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Cement and Climate Change in China
Cement production is an energy-intensive process. It is estimated that China's cement—much of which is produced in energy inefficient, highly polluting kilns—consumes roughly six percent of the nation's energy.
Cement and Climate Change in China
China is the world's largest producer of cement. Its production has grown about 10 percent per year over the past two decades and is now growing even faster to keep up with massive urbanization. Today China produces roughly half of the total global output of cement, whereas the next three largest producers—India, Japan, and the United States—combined produce less than 20 percent. By nature, cement production is an energy-intensive process. It is estimated that China's cement—much of which is produced in energy inefficient, highly polluting kilns—consumes roughly six percent of the nation's energy, with 80 percent of that coming directly from coal and other fossil fuels and the remaining 20 percent from electricity, which is mainly derived from coal. Cement manufacturing is thus a major contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in China.
To overcome the inherent challenges of cement manufacturing, the Chinese government has extensively developed government policies and programs to improve energy efficiency and pollution control in the cement sector. China has been proactively engaged in various international initiatives, such as the Asia-Pacific Partnership (APP) on Clean Development and Climate, which is helping China adopt advanced cement production technologies and efficient management skills. The World Resources Institute's (WRI's) GHG Protocol Initiative, which is the most widely used international accounting tool for government and business leaders to understand, quantify, and manage GHG emissions, is also active in working on the cement sector in China.
At this China Environment Forum meeting, Wang Lan from China's Building Materials Academy provided a short overview of the environmental impacts of China's cement sector and discussed some of the ongoing projects, retrofits, and policies that are reducing energy use and pollution, while still maximizing the industry's economic performance and output. Pankaj Bahtia discussed some of the collaborative projects and activities the GHG Initiative has launched with key Chinese organizations including the National Development and Reform Commission, Tsinghua University, the China Business Council for Sustainable Development, China Building Materials Academy, and the China Standards Certification Center. His presentation also covered major challenges and opportunities in efforts to assist China in its plans to manage and reduce energy use and GHG emissions in the cement and other industrial sectors in China.
China's Cement Sector
Wang Lan introduced the resource-intensive cement production processes (see PowerPoint in the See Also box to the right) in China, which consume 1.5 tons of raw materials, 120 kilograms of coal and 110 kilowatts of power. The cement industry in China emits on average 0.85 tons of GHGs (mainly CO2) and 0.02 tons of dust per ton produced. Cement is more extensively used in construction in China than in the United States due to different construction methods stemming from higher use of alternative building materials in the United States. In 2007, China produced about 1.4 billion tons of cement—amounting to almost one ton per capita—which emitted 0.95 billion tons of CO2. About 25 percent of all CO2 emissions in China can be attributed to cement production. (For more information, see the China Environmental Health Project research brief Environmental and Health Threats from Cement Production in China.)
Domestic Initiatives
To tackle the problem of the cement industry's high resource consumption and excessive pollution, the Chinese government has promulgated the Energy Conservation Law and Environmental Protection Law, which include measures to encourage industries to curb emissions and promote energy efficiency. In addition, cement is among the ten energy-intensive industries in which the Chinese government plans to initiate both energy-saving and emission reduction projects in the 11th Five Year Plan period. These projects include eliminating outdated production capacity and installing more advanced technologies and production lines. In China, newly developed highly energy efficient precalcining kilns with low NOx emissions are now widely used, and dust collectors and electrostatic precipitators (to eliminate particulates) are already operating in most Chinese cement plants. The cement sector is also experimenting with alternative fuels and raw materials (AFRs) with the goal of halving CO2 emissions. With low investment and operation cost, cement kilns can be used to safely process China's growing consumer waste, either as a fuel source or as a cement component. Increasing energy efficiency and reducing emissions have become the priority of Chinese cement factories, in part because of state mandate, but more importantly because of the potential profitability of these goals.
International Cooperation
In 2003—as China prepared to ratify the Stockholm Convention on persistent organic pollutants (POPs)—the Chinese State Environmental Protection Administration (now the Ministry of Environmental Protection/MEP) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began cooperating to reduce emissions of POPs, such as dioxins and furans, from cement kilns. The project has so far assessed 8 sampling sites chosen from the 7,000 cement factories in China. In a joint pilot study of the Luzhong Cement Plant, the U.S. EPA and MEP found that the installation of vertical shaft kilns reduced energy consumption by 5 percent. This plant will serve as a model project for the China's whole cement industry.
Other international cooperation includes work with the U.S. Business Council for Sustainable Development (USBCSD) on AFR and biofuels in the cement sector and the Asia Pacific Partnership Cement Task Force (APP CTF) on promoting clean development and reducing climate impacts of the cement sector.
GHG Protocol Initiative
WRI's GHG Protocol Initiative is one international project that aims to reduce the environmental impact of China's cement sector. Conceived 10 years ago, the GHG Protocol Initiative has been adopted by most developed countries and is at the incipient stage in developing countries, namely China, Brazil, and India. The GHG Protocol in China has four goals to: (1) design a national GHG standards; (2) set up and implement GHG Protocol training and capacity-building programs; (3) develop customized GHG calculation tools and software; and (4) establish GHG registries at the national, provincial, and/or industrial-level.
To serve the first goal of designing national GHG standards, WRI in collaboration with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and the China Business Council for Sustainable Development (CBCSD), launched the China Energy and GHG Management Program in June 2007. Thus far, the program has conducted pilot projects to establish national voluntary standards in the cement, oil, and gas sectors and it plans to expand into the iron, steel, power, and chemical sectors. For the second goal of designing and implementing GHGP training and capacity-building programs, WRI has developed partnerships with the National Development and Reform Commission, CBCSD, and the China Building Materials Academy (CBMA), and has completed the training of trainers from CBCSD, CBMA, Beijing Cement Company and Sinopec Economic Development Division on the value and methods of monitoring and reporting GHG emissions. To achieve the third goal of developing customized GHG calculation tools and software, WRI will develop energy and GHG accounting software, funded by the Energy Foundation, for use in conjunction with China's 1,000 Enterprises program. For the fourth goal of establishing GHG registries at the national, provincial, and/or industrial-level, WRI has been cooperating with China Standards Certification Center, and to date the two organizations have completed preparations for a GHG registry based on the GHG Protocol.
Future of the Cement Industry
Reflecting on his experience working on the cement sector in China, Pankaj Bhatia praised the enthusiasm and dedication of Chinese counterparts in working to reduce the environmental impact of the cement industry. The willingness of government and private actors to work with international partners in developing long-term solutions is already combating dangerous pollutants in many cement plants, despite the obstacle of maintaining high production while combating and preventing future threats to environmental health. Cleaning up the cement sector can be beneficial to both the international community as well as China, as it will ultimately meet international goals of reduced GHG emissions and achieve domestic goals of reducing harmful pollutants and promoting efficient resource use.
Drafted by Jing Chen.
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This bike path will let you ride from Maine to Florida
The East Coast Greenway project is working toward building a 3,000-mile long bike trail. The plan is to have the trail span all the way from Calais, Maine to Key West, Florida.
The concept was first conceived back in 1991. The idea was to take existing trails and conjoin them with new links.
Though much of the East Coast Greenway already exists, the project is set to bring these sections up to code and connect them altogether.
There are many different adjustments that need to be made in order to ensure the path is safe to travel. For instance, the path must be strong enough to handle a full-loaded touring bike, and wide enough to provide bikers with enough space to pass one another.
So far, 850 miles have been trailed. Another 200 miles should be in place by 2020.
In order for a biker to ride the entire train from Maine to Florida, one would have to travel at least 50 miles a day for a full two months.
If you're interested in taking on this trail, you might want to whip up some trail mix to fuel all the training you'll need!
RELATED: Best places to live if you love the outdoors
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subset: commoncrawl


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Henry Alonzo, MBA
Music Entrepreneur in Los Angeles, California
Henry Alonzo, MBA
Music Entrepreneur in Los Angeles, California
Henry is the Partner and Chief Creative Officer at Adarga Entertainment Group; a company centered on providing the music industry services of artist development, publishing administration, marketing and consulting to independent artists, and record labels.
Some corporate clients and partners include Sony Music, Integrity Music, Curb Records, Essential Music Publishing, HarperCollins, Arenas, Adrev, DashGo, MultiTracks, and Univision.
Henry has worked with a variety of artists including Grammy Award, Latin Grammy, Billboard Award, and Dove Award, winners and nominees.
During his career, he has also co-produced music events at The Forum, Nokia Theater, Madison Square Garden, Coliseo de Puerto Rico, Arena Ciudad de Mexico, The Arena at the Anaheim Convention Center, EagleBank Arena, and the Shrine Auditorium.
He earned a BA degree in Commercial Music from Azusa Pacific University and an MBA degree in Business Practice from Concordia University.
He is also an Assistant Professor of Music Entrepreneurship at Azusa Pacific University and an Adjunct Professor of Music Business at East Los Angeles College.
Henry also serves on the Board of the Gospel Music Association, and the Board of Directors for Idle Tuesdays Recording Studio, a non-profit organization.
He is endorsed by Ultimate Ears Pro an 'in-ear' company for the industry's leading musicians.
Henry is a member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, the Latin Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, the Association of Independent Music Publishers, the American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers (ASCAP) and The Music Business Association.


text:
COVID-19 Update: Contact programs to confirm information.
Find It Cambridge is an online resource that helps you easily find the activities, services, and resources you are looking for in Cambridge. Our city has an amazing array of opportunities, and Find It Cambridge serves as that one-stop-shop website for those who live, work and play here.
If you have any questions about Find It Cambridge, you can call our Find It Manager, Andrew Liedtka. He can be reached by email (email@example.com) or phone (617-686-2998).


