuticals that are used in the illegal manufacturing of methamphetamine. "This is one of the most destructive narcotics, and unfortunately it is one of the easiest to manufacture. We hope this initiative will assist our police in their effort to shut down meth labs in Texas," Senator Nelson said.
SB 44 re-establishes the Indigent Health Care Advisory Committee, which was eliminated last session. "We do not need an advisory committee on every subject, but this one is so important -- not just to families without health insurance but to all of us who want to make health care more accessible in a fiscally responsible way," she said.
SB 45 establishes an advisory committee on health care information technology. "The more I study the factors involved in rising health care costs, the more convinced I am that emerging technology provides our best hope of reining in those costs. There is an archaic, bureaucratic, costly paper trail involved in the delivery of medical care, and we need a panel of experts in the field to help us find those innovations that can help streamline health services," she said.
SB 46 and SB 47 aim to reduce fraud and waste in the state's Medicaid system. SB 46 directs the Health and Human Services Commission to develop a prototype for a universal benefits card to consolidate the multiple forms of identification and verification currently used for all public health and human services into a single card. SB 47 directs the Health and Human Services Commission to expand the Medicaid Fraud Pilot Program statewide if it is shown to be cost-effective. "Last session we learned that when it comes to our health and human services, every dollar counts. Fraud and administrative waste rob families of funding for services, and we simply cannot afford it," she said.
SB 48 and SB 52 relate to the quality of care in nursing homes. SB 48 initiates new reporting requirements in order to track quality of care outcomes for private pay nursing home residents and make that information available to consumers. "Seniors deserve the very best possible care, and this kind of data will help consumers make informed decisions when choosing a nursing home," Senator Nelson said. SB 52 establishes grants to promote innovation in the industry to improve the quality of life for nursing home residents. "I want the nursing home of the future to be available today. We can make that happen by helping those people in the industry who are developing new models," she said.
SB 49, SB 50 and SB 51 share the goal of simplifying and streamlining the health care claims and billing system. SB 49 finalizes the shift in Texas from a paper claims system to an electronic system. SB 50 allows hospitals, physicians and other providers to include language in their contracts to ensure that all claims are processed appropriately. SB 51 requires employers to pay health insurance premiums in a timely manner. "This legislation picks up where prompt pay left off, and I look forward to continuing these efforts to reduce the bureaucracy in our health care system," Senator Nelson said.
SB 53 aims to expand the rights of patients to keep private genetic information. "Genetic technology continues to advance by leaps and bounds, but it is important that we keep a handle on the type of personal genetic information about us that could be used as grounds for discrimination. I do not want Texans to lose their health insurance because a genetic test indicates they might get sick," she said.
SB 54 protects the rights of citizens to display the American flag on their property. It is a response to recent neighborhood bans. "Our flag represents the sacrifices of our military, and people should be allowed to honor those sacrifices by flying the Stars & Stripes, especially during a time of war. We need to be sensitive to neighborhoods, which is why we ensure respectful displays. Every American should have the right to show their patriotism," she said.
SB 55 and SB 56 will help protect victims of domestic violence or other violent crime. SB 55 amends the protective order statute to cover minors. SB 56 requires that notice be given to a prosecutor when a bail reduction is requested. "I am very concerned that young women in their teens are becoming victims of abuse. If a teenager is behaving like an abusive adult, then the same rules for protective orders need to apply," Senator Nelson said. " SB 56 is my renewed attempt to make potentially life-saving information about bail reductions available to victims of violent crime and their families. I filed this two sessions ago in response to the irresponsible bail reduction of Timothy Richardson, who murdered his wife, Mary Richardson, in University Park. He had made overt threats to her family, and they at least deserved to know that his bail was about to be dramatically reduced."
SB 57 gives counties the right to regulate the placement of billboards along thoroughfares in unincorporated areas. "We need to balance the rights of outdoor advertisers with the rights of taxpayers. Some people would rather not have their drives through the country turned into a drive through the yellow pages," she said.
SB 58 responds to a concern among taxpayers in Denton County, where millions of dollars worth of "low income" housing developments have been taken off the tax rolls with only a small number of units being set aside for needy families. The bill excludes tax-exempt status for developments with less than half of their units designated for low income and limits the exemption based on the number of low income families served. "Families in a school district should not have to shoulder additional tax burden because a developer misuses the incentive to provide affordable housing," she said.


