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California's school funding law, the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), has strong support and is helping some school districts' spending become more strategic and targeted, but law is still "a work in progress," researchers say
Implementation of the law is uneven, equity purposes not universally understood, and LCAP template needs overhaul, according to new report by the Local Control Funding Formula Research Collaborative
STANFORD, CA—April 28, 2017—The California law that simplified how education dollars are allocated across the state, vastly expanded local fiscal control, and altered education governance is helping some school districts spend money more strategically and target supplemental support to low-income students, English Learners, and foster youth, according to a new report released today by the Local Control Funding Formula Research Collaborative (LCFFRC), a group of leading California education researchers from various organizations and institutions who have been studying LCFF implementation for three years.
The report—the third in a series of studies and based on eight in-depth case studies of districts mirroring California's demographic and geographic diversity—also reveals that LCFF has been implemented unevenly in districts. Many districts lack organizational capacity to engage stakeholders or develop cohesive plans as the law intended, and there is not universal understanding of the equity purposes of the law, the report says.
"The good news is that as districts implement the LCFF, they are working toward more transparency, coherence, and equity than was possible under the previous law that used complicated formulas and directed money to mandated programs that were sometimes ineffective and often ignored student needs," says Julia E. Koppich, a member of the LCFF Research Collaborative and an education policy expert based in San Francisco. "With LCFF, we're seeing districts and schools work differently, real collaboration between budget directors and program officials, and a new focus on students in resource allocation. But there a few aspects of the law that still need attention."
"Districts have had a steep learning curve," says Daniel Humphrey, a member of the Research Collaborative and the former director of the Center for Education Policy at SRI. "They are trying to understand how the LCFF fits in with what they've been doing and how to create accountability plans that embrace the spirit of local control, engaging all the key players and using information and funding in strategic ways that improve learning."
The implementation of the California school finance law is being watched closely by lawmakers and education policy and school finance experts nationwide. Multiple states have been attempting to grapple with education finance reforms in the past few years. As a result, there have been legislative proposals in South Carolina, Connecticut, Georgia, Washington, and Kansas that reflect one or more of the key policy changes in LCFF including local control, equity-based funding models, and/or community engagement mandates.
Key findings
- Districts made good faith efforts to allocate supplemental and concentration funds to the target student groups. While resources are always tight and districts have significant pressure to spend money on the next new thing, or to use funds to simply cover current costs, the study reveals that districts are allocating supports to target groups. Typically, these investments included hiring counselors and social workers, adding tutors and subject area specialists, expanding Advanced Placement programs, and enhancing teacher professional development opportunities.
- Budgeting is more collaborative and, in some cases, is becoming more school-based. As a result of LCFF, districts introduced a more collaborative budget making process that breaks down traditional department silos to ensure money is spent to advance district goals. The study found that most budget decisions continued to be made centrally though six of the study eight districts moved some measure of resource allocation discretion to schools.
- Researchers found varying levels of strategic coherence in district planning and implementation. While researchers noted that some districts have moved on from the fragmented, regulatory compliance of categorical funding to more strategic and coherent planning and budgeting, districts varied significantly in their levels of overall strategic coherence. Some districts had consistent articulated goals, strategies and resource allocation decisions aligned to these goals, and metrics to evaluate progress. Others displayed only moderate or quite low levels of coherence. Key barriers include the compliance and "categorical mindset" of some district leaders, which, educators told the researchers, is reinforced by the LCAP template.
- Districts varied in the extent to which they engaged educators, parents, and community leaders in planning. While LCFF requires education stakeholders to be engaged in developing LCAPs, their involvement has not happened quickly or easily, the report reveals. Educators recognize that some of what they've tried in the past has not succeeded and how challenging it is to engage stakeholders in a meaningful way and are trying new approaches. The report also notes that school districts that shift resources to schools, give principals an active role in organizing school-based parent and educator feedback, and have positive labor management relations have been most successful in creating more active involvement.
- School boards had limited involvement in LCAP planning. Surprisingly, researchers found little evidence that school board members—local elected officials charged with overseeing spending and school performance--were engaged in creating LCAPS for their districts beyond approving the accountability plan the district staff developed.
- Researchers noted continuing confusion about which funds should be included in LCAPs. One district included only supplemental and concentration funds, another included all of its state (base, supplemental, and concentration) and federal funds. The other six districts' LCAPs included various portions of their state and federal funds. Some districts appeared unclear about the appropriate use of supplemental and concentration dollars.
- Some districts are confused about what the equity focus of the law is meant to accomplish. While the LCFF itself does not include a definition of equity, statements from key state leaders such as the Governor, and guidance from state agencies such as the California Department of Education (CDE) clarify the equity intent of the law, namely, that ensuring equity of opportunity for all students requires unequal funding to provide support and services to targeted to low-income students, English learners, and foster youth. Six of the eight study districts hewed to this definition of equity, viewing the LCFF as a mechanism to distribute more resources to their students with greater needs. But two districts appeared to be operating from alternative definitions that were focused on other principles such as serving students whom the district believed might benefit the most or providing equal funding regardless of economic circumstances. These differing interpretations of equity may be outliers but suggest that the state's intended definition of equity is not universally understood.
- Researchers found significant variation in the extent to which support for Common Core Standards appear in their LCAPs. In three of the eight districts, standards implementation was a prominent part of the districts' LCAP, frequently identified as key goals and strategies. Typically, these districts allocated significant resources for standards-based professional learning and specific supports to help target students master the standards. Two districts made no to minimal explicit mention of the state standards in their LCAP and evidenced little connection between standards implementation and the LCAP. The remaining districts fell somewhere in-between.
"The findings point to some clear areas where the state and districts need to make adjustments," says Julie Marsh, an associate professor of education policy at the University of Southern California and a member of the LCFF Research Collaborative. "Districts need help in understanding the intent of the policy and more support in key areas, such as how to relate investment decisions to outcomes, how to evaluate progress toward goals, and how to broaden and deepen stakeholder engagement. The state can help districts by making available examples of exemplary district, charter school, and County Office of Education practices that illustrate ways to better meet the intent of the law."
"Equally important, the state board of Education and the California Department of Education needs to clarify and communicate the intent of the LCFF, encourage investment in capacity building efforts to support local implementation, and revamp the LCAP template," says Jennifer O'Day, part of the LCFFRC and a researcher at the American Institutes for Research.
Specifically, the report calls on education officials to review the efficacy of the revised LCAP template and allow districts to experiment with new tools.
"Our research has shown that the LCAP cannot achieve the multiple purposes ascribed to it: 1) stakeholder engagement and communication, 2) strategic planning and budgeting, and, 3) accountability for equity," the report says.
It calls on the state to collect and analyze data on implementation of the recently revised LCAP template to see if it is helping districts achieve the law's intent. The state also should allow local districts to develop alternative tools and approaches to achieve the LCAP's purposes, with the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence (CCEE) assessing and certifying locally developed alternative tools and districts then should be authorized to select from a menu of approved tools, including the current LCAP template.
The report is based on eight case studies, seven in traditional districts and one in a charter management organization. Study sites reflected statewide variation in geographic location, size, urbanicity, and demographics. To collect data, researchers conducted 151 interviews with administrators, parents, community members, union leaders, and board members in fall 2016 and examined a range of relevant documents, including LCAPs, district budgets, collectively bargained contracts, strategic plans, and school site plans.
Copies of the latest report, Paving the way to Equity and Coherence? The Local Control Funding Formula in Year 3, are available from Policy Analysis for California Education. Click here to access this report and two previous reports.


