text:
Drunk as a Skunk
There's a common cliche among leftists criticizing conservatives who insist on religious freedom: "Don't those morons know that this applies to their enemies?" On the contrary this started with a controversy about the religions of Native Americans, a group not normally thought of as right wing. The original law was passed with bipartisan support. It's the left that changed what passes for their minds about it. It looks like leftists are the morons who didn't know that this can apply to their enemies.
I'm reminded of the following quote from The Midas Plague by Frederik Pohl:
Howland was there, drunk as a skunk, disgracefully drunk, Morey remembered thinking as he stared up at Howland from the floor.
I suspect the protestors are concentrating on Indiana because it does not have a reputation for being far right. They think Indiana can be embarrassed into submission but they think South Carolina can't. If they were merely fund raising they would protest other states but they need a scalp.
A far-fetched but plausible speculation: A few days ago, it suddenly became well known that conservatives could also field an army of people with too much free time. The Left had to come up with a scalp in a hurry to maintain the illusion of inevitability and this was their best shot.
Advice for the Left
If you must come up with something to embarrass the right, I recommend hiring an illegal alien and claiming that it's required by the Biblical commandment to be fair to strangers (Exodus 22:21).
How to Prevent Maniac Pilots from Crashing Planes
Just let the passengers fly the plane. Daedalus of New Scientist recommended a similar system for buses:
My cyberdemotic friend Daedalus has been weighing the theoretical advantages of buses against the inconvenience of waiting for infrequent vehicles. Smaller and more frequent buses would be preferable but for the expense of manning them. Daedalus remembers the supermarket principle—let the customer do for himself what a worker once did for him—and suggests that the passengers drive the bus themselves. His 'collective responsibility vehicle' has a steering wheel, controls, and TV view of the road ahead, for every seat; and each passenger is invited to help drive if he can. A central mini-computer scans the signals from each steering wheel, accelerator, etc. discards the most extreme values and averages the rest for transmission to the traction unit. Thus individual aberrations (the road-hog, or the man who wants to haul the bus off-route to his own doorstep) have no effect, but the mass knowledge of driving and of the bus-route are pooled. Of course, if everybody wants the bus to take an unofficial route, democracy wins, as it should.
Think of it as crowd soaring or wiki-flying.
A Study I'd Like to See
There's a common technique in psychological research: Researchers give the experimental subjects fabricated data. Much of the time, the subjects refuse to believe it. This is classified as irrational behavior. I'd like to see a parody version of this in which the fabricated data point in a preposterous direction. (For example: "Recent research has shown that the Moon really is made of green cheese." or "Mathematicians have discovered the number 5 comes after the number six." or "There never was a World Trade Center. It was actually a giant pair of stereo speakers." or …)
This might even rival the classic article in the BMJ on double-blind tests of parachutes.
A Note on "Agreeing to Disagree"
According to the Aumann's agreement theorem, disagreement might seem irrational. On the other hand, if we use a system of expressing "what your personal analysis says while simultaneously adjusting your private opinions (which might be revealed in your actions) closer to the opinions of the majority," then disagreements are more apparent than real. In such a system, "agreeing to disagree" can turn into "You look for evidence for X and I'll look for evidence for Y," which makes sense if one person knows more about X (for example, if it was the religion he was raised in) and the other more about Y. This even makes "confirmation bias" look more rational.
On the other hand, this makes refusal to listen to a dissenter far less rational. It should be reserved for persons who are not arguing in good faith.
Fuzzy Matching and Data Compression
Could data compression be used to detect similar files? Many data-compression algorithms work by detecting repeated patterns. If two similar files were concatenated, they could be compressed far more than if two unrelated files were concatenated.
How's That Again?
From a book catalog:
Filling a much-needed gap in the current literature, this book expertly bridges the subjects of number theory and programming and features a multitude of examples and programming exercises in each chapter. It provides an introduction to elementary number theory with fundamental coverage of computer programming and is appropriate for students of mathematics and computer science alike who need to become acquainted with the most famous theorems, problems, and concepts of number theory. In addition, the authors provide a comprehensive presentation of the methodology and applications for readers with various levels of experience, and while theorems are provided, the authors avoid the standard theorem/proof format to aid in reader comprehension. The book features sample programs and research challenges at the end of each chapter for readers to work through, as well as an appendix that provides select answers to the chapter exercises.
I noticed this in the dead-tree version of Wiley's catalog and was able to find a bookseller with the thinko in its book description in time to send the url to the Internet Archive.
The Case of the Missing Argument
One of the commonest left-wing arguments is "All the cool nations do this." For some reason, it's absent from the net-neutrality debate. Of course, if we look at what the "cool nations" have actually done:
If the administration decides to look abroad for answers, it will see that see that countries such as Japan, South Korea and France have developed faster and less expensive broadband networks, but have also refrained thus far from implementing strict net neutrality rules.
