text:
Questions and answers on 2nd presidential debate
Tuesday night's presidential debate between President Barack Obama and his Republican challenger, Mitt Romney, has a different format than their previous face-off and the vice presidential debate that followed.india Updated: Oct 19, 2012 14:19 IST
Tuesday night's presidential debate between President Barack Obama and his Republican challenger, Mitt Romney, has a different format than their previous face-off and the vice presidential debate that followed.
This time, the candidates and the moderator won't be the only people in the ring when the 90-minute debate begins.
Q. Why is that?
A. Continuing a format that began 20 years ago, this is the "town hall" debate where people representing a cross-section of America get to ask the questions.
Q. Can people in the audience simply raise their hands and be called upon at random?
A. No. That's one thing that changed since the first presidential town hall debate in 1992, when questions and questioners weren't screened beforehand.
Q. So how does the screening work?
A. The Gallup polling organization picks about 80 uncommitted voters. Those voters will work with moderator Candy Crowley of CNN, and she decides who in the group will get to ask a question. Crowley said she and a small team of helpers will try to get as broad a range of questions as possible and nobody else will know the questions in advance.
Q. How did Gallup choose the participants?
A. They were recruited as part of a random sample of all residents living in Nassau County, New York. Each resident contacted was asked a series of questions. Those who met the criteria as uncommitted voters were invited to participate.
Q. Will the candidates be seated?
A. They'll have chairs, but will spend most of their time as close as possible to the audience, walking around and looking directly at the questioner. Think of it as trying to connect with citizens who are there to represent millions of Americans watching on television.
Q. How will the audience be seated?
A. The group of 80 will be in three rows of circular risers facing the candidates, with an open space in the middle. Off camera, there will be a larger audience in the arena at Hofstra University in Hempstead on New York's Long Island.
Q. In the presidential and vice presidential debates so far, one candidate got the first question and the other candidate had the last word. Will that change Tuesday night?
A. Yes. There are no opening and closing statements. Romney gets the first question. Each candidate is supposed to have two minutes to respond, after which Crowley will facilitate a two-minute discussion. If the earlier debates are an indication, don't expect the candidates to stick to those strict time limits.
Q. Wasn't there an attempt to limit the moderator's role in this debate?
A. Yes. The two campaigns came to an understanding that Crowley's role should be limited, so that she wouldn't use the discussion period to introduce a new topic or rephrase a question.
Q. Will that affect the debate?
A. No. The campaigns left two crucial entities out of the agreement: Crowley and the Commission on Presidential Debates, which runs the debate program. Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr., co-chairman of the commission, said: "I don't care what it says since we're not party to it."
First Published: Oct 17, 2012 01:46 IST

subset: commoncrawl


text:
February 15, 1956 - February 25, 2013
Napanoch, NY
Michael H. Forgette, of Napanoch, NY, entered into eternal rest on Monday, February 25, 2013 at the Ellenville Regional Hospital. His final days were spent surrounded by family and close friends. He was 57 years old. Michael was born on February 15, 1956 in Ellenville; the son of Janice Pomeroy and Roger Ryan.
Michael was a tile mechanic for Coastal Tile in White Plains for many years. He enjoyed watching the Giants and the Yankees, working in the yard and spending time with his family. On September 5, 2010 Michael married Jeanine (Jensen) Forgette at their home in Napanoch.
In addition to Jeanine, survivors include his loving children: Alicia Yonker and her husband, John of Ellenville and Tonya Stewart and her husband, Ben of Wurtsboro; his cherished grandchildren: Madison Jane Yonker and Austin Emory Stewart; his sister, Terri Forgette; his brothers: Todd and William Ryan and his uncles: Joseph Pomeroy and his wife, Kathy and Jon Pomeroy and his wife, Carol, along with several more aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and close friends who all held a special place in his heart. Michael was predeceased by his mother and his brother, Robert Ryan.
His family will be receiving friends on Saturday, March 2nd from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Loucks Funeral Home, 79 N. Main St., Ellenville, with a memorial service beginning at 11:30 a.m.
Contributions may be made in Michael's name to the American Cancer Society, Hudson Valley Region - New Windsor, 121 Executive Dr., New Windsor, NY 12553.
To send a personal condolence to Michael's family or for directions, please visit www.loucksfh.com


text:
New Delhi: Attacking Congress for its 65 years of "misrule", ruling BJP today said it was unthinkable that a national party has to be welcomed as a "regional party" in Lok Sabha but promised to take the opposition party along in the decision-making process.
"We never imagined that we will have to welcome a national party as a regional party in this House...What prompted this to happen? Why this mandate?...People have punished you for your misrule for 65 years," BJP member Rajiv Pratap Rudy said, initiating a debate on the Motion of Thanks on the President`s address.
His remarks triggered protests from opposition benches, with Rudy saying that since there was no Leader of the Opposition, Congress would not be able to participate in decision-making on major issues like appointment of Chief Vigilance Commissioner, CBI Director or Lokpal.
Earlier, Sushma Swaraj (as the Leader of the Opposition) used to give her views, but the then Prime Minister used to have his way. But we will not leave you behind, we will take you along. This is our promise. Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi is large-hearted," Rudy said.
He, however, said Congress party`s suggestions would not be accepted "if you give suggestions which reflect the way in which you had been running the country for 65 years".
As the din continued, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan appealed for order and Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu urged members not to create any disturbance as it was "the first working day" of the session.
To this, some Congress members shouted "you never allowed anyone to speak earlier."
Trinamool Congress and CPI(M) members were also on their feet, with some of them urging the Speaker to direct Rudy to speak on the Motion and not digress.
With protests continuing, the Speaker said, "This is not the way. So many new members have come and some have returned after a few years. Please speak when you are given the chance. Such interruptions are not correct."
Rudy said BJP got a huge mandate due to the painstaking efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who travelled more than three lakh km and attended 440 rallies and directly talked to 25 crore people.
"With this much travel, the Prime Minister could have travelled seven times around the globe," he said.
`The BJP leader said the Lok Sabha election has showed that his party has been growing manifold in many states, including West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh.
"In Uttar Pradesh, we have received 42 per cent votes in comparison to 17 per cent earlier," he said.
Rudy said the Modi government will work for providing food to poor, jobs to the unemployed, relief to the middle class by controlling price rise and there will be no harassment of businessmen in the name of tax.
He said the last government was working for hardly 20 or 30 crore people while nearly 100 crore people were outside the ambit of all development schemes and promised that the NDA government will cover all those people who were left out so far.
Flagging sectors like power, tourism and railways as the priority sectors for the new government, Rudy said maximum emphasis will be given to produce electricity as much as possible, introduce innovative ways to attract more tourists to India and construct dedicated railway tracks for bullet trains.
"China has shown excellent results in all these sectors by producing 1,00,000 MW power every year, introducing more and more bullet trains and attracting huge number of tourists," he said.


text:
Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre Legal Officer Michael Mansell is concerned that long awaited Aboriginal Heritage legislation will both hinder cultural access for the Tasmanian Aboriginal community, and cause resentment from the wider community, while still not fully protecting remaining sites.
- Print page
- Email this
- Permalink
Aboriginal heritage legislation has been tabled in state parliament, 18 years after the then Liberal Government began the process to replace the Aboriginal Relics Act of 1975.
Legal Officer for the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre, Michael Mansell, has made it clear that his organisation does not support the bill as it stands.
"It is a shock and a disappointment."
"We always thought the government would pull the legislation back and say we'll start again, but they are determined to push it ahead."
When it was first mooted, the government of the day proposed an independent statutory body that would oversee Aboriginal heritage; in the same way that European heritage is protected.
Mr Mansell believes that the legislation will severely restrict Tasmanian Aboriginal access to their heritage, while absolving the government from prosecution through issuing itself permits when necessary.
The Minister for Environment, Parks and Heritage, Brian Wightman has tabled the Aboriginal Heritage Protection Bill 2013 in Parliament, claiming it will provide the Aboriginal community with a clear, statutory role in the protection and management of their heritage.
In a media release Mr Wightman said that for landowners and developers it provides clearer procedures and greater certainty than exists under the current system.
The minister went on to say the proposed legislation will address the deficiencies of the present Aboriginal Relics Act 1975.
"The Bill seeks to promote partnerships between the Aboriginal community, landowners, government and others for the purpose of protecting and managing Aboriginal heritage."
Mr Mansell has looked at the details of the bill, and is also concerned that the Aboriginal community will be blamed for increased restrictions for landowners such as farmers, which are not always necessary.
A series of fact sheets covering key aspects of the proposed legislation will shortly be available on the department website.
Listen to Michael Mansell speaking with Damien Brown on the ABC Northern Tasmania Drive program.