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The Heat is on in the Championship
We're reaching that point in the season where the Championship is certainly heating up! With so much to play for at the top of the table, passions are high among the fans, players and managers alike.
The league leaders have changed 16 times so far this season, but Rafa Benitez's Newcastle currently lead the pack by 3 points with 10 games left to play. Last night the Magpies were frustrated by a 0-0 draw with Reading, but they have a lot of Premier League quality in the side such as Jonjo Shelvey and the Championship top-scorer Dwight Gayle.
It would be hard to bet against Newcastle returning to the Premier League in August but anything can happen! Brighton and Huddersfield are both hot on their heels and showing signs that they could both have a good go at Premier league football.
Chris Hughton's side just missed out on promotion last season, losing out to Boro on the final day of the season, and they were unbeaten until December this term. And despite dropping a few points recently they look in good shape heading into the final stretch. Huddersfield are also looking good, holding Man City to a 0-0 draw in the FA Cup recently before their replay defeat.
The Terriers were quite unlucky against Newcastle at the weekend, dominating possession but not producing enough in the final third and conceding a few scrappy goals. They've shown character bouncing back with a win against Villa last night though and you certainly can't count them out!
At the other end of the table it looks like Rotherham are as good as down, but Wigan, Bristol City, Wolves, Burton, Blackburn and Nottingham Forest are all fighting for survival.
Wigan are two points from safety because they won a must-win against Birmingham last night. It's important to win the coming games to create the momentum needed for the players to get that belief back. There is no better feeling than when everyone heads in the same direction with winning spirit.
The morale of the fans and the atmosphere in the DW stadium will change because the players really need the Tics fans to get behind them. That's all I was banking on when I was in the same situation.
Anything can happen in this league, teams still have to play each other and the losses and wins can come against virtually any other side. It's going to be an exciting couple of months in England's 2nd tier!

subset: commoncrawl


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Original figurative oil & acrylic paintings of curvy, strong women by contemporary award-wining artist MARIE FOX. Sign up at right to be notified of my latest paintings! Note: If you see only one painting or post, click here to go to main page.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Limes on Plate, daily painter oil painting still life of fruit
Oil on canvas, 8" x 8"
$130 plus $8.95 shipping via Priority Mail - SOLD
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
This was a fun little painting to do mid-summer. Now maybe I'll go make a gin and tonic - and give my models a squeeze!
Posted by Marie Fox at 9:22 AM
Labels: fruit, sold, still life
1 comment:
- Becky Drees said...
- 6:31 AM, August 04, 2009
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Modelcraft StyroSten 3 in 1 Hot Wire Cutting Tool
Brand: Modelcraft
Model Number: PSS1060
- Description
- Reviews (0)
- Delivery
The ModelCraft StyroSten 3 in 1 Hot Wire Cutting Tool is just one of many craft tools suitable for every hobbyist from the beginner just starting out to expert model makers. A set of replacement cutting wires is also available.
Modelcraft StyroSten 3 in 1 tool
- Hot wire cutter for polystyrene and foam cutting
- Hot knife for detail and interior cuts outs
- Stencil burner to create instant bespoke stencils
- Battery operated (4 X AA Batteries required)
Hot Wire Cutter
- Heats instantly, creating fast clean precision cuts
- Excellent for school & art projects and for casting & moulds
- Perfect for cutting bespoke cake dummies & toppers
Stencil Burner
- Cuts easily without ragged edges
- Quickly and effectively cuts bespoke mylar stencils
- Brilliant for creating quality signs & displays, home decorating, interior design & architectural elements
Hot Knife
- Ideal for plunging, slicing & dicing
- Create, carve and cut in any direction
- Make channels in cake dummies for flower stems
- Essential for home craft, DIY, hobby projects & personalised storage space
Manufacturer: Modelcraft
Model: PSS1060 StyroSten 3 in 1 Hot Wire Cutting Tool
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Wonderland Models deliver throughout the UK and Overseas. We endeavour to despatch orders immediately but certainly within 48 hours of receipt. Orders will only be dispatched once payment has been received.
UK Delivery:
Order value (including postage) up to £70: First Class Royal Mail £3.99 (Delivery Within 1-5 Days)
Order value (including postage) over £70: Interlink Express £6.99 (Courier Delivery Next Working Day).
Please be sure to give us your mobile phone number when ordering as Interlink Express offer an email/text message option to enable you to receive notification of despatch and estimated delivery time. The express service requires a signature on delivery and must be ordered before 2pm for next working day delivery. The courier does not deliver on a weekend or bank holidays.
Express delivery is two days to some postcodes, and these incur a £6 surcharge. A list of applicable postcodes can be seen here.
Overseas Delivery:
European deliveries are sent by Interlink Express/DPD. For details of delivery costs and times by country please click here.
Delivery to Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan and the USA is by Royal Mail or FedEx courier and is calculated on an order by order basis based on weight and size. We will contact you with the shipping costs on receipt of the order.
For full shipping details please see the delivery section of our website here.


