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Two weeks ago today I was utterly hopeless. By 1pm I had lost my midwife and pissed off the only medpro that was 'in charge' of me.
Two weeks ago today and at this time I should have been getting prepped for a repeat cesarean. Instead, we called the hospital that morning and called the OB's office to cancel that surgery. We felt the surgery was at best premature but more than likely completely unnecessary and scheduled out of medico-legal fear. The only reason I allowed the scheduling of that surgery was because I didn't think I'd still be pregnant at 41 weeks and 4 days and didn't plan on needing an obstetrician anyway!
Two weeks ago today and by this time of day, my husband had called my midwife. He thought her suggestion to just show up at the hospital on that day (with relatively no labor signs) just to appease the doctor was quite strange. Little did we know that she no longer felt comfortable helping us at home. Thank God my husband was able to pull that out of her. So . . . by this time of day I was that patient who goes against medical advice (AMA) and cancels a scheduled surgery and doesn't check back in with the OB and doesn't show up at the hospital during business hours. And my midwife abandoned me when I needed her and expected her the most.
Two weeks ago today and an hour from now, I took a 2.5oz dose of castor oil that did nothing but make me feel sick to my stomach. We started getting ready to go to the hospital. I had no idea what you put in a hospital bag . . . couldn't remember. I tried to rest but was restless; tried to sleep but was too wired. Sleep was way to passive for me at the time – I had walked a big blister onto the bottom of my foot; I had bounced on the ball; I had squatted. I researched ways to help get my baby better positioned if and when contractions resumed. I researched post-41-week birth outcomes. I looked and looked for any justification for a pre-42-week cesarean. I looked and looked for evidence that stillbirth rates doubled at this point in a healthy pregnancy.
Two weeks ago today . . . by 1:02pm, I had no faith in myself. I had no faith in my birth community. I had no faith in my care providers. And yet I had so much . . . an amazingly supportive husband, my in-laws who dropped their plans and raced up her from Denver to take care of us, my 3 sweet girls, and my cozy happy healthy baby in utero. Why did it have to be such a hopeless day?


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Style # 218146
Crocodile print, sexy side cutouts and lightweight stretch make this bebe bodycon dress an exotic way to make a summer statement. Give it a hot-weather update with a pair of wedge sandals and a crossbody bag.
- 92% nylon, 8% spandex
- Center back to hem: 31" (79 cm)
- Hand wash according to care label
- Made in USA with imported materials
- Model is 5'9" and is wearing a US size S
Crocodile Cutout Bodycon Dress is rated out of 5 by 1.
Rated 4 out of 5 by shortstuff from love this. :) i looove this dress! amazing fit. i'm 411 and it hugs me like a glove. i don't know how this model is wearin a S because I got a small and its short on me.
Date published: 2013-06-05

subset: commoncrawl


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NEW YORK (AP) — It's got a good beat, for sure. And you're going to dance to it, or, at the very least, move around. Mainly because it's either that or get smushed by a moving set. "Here Lies Love," David Byrne and Fatboy Slim's musical about the life of Imelda Marcos is energetic, catchy and entertaining but ultimately kind of slight.
Back for another run at The Public Theater, the 90-minute, all-music production puts the audience in a dance club, flashing lights and all. Aside from some onlookers on an upper level, the majority of the audience stands on the floor, with stages running along the walls and in the center of the room. Throughout the show, members of the crew move people around like extras as the stages are rolled around and the energetic cast moves from section to section.
The show recounts Marcos' humble origins; her unsuccessful romance with Benigno Aquino, who would later oppose her husband; and her whirlwind courtship and life with Ferdinand Marcos. It shows her disillusionment with her life, as well as her addiction to all things opulent, and goes into the strife and turmoil that led to the "People Power" revolution in 1989 that saw Marcos' flee the country after years of iron-fisted rule.
It's a well-done telling, and the show stays away from over-the-top caricature — there's no mention of Imelda Marcos' famous shoe collection, for example. The cast, led by Ruthie Ann Miles as Imelda Marcos and Jose Llana as her husband, are uniformly strong performers.
But it also feels a little simple — poor girl, looking for love whether from her husband or the people of her country, hiding her sorrow in controlled substances and compulsive shopping on a national scale. But the actual history of the Marcoses, and the Philippines, was much darker than that, something that's not really brought home to the audience.
The show's music is the highlight — infectious, covering different styles and making it easy for the audience to want to dance along. The lyrics are taken from actual interviews and speeches, adding a certain poignancy. The show also uses video projections, and during moments like a political campaign, cameras that show the actual audience as well.
Online: http://herelieslove.com


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Silence of the Lambs, The (UK - BD)
Chris Gould takes a look at the Blu-ray release of the 90s psychological thriller
Promising FBI rookie Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) is pulled from her training at Quantico by Jack Crawford (Scott Glenn) of the Bureau's Behavioural Science Unit and tasked with interviewing the incarcerated cannibalistic serial killer, Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins). Crawford believes that Lecter, a brilliant psychiatrist, might just be able to offer some insight into the habits of a new serial killer, dubbed 'Buffalo Bill' by the tabloid press because of his predilection for skinning his victims. Starling journeys to the Baltimore State Hospital for the Criminally Insane, where Lecter's jailer, Dr. Frederick Chilton (Anthony Heald), introduces her to the charming psychopath in his dungeon-like cell.
After some initial distrust, Lecter agrees to provide a profile of Buffalo Bill in exchange for transfer to a more lenient facility away from Chilton, whom he despises. Elsewhere, Buffalo Bill abducts the daughter of US Senator Ruth Martin, prompting Crawford to authorise Starling to offer Lecter a fake deal guaranteeing the transfer if he provides information that saves the girl and leads to Bill's apprehension. Instead, Lecter engages Starling in a game of quid pro quo, offering clues to Bill's identity in exchange for information about her past, with the ensuing battle of wits deciding the fate of Senator Martin's daughter.
The Silence of the Lambs arrives with a 1.85:1 widescreen transfer (1080/24p MPEG-2). As an owner of the non-anamorphic Criterion DVD, I was expecting a big improvement in the video quality. On the whole I wasn't too disappointed, but I had fairly realistic expectations. The image is obviously much sharper than the non-anamorphic Criterion DVD (for example, Migg's 'deposit' is now clearly visible), but it is somewhat lacking in detail when compared to the average Blu-ray transfer. Colours are more natural than the DVD, with flesh tones in particular looking much better than in standard definition, but the palette as a whole is quite muted and differs from the Criterion (and possibly the film's intended look). There's some noticeable telecine wobble during the opening logos, grain is heavy throughout, and there are numerous film artefacts (although most are small enough not to be too distracting). Blacks are satisfactory rather than excellent, and shadow detail isn't as good as it could be. To be fair this is easily the best looking version of the film I've ever seen, but those expecting a Blade Runner style restoration are going to be sorely disappointed.
As with most Fox releases, the disc includes a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. The Silence of the Lambs isn't the most aurally dynamic film going, but the track does a reasonable job of reproducing the film's all-important dialogue and building a suitable amount of atmosphere. Fidelity isn't quite as good as I would have liked, which is especially noticeable when it comes to the dialogue (it lacks crispness). Additionally, for a full 5.1 remix the track squanders many opportunities to immerse the viewer, with most of the effects placed firmly at the front of the soundstage even during moments that would obviously benefit from surround utilisation (such as rainfall). That's not to say it's all bad though, as surround utilisation picks up towards the end of the picture and there are a few memorable moments scattered throughout (such as Starling's first visit to the asylum, during which the sub emits a steady thud that emulates the sound of a beating heart to great effect). The track does the best with what it has to work with, but even so it's probably best described as serviceable rather than good. The decision not to include the original audio mix is also disappointing.
What initially looked like a fairly run-of-the-mill selection of bonus material actually turned out to be far more enjoyable than I had expected, thanks largely to the presence of two forty-five-minute-plus documentaries.
Breaking the Silence (01:58:38 SD): This is 'fake' picture-in-picture feature that plays over the top of a separate, standard definition version of the film. The cast and writer periodically appear in a small window at the bottom of the screen to offer their thoughts on the film, along with the odd text-based fact, but there's quite a lot of dead-air between comments. Also, why the SD version of the film instead of a true BonusView feature? I guess it's better for people with older Profile 1.0 machines, but surely those are in the minority now?
Understanding the Madness (19:35 HD): This is an interesting little documentary that deals with the origins of FBI profiling and examines a number of real-life cases and their influences on the Lecter character.
Inside the Labyrinth: Making of The Silence of the Lambs (01:06:29 SD): This is a lengthy making-of documentary that includes interview footage with all the key players (except, oddly, for Demme). This should be your first port of call if you're looking for a detailed account of the making the film.
The Silence of the Lambs: Page to Screen (41:18 SD): Yet another lengthy documentary that deals with the process of translating the novel to the screen by way of interviews with the cast and crew and clips from the film. It makes for pretty interesting viewing and I actually leaned a lot about the origins of the production.
Scoring the Silence (16:00 SD): Composer Howard Shore is on-hand to discuss the creative process and talk us through a number of cues. Unfortunately much of the running time is comprised of clips, rather than interview footage.
Original 1991 Making-of Featurette (08:07 SD): I have a fondness for this kind of short promotional feature from the eighties and early nineties, because they were my window into the world of cinema on late night television. This particular featurette includes plenty of on-set interviews and clips from the film and could easily have included voice-over by Casey Kasem.
Deleted Scenes (20:29 SD): These consist of longer versions of the scenes between Starling and Lecter, more of Starling's FBI training and investigatory work, more Jack Crawford and some additional scenes that expand the third act. Unfortunately the quality of the footage is very poor, with numerous print defects and the like.
Outtakes Reel (01:46 SD): This is your typical blooper reel with the actors fluffing their lines or falling foul of props (such as the coroner struggling with latex gloves). We even get to witness Anthony Hopkins' Sylvester Stallone impersonation.
Anthony Hopkins Phone Message (00:34): I believe that this was included on the old MGM DVD release, but since I only have the Criterion DVD I'd never heard it before. It's basically a 'scary' little message that you can put on your voicemail to frighten callers. I might try it—I could use something to deter the bloody cold callers.
TV Spots (05:55): Eleven TV spots are included. They're wonderfully nineties and feature some wholly inappropriate music.
Theatrical Trailer (01:49 HD): The film's original theatrical trailer is included in full 1080p video with accompanying Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo audio.
Teaser Trailer (01:06 SD): Pretty self-explanatory this one.
The Silence of the Lambs is a solid thriller with strong central performances from Foster and Hopkins. It isn't my favourite Lecter film (that would be Manhunter), but I did find Hopkins' portrayal of 'Hannibal the Cannibal' quite chilling, if altogether campier than Brian Cox's more detached performance. The quality of this Blu-ray Disc isn't up there with the very best restorations, but it is currently the best audio-visual presentation available and the bonus material is quite interesting. The biggest lament is the absence of the commentary track as found on the Criterion release, but I never really expected that to find its way onto the disc. This is a no-brainer purchase for fans of the film, but even those unfamiliar with the picture should take a look if only to witness how a 'serial killer' feature should be made.
* Note: The above images are taken from the Blu-ray release and resized for the page. Full-resolution captures are available by clicking individual images, but due to .jpg compression they are not necessarily representative of the quality of the transfer.
Review by Chris Gould
Worst Nightmare Senior Member Join Date: July 2002 Location: Australia Posts: 6,716
Ta for the review of this Chris - one of my favourite films that I would have thought they would have spent a lot of time on this.
Be nice if Criterion have a go to put this on BD - as long as they start from scratch.
Don't know if I will be clicking that last jpg link
Be nice if Criterion have a go to put this on BD - as long as they start from scratch.
Don't know if I will be clicking that last jpg link
Chris Gould Editor Join Date: May 2001 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 7,171
Heh, there was an amusing Chris/Buffalo Bill bit on Family Guy this week, which was especially ironic considering Seth Green modelled his voice on Ted Levine's performance in that film.
Suitable only for persons of 18 years and over
Disc Details
Release Date: 4th May 2009
Discs: 1
Disc Type: Blu-ray Disc
RCE: No
Video: 1080p
Aspect: 1.85:1
Anamorphic: No
Colour: Yes
Audio: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, Spanish DTS 5.1, French DTS 5.1, Thai Dolby Digital 2.0
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, Spanish Text, French Text, Korean, Cantonese, Mandarin, Thai, Thai Text
Extras: Documentaries, Deleted Scenes, Outtakes, Trailers, TV Spots, Phone Message
Easter Egg: No
Feature Details
Director: Jonathan Demme
Cast: Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, Scott Glenn, Ted Levine, Anthony Heald, Brooke Smith, Frankie Faison
Genre: Horror and Thriller
Length: 119 minutes
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Stockton, CA
Simon H. Costilla
Jan. 5, 1924 - Feb. 28, 2013
He had a trucking co. with his 2 sons which he retired from. He was a mechanic and a farm labor contractor.
A veteran of World War II. He could work on any car or truck and fix it. Simon was a gentle soul and loved all his children and grandchildren. He had lots of friends, loved people and would try to help anyone who needed it. He lived in Stockton for about 60 yrs.
He is survived by his wife Elidia Costilla, son; Fred Costilla, daughters; Yolanda Costilla, Rosita Rillon, Connie Rivera, many cousins, nieces and nephews and loved them all.
Preceded in death by Simon Costilla Jr. and Ruben Costilla. 29 grandchildren, lots of great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild.
Mass at 10 a.m., Feb. 28th at 10 a.m., St. Anne's Church, 215 W. Walnut St., Lodi. Visitation: Cano Funeral Home, 2164 E. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Feb. 28, 4 p.m.- 8 p.m. Burial, Mar. 4th, 32053 W. McCabe Rd., Santa Nella, at 1:30 p.m.