text:
A 42-year-old Hudson Valley resident died on Thursday from injuries sustained in an accident while visiting the New Jersey shore.
Erin Higgins, a resident of Harriman in Orange County since 2015 who was raised in Wappingers Falls, died at a hospital in Asbury Park after being pulled from the ocean.
Higgins and a 54-year-old man from Wallkill in Orange County were swimming in chest-deep water in the mid-afternoon when they apparently got caught in a rip current, according to Asbury Park Police.
Higgins was employed as a licensed clinical social worker for Hudson Valley Mental Health, Inc. in Beacon. She had also worked at A Counseling Service in Monroe. She previously lived in New Windsor.
She was born in Greenwich, CT on March 17, 1975. She was a 1994 graduate of Roy C. Ketcham High School then went on to Dutchess Community College, SUNY New Paltz, and Adelphi University where she received her Master's Degree.
She is survived by her parents, Thomas and Betty (Sabourin) Higgins of Wappingers Falls; her sisters, Erica Higgins-Webster and her husband Robert of Guilderland and Melissa Higgins and her husband Rafael Cuello of New Windsor; her nephews, Nathaniel Webster, Samuel Webster, Noah Webster, Daniel Higgins, and Thomas "TJ" Higgins; her niece, Vanessa Higgins; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.
She enjoyed spending time with her nephews and niece, and loved being a "second" mom to them.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Saturday, Sept. 23 at 1 p.m. at St. Mary, Mother of the Church, 106 Jackson Street in Fishkill.
Erin's was an organ donor. Donations may be made in Erin's memory to the Dutchess County SPCA, 636 Violet Avenue, Hyde Park, NY 12538.
Arrangements are under the direction of the McHoul Funeral Home of Fishkill, Inc.
Click here to sign up for Daily Voice's free daily emails and news alerts.


text:
I recently traveled to Microsoft as part of an exciting new DNA project exploring how to optimize DNA performance and how to best host DNA applications on Windows 2000. The project team's first step is to build a small DNA lab that hosts SQL Server and several application servers—all running SQL Server 7.0.
One important project outcome will be a step-by-step procedure for setting up clustering on Win2K, then setting up SQL Server 7.0 on that cluster. We're going to host SQL Server on Win2K Advanced Server running Microsoft Cluster Server (MSCS) with two nodes. After the configuration is running and documented, I'll share with SQL Server Magazine and Windows 2000 Magazine readers how we built the clustered system and the primary issues you need to consider for your computing environment.
In the meantime, here's the first important clustering lesson from the project: Make sure your hardware works with MSCS. The foundation of a successful server configuration is the hardware platform that the OS—in this case, Win2K—runs on.
When the people setting up the DNA lab listed the hardware they were going to use for the cluster server, I looked up the pieces on the Win2K Cluster Hardware Compatibility List (HCL), a special part of the HCL that shows recommended clustering hardware. Not all the hardware components appeared on the HCL list, but the setup folks assured me that the hardware would work fine because the SCSI controllers were on the list and were new models to boot. Bottom line? After several days of messing around with the hardware, the cluster still isn't running. In fact, we haven't even tried to install MSCS yet because the hardware won't work with Win2K.
The lesson? Get a total hardware solution that appears on the HCL. In our case, we're going to use a Dell system as our server, so if possible, I want MSCS-compatible Dell storage. Not only will compatible storage work with the cluster, but the vendor will support it in case we have any problems. No matter which server you're installing, remember the "golden" rule of computing: If your hardware is golden, you've already eliminated many potential problems.


text:
Women's Wallets & Card Cases
The everyday staple reworked with highlighter hues, graffiti prints and archive details.
The settings have now been applied. {0} items found
The settings have now been cleared
Sort by price
Timeless designs for every day in myriad colours and textures, from classic to runway-inspired. Made with a foldover closure, card slots and a zipped pocket.
Card Cases
Diminutive styles for coins, cards and notes.
Small Wallets
Compact designs elevated with equestrian details and Vintage check.
Slim styles organised with multiple internal pockets and a ziparound closure to keep essentials secure. Designed in an array of glossy leathers and check.
Crossbody Wallets
Wallets with detachable chain shoulder straps to adapt to your style. Designed in resilient leathers and a water-resistant check.


text:
DirtyXXXComics.com sounds pretty provoking and promises the hottest cartoons you could ever dream about! We took a free tour to find out if the guys were actually telling the truth and their site was good enough for us, and we gotta say, we were quite impressed with their collection and bonuses!
Porn Movie Collection introduces the amazing world of great high-quality porn videos and movies to you. Their collection of fine porn videos is truly enormous. It will take you month to watch all of those great films and videos. Watch these incredibly hot Cartoons movies and enjoy every single minute. The collection is organized perfectly, it is very easy to find the movies you may be looking for.
As you might have guessed from the name, FlashForAdults.com is mostly dedicated to XXX flash animation. Quite a rare site in both, its high quality and niche, as great flash animation websites are really hard to find these days. Adult games are only a cool bonus to the already creative resource. You're welcome to take a free tour or join right away!


text:
CANBERRA, Australia --An Australian icebreaker carrying 52 passengers who were retrieved from an icebound ship in the Antarctic has resumed its journey home after it was halted for a second potential rescue operation.
The icebreaker Aurora Australis had been traveling through pack ice toward open water after a Chinese helicopter on Thursday plucked the passengers from their stranded Russian research ship and carried them to the Aurora.
But Australian Maritime Safety Authority told the Aurora on Friday afternoon to stay in the area because the Chinese icebreaker that had provided the helicopter might not be able to get through the ice and may need help.
AMSA said the Aurora had been allowed on Saturday to continue its journey to Australia despite the Chinese ship remaining stuck in ice.


text:
Mvdberg necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 71 diseños de 24 diseñadores freelance.
Faillissementsdossier.nl (faillissement = bankruptcy, dossier = file)
We are setting up a website with extensive info about companies which are declared bankrupt. The website contains information and reports from different public resources. Those info is combined in a complete file on the specific company. The site contains info about more than 20.000 companies which have gone bankrupt in the past 4 years. The info is updated daily with new facts, reports, news and new bankrupt companies. Services we will offer besides showing the extensive info are: sending alert emails on bankruptcies of specific companies, regions or branches and showing statistic information. All the services will be offered for free.
There a two competitors who offer nearly the same information but charge money for seeing anything but the basic info: www [dot] curatoren [dot] nl and www [dot] faillissementen [dot] com.
The official government source for this information is: insolventies.rechtspraak.nl/Default.aspx. They offer very limited info.
There are several target audiences for the site:
All people involved in the bankruptcy. The owners of the company, employees etc.
Creditors and debtors who are interested in the status of the bankrupt company
Customers (business and consumer) who want to check if there supplier is still healthy
Suppliers who want to check the status of their customer
Curators, lawyers and law firms for information about a bankruptcy or information about competitors
Buyers or auction houses interested in buying companies, stock or inventory
The logo will only be used for a website. The website has to be designed after we have decided on the logo.
The logo will be placed in the left side of the header on every webpage. The website is non scalable and centered on the screen with a width of 990px. On the right site of the header will be the search box and standard links for contact etc.
The maximum size of the logo is 490px x 90px. Smaller is also possible. In the same space we would also like to put a tagline under or besides the logo.
As tagline we would like to use:
Gratis actuele dossiers over faillissementen en surseances
We offer (public) official information about a delicate subject. The logo has to reflect that.
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.