If Voters Resent Foreign Interference in Elections …
The attempts by the Obama administration to tilt against Netanyahu in the recent Israeli election might have energized Netanyahu's base simply because many voters resent foreign interference in elections. On the other hand, the open letter to Iran from Republican Senators might have energized the opposition for the same reason.
Two Problems with "Alternative Energy"
Problem 1: It doesn't allow for much expansion. A typical analysis of alternative energy supplies will frequently find that if we turn all energy production over to wind, rooftop solar, etc. and if we have magic batteries to even out the fluctuations we can barely manage to replace the present energy-supply system. If we want to bring the rest of the world up to U.S. standards, we'll need far more and if the population increases, we will need far more.
Problem 2: By the the standards of anti-nuclear environmentalists, the more effective alternative energy systems (wind with toxic battery backup, desert solar, hydroelectricity) should be shut down. They're not decentralized and have at least as much imaginary negatives as nuclear. If they can shut down nuclear energy, they can shut down nearly anything.
It's π Day
It's 3/14/15, also known as Einstein's birthday.
What Will Turn out to Fight Cancer Next?
If vaccines can cure cancer… Are GMOs next? Will we soon find out about the amazing properties of high-fructose corn syrup, trans-fatty acids, and gluten?
The Left Has the Right Beaten …
… when it comes to unhinged lunatic ranting. The reaction of left-wing activists confronted with right-wingers who claim to be concerned about factual accuracy is far loonier than the reaction of right-wing activists confronted with left-wingers who claim to be concerned about factual accuracy.
Creationist Nonsense and Transhumanist Nonsense
A common creationist attempt at an argument against evolution (for example, here) says:
They say we came from monkeys. Then why tf we still got monkeys??
In a related story, a common transhumanist attempt at an argument against traditional values (for example, here) says:
We're basically learning to produce bodies and minds. Bodies and minds are going to be the two main products of the next wave of all these changes. And if there is a gap between those that know how to produce bodies and minds and those that do not, then this is far greater than anything we saw before in history.
And this time, if you're not fast enough to become part of the revolution, then you'll probably become extinct.
We see the same fallacy in both places: The assumption that, if part of X becomes Y, all of X must become Y.
The really annoying part is that the bulshytt-emitting wing of transhumanism has been able to scare some bioconservatives into taking them seriously.
There are three possible stories that can be told about the United States:
The purpose of the United States is to limit the power of rulers.
The purpose of the United States is to ensure that the People rule.
The purpose of the United States is to fight for the interests of the White People who started it.
I was already aware of the fact that many left-wing activists take the third story seriously and that there are alleged right-wing activists who do so as well. Following the comments on some right-wing websites made me realize that story 3 is taken seriously by more than a handful of loons.
The really weird part is that those of us who defend story 1 are not only mistaken for people who believe stories 2 or 3 but sometimes mistaken for anti-American people who believe stories 2 or 3.
One more point: The election of President Obama sent the message that story 3 is no longer accepted by the voters, if it ever was. (The bad news is the Obama apparently thinks story 2 is not only correct but anything that might indicate the contrary is the result of right-wing perfidy and must be disregarded, but that's another rant.) I think the Nobel Prize awarded to Obama a few years ago was intended to go to the American people for electing Obama but the rules did not allow that, so it had to Obama instead. (There is the alternative theory that the Nobel Prize Committee was just plain nuts.)
When Evidence Starts
One common meme lately has been the list of Foods Never to Eat (typical example here). In many of these lists, most of the foods in question do not have actual evidence showing shorter life expectancies or increased illness. They only have far-fetched associations (food X is associated with pesticide Y which is correlated with a syndrome in lab rats that in turn is correlated with cancer). To make matters worse, the lists ignore the fact that toxins have thresholds, below which they're harmless.
The exception is preserved meat. There appears to be actual evidence showing it's unhealthy. The good news is that there is a threshold (just like real toxins) below which it's harmless. Just keep your consumption of pastrami, sausages, etc. below 20 grams per day. (That's five ounces per week for those of us who prefer hexadecimal units.)
The Assumption of Censorship
One sign of paranoia: The belief that the Establishment is censoring you … even in the absence of evidence.
My introduction to this was the time I read: "You won't find these ideas in a university library!" in a university library. Another example is the belief that chain bookstores would never carry anything by Noam Chomsky. Shortly after I read that claim, I checked a Borders bookstore and found a shelf full of Chomsky's books. (Or is that why it's out of business?)