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Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Oh My Goodness!!! Happy Happy. This is an amazing recipe. It is raw, vegan and gluten free and delicious. Wow with warm kick from the chili powder and red pepper flakes. Thank you "be fit snack" for the recipe.
2 cups walnuts
2 1/2 cups pitted dates
1 cup cocoa powder
2 tbsp. flax seed meal
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
1/2 cup cocoa powder
2 tbsp. maple syrup
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
Oil a 8 X 8 glass baking pan. Combine walnuts, flax, chili, cinnamon and salt in a food processor. Pulse until fine. Add the cocoa powder and pulse for 10 seconds. Add the dates in 2-3 batches and process. Press the mixture into the pan.
In a small bowl, mix the topping ingredients and pour over the brownie mixture. Sprinkle the red pepper flakes. Place in the fridge until set. YUM!
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quote: Originally posted by laraineOn 18 ct aida or fiddlers lite, which needle is best? Size 28 or size 26?
I have noticed that when I use the size 28 petite that I have to be really careful not to split my threads when I go down into the last \ if the squares around it are already completed. Do you think a 26 might be better?
Also I am starting a new project, Kissing the Face of God on 1 inch bars. My question is: Can I use the same strip to hold on my fabric or should I take the old on off and put a new one on. If I take the old strip off, how is the best way to get it off?
I have only used my scroll bars on one piece and I love them. Thank You Laraine Harris
La Belle Dame Sans MerciSir Frank Dicksee


text: What a challenge: create a vintage christmas card! Not easy I thought, but after some searching around in my stuff I found these gorgeous (but still unused) Martha Steward punches. I think they look quite vintage, so I used these as the starting point. I also found some old looking patterned paper from Daisy D's and I've kept the rest quite simple.


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II. Lessons Learned
Supplement A: Command and Control
Public Health Guidance for Community-Level Preparedness and Response to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) Version 2/3
printer friendly version [1 page]
- A clear organizational structure with well-defined roles and responsibilities and operational authority is necessary for an effective response to SARS.
- Strong leadership is essential to coordinate a SARS response, allow efficient allocation of resources, and disseminate consistent information.
- An incident command structure supported by the adequate information systems allows for rapid and efficient implementation of a SARS response.
- A suitable legislative framework is necessary to impose a variety of emergency public health and containment measures, at both the individual and community levels.
Related Pages
- Summary
- I. Rationale and Goals
- II. Lessons Learned
- III. Operational Authority
- IV. Incident Command and Management System
- V. Legal Authority
- Appendix A1—State And Local Health Official Epidemic SARS Checklist
- Appendix A2—Checklist of Legal Considerations for SARS Preparedness in Your Community
- Appendix A3—Fact Sheet: Practical Steps for SARS Legal Preparedness
- Page last reviewed: May 3, 2005
- Page last updated: May 3, 2005
- Content source:


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Here on the east coast, if you miss the early spring rush of Cuckoos on migration, well you may have to wait til end of season. So it was for me this year, but I did get lucky just in time. The Wicklow coast can often produce a late adult or an even later juvenile bird, tempted to remain with us if the weather is warm and their favourite prey is in evidence.
The adults are most evident in late April when calling birds attract all kinds of attention, from small birds and diligent countryside watchers. Because they get their breeding business done relatively early, that is, lay the eggs but pass on the raising fledglings bit, they are free to depart for Africa in mid-summer.
In Ireland they typically use a Meadow Pipits nest to drop their egg in and move on around their chosen territories, repeating the act and trusting the unfortunate Pipit to raise and foster the soon gigantic young Cuckoo. By late July it is only the successful juveniles that are to be seen: Remarkably , these young birds must acquire or inherit information that that will first guide them south into Africa and return in spring with the knowledge of what to lay and what host to seek, always ensuring their egg matches the colour of the hosts.
The diet of Cuckoos is highly specialised, mainly composed of Caterpillars and often the hairy or more toxic ones. So no wonder really that a bird that depends on the fortunes of its host species and also has a specialist protein diet that is in decline, mainly due to intensification of the landscape over the last half century, struggles to show off its iconic spring status in numbers.
The bird that appeared on the railway line at Newcastle was a very dark juvenile, quite confiding as it had found a decent food supply in the unkempt meadows and dune slacks on the fringes of thetracks. This is traditionally a very warm and dry strip, well known for basking lizards and lots of butterflies and Burnet Moths, so a temporary sort of home for a young Cuckoo, making its way south.
This wonderful set of photographs of the juvenile Cuckoo were taken by c. Shay Connolly,


text: Boss-style Knob - Black - 23mm Black plastic knob in a Boss style. 23mm outside diameter. Pot shaft will need a couple of mm shaving off it if you want these to sit low down.NOTE: These are a very tight fit on round shaft, vertical-mount pots. Very tight. Pot shaft size: 6mm Diameter: 23mm Height: 13mm Fitting: Set screw Price is per knob. Product Code: BossKnob23 Brand: Pedal Parts Weight: 60g Product Condition: New Notify me when product is back in stock £0.60 inc. tax £0.50 ex. tax ? Tax based on United Kingdom. x


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In the Shadow of Greed By Nancy C. Weeks 99 cents
Brilliant cryptologist Dr. Sarah Tu races against time to block the most dangerous Internet malware ever created, a botnet called QUALNTO. While Sarah is closed off in her computer lab, her sister, Hanna, is brutally attacked and left in a coma. As Sarah reels with guilt over not being there for her sister, a web of deception closes in, threatening her and everyone she loves.
Hanna's condition is misleading. In her coma state, she is able to build a psychic bridge with FBI Special Agent Jason McNeil. Her cryptic messages plague Jason to keep Sarah safe.
Tough and street-smart Jason McNeil doesn't believe in visions or telepathic messages, and he fights the voice inside his head. His first impression of Dr. Sarah Tu is another stiletto wearing ice-dragon on the war path - until he witnesses her façade crumble after seeing her sister's bloody, tortured body. Jason's protective instinct kicks in. He falls for Sarah - hard.
When an extremely dangerous arms dealer and cybercriminal discovers that Sarah blocked his botnet, he kidnaps Sarah. Placed in an impossible position, will she destroy the botnet to protect national security or release it to save the man she loves?