text:
Since Gov. Rick Scott assumed office Jan. 4, 2011, the Florida state government has become more and more dysfunctional. The 2010 election that brought Scott to power was held in the year of the tea party, which was influential nationally and in Florida.
The Ledger begins each year by listing some of its recommended public-policy goals. Some of these items are carryovers from past years and others reflect developments that took place in 2012. Progress can be painfully slow in a democracy, but it is attainable when the public demands it. Along with our recommendations, The Ledger invites you, the readers, to provide your own public-policy priorities. If your ideas differ from — or conflict with — ours, so much the better, but please be concise. The Ledger will run as many of the responses as space allows in The People's Agenda, scheduled for publication Jan. 20. Please include your name and the community where you live. See information in "Facts," below right.
Since Gov. Rick Scott assumed office Jan. 4, 2011, the Florida state government has become more and more dysfunctional. The 2010 election that brought Scott to power was held in the year of the tea party, which was influential nationally, but proved a particularly powerful adjunct to the most conservative, most libertarian and most extreme right-wingers within the Republican Party of Florida.
As Scott found success at the ballot box, so did like-minded Republican legislative candidates — incumbents and newcomers alike. The result is a Tallahassee power trio that won't take no for an answer. It is made up of the governor, a Republican supermajority in the state House of Representatives and a Republican supermajority in the state Senate.
During two years of nearly unrestricted power, this group has dismantled or redirected governmental branches that have been important for the services they have provided to residents and protections they have offered the state.
As the presidential election of November concluded, and 2012 began to fade into the 2013 of today, unforeseen ramifications of decisions by Scott and his legislative cohorts widened a void of trust. Only then, a flicker of two-sided decision-making shone from within.
The fact that the Tallahassee power trio is Republican is not of consequence philosophically. However, party affiliation matters in a practical sense because a back-to-the-future political figure is putting uncomfortable pressure on Scott, in particular, and the Florida Republican Party implicitly.
That figure is Scott's predecessor, Charlie Crist. The former governor was a Republican; then an independent when he ended his governorship after one term to run for U.S. senator and found a Republican primary battle with eventual winner Marco Rubio untenable. He is a Democrat now. Indeed, Crist is making the sort of preliminary moves that cast his intentions as a candidate for governor in the 2014 election.
In the same way that which party in power in Tallahassee is not of consequence, neither is the prospect of Crist succeeding in an election against Scott.
However, Scott continues to be ranked poorly in polls. A poll released two weeks ago by the Polling Institute of Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Conn., showed that Florida voters approve of Scott's work by 36 percent and disapprove by 45 percent. They say he does not deserve a second term 52 percent to 30 percent. The same poll showed Crist viewed favorably by voters 47 percent to 33 percent. Crist has the greatest recognition among likely Democratic candidates for governor.
Crist re-emerged publicly in a politically orchestrated conversion as a Democrat on Dec. 8 by signing a voter-registration form at a White House reception in Washington. He submitted the form Dec. 13 in his hometown of St. Petersburg.
Crist's conversion and public activities led quickly to a policy about-face by Scott over a national embarrassment in Florida governance: the state's inability to accommodate voters in a timely manner in early voting or on Election Day, or to tally its votes until the end of the week of the Tuesday, Nov. 6, election.
With Crist poised to testify to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee in Washington on Dec. 19 about Scott and the Legislature tailoring Florida election rules to favor Republicans, Scott appeared early in the day on CNN to say: "We need to have bipartisan legislation that deals with three issues. One, the length of our ballot. Two, we've got to allow our supervisors more flexibility in the size of their polling locations and, three, the number of days we have. We've got to look back at the number of days of early voting we had." In short, Scott supported a return substantially to the previous election rules.
Crist told the Judiciary Committee, "The outcome of these decisions was obvious." He added, "Florida, which four years earlier was a model of efficiency, became once again a late-night-TV joke."
With Crist's prominence providing at least a hint of returning to an effective two-party system in Florida, residents should encourage meaningful debate of state issues and political diversity among candidates, rather than merely accepting disruptive directives from a one-party powerhouse in Tallahassee.
Florida Polytechnic University in northeast Lakeland began life as another strong-arm deal out of Tallahassee, led in the 2012 legislative session by state Sen. J.D. Alexander, R-Lake Wales, and supported by Scott. Now, Alexander has reached his term limit.
The polytechnic bounced from one political point of view to another from the time of its proposal. Crist's refusal to sign a funding bill for USF Polytechnic during his governorship was its most prominent early event.
Alexander, who was the powerful chairman of the Budget Committee, used his political power to pull the polytechnic away from the University of South Florida System, under which it was the separate University of South Florida Polytechnic. Whether the polytechnic's future would have been better under the USF System or will be better now as the state's 12th independent state university is a debate without end or purpose at this point. The new university must move ahead smartly — quickly but thoughtfully.
Luckily, a promising board of trustees has been appointed for Florida Polytechnic, and has been meeting to plan the university's beginning and early development as an operating institution of higher education.
The board elected Robert Gidel of Windermere, who is a managing partner for Liberty Capital, as its chairman Aug. 1.
A transfer of funds from USF was initially rejected by the new university, with Gidel saying the board needed additional information. He cited an excess of "unknowables" and said, "Once you say yes, we're live." On Oct. 24, the board voted to accept the funds and breathe.
Beyond the technical decisions made by the board, Gidel has shown savvy leadership and clear understanding of the purpose for the polytechnic.
In a question-and-answer interview with The Ledger's Mary Toothman, published Oct. 2, Gidel explained how applied research will make the Florida Poly stand out from other universities in the state system:
"The focus on applied education, although that was being done in all the state universities, it wasn't being done to the level that this state needs, that this country needs, that this world needs. You have two drivers for why that is.
"One is, unfortunately, the basic education kids are getting in these kinds of sciences in high school. It's just weak. It's worse in Florida than in many places, but it's weak all over the place.
"Two, it hasn't been institutionally or culturally supported. The kids that really want to pursue this, these kinds of disciplines, need to be in an environment where they have their own support groups. We should celebrate these people, not discourage them."
To put that vision into effect, Gidel and the board of trustees must build an administration, ensure that an effective staff is hired, make sure that campus construction stays on schedule and budget, and do all it can to encourage quick-and-positive accreditation.
The board was smart to put Gidel in charge of choosing Florida Poly's first chief operating officer. On Nov. 19, he announced the hiring of Ava L. Parker, a Jacksonville lawyer and former member of the State University System's Board of Governors. Indeed, it was she — as chair of the Board of Governors in 2011 — who carefully and fairly shepherded polytechnic testimony before the board, as well as debate among its members. The debate resulted in a detailed set of goalposts being established for the new university to reach during its development. They were incorporated in the legislation that created Florida Poly.
While the board has set out the immediate needs for opening in 2014, it is Parker and those she hires who will do the hands-on work to prepare the university to bring in its first class of students.
Florida Polytechnic University has the potential to greatly benefit students from Polk County and beyond, and the county's economy and makeup, as well as that of Florida. Residents across the county and state should do all they can to support this unique-to-Florida polytechnic university and its advanced-and-practical approach to higher education.
Florida state employees have not received any sort of pay increase since 2007. Then, workers received a one-time bonus of $1,000. This year, state workers were required to pay 3 percent of their pay into their retirement plans, cutting their income by 3 percent.
A bill to give them an across-the-board raise of 2 percent was filed Dec. 17 by state Rep. Dwaine Taylor, D-Daytona Beach.
One could say that it's tough all around.
What are not tough are bundles of pay increases thrown to the employees of the incoming leaders of the state House and Senate.
Senate President Don Gaetz and House Speaker Will Weatherford have increased the pay of their highest-paid 17 employees by $252,000, reports The Miami Herald. Of that total, Gaetz's top-paid people account for $200,000.
By the way, Gaetz and Weatherford are the leaders who promise to clean up ethics in the Legislature. They can just start with themselves.
While we're waiting for that to happen, consider the root of the problem: The governors who have served since 1999 have chipped away at the state's sources of income so significantly that annual pay raises — even if tiny to match the lackluster economy — may not be affordable by the state.
The Legislature and Gov. Scott should work to reinvigorate state revenue, charging appropriate taxes and fees so the state can provide the services reasonably expected by residents, not to mention provide funding — such as quality education — required by the Florida Constitution.
Polk County
In May, the County Commission and School Board held a joint meeting to discuss impact fees. Such fees are charged on new construction to pay for facilities and services that are needed to accommodate the new growth. Examples include roads, schools, parks, emergency and law-enforcement services, and libraries.
Commissioner Todd Dantzler, arch enemy of impact fees — and a real estate broker — asked how much the School Board receives in impact fee revenue per year. About $1.4 million, said Mark Grey, assistant superintendent of schools for business services. School officials said that amount is valuable to the School District. In effect: Hands off.
The County Commission has a moratorium until 2014 on its impact fee in vain hope of stimulating construction of houses. No evidence of such an effect has been presented to the public.
In December, Assistant County Manager Lea Ann Thomas asked the commission whether the staff should seek an impact-fee study, which is coming due, and is required every three years when the fees are being collected.
Dantzler jumped at the chance to cut vital income for the School District, saying the School Board's staff needs to present a report to the commission on spending and project school growth.
To Dantzler and like-minded commissioners, hands off. Order the study. Add a section to determine the usefulness of the commission's impact-fee moratorium. Then follow the study's recommendations. In 2010, the commission instituted only 44 percent of the recommended fee.
By continuing its impact-fee moratorium and harassing the School Board over its impact fee, the County Commission is stumbling down the same dead-end path as the state. It is cutting needed revenue, and tying its own hands for the time when additional money is needed to provide services and facilities expected by residents. The alternative is shifting the cost to taxpayers already living in Polk County.
On Dec. 14 in Newtown, Conn., Adam Lanza, 20, shot his way into Sandy Hook Elementary School. He used a semi-automatic rifle and two semi-automatic pistols to kill 20 students, 6 years old and 7 years old, plus six women who worked at the school and, finally, himself. Before leaving for the school, Lanza had used a rifle to shoot his mother dead in bed. The shooting deaths left the nation in shock.
President Barack Obama placed Vice President Joe Biden in charge of a task force to outline federal legislation to stop or reduce the mass shootings. He said he will make gun control a "central issue" of his second term.
Sunday on the NBC's "Meet the Press," Obama said, "I think anybody who was up in Newtown, who talked to the parents, who talked to the families, understands that something fundamental in America has to change," He added, "And all of us have to do some soul searching, including me as president, that we allow a situation in which 20 precious small children are getting gunned down in a classroom."
Six days later in Auburndale at the site of a septic tank company, County Sheriff Grady Judd displayed a cart containing more than a dozen powerful rifles, including assault rifles. A total of 49 guns were found by sheriff's deputies at A-One Quality Services.
Judd said the business, which is close to Walter Caldwell Elementary School, was being operated legitimately but was also being used to cover up a chop shop. The investigation began with a tip that drugs were being sold at the business in exchange for guns, officials said. Three people from the business, including the owner, were arrested.
"Guns aren't the problem," Judd said. "Guns in the hands of felons are the problem."
Judd should recognize that high-powered and advanced guns in the hands of people incapable of making rational decisions about their use endanger residents and law-enforcement officers alike.
After all, it was just 16 months ago — also in Auburndale — when the call of police officer Stacy West at the front door of a house was met with a blast of 20 bullets from an assault rifle. Wounded by several of the shots Sept. 2, 2011, West survived but has been working to overcome numbness and limited mobility in her right hand, and a feeling of foreboding when approaching a front door.
Polk residents should be at the same time alarmed by the 49 guns found Dec. 20 by the Sheriff's Office and by the contention of connection to illegal-drug trade, and grateful to the deputies, detectives and sheriff who made the discovery and confiscated the guns.
As the most popular and powerful official in the county, the county's chief law-enforcement officer and an influential leader beyond Polk County, Judd has an additional duty: He should work to find ways to keep guns — particularly of extraordinary power or capacity — out of the hands those who would harm regular folks or law-enforcement officers, or lack the ability to make appropriate judgments.
Polk Schools
The Polk County School System has been clunking along in mediocrity for years now. Despite bright spots here and there within the sprawling School District, mediocrity is undeserved praise, based on newly released high school grades.
In a report Dec. 21, the Florida Department of Education said nearly half of Florida's high schools received an A. One of Polk's 16 high schools — George Jenkins in Lakeland — received an A.
Put another way, that's 6 percent of Polk's high schools receiving an A vs. 47 percent of high schools across Florida receiving an A.
The unacceptability of this result is apparent from another Education Department report. It ranks Polk 59th out of the 67 school districts in Florida.
Let's hope that interim Superintendent John Stewart can work some of the magic he used in stabilizing the Pinellas County School System when he was interim superintendent there.
Most important in the meantime is the search for a new superintendent of schools. The search must focus on and deliver a superintendent capable and enthusiastic about turning the Polk School System toward excellence.
The School Board, beyond making a wise choice, must commit itself to policies and support necessary to pull Polk's position out of Florida's educational basement.
Lakeland Electric and the Lakeland City Commission face two issues of energy management that differ from one another but are nonetheless of great importance.
The first is the need for Lakeland Electric's infrastructure — its equipment, particularly its power plants — to stay ahead of industry changes in fuel type and cost.
That way, its capacity will remain sufficient for the present and will have the ability to grow as needed. Also, such planning will ensure that the most efficient and least costly types of generation are used by the city's power utility.
At a Sept. 4 meeting with the Lakeland Utility Committee, electric-industry consultant Mark Gabriel said Lakeland Electric should go through the process of updating its strategic-resource plan annually. The plan "looks at all your options and tries to balance that out into the future."
The point of the yearly update is to keep up with the rapid changes in environmental regulations, and fuel supply and cost. For instance, at the moment, natural gas is abundant and inexpensive because of new supplies becoming available and more being discovered. However, change can be quick and convoluted, thus the need for Lakeland Electric to keep a close, regimented watch on developments.
The second energy-management issue is smart meters.
The meters provide per-customer-usage information to both the customer and the utility. The details of that information allow both to tailor usage and other factors to keep down costs.
Broadly, there are times of day and evening when home usage expands, increasing costs to the utility.
Lakeland Electric should do as much as it can with the meters to economize, without going so far as to penalize home customers for living their lives in a normal manner. It should not coerce them to make extraordinary schedule changes to avoid higher power prices.
Referring to smart-meter experience elsewhere, Mary Hendry of Lakeland said this in a Jan. 25 letter to the editor: "Basically, you can't cook, bathe, run the washer or dryer, have heat or air conditioning until after 9 at night, or you are spending too much on electricity. If a mom is trying to keep the electric bill down, I see her bedtime being around 2 a.m. most nights."
Lakeland Electric must avoid such a situation if it is to build trust with its customers via smart meters and make best use of this new technology.
Winter Haven
The city of Winter Haven's deal to sell its most prized property — The Chain O' Lakes Complex, which overlooks Lake Lulu at the southeast corner of U.S. 17 and Cypress Gardens Boulevard — to Taylor Pursell of Birmingham, Ala., has been a mess from the beginning. It continues to be handled poorly by both the city and Pursell.
The city's plan initially was to sell the property to Pursell for $9.5 million. Pursell would demolish the recreation center, Rowdy Gaines Olympic Pool, Theatre Winter Haven and a baseball stadium with six practice fields, formerly used for spring training. The price paid by Pursell was to fund replacement of the facilities.
In their place, Pursell would build hotels, restaurants, stores and a movie theater.
However, even with eventual changes that bumped the sales price to $11.3 million, the cost for a new recreation center and pool would be $17 million, with the theatre paying for about $4 million. The city would fall short financially.
That was before it received a new replacement-price estimate from a consultant: The cost for a new recreation center and pool would be $16.3 million, and a new theater would be $21 million.
At the same time, city officials have been unhappy with Pursell.
"It was sold to me, and it was sold to the commission, which we sold to the citizens, as two restaurants on the lakefront, two hotels, an IMAX theatre and retail. Everything I have seen has changed," said Mayor J.P. Powell in a Sept. 24 City Commission meeting.
"I'm tired of it," Powell said. "Every time I turn around we have a new design ... somebody told me that the comment was made that, 'Well, we aren't making any money.' Well, that's not my problem."
On Dec. 18, Pursell said he has a "handshake agreement" with the city to keep the recreation center, pool and theater where they are.
Maybe so, but city officials — commissioners and staff — should make their first action of 2013 a concerted effort to ensure that such an agreement would be to the city's advantage. The city should determine whether it would be better off negotiating a deal with Pursell to end further development of the Landings.
Whatever is done, it must be in best interest of both the government and the residents of Winter Haven — and be handled in an orderly, professional manner.