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Get Beauty__ There's a New Shortcut to Applying Sunscreen
| By Megan Zaleski
In a new age of technology we have shortcuts for everything. In fact, if it takes longer than five minutes you can simply count us out. That's why it's no surprise that there's now a shortcut to applying sunscreen – our least favorite summer activity (but totally necessary).
Dr. Russo Sun Protective Day Cleanser is the first FDA approved face wash that includes SPF for your skin. Promising to defend against harsh UVA/UVB rays with "wash-on technology," the cleanser leaves a layer of sunscreen after you've washed away the cleanser. So if you don't have the extra time to apply it on its own, here's a new way to eliminate extra time.
Via: Marie Claire


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The ARTIFOX Walnut Collection instantly adds warmth to your home or boutique office. The rich, timeless features of the Walnut artifacts will ensure a seamless design aesthetic in a variety of spaces.
We designed the Walnut DESK 02 (stand or sit) to fit into your lifestyle and workspace throughout every season. Built-in Pegs serve as hooks for all your fall or winter accessories - scarves, hats, or coats. The Dock is compatible with your tech, including your phone or tablet, for an ideal work experience. The Walnut DESK 02 can bare the seasons as it's built with hand-crafted hardwood and solid steel for lasting durability.
To keep your space consistent in design, we developed the Walnut RACK with powder coated steel hooks and black leather bands. Your mountain, road, or hybrid can be held with ease and your wall will showcase it beautifully.
It's the perfect season to warm up your space with the beautiful, modern Walnut Collection.
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Country: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Filler / Binder: Nicaragua
Length: 6.25"
Ring: 50
Cost: $11.00
Appearance (0-20): The Viaje Honey and Hand Gernades (HHG) is really tough to miss. With a rich red foil wrapper encasing the cigar, it immediately draws the eye to this stick. But along the top of the foil area is a band that sports an almost industrial symbol (something like a biohazard sign) with a bee at its center, however the body of the bee is a hand grenade. Turning the band, you find the name on its side, "Honey & Hand Gernades". Upon removing the foil, you are greeted with a nice deep Criollo wrapper that is in perfect condition. The shape is a bit different, with a rounded cap… but a pointed foot instead. No veins of note at all on this one, either. From top to bottom, the HHG looks amazing.
Score: 20
Construction (0-20): From an initial feel standpoint, there is nothing to worry about with the HHG. The cigar has a very solid feel when pertaining to the tobacco inside it, but it has almost a spongy consistency. The wrapper feels extremely silky and to be honest… it really is gorgeous. There is a pinhole in the cap (that I have heard people question multiple times). It kind of fits the whole mystique of the honeybee aspect of things, as if this was just one of the stings from it. This, of course, isn't the first time that Viaje has used the pinhole approach. It serves a dual purpose – it helps the tobaccos to dry as well as allowing you to use that instead of cutting the cigar. With that in mind, I lit up this stogie using the pinhole. The HHG lit up easily and burned decently evenly throughout. The draw was surprisingly good for just the pinhole approach. The only mishap occurred within the first 2 inches where the cigar burned a bit hot up the wrapper. Aside from that, the construction was spot on and it held the ash for 2+ inches at a time.
Score: 18
Strength (0-20): Medium to Full. I found this to begin at the lower end of the medium spectrum, and it slowly builds up to where it hits the full range… though not until the final third. It hits its intended mark.
Score: 18
Flavor (0-20): Dark chocolate and wood dominate the first third of the cigar with pepper on the retrohale. There is a little bit of other spice to note, but it's just a backdrop to the others. There's also a very fresh blast of flavor that I couldn't quite put my finger on to begin with, but as it progressed it became a floral element. There's a twist of a bit of bitterness, much like you get with a strong coffee. The HHG balances nicely with the sweet chocolate and bitter flavors coming through. In addition to all of that, there are hints of leather and some other hefty tobacco tones. The final third continues with the same flavors, though it is much sweeter and absolutely much stronger. The blend has a nice amount of complexity with a balance between bitter and sweet.
One major thing to note before I close out the flavor section… I chose to smoke this using the pinhole. At around the halfway point, I began to get a really bitter taste. I knew something was up, but continued to give it a moment to pan out. It didn't. IT was easy to recognize the issue since I am also a pipe smoker – the taste of tar. Taking a look at the cap, you can see that the small airway path actually clogged the tar's normal path, resulting in a really offensive taste. My recommendation – snip the cigar. As such, I'm giving this flavor area two separate scores – one for the pinhole approach, and one for a normal cut.
Pinhole Score: 13
Normal Cut Score: 18
Value (0-20): The novelty of the Viaje HHG may be enough to warrant spending the $11.00, but once you get past it – it's worth the price.
Score: 18
Additional Notes: Smoked at Cigars International, paired with water.
Overall (0-100): This cigar is getting two distinct scores, due to the pinhole versus normal cut debate. But regardless of that score differential, you will find this to be both an interesting and engaging cigar. The appearance is enough you have you wondering what it has up its sleeve, but the tastes will be enough to keep you enjoying it. The bitter coffee taste is balanced by the sweetness of a dark chocolate, with supporting undertones of wood, something floral, and some decent pepper spikes. The construction is superb, minus of course the question of the pinhole. And the price is right on the money for something with a limited run, a great look, and really well woven tastes. If you are looking for a recommendation – go with the normal cut score (and cut it, trust me, its worth it).
Pinhole Score: 87
Normal Cut Score: 92


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ISLAMABAD, Sept 27 (APP): National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) Chairperson Razina Alam Khan Tuesday said education plays an important role in any society and nobody can even imagine modern and developed life without it.
She said all great civilizations of human society thrived because of knowledge, learning and excellence. A literate environment not only improves socio economic indicators in a society, it also positively influences systems of governance also.
"As a matter of fact, everything we create today is based on the knowledge that we obtain throughout our life by innovative education, technology and technology based products, Razina Alam said while addressing to the members of 43rd Commission meeting.
The meeting was attended by Roshan K. Bharocha, Saba Gul Khattak, Sono Khangrani, Dr. Mubashar Bhatti and Taimoor Khan Joint Secretary for Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training.
"When the people of a nation are educated, they'd definitely carve ways to be self sufficient; an economically independent society is the stepping stone to combined productivity that leads to the economic growth of the nation on the whole", she said.
Razina Alam said the most important national resource for development is the human labor force. "We the country of almost 200 million people where half of the population is women and 50 percent of them are illiterates, cannot progress due to illiteracy."
Keeping in mind the low literacy rate of women in Pakistan, NCHD devised 'Adult Literacy Program' that focuses on women especially the mothers, she said.
NCHD has launched a countrywide enrollment campaign and 82,166 children have been enrolled by now in our feeder schools since April 2016, she informed.
While discussing the educational statistics in the country, chairperson NCHD said, the primary net enrollment is 72 percent, out of which 33 percent are dropouts.
Accessibility is one of the main reasons of low enrollment, in order to address this issue NCHD had established 5,949 Community Feeder Schools in underprivileged and remote areas all over the country, 6,581 Feeder teachers are working in these schools with 310,146 learners acquiring primary education.
NCHD has adopted Sustainable Development Goals, targets and indicators in the realm of literacy, non formal education, skill development and empowerment of women, she observed.
While discussing about NCHD education programs and initiatives she informed, NCHD had launched 'Madrassa School Project' to bring seminaries in mainstream and to provide formal education to the madrassa students in ICT, FATA, GB and AJ&K.
Strategy for establishment of 2000 Adult literacy centers and recommendation of the advisory council on framing National Policy on Non-Formal Education & Adult Literacy and National Plan of Action for achieving 90 percent literacy rate were discussed in detail with the members.
She further said, the launch of "Each One Teach One" campaign in Islamabad is also a very significant step by NCHD. If the educated youth voluntarily come forward to contribute to this noble cause, an enormous social change could be brought in the situation of literacy and education of the country. The university students can play vital role in this project, she added.
Briefly highlighting about NCHD projects she said, "we had launched 'Literacy for Jail project' to educate prisoners in the jails under a massive programme alongwith the skill development to make the prisoners useful citizens after their release from jails by completing their term."
Currently eight Adult Literacy Centers are functional in Jails of Kasur and Toba Tek Singh, whereas others are in the establishment process. However, we plan to establish such centers in all 99 jails of the country.
She said this month we have launched 'Non-formal Education project', in collaboration with Japan International Cooperation Association (JICA) in Islamabad Capital Territory.
In this project, 50 non-formal schools will be established for the age group of 8 to 14 years.
"Education is absolutely beneficial for society on the whole, she stressed. It is a life-long process to each person that needs to be reinforced throughout life", she added.
"However, we need education system that may eradicate illiteracy and may provide the common man an access not only to basic education but also to higher and technical education", she emphasized.