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CONTACT US: 406.243.6022 email MORE >
CONTACT US: 406.243.6022 email@example.com MORE >
with Barry Ferst
author and philosophy professor, Carroll College
Ferst explains how a Muslim's life is rooted in the stories of Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Mohammed, and how that life is guided by the Koran and sharia. He explores parallels between Islam, Christianity, and Judaism, the three Abrahamic faiths, to illuminate the religion, culture, and history of Islam. His presentation is premised on three reasons for why a discussion of Islam is so important at this time: 1) the need for Americans to gain an understanding of the rapidly growing number of their fellow citizens who are of the Islamic faith, 2) the need for insight into the cultures of those Muslim countries to which the United States' affairs are so closely tied, and 3) the fact that Islam is a fascinating religion and way of life.


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Mises Wire
Economics and Value Freedom
Mises and Rothbard taught that economics is a value-free science. Propositions of economics, such as the law of diminishing marginal utility, neither state nor imply any judgments about what is good or bad, right or wrong. Robert Grant, an Irish philosopher who teaches at Trinity College, Dublin, disagrees. In an article that appeared January 23 on the Irish news website thejournal.ie , Grant claimed that "the view of economics as value-free is, at best, illusory and, at worst, dangerous." Economics is not value-free, according to him; and the myth that it is helps nefarious supporters of the free market occlude the truth that the free market helps the rich, not the poor.
Grant's argument against value-freedom in economics is not very good. He points out that economists choose to investigate certain topics rather than others, Their choices reflect the values they hold. "The very decision about what aspect of the world to examine is an expression of what is important to us, ie, an expression of our values. . ., economists can choose to aim their analysis at the private financial markets and the banking system, or they could focus on public issues such as welfare economics, or how to make healthcare affordable. Each analysis may display incredible intellectual and mathematical sophistication, yet the choice is a normative one. It means that you deem some particular issue to be more worth your time and effort than the myriad of other issues you could investigate. Values are inescapable."
Grant has fallen into an elementary confusion. Of course he is right that your choice to study something expresses your values. It hardly follows from this, though, the results of your investigation are, in whole or in part, value judgments. When it is claimed that economics is value-free, the claim is about the propositions of economics, not the reasons economists have for studying these propositions.
According to Grant, the false doctrine of value-freedom in economics has horrendous results: "We are told the 'free' market is an efficient processer of information, and that if left to its own devices, it will naturally produce efficient results that are better for everyone. But this is simply not the case. The market expresses the values of those who control it. It is no coincidence that our current market structure works better for some rather than others."
Grant is again confused. Grant disagrees with those who contend the free market is better for everyone. But surely someone who says the free market is better for everyone would realize that he is expressing a value judgment. What then is the relevance of Grant's claims about value-freedom to this disagreement? Grant has lost control of his own argument. Maybe he means that the free market economists use a notion of "efficient" which they wrongly take to be value-free. If this is what he means, Grant has failed to make his case. He doesn't show that judging whether an economy is efficient involves value judgments.
In any event, Grant's counter to the free market supporters misses the point. He wishes to argue against the assertion that the free market works better for everyone. To point out that the market works better for some than others is not a counterexample to the thesis he wishes to refute.


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A charming and beautifully quirky dance theatre adaptation of this favourite Hans Christian Andersen story by the brilliant Norwegian company Dybwikdans.
Architects of Air have toured to more than 40 countries across five continents with their extraordinary structures which astonish and delight audiences of all ages.
A rare opportunity to watch the original pilot episode of this Emmy, Bafta and RTS nominated series – 15 minutes of exclusive material previously unseen by public audiences.
Make a fantastic peg puppet with fabric scraps and other household bits and pieces, and then devise your own fairy tales to act out.
Artists are often inspired by expeditions, investigative walks, or even Grand Tours. In these workshops with artist Gina Mollett, participants will be venturing out into the landscape of Highfields Park and University Park Campus to collect ideas and make observations.
Andy Cannon retells Shakespeare's Macbeth, taking audiences on a thousand-year journey from fact to fiction and back again. Suitable for ages 8+
A playful and quirky new show for young children about friendship and play, and the importance of treasuring little things.
The Wheee! family weekend is always special and this year is no exception. There will be lots of arts and craft activities plus outdoor theatre and dance performances to entertain family members of all ages.
A tiny snail longs to see the world, so she hitches a lift on the tail of a humpback whale. But when the whale gets beached, how will the snail save him?
The Wilde Creatures, a band of storytelling musicians, bring to life Oscar Wilde's classic fairy stories including The Happy Prince, The Nightingale and the Rose and The Birthday of the Infanta.
For your delight and delectation, four valiant vaudevillians present their terrifying take on Oscar Wilde's most gruesome ghost story.
Join us for a celebration of the magical characters that inhabit children illustrated books in a fun workshop aimed at children and families.


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It's been quite awhile since I've posted anything Young Adult, so I am thrilled to share with everyone the cover art for a new Young Adult Satirical Paranormal Fantasy novel called BOOK OF BART by Ryan Hill! Check out the awesome cover and the book information below!
Only one thing is so powerful, so dangerous that Heaven and Hell must work together to find it: the Shard of Gabriel.
With a mysterious Black Cloud of Death hot on the shard's trail, a desperate Heaven enlists the help of Bart, a demon who knows more about the shard than almost anyone. Six years ago, he had it in his hands. If only he'd used it before his coup to overthrow the devil failed. Now, he's been sprung from his eternal punishment to help Samantha, an angel in training, recover the shard before the Black Cloud of Death finds it.
If Bartholomew wants to succeed, he'll have to fight the temptation to betray Samantha and the allure of the shard. After an existence full of evil, the only way Bart can get right with Hell is to be good.
Title: Book of Bart
Author: Ryan Hill
Genre: Young Adult, Humorous, Satirical Paranormal-Fantasy
Cover Artist: Conzpiracy Digital Arts
Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press
Release Date: 22nd May 2014
Growing up, Ryan Hill used to spend his time reading and writing instead of doing homework. This resulted in an obsession with becoming a writer, but also a gross incompetence in the fields of science and mathematics. A graduate of North Carolina State University, Ryan has been a film critic for over five years. He lives in Raleigh, NC, with his dog/shadow Maggie. Ryan also feels strange about referring to himself in the third person.
Connect With Ryan