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AT&T presents VeriFone GlobalBay Solutions at CTIA 2012 – POS platform for the modern retailer
Waiting in line at a store is no fun, as all of us would agree. Thankfully, smartphones are on their way to facilitating the checkout procedure at retail outlets, and that is precisely what VeriFone GlobalBay Solutions from AT&T is made for. Think of it as a tool that transforms an iOS device into a POS instrument, with which sales assistants can process credit card transactions right there on the shopping floor. The technology has the potential to eliminate queues in outlets that adopt it, which will result in a more pleasant shopping experience for the customer.
source: AT&T
VeriFone GlobalBay Solutions™ from AT&T can help improve checkout speed and customer experience
Mobile Applications for Retailers, Restaurants and Hotels Allow Businesses to Process Payments and Service Customers Almost Anywhere, and Can Virtually Eliminate Checkout Lines
Dallas, May 8, 2012 — No one likes waiting in line. When shoppers find the right tee shirt, greeting card or video game, they want to pay for it right then and there – and that's what VeriFone GlobalBay Solutions™ from AT&T* allows them to do.
Available today on iOS[1], VeriFone GlobalBay Solutions™ from AT&T helps strip away the hassles of in-store shopping and can improve the overall customer experience. Sales associates armed with mobile devices can scan items, apply coupons and discounts, and complete credit card transactions from any location in the store. In addition, the tablet-based solutions provide the ability to sell items from inventory not available in the store – helping to prevent lost sales. With this solution, associates can remain engaged with their customers, quickly and efficiently.
Businesses can easily configure this mobile point of sale application to meet their specific needs. An electronics retailer, for instance, might want to load product images and information about extended warranties onto its employees' smartphones or tablets. When a salesperson scans the barcode on an MP3 player, he or she can then make focused recommendations for protection plans and accessories like headphones, cases and car chargers.
"Customers don't want to wait in line or stand around as a sales person runs off to find information on a product -- they want great service in a timely manner," said Chris Hill, Vice President, Advanced Mobility Solutions, AT&T Business and Home Solutions. "The addition of VeriFone GlobalBay Solutions™ from AT&T to our mobility portfolio helps businesses complete transactions efficiently and attentively, ultimately helping to drive new revenue generation and increase competitive advantage."
VeriFone GlobalBay Solutions™ from AT&T can also change the game in service industries, offering restaurants tableside ordering and payment capabilities, and for hotels, allowing hospitality staff to add purchases to guest room bills. By increasing customer engagement and payment convenience, businesses can have a direct – and positive – impact on revenue.
"AT&T is bringing mobile checkout and other time-saving features to enhance consumer interaction wherever payment and service is most convenient with VeriFone GlobalBay Solutions™ from AT&T apps that help increase loyalty and revenue potential while also streamlining operations," said Jennifer Miles, VeriFone executive vice president, North America.
Potential benefits of VeriFone GlobalBay Solutions™ from AT&T include:
- Faster, more effective customer service that brings sales associates out onto the floor instead of trapping them behind cash registers, creating the opportunity to increase return visits and improve loyalty.
- Reduction of checkout lines, which helps prevent revenue loss caused by customers' walking away from their purchases.
- Easy access to information anywhere in the store, which can drive new sales opportunities.
- On-the-spot enrollment in loyalty or reward programs.
- Integration with existing point of sale systems (POS) to make the transition to mobile POS simple and intuitive for employees.
VeriFone GlobalBay Solutions™ from AT&T provides options not offered by typical mobile POS products:
- The retailing application, designed for use on tablets, enables sales personnel to interact with customers through a rich array of information – videos, catalogs and other digital content – almost immediately. The salesperson can service a customer from anywhere in the store, with access to customer history and product information, specifications and videos. Instead of undertaking the expensive endeavor of building physical kiosks, tablets are transformed into portable, virtual kiosks.
- The inventory app helps sales associates remain more engaged with their customers prior to checkout. In a shoe store, for instance, employees can perform tasks, such as searching the back room inventory for different sizes or colors, without abandoning the customer.
- If a company's current POS system is out-of-date, it can move all of its payment processes into the cloud through AT&T. This practically eliminates the need to maintain information servers for payment processes in the back office, making the business more mobile than ever.
AT&T will demo VeriFone GlobalBay Solutions™ from AT&T at International CTIA WIRELESS 2012, Booth #1357.