On the other hand, self-censorship appears to be common. I don't even mean self-censorship of what you speak but self-censorship of what you read. It's amazing how many have never heard of the ideas that liberals could be fascists (as described by Nobel prize winner Friedrich von Hayek as well as Jonah Goldberg or even Steven J. Gould) but also the evidence showing that "primitive peoples" did not preserve their environment intact, the fact that Hannukah is a celebration of armed resistance, and even the fact that the roundness of the Earth was well known in the Middle Ages. Maybe we should fight that instead of blaming an Establishment.
I'm reminded of this by the comments here on a possible Google experiment on filtering web sites by factual accuracy. Even if someone tries using that for censorship purposes, it's unlikely to last. For a while Google was shutting down anti-Obama blogs. They had to backtrack on that. The experiment might be an example of a common phenomenon: Leftists attempting to devise an objective test that they imagine will prove conservatives are scum. This is then followed by dropping it when the test gives answers they don't like.
Does Life Require Borders?
Patri Friedmann on borders:
One of the things life has taught me this decade is the importance of exclusion and boundaries, which are highly relevant to this metaphor. A thermodynamic system with poor borders (less insulation), will have greater thermal conductivity. It may do more work initially, but it will also move at maximum speed towards that final resting state where all energy is evenly distributed. Such a state is peaceful in precisely the same way as death; for without flows of energy, there can be no life (in vivo or in silico – as no computation is possible). I suppose those who think human extinction is fair or just will consider this the state of ultimate fairness. I don't particularly care for that final solution.
So if you even care about life existing – let alone the infinite diversity possible therein – then (contra Caplan), boundaries (such as national borders) are an absolute necessity. No differences, no energy flow, no (thermodynamic) work, no life. As in the stars, so on the earth: romance flows from polarity; trade from comparative advantage; thermodynamic work from heat differences; evolution from variation; economic competition from competing alternatives. All progress is driven by differences; so to erase differences is (counter-eponymously) to end progress.
Alexander Cairns-Smith on borders:
The control of the environment by primitive genes depended, not on the individual acts of individual genes, but on effects depending on millions and millions of copies of them. There was thus no need for anything as neat as a cell. If you are a gene very close to the ground, if your modes of preferential survival and propagation depend on deflecting somewhat, and to your advantage, processes that are going on in any case around you, there is no need to be so cordoned off. Indeed it is better not to be.
I won't more than mention that there aren't many border controls inside the U.S. but that doesn't make the U.S. homogeneous.
Phyletic Gradualism or Punctuated Equilbrium?
Sean Davis is asking journalists:
…do you believe in phyletic gradualism or punctuated equilbrium?
My answer: Let's do both!
Phyletic gradualism is based on the idea that nature does not make jumps. Punctuated equilibrium is based on the idea that almost all the time, species aren't changing. Oddly enough both theories are compatible with each other in the presence of change. The Cantor function (also known as the "Devil's Staircase") increases from 0 to 1 even though it is both continuous (the equivalent of phyletic gradualism) and the first derivative is defined and zero almost everywhere (the equivalent of punctuated equilibrium).


text:
These people were trying to send an extremely heavy box to India, and it ended up costing them around $300. FedEx or UPS is generally a lot cheaper than the post office for big boxes, but maybe that's only domestic.
This guy didn't speak English, so he told the person on the phone what he wanted, gave the phone to the clerk, and the person on the phone told the clerk what he wanted. It works, but if he actually lives here, it might be easier to just memorize the English words for what he likes to eat.
Honestly, who would ever buy a used trophy with someone else's name on it?
That's a weird window cut-out.
The hurricane dropped the ceiling down about an inch along one side, but since it hasn't actually caved in, I told the office I didn't care if they don't fix it. Insulation or something kept falling out of it, though, and that got a little annoying, so I found some white duct tape to at least stop that.
It's always good to have layers when you go skiing or do anything else in cold weather, but I also keep these three pieces of headgear to exchange out depending on how warm I get.
Even though it says, "Tray is bolted down," you'd be amazed at how many people tried to pick this up to put their stuff in at the airport security line.
These chairs are indoors, and they still somehow have what appears to be bird poo on them. How does that happen, and why has nobody cleaned them since whenever they got that way?
I like window seats so I can lay my head against the side of the plane and rest, but that's kind of hard to do when the little kid behind you keeps banging on the window.
Dude, honestly, you don't need that much ketchup.
The Denver airport has this mural with a pretty scary picture on the right side. A mask-wearing Nazi-type guy with a machine gun in one hand and a sword swinging towards a dove and some crouching people in the other? Come on, kids walk by this thing.
The living room of our condo in Breckenridge.
Hot tubs at our condo.
Eating at Eric's, a really good pizza place.
Some of the Breckenridge slopes.
Getting our equipment was pretty easy, except for digging through this jumbled mass of ski poles to find two that matched.
A bunch of us at the bottom of the mountain.