text:
Read comments on this car
Last updated Jul 9, 2010
Ever since I was a little girl working with my Dad on his 1967 big block Corvette Roadster, I dreamed of the day when I would have my own Corvette. Then, when I was 7, we had a bad house fire, and the garage was completely destroyed... with the Corvette still inside. Back then, I wanted a car just like Dad's, but as time went by I decided that I wanted to go my own way, to get a newer car that I wouldn't be afraid to drive regularly the way it was meant to be driven. Let's face it, if I had a '67 big block Roadster, I couldn't very well drive it like a car. It would just be worth too much.
I recently heard about this car from a friend at work and went to check it out last Friday. I had driven a couple of C5 and C6 Corvettes and liked the feel of the cars, so I knew pretty much what to expect. I wasn't disappointed. I loved it.I always imagined myself with a red Vette, but black is just fine with me, thank you very much! I finally have the car I've wanted for over 15 years!
2003 50TH Anniversary Edition Chevrolet Corvette Convertible with the standard 347 c.i., 350 h.p. V-8 and optional 6 Speed transmission, black paint, black leather with a black convertible top. The original Sticker Price of the car was over $55,000. (The original Sticker was included with the car).
front: P245/45ZR-17
rear: P275/40ZR-18
front: anti-lock 12.6-inch disc
rear: anti-lock 11.6-inch disc
1SB Preferred Equipment Group- (Memory Package, Electrochromic Mirrors, Power Telescoping Steering, Twilight Sentinel and Heads Up Display), Polished Aluminum Wheels, 6 Speed Manual Transmission, Performance Handling Package (Stiffer Springs and Stabilizer Bars),
Body Side Moldings
Front License Plate Holder.
Just tinted windows and a couple of aftermarket trim pieces, which may or may not stay on the car. I haven't decided yet...
Browse Related Cars: 2003, chevrolet, corvette, vette, 50th, anniversary, convertible
Permanent Link to this Car


text:
Tiffen Filters
Davis & Sanford
About Tiffen
Contact: Frank Rush, Manager
Steadicam Products
The Tiffen Company
818 843 4600x13
Steadicam® PILOT™ with IDX E-7S Battery System for Video Production
Tiffen – Hauppauge, NY
– Based on the innovative and award-winning STEADICAM features, a new version of the PILOT system is introduced. Through a strategic alliance with IDX System Technology Inc., this new system is shipped with two (2) E-7S batteries and a special version of the VL Dual 60 Watt charger. Through this arrangement a special system price is offered that is very beneficial to the Steadicam user.
The PILOT with IDX battery system provides the user with a complete system. Through the addition of the users camera and a SteadiSTAND or similar balance stand the unit is ready to use. The IDX E-7S battery is based on the V-Lock mounting system and will provide power for the on board monitor and any optional accessories. Should the camera have a 12 volt input or a converter for 7.2 Volt operation the IDX battery has sufficient capacity to power both the camera, monitor and accessories. The special VL Dual charger is only available with this STEADICAM PILOT system. It provides sequential charge for two batteries. The charger and batteries are not available as a separate option. Specific battery operation parameters may be found at
The PILOT 2-10 pound weight range will work with a wide array of cameras. This new Battery System feature is in addition to the Pilot's other advanced capabilities. They include its patented Iso-Elasticä Articulated Stabilizer Arm, proprietary Arm/Vest Connector and Carbon Fiber extendable post with new patented Gimbal, all designed by the inventor of Steadicam, Garrett Brown.
The Iso-Elastic™ arm is an articulated "No-Tools" design that can be adjusted while supporting the camera. This patented design allows the Steadicam operator to effortlessly place the arm in any position. This is especially useful for "lock-off" shots.
The new Standard Definition Color 16:9/4:3 monitor, provides good contrast from dark to light situations, as a necessary part of the overall system design. The monitor weight and location on the sled assures the operator perfect balance and ease of operation. The monitor has provision for standard definition NTSC/PAL and the 5.8 inch size affords an easy angle for viewing.
Utilizing a True Three Axis Gimbal Assembly the operator has the ability to capture the fluid movement that only Steadicam can provide. No-tools precision camera stage establishes a solid base for the camera and facilitates smooth adjustment ease from side to side plus fore and aft.
The Carbon Fiber post and interface to the stage form a solid bond to assure no jitter in the picture, as the operator captures those unique scenes. It also has the ability to extend the post to change the "way the rig fly's" or to adjust to a wide range of cameras.
The PILOT System includes a self-instructing SK™ videotape with Quick Start manual to permit the user to become familiar with the set-up and operation of the system. A new training DVD specific to the system will be available soon. It is the latest of the SteadicamÒ Professional models available for cameras from 2 to 45 pounds.
According to Tony Iwamoto, IDX Marketing and Sales Manager, "This is a natural progression for IDX in alliance with Tiffen to offer our customers a high performance battery and charger system at the introductory package savings. We are pleased to be involved in the PILOT System Introduction.
According to Frank Rush, "The new PILOTâ System is a real value for our customers. The system model designation is PILOT-VLB and will sell for $4,595.00, available from Tiffen dealers worldwide."
The Tiffen Company, Hauppauge, New York 11788,
, 1.631.273.2500
DHTML Menu By Milonic JavaScript


text:
A bright and joyful, upbeat track in a pop rock style with clean jangly guitars. With a filtered opening, rising into a quick and lively picking guitar tune, finishing with a catchy piano melodic outro. Great for sports and background applications, corporate and business presentations, advertising, radio and television. Instruments also used are; piano chords, string pads and driving bass and drums.
Folder contains main file and three variations, tracks are;
1. Main file version 1 (duration 2:52)
2. Short file version 1, with no intro, slightly shorter ending. (duration 2:19)
3. Main file version 2, no guitar riff (duration 2:52)
4. Short file version 2, no intro, no guitar riff and no piano chords, slightly shorter ending.(duration 2:19)
This track can also be found in the music pack Guitar Pop Music Pack
All files are in high quality wav and mp3 formats.
Similar tracks Bright New Start


text:
The Wisconsin Department of Administration has released the controversial report prepared for Gov. Scott Walker by Texas deer management expert Dr. James Kroll. The report, delivered last week but delayed for publication by Gov. Scott Walker is 136 pages long, including reference sections.
Although the administration stated more details about how Kroll's recommendations would be handled would be released along with the report, not much detail about those steps was actually published.
Download the Full Report Here (downloadable pdf): FINAL_REPORT_RECOMMENDATIONS13.
An Executive Summary is Available Here (downloadable pdf): Executive_Summary_deer_report(1).
Watch DeerandDeerHunting.com for editor Dan Schmidt's take on the report later this week.