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Did I mention that this weekend kicked my cabootie? Well, it did! I did tell yall about the awesome concert we went to Friday night and how much fun we had.
What did I learn? That I can't consider an easy night a few drinks anymore. And literally, I mean a few....it was too much! Used to, that amount would have never affected me. But it's true what they say about your tolerance lowering if you aren't exposed.
I really though I was within boundaries because I'm not a big fan of over doing it. I don't believe it is right. I believe that God frowns upon it.
However, I misjudged and I paid for it Saturday morning. And believe me...I asked God for his forgiveness immediately. It's also at the top of my list to remain to my rule of two glasses and finished!
Life does continue and I had reality to accept. Lil Mister and LJ were scheduled for a Sunday School picnic that morning. It began at 10am but Hubby only got off at 11. So we headed there once he was home.
Immediately, I was feeling better! The farm where the picnic was held is so safe and relaxing. Normally, I'm chasing the boys around saying don't go there and don't do that for fear something hurts them. But not here!
There was a pool but there were so many people in and around it...I never once worried about the boys. Hubby and I felt more relaxed there than we have in a long time. Just not having to worry!
|The friends trying to talk him into it
|Finally braving the deep...
|Giggling at the cold!
To say the boys enjoyed themselves....well that is a HUGE understatement!
|Someone finally woke up!
|They loved watching each other pass!
|Making his lil brother laugh!
|Playing games....
|LJ thought he'd join the big boys for a game of volleyball...
|but when they wouldn't let him play...he stole the soccer ball!
|Throwing Papa with water...
|And someone's got a friend!
|Learning to swim!
|Lil Mister figured he'd help LJ get the hang of it!
I feel so blessed to have a church that plans functions like this and makes an effort to join parents and children for bonding outside of the church!
The older kids and some adults played games while the rest of us just lounged across the braai area.
The boys swam in the pool, swung on the swings and then jumped on the trampoline. When they started to get warm from jumping, they'd head back to the pool again. It was an endless cycle that wore everyone out!
And the best way to end the afternoon...with ice cream!
We then headed home and everyone took a quick nap (seriously, it was like an hour!). But it was just enough to recharge! We decided to throw some pork chops on the braai and have an easy evening at home!
Sunday....Sunday morning brought the rain. Not literally, I wish! No, instead it was raining clean up in our house! As little as we were home Friday and Saturday....our house was a disaster zone. The kids had slept in until about 6:45 (oh....that is totally sleeping in in our house!) and so did Hubby and I.
After getting some breakfast in and getting Hubby off to work, the boys and I began trying to clean up. Well, I tried to clean up....they tore apart another room while I was busy in the kitchen....etc.
Hubby got home at noon and we ate lunch and headed off to Kingdom Builders! I've mentioned this church in my Kids 'n Worship series and love when we get the opportunity to go!
The boys had fun running around and Hubby and I got some very meaningful words from the pastor. Sure enough, Satan was busy trying to stop the power of the Holy Spirit. As people were gathering and praying in the Spirit...the rains came.
This time literally! First, the power went out. We opened all the curtains and gathered closer to see and hear each other. When that didn't stop us from praying, the winds started howling!
The winds were so strong that it was pulling the roof from the walls! Understand this is a refurbished barn, so it isn't exactly put together like a house. But it was sure scary to see that gap between the two!
Yet, people only prayed stronger and louder! I'm getting goose bumps writing about it! Since that wasn't working, the hail started. Everyone's cars are sitting in the open....but not a single person moved. There were even areas inside that the hail was coming in!
Everyone just kept praying. It was beautiful! I felt so blessed to experience the Holy Spirit so firmly!
We got home late Sunday evening and ended the busy weekend by doing nothing!
How was your weekend?
Shana Danae..


text:
Juventus chief Giuseppe Marotta has revealed that his side blocked Arturo Vidal's move to Manchester United earlier in the summer transfer window.
The 20-times English champions were constantly linked with a move to Old Trafford throughout the last transfer window. However, the Italian outfit were keen on retaining their player as the Chilean international committed his future to the Old Lady.
Another Juventus midfielder and former United player Paul Pogba has also been a transfer target for both Red Devils and their league rivals Chelsea. Marotta says the Serie A winners will keep both the French international and Vidal at the club if the players are happy.
"We didn't want to give Vidal to Manchester United, end of story. Besides, our rapport with his agent Fernando Felicevich is good," Marotta said, as quoted by the Manchester Evening News.
"It always depends on the player. If Pogba and Vidal are happy to stay, then we will keep them," he stressed.
It was earlier reported that Vidal's move to United was delayed due to concerns over the midfielder's knee. Marotta has admitted the 27-year-old's injury problems also helped Juventus retain their star player.
"The injury influenced his departure, even now he doesn't have the best physical condition. For our part, however, there is the clear desire to keep him because we renewed his contract," Tutto Mercato Web quoted the Juventus chief as saying.
Meanwhile, United striker Wayne Rooney has urged young England players to relax when they are set to receive a hostile reaction from the home fans when they face Scotland at Celtic Park on Tuesday.
"You don't realise until you actually play there what the atmosphere is like," Rooney explained.
"The atmosphere was great when I was in the crowd, unbelievable, but you don't realise until you're on that pitch what it's like so maybe a few of them, you might need to speak to them and say: 'Listen, this is going to be hostile. Make sure you blank it out, relax, and play your normal game. Don't get involved in it.'"


text: Hi my friend Josh's coming over from London. He's riding a KTM hard enduro back home. Must buy another GT-Rider map: weren't there some off road trails shown? We will start riding on the 28th of November. Errm, does anyone know a guide for a few hours of offroading on standard 250s enduros? That would be plan B. Cheers, Chris


text:
Great experience! Got a super loan rate and financing. Community Auto Credit got me a new vehicle and financing through a local auto dealer in my area.
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I was skeptical about using an online service for my auto loan, but I received a call the same day from a dealer, scheduled an appointment for the next day. By the time I got to the dealership my loan was approved.
- Toby J., Denver, CO
This was my first car going off to college. Not having any credit I was worried about getting a student car loan, but Community Auto Credit had my phone ringing within the hour. A local dealership got me approved for a 2014 Nissan Sentra which fit my college budget.
- Christine S., Boston, MA
I just moved to L.A. recently and didn't know where to start looking for a vehicle and financing. My credit wasn't perfect, but I got a call the same day. Sure glad I found Community Auto Credit. My 2015 VW Jetta is great.
- Sarah Y., Los Angeles, CA


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It was a fun afternoon at the Go Cheese tasting event powered by Femina. The event took place recently at one of the most happening places of Delhi, Hard Rock café, Saket.
A brand that has transformed the way India responds to cheese. It all started with Parag Milk Foods Ltd which started manufacturing dairy products with cow's milk under the brand name 'Gowardhan'. In 2009, the company started another unit to manufacture cheese and names it 'Go Cheese' and within five years the name became synonymous with cheese across the country.
The afternoon was kicked off by stand-up comic artist Vikramjit Singh. He cracked jokes with a hint of sarcasm in them, right from the funny ways of Sardars to flamboyancy of Dilliwalas or how Gurgaon residents call them Delhiites. His jokes left the audience in splits.
Further VPS Malik, Vice President modern trade and institution business at Parag Milk Foods Ltd, took over the stage and took the guests on the interesting journey of the brand. Go Cheese comes in many flavours and forms from wedges to slices, blocks, spreads to shredded, including finely processed cheddar and mozzarella, and finest gourmet cheese like gouda, colby, orange cheddar, mild cheddar, etc.
But it was Chef Ranveer Brar who stole the show though it was a bit disheartening he didn't cook anything at the event. The cute and good-looking chef, food stylist and TV host was greeted with huge applaud by all the food and cheese lovers. Ranveer spoke about the different varities of cheese across the world and the history behind them. For the uninitiated, he informed that Gouda and Stilton cheese are not made in the towns that they are named after.
The chef also curated the menu for the afternoon where everything was prepared with Go Cheese. The menu included a cheese platter – Go Colby, Go Orange Cheddar, Go Gouda and Go Mild Cheddar to go with wine. And for the snacks – Bombay Toastie Bruchetta with Slice Cheese, Quesadilla with devils Garnish and Montre Jack, Mini Winter Vegetable Pizza with Herbed Cheese Cream, Chilli Cheese Suppli with Tomato and Saffron Chutney, Crumber CheeseTriangles with Tropical Fruit Compote, and for sweet tooth Creamy Cheese Fruit Tarts and Ginger Bread Cream Cheese Cookies were served.
Text and images by Supriya Aggarwal


text:
As compiled by me, Vizual Pupil
If you ask an old, white person if rap music is real music, they'll probably say no. They'll probably say something like, "What rap did that was impressive was to show there are so many tone-deaf people out there," which is what Rolling Stones guitarist and human ShamWow for drugs Keith Richards said just a few years ago. But as Destructoid's preeminent rap aficionado -- I own three Macklemore albums -- I say that shit is whack (Is it still cool to say "whack" in 2018?).
Rap music the soul of a generation. Nah, generations. Songs about surviving in the streets, selling drugs to make ends meet, and busting a cap in some suckas while they played dice really spoke to me as a white child growing up in a protected, middle-class household in the suburbs. I mean, it's like Scarface was singing about my life when he rapped, "Boy you should have known not to fuck with me bitch, brothers like me are making mortuaries rich."
Now, Destructoid doesn't touch on rap and hip-hop too much as the tincture of our writing staff is a shade brighter than White Opulence on a Benjamin Moore color swatch, but this is a big fucking month for the genre. November marks the 25th anniversary of Queen Latifah's Black Reign, Snoop Dogg's Doggystyle, and today, November 9, is the silver anniversary of Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). It's one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time, and as this is a gaming website, there are really only two ways to honor it: 1) An all-day stream of Def Jam Vendetta (which featured Wu-Tang founders Ghostface Killah and Method Man), or 2) Do the lazy thing and run 25 video game characters, one for each year since the album's been released, through the Wu-Tang name generator. As there is no Twitch stream below, I obviously went with the option two.
From 1994's Tekken
From 1995's Phantasy Star IV
From 1996's Resident Evil
From 1997's Fallout
From 1998's Metal Gear Solid
From 1999's Silent Hill
From 2000's Deus Ex
From 2001's Animal Crossing
From 2002's Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus
From 2003's Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball
From 2004's Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
From 2005's Psychonauts
From 2006's Bully
From 2007's The World Ends with You
From 2008's No More Heroes
From 2009's Brütal Legend
From 2010's Alan Wake
From 2011's Temple Run
From 2012's Kid Icarus: Uprising
From 2013's Grand Theft Auto V
From 2014's Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair
From 2015's Her Story
From 2016's Overwatch
From 2017's Persona 5
From 2018's Red Dead Redemption 2


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About This Center
Castara Retreats is nestled on the hillside with the rainforest as a backdrop, and the ocean below. This eco resort on the edge of the Caribbean village of Castara invites you to enjoy a 'living in the landscape' experience in one of the 15 treehousestyle accommodations. Each is built in perfect synthesis with the lush surrounding environment, and angled to absorb the glorious views of the Caribbean Sea. Here you can experience a tropical paradise in this unspoilt corner of the Caribbean.
Castara Retreats offers a subtle kind of luxury. The tropical hideaways capture the simple, exotic essence of Tobago and exude creativity and style. You will find all you need to unwind and recharge. Comfort is paramaount with open-air apartments, air-conditioned bedrooms, hammocks and loungers on expansive decks.