The Dew Tour was going on this weekend and there were some really big names competing. I watched a little, but didn't stay too long. I'd rather watch it at home on TV where it's warmer.
My kind of place.
It often was hard to see at the top of the mountain with the snow blowing around, and the only way down is via black runs.
A club that was less than a block away.
Which was nice for going to the club, but was a bit of a pain when the random girl came knocking on our door looking for her friend's room at two in the morning. And then, from what I could hear, knocking on pretty much every single other door in our building doing the same.
Saturday was a bit cold, though.
I went to Keystone, but not only was it freezing, I also couldn't see very far in front of me at all.
Essential equipment: socks to use as heel lifts and warmers to stick into my boots to keep my toes from freezing.
Truckers were required to use chains in some areas, so you'd see long lines of them pulled off to the side putting the chains on. You'd think the chains would really tear the roads up.
My least favorite thing about Vail: you had to walk through their little "village" of shops to get to the mountain. Which wouldn't be so bad if you weren't hauling skis and poles and wearing those impossible-to-walk-in ski boots.
A big bowl at Vail.
The bathrooms had scented candles, which I thought was a nice touch.
Vail also had some areas with super-deep powder.
Which was fun, except when one of my skis went down into the snow instead of over the top of it, and I had to go back and dig it out of three feet of snow.
My favorite run at Vail: down through the trees and then into a giant bowl. I love the really wide runs which you can ski pretty much anyway you want.
The oldest continuously-operating bar west of the Mississippi.
Napper Tandy's Irish Pub, which is above the Salt Creek Steakhouse (a really great restaurant, by the way).
They were having a winter-clothing fashion show there this night.
Uh, that one doesn't look too wintery, though.
Me on top of Breckenridge.
Time to go through the trees.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Support MCDS
Let's Build the Future Together
The endowment is Madison Country Day School's next priority in building a mature business plan for our growing school. In addition to traditional sources of income like revenue from earned sources (primarily tuition) and contributions (the Annual Fund), invested income (or the endowment) is designed to support important school priorities that enhance the MCDS experience.
How will the endowment do this?
The endowment is new to MCDS and will play an essential role in providing financial support and stability in order to further the School's mission. It will ensure MCDS's future by preserving and enhancing the real, inflation-adjusted value of the endowment through prudent investments and strong oversight. As a result, the endowment will provide a steady, stable and predictable stream of earnings to allow planning for Madison Country Day School.
How much is the endowment worth and where is it invested?
Our endowment currently plays no role in balancing MCDS's budget. Over the next decade, MCDS will pursue support that will cover 5% of the school's budget.
Who oversees the MCDS endowment?
The Madison Country Day School Board of Trustees oversees the investment and growth of the school's endowment.
What is the Board's responsibility?
The Board of Trustees develops and approves investment policies and guidelines for money managers to follow. As the endowment grows they will also carefully monitor performance against established benchmarks. This deeply engaged group of MCDS leadership is supported by the School's Development staff.
What are the endowment's objectives?
The primary investment goal of the Trustees is that the endowment earn an annual average return that exceeds its spending policy. This financial objective is intended to balance the School's future needs.
How does the endowment support the school?
When the endowment is fully vested, the Trustees will approve an annual maximum contribution from the endowment. Currently the guideline is 5% of the average market value of the twelve previous quarters.
How will MCDS use that support?
Earnings from the endowment will be used exclusively to support school priorities as directed by our strategic plan including professional development, faculty compensation, and scholarships.
How does the school ensure fiscal responsibility?
As a young school we are a tuition-driven institution; just 9% of our budget is balanced by the Annual Fund. In the twenty-first century, all independent schools will need to move from this model to one that is better balanced by tuition, annual contributions and the endowment. We will reinforce our commitment to fiscal strength by building significant endowment income over the next decade.
How does the gift add value to Madison Country Day School's curriculum?
The endowment will contribute significantly to the richness of the School's mission. Endowment earnings from unrestricted and restricted funds will underwrite faculty compensation and benefits, professional development, and curriculum; all factors that enrich the classroom.
What is the endowment-to-operating-budget ratio?
A priority of Madison Country Day School is to establish a ratio of endowment to operating budget in order to provide a larger, permanent, predictable source of funding for its growth.
How can I contribute to the endowment and support MCDS?
You can designate your contribution to the endowment or you can plan a gift through your estate. Naming Opportunities are available at appropriate giving levels for an array of funding needs. Whether by a present or deferred gift, participating in the School's endowment offers a way to dedicate one's belief in this exceptional education for current and future students at MCDS.
For more information or to pledge your support
Contact the Development Office at (608) 850-6000.