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Wednesday, November 06, 2013
comScore Reports September 2013 U.S. Smartphone Subscriber Market Share
These are among the findings of a comScore U.S. smartphone industry report.
147.9 million people in the U.S.
owned smartphones (62 percent mobile market penetration) during the
three months ending in September, up 4.5 percent since June. Apple
ranked as the top OEM with 40.6 percent of U.S. smartphone subscribers
(up 0.7 percentage points from June), the report found. Samsung ranked second with 24.9
percent market share (up 1.2 percentage points), followed by HTC with
7.1 percent, Motorola with 6.8 percent and LG with 6.6 percent.
Android ranked as the top
smartphone platform in September with 51.8 percent market share,
followed by Apple with 40.6 percent (up 0.7 percentage points),
BlackBerry with 3.8 percent, Microsoft with 3.3 percent (up 0.2
percentage points) and Symbian with 0.3 percent.
Google Sites ranked as
the top web property on smartphones, reaching 90 percent of the mobile
media audience (mobile browsing and app usage), followed by Facebook (84
percent), Yahoo! Sites (82.2 percent) and Amazon Sites (65.5 percent).
Facebook ranked as the top smartphone app, reaching 74.3 percent of the
app audience, followed by Google Play (53.9 percent), Google Search
(53.2 percent) and YouTube (49.6 percent). Pandora Radio cracked the top
5 for the first time with 49.3 percent reach.
*Apple App Suite includes iTunes, Apple App Store, and Apple Game Cente


text: Canon, a world leader in office imaging systems, ink-jet technology, and digital photography presents an innovation in professional large format printing solutions. The imagePROGRAF W8400D 44" dye printer is a large format printing solution for the graphic layout, design rendering and color management environments. High-resolution 2400 x 1200 dpi printing, true 1200 dpi pitch, and precise 4pl ink droplets, are just part of what this large format device can deliver. The imagePROGRAF W8400D includes the tools needed to easily Create, Process & Print high quality professional large format output. PosterArtist, one of the many software programs that come with the printer, provides users an intuitive template based poster creation software for any level of skill user. Digital Photo Print Pro is a software application for photo editing and printing with image manipulating tools for exceptional large-format output. Outstanding quality, fast print speeds and included software programs are what make the imagePROGRAF W8400D a breakthrough solution in large format printing.Features


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Mossman Gorge, Daintree National Park
Things To Do Mossman Gorge, Cairns, Queensland
Mossman Gorge is a very accessible and scenic section of Daintree National Park, in the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. Crystal-clear water cascades over large granite boulders in the Mossman River gorge. Lush rainforests cloak steep mountainsides from the river banks up to the rugged eastern slopes of the Main Coast Range.
Take an easy 10 minute stroll along the elevated boardwalk that meanders through the lower rainforest canopy and return along the riverside track, enjoying views from several small lookouts along the way. Be amazed by bright butterflies and look closely for well-camouflaged Boyd's forest dragons clinging to tree trunks. More adventurous visitors can cross the Rex Creek suspension bridge and enjoy the 2.4 kilometre Rainforest circuit track through lush rainforest.


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The UC Davis Point-of-Care Technologies Center plans to collaborate with RTI International, an independent, nonprofit research institute based in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, to ensure the accuracy and efficacy of point-of-care (POC) technologies used in emergency and disaster settings.
The collaboration combines UC Davis's award-winning research in environmental testing and RTI's expertise in best-in-class thermoelectric technologies to create innovative solutions for ensuring the accuracy and efficacy of POC technology.
POC is defined as medical testing at or near the site of patient care. First responders employ POC at disasters and emergencies to improve outcomes using evidence-based triage, diagnosis and monitoring of patients and victims. Some of this current technology includes cardiac and glucose monitors, diagnostic imaging devices and units for assessing blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate and temperature, Although POC's portable design is useful for field applications, other refinements are needed to maximize the potential of these devices in disaster settings.
"Many devices currently used by first-responder teams cannot withstand the austere environmental conditions that are often present at disaster sites," said Gerald Kost, professor of pathology and laboratory medicine at UC Davis School of Medicine and director of the UC Davis Point-of-Care Technologies Center. "Environmental factors, such as extremes of temperature and humidity, can affect the accuracy of results and lead to clinical misinterpretations. Our goal is to find innovative and reliable solutions to overcome these challenges and develop new technologies to protect POC supplies."
UC Davis researchers have extensive experience in understanding the effect of environmental stresses on POC supplies. Previous testing of POC devices conducted in field simulations in the UC Davis laboratory have shown that glucose monitors, hand-held blood chemistry analyzers and other classes of devices give false readings or fail to respond under extremely low and high temperatures and other conditions.
The collaboration with RTI International, a leading developer of advanced thermoelectric technology with expertise to reduce the vulnerability of medical supplies in field settings, aims to address these concerns. The research of Rama Venkatasubramanian, senior research director at the Center for Solid State Energetics at RTI International, is of particular interest to UC Davis researchers.
Venkatasubramanian and his team have designed a first-generation thermoelectric portable container to monitor and protect vaccines, insulin and other medical items from exposure to extreme temperatures. These first-generation devices are being developed further for field-testing and validation, and RTI International has a technology partner that can potentially manufacture large volumes of portable thermoelectric containers.