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iTunes Movie Trailers 4+
The latest HD movie trailers
- Free
iTunes Movie Trailers puts the newest HD movie previews in your hands. Browse trailers, clips, and featurettes for the biggest Hollywood blockbusters and independent cinema, view stunning HD photos, explore a year-long calendar of movie releases, find showtimes near you, and get ticket info directly from your iPad or iPhone.
• Access hundreds of movie trailers, clips, behind-the-scenes featurettes, and images, available in HD or SD
• Explore an interactive, year-long release calendar that helps you plan when you'll be going to the theaters
• Save your favorite movies and theaters for immediate access anytime
• Find out what's playing at your local theaters and purchase tickets directly from your iPad or iPhone
• Check estimated driving times and get directions to nearby theaters
• Add a movie to Favorites to be notified when it debuts in theaters or becomes available in the iTunes Store
• Browse Top Charts to view the most popular trailers, box office rankings, and top movies on iTunes to buy or rent
• Read critic reviews provided by Rotten Tomatoes without leaving the app
• Enjoy your favorite movie trailers on your TV with AirPlay and Apple TV
• Share your favorite trailers with friends using AirDrop, Facebook, Twitter, Messages, and Mail
• Keep your favorite theaters and movie trailers up to date on all of your devices using iCloud
• Requires a device with iOS 9 or later
• Requires Internet access over a Wi-Fi or cellular data connection
How Your Data Is Used
When you have iCloud enabled, iTunes Movie Trailers stores your favorite theaters and movies with your iCloud account to keep them in sync across all your devices.
What's New
Version 1.4.4
The latest update includes minor improvements and fixes.
Ratings and ReviewsSee All
Needs Update
I love to use this app for ad free trailers. Unfortunately the experience is ruined when viewing on Apple's own iPad Pro models. Since the app hasn't been update in 2 years there are black bars all over the sides because the new screen format, which is over a year old, isn't supported. Please update the app, Apple!
Abandoned Once Great App
This app used to be my go to movie trailer destination, for its superior quality trailers, and Apple polish. Unfortunately, the later part of that statement is missing now, with no updates in over a year, even with major upgrades in Apple's own iPhone and iPad hardware. Apple, if you read any of these reviews, please do us a solid, and update this once great app to support HDR and new 2018 iPad screen resolutions. Thanks!
Seems ok but.....
Don't really use it a lot. More or less just to check out new movies being released soon or on the future. I put a lot of movies in my favorites list. Giving my rating of two stars because when I try to bring up my favorites list to view, I see nothing but a blank screen. No point in having s favorites option if you're not able to view it.
- Seller
- Apple Inc.
- Size
- Category
- Entertainment
- Compatibility
Requires iOS 9.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. Apple TV.
- Languages
- Age Rating
- 4+
- Copyright
- © 2017 Apple Inc.
- Price
- Free
Family Sharing
With Family Sharing set up, up to six family members can use this app.


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Kilkenny Walkers Club
MEMBERS of Kilkenny Walkers club will have a choice of two walks on St Stephen's Day.
The first one will be to Slievenamon. This group will meet at the Castle Park at 10.30am or in Kilcash village at 11.15am. Alternatively, walkers can join up with the Gathabawn Loop Walk (12 noon), which is in aid of a good cause in Gathabawn.
Details from 056-7765835.