text:
'Firefly" aired for only one season 10 years ago, but Nathan Fillion still hasn't gotten over it.
"It was the best character I ever played," Fillion told The Post. "The best dialogue to ever come out of my mouth was on that show.
"It was my first time truly being in love with my work," he says. "It's the bar to which we compare every job."
The fans aren't over "Firefly," either. More than 10,000 of them lined up for the 10-year reunion of the sci-fi cult classic at San Diego Comic Con this past summer.
Behind the scenes there, Fillion joined "Firefly" creator Joss Whedon and castmates Sean Maher, Summer Glau, Adam Baldwin, Morena Baccarin, Alan Tudyk, Gina Torres and Jewel Staite to film a reunion special airing tomorrow on Science Channel (10 p.m.).
"Firefly," which aired on Fox in 2002, was set in 2517 and revolved around the renegade crew of a spaceship.
Fans will see their favorite space cowboys reminisce about how it all began — from the crush Glau had on Fillion at auditions to Whedon's first impressions to the show's cancellation, paired with clips from the series.
Whedon went on to write "The Avengers," Baccarin stars in the Emmy-winning "Homeland" and Fillion in the ABC hit "Castle."
But Fillion says he gets as many fans coming up to him yelling "Capt'n" as "Castle."
(His "Firefly" character was called "Cap'n Mal.")
"The 'Firefly' fans, they're with you for life. Joss Whedon fans are with you for life," he says.
"Certainly a 'Firefly' fan will mention 'Castle.' 'Oh, but we like 'Castle,' too!' They'll throw that in there for you — throw you the 'Castle' bone."


text:
If you have just read the same paragraph 12 times because the person sitting next to you on the bus is chatting on her cellphone, feel free to show her this: Scientists have found another piece of evidence that overheard cellphone conversations are far more distracting and annoying than a dialogue between two people nearby.
In a study published Wednesday in the journal PLoS One, college students who were asked to complete anagrams while a nearby researcher talked on her cellphone were more irritated and distracted � and far more likely to remember the contents of the conversation � than students who worked on the same puzzles while the same conversation was conducted by two people in the room.
The study is the latest in a growing body of research on why cellphones rank so high on the list of modern irritants. Mounting evidence suggests that the habits encouraged by mobile technology � namely, talking loudly in public to someone who is not there � are tailor-made for hijacking the cognitive functions of bystanders.
One reason, said Veronica V. Galvan, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of San Diego and the lead author of the study, is the brain�s desire to fill in the blanks.
�If you only hear one person speaking, you�re constantly trying to place that part of the conversation in context,� Galvan said. �That�s naturally going to draw your attention away from whatever else you�re trying to do.�
It is also a control thing, Galvan and her colleagues said. When people are trapped next to a one-sided conversation � known nowadays as a �halfalogue� � their anger rises in the same way it does in other situations where they are not free to leave, like waiting for a train.
�If you�re waiting in line and someone behind you is talking on a cellphone, you�re kind of stuck there,� she said, �and you can have a psychological stress response.�
Not that you have to feel stressed to find cellphones disruptive. Students in a 2010 Cornell study had trouble completing modest tasks, like tracking a dot on a screen with a cursor, while listening to a tape of a one-sided conversation, even though they knew the conversation was the focus of the study.
The 149 students in Galvan�s study did not know the side conversations were part of the research.


text:
System emergencies
Lockups, bad start ups and lost passwords Etc
System lock up
Lockups come without warning and dont give you a message why it locked up in the first place listed below are some situations that would cause the lockup
Over stressing the system
Your computer has a limited amount of memory and processing power and any attempt to push it beyond its limits and it will most likely result in a system lockup this happens when you try to run several resource intensive programs as a example dont burn mp3's to a CD-R disk when downloading other mp3 files doing one task at a time will minimize the chances of a system lockup.
Install one program per day
While people are buying bigger harddrives and doing reinstalls of their Operating system they reinstall other software programs one right after another. The fact that every software install is very crucial for the program that you are installing works when you want to use it. For best results close down any open applications that you have open before doing the install and pay special attention to the options dialog box that may come up during the install and think before making a choice.
Installing too many programs
Any software installation makes changes to the entire computer system by adding a large body of code to the hardrive and modifications to the systems registry ,startup group and various system files. So being selective when choosing what programs to install will lessen the chances of a lockup. And use extra caution if you use software that comes from the internet and friends especially if it is free.
Failure to detect a virus infection
Written to create havoc on your computer system a good chuck of that instability is caused by changes to system files ,device drivers and program files the best way to minimize the chances of getting a virus is to limit the amount of programs and files that come into your system and only download those files that are necessary and that are from trusted sites and only accepting file attachments from senders that you know and expect to receive a file from.
Boot failure
Turning on a computer is the easy part but when a boot failure occurs that is when the trouble shooting starts.
First thing to check is the power cable to the back of the case and make sure it is pushed in as far as it can go. Then the next thing is to check the power switch on the power strip and see if it was turned off and if there are any light switches in the room make sure that they are all on. Next thing to try is changing the power cord to the case and see if that solves the problem. This list is no where complete when trouble shooting power problems
Checking the floppy drive
This happends to everyone at some point before pressing the power button on your computer( if you leave your system on 24/7 you dont need to worry about this) check the floppy slot (if it has one) for a floppy that was being used the last time you were using the computer
if you dont you will be greeted with the following message Nonsystems disk or disk error and the computer will go no further.
Fighting corruption
One piece of missing, corrupt or incorrect data can prevent the computer from booting up. Such problems show themselves as a blinking cursor or a message where windows should be. Resolving these matters is pretty much trial and error troubleshooting
First thing to check is the MBR(Master Boot Record) this is a record of how data is organized on your harddrive if your computer used a floppy the day before or on that day. A boot sector virus prevents the BIOS(basic input out system) from accessing the system files and settings responsible for starting the Operating system
Missing passwords
Passwords are everywhere you look they are on your online bank account your email User and admin accounts. Online passwords are easy to recover if you forget them most sites require you to submit a valid email address and a answer a secret question to have them send you your password via e-mail now if you forget the password to access some of your windows files you have a option to use a third party password cracker that will sniff the code on your machine a free program for windows 9X/WinMe is called 123 wasp from www.iopus.com/wasp this utility isolates the .PWL (the password list) which contains a encrypted list of your microsoft related passwords. other programs include
Elcomsoft www.elcomsoft.com
lastbit software www.lastbit.com.
L0phtCrack http://www.atstake.com/products/lc/
John the Ripper http://www.openwall.com/john/
The black screen of death
There are two types of display problems no display and the unreadable display
Lack of power assuming the computer is running you can either see the lights are on the pc face a totally dead screen usually indicates a power problem related to the monitor check all power cables and strips that are connected to the monitor to see if one has come lose and check to see if the connector is secure to the video card in your case. Sometimes the video card itself comes lose so open up the case and press down on it to be sure it is seated firmly in the slot. Next thing to try is adjusting the contrast and brightness controls on the monitor. If that doesnt work then it is most likely that the monitor has a blown fuse burned out picture tube or other hardware problem with the monitor.
White out
The monitor is showing one color white the signal isnt transmitting properly between the videocard and the monitor look at the connector and see if there are any bent pins
Wobbly image
When wavy lines seriously distort the display magnetic buildup in your crt monitor is most likely the cause some solutions are move the speakers printer and other peripherals away from your monitor and static electricity build up this is when degauss comes in handy
Display flickers
The refresh rate is set too low, the video card is lose or there is too much magnetic buildup on the monitor
Harddrive crash
A actual harddrive crash occurs when one of the drives read/write heads makes contact with the platters and starts making a clicking and grinding noise and starts failing to save and boot your system normally the heads float above the platters surface. If your harddrive is giving you trouble as a example you are getting drive and error messages if your applications cant find the drive or if your computer wont boot up but not making any noise then your drive has not crashed and you maybe able to resolve problems quickly with out losing any data.
Run scan disk or checkdisk
If you get the following error messages such as Data error reading Drive C:\ Or I/O error there is a good chance that part of your drives data storage has been corrupted or damaged you can most likely fix it with windows tools for detecting and repairing harddrive problems
Windows 9X/ME/2000
Double click my computer right click on the drive and choose properties and click on the tools tab of the dialog box then click on check now in the scan disk dialog box check the box that says Automatically fix errors and click on start
Windows Xp
Double click my computer right click on the drive and choose properties and click on the tools tab of the dialog box then click on check now in the scan disk dialog box check the box that says Automatically fix file system errors and Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors then click on start
if either of these tools asks you to run them next time you reboot your computer select yes.
Cd drive that won't work
Check all connections on the drive and motherboard to be sure they are seated firmly. do a update to be sure you are using the latest driver for your Cdrw/DVD drive and check the device manager for any conflicts or problems
Update your Operating system
If you have winxp and can't record to CD-R\RW media it maybe because your Cd-R\RW drive doesn't support Winxp's Aspi (advanced SCSI programming) Layer which provides base level generic support for these drives to solve the problem go to Http://support.microsoft.com and in the search the knowledge base field type 320174 and click the green arrow and follow the instructions in the technote to download and install the update.
you may also find that WinXp won't let you copy files to your CD-R/RW drive by using the drag and drop method that is because WinXp can't format the CD-R/RW's for drag and drop copying by itself you will need a third party disc buring program such as Roxio easy Cd creator www.roxio.com or Nero burning rom www.nero.com
Thanks for reading this