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PHOENIX (AP) — An Arizona high school teacher who feared she was too inebriated to drive took a cab to work, then continued drinking throughout the day until students alerted administrators that she was cursing and yelling at them, authorities said Thursday.
Students at Poston Butte High School in San Tan Valley, about 35 miles southeast of Phoenix, called the school's main office Wednesday afternoon to report the behavior by Kathleen Jardine.
The school's principal and a sheriff's deputy met with Jardine. According to the deputy, Jardine initially denied being intoxicated. She later admitted that she had been drinking the night before, that morning and during lunch in her classroom.
The math teacher had a blood-alcohol level of 0.205 percent, which is 2 1/2 times the legal limit for drivers. A school security officer found a bottle of vodka, a bottle of white wine and a bottle of Sunny D orange drink in her classroom. Authorities said Jardine told them she took a taxi to school because she thought she was too intoxicated to drive.
Jardine, of Chandler, was cited with one count of consumption of alcohol in public, but she could also face disorderly conduct charges. After receiving her citation, the 57-year-old was released to her daughter.
A message left at a phone number listed for Jardine was not immediately returned Thursday.
Florence Unified School District spokesman Richard Franco said school officials could not comment on personnel issues and because there's a pending criminal investigation.
The incident is the second time Jardine has been accused of being intoxicated in class. In 2011, she was fired from a Belen, New Mexico, high school for violating the district's no-alcohol policy. Belen Schools Superintendent Ron Marquez said students in a math class reported that Jardine was slurring her words and staggering. A school nurse examined her and found her to be under the influence of alcohol. She was immediately fired.
"Since that time I have never been called regarding her about a reference," Marquez said.
Online court records show Jardine pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated in Albuquerque in February 2004. She was referred to a treatment program and ordered to undergo alcohol screenings and DWI school.
Franco said the Florence Unified School District does a full FBI background check on all prospective employees. Officials also verify teaching certificates, references and letters of recommendation, he added.
"I can tell you, as a district, we can only go off of what's reported on applications," Franco said. "If nothing else is reported to us through the application process or any other means, there's no way of us knowing about it."
Follow Terry Tang at https://www.twitter.com/ttangAP .


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USU Extension Co-sponsors Water Check Program
Wednesday, May. 01, 2013
Kelly Kopp
Extension Specialist
Utah State University
Phone: (435) 797-1523
E-Mail: email@example.com
LOGAN – The Slow the Flow Water Check Program, now in its 14th year, offers free sprinkler system evaluations and educational materials to homeowners in Salt Lake, Utah, Wasatch, Duchesne, Uintah, Sanpete, Piute and portions of Summit, Juab and Garfield counties. The program, co-sponsored by The Central Utah Water Conservancy District, the Metropolitan Water District of Salt Lake and Sandy and Utah State University Extension, begins May 15.
The free landscape consultation opportunity consists of a walk-through evaluation of the homeowner's sprinkler system, followed by simple tests to determine the amount of water being applied to the landscape and how evenly it is being applied. Evaluators then use this information to recommend a watering schedule customized to the homeowner's landscape. The entire process takes approximately one hour.
As the nation's second largest consumer of water per person (240 gallons per person per day), Utah has a unique opportunity to makes waves in the realm of water conservation. Approximately two-thirds of drinking water in Utah is used to water lawns and landscapes. Much of this water is being applied inefficiently, either due to sprinkler system design flaws or because sprinklers are running too long.
"This no-cost program is a wonderful example of the cooperation among water entities in Utah to help meet water conservation goals," said Kelly Kopp, associate professor and Extension specialist in the Department of Plants, Soils and Climate at USU and an administrator of the Water Check Program. "The support of the participating water districts and cities has allowed USU Extension to reach out to the public in a very big way."
Kopp says the Slow the Flow Program will help homeowners save water and money immediately and well into the future.
Participants are required to have an in-ground, automatic sprinkler system and live within the participating counties. Those interested should visitwww.SlowTheFlow.org/watercheck or call 1-877-728-3420 to schedule an appointment.


text:
The California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development awarded $265,000 to the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis for the nurse practitioner and physician assistant programs to improve primary care to underserved populations through expanded clinical rotations and simulated learning based on real-life situations.
As part of the Song-Brown Health Care Workforce Training Act Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistant Training Program, the School of Nursing received $115,000 to create patient case simulations and $150,000 to provide housing and travel funds for students doing clinical training in underserved areas of central and Northern California.
"Primary-care providers need to leverage the social, economic and physical conditions that shape health and then better work together as a team," said Virginia Hass, director for the nurse practitioner program. "The Song-Brown grant enables the preparation of health-care professionals to understand the impact of the environment on health outcomes and to deliver care within an interprofessional team."
As part of the $115,000 one-year grant, the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing will partner with the UC Davis Center for Virtual Care to develop simulated case scenarios for use throughout the two-year clinical curriculum. Plans call for specific simulations that address culturally relevant care to communities that experience difficulties accessing health care.
The second grant assists students with the costs of travel and housing during clinical rotations in underserved and rural areas. Rotation sites within the California Endowment's Building Healthy Communities have priority. These 14 geographically diverse communities — ranging from Riverside to Del Norte Counties — are generally low income and rural with a significant proportion of uninsured residents.
"A primary objective of the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing nurse practitioner and physician assistant programs is to provide student rotations that improve availability of care," said Mark Christiansen, director for the physician assistant program. "Because many of the designated communities and counties are within the school's service and recruitment area, the program is a natural extension of current activities."
Over the past 40 years, UC Davis graduated 1,800 nurse practitioners and physician assistants, with 67 percent of graduates working in underserved areas. Additionally, nearly 70 percent of graduates work in primary care, compared to significantly lower national averages of between 30 and 40 percent.
The Song-Brown Program partnered with the California Endowment to provide both grants. The California Endowment's 10-year initiative for Building Healthy Communities invests billions in community-based strategies to prevent chronic illnesses, including obesity prevention, nutrition access and tobacco cessation programs. More information about The Endowment is available at http://www.calendow.org.
The Song-Brown Program was established in 1973 by the state legislature to assure access to primary-care services for Californians. UC Davis has been one of the largest recipients of the funding, with a total amount exceeding $5 million. More information about the program is available at http://www.oshpd.ca.gov/HWDD/Song_Brown_Prog.html.
About the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis
The Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis was established in March 2009 through a $100 million commitment from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the nation's largest grant for nursing education. The vision of the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing is to transform health care through nursing education and research. The school's first programs, doctoral and master's degrees, opened in fall 2010. Master's degree programs for nurse practitioners and physician assistants, with a focus on preparing primary-care providers for rural and underserved communities, opened in summer 2013. The Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing is part of UC Davis Health System, an integrated, academic health system encompassing the UC Davis School of Medicine, UC Davis Medical Center and the UC Davis Medical Group. For more information, visit https://nursing.ucdavis.edu.