text:
Audiology Without Borders
Audiology Education
Clinical Case Studies
Clinical Case Videos
Hearing-Brain Connections
Tinnitus Research
Manufacturers News
Videos & Podcast
About the Publication
Home > August 2013 - Volume 66 - Issue 8 > Clinical Consultation: Symptom Redness in Middle Ear
Friend's E-mail is Invalid
Thought you might appreciate this item(s) I saw at The Hearing Journal.
Your message has been successfully sent to your friend.
Clinical Consultation: Symptom Redness in Middle Ear
Djalilian, Hamid R. MD
The Hearing Journal: August 2013 - Volume 66 - Issue 8 - p 18–20
doi: 10.1097/01.HJ.0000433568.14173.bb
Clinical Consultation
Dr. Djalilian is director of neurotology and skull base surgery and an associate professor of otolaryngology and biomedical engineering at the University of California, Irvine.
Diagnosis: Otosclerosis
GENETIC ETIOLOGY
CARHART NOTCH
THREE OPTIONS
iPad Video!
TREATMENT: WATCH THE SURGICAL OPTION FOR OTOSCLEROSIS
A 45-year-old male comes into the office with a complaint of hearing loss. He had noticed this difficulty hearing over the last year, especially in noisy environments.
The patient works as a physician and sometimes has trouble understanding in a conference setting. It is also challenging for him when people mumble.
He denies having had any previous surgery on his ears or problems with ear infections as a child. His father wore hearing aids starting at age 60.
Examining the patient's ear, we find that there is a reddish hue to the middle ear structures. The Rinne exam shows bone conduction to be louder than air conduction.
What is your diagnosis? See p. 19.
Hamid R. Djalilian, MD
The reddish appearance on the otoscopic exam is generally associated with an infectious process. Infection causes increased vascularity of the tympanic membrane, making the membrane look red. This often occurs in conjunction with fluid in the middle ear.
Redness of the tympanic membrane in the absence of middle ear fluid can be seen in a child who is screaming during the examination. The screaming causes engorgement of the capillaries of the tympanic membrane, creating the appearance of a hyperinflated red tympanic membrane.
What's observed in this patient is distinct from a red tympanic membrane in that the erythema is on the promontory of the cochlea (outer wall). The tympanic membrane itself is actually normal.
This subtle exam finding is best appreciated with microscopic examination rather than the use of an otoscope. With a microscope, one is able to focus further into the middle ear and notice that the redness is from the promontory and not the tympanic membrane. This can sometimes be seen when an endoscope is used for a magnified examination of the tympanic membrane.
The redness of the outer wall of the cochlea in this patient is associated with a hypervascular bone of otosclerosis, termed Schwartze's sign. Otosclerosis only affects the endochondral bone of the inner ear, called the otic capsule.
The abnormal otosclerotic bone grows uncontrollably, gradually causing hearing loss in some patients. Most patients present in their 20s and 30s, and 90 percent of affected patients are under 50 at the time of diagnosis.
In studies of postmortem temporal bone histopathology, 10 percent of temporal bones from Caucasians had foci of otosclerosis. However, only 10 percent of those individuals had hearing loss.
Otosclerosis is less common in African-Americans and Asians, and more common in women. An acceleration of otosclerosis-related hearing loss is seen during pregnancy.
Multiple etiologies for otosclerosis have been theorized, but the most commonly accepted cause is genetic. Several genes associated with otosclerosis have been identified, with each on a different chromosome. An autosomal dominant pattern with variable penetrance has been seen.
Another theory is that a post-measles viral infection causes changes in the bone. Genetic material from the measles virus has been found in otosclerotic bone of some patients.
The most common area of involvement is the fissula ante fenestram, which is at the anterior edge of the oval window. Encroachment of that focus of otosclerosis onto the stapes footplate leads to the conductive hearing loss observed in patients affected by this disease.
The second most common site of involvement is the posterior aspect of the oval window, called the fossula post fenestram. Other locations include the round window and internal auditory canal. Sometimes, the otosclerotic bone will invade the cochlea and cause sensorineural hearing loss, termed cochlear otosclerosis.
Patients presenting with otosclerosis have some distinguishing characteristics on audiological testing. Most patients will have a low-frequency conductive hearing loss combined with a drop in the bone conduction threshold at 2,000 Hz, termed a Carhart notch. The cause of the drop in the 2-kHz threshold is unknown; however, a normalization of this threshold often is seen after surgical repair.
Nearly all patients with otosclerosis have an absent acoustic reflex once the conductive hearing loss has advanced beyond 30 dB in the lowest frequencies. A shallow (type As) tympanogram is seen due to the stiffness of the ossicular motion that occurs with stapes fixation.
Patients who do not have these characteristics can potentially have superior canal dehiscence and should be evaluated for that with an ultra-fine-cut CT scan of the temporal bones.