text:
Can You Burn Off Food Calorie for Calorie By Exercising?
Please Note: By clicking a link to any resource listed on this page, you will be leaving the TeensHealth site.
American Council on Exercise (ACE)
ACE promotes active, healthy lifestyles by setting certification and education standards for fitness instructors and through ongoing public education about the importance of exercise.
ChooseMyPlate.gov provides practical information on how to follow the U.S. government's Dietary Guidelines for Americans. It includes resources and tools to help families lead healthier lives.
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Offering nutrition information, resources, and access to registered dietitians.


text:
Linus waits for the Great Pumpkin to bring him treats on Halloween, Cinderella's Fairy Godmother turns a pumpkin into a magical coach to take her to the ball, and scary carved pumpkins have the power to keep away bad spirits. Pumpkins have some very imaginative and magical purposes associated with them. One might worry that the edible uses for pumpkins are being ignored. As much fun as pumpkins are for carving, decorating, and scaring, they are also delicious, nutritious, and very practical.
In the right climate, anyone can grow a pumpkin. Though they grow best in warmer weather, pumpkins are hardy plants. Their leaves help to protect the plant and soil from the sun and help to keep in moisture. With sunshine and water, a pumpkin plant can grow quite happily and in some cases maybe too happily. A world record was broken recently with a 1689 pound pumpkin grown in Rhode Island!
If want to eat a pumpkin, you will most likely choose a more petite size than the monsters grown for competition. Pick one that is small but heavy. If you are picking an organic pumpkin, its skin will be dull, not waxed, and it should have a green stem still attached. You can store a pumpkin for up to 3 months in the proper environment, which is important for surviving the winter months on a local diet.
Nutritionally, pumpkins are full of beta carotene (which you can tell by their vibrant color), an antioxidant with the potential to fight disease and protect against aging. Even more nutritious than the flesh of a pumpkin are its seeds. Some consider these a super-food. The carotenoids, omega-3 fats, and zinc found in pumpkin seeds have been thought to promote prostate health. The seeds also contain high quantities of protein, iron and phosphorus, important nutrients for everyone.
Cooking a pumpkin can seem intimidating at first, but once you've experienced the wonderful taste and understand the nutritional benefits, you can't help but want more. There are plenty of creative ways to prepare pumpkin - pumpkin soup, pumpkin bread, pumpkin risotto, pumpkin puree, pumpkin butter and, of course, pumpkin pie. A customary treat at Thanksgiving and Christmas, pumpkin pie will always be a favorite recipe!
And remember: Don't be afraid of your pumpkin; pumpkins are for eating and not just for story telling!
If you're ready to create a tasty pumpkin pie, check out the recipe below from our favorite farm, Pie Ranch! Pie Ranch was a stop on our Eat Well Guided Tour of America in 2007. At Pie Ranch they grow all of the ingredients for the pies they make, even the flour. They sell these delicious pies at their very own Mission Pie shop in San Francisco, CA. If you aren't near Davenport, CA, where Pie Ranch is located, you can always replace the "Pie Ranch grown whole Sonora wheat flour" with another wheat flour and still give this great recipe a try.
Pie Ranch Pumpkin Pie
Preheat oven to 375 ; rack in the center. Roll crust for 9-inch pie, preferably in glass pan. Build up a fluted rim. Glaze with egg yolk.
Whisk 2-3 eggs thoroughly
Then whisk in thoroughly:
2 cups fresh-cooked pumpkin or winter squash puree
1½ ; cups goat milk
½ ; cup sugar and 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
½ ; tsp fresh grated or ground nutmeg
¼ ; tsp ground cloves or allspice
½ ; tsp salt
Warm the pie crust in the oven until it is hot to the touch, letting the filling stand at room temperature. Pour the pumpkin filling into the crust and bake until the center of the filling seems set but quivery when the pan is nudged, 35 - 45 minutes. Let cool completely on rack, then refrigerate for up to one day. Serve cold, room temp, or slightly warmed. Accompany with fresh whipped cream.
*You can substitute 1½ ; cups light cream, or evaporated milk, or ¾ ; cup milk and ¾ ; cup heavy cream for the goat milk, or substitute 1 can sweetened condensed milk (without additional sweetener) for the whole ration of milk and sweetener combined.
Pie Ranch Pie Crust
Ours is a butter-rich crust, and very simple. If you want to increase the flour to butter ratio a bit, the recipe can accept some modification and still retain the delicious butter flavor. You can make this crust either by hand, with a pastry cutter or two knives, or with a food processor.
2 or 2½ ; cups freshly ground Pie Ranch grown whole Sonora wheat flour
2 sticks organic sweet cream butter
½ ; tsp salt
up to 1/3 cup of ice water, perhaps a few drops more if you use the full 2½ ; cup flour measure
flour for rolling
Mix flour and salt in a bowl or in the bowl of the food processor. Cut butter into ½ ; - ¾ ; inch chunks and add to the flour. Cut swiftly into the flour until the size of peas or smaller (with food processor this will likely take 3-4 seconds of processing, or 8 or 10 pulses.) Add ice water in portions until the crust begins to hold together. Turn out the unconsolidated pastry onto your work surface and, with the heel of your hand, rapidly and roughly smear it 6-8 inches in front of you by egg-sized clumps to make a final blending of butter into the dough. If the pastry is dry, sprinkle a few more drops of water in. Don't overwork the dough. Form two cakes of dough about 5 inches in diameter, flour lightly, and refrigerate before rolling out, if possible.


text:
More Views
Regal Bliss
Pillow Details
The Photo Pillow has a full bleed personalizable front side with a solid black back which has a mid-fold for you to easily wear or remove the Polyester filled cushion. The cover is 100% Polyester and machine washable.
- Customization:
Personalization is key. That is why with our editor, you are able to add your favourite photos, include text with different font types, use our wide array of page styles, backgrounds and scrapbook items to form your unique Photo Pillow.
- Printing Time:
2 - 3 Business Days
- Material


text:
An understanding and appreciation of society's human diversity is an essential component of an excellent education and a foundation for responsible citizenship. At the University of Northern Iowa, we educate citizens and leaders who will influence our society in the future, and our graduates take with them the knowledge and values they learn or refine while with us. Thus it is our institutional priority to value, promote and teach about diversity.
In order to effectively teach about diversity, we must be a diverse community, where all are welcomed and each is provided with the support needed to achieve goals and attain success.
Diversity describes the rich differences that people bring to the University of Northern Iowa community. It can refer broadly to culture, identity and ideology, or more specifically to age, gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, ability, gender identity, socioeconomic status, political affiliation, marital status, national origin, or veteran status. Diversity is a dynamic concept, shaped by history, and changing as our understanding of the world and its people evolves.
Our vision is to create a more welcoming community that celebrates the unique contributions of each person. To this end, we strive to remove obstacles that impede equal opportunity, to embrace vigorous and open dialogue in the search for understanding across differences, to promote cultural plurality and social justice, and to treat each person with respect and dignity.
At the University of Northern Iowa, our mission is to create and maintain an inclusive educational environment which prepares students to thrive in a diverse, global environment.
Adopted by Diversity Council, August 17, 2009
Approved by President, August 19, 2009
Strategic Priorities:
- Educate all students to ensure that they are prepared to live and work successfully in a diverse world.
- Enhance the diversity of the student body.
- Enhance the diversity of the University's workforce.
- Maintain a welcoming and supportive environment for all.
- Promote success for students, faculty, and staff who are in the minority.
In order to make progress on these strategic priorities, we must commit ourselves to:
- Institutionalize our planning and assure persistent attention to goals.
- Allocate financial resources to align with our efforts.
- Measure our progress and routinely report outcomes to the community.
- Develop and maintain meaningful collaborative relationships with communities and community organizations.
- Enhance faculty and staff professional development on matters associated with diversity.
- Communicate publicly about our initiatives, and recognize contributions that are exemplary.
Adopted by Diversity Council, September 2, 2009


text:
Women have sort of made their clothes sexier and sexier over time but male sexuality is still struggling to be understood. It occured to me that men don't really wear sexy clothes do they?
Sure there's jockstraps but they don't count since they're pretty much only worn in pornos. The closest thing I can think of are those shirts which tradies wear which shows off their 'man cleavage' which doesn't really count.
Also, sexy guys in clothes don't count because obviously there are definetly sexy guys but it's not the clothes which make them sexy.
Have you ever seen any guys wearing revealing clothes which are for casual rather than porn reasons?