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Plant Healer Interview:
Sean Donahue
In dialogue with Jesse Wolf Hardin
Sean Donahue has been a devoted component of Plant Healer and the Medicine of The People/TWH conference since the very beginning, and will be bringing some compelling classes to the upcoming event in Arizona, Sept. 13th through 16th.
Plant Healer Magazine: Welcome, it's good to be including you here.While we are happy to feature interviews with the most famous of contemporary herbalists, it is also a special commitment of ours to showcase, support and further the work of both younger generations of herbalists and those still less widely known. We applaud all who are making their mark in their own personal style, putting their heart into this work with scant income and very little recognition., and especially those like Sean who prove steadily deepening, expanding and improving… and for a larger, all connecting purpose. You will surely find worth reading our conversation on the present and future of herbalism, Sean's own healing metamorphosis and the incontrovertible magic of planet and plants.
Healing yourself has been core to your work helping with the healing of others. Was asthma the first big health challenge? How did your conditions advance your thinking about healing, what tangible changes came from it, and how has it informed and influenced your herbal practice and teaching?
Sean Donahue: Asthma and depression were deeply intertwined in my life from the time I was a baby. And connected with my asthma was the story told in both subtle and direct ways by doctors over and over again that my body was broken and there was little that could be done about it — a story I was parroting by the time I was 2. Overlaid with Catholic theology, (which I took deeper and further than the rest of my family because it was the first spiritual outlet I knew), that since that my health problems were intractable led to a pretty profound alienation from my body. And that in turn led me to neglect my health in ways that had me well on my way to heart disease and diabetes by the time I was in my thirties.
When I first encountered Elecampane in January of 2007, that all began to change for me. When I tasted the first few drops of the tincture, I understood innately that instead of just changing a physical process in my respiratory tract, the plant was awakening my body's knowledge of its own ability to heal. As the Elecampane stimulated my lungs to clear the mucus that was filling them, I felt myself breathing in a new way, and felt myself letting the world in in a new way. And from that experience, I began to relate to my body differently. After years of trying unsuccessfully to punish and shame my body into health, I began to love and celebrate my body into health, taking new pleasure in eating and moving in ways that made me feel stronger and more vital. My body, my sense of self, my life shifted shape.
And this is where I think where some of the most profound healing occurs — in the way plant medicines can shift our experience of our bodies and our sense of our selves in relation to the world around us. In bringing people and plants in contact with each other, what I am doing is facilitating a conversation between two living beings, and what's communicated in that conversation is information about ways of being embodied in this world. Some of that information comes in the form of phytochemicals that signal changes in the body at a physical level. Some of it is communicated in ways we can't yet describe in mechanistic terms. But either way its not a passive process, its a process of stirring and guiding and supporting the body's own capacity to heal.
Plant Healer: What are your fears, how have they affected you and how have you dealt with them?
Sean: My deepest and most abiding fear has been that there is some part of me that can't be trusted with power, that if I allow myself to be strong, to be confident, to speak my truth, to bring forward all of who I am, that through accident or ignorance or temptation I'll somehow bring hurt to the people I love. That fear has made me hold back a lot in my life. But I've dealt with it by learning to live more and more from my heart. I trust my heart to temper and guide me. And knowing that, I can trust myself to be in the world more fully than I have ever allowed myself to be before.
Plant Healer: How can someone use fears to motivate rather than immobilize themselves?
Sean: We learn to be afraid because we are trying to avoid repeating situations where we can get hurt. I think its important first of all to have compassion for ourselves in that. To recognize that the parts of us that are afraid are trying to protect us, but that sometimes they do that in a misdirected way, responding to the visceral memory a situation evokes rather than to what's actually happening.
So I think we can work to dismantle the stories around those fears and to bring up and release the emotions tied up with them. Which is delicate work, because it makes the rawest parts of us vulnerable. And it requires a part of ourselves that is ready to be the watcher and the guardian for those parts that were hurt.
And in that process, those parts of ourselves can become more fully integrated, can move into the here and now, and can stop locking away parts of our power from ourselves.
Plant Healer: What are your feelings about herbal education, schools, mentors and teaching ourselves?
Sean: I think there is tremendous value in listening deeply and carefully to the experience of those who have gone before us and those who have been doing this work for a long time — whether its through reading, through formal classwork, through apprenticeship, through conversation, or just through watching the ways they work with plants and people. But ultimately, we all have to make sense of the information out there on our own terms, and ground it in our own direct experience. I believe in ways of teaching that help people develop their own frameworks for understanding and working with plants and people, rather than repeating received knowledge and replicating preset protocols.
Plant Healer: You've talked a lot elsewhere about the influence Stephen Buhner has been on your thinking and practice, so tell us who else (contemporary or historical) has been an inspiration, reality check or guiding light… and why.
Sean: Matthew Wood's re-discovery and re-articulation of the energetics of traditional western herbalism is absolutely brilliant, and has deeply influenced my own understanding of the ways plants work in people's bodies. And he relates to plants in the same kind of intuitive, poetic way that I do, but brings an incredible precision to that approach that I admire tremendously.
Margi Flint has taught me a tremendous amount about sitting with clients, reading their bodies, hearing their stories, and asking the right questions.
Through them both, I feel the influence and presence of William LeSassier, whom I never had the chance to meet.
I love the ways jim mcdonald conveys complex ideas about energetics in really clear and simple ways. And just knowing that there is an herbalist as original and amazing as he is who has carved out his own path has helped me overcome some of my insecurities about my own lack of formal training.
Kiva's devotion to bioregional herbalism has greatly inspired me to look at the plants growing around me in new ways.
During the time I worked and taught with Darcey Blue French, I learned a tremendous amount from her about nutrition, food sensitivities, and energetics that changed the way I practice (and the way I eat!)
The herbalists I met in Boston when I was first beginning to see clients — Melanie Rose Flach, Tommy Priester, Madelon Hope, Katja Swift, Iris Weaver — were tremendously gracious in sharing their insights about working with people and plants. Tommy taught me a tremendous amount about coming from the heart and working to help people realize their own innate goodness and perfection. Katja is someone I know I can always turn to for help in seeing a situation from another angle.
Mischa Schuler introduced me to the plants and to my own ability to listen to them.
I look a lot to the great herbalists of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries — Cook, Lyle, Ellingwood, Thurston, Scudder for the insights they gained working with people and plants every day for decades. And I am grateful to people like Henriette Kress and Paul Begner and Jonathan Treaure for making their work easilly accessible online.
My magical training has been a tremendous influence on my work as an herbalist as well. My teacher, Karina BlackHeart, has continually challenged me and supported me in releasing guilt and shame and fear and embracing love as I stand more and more in the fullness of who I am. She is an inspiration and guide to me as I work with other people to stand in the fullness of who they are. Reaching back through her lineage, I draw on inspiration from Victor Anderson, praying as he did to know myself in all my parts, and on Cora Anderson, who prayed for wild innocence. And through their lineage to generations upon generations of witches and faery doctors and cunning folk stretching back before the beginning of recorded history.
Plant Healer: You've also said that the plants themselves are the most important teachers we can have. Please explain to folks what you mean.
Sean: We share common ancestors with plants, and our biology, our chemistry, even our structure of consciousness are similar. They are sentient beings that share the experience of being embodied on this planet. When we make medicine with them, we are not working with some inert substance, we are connecting with something alive. What that encounter will bring will be different for each person. Other people`s experiences can serve as a guide for what to expect and as a reality check to help us differentiate intuition from wishful thinking, but each of us develop our own relationships with the plants we work with. And those relationships are richest and deepest when we get to know each plant on its own terms.
Plant Healer: What have been your most exciting discoveries, amalgamations or realizations since getting into herbs?
Sean: Realizing that the idea that the world is alive and speaking to us is not a metaphor, but a literal reality, and that embracing that reality changes everything about the way you live.
Plant Healer: With the imposition of one official regulation or piece of legislation after another, it seems that the government is slowly making it harder for small businesses to produce and sell herbal preparations, effectively handing the production of plant based medicine over to the same kinds of giant corporations making a mint on pharmaceuticals. And this has been just as true under a Democratic administration as under a Republican. Is it burying our head in the sand, to downplay this threat or even inevitability?
Sean: Its certainly frightening and sad watching small medicine makers shutting down their operations because of the costs and logistics of complying with regulations that don`t really have anything to do with the safety of the medicines they make. The recent FDA threats against Meadowsweet Herbs in Montana were a real wake up call to the herbal community signalling that we may be entering into a period of time when the government does make it a lot harder to buy and sell herbs.
But I also think that its important for us to remember that while many commercial medicine makers provide a great service to our community, and making medicine is one way a lot of herbalists make ends meet financially, herbalism and the herbal products industry are not one and the same. Herbal commerce can be regulated or even shut down by governments. But governments have never succeeded in regulating the relationships between people and the plants around them. Our community will respond and adapt to what`s happening. And in part that will likely mean more herbalists working with the plants of their own bioregion and teaching people how to make their own medicines instead of selling products to them. And that could be a very good thing for both people and plants.
Plant Healer: How would you suggest that we can oppose, affect or mitigate such regulations and policies?
Sean: Honestly I am not sure we can. I am all in favor of people putting energy into grassroots lobbying and public education campaigns, and I think they do have a chance of working. But I also think that much of what is most powerful and transformational about herbalism also makes it inherently subversive, and that we can`t realistically expect the state to legitimize what we do.
Plant Healer: I agree. As in my days as an organizer of Earth First!, I see education as important though never the factor that results in tree saving choice, resistance to injustice and repression as an essential response for any aware and honorable person, and value the effects on us personally even if we are not effective politically.
On the other hand, I agree that it is a lesson of nature and thus plants, that we need to be who we really are, do what we feel called to do, in spite of any repressive regulation or abolition.
So tell me, if we prove unable to prevent such laws, could it be a viable strategy for small producers just to hope they are under the radar and won't be penalized? Or will it become a matter of the herbalist on the block providing only for immediate family and neighbors, in the healing field's version of a revolution's "autonomous cells of resistance"? Any insight or suggestions?
Sean: I think people will get creative, find new ways of sharing knowledge and sharing medicine — some will do business by word of mouth in their own communities, some will teach people to make their own medicine, some will try to stay under the radar, some will openly flout the law. And I think every one of those approaches is legitimate. It's a highly personal decision.
Plant Healer: I couldn't resist making a motto for the Medicine of The People/TWH conference "If herbs are outlawed, only outlaws will administer herbs." Shouldn't we all be asking ourselves at what point we would surrender our practice or medicine making, and at what point we might prefer to be lawbreakers? Where is your personal line?
Sean: For me personally, the law doesn`t really come into the equation. My commitments are to the plants and the people I work with.
Plant Healer: Good enough.
What do you think are the essential or deeper problems with the institutionalizing and "legitimizing" of herbalism?
Sean: I think there is a great danger that in creating one set of standards that everyone tries to adhere to that we will increasingly favor the repetition of a body of received knowledge and the adherence to a fixed set of protocols over personal engagement with plants and people, sacrificing creativity and diversity,
Plant Healer: Is the field of herbalism in danger of severely contracting if we aren't legitimized? Do you think that one is more acceptable or bearable than the other, and why?
Sean: I don`t see a need for us to be "legitimized." If we live and work with integrity, if we practice our craft with skill and precision, if we treat people with compassion and respect and help them to heal, our work will speak for itself. That`s the only form of legitimacy I think we need. And that has to be built and earned as we go, it can be conveyed by any institution.
Plant Healer: What is your personal definition of "folk herbalism" and what is important about this concept and term?
Sean: To me, Folk Herbalism is the living tradition of working with plants to transform lives through medicine and magic. We take in the knowledge and stories and practices of the people who came before us, combine them with our own experiences and perspectives, and create something that`s relevant to our own time and place. Its an ecological model of creating and passing down knowledge.
Plant Healer: It has the potential to be potentially a powerful vehicle for social as well as environmental change. Talk about this.
Sean: Folk herbalism puts knowledge and medicine into the hands of the communities that use them, rather than making them the province of a limited class of officially recognized experts. It allows people to be full and active participants in their own healthcare. And once people reclaim that kind of authority in one are of their lives, they begin to see the possibilities for liberation and transformation in other realms.
Plant Healer: Most groups or communities of purpose have some kind of mutually agreed upon mission statement, as well as a mostly agreed upon code of ethics. First, how might you describe the shared mission of the herbalist or folk herbalist of today?
Sean: Our work is to support people, communities, and ecosystems in their own natural healing processes.
Plant Healer: Well said.
Plant Healer: What are some of your favorite plants to work with, and why?
Sean: The plants I end up being called to work with tend to be unusual and often somewhat forbidding — Devil's Club, Skunk Cabbage, Ghost Pipe. They tend to inhabit spaces between worlds – swampy places where earth and water meet in the case of Devil's Club and Skunk Cabbage, the understory of the forest and the world beneath the forest floor in the case of Ghost Pipe. The process of getting to know each of these herbs well feels like a many layered initiation. Its not that I seek out unusual plants, its just they are the ones that end up calling me.
Plant Healer: You have been writing for Plant Healer Magazine since its inception. What drew you to it, what makes it different from all that preceded it? And what do you believe to be Plant Healer's distinctive role in or gift to the community?
Sean: Plant Healer is one of the few places where I see science and tradition given equal weight and equal scutiny. And it brings together an amazing community of voices — the best I have seen assembled in print anywhere.
Plant Healer: At this year's Traditions In Western Herbalism Conference, you'll be teaching a class on psychedelic or entheogenic plants, as well as herbal first aid to help folks "come down" from an anxious or disconnected trip. Since at least the 1920s, Westerners have been aware of and exploring the potential therapeutic benefits of Psilocybin mushrooms, Datura, Peyote and so on, including my friend Ralph Metzner who worked with Timothy Leary at Harvard. What do you find entheogens can reveal for someone, and how can this aid the emotional and physical healing process?
Sean: Enthogens can help people break free from fixed patterns of thought and emotion — which, in the right conditions, can play a significant role in helping people break free from addictions and heal from trauma. Dr. Gabor Mate is doing amazing work along those lines in Vancouver . . . Of course great care is required here, because putting a person into a disorienting situation can also trigger old traumas or create new ones.
Apart from a therapeutic context, entheogens can help people experience the multiplicity of realities and worlds. And many an herbalist has first discovered the consciousness of plants and fungi when ingesting plants and fungi that alter human consciousness.
Plant Healer: Speak about the mystery and true magic of medicinal plants… and why both mystery and mythos are vital to our experience and evocation of the craft.
Sean: Plants are conscious beings with biologies remarkably similar to our own who live outside the framework of human culture, human judgements, and human assumptions — and so they can help us discover ways of being in this world that are otherwise beyond our imaginations. Poetry and ritual and magic help us connect with plants at a level beneath and beyond linear thinking, allowing them to work their magic at a deeper level. Myths and folktales and folkways contain traces of the history of the ways people and plants have interacted and Waymarkers that show where the road veers off into the crooked path that leads into the wilderness of the heart.
Sean: I see an herbal community where phytochemists and Hoodoo root doctors and Latina curendaras and western herbalists and plant magicians share knowledge and discoveries, recognizing that we are working with the same medicine even if we are using different languages and metaphors and frames. I see people paying careful attention to the health of plant communities, and harvesting only what they need, whether or not a plant is on a list of endangered or threatened species (though I greatly appreciate what United Plant Savers does to identify the most at risk plants.) And I see people developing practices grounded in work with the medicine that grows around them. Plant Healer and the Medicine Of The People (Traditions in Western Herbalism Conference) are already doing a tremendous amount to make this vision a reality. And I think we can each contribute to it by teaching and practicing and living in ways that honor and respond to the living communities, human and ecological, that we are part of.
Plant Healer: You are not in herbalism just to study, teach or serve. Tell us what you love most about herbalism and what you do in particular… what and why you love so much.
Sean: Connecting with plants reminds me that the world is alive and makes me fall in love with its beauty over and over again.
Plant Healer: And there may well be some readers who never attend a class of yours, and perhaps never see another word written by you. If so, what final words would you like to leave them with?
Sean: Plants and people reveal their secrets over time, when met with patience and sincerity. Remember that, and the world will teach you all you need to know.
Plant Healer: We sure appreciate your devotion to this work, and to the conference and Plant Healer. We hope you feel the support.
Sean: I am deeply grateful for your support and for the amazing community you have created.
Sean will be teaching in a few weeks time in Arizona, and you can meet him there. Go to: www.TraditionsInWesternHerbalism.org
For more of Sean's work and vision, please go to: www.medicineandmagic.com
You can read the much longer interview with Sean in an upcoming issue of Plant Healer. You can subscribe at: www.PlantHealerMagazine.com
5 Responses to "Plant Healer Magazine Interview with Sean Donahue"
Oh, how I love these interviews! As someone just beginning her path into herbalism and still working on my own personal healing, these interviews both inspire and unite. Thought-provoking and personal questions, humor and the amazing humanity and honesty offered in response.
Wonderful interview with a very unique and gifted teacher!
This interview really moved and inspired me so very deeply. Thank you so much for the work you do.
ach! how very inspiring. thanks!