In the office, patients diagnosed with otosclerosis are generally presented with three options: watchful waiting, hearing aid, and surgical repair. Most commonly, older patients choose hearing aids, while younger patients opt for surgery.
The surgery, called stapedotomy, involves a transcanal approach to the middle ear. Once the stapes has been exposed, its immobility is confirmed. The stapedial tendon and posterior crus are cut by a laser.
A small (0.6-mm) opening is placed into the oval window. After measurement of the distance between the incus and the stapes footplate, a prosthesis is attached to the incus and placed into the oval window opening. Tissue or blood is used to seal around the prosthesis at the oval window.
The surgery generally is successful at reducing the air-bone gap to less than 10 dB in about 95 percent of patients.
Video by Hamid R. Djalilian, MD
In the August iPad issue, watch as Hamid R. Djalilian, MD, director of neurotology and skull base surgery and an associate professor of otolaryngology and biomedical engineering at the University of California, Irvine, performs a stapedotomy, which is the surgical option for patients diagnosed with otosclerosis.
In a stapedotomy, the fixed stapes is replaced with a prosthesis. Generally, the surgery is successful at reducing the air-bone gap to less than 10 dB in about 95 percent of patients.
To see the surgery, download The Hearing Journal app, and the video, for free today atbit.ly/AppHearingJ.
© 2013 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.
TREATMENT: WATCH THE SURGICAL OPTION FOR OTOSCLER...
The Hearing Journal66(8):18-20, August 2013.
Articles in PubMed by Hamid R. Djalilian, MD
Articles in Google Scholar by Hamid R. Djalilian, MD
Other articles in this journal by Hamid R. Djalilian, MD


text:
European Insurance Giant Transforms Business Processes with EMC Documentum xCP
Generali Hellas Eliminates Two Million Pages of Paper a Year; Deploys Documentum xCP to Automate Application Processes, and Improve Productivity and Service for Millions of Clients
BERLIN - November 01, 2011 -
At Momentum, the EMC Information Intelligence Group's global user conference, EMC Corporation (NYSE: EMC) today announced that Generali Hellas, a member of the Generali Group (Assicurzioni Generali S.p.A.), the largest European insurance group and second largest global financial insurance company , has significantly enhanced its competitive position and operational efficiencies by deploying EMC® Documentum® xCP, an integrated platform for building dynamic business solutions and an action engine for Big Data.
Customer Benefits:
Insurance Application Processing Time Shrunk from Weeks to Days: EMC Documentum xCP combines enterprise content management (ECM), business process management (BPM), intelligent capture, and compliance management, to increase productivity and decision making. Generali has accelerated insurance application processing time from weeks to days.
Improved Efficiency and Service Quality: Web-based access, activity monitoring and reporting transforms Generali's insurance application processing. Processes are streamlined and coordinated across functional boundaries both inside and outside the organization, providing the visibility into business operations to improve decision quality and service levels.
Massive Cost Savings via Near-Paperless Environment: Last year, the company printed nearly two million pages of paper for its agents to service its customers. They are now largely paperless, massively reducing costs associated with printing, postage, and fulfillment.
Legislative Compliance: Retention management positions Generali for their current and pending compliance with certain laws, such as Solvency II.
Customer Challenges
Founded in 1886, Generali Hellas is the oldest insurer in Greece. The company offers a wide range of specialized Life and non-life insurance products, and has shown particularly rapid growth, effectively tripling its portfolio over the past decade. Generali Hellas' previous information management infrastructure was impacting its ability to support its business strategy and competitive position. Generali evaluated several ECM, BPM, and capture solution providers, and selected EMC Documentum xCP as the most comprehensive solution to replace its legacy system.
Customer Quote:
Elias Mandouvalos, Assistant IT Manager, Generali Hellas
"EMC Documentum xCP was by far the most complete offering on the market with integrated ECM, BPM and capture. We conducted an in-depth technical inspection, and Documentum xCP delivered the functionalities we were looking for. It simply does what they said it would do — accelerating application processing and empowering our agents to provide industry-leading service to our customers."
EMC Executive Quote:
Rohit Ghai, Vice President and General Manager, Content and Case Management Group, EMC Information Intelligence Group.
"Global organizations, such as Generali, deploy EMC Documentum xCP to simplify business operations, make accurate decisions, and increase return on investment. As Generali continues to transform other business processes, it can rely on its existing xCP infrastructure for even faster time-to-market benefits."
Learn more about Documentum xCP.
Stay connected with Momentum on Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn.
Follow the @EMC_Momentum account and join the #mmtm11 conversation on Twitter.
Join the EMC Documentum communities on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, SlideShare, the EMC Community Network.


text:
« K'naan Brings Hip-Hop to The 2010 World Cup | Main | Michael Jackson A Billion - Dollar Man »
FCC to toughen internet rules
The Federal Communications Commission has taken the first formal steps towards tougher rules for broadband.