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I thought it would be fun to interview several of your favorite old-school game bloggers, so here's a Round Table with James M. of Grognardia, James R. of Lamentations of the Flame Princess, Thomas of Original Edition Fantasy, Zak of Playing D&D with Porn Stars, and Michael of Chicago Wiz's RPG Blog.
BtBG: Introduce yourself and your blog, and what its about.
James M: I'm James Maliszewski and I write a blog entitled Grognardia, which is about old school roleplaying games, with a special focus on those published prior to 1984 or thereabouts. I also spend a lot of time examining the literary inspirations of the early hobby.
James R: My name is James Edward Raggi IV and I write the Lamentations of the Flame Princess blog. The focus of the LotFP blog is promoting the publishing work I do (under the name Lamentations of the Flame Princess) and put forth my views on various game-related things. I have this two-headed goal with this gaming stuff - to be able to say what I feel without compromise and get people's pulses pounding. This is imagination! Fire up! Get excited! Go! Go! Go! Of course some people consider that abrasive, but I'm OK with being human sandpaper.
Thomas: Thomas Denmark, artist and game designer. I've illustrated for the top publishers in the game industry: Dungeons & Dragons, Magic: the Gathering, World of Warcraft. And I've designed games (www.dungeoneer.net). But my heart is with old-school RPGs. Original Edition Fantasy is a place where I can express my admiration for pre-80's RPGs (and Original D&D in particular).
Zak: Well it (the blog) says "I'm Zak, I live in Hollywood. Most of the people I know in LA I know from work - so they're porn stars and strippers. So that's who I play D&D with." Which is all true. If I had to describe the blog itself, I'd say its a little more often about DMing players who aren't D&D veterans than, say, Grognardia.
Michael: Hi, I'm Michael and I'm a father, granddad, Classic D&D gamer, miniatures painter, ex-amateur stock-car-racer, geek guy. My blog is pretty much a reflection of the gaming I do - centered around OD&D, AD&D, my miniatures hobby, my ongoing solo OD&D campaign with my wife, my ongoing AD&D campaign with a group of people in the Chicagoland area and other stuff that my d30 tells me to write about.
BtBG: Briefly describe the first time you were introduced to RPGs.
James M: In the summer of 1979, D&D was all over the news thanks to its supposed role in the disappearance of a college student, James Dallas Egbert III. My father was very interested in this "strange game" and so my mother bought him a copy of the Holmes-edited Basic Set to look at. As it turned out, my father never even opened the box and it sat in a hall closet until shortly after Christmas that year. That's when I returned home from a friend's house, who'd gotten the boardgame Dungeon!. I cracked it open and tried to make sense of its rules. It took some time (and some instruction from a friend's older brother) but I eventually wrapped my mind around it and have been playing RPGs ever since.
James R: My mother for some reason wanted to paint minis. Being a single mother of two, i think she didn't feel justified starting a new expensive and time-consuming hobby. I already like things like Savage Sword of Conan (I was eight years old, somewhere around there), and she heard about this D&D thing, so we went to the hobby shop and we got some figures and endless quest books.
No clue that this wasn't D&D, no idea what the figure were for in these game books. I got a couple of modules (Keep on the Borderlands and Village of Hommlett, since they were low level!) at my elementary school book fair(!), but still had no rules and no clue. I was gathering friends, setting the Caves of Chaos map out and moving pieces around like board game ("Damn these spaces are too small for normal playing pieces!").
I got the Mentzer Basic box soon after, and oh boy did that clear some things up.
And then soon after my mother found out about D&D causing suicide and blah blah blah, so she made me watch Monsters and Mazes like it was a documentary.
Damn you Tom Hanks!
Thomas: It was in math class when I was in junior high school in 1982. The kid who sat in front of me brought the original DMs Guide to class every day and he let me look at it. It, quite literally, changed my world. I immediately asked my mom to get me "D&D", I got the red box, then Fiend Folio, Deities & Demigods, DMs Guide, and Player's Handbook - in that order. Yeah, a weird order to get them in, but I suspect most people's introduction to D&D was similarly erratic.
Zak: It was birthday. It was before my 12th birthday and my dad gave me this book that was for people who were "12 & up". I was flatterd.
It was Unearthed Arcana, though, so it took a little back-engineering to figure out what the hell the book was.
Michael: I bought the Holmes Basic box set from either Rinks (a long defunct discount store - competed with KMart) or from KMart and was instantly transported to a world that I never wanted to leave. From there, I bought the AD&D core books (or 5 finger discounted in the case of the DMG) and my journey was complete. I stayed with D&D till the mid80s when I started playing Battletech/Mechwarrior.
BtBG: You're all GM's; why? No one else wants to, you like the creative outlet and/or the power;)? Do you think GMing so much affects how you play characters on those rare occasions you get to?
James M: I'm usually the GM because, yes, it's a role most other people don't like to take up, but also because I enjoy creating a world and situations and then turning players loose on them to see what they'll do. There's nothing quite else like it. I'm not sure that being a GM has had a huge impact on my playing style, although I do have a tendency to play quirky and/or humorous characters, perhaps because it's something I wish I saw more of from my own players.
James R: I was the first person I knew to get into gaming, and within my own age group growing up didn't really trust the others to provide good setting/adventure environments (not that I did at that age either, but…). I was the one recruiting and trying to play. I had some good experiences with older GMs in those days though.
Thomas: Interesting, as much as I love playing I find that I end up being DM most of the time because few others want the job. I can understand, it is a lot of work, but I love the ability to create - and control worlds. Though the DM only has so much control because I find players tend to do whatever they want despite a DM's best laid plans. It is this collaborative experience that makes it so rewarding.
Zak: I hate power. Or, more accurately, I hate responsibility. I try to pawn off GM duties at every opportunity. But my friends want to play and since most of them are from the West Coast, they're too flakey to organize it themselves and I, being originally a New Yorker, pick up the slack.
As for how I play my characters, I think it makes me a little more relaxed about them, since I can kind of see the scenario from both sides. I think I'm a little more willing to
let it go when they fuck up or die.
Michael: I like creating the worlds and presenting them to the players and discovering it with them. I also have not found anyone who GM's the way I like worlds to be presented/ran. So I do it myself. :) I'm sure it does affect me to some degree, but I try to forget about being a GM and just do what the little voices in my head tell me my character should do. :D
BtBG: Youre off to a desert island – what's the one RPG book you'd bring and why?
James M: Well, if I'm going to be on that island alone, I'd definitely bring the AD&D Dungeon Masters Guide.
No matter how many times I read it, I always find something new. If I'm not going to be alone, I'd probably bring The Traveller Book, because that single volume contains everything you'd need to play for a lifetime.
James R: Weird Fantasy Role-Playing is a box with multiple books, but since it's one package, so it counts.
Or if it doesn't… hmmm… HERO System 5th Edition.
Thomas: D&D Cyclopedia. It is the most complete D&D RPG TSR ever made. Though I think the text is tremendously tedious and too often redundant, it is still the best RPG book written. I dream about someday writing (and illustrating) it's equivalent for the "OSR".
Zak: Warhammer, Realms of Chaos, The Lost And The Damned. Because the art is sublime and it will soothe my troubled soul. Though maybe it'd be smarter to bring one of those Top Secret or Cthulhu supplements with Morse code in them. Be Romantic or be Rational? Always a tough call...
Michael: Rules Cyclopedia - although it has a lot of Moldvay'isms and Cook'isms, it is still the best presentation of a complete Classic D&D game. Now if I were allowed to bring 4 books.... the 3 core AD&D/1e books and Holmes.
BtBG: How about the one non-RPG book?
James M: That's harder to answer, because I don't have a hands-down favorite book. For now, though, let's just say I'd bring along my one-volume edition of The Lord of the Rings, since Tolkien's masterpiece is a book that repays repeated readings.
James R: Assuming "for entertainment purposes" and not a smart-ass survival guide choice …
The Unabridged Edgar Allan Poe. The beautiful leather-bound gilded edition I have!
Thomas: Dune. Best sci-fi book ever written. Though if I was asked for one author's libary I'd say Robert Heinlein's (except Number of the Beast) he's my favorite.
Zak: Thomas Pynchon, Gravity's Rainbow. Though ever since I drew every page of it I get kind of tired of it quicker. Maybe "The Information" by Martin Amis. Or, y'know, the SAS Island Survival Guide.
Michael: Tom Brown's Field Guide to Wilderness Survival by Tom Brown, Brandt Morgan
BtBG: The one album?
James M: No idea. I'm not a huge lover of music, popular or otherwise.
James R: I think I'd rather have none than just one.
But because dodging questions is crap, I'll say Iron Maiden's Live After Death – with the bonus tracks. It's not my favorite album, but it's long, has good songs on it and a lot of variety, and when I get utterly sick of the sound of it I haven't ruined any of my favorite bands.
Thomas: Black Sabbath: Sabotage, the first four Black Sabbath albums are Ozzy's voice at his best, and Sabotage, their 4th album, represents their best song writing.
Zak: Eyehategod "Take As Needed For Pain". You'll want something loud so passing helicopters can hear you down there.
Michael: Ugh - you have me there. I can't choose one. One artist/band would be Led Zeppelin - so I'd probably go with a compilation album of their best stuff -- although some of the more non-commercial, bluesey stuff is what I like best.
BtBG: You've all been involved in DIY publications - how do you think your blogging helps get your stuff out there? Do you think self-publication on the same scale would have been an option 10 or 20 years ago?
James M: I see blogging as occupying the same niche that fanzines used to back in the day. They're a great way to share the fruits of your ongoing gaming with others -- and quicker, easier, and cheaper than any of the alternatives available in the past.
James R: The blog helps sell the work (and thus helps the next project be biggerbetterfancier), but it doesn't really much affect putting the work together in the first place.
I think the history of the hobby is self-publishing. TSR, Palladium, White Wolf, GDW, etc., those were all at least partially creator owned… And their scale was much larger. So yes, it would have been an option.
Thomas: Self-publication has certainly become much easier. The most startling development is the popularity of PDF's. I think self-publishing is the present and future of the RPG "industry". I don't know if blogging helps or hurts because I haven't really published anything since I started my blog, but I intend to soon.
Zak: Well I never self-published, but yeah, obviously, blogging and the internet and cheap graphics programs and printers make all this stuff easier.
My friends who do 'zines used to have to pound the pavement much harder.
Michael: I think it's a mixed bag. It certainly gets the word out to the 137(squared) of us, but it's a closed loop. I think self-publication is probably more today only because of the Internet, but I also think that it's no less/more vibrant compared to the fanzines, gaming clubs and local gamer scenes that have been around. It's far easier to put your stuff out there, but it's also harder to stand out and be noticed.
BtBG: What's your favorite blog or gaming site right now and why?
James M: I'm not sure I have a single favorite, but I will say that I regularly find myself visiting both Cyclopeatran and The Underdark Gazette, as they both do a better job than anyone of keeping up to date listings of old school blogs and news.
James R: Does Oglaf count as a gaming site?
Thomas: James over at Grognardia has really mastered the OSR blogosphere. The quality and quantity of his posts really surpasses anything else out there.
Zak: Jeff's Gameblog, always. He's so good at being a human being. He reminds me of in Twin Peaks when Agent Cooper gets shot and he's lying there talking into his tape recorder "I wish I had been nicer to people"... Always trying to be better, that guy.
Michael: I visit Troll & Flame's site daily because he has one of the best blogrolls to see what's going on. I have this weird thing that I don't like to fill up my reader with blogs, but I like "overviews" in case I find something interesting to read elsewhere.
My favorite forum continues to be the OD&D Forum - I have a game going there, I'm participating in two games there as a player.
BtBG: What's your favorite monster and why?
James M: I'm a big fan of the undead in all their forms, particularly intelligent or cunning sorts like ghouls, wraiths, and liches. I suspect my fondness for them comes from my own fascination with death and morbid topics. Plus, I enjoy being frightened as much as the next guy and there's something undeniably frightening about the walking dead.
James R: Man.
Jules Lavesque, Iri-Khan, the Knights of Science, Garvin Richrom, Archibald Kohler, the Duvan'Ku, if you could demi-humans as "people" then there's the elves of Weird New World and Mâr-Rune. I just think having something identifiable as a "big bad" makes the whole thing more intense than a "slay the monster" kind of thing.
But if you'd like a traditional monster, I'll pick the Doppelganger (or the customized variation I've been using lately). It's so great for screwing around with the players.
Thomas: The Beholder is one of the best original monsters Gary Gygax ever invented, and he's invented quite a few. Gary's imagination really blows me away - you have to look at the context, before him there were no RPG's. Or the Drow: but I don't think of Drow as a monster so much as a playable character race, though strictly as a monster they are certainly Gary's greatest "monster" invention.
Zak: Flail Snail. Because at first it's silly but really it's disturbing and sublime and weeeeeeird.
Michael: Kobolds. Why? One name... Tucker. 'nuff said.
BtBG: Tell us about the funniest (or scariest) thing that's ever happened at your game table recently.
James M: I think the funniest thing to happen around my table recently were the extended interactions between the player characters and the various Animal Kings who have set up shop in the central city-state of my Dwimmermount campaign world. The Cat King, for example, is arrogant and lazy and is surrounded by cages filled with mice his minions have captured. He treats humans as his inferiors and the characters needed to tread lightly to gain his help. The Rat Boss, on the other hand, was likely a Hollywood mafioso, right down to the "New Yawk" accent and a coterie of toadies with nicknames like "Specs" and "Johnny." We had a lot of fun during the sessions involving these guys.
James R: I'll preface this by saying I really don't have a lot of sex in my games, because especially here in Finland these perverts have no problem role-playing out (in detail!) a sex scene while six or seven other players are looking on, bored that the focus isn't on their characters. It gets awkward. Mostly for me.
Recently I was running games for some younger people (though not kids… damn I'm getting old), and I threw in a bit where an inn was run by an old wrinkly woman – 70, 80 years old. And she was horny and was after one of the PCs.
I thought it would be a comedy ha-ha bit where the player went "ooh, gross, old woman, RUN!" but I should remember to never underestimate the desire for players to get their characters laid. My comedy bit was ruined when he went for it. (plus he saved the money for a room that night… players… *sigh*)
We didn't role-play it out, but I then tell all the other players that all night long they hear screaming coming from the end of the hall. "YES! MORE! OH YES! I LOVE ADVENTURERS! AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
We did this at an in-store game, mind you. Our table erupted in laughter there, and I think some of the Warhammer-playing people at the other tables had a momentary interruption as sexual comedy interrupted their war…
Anyway, next morning, the party gathers in the common room of the inn, and all the other players are looking at this other guy really weird…
Thomas: I was running an adventure from Dungeon magazine #73 called Quoitine Quest. There is an undead creature that mistakes the adventurers for her "children". I tried to invent a unique voice for her, and somehow this terrifying shriek that came out of my vocal cords - I have no idea how - freaked the players (and myself) out! The player's loved it, and it was definitely the scariest thing at my gaming table.
Zak: Kimberly Kane got stung by a jellyfish man--so she's out for 1 to 4 rounds. And apparently science tells us that the ammonia in urine
counteracts the poison in a jellyfish sting, so Kimberly keeps saying...ok, well I'm sure you can figure out the rest from there.
Michael: There is always laughter at the table, and I always try to award a "Line of the Game" to someone who comes up with a funny line.
To be continued...
To be continued...