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Chronic absenteeism, defined as students missing more than 10 percent of school (18 days) a year, is a major problem across the country as well as right here in Fall River. The rate of chronic absenteeism in Fall River for the 2012-2013 school year was an alarming 30 percent. On average, almost 1 out of every 3 Fall River students was absent 18 days or more last year.
Chronic absenteeism, defined as students missing more than 10 percent of school (18 days) a year, is a major problem across the country as well as right here in Fall River. The rate of chronic absenteeism in Fall River for the 2012-2013 school year was an alarming 30 percent. On average, almost 1 out of every 3 Fall River students was absent 18 days or more last year. That's more than three weeks of lost learning last year alone! Students who are chronically absent, year after year, continue to fall further and further behind in their studies, will more than likely never catch up, and far too often end up dropping out of school.
Even more disturbing is the fact that a large percentage of Fall River students who continue to be chronically absent are our very youngest learners, those in kindergarten through grade two. Despite the perception that activities in these early grades center on crayons, crafts and games, it is in the early grades that children develop fundamental study habits, begin to read, build math skills, learn to interact appropriately and become engaged in education.
Although the rate of absenteeism decreases somewhat as students get older, research has shown that chronic absence in kindergarten and first grade leads to lower performance in third grade, which in turn is tied to decreased attendance in sixth and ninth grade, and an increased risk of a high school student eventually dropping out. For each of the past three years, ninth-grade students in Fall River were absent an average of 20 days — a full month of schooling! By the time a child who misses 18 days or more of school every year reaches high school, he/she will have lost almost a full year of education, time pretty impossible to recoup.
Addressing absenteeism requires a community effort. It cannot be the sole responsibility of schools. With that in mind, Mayor Will Flanagan and Superintendent of Schools Meg Mayo-Brown have organized a community task force to tackle chronic absenteeism in Fall River. This task force is comprised of over 20 representatives of local agencies and organizations as well as a number of school officials and administrators. The group has been meeting monthly to assess various initiatives being experimentally implemented in our city schools, as well as to research and develop other innovative solutions to the problem.
To further facilitate the process, schools are currently surveying students, family adults and staff to determine some of the root causes for poor attendance which, in turn, will help shed light on even more potential solutions. In addition, to help foster better communication between schools and family adults, the task force is developing fliers and brochures highlighting the importance of regular attendance as well as clarifying the difference between excused and unexcused absences. The value of education, especially in those early grades, needs to be constantly and consistently communicated with families, any and every way possible. Accordingly, improving school-parent communication has become a high priority for the task force.
All of these efforts will require lots of hard work and commitment from school staff, family adults and the community which, over time, will not only help our young people grow into productive, resourceful citizens, but will benefit Fall River in anticipation of even more future high school graduates armed with great pride and much optimism.
The publication of this column is supported by EdUp, a project of the Greater Fall River Area Chamber of Commerce's Education Committee. EdUp strives to grow individual and community aspirations through a sustained and multidimensional outreach to students, parents, and other stakeholders throughout Greater Fall River, and by demonstrating the power of education to change the future of the region and each of our roles in it.
Barbara Allard is chair of the Mayor's Task Force on Attendance.