text:
NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. Geological Survey is reporting that a magnitude 4.5 earthquake rattled Costa Rica early Wednesday. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.
The USGS said the quake, which struck at 12:54 a.m. local time, had an epicenter about two miles (three kilometers) south-southwest of Naranjo, which is about 22 miles (35 kilometers) west of the capital San Jose. Its depth was 6.3 miles (10.1 kilometers).
A smaller earthquake shook Puerto Rico on Tuesday evening. The USGS says the magnitude 2.6 quake, which occurred at about 6:30 p.m. at a depth of 5.6 miles (nine kilometers), had an epicenter three miles (five kilometers) east-southeast of Mayaguez, or about 66 miles (106 kilometers) west of San Juan. No injuries or damage were immediately reported.


text:
I can remember the voice of Frank Sinatra from back when I was a kid. My father wasn't quite a fan, but he had more than a couple albums which got played regularly and which I can still recall in my head when I want to. Certainly, Ol' Blue Eyes was a vocal technician of the first water. His intonation, treatment of even the simplest phrase, breath control and overall execution place him deservedly in a rarefied atmosphere shared with a scant few other artists, and that by itself is admirable.
However, it would seem as though there was more to Mr. Sinatra than a disciplined voice or an alleged connection to the Mob. This "new" facet was brought to my attention this morning by my wife, courtesy of an article which highlights an excerpt from a Playboy Interview of many moons ago. I'm placing a fragment of that piece below the fold here, but I encourage you to read the entire article.
It would seem that Frank's vintage was, indeed, a very good year ... for more reasons than one.
Playboy: You haven't found any answers for yourself in organized religion?
Sinatra: There are things about organized religion which I resent. Christ is revered as the Prince of Peace, but more blood has been shed in His name than any other figure in history. You show me one step forward in the name of religion and I'll show you a hundred retrogressions. Remember, they were men of God who destroyed the educational treasures at Alexandria, who perpetrated the Inquisition in Spain, who burned the witches at Salem. Over 25,000 organized religions flourish on this planet, but the followers of each think all the others are miserably misguided and probably evil as well. In India they worship white cows, monkeys and a dip in the Ganges. The Moslems accept slavery and prepare for Allah, who promises wine and revirginated women. And witch doctors aren't just in Africa. If you look in the L.A. papers of a Sunday morning, you'll see the local variety advertising their wares like suits with two pairs of pants.
Views: 402
During WW II, my mother and I were living in a rented room in the home of a very cranky woman. Mom had a Frank Sinatra album on the bookshelf; I remember her putting it on a little record player, a scratchy one. Funny how little details come back to me after all these years.
We were not in that rented one-room and a cranky woman renter for very long; Dad worked for Morrison-Knudson in Alaska building airfields and barracks. He earned enough in a short period of time to pay cash for a little house that was a dream cottage. Mom and I moved in and remained there, just the two of us, until the end of the war. Dad came home and he created a huge vegetable garden and orchard with many kinds of fruit. I lived there until I went away to college.
In the comments of the article, a few people alleged that Playboy supplied the questions to Frank before the interview, and that doing so was a rare or unique event for the magazine. For myself, I have no idea one way or the other.
Interestingly, though, it was in that same era that Playboy interviewed Madalyn Murray O'Hair. I read that interview, and if memory serves, the interviewer's attitude was far more confrontational, especially considering Hugh Hefner's opinion of religion as expressed in his Playboy Philosophy. It would be intriguing to see how such an interview would be conducted now, were it possible, and since it isn't, perhaps interviews with Richard Dawkins, Lawrence Krauss or Sam Harris, if they haven't been done to this date.
I'm not convinced those are Frank's actual words. I have a feeling his opinions on religion were reshaped by the interviewer or editor. Nonetheless, I like them! And I always liked his singing.
Besides being a great singer and actor, and now a pundit, maybe he was a bit of a philosopher in the style of the troubadours. One of the songs he made popular has the answer to the ever-popular question, what meaning does life have without god?
Dancing in the dark
Till the tune ends
We're dancing in the dark
And it soon ends
We're waltzing in the wonder of why we're here
Time hurries by we're here
Then we're gone.
Even 50 years ago, some entertainers were expressing their
opinions about how they saw society in that era. Too bad Faux news wasn't around to reprimand him voicing his views which were different from theirs.
Thanks for this, Loren. OMG – his answer to the first question is even better than the one you posted. I would never have imagined FS invoking the likes of Bertrand Russell!
I had an uncle who was an avid fan and I inherited quite a slug of the albums. I remember when I was about 12 my uncle said he'd defended everything Frank had done up until he married Mia Farrow – for some reason that was a step too far in my uncle's mind. I totally agree about his vocal talent. In the 60s and 70s I kind of bucked the trend, as it took the hippie generation a while to get that he was cool. [Of course there were mitigating circumstances; Ol' Blue Eyes wasn't too keen on the raucous rockers and long haired upstarts who started acing him out of the top 40.] I find his music intensely evocative of a lost world of standards in a very similar way to the film Casablanca.
Sinatra was so smart that not only was he an icon type singer for most of my lifetime, he was also a top rated movie actor for well over 20 years. When Frank talked people listened. He had lots of "pull" with lots of people. I think this is what made the mob so attracted to him. I used to jokingly call him Frank Sinister, but Sinatra was a no nonsense kind of guy.
another example in which stereotype is inaccurate...
No, kiddin', Pat. A bit more than a pretty face and a talented voice, for sure!
Damn! Sinatra was smarter than I ever gave him credit for. Much smarter.
© 2018 Atheist Nexus. All rights reserved. Admin: The Nexus Group. Powered by