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PB2 Chocolate Brownie Bites
1 1/4 cups PB2 Chocolate Powder
225 mL Maple Syrup
1 Egg
1 tsp Vanilla
2 tbsp Water
1 1/2 cups Quaker Rolled Oats
Heat the oven to 350F. Mix everything in a bowl and let sit for five minutes. Grease a medium baking sheet and spread mixture across. Bake for 7 minutes cool and then cut into snack sized bites.
Note: I completely experimented with this. They are very chewy and delicious but actually might bake to more of a cookie texture if left longer? I'll update when I try it... I'm also going to try spooning the mixture onto the sheet rather than fill it!


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ASOBUILD(ASOBUILD 2F[ALE-BOX], 2-14-9, Takashima, Nishi-ku Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa)
February 4, 2020 - March 1, 2020
*Anyone who without tickets can admission to the goods shop after 1 pm.
Ticket type
Weekdays (Monday - Friday) Fixed-date ticket(s):
Saturday, Sunday and Holidays Fixed-date and time ticket(s)
Cancellations / Changes are not possible for this ticket after confirming your order. Please transfer your ticket (QR code) to your friend or family, if you can not go. We prohibit the resale of tickets at higher than our original prices for the purpose of profit.
You also get your ticket on our website.


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The latest data released by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) indicates that the inflation rate for the calendar year 2011 was six per cent, the lowest for the previous five years.
The achievement of this relatively modest price movement compares to an 11.7 per cent turn-out in 2010. For the fiscal year-to-date, the inflation rate was 5.5 per cent, 1.8 percentage points below the 7.3 per cent movement recorded for the March to December 2010 period.
STATIN explained that the inflation rate for the year was driven by higher food prices and the upward movement in the cost for the groups, "housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels."
The agency stated that the higher cost of oil on the international market and the increased rates for electricity and water were the main contributing factors.
The category, food and non-alcoholic beverages, which makes up nearly 40 per cent of the basket of consumer goods and services, saw a 5.4 per cent increase in prices, compared to 12.3 per cent increase for housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels.
Recording the lowest price movement for the year, with an increase of 2.3 per cent, was the category restaurants and accommodation services. Higher cost for "food consumed away from home" was the main contributor to the increase in that category.
The inflation turn-out for the year is consistent with official projections of the Bank of Jamaica and the Planning Institute of Jamaica, which estimated that the rate would be in the range of six to eight per cent.


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It is likely that sometime in the near future, people's dependence on oil for home heating, electricity, etc. will be eliminated. Until that day, you can be sure that solar energy is paving the way to a cleaner, greener way of living. Read this article to learn more about making the switch to solar power.
Be aware of the fact that there are a couple of different kinds of photo-voltaic solar energy panels. Polycrystalline panels, while relatively affordable, lack the efficiency of monocrystalline panels. It is often best to invest in the most efficient product you can afford if you need a solar energy system that can power your home.
The system you have in place for solar energy can keep working as long as it is properly maintained. Inspect your solar energy system on a monthly basis and hose down the panels to remove dirt and grime. Don't hesitate to call a pro to do the cleaning or inspect the system if you're uncomfortable doing either.
Do not buy solar panels for your company or home if they rely solely on the sun. Lots of new versions can store solar energy during the day, but allow for utilization of the power at any time. This ensures that you always have the power you need, even when it is nighttime or raining.
Solar Panels
If your solar panels should fail, you need to have a backup plan in place. You can use a generator or stay on the power grid and use this when your solar panels are down. If you choose to get a generator, keep a few on hand and test them on a routine basis.
Try to find grants and rebates that can reduce the installation cost of your solar panels. The installation costs of solar power are overwhelming. Many government departments will offer you money once your set-up is installed. They can bring down the cost considerably. You might be able to use it as a tax deduction.
Every year solar systems evolve. Solar power equipment is no longer so expensive that only the rich can afford them. There are many different systems out there, so it is important to take your time to ensure you choose the best fit for you.
Your heating bill will be lower if you install solar panels that are photovoltaic on your house or use water heating that's solar. You should have five hours of good sunlight a day in order to use photovoltaic solar panels most efficiently. Swimming pools are often heated using solar heating.
Solar Power
Many people don't realize that when you have a solar power system, you do not have to hook up to a power grid. Solar power can enable your family or business to become independent of electric company and ever increasing power bills. That means no power bill to pay and no expensive service calls.
Converting should be convenient. Start by using solar-powered appliances to get used to it. Doing things gradually will make it easier to stick with.
A good future for our children depends on the wise choices that we make today. Don't wait until everyone else has solar power. Consider your choices now, and look at the savings and carbon footprint reduction you could enjoy.


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Commissions vs. booking fees; the hot topic being debated by travel management companies (TMCs), venues and corporate travel departments.
We interviewed Mark Lewington, CEO of CTS Systems, to get his view and learn about his company's innovative platform to streamline commissions in business travel.
[Hint: The debate will be decided by big data.]
Here's an overview of what we discussed:
- How CTS supports Travel Management Companies (TMCs) and Corporate Travel Departments
- The debate between commissions and booking fees
- Why is understanding data important?
- Understanding 'consumed data'
- Minimising foreign exchange costs
- What is a payment ecosystem?
- Will we see an industry standard commercial model?
About CTS Systems, Inc.
CTS Systems is a technology company that streamlines commission payments and collection for TMCs, corporate travel departments and venues. Based in Atlanta, Georgia (USA), the company specialises in commission management, collection, reconciliation, and reporting, and processes over 43 million transactions per year accounting for $7 billion in travel revenues.


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3 Tier Bamboo All Purpose Utility Cart
Mindreader's All Purpose Utility Cart is great for storing bathroom, garage, work or classroom supplies! This cart can be used in many different ways, and has the ability to fit in tight spaces!
- Bamboo gives eco-friendly, wood look
- Keep in your home, office, kitchen, or classroom
- 4 Caster wheels for easy mobility with 360 degree rotation
- Sturdy construction with steel frame
- Able to fit into tight spaces for extra storage
- Dimensions: 8.07 (L) x 17.13 (W) x34.25 (H)
Related Products
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Are you Interested in a Quality Physical Education Professional Development Opportunity?
SHAPE America's Physical Activity Leader (PAL) Training is coming to Student Support Services- Western Suffolk BOCES for a full-day workshop on March 29th, and a half-day training on integrating physical activity during the school day on March 30th.
These dynamic professional development opportunities are designed to develop and support school champion PE teachers, school leaders and principals in efforts to ensure 60 minutes a day of physical activity for all school-aged youth. These in-person training normally costs hundreds of dollars at the professional conferences but only $25 for full-day PAL training on the 29th and $75 for physical activity methods training on the 30th. Sign up for one or two days at http://www.wsboces.org/webreg.
Please review the PDF flyers below for more information.
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The change of season is officially here, and it's time to change your wardrobe. If you are like me and have to refresh how to style your favorite clothes, or maybe need some advice for the fashion trends this season, here are 3 basic outfits for fall.
3 fall pieces for 3 different body types, easy and simple.