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A violent volcanic eruption has claimed the lives of at least 14 people in Indonesia.
Mount Sinabung, which lies on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, spewed hot, rocks and gas 1.5 miles into the air during a morning explosion on Saturday that echoed across the island.
The volcano had been dormant for more than 400 years up until 2010, when an eruption killed at least three people and displaced a further 30,000.
Locals had since returned to their homes and had grown used to the rumbling and belching of Sinabung over past five months.
Experts considered it unpredictable as it had not been studied as much as more active volcanoes.
Local officials fear the death toll might rise as they had so far been unable to get closer because of the heat being emitted.


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Where To Stay
Holiday Inn Mobile Aiport
Welcome to the award winning Holiday Inn Mobile - Airport. Our Mobile, Alabama hotel is conveniently located in the heart of the city off I-65 and only minutes from the Mobile Regional Airport (MOB). We offer a complimentary Mobile airport shuttle from 6am - 10pm. Our 100% smoke free hotel in Mobile, AL has the amenities to ensure your complete satisfaction. Families and business travelers alike will enjoy dining in Kems Restaurant or the convenience of room service. Enjoy our indoor heated pool and the 24-hour fitness center. All rooms feature a refrigerator along with a 40in HDTV. Our new Holiday Inn Mobile hotel is perfect for families looking for lodging in Mobile, AL. Our hotel is convenient to numerous local attractions, including the Mobile Historic District, Exploreum Science Center and the Battleship USS Alabama. Other nearby attractions includes the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, Bellingrath Gardens & Home and shopping at the Colonial Mall Bel Air and Legacy Village. Business travelers in Mobile will be impressed by the comfort and amenities of our new Holiday Inn Mobile - Airport hotel. With easy access from I-65 and I-10, our hotel is centrally located near downtown Mobile and the Mobile Regional Airport (MOB). Situated in the heart of Mobile, our Alabama hotel offers you easy access to local companies including Austal USA, Alabama Power, EADS Airbus, ThyssenKrupp and the Alabama State Port Authority. We look forward to seeing you soon.
Capacity: 186
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All too often sexual hazing or sexual harassment occurs in the workplace. A supervisor or superior or even a co-worker can take actions which are sexually degrading or demeaning to an employee and cause anxiety or other mental or even physical harm as a result. Any worker has the right to a safe environment free from physical hazards as well an absence of sexual hazing by another. If you have experienced mental or physical harm due to sexual hazing we can help you. We have an experienced legal team who has garnered a reputation as a top law firm in all types of sexual abuse cases throughout the state and beyond. We understand the suffering that has been caused you and recognize you as a survivor in need of help. Immediately contact a California sexual abuse attorney from Manly, Stewart & Finaldi and to take action now.
Sexual hazing can be all too easily brushed aside as unimportant or just a part of life, and not taken seriously, when the truth is that the mental turmoil or physical harm and turmoil that it can create can be devastating and change one's life forever. No one has the right to cause you mental anguish or harm, especially in your workplace where you are endeavoring to make a living by doing your job and assisting your employer with your work. Where the employer himself is the guilty party in a sexual hazing case it becomes even more important to take action. When your livelihood is threatened by the actions of an employer's own misconduct the ramifications can be vast and it is time to take action to immediately address the actions in civil court. We can assist you to end the sexual hazing and to seek the compensation you deserve.
Contact a California sexual abuse lawyer today for help with your case of sexual hazing at work.


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Our Ref. No. 20121111225
Based on the facts and representations provided in your letter, we would not recommend enforcement action to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") against Xplornet Communications Inc. ("XCI") under Section 7(d) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 ("1940 Act") if XCI operates in the manner described in your letter without registering with the Commission as an investment company under the 1940 Act. Our position is based particularly on your representations that: (i) XCI is primarily engaged in the business of providing broadband Internet access to households and small and medium-sized enterprises in sparsely populated areas across Canada under the auspices of a Canadian federal government program; (ii) XCI's loans to Xplornet Broadband Inc. ("XBI") enable XCI to access XBI's spectrum and terrestrial transmission facilities so that XCI can provide Internet access to customers; (iii) XCI is required under Canadian GAAP to prepare its financial statements on a consolidated basis as if XBI were a wholly or majority owned subsidiary of XCI; (iv) XCI's cash management investments are limited to Canadian government securities and other Canadian highly liquid, short-term, high quality bank issued or money market securities and are intended to ensure that XCI will be able to meet its obligations to fund its operations and finance the acquisition of spectrum licenses and network equipment; (v) XCI will not invest or trade in securities for short-term speculative purposes; (vi) XCI's income is predominately derived from its non-investment operations; and (vii) XCI intends to access the U.S. capital markets through private placements, including but not limited to placements pursuant to rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933.
Our response expresses our views on enforcement action only, and does not express any conclusions with respect to the legal issues presented. You should note that any different facts or representations may require different conclusions.
Holly Hunter-Ceci
Senior Counsel
The Incoming Letter is in Acrobat format.