text:
Hurtful Comments Made By Family Members...
Posted 28 January 2018 - 04:11 PM
We have been having a difficult time with L at moment refusing to go anywhere, it gets to the point where there's a lot of shouting and threatening that just upsets everyone and sometimes doesn't even change the outcome.
He moans and refuses to even go for a walk even if it's going somewhere he wants to go at the end if it, this kind of thing we persevere with because it's good for him. His two classes a week he reacts the same and we end up getting him there as we know he likes his Lego club and enjoyaball. When it comes to the weekend we really struggle to get him motivated and out doing anything.
Anyway we had another difficult day yesterday with him refusing to go out and I'm afraid to say we did not handle it well... a very upset household at the end of it. So I was discussing things with mum and really was not expecting how the conversation went.
She started talking about control and manipulisation by L and then spoke about how she couldn't understand why the school are not seeing any if his behaviours so how can he react so differently in two situations and that other people including herself don't get any if this behaviour. That wasn't too bad but then she went on to say that she feels that he's not as bad on the spectrum as I make him out that I make out he's worse than he actually is. Then went on to talk about consequences. Why didnt I consequence his behaviour if he wouldn't go out?. That he should be dealt with in the same manner as everyone else. And that if he's as bad as im saying why am I not pushing harder to get help. We can't get people to listen so getting a diagnosis is proving difficult because people don't see it.
I'm at a loss and got quite upset although did try and keep it calm and explain things.
Now I'm doubting everything due to this and everything else . I doubt what I do and dont do with L on what seems a daily basis anyway because of no diagnosis and him appearing so coherent on the surface, And I know that because if this I'm probably not being as consistent as I need to be with him.
I hate that to others it looks like he's just manipulating and controlling us, I'm sure there is a part of it that is that but to be told so blatantly just hurts.
I told her what she said was a bit hurtful to be told that it wasn't and I had asked an opinion and that she didn't say things to be hurtful that she wouldn't do that....
God ... could I really have got things so wrong.
Sorry I don't mean to sound so defeatest... guess I'm just saddened by it all.
Posted 28 January 2018 - 08:40 PM
I know how you feel. Over the years I have been told so many times that DS1 is intelligent and his ASD was considered so mild as to not need a DX until he got his dx 8 years later. He has since been said to be severely autistic, and the young person most impacted by his autism that experienced worker at the specialist school had come across. However there are many, including family members who think that if I just stood firm and told him to buck up his ideas everything would be just fine.
DS1 is always hard to get out, but often enjoys it when we get there (but not always). It's hard work, and sometimes I wonder if it is worth it.
We do use reward and consequence, but so often there is no reward or consequence great enough to overcome the compulsion to freeze.
i can get DS up at any time of day if it is part of a plan to do something he wants to do and there is no stress impacting, but try to do that on a daily basis and you are on a hiding to nothing. Other people coming and going impact hugely and one wrong comment can wreck a day.
I constantly have to plan ahead eg to get him in the bath it has to appear to be in his control so it is always a question of tonight or tomorrow morning knowing the answer will be tomorrow morning; however if I suggested tomorrow morning it would be unlikely to happen. He is good at trying to stick to what is agreed, so if he can't then there is a reason which he may give now or in 6 months time. Some things which stop him are so simple to resolve, but nothing can be done at the time because he can't say why.
Don't be defeated, you can only do your best. My user name here was chosen at a time when my boys were about the age of L, it sums up how I was feeling then; nothing much has changed as it is easier to blame parents, particularly Mum, rather than provide the support our kids need.
Posted 28 January 2018 - 10:38 PM
Could it be control /manipulation on his part? He can't be bothered so he knows if he creates enough then most likely he won't need to go. I've been reacting like it's been his anxieties stopping him but my mum clearly thinks he's controlling the situation and us and he should be consequences for it.
Not sure how you would actually do that apart from not allow him access to his usual things ie iPad etc, but I don't see the purpose in doing this. I like consequences to be linked making understanding greater. Don't use them often.
It's hard when others think you think he's more challenged than what he is? I try and treat him how I beleive is best regarding his anxiety and ability, sociall interactions etc. I've tried to tune in to his ways to give me idea off triggers etc due to him not verbalising them although he has a good vocabulary. It appears though that I'm seen as hindering and not dealing with him correctly. I just feel like everyday is a mind field to negotiate.
I think it would help greatly if he had a concrete diagnosis just for my piece of mind even
The other issue we have is keeping clean and changing boxers, teeth brushing etc, others can get him to do it but we can't get consistency. It looks like he plays us up. I gave him a chart with the days I expect him to shower Saturday, Tuesday, Thursday. Hoping to encourage everyday use eventually. He changes his boxers when he other people look after him but refuses to do this for us, he likes the comfy ness. Only when we get him in the shower do we manage this. It's so frustrating that he complies with teachers and his gran/ aunts but not us.
Posted 29 January 2018 - 09:18 AM
Without knowing L, or his routine it's hard for me to make any useful comment on his reactions, the best I can do is tell you of our experiences with our 2 boys and hope that understanding their rationales will give you an insight into L.
DS1 struggles with going out, always has. He does better on a one to one basis with a trusted adult, but even better with his friends. However he can only manage so much and needs time to recover. How much he can manage varies.
A recent outing involved a 4 hour journey to a city he knows well ( and a 4 hour journey home) to see an exhibition in the museum which he had not been in, but knew where it was. I went with the 2 boys and we were all surprised at the queue, but in the familiar environment of the city he managed. Museum staff helped by sending chocolates along the queue and keeping people informed. Once inside he struggled to know where to go and with the feeling that he should move on as the crowd did, but then realised that we did not all move room to room in order. He managed the whole exhibition and once out was able to agree where to go to eat. Sod's law that was closed ( I hate cafes who close at 4) so we quickly worked out an alternative and drove there only to find that shut. The second back up plan was a pub I was confident would be open, and it was, albeit half an hour away on our route home. Having been there before he was content with this and went in happily. Deciding on a burger, he even had the foresight to question whether the relish was served on the side, I duly asked and was told it was only to have it arrive with the relish in the bun. My heart sank, he wasn't able to say anything, just froze; so I suggested that I scrape it out and he eat it which we did. Afterwards he was able to tell me that the reason that he managed was because overall his stress levels weren't too high. Knowing everything had been done that could have been done he was able to accept that we had been wrongly told the relish was on the side; if he had been unable to ask me to find out he would have been unable to ask for the burger as his anxiety would rise until he saw the dish.
We all had a long conversation about ASD friendly menus, some are better than others.( don't get us started on ASD friendly cinema screenings, they don't work for us; we just chose a small cinema and hope we're not near anyone noisy or highly perfumed)
The difficulty both for going out and for menus is the unknown that raises anxiety, things we know and take for granted raise their anxiety. DS knows that anything can be removed from a plate, but still it can be too much for him.
Our most recent outing last week was nearly a total disaster even though it was planned and by comparison to the museum trip just a 7 mile journey to a very small town with a support worker. He froze when deciding which of 2 cafes to go in, and I was only able to move him by suggesting we go to get the cash he wanted first. From there he was able to say he was hungry so I suggested going to the chippy and started to walk in that direction. Once in he sat and ordered a different dish to his normal and was happy and relaxed. Many would say he is being manipulative, but it's how he can communicate at times of anxiety, and really if he were being manipulative we would not have got out of the house.
Currently he has 3 support workers, but despite having seen them for almost the same amount of time he struggles to communicate with them to varying degrees. Our council say he is refusing to engage; the support workers say he never refuses as he always stops what he would otherwise be doing even though he can't always get out of his room.
I think what you need to consider is what would be the reward for him if he didn't go out at the times he is difficult. Mostly the reward is a reduction in anxiety for my boys, but there is also the disappointment that they haven't been able to do something they want to when the outing is something they have wanted to do. DS2 missed a friend's 18th celebration due to anxiety, and DS1 says the more he wants something the harder it is to move.
Most people , even those with experience of ASD, will agree that we learn from experience, but we have to recognise how much challenge and learning is enough, and how much is too much and risks overload. this varies not just from person to person, but from day to day and hour to hour. Some cannot learn to go with the flow, and instead we need to take them, but only as far as they can each time.
Success alleviates future anxiety, failure compounds it.
- caci likes this
Posted 29 January 2018 - 10:32 PM
Regarding showering/boxers/teeth cleaning etc.
DS view is that home is where he should be comfortable - so he will be smelly and unwashed and we should accept it because we love him and want him to be comfortable.
He will clean up if going out or meeting non-parents as he doesn't want to upset strangers. So he showers on college days and not otherwise.
Don't know if that helps at all. There is a weird kind of logic to it.
- caci, imperfect parent and queen claudia like this
Posted 30 January 2018 - 09:50 AM
Problem is I guess it's my expectations and trying to teach him how to learn to be clean etc, he doesn't care if he smells and will go to school in the same boxers.
What I've realised in the past couple of days is others around you have no idea what you experience as an Asd family, yes L may be mild on the spectrum? I don't actually know where he sits within it as I still haven't got a diagnosis... anyway, the point is that the effect it has may be so different and changeable depending on environment, stress, people there are so many factors involved that those around us looking in will not c the full picture.
I spent the day yesterday fluctuated between tears (damn hormones don't help) and feeling confused.
Today I feel better, I realised it's our life and we need to work it the best we can. I can only try, right.
The other thing I think may help is more consistency I think I change things up to much I guess in an attempt to work things through, it is probably sending mixed messages.
Thanks for the understanding
- imperfect parent likes this
Posted 30 January 2018 - 09:50 AM
The movie or TV programme of course has to be his choice otherwise he will criticise whatever we are watching so it just ends up a very unenjoyable experience.
Same with bathing it's always 'later' or 'tomorrow'. It's such a battle that I know sometimes I just can't face it and let him do or don't do what he wants.
So you are not alone as you can see from the replies on here.
Must admit I have zero tolerance even with close family for what I see as their complete ignorance and I've no problem telling them just that if I have too.
Posted 31 January 2018 - 08:41 AM
I used to think I was a useless parent and neither grandparents could understand why ds1 was so "badly behaved" even after dx (age 9). Incentives never worked for him. Being "in control" of choices did for a while, although this became not committing to anything including going to school.
There have been very few people who have really understood: One friend who encouraged us to speak to our health visitor in the first place (school thought it was parents too); an NAS course leader who told us "mild" is misused; the ASD nurse who visited to help when ds1 was being abusive and refusing school for 2 years (and was key to getting the LA to find a non mainstream placement).
After 16 years my parents are finally a bit more clued up, although I'm not sure my mum read any of the information I sent them until fairly recently.
Posted 31 January 2018 - 11:11 PM
Littlun has asd, and gone from severe to autistic and that alone has taken 9 years to get too, he will walk in the home with just boxers and I have a fight on my hand to get him to get dressed, if someone is coming over say my 5 yr old granddaughters and I am like you need to get dressed its not appropriate for him to do that, both the boys I now have a battle to bathe and brush teeth, I tell them that they need to bathe ect but the battle is so immense they feel like they can be "their natural self" could you speak to the school??? my boys are in sn and they promote teeth brushing at school showering ect in their pche class, Littlun had severe water issues and the school desensitised him to it so maybe they could incoperate the issues into every day things??
Posted 01 February 2018 - 09:51 AM
We have resolved the tension finally, although she couldn't tell me why she reacted so aggressively when talking about L the other day, she didn't even realise she was agitated. She did say she was worried about how I'm managing, I've got Ill health at moment, my husband suffers ill health from time to time, I've got a sister in law from hell and managing L. I guess she got overwhelmed and didn't go about things the right way, she worries about Ls future as he's so capable.
we are all stumbling in the dark at times.
Reply to this topic
1 user(s) are reading this topic
0 members, 1 guests, 0 anonymous users


text:
The guys at HillBuzz have a question: Do you support measures like "Soda Taxes" in cash-strapped cities raising revenue from unhealthy choices?
My answer is emphatically no, for four reasons:
1) It is a big government idea that restricts individual freedom of choice and discourages personal responsibility, which is the modus operandi of statist socialism.
2) It can be damaging to our economy, especially during a recession.
3) It encourages government to continue spending frivolously and beyond its means, then to pass the cost to the lowest income consumers in what amounts to a regressive tax.
4) There is evidence that, rather than raising revenue, sin taxes may actually have the (supposedly) intended effect of curbing the purchase of the unhealthy products in question. That's all well and good, but it can lead to further budget shortfalls when government does not raise the projected revenue from the sin tax.
An in depth discussion of my reasons for opposing sin taxes beneath the fold…


text:
The "Unsafe Condition Reporting Program" is a proactive way to help reduce future incidents, accidents or injuries. If you see something you think may be unsafe on the UAF campus or remote campus locations, please take time to fill out this report.
We strongly encourage you to include your name and contact information. This information will allow for us to follow up in case there are additional questions regarding the condition you are reporting. Your concerns are important to us. While optional, if you provide us your name and contact information, we'll let you know how we've addressed your concern.
DO NOT USE THIS FORM TO REPORT AN EMERGENCY OR AN IMMEDIATE LIFE THREATENING HAZARD. For immediate emergencies call UAF Emergency Dispatch Center emergencies at (907)474-7721.