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CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela's bespectacled and shaven-headed information minister stands solemnly at the microphone to impart the latest news on President Hugo Chavez's cancer.
For a couple of minutes, vague descriptions of the patient's "stability", "progressive tendency" or "complications" waft across TV and radio airwaves into millions of Venezuelan homes.
"You see, he's recovering," says one Venezuelan man in a group watching live one of Information Minister Ernesto Villegas' medical updates, almost a national ritual since the socialist Chavez disappeared from public view six weeks ago.
"Rubbish - it's obvious he's dying," retorts another as the friends draw varying conclusions from the confusing report.
The handling of information over Chavez's condition has become as controversial as the man himself, and every official word is picked over ad nauseam in Venezuela's own version of the "Kremlinology" analysis of political minutiae in the former Soviet Union.
Since Chavez underwent his fourth and most serious cancer operation in Cuba on December 11, he has not spoken a word in public. The government has tried to fill the information void with regular communiques - nearly 30 so far - by Villegas and Vice-President Nicolas Maduro.
They are often tricky to interpret.
"President Chavez's state of health continues to be delicate, presenting complications that are being attended in a process not exempt of risk," read one statement just after Christmas, when there were rumors Chavez was on life support.
Some of the most specific have referred to Chavez's "breathing insufficiency" due to a lung infection. The term covers a large gamut of possibilities in Venezuelans' minds.
"The patient is in a state of progressive and favorable recovery of the normal values of his vital signs," said another communique, begging the question of what state he was in prior to that apparent upturn.
While the words "stability" and "progressive" have cropped up over and over, the first appearance of the word "stationary" in a January 7 communique puzzled some.
"The president finds himself in a stationary situation in relation to what was described in the most recent report," it read. "Treatment is being applied permanently and rigorously, and the patient is assimilating it," it added, without a word on what that treatment consisted of.
On Christmas Eve, mixing their messages, Villegas said Chavez was in "absolute rest" while Maduro assured Venezuelans a few hours later he was exercising. Of late, the communiques have become more optimistic about Chavez's "favorable evolution" and "new phase" with officials hinting at a possible homecoming.
Such language, critics say, is reminiscent of the confusion over various Russian leaders' illnesses, from Bolshevik revolutionary Vladimir Lenin's death in 1924 to a stream of others during the Cold War, or the secrecy-shrouded demise of former Spanish dictator Francisco Franco in 1975.
There is a parallel, too, with the official reticence in Cuba over the health problems of revolutionary leader Fidel Castro, who mentored Chavez and is his closest ally.
By contrast, other Latin American leaders who have in recent years suffered cancer - including from Brazil, Colombia and Paraguay - have authorized doctors to release full details.
At first, after being diagnosed with cancer in the pelvic region in mid-2011, Chavez was his own spokesman. His emotive personality always came through, fighting back tears when explaining the illness then brimming with joy at declarations of recovery that later proved wrong.
Yet throughout the speeches, there were few hard medical details, rather descriptions of a "baseball-sized tumor" or the "miracle" of recovery, and musings on his journey to the "abyss" laced with quotes from German thinker Friedrich Nietzsche.
Many Venezuelans have been going to unofficial internet "sources" to hunt for more about Chavez's health.
Most high-profile are Nelson Bocaranda, an opposition journalist and columnist with more than a million Twitter followers, and Jose Rafael Marquina, a Venezuelan doctor in Miami whose tweets alternate between complex medical terminology and caustic political attacks.
Both men claim close sources among the Cuban, Venezuelan and Brazilian doctors treating Chavez. But plenty of would-be Internet oracles have got it wrong - various forecasts and talk of Chavez's death have been premature and embarrassing.
Amid the barrage of opposition complaints over secrecy, the government says it has never been more open and lashes out at ill-intentioned "necrophiliacs" demanding more.
Opposition leaders want an independent medical committee to travel to Havana to see if Chavez is fit to continue in power. If not, he would have to hand over to a caretaker president prior to a new election as mandated by the constitution.
One group of humorists sought to lighten the grave national mood - and lampoon officials - with a merciless take on the Villegas-Maduro information double act.
"Commander Chavez is stable in that situation I won't tell you about," its spoof Villegas said. "He requires unspecified treatment to calm supposed problems that could affect him, or not, in the place of the illness, I mean, that thing."
They were no less biting with Maduro, putting into his mouth a phrase reminiscent of English writer George Orwell's famous send-up of totalitarianism in the book 'Animal Farm': "The president is stable, some days less stable, some days more stable, and sometimes in a state of excessive stability."
Such mockery infuriates Chavez's allies, who say opponents and foreign media are showing glee at his suffering.
One pro-government analyst acknowledged officials had been less than forthcoming, but said they were entitled to be given the "warlike" atmosphere in Venezuela, where opposition leaders spent years trying to force Chavez from office through national strikes, a failed coup and an oil industry shutdown.
Villegas himself described the mood as similar to the brief putsch against Chavez in April of 2002, when foes exulted while supporters trusted in the president's return.
"No one believed it and they said we were liars," said Villegas, who worked at state TV at the time. "Then he came back, took out his crucifix and spoke. It can happen just like that again you know, friends."
(Additional reporting by Deisy Buitrago and Diego Ore, Editing by Brian Ellsworth, Kieran Murray and Claudia Parsons)


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How NH allowed gaming to growStaff Report
February 08. 2014 10:19PM
As lawmakers debate the merits and pitfalls of bringing casino gambling to New Hampshire, the reality is that casino-style games of chance are already played nightly across the state.
On any given night, in small casinos from the Lakes Region to the Seacoast, you can play poker, roulette, craps or blackjack - not to mention bingo and Lucky 7 tickets.The difference is that, by state law, those games of chance are run on behalf of hundreds of New Hampshire charities, which get 35 percent of the gross revenues after prizes. That's why it's always been called "charitable gaming" here.
The charities that rely on games of chance for raising critical funds include groups that support the arts, social services, animals, law enforcement, youth sports, veterans and even religious organizations.
But gone are the days of Monte Carlo nights run at the local veterans hall. Today's games of chance are run by professional game operators in nine licensed gaming facilities in Belmont, Hampton, Hampton Falls, Keene, Manchester, Milford, Rochester, Salem and Seabrook.
According to Paul Kelley, director of the state Racing and Charitable Gaming Commission, charitable gaming raised more than $13.1 million for charities in the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2013. That includes more than $4.6 million from games of chance
According to the RCGC's 2013 annual report, those proceeds were driven by $75.6 million in betting on games of chance, $58.3 million in sale of Lucky-7 tickets, and bingo sales of $17.1 million.That gambling is already going on legally in New Hampshire.
Still, those involved in such businesses say there's a big difference between the nine "licensed gaming facilities" the state currently has and the grand casino envisioned by expanded gambling proponents.
The main distinction is that the current halls don't allow slot machines, the biggest moneymaker for the big casinos. And the state-mandated betting limits - $4 on table games - are a fraction of the big stakes wagered in Las Vegas, Atlantic City or Foxwoods.
If you visited one of the current gaming facilities, Kelley said, "you would see no slot machines. You would see no mini-skirted girls running around with cocktails."
"You will see hours that are much more curtailed ... and you'll see very low bets."
Attorney General Joseph Foster last week told lawmakers at a hearing on a House measure that would allow one high-end "destination" casino that the gaming New Hampshire has currently is "the minor leagues - maybe even the Little Leagues compared to what we have in this bill."
Kelley said the biggest changes in charitable gaming came in 2006, when the Legislature moved the authority for administering and regulating the games from the local chiefs of police and the Attorney General's Office to what was then the state pari-mutuel commission (now the Racing and Charitable Gaming Commission).
That same year, lawmakers also allowed charities, which had complained they were having trouble finding volunteers to run their "Monte Carlo" nights, to hire professional "primary game operators," Kelley said.
"That created a bit of a cottage industry, but it also allowed a lot more charities to participate in fundraising," he said.
So now, he said, "Instead of a charity looking to hire a professional, it's a professional looking for charities. The more charities the professionals have, the more money they make."
By law, the charities get 35 percent of the gross revenues after prizes.
The state also gets its share: 10 percent of the "rake" in games where tokens have monetary value and 3 percent in games where the tokens have no value, Kelley said.
In the fiscal year that ended last June 30, the state saw $1.6 million in revenue from games of chance (and about the same from bingo and lucky 7 sales). After deducting expenses, the state put $1.4 million in the education trust fund from games of chance. Over the years, the Legislature has amended charitable gaming laws many times.
The issue is back this year in House Bill 1630, which overhauls RSA 287-D, the games of chance law. The bill would bar game operators from charging the charities fees with the exception of rent. And it tightens regulation of so-called "redemption slot machines."
It also would set up a study commission "to determine the most appropriate system for sustaining ongoing resources to charities from gaming," including a determination of whether the continued existence of such games "is in the best interest of the citizens of New Hampshire."
Kelley, who said he considers himself the "advocate general" for the charities, said he's opposed to game operators charging any fees at all. "I think the charities should make 35 percent. That should be sacrosanct."
So how does the state make sure the charities are really getting 35 percent of the night's take? "It's very challenging because it's an all-cash industry," Kelley acknowledged.
But he said there are safeguards built into the games of chance law, including mandatory security cameras trained on all the tables and anywhere cash is handled; a $300,000 bond paid by each primary game operator; and state auditors who do field inspections and "follow the money."
Manchester developer Dick Anagnost owns licensed gaming facilities in Manchester and Keene. He started the latter operation when the dog track was still running in neighboring Hinsdale and moved it to a Keene hotel after the track closed in 2008.
And he took over the former Manchester Bingo Center operation in a former cinema complex he owns off South Willow Street, when the former tenant went out of business.
Anagnost said his company "pioneered" games of chance at the Manchester hall, under the name Granite State Poker Alliance. "It expanded the customer base and expanded the number of charities we could serve, and it was profitable at that time," he said.
After the state started taxing games of chance and guaranteed the charities 35 percent of gross revenues, he said, "the profitability really diminished, like 85 to 90 percent."
But he's stayed in the business, he said, because of the 200 to 300 charities that depend on the revenue from both games of chance and bingo/lucky 7 ticket sales. With state budget cuts, he said, many nonprofit organizations that used to get funding from the state have come to depend even more on charitable gaming.
He said his Anagnost companies give "significantly more" to charities than he makes through bingo and games of chance.
"The only reason I continue to do this is, what would happen to all the charities that I serve when I stop?" he asked. "That's truly why we do it."
Anagnost's two casinos run games for about 150 charities a year; he has a waiting list and rotates those into the mix. But he said most players probably couldn't tell you which charity is getting the proceeds on any given night.
"They're coming to play poker, not coming to support the charities."
He said getting a high-end casino in southern New Hampshire would put small operations like his out of business and hurt charities that rely on them.
"Charitable gaming as we know it would go out of business," he said.
Public Safety Business Human Interest Lifestyle Politics Social issues Top Section Stories Business Headlines