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Bondoc Peninsula farmers receive land titles
AGRARIAN REFORM SECRETARY ROSALINA L. BISTOYONG (center in pink) poses with the Bondoc Peninsula farmer-beneficiaries after receiving their land titles from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR). After more than two decades of struggle fighting for land, 434 farmer beneficiaries in Quezon province finally receive 1,270 hectares of agricultural land from the Department. The covered landholdings include 844.23 hectares in Barangay Tala and 213.62 hectares in Barangay Camflora, both in San Andres town; 172.72 hectares in Barangay Busok-busokan and 16.76 hectares in Barangay Vigo Central in San Narciso; and 22.28 hectares in Barangay Tayuman in San Francisco. Also in the picture include (4th from right to left) San Narciso Mayor Florabelle Uy-Yap, Undersecretary for Field Operations Office Atty. Karlo S. Bello, Regional Director Luis Bueno Jr., Public Assistance and Media Relations Service Director Leomides Villareal (3rd from left), Quezon Board Member Vincent Reyes (5th from left), former landowner of Hacienda Reyes and other public officials.
#AgrarianReform #DAR4Farmers #Land4Farmers #PartnerForChange
#AgrarianReform #DAR4Farmers #Land4Farmers #PartnerForChange


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Relationship Details
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Brian De Palma dated Margot Kidder in the past, but they broke up in 1971. Brian De Palma dated Margot Kidder for 2 years. Brian De Palma is currently available.
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Age: 78 (b. 9/11/1940)
Entertainment - Actress
Why Famous: Lois Lane of Superman, films
Age: 69 (10/17/1948 - 5/13/2018)
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And now I've finally finished sewing and hanging our master bedroom curtains. Which of course, tie in perfectly with the circles on the opposite side of our room, which I showed you last week.
Other than the fact that our room was in desperate need of color, I also really wanted to hang curtains to hide that our windows are not centered on the wall. This has been driving me bananas for months, how the window on the left is closer to the edge of the wall than the window on the right.
So, my first step was to sew some curtain panels. Which are probably one of the easiest things to sew, so I won't go into a ton of details on how to do it (since I'm sure there are already hundreds of tutorials online). To sum it up in one photo collage:
1. Lay out your fabric, and cut it to your measurements, giving yourself about 1 1/2 inches extra on all sides
2. Fold (or iron if you have difficult or thick fabric) the fabric in on itself twice to finish the edges
3. Pin your folds in place so they'll stay put when you go to sew them
4. Sew along your pinned folds down the side of the curtain panel
5. Take out the pins, and admire your mostly straight sewing job (it's just curtains, after all, not rocket science!)
6. Repeat the steps until you've sewn around all four sides of your curtain panel.
7. Leave the curtain panels piled on a chair for several weeks, while a kitty on the couch watches over them*
*Last step optional
So while my curtains were hanging out on the chair in our basement, I had to prep what I would actually hang them on. Which was two old and tarnished curtain rods I got from the Target clearance rack years and years ago, and some Command hooks (since as usual, I was going for a non permanent, no-hole-in-walls solution).
It took me a while to figure out how I was going to spray paint the curtain rods. Obviously holding them up while spraying wasn't a good option, and if I lay them down and tried to spray one side at a time, I was afraid it wasn't going to look like an even paint job.
So my solution was three shish kabob skewers, stuck in the ground through a piece of newspaper.
They were the perfect length and thickness to hold up half of each curtain rod, so I could spray them from all angles.
I chose the hammered brown RustOleum spray paint, because I wanted something that would work well with the dark wood on our headboard, and this lightly textured, not-too-shiny paint worked perfectly.
I also propped my Command hooks on a rock and sprayed them too.
But I should have thought that through a little better. Because once we put the hooks up on the wall, the fact that the back part on the wall was going to stick up higher than the curtain rod started to bug me.
I wanted to leave the hooks up for 24 hours before putting the weight of the curtains and rod on them (so we didn't have any more accidents with stuff falling off of walls). And after that 24 hours, I didn't think I could live with the brown semi circle on the wall, detracting from the curtains themselves.
Luckily, our landlord left some paint in our basement workroom, and I found the same beige color used on our walls.
OMG, it took forever to cover that brown paint though! Below is just one coat of paint--it took me 6 coats to properly cover it all.
But it was worth the delay, because now they blended in so much better up on the wall!
So finally, weeks later, we were able to hang up our curtains! And since I shifted the edge of the left side curtains to just skim the far left edge of the window moulding, I was able to make it look like our windows are nice and evenly spaced on the wall.
Here's some more gratuitous curtain photos! They've been hanging now for a full week, and the Command hooks are still holding just fine.
Yes, I actually like my curtains to be functional and wide enough to be able to close them.
And the before photo again, followed by the after.
We definitely need to do something about our cord situation, and need something above the TV (or just a bigger TV, but that's not gonna happen any time soon), but I can't tell you how happy it makes me to lie in bed and look at our colorful curtains. Curtains are such an easy and quick (if you're not me) way to spice up a room!
Have you ever made your own curtains before? And does anyone else still have a VCR in their home? Ours isn't even plugged in, nor do we own a single VHS tape!