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Tagged: shin soo choo
8-12-10 Progressive Field
I was back at Progressive Field today, hoping to snag my one thousandth career baseball.
I was planning on returning yesterday, but radar showed storms moving through Cleveland all afternoon, so I would wait until today for another shot at 1,000.
When I walked by a bar across the street,
pick them all up.
In left field, I would snag one more ball – thrown by Brad Bergesen:
He tossed the ball up and I had to lean out over the railing to just barely make the catch. When I caught it, I asked Brad if the ball was for me or the kid next to me, who'd also asked for one. Brad nodded toward the kid, so I turned and gave the ball away.
So, I'd ended the day with five balls snagged.
Here I am in the shadows by the bullpen with ball #1000:
Today's baseballs: (4 pictured because one was given away)
Sweet spots: (#1,003 was given away)
Game: 5 balls (1 thrown, 4 device )
Season: 425 balls (217 hit, 95 thrown, 58 device, 55 found)
Games: 65 games
Average: 6.54 balls per game
2010 Game Balls: 5
Career: 1,003 balls
Streak: 161 consecutive games attended with at least 1 ball snagged.
Attendance: 14,533
8-10-10 Progressive Field
I started the day just six balls away from 1,000.
I was happy to see that the Indians were taking early batting practice when I arrived and looked through the left field gate:
And they were left handed.
Game: 4 balls (2 hit, 1 thrown, 1 found)
Season: 420 balls (217 hit, 94 thrown, 54 device, 55 found)
Games: 64 games
Average: 6.56 balls per game
2010 Game Balls: 5
Career: 998 balls
Streak: 160 consecutive games attended with at least 1 ball snagged.
Attendance: 13,541
6-30-10 Progressive Field
Back in Cleveland yet again.
However, it would not be a fun time in Cleveland today.
It would be a record low tying day for me. Record low in terms of balls snagged in 2010 and also record tying low for balls snagged at Progressive Field.
After being shut out for over fifty minutes, I snagged a Shin Soo Choo home run in this area:
It was too deep for me to get to in time to make the catch, so I settled for grabbing the ball off of the concrete.
It was about 5:20. My next ball wouldn't come until about 6:15 or so.
It was that kind of day.
One of the Blue Jays hit a home run that thankfully landed in the trees in Heritage Park. When I ran over, there it was, waiting for me.
Season: 268 balls (142 hit, 64 thrown, 26 device, 36 found)
Games: 41 games
Average: 6.53 balls per game
2010 Game Balls: 3
Career: 846 balls
Streak: 137 consecutive games attended with at least 1 ball snagged.
Attendance: 12,109
6-29-10 Progressive Field
Another day of snagging at Progressive Field in Cleveland.
I was the first one into the stadium, and despite there being early batting practice, didn't find any baseballs on my first sweep through the sections. I also checked Heritage Park, where there was nothing.
Upon returning from Heritage Park I spotted a baseball as another ballhawk/autograph hound was picking it up. I was about five seconds too late.
Since the Indians have a new later batting practice schedule, this gave me plenty of time to search. I went up and down every row and searched for about ten minutes before finally happening upon ball #1, hidden in the shadows:
When the Indians began hitting, I would get ball #2 from Shin Soo Choo. It was a home run that I caught on the fly in center field, fully extended in this area:
Season: 266 balls (141 hit, 64 thrown, 25 device, 36 found)
Games: 40 games
Average: 6.65 balls per game
2010 Game Balls: 3
Career: 844 balls
Streak: 136 consecutive games attended with at least 1 ball snagged.
Attendance: 11,401
6-28-10 Progressive Field
I arrived at Progressive Field early enough to be first in line, however, it wouldn't matter, as BP wouldn't even end up beginning until 4:50PM.
I had to wait as the Indians stretched, threw, and took a few rounds of infield.
Additionally, the cages hadn't been set up early due to thunderstorms that moved through just south of Cleveland around 3-3:30 (the Indians likely took a wait and see approach – it ended up not raining in downtown Cleveland.
So, upon entering, I looked for an easter egg halfheartedly out of force of habit. There was nothing in the seats, so I went over to Heritage Park, where this was waiting:
It was a damp, wet baseball that had likely been there at least a few days. It also was very badly worn, and didn't look like it was a major league baseball. It may have been hit into the trees sometime during the last week and a half when the Indians were out on the road. After debating on whether to count it or not, I decided to – it is a baseball snagged in an MLB stadium. I reached in an was just able to grab ball #1 without using my 'Cleveland Stick.'
My second ball came from Shin Soo Choo. He turned and threw a ball to a group of kids in the front row. The ball sailed over their heads and into an empty row about six rows back. I bent over and picked up ball #2.
None of the kids asked for the ball, but I could feel Choo staring at me. I looked, and sure enough, there he was, looking right at me.
I tossed ball #829 to one of the kids in the front row. Choo saw this, whistled at me, took a ball out of his back pocket and fired a ball at me. It was ball #3.
He then ran off the field before I could get his picture to go hit.
I would get ball #4 off the bat of Travis Hafner.
The ball bounced around and went into the tunnel next to the deck.
No one else was in the area, so I raced over to grab ball #10. It turned out that was the last BP home run of the Blue Jays batting practice, because as I returned to my spot, the Blue Jays were running off the field.
Today's baseballs (9 pictured because #829 was given away):
Sweet spots (9 pictured because #829 was given away):
Game: 10 balls (4 hit, 3 thrown, 2 device, 1 found)
Season: 259 balls (136 hit, 63 thrown, 25 device, 35 found)
Games: 39 games
Average: 6.64 balls per game
2010 Game Balls: 3
Career: 837 balls
Streak: 135 consecutive games attended with at least 1 ball snagged.
Attendance: 11,577
6-12-10 Progressive Field
The weather forecast for today kept calling for thunderstorms, but every time I checked the forecast changed, and the storms kept getting pushed back to later and later in the day.
Eventually, I decided around 1PM to go for it, and hoped the weather would cooperate.
It would.
Despite arriving at 3:45, I was still first in line.
The boxes you see in the above photo were Shin Soo Choo bobbleheads. I was a little worried that today would be very crowded because it was a bobblehead night and a Saturday. However, the attendance was below 20,000. Kind of sad for a franchise that once sold out 455 games in a row.
When I ran in, batting practice hadn't yet begun, and there were no Easter Eggs.
After a few minutes, BP got underway and an Indians lefty hit a few balls into the Indians bullpen.
One of the balls was in a spot at the back of the bullpen that could be retrieved with the glove trick. However, right when I began to set up for the glove trick, Tony Sipp ran by on his way to the bathroom in the Indians bullpen. I decided to hold off on glove tricking the ball and instead asked Sipp for one of the three balls in the bullpen after he finished in the bathroom.
He nodded and flipped me ball #1.
Game: 7 balls (3 hit, 2 thrown, 2 device)
Season: 199 balls (104 hit, 53 thrown, 19 device, 23 found)
Games: 32 games
Average: 6.22 balls per game
2010 Game Balls: 3
Career: 777 balls
Streak: 128 consecutive games attended with at least 1 ball snagged.
Attendance: 19,484
6-11-10 Progressive Field
I decided to attend this game after checking Saturday's iffy weather forecast. I left right after work, so I didn't get to the stadium until just before 5 PM.
I had missed the first 25 minutes of batting practice, which is never a good thing, but I would get on the board soon.
I was checking for any easter eggs that some folks may have missed when Shin Soo Choo hit a home run that landed in the trees in Heritage Park. I tried to reach in and grab it so I could count it as a hit ball, but I couldn't reach it.
I pulled out my Cleveland Stick and used it to nudge the ball closer to the wall so I could get it. It was ball #1.
The next round, Travis Hafner also hit a home run into the trees in Heritage Park, so I ran back over again.
This ball would be a bit trickier because it was lodged in the branches of one of the trees.
Game: 7 balls (3 hit, 4 device)
Season: 192 balls (101 hit, 51 thrown, 17 device, 23 found)
Games: 31 games
Average: 6.19 balls per game
2010 Game Balls: 3
Career: 770 balls
Streak: 127 consecutive games attended with at least 1 ball snagged.
Attendance: 22,041
5-24-2010 Progressive Field
I didn't arrive at this game until almost 5PM, as I left after work. The gates had opened at 4:30, so I was operating at a disadvantage from the beginning. Couple that with that fact that only six balls reached the center field/right field seating area from the time I arrived until 6PM, and you have a recipe for a frustrating day.
I got my first ball of the day off the bat of Shin Soo Choo.
The stadium was pretty empty, so I ran over to the section the ball had landed in and waited for the ball to roll down to me as two guys searched frantically where the ball had hit.
I got my second ball of the day from Tony Sipp.
Game: 4 balls (2 hit, 2 thrown)
Season: 139 balls (85 hit, 31 thrown, 9 device, 14 found)
Games: 21 games
Average: 6.62 balls per game
2010 Game Balls: 3
Career: 717 balls
Streak: 117 consecutive games attended with at least 1 ball snagged.
Attendance: 10,166
9-24-09 Progressive Field
After leaving PNC Park around 1:25, I made it to Progressive Field in Cleveland, and was in line at 3:32. I was second in line. This would be my second game of the day.
When I ran in, I didn't find any easter eggs on the ground. I paced up and down each aisle and did manage to find ball #1 and ball #2 laying in seats. The second ball was an International League (AAA) ball – which the Tigers are known to use in lieu of major league baseballs. I was pretty happy because I didn't have any of these yet this year. After snagging 300 some regular major league baseballs this season, any variation is a welcomed departure from the mean.
Within the span of a minute, I lost out on three home run balls in center field. All three balls bounced on this six foot wide concrete platform seperating the outfield wall from the seats:
The balls took huge hops and landed about 15 rows back, and I wasn't able to get to any of them in time.
Ball #3 was thrown by an Indians pitcher (standing on the left of the two pitchers).
I had competition from behind, with two guys trying to reach other the seats to grab the ball. I got to the ball a split second before them, snatching it with my bare hand. Guess what? Another Metrodome commemorative!
Things then slowed way down for me. I wouldn't get another ball for the next half hour.
I watched Miguel Cabrera pepper the left field bleachers with home run balls. There was only one usher there picking them all up, and he had his work cut out for him.
One of Cabrera's homers nearly hit th
e scoreboard. It landed in the very top row of the bleachers (as marked by the red X in the picture below.)
At 6:00, I ran over to those left field bleachers to look for some easter eggs that the usher potentially may have missed. I searched the rows at the bottom, and watched as one teenager found one. I then ran up towards the top of the bleachers, and found this waiting for me, three rows from the top.
Yes, another Metrodome ball – my fifth commemorative of the day, and ball #9.
Things in left field weren't going well, so I made my way back over to right field as the final lefties were finishing up.
Curtis Granderson ( i think – a black left handed batter ) – hit a deep home run to my left in right field. Again, it was going to be about two sections over, so I put my head down and ran over to where I judged it was going to land. I ended up making a really nice catch on the run for ball #10 of the day. I got a nice hand from the few people that were still in right field watching batting practice. It was also my fifth consecutive Metrodome ball snagged, and my sixth commemorative of the day.
Two pitches later, Granderson hit another home run to right field. This ball was high in the air, and I had plenty of time to weave and correct my route so I'd be in the right spot. I caught the ball with a basket style catch for ball #11. It was the last hit of BP, as the Tigers then ran off the field. I quickly snapped this picture right after batting practice ended to show all the room I had.
I love weekday batting practices at Progressive Field.
I left after batting practice, happy that after snagging 14 yesterday, I had snagged 15 today (albeit over 2 games). It was a new "one-day" record for me.
On my way out of the stadium, I had a few reminders from the trees that fall was here, and baseball season was almost over.
Farewell Progressive Field – See you next year
Today's baseballs:
Sweet spots
Game: 11 balls (8 hit, 2 thrown, 1 device)
Season: 390 balls (208 hit, 117 thrown, 65 device)
Games: 78 games (9 of which didn't have BP)
Average: 5.00 balls per game
Career: 556 balls
Streak: 93 consecutive games attended with at least 1 ball snagged.
Attendance: 23,516
Race for 400 in 2009: Need 10 in 3 games, 3.33 per game
5-9-09 Progressive Field
With the Pirates on the road for a full week, I decided to add two games at Progressive Field. I checked the weather today and since the forecast was favorable, I hopped in my car and took the 2:15 drive to Cleveland.
Since it was Saturday, I had some things working against me:
1) Gates don't open until 5:30 on weekends
2) Cliff Lee bobblehead day
3) The skies darkened up and it looked like it was going to storm.
When I arrived at Progressive Field around 4, the cage was set up, but I was afraid BP would be wiped out due to the menacing dark clouds. (The lights were on at the stadium).
I walked to the box office and bought the cheapest ticket I could, $9. I then made my way back to the right field gate. It was about 4:15, and a large crowd was gathering. I was about 15th in line. It turns out that there were hundreds of people there for faith night. They were going to hear testimony from Indians player Jamey Carroll.
Imagine my surprise when a supervisor announced that they would be opening the gates an hour early at 4:30! Thank you Jesus!
A full batting practice.
Then went to the upper deck.
Then came back to the main level and asked an usher to take my picture.
And stood in line for 10 minutes to buy a cheeseburger combo meal for $9.25.
When the game started I first sat by the foul pole in right field.
But eventually moved to the left field home run porch. Notice all of the fans are standing at the fence.
If a home run were hit, they would have a slim chance of catching it. I stood by the garbage cans, awaiting a home run that would never come.
The Tigers won the game 4-0.
A few action shots:
Shin Soo Choo bats against Edwin Jackson
Jim Leyland relays some signs:
Miguel Cabrera against Fausto Carmona as Andy Van Slyke (my favorite player 1988-1993) looks on:
A look at today's baseballs:
And the sweet spots:
Game: 5 Balls (3 hit, 1 thrown, 1 device)
Season: 89 Balls (35 hit, 44 thrown, 10 device)
Games: 17 Games (14 with BP, 3 without)
Average: 5.24 balls per game
Career: 255 Balls
Attendance: 33,640