text:
Charlotte Burkeman, the EMEA head of prime brokerage at Bank of America Merrill Lynch , is leaving the firm, two sources told Reuters on Tuesday.
London-based Burkeman, 34, was a former prime brokerage executive at UBS and a former associate at Goldman Sachs and is considered one of the industry's young rising stars.
Continue Reading Below
One of the sources, who is close to the bank, told Reuters that she is leaving for personal reasons.
Bank of America Merrill Lynch declined to comment.
Prime brokers provide services such as stock lending and finance to hedge funds. The sector has come under pressure in recent years as funds have taken smaller-sized bets.
(Reporting by Laurence Fletcher; editing by Sinead Cruise)


text:
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — The developer of a New Jersey megamall project is suing the New York Jets and the New York Giants.
Triple Five says the NFL teams are engaging in a "campaign to delay, thwart and ultimately prevent" the American Dream project from being built at the Meadowlands sports complex. The company says the teams are preventing it from getting permits to build on the land.
Triple Five wants the court to dismiss a lawsuit the teams filed against it in May. The teams' suit seeks to stop Triple Five from expanding the $3 billion project, which is across a highway from MetLife Stadium.
Triple Five says the teams are trying to keep a monopoly on the land and revenue around the sports complex.
The teams say they're "disappointed" and plan to "vigorously pursue" their court action.


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Upcoming 2018 Holiday Closures: In observance of Thanksgiving, we will be closed Thursday, November 22nd and Friday, November 23rd. In observance of Christmas, we will be closed Friday December 21st through Wednesday December 26th. We will return to regular business hours immediately following any listed holiday. We apologize for any delay in processing your order.
Customer Reviews
I call this my cajun cooking bible. I\'ve used this book since the 80s and it is priceless to me. It may need a rubber band soon to keep it together but mty notes and comments in it I hope to pass to my children. This cookbook has made me a celebrity with friends when time to cook. Thanks paul!
Patrick cahill, Jan 2nd 2015
I received this book in 1987 as a gift and it has been a staple in my repertoire ever since...it is my "go to" cookbook for the best banana bread recipe I've ever tasted! (Made it once again today as a matter of fact!)
Ann Roseberry, Jul 19th 2013
I purchased this book when it first came out and it has been an inspiring and entertaining event for my whole family this past 25 years. Each of my children get a copy for themselves on their 21st Birthday and they have all appreciated and used this wonderful example of traditional home cooking
wes, Oct 29th 2012
Chef Paul is so generous to give us his secrets to perfect Louisiana Cuisine! This is the best cookbook on my shelf.
Doctor Steve, Jan 28th 2012
The date in my well used edition says 1984. I have made many of the recipes several times, and have several that I make in mass quantity and then keep stocked in a freezer. The techniques for layering flavors and textures which I learned form these pages, I now use in modifying other foods. If you want to impress someone who thinks they know how to eat well, make them Seafood File\' Gumbo, Chicken and Tasso Jambalaya, or even Cajun Meatloaf!
Tim from Long Island, NY, Dec 15th 2011
I bought this book in Houston Texas in 1984 after visiting the restaurant in 1982. Never forgot how great the food was. This is with out a doubt one of the best if not the best cook book for the amature chef who loves to cook for frinds and family. Since I am not a pro chef I can't speak on those terms but I would think that this book is owned by alot of pro chefs.
Mustgrill, Jul 17th 2011
This is a wonderful cookbook. Every recipe I've tried has been spectacular and the instructions are so well written. I love this cookbook especially the Barbeque Shrimp recipe!!! Thanks so much.........
Connie, Jun 6th 2011
My wifr and I bought this book after having dinner at Kay Pauls about twentyfive years ago. It is the Holy Grail of Cajun Cooking.We purchased two other of his books but always return to this one. The recipes and blends take a little effort but the end result is pure Cajun. Love It!!
Ron, May 16th 2011
I hail from Mobile, AL on the Gulf Coast. My wife and I moved to Japan and, while they do eat a lot of seafood, I knew I wouldn\'t be able to get the delicious dishes that the Gulf Coast has to offer. So I knew I\'d better pick this up along with a few other Cajun, Creole, and Southern-style cookbooks. Of all the ones I purchased, this is the one that I refer to the most. It\'s my kitchen bible. As a not-so-experienced cook, this book was also useful as a book to refer to for cooking education. Thank you Chef Paul!
Josh, Jan 14th 2011
I have enjoyed eating at your restaurant so much...can't wait to replicate some of the recipes in my home!! Thank you.
Trissie, Apr 5th 2010
This is the greatest cookbook of Cajun food ever! Not only did it spark an interest and an unknown passion for cooking, but it also brought me back in time to the amazing summers that I spent with my grandparents in Louisiana. This book alows you to bring the woundedful dishes that I once believed you could only find in south Louisiana, to your table anywhere in the world.
Jimmy, Mar 1st 2010
I received this cookbook as a wedding gift in 1986 and I still only use Chef Paul\'s recipe for banana bread that is found in this book. Almost 23 years of Good Living, Good Loving and Good Cooking! Thanks, Chef!
Kim , Oct 7th 2009
I received this cookbook as a wedding gift in 1986 and I still only use Chef Paul's recipe for banana bread that is found in this book. Almost 23 years of Good Living, Good Loving and Good Cooking! Thanks, Chef!
Kim , Oct 7th 2009
This is absolutely the best cookbook EVER!!!! My cookbook has fallen completely apart because I have used it soooooo much! I love how the flavor in each bite changes as you chew your food. Add a little spice to your life and cook just one of his recipes and you'll be hooked!
Karen, Jul 13th 2009
This is the best cookbook I have ever read. It teaches a person not only the recipies, but the techniques of this style of cooking. The multi stage seasoning of the dishes gives them a depth of flavor I have never experienced before. A must have for the Cajun or Creole food lover. Thank you Paul!!!!
Doug, Feb 23rd 2009
Keep it hot!
Rich, Feb 21st 2009
This is the best cook book I own. I received this back in 1985 and it is well worn. Chef's recipes have become a staple in my familys favorite meals. Thank you Chef Paul for all the love we taste in your food. No kitchen or chef is complete without this ground breaking fabulous cook book.
Julie, Feb 19th 2009
This is makes up the core of my cooking library.
Max, Nov 21st 2008
This may be one of the greatest cookbooks ever. Every dish is a taste treat. You can learn how to cook by useing this wonderful book. I given this book as a gift for years and everyone always comes back to say what a fantastic cook book this is. Chef Paul you\'r the BEST! Max
Michael, Oct 26th 2008
A great addition to any kitchen library! The book not only adds "Louisiana Cooking" to your table, it lends the techniques learned in this book to better the rest of your culinary creations. This book is a must for any cook. I couldn't be without iy!
Tom, Oct 26th 2008