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Very Berry Smoothie
With Maca Powder and Black Elderberry Syrup
Three different berries bring sweetness and just a bit of tartness to this creamy smoothie. Antioxidants never tasted so good!
Serves 2
- 2 teaspoons Gaia Herbs Maca Powder*
- 1/2 cup strawberries
- 1/4 cup blueberries
- 2 teaspoons Gaia Herbs Black Elderberry Syrup*
- 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup coconut milk
- 1/2 cup ice
- Thoroughly blend all ingredients except ice.
- Add ice and blend again until smooth.
- Pour into glasses and enjoy a flavorful boost of energy and immune support!**
*This recipe yields 2 smoothies. One smoothie provides the 1 teaspoon suggested daily servings of Maca Powder and Black Elderberry Syrup.
Black Elderberry Lemonade
With Black Elderberry SyrupView
Gaia Herbs Black Elderberry Syrup packs an immune-supportive punch* Ingredients List 4 cups ice 48 ounces lemonade 20 ounce berry or lime sparkling…
Elderberry Freezer Pops
With Black Elderberry SyrupView
No matter what age you are, these two-ingredient freezer pops are a tasty way to get your daily serving of Black Elderberry Syrup.…
Elderberry Applesauce
With Black Elderberry SyrupView
This homemade applesauce is a simple, fun twist on a classic recipe – and great for lunch boxes! Serves 12 45 minutes to…
Elderberry Gummies
With Black Elderberry SyrupView
These homemade gummies are a tasty way to provide immune support for the whole family.* Serves 18 25 minutes to prepare, plus freezing…
Elderberry Cheesecake Bites
With Black Elderberry SyrupView
These raw vegan treats are simple to make yet elegant enough to turn any day into a special occasion. The only sweetener is…
Elderberry Vinaigrette
With Black Elderberry SyrupView
Black Elderberry Syrup is the perfect addition to a classic French vinaigrette. We added Thyme, an herb traditionally used for immune and respiratory…
Very Elderberry Fruit Strips
With Black Elderberry SyrupView
These tasty sweet snacks are a fun way to eat your fruit and get a boost of Vitamin C. Cherries offer something sweet,…
Cran-Elderberry Relish
With Black Elderberry SyrupView
Don't wait for Thanksgiving to serve up this sweet and tangy relish. We love it any time of year, especially atop a warm…
Elderberry Slushie
With Black Elderberry SyrupView
This icy cool treat is made with just three ingredients, and it's as refreshing as it is delicious. Don't wait for immune season…
Strawberry Fig Elderberry Granita
With Black Elderberry SyrupView
If you're craving a sorbet, but don't have an ice cream maker, you need to know about granitas. An Sicilian dessert made from…
With Maca PowderView
Traditional guacamole gets an energizing upgrade! We add Maca Powder to create a citrusy, spicy version of everyone's favorite avocado dish. Serves 9…
Berry Mint Lemonade
With Maca PowderView
Your taste buds get a healthy workout with this recipe. The flavors of mint, citrus and berries combine in every sip. Serves 2…
Super Green Smoothie
With Maca PowderView
Add some energy to your green smoothie for a great start to any morning! Serves 1 Ingredients 1 teaspoon Gaia Herbs Maca Powder…
Cacao PB Protein Cookies
With Maca Powder and MacaBoost Cacao-GingerView
This is a quick and tasty treat for a boost of energy and stamina. Get your daily Maca plus a double dose of…
Maca Colada
With Maca PowderView
Taste the tropics any time with this Maca Colada. Cool, creamy coconut and pineapple get a nutty boost from Maca Powder in this…
No-Bake Chewy Maca Granola Bars
with Maca PowderView
These chewy, hearty oat bars are quick to make and can be customized based on what you have on hand. They're delicious as…
Maca Matcha Latte
With Maca PowderView
Give your traditional morning green tea a boost of pure plant energy by adding Maca Powder.* Top with the frothy milk of your…
Acai Bowl
With Maca PowderView
For our version of the acai bowl, we added Maca – another superplant that's native to South America – for a boost of…


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Only one week left to see the Black and White group show at Gallery 360 in downtown Vancouver.
My piece "No Boundaries" was chosen for the show. It's one of my larger framed doodles. I have signed prints available at my Etsy Shop, also titled She Who Doodles.
The Gallery also has prints available. Come check it out and see all the other great black and white entries.
Thanks for visiting.
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Black & White Show at Gallery 360
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FREE Service; You will receive email within 1 hour when your order is Ready for Collection. Have your phone with this Ready for Collection email with you. We will hold your order for 2 days. Still can't make it, no problem, no charge.
Leeds Birstall
Flip a Zoos are 2-in-1 cuddly creatures! Simply grab and flip to change Emma Elephant to Theodore Tiger and back - it's so easy to do! Flip a Zoo soft toys are around 16in/40cm long so they're great for big cuddles at home or on the go. With lovely soft plush and lots of detail they're great for boys and girls.
EU Warning: Not suitable for children under the age of 3 years due to small parts which could cause a choking hazard
Supplier Phone: UK 01702 200 660 ROI 0044 1702 200 660
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EN. Even if it's a spring on a calendar already, it's still pretty cold outside to go out without warm clothes. But during this long winter we are so tired of big jackets and coats, so a perfect solution for this problem - big and cozy scarf or cape (like this one from OASAP), which not only keep you warm but also let you look chic and elegant.
Shop the look:


text: The Office of Student Financial Assistance Weatherford College is committed to providing superior service to our students, and to fair and equitable treatment in awarding financial assistance. We are pleased to know that you have chosen WC and would like to help you in meeting the costs of attending college. If you have any questions about the application process, please contact our office at 817-598-6295 to speak to a Financial Assistance Advisor. Below you will see the application requirements for your classification: Receipt of scholarship(s) can affect your financial aid package. To help us create the most current and accurate award, please notify your advisor if you will be receiving a scholarship. Follow these 7 easy steps to apply for FAFSA online! Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Verification Verification is a process through which the Department of Student Financial Aid verifies the information you reported on your FAFSA. Federal regulations require all institutions to perform verification on a percentage of applicants who file for financial aid. Applicants are randomly selected for verification. If you are chosen for verification, you will be notified of the required documents through the email account you provided on the FAFSA form. If you are selected for verification you will be required to submit the following: For Fall 2017, Spring 2018, and Summer 2018: Your 2015 Tax Return Transcript now must come straight from the IRS Your parents' (if applicable) 2015 Tax Return Transcript from IRS. WC Financial Aid Verification Worksheet found on the Financial Aid Forms page. Any discrepancies found by our department must be corrected and your financial aid eligibility may be affected. This process can delay your aid, so please respond immediately to any requests from our department. The verification process normally takes 10-20 days from the time the final document is turned in. Should you fail to submit all required documentation; financial aid will not be awarded and/or disbursed. If funds were disbursed prior to your selection for verification, they may be cancelled until your file is complete. Additional Documentation Students may be required to submit additional documentation even though they have not been selected for Verification. These documents may relate to citizenship status, veteran status, and/or orphan status. If requested, please submit the additional documentation immediately to the department because your aid can be delayed. Tips for Completing the FAFSA Apply as early as possible! The FAFSA is available January 1 of each year. The fastest, easiest and most accurate way to apply is on-line at www.fafsa.ed.gov. List your school choices and their Title IV school codes. The Title IV School Code for WC is 003664. Complete all income and asset information. Do not leave it blank. If the answer is zero, enter a zero in the blank. Appropriate individuals (student and/or parent) must sign the FAFSA. Missing signatures will delay your processing. You must sign the FAFSA using your PIN number. To apply for a PIN, visit the PIN web site. Both student and/or parent must use the PIN number for their electronic signature on the web based FAFSA application. If you do not sign with the PIN, then your application will be considered an error and will delay any processing time. Verify your answers and check for accuracy. Errors will delay the process. Make a copy of your completed FAFSA application. Retain a copy for your records. ~ Back to Top