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To order images and/or obtain permission to use them commercially, please contact the KSHS Reference Desk at firstname.lastname@example.com or 785-272-8681, ext. 117.
For more information see the Copyright and Permission FAQ.
Christian Smith of Garfield, Kansas, was a member of the Pawnee Heights High School track team of Rozel, Kansas. In 2000, Trevor Smith, his brother, won the 800 meter and mile runs at the state meet, with Christian finishing second in both races. At the 2001 National AAU Junior Olympics Games, Christian won the 800 Meter run. The next year, Christian was a four event winner at the 2002 Kansas State Track and Field Championships in Wichita, Kansas. He was named The Hutchinson News' Male Athlete of the Year, and helped Pawnee Heights win the Class 1A title. After graduating from high school. Christian continued his track career at Kansas State University. In 2008, he was member of the United States Track and Field Team at the Olympics in Beijing, China.
Creator: Smith, Ann
Date: 2000
Item Number: 213597
Call Number: 2009-027.01
KSHS Identifier: DaRT ID: 213597
Collections - Photograph
Community Life - Recreation and Sports - Sports - Track and Field
Date - 2000s - 2000
Education - Secondary - Activities - Sports
Education - Secondary - Students
Objects and Artifacts - Communication Artifacts - Documentary Artifact - Photograph
Places - Cities and towns - Garfield
Places - Cities and towns - Rozel
Places - Counties - Pawnee
Thematic Time Period - The Recent Past, 1975 - present
Type of Material - Photographs


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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri House passed Rep. Don Rone's bill 120-17 with several small amendments, but it lacks language that would give utilities the ability to look at increasing rates for grid modernization which would potentially jeopardize the bill in the Senate.
Speaker Todd Richardson thanked the House Utilities Committee and members of the chamber, but said the effort relied on Rone who he said had "uncommon courage."
"We are very pleased with the outcome of today, and really this week's work on the special session." Speaker Todd Richardson said after the House dismissed for the evening. "This is an effort Rep. Rone started back even in the winter , trying to find a way to bring a competitive utility rate to New Madrid in an effort to attract 500 well-paying new jobs to a state that desperately needs them."
Rone himself was also pleased with the end result of the legislation.
"On behalf of the people from my district, I want to thank everybody in this body, both sides of the aisle, whether you voted for it, whether you voted against it," Rone said on the House floor.
Rone's legislation has become the primary focus of the special session called by gov. Eric Greitens. It would give the Public Service Commission (PSC) special authority to offer a lower rate to steel mills, aluminum smelters and other large consumers of electricity. A steel mill considering a move to Southeast Missouri will reportedly move to the state on the passage of this bill.
The relatively small amendments added to the bill by Rep. Jay Barnes, Peter Merideth, and Tracy McCreery (as well as a grammatical change from Rep. Kevin Corlew) would broaden the bill to not specifically speak to just the economic development of the Bootheel. Instead make it so the lower electric rate can be requested by any large industrial energy user with a facility that uses over 50 MW per month of power.
It also creates a 'but for" test for these facilities. Before a special rate is authorized, PSC has to find that but for the special operation of the rate, the facility would not begin operations.
Modernization language left off of bill
Several other amendments however did not make it on the bill, including one of the more important and controversial amendments that would have attached legislation to fulfill Part 2 of Greitens' call, which would give much more leeway for utilities to set rates to allow for new investments like grid modernization projects.
Barnes brought the legislation forward even though he withdrew it later, saying doing so was "setting the stage." With some underground electrical lines in St. Louis being nearly a century old, and four coal power plants in the state being roughly 50 years old, Barnes said the discussion needed to happen, despite some senators opposing the likely rate changes that would come along with it.
"We are living on the investments of our grandparents. There are tough decisions to be made about how to modernize our infrastructure," Barnes said. "We need a serious and broad discussion about energy policy about grid modernization in our state, and for too long it has been stymied."
Rep. Rocky Miller, who has carried such legislation multiple times in the past, noted his own disappointment barring an unlikely call from the Senate to move forward on ratemaking changes, that it will not be a part of the bill.
"I was really excited we had the chance to finally get some rate modernization going in the state of Missouri, really give us a chance to moderate our rates ,and we're not going to get that this time it looks like," Miller said.
While the Senate's opposition highlighted the main incentive to keep that language off of the bill, one source told The Missouri Times that Greitens made the decision to back down from the modernization language and told the House not to pursue such legislation so it could make it through the Senate. This decision came the same day he held a rally that effectively vilified "career politicians" in the Senate preparing to blockade the bill holistically if it contained those provisions.
Richardson did not comment on Greitens' repeated insults towards the members of his chamber, but when he spoke on the House floor he may have alluded to some of the flak Greitens has thrown at politicians.
"There are people everyday that believe that our process of government is broken beyond repair and our public institutions are no longer capable of solving problems and doing good things for the people we represent," Richardson said. "What we've seen in the last two weeks form the gentleman from New Madrid demonstrate to everyone that we do have the capacity to solve big problems.
"The way this chamber has conducted itself on this issue is the way we should conduct ourselves on every issue."
SEMO representatives push for support
Southeast Missourians voiced their support for the measure. Rep. Greg Razer, D-Kansas City, who grew up in Cooter, Missouri, said the bill would bring jobs to a part of the state that desperately needed them.
"When I go home to visit family and friends, I'm struck by that poverty, by that lack of opportunity," Razer said. "The folks there have very little opportunity to advance to make money, to buy a car to send their kids to college. This is their opportunity to move forward."
However, several Democrats and a small portion of Republicans, including Rep. Paul Curtman, voiced their concerns that the jobs would result from a rate increase on Ameren customers.
"We have to make sure we're doing this the right way," Curtman, R-Pacific, said.
As debate dragged on, Rep. Steve Cookson, R-Poplar Bluff, admonished the chamber for continued debate on what would likely be a simple issue.
"The worst death that any individual can go through is to be talked to death by politicians. We're talking ourselves to death," Cookson said. "If we don't get this bill passed by June 1, then we have lost these jobs most likely."
After the vote on the emergency clause passed, Rone expressed his gratitude for the chamber.
"On behalf of the people from my district. I want to thank everybody in this body, both sides of the aisle, whether you voted for it, whether you voted against it."


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Voice of the Conservative Vote: Merrie Spaeth
by TexasGOPVote on March 11, 2015 at 3:06 PM
Merrie Spaeth has a unique background in media, government, politics, business and entertainment. She is a pioneer in communication theory, executive training and coaching. Spaeth is acknowledged as one of the most influential communication counselors in the world.
Merrie has coached thousands of executives who want to become more effective communicators, improve their presentation skills and ultimately expand their leadership capabilities. She gives clients a proven approach to communication and teaches them how to structure remarks and presentations to take their careers to a higher level. Her clients include Fortune 500 C-suite executives who have adopted the Spaeth approach for themselves and their global organizations as well as entrepreneurs, academic gurus, politicians and many others.
Merrie was a White House Fellow assigned to FBI Director William Webster. She then served two years as director of public affairs for the Federal Trade Commission, and in 1983, President Reagan appointed her as director of media relations at the White House where she introduced satellite interviews and created the electronic White House News Service. In 1987, she founded Spaeth Communications, Inc., which provides strategic communication counseling and training for a wide range of individuals, companies and institutions.
Merrie writes regularly on timely communication topics, and her columns have been collected into two books, Marketplace Communication and Words Matter. Both books, as well as many of her articles, are available at www.spaethcom.com. Merrie also had a career in acting, beginning with a starring role in "The World of Henry Orient" with Peter Sellers and Angela Lansbury. She later became a speechwriter for the legendary William S. Paley, founder and chairman of CBS, Inc.
A cum laude graduate of Smith College and a graduate of Columbia Business School, she is an adjunct professor at Southern Methodist University's Cox School of Business where she teaches "Communication as a Strategic Business Tool," "Storytelling as a Strategic Business Tool" and "Humor as Leadership Tool." Merrie speaks on these topics and more to companies and associations in virtually every industry.
"Communication is a powerful tool. Focus on powerful positive words like 'freedom,' 'opportunity' and 'jobs.' Never repeat negative words, even to deny them. Conservatives can learn to tell stories with emotion and humor which every day Texans can identify with."