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Bob Woodword reports that Gerald Ford told him in July 2004 that he didn't think he would have gone to war in Iraq and that he would have looked harder at other options, such as sanctions. Ford's view was probably in accord with that a solid majority of 90 year-olds. Most men I've known became less favorably inclined towards war as they become very old. Of course, by now Ford's view is shared by most Americans and even in July 2004 it was shared by a great many.
It's another question, though, what a President Ford, faced with the intelligence regarding WMD available to President Bush in early 2003 and responsible for protecting the country from further attack, would have done. We know that two of his proteges, Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld, were prime advocates of toppling Saddam Hussein. And it's difficult to believe that a President Ford would have held out much hope for sanctions, the efficacy of which had been thoroughly discredited over the course of more than a decade.
Indeed, as reported by Woodward at least, Ford's views seem rather odd. At a time when no WMD were likely to be found, he was saying we should have used sanctions to pressure Saddam to get rid of his WMD. The better argument was that we should have given the inspectors more time to see whether there were WMD. In sum, Ford does not seem to have been thinking very clearly about the issue.
Ford told Woodward not to publish his views until after his death, but apparently said once he died they could be published at any time. It's easy to understand the first part of the decision — why would Ford, at his age, want to participate in a contentious policy debate? But Ford has been criticized for not telling Woodward to wait until, say, the end of the Bush administration to reveal his views. Either Ford felt strongly enough about the matter that he wanted his opinion in the mix sooner rather than later (but not so soon that he would become embroiled in the debate) or he didn't think things through very carefully.
JOHN adds: I would group this together with the Jeffrey Hart story Scott discusses below, under the heading "elderly apostates." I find it interesting that many on the left who viewed Professor Hart's work over his entire adult life with contempt, now cite him as a sort of sage when he criticizes President Bush. Likewise with Gerald Ford. Out of public life for a quarter-century and aged ninety, his views on the Iraq war are not especially noteworthy, except insofar as they can be used to discredit the present administration. If Ford had endorsed Bush's Iraq policy in his interview with Bob Woodward, would we ever have heard about it? I doubt it.
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Member Information for Website Listings and Publications
Your listing on the NCVC website increases your exposure to visitors and meeting planners interested in Music City. It's crucial to keep your business information up-to-date at all times. This information is also used when publishing the Nashville Visitors Guide and Meeting Planning Guide. _Update your business information.
Schedule a Member Forum
This individualized weekly meeting allows members to participate in a brainstorming session with a representative from each NCVC team to discuss ways to maximize your membership. Members present your company/service to educate staff on business strengths and ways to best utilize your services.
Attend Hospitality Industry Training
Music City is known for its welcoming spirit. The NCVC Training Program works to ensure the city's hospitality industry reflects that same spirit, and brings to life the authentic nature of Music City to create a memorable experience for visitors. These sessions can help your organization put its best foot forward, win repeat business and build audience loyalty. Learn more about Hospitality Industry Training.
Offer Discounts & Deals
The NCVC is a gateway to the city for visitors seeking information to help confirm their trip to Nashville. Participation in the Discounts & Deals Program gives your business opportunities for incremental sales and additional exposure through NCVC's multiple marketing channels. Visitors can make plans to experience Music City with the convenience of purchasing tickets, finding special offers, and booking their choice of lodging, all in one place, where the validity of information can be trusted. Learn more.
Make Connections at Networking Events
Mark your calendar to attend all Nashville CVB networking events. These exclusive events are vital to staying current on industry happenings and community news. Learn more about NCVC Networking Events.
Access the Convention Calendar
The NCVC Convention Calendar lists the name of the convention group, arrival and departure dates, number of attendees and headquarter hotel of most convention business in Music City. Additionally, Double Platinum members and above have access to meeting planner contact information. This list allows you to be proactive in staffing and reaching out to the meeting planners during their convention planning stages. Log in to the Convention Calendar.
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Depending on your business type, you will receive sales leads based on client specifications. These leads represent potential business for hotel rooms, venues, tickets, tours and services. Prompt responses to these requests increase your opportunities to earn potential business.
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Members have the opportunity to participate in various promotions or marketing co-ops throughout the year. Promotions are coordinated based on special events and industry happenings and aimed at increasing visitor room nights. Promotions are advertised through NCVC marketing channels and strategic partner programs and vary from regional, national, and international radio, television, internet, and retail options.
Participate in Vacation Packages
Hotels, Attractions and Events have the opportunity to participate in a tickets and vacation package reservation system managed by the NCVC and promoted through all NCVC marketing programs. Leisure visitors purchase pre-formed packages or choose from a variety of hotel and ticket options to customize a package. See current Vacation Packages.
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text:
Spoken extempore
on hearing that General Gages Febuary 11th
was on his Passage
from BOSTON to ENGLAND
by an ABCD
American Lady
From Boston comes the frited Cow
The ruins left happless Howe! [Text appearing on the right: "William Tuck".]
Clinton a Russ is mind and body,
Is almost drown'd in Boston toddy
Burgoyne like Wedderburn or Meridith
Is seeking pelf through Britains very death:
Earl Percy there, as well as hear;
The Ladyes think is very queer
They give him tea and keep him warm
For surely He can do no harm
PUTNAM Ward and Marshal LEE
The fairs best Wishes are for ye
The Guardians of dear LIBERTY[Most of this page is comprised of handwritten letters that appear to be a writing exercise. The handwritten letters are written along the long axis of the paper (perpendicular to the orientation of the writing on page 1.) The following text apears at the bottom: "William Tuck's Book."]


text:
Stencils aren't new. They've been around nearly as long as crates and people with not quite enough time to mark them. But what I'm seeing happen with stencils, to my delight, is that the genre is coming into its own. Marking the progress is the rise of stencil faces released as collections, and the development of stencil families independent of any non-stencil counterparts.
The above example, part of the FF Backstage collection demonstrates stencils at work in their native habitat. Stephan Müller's FF Container, and Cornel Windlin's FF Water Tower.
Fred Smeijers's Puncho, part of the Orly Stencil, Puncho, Standing Type pack. I love to see the robust bridges taking a more definitive role in breaking the letterforms and causing the eye to connect what's left undone.
Encountering Nikola Djurek's Typonine Stencil was for me, and many others I can only assume, an awakening at what stencil type was capable of conveying; shown here with Thomas Thiemich's Fakt as part of the Great Pairs series. Its fine details seem antithetical to the normal purposes of the stencil genre. Also note how substantial the bridges are that hold the islands in place.
Also a monospace, Pedro Leal's User Stencil comes in both positive, and reversed Cameo weights.
To finish out, here are a couple we don't carry; Paul Barnes's Dala Floda, above, and Nikola Djurek's Plan Grotesque Stencil below.
That's it for this week; just something to whet the appetite for more stencils in use, here on Thursday.


text:
Object id of new checked-in EDT in SYP layer conflict with exist GLP EDT
Update ID of syp objects.
More information
Note This is a "FAST PUBLISH" article created directly from within the Microsoft support organization. The information contained here in is provided as-is in response to emerging issues. As a result of the speed in making it available, the materials may include typographical errors and may be revised at any time without notice. See Terms of Use for other considerations.


text:
+myConnections: Engage your community - connect to news, events and information you care about. View more information...
View your community's facilities and features online with the new Facilities Module.View the new Facilities
Personalize your online experience to stay up-to-date on news, events and other information.View My Dashboard
The goal of Lighten Up Charleston is for Charleston to become the healthiest city in the Southeast. There are great resources right here in Charleston to make this possible. Lighten Up Charleston website is bringing together local resources to help the residents of Charleston area become healthier. The website includes a weight loss tracker to track the total weight loss in the community.


text:
Fergus Cullen: Fast-track Patrick Arnold runs for mayor of ManchesterFERGUS CULLEN
August 01. 2013 8:35PM
QUICK: NAME the person Manchester Mayor Ted Gatsas defeated in his re-election campaign two years ago. How about the candidate Gatsas beat to win the office originally, in 2009?
Patrick Arnold is determined that his mayoral campaign won't become the answer to a future trivia question. Arnold is a two-term alderman from Ward 12 on the West Side, an attorney by trade and a new dad. He turns 30 this month and, earnest demeanor notwithstanding, he looks so young he must get carded if ordering a drink.
Arnold grew up in suburban Baltimore, attended parochial schools and contracted the political bug. He worked at the Baltimore County elections board for several years to pay his way through the University of Maryland Baltimore County. There he wrote his thesis on the political differences between Vermont and New Hampshire after doing some field research of sorts by coming to New Hampshire to campaign for liberal Vermonter Howard Dean before the 2004 presidential primary.
Used to Maryland's machine-driven political system, Arnold observed that politics in New Hampshire is accessible to anyone with some talent and a willingness to work hard. He applied to Franklin Pierce Law Center and moved to Manchester in 2006.
Two years later – just meeting the residency requirement – Arnold ran for state rep as a Democrat in a politically competitive, eight-seat district. Arnold finished a respectable ninth out of 18 candidates, one spot short of getting elected.
The following year, 2009, Arnold graduated from Franklin Pierce and ran for alderman. His opponent for the open seat was Keith Hirschmann, a formidable political veteran with previous service as alderman and state legislator. Arnold won comfortably with 57 percent of the vote. Elected concurrently to fill a vacancy, Arnold was sworn in the next day, hours after being sworn into the New Hampshire Bar.
Along the way Arnold worked part time for the Campaign for Ratepayers Rights, which advocates for liberal energy and environmental policies and is led by Democratic activist Bob Backus. Arnold clerked at Backus's Manchester law firm and now works there as a litigator, a relationship which accelerated the expansion of Arnold's network among city Democrats.
It wasn't long before Alderman Arnold butted heads with Mayor Gatsas over the development of Hackett Hill and other issues. Arnold annoyed Gatsas enough that in 2011, Gatsas actively campaigned for Arnold's opponent, Mark Nadzan. Gatsas won Ward 12 by a three to one margin, his best ward in the city, but Arnold hung on to win re-election by 12 votes in a recount. That win gives Arnold some confidence from having beaten Gatsas before.
Arnold's basic message is that Manchester can do better than it has under Gatsas. Past mayors could proudly point to construction of the Verizon Center and Northeast Delta Dental Stadium. Gatsas's biggest economic development project is the new downtown Market Basket. Two-hundred classrooms have more students than state maximums, according to Arnold.
Arnold notes that centralization of power has characterized Gatsas's administration, citing the mayor's attempt to take over the city's economic development office. "That makes it even more political. I don't think you should have to have friends in the mayor's office in order to open or expand a business," Arnold says.
Gatsas's "my way or the highway" leadership style will be an issue in the campaign. "His style bleeds into everything. If you're not for his idea, you're a public enemy. He belittles people and poisons relationships. Vitriol and personal attacks are a matter of form" for the incumbent, Arnold says.
Arnold's critics say he's too friendly with the city's public employee unions, which supported him in his past campaigns and this one. Arnold points to his recent vote against putting the city's tax cap back on the ballot as an example of him voting against the union position. Arnold offers a pragmatic straddle on the tax cap itself, saying the city's voters have backed it twice and the mayor and aldermen have to work within its confines.
Gatsas was elected with 57 percent of the vote in 2009, defeating Mark Roy, and re-elected with just under 70 percent in 2011 over Chris Herbert. "No one is unbeatable," Arnold says, shrugging dismissively.
Fergus Cullen, a freelance columnist, can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com and followed on Twitter @FergusCullen.