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A blog about being a Vegan Fatty. Not eating all the vegetable goodness you should, and maybe indulging a little too often.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Decadent Double Chocolate Peanutbutter cookies
If there were only one cookie in my life (were a the monogamous cookie kind) this would be it. These rich, chewy, chocolate, creamy delights are more than any cookie lover could hope for.
These are a simple altered version of Isa's Double Chocolate Cookies found here.
The original recipe is great, so be sure to check her out along with her amazing books.
My batter wasn't terribly hard like the recipe describes and I was able to stir it fine with a wooden spoon (to avoid losing punk points!). This batter however is oily, so be prepared to get your hands messy and moisturized! I used a coffee grinder to grind the flax seeds and simply whisked in the soymilk.
So, here is the twist to making these cookies fantastic. Peanut butter. I only added a 1/4 cup, but I will soon be trying these with larger amounts. This gives the cookies a subtle and not overwhelming peanut butter flavour. The other change I made was to use a generously filled table spoon measure to form even balls of dough.
I also ignored the part about pressing down the balls of dough which resulted in smaller, thicker cookies which I liked more. Try it both ways and see which you like more, here is an example of the original method of pressing and next to it the non-press method.
These are omni approved, although be warned the bestowing of these cookies may result in socially awkward exclamations such as"this cookie is so good it's giving me an erection".
Labels: chocolate, cooking for omni, double chocolate, good food porn, how vegan are you, isa, omni approved, pb, ppk, recipes, vegan cookies
2 comments:
- Mihl said...
This is too much cookie porn for me :p
You totally convinced me. These must be the best cookies in the world.
- January 15, 2009 at 8:47 AM
- Madhuram said...
They don't look vegan at all. So rich and moist. I'm going to check out the original recipe immediately.
- January 17, 2009 at 6:25 PM
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Our stunning floral truss frame will transform your wedding reception room into a majestic garden paradise. We use the highest quality artificial ivy and flowers and they look identical to the real thing. The best part is the flowers and ivy don't deteriorate throughout the night, ensuring that they stay fresh and look perfect the whole night.
We also have fairy lights that are weaved through the floral truss, creating a beautiful light display throughout the arrangement. The truss can be built around the dance floor, or even around your bridal table to decorate it.
The price depends on the size of the trussing. Please call or email for a quote.


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Find Our Latest Video Reviews on YouTube!
If you want to stay on top of all of our video reviews of the latest tech, be sure to check out and subscribe to the Gear Live YouTube channel, hosted by Andru Edwards! It's free!
Friday July 14, 2006 2:07 pm
iQBioDrive Uses Fingerprint Security Technology
Posted by Nino Marchetti Categories: Corporate News, PC / Laptop, Storage, USB
iQBio, a subsidiary of Artemis Solutions Group, yesterday announced a 100GB portable hard drive which makes use of fingerprint encryption and security software to protect its contents. The new 100GB Portable iQBioDrive is priced at $299.95 and, if you care about this thing, is designed and assembled here in the good old U.S. of A.
The iQBioDrive is reportedly secured by 128bit AES encryption and makes use of the company's BioCert fingerprint technology. According to iQBio, the drive is "partitioned into three 'mapped drives' on Windows 2000 (SP3) or Windows XP systems. The first is a partition that is seen by the system as a read only drive and contains the biometric encryption software. The second partition is set at 100MB or so…and is a public partition where files may be stored and used without biometric authentication…The last partition is the secure drive that can only be accessed through the use of biometric authentication or a 256 character override password."
Read More | 100GB Portable iQBioDrive Product Page
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Black matte
This is one of my favorite outfits lately! I really love wearing fake leather items especially during this season, don't worry the weather is still warm in Italy so I can do photoshoots like this without freezing :P. I really love this outfit 'cause everything is black, from the clothes to the accessories, the Rogue + wolf jewellery in matte black is my current obsession and I would like to wear them almost everyday! I wish you all a great Sunday, I'll spend mine with my family, lately a lot of bad things happened in my life but I'll do my best to stay positive.


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Plans to sell off the Tote are being put on ice because Gordon Brown is unhappy at the presence of a private equity firm in the management-led consortium bidding to take over the state-owned betting and bookmaking business.
Treasury and culture department insiders have told the Financial Times that the chancellor has blocked approval of the £400m sale to a consortium of racecourse and racehorse owners, Tote management and staff and Lloyds TSB, because he does not want to be linked to private equity in the run-up to the Labour leadership contest.
The highly leveraged bid also involves Lloyds Development Capital, the bank's private equity arm, which is providing 15 per cent of the deal through a high-yielding payment-in-kind note.
Labour has a long-standing commitment, made in both the 2001 and 2005 manifestos, to privatise the horseracing business. But Mr Brown is concerned the consortium could dismantle the Tote to realise a rapid return.
"The Tote is a national asset that needs to be protected and promoted, in the best interests of racing," a government insider told the FT. "What we don't want is to sell it and find, six months from now, that it does not exist."
Mr Brown's hold-out against the bid will be seen by some critics as evidence of the way next month's impending Labour leadership race is affecting policy.
The unions, who control a third of the vote for Mr Blair's successor, have this year mounted a sustained attack on the private equity sector.
Insiders linked to the Tote bid said Treasury officials were protecting the chancellor ahead of his likely coronation as prime minister.
A close observer of the Tote sell-off said: "The thinking in the Treasury is, 'could this thing go wrong, and if it did, could it embarrass Gordon?'"
But aides to the chancellor flatly reject any suggestion that such political considerations are colouring his stance on the Tote.
Mr Brown rejected union demands to end tax breaks for private equity firms and has defended the sector. His concerns centre on the nature and structure of the Tote bid, according to an insider, who said: "We want to encourage private equity but this is a particular case."
Tessa Jowell still hopes to rescue the bid. "The idea it's dead in the water is just nonsense . . . we're pretty confident we can find a way forward," an aide to the culture secretary said.
Richard Caborn, sports minister and prime architect for the Tote sell-off, is meeting Stephen Timms, chief secretary to the Treasury, next week to try to break the impasse between the two departments over the bid.
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