It asked for public comment on three different plans, igniting an expensive lobbying campaign by all sides.
The looming battle follows a court ruling questioning the FCC's right to regulate internet service providers after one throttled traffic to users.
That court ruling dealt a major blow to a central plank of the FCC's broadband plan called net neutrality which demands that all data traffic be treated equally.
The five commissioners on the FCC board were split 3-2 in putting out for public comment proposals on new regulations for the broadband industry.
'Third way'
One of the three plans the public is being asked to comment on, and which is favoured by FCC chairman Julius Genachowski, is called the "third way".
This would involve reclassifying broadband so it went from being a lightly regulated service to one with more vigorous oversight.
In return for this tightening up, Mr Genachowski has proposed the new classification would not regulate on how much people pay for their broadband. It would also shy away from overseeing internet content, services, applications or electronic commerce sites.
The other two options include leaving the existing regulatory framework in place or imposing the full force of stricter regulations.
ISPs, such as Comcast, AT&T and Verizon, prefer the status quo and have come out against the "third way" proposal.
"This is impossible to justify on either a policy or legal basis and we remain confident that if the FCC persists in its course - and we truly hope it does not - the courts will surely overturn their action," said Jim Cicconi, AT&T's senior executive vice president for external and legislative affairs.
Verizon said the FCC's move was "a terrible idea".
By contrast, web giants such as Google and Amazon extol the value of free-flowing web traffic and an open internet.
"Broadband infrastructure is too important to be left outside of any oversight," said Richard Whitt, Google's telecom and media counsel in a blog posting.
'To the death'
The political dynamics of the FCC board, two Republicans and three Democrats, imply that the "third way" looks almost certain to be the plan it adopts.
Some suspect this will provoke more lobbying and may draw legal challenges.
"There is a very big fight brewing and it's the carriers versus everybody else," said Erik Sherman, analyst with BNET.com, part of CBS's digital business network.
"There is little doubt it's going to be a right data Donnybrook and I am not sure the consumers are winners in any circumstances. These companies are not fighting for the little guy. They are fighting for themselves and higher profit margins."
That view was echoed by Public Knowledge, a Washington based public advocacy group.
"It's a tough road ahead and the telcos are going to fight this to the death," communications director Art Brodsky told BBC News.
"AT&T in the first quarter of this year spent $6m on lobbying. That is one company. One quarter. Compare that to Google which spent $4m in the whole of last year."
The Computer and Communications Industry Association said the "third way" option is the only realistic option.
"Without deliberate FCC action, consumers, entrepreneurs, small businesses and non-profits will be left completely powerless against the corporate commercial interests of their unregulated internet access providers," said Ed Black, association president. SOURCE
Posted at 08:08 PM in Legal , Lifestyles, TECHNOLOGY | Permalink
Tags: FCC to toughen internet rules


text:
Catalog Number(s): 20200925, 20170414, 20160916
Interview Year(s): 2016
In front of an audience at the Kansas City Public Library, Juan Felipe Herrera, our first Chicano U.S. Poet Laureate (2015-2017), reveals how he, as the child of migrant farm workers, found his voice as a poet. Herrera, whose collection Everyday We Get More Illegal, was released in 2020, reads from his earlier books, including the 2008 National Book Critics Circle Award-winning Half of the World in Light and his 2015 book, Notes on the Assemblage, as he discusses his use of Spanish and English at the Writers Place 2016 Inaugural William H. Hickok Reading Series. The California-born writer, who has also served as his state's Poet Laureate, gets the audience to participate in reciting his work for both children and adults. A 1992 interview with Juan Felipe Herrera is also available in our Audio Archives.
(Photo by Oregon State University CC BY-SA 2.0)
https://www.newletters.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/NEWLETTR_20200925_Herrera.mp3


text:
Home Trucking News New Love's location brings 79 truck parking spots to California
New Love's location brings 79 truck parking spots to California
This week, Love's Travel Stops opened a new truck stop location in Kern County, California.
On Thursday, Love's opened a new store off of Highway 58 in Boron, California.
Amenities at the new location include 79 truck parking spaces, a Carl's Jr. restaurant, six diesel bays, eight showers, a Love's Truck Care with on-site Speedco, laundry facilities, a CAT scale, and a dog park.
"We're excited to open a new location in this important corridor on the West Coast," said Tom Love, founder and executive chairman of Love's. "Boron is a great location to provide professional truck drivers and four-wheel customers the great service and amenities they expect, and to help get them back on the road safely and quickly."
In January, Love's announced plans to open 40 new store locations nationwide in 2020. The company says that this will allow them add about 3000 new truck parking spots to their network this year.
Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores was founded in 1964 and currently operates approximately 520 locations in 41 states.
Multiple agencies are teaming up for three week I-70 blitz


text:
THE CONSTRUCTION COMIC
Carmen Ciricillo tours nationally as The Construction Comic ® a humorous routine he created about life as a contractor. "My act plays well for everyone" says the comedian. In fact, XM and Sirius Satellite Radio has been airing Carmen's Construction Comedy CD to their audiences of over 10 million subscribers.
Carmen's first construction gig was for the Northern Illinois Home Builder's Association. That's when the word spread about The Construction Comic®. Since that day Carmen has performed for thousands of construction groups including:
The National Association of Home Builders (NHBA)
National Underground Utility Contractors (NUCA)
Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC)
Associated General Contractors (AGC)
The American Subcontractors Association (ASA)
The Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors (PHCC)
The Painting and Decorating Contractors Association (PDCA)
Volvo Hard Hat Comedy Tour
Thousands of major construction corporations including DuPont, LeChase, Home Depot, Hammes, March Westin, Wilsonart and many more
Carmen also portrayed the humorous tool man on The Discovery Channel's "Your New House" television show where he was a regular. Carmen wrote and performed almost 60 segments which aired daily. He went on to travel with NASCAR for The Michael Holigan Racing Team and Hendricks Motor Sports doing driver interviews and entertaining at the hospitality events.
Bill Grundfest, a writer and producer on the NBC sitcom "Mad About You", wrote a pilot for a sitcom based on Carmen's Construction Comedy routine. Carmen went out to L.A. and shot the pilot! Not too many comics get that chance!
Carmen is also approved by the State of Florida to teach Florida Licensed Contractors their required continuing education to maintain their licenses. Carmen owns and is the principal instructor for Construction Comedy School, teaching safety, building code, workers compensation, green building, economics and more in a humorous manner.


text:
The Riverside Ice Rink was so cold Saturday that Ryan Miller could see his breath. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
Sabres want Alexander Sulzer to provide veteran stability
BUFFALO – As a 29-year-old veteran of 107 NHL games, defenseman Alexander Sulzer gives the struggling Sabres some much-needed stability, interim coach Ted Nolan said.
"We're running around the defensive zone a little bit too much," Nolan said Saturday after the Sabres prepared for this afternoon's game against the Detroit Red Wings inside the First Niagara Center.
That's why Nolan and Pat LaFontaine, the president of hockey operations, watched Sulzer play Friday in Rochester. The Sabres recalled him following the game.
"We got a lot of young talent," Nolan said inside the Riverside Ice Rink. "We got to make sure they mature at the right pace. He's a veteran guy that has been around for a while. He can add some stability back there."
Sulzer, who's played 33 games with the Sabres, including one during a brief recall earlier this season, has two goals and seven points in 10 appearances with the Americans in his first AHL stint since 2009-10.
The Sabres waived him shortly before the season started.
"I'm an older guy, even if I don't want to admit it," Sulzer said. "He just wants me to be calm on the ice and just play the zone. Don't freak out when a mistake happens."
Sulzer practiced Saturday beside Christian Ehrhoff, his old partner. The two Germans formed a strong duo late in 2011-12.
To make room on the 23-man roster, the Sabres placed forward Cody McCormick, who left Thursday's 4-1 loss in Philadelphia early, on injured reserved.
"Cody's banged up a little bit," Nolan said. "I guess modern day you've got to say, 'upper body or lower body.' Pick your choice. He's got one of them. He's out at least a week."
Meanwhile, John Scott practiced as a defenseman much of Saturday, meaning the tough guy's likely out against Detroit, a team that rarely fights. Brian Flynn, a regular winger like Scott, centered the fourth line with Marcus Foligno and Corey Tropp, a healthy scratch last game.
"He's a very intelligent player," Nolan said about Flynn. "He said he played eight games at center ice last year. With the fourth-line position, we got to make sure we have reliable guys."
Nolan also put the top line of Matt Moulson, Cody Hodgson and Drew Stafford back together Saturday.
The three players haven't scored since Nolan took over four games ago.
"My simple philosophy in life is if it ain't working, you ain't working hard enough," Nolan said. "You just got to … do things maybe you don't want to do sometimes, and that's go up the wall, dump it and go get it. Sometimes we want to carry it in and make a nice play."
LaFontaine told reporters Friday in Rochester he interviewed at least one person for vacant general manager's job last week. He wouldn't reveal the name. LaFontaine said he's added to his original list of candidates.
Author Bill HoppePosted on 11.24.13 02.26.19 Categories Detroit Red Wings, Ehrhoff, Flynn, Foligno, Hodgson, LaFontaine, McCormick, Moulson, Nolan, Rochester Americans, Scott, Stafford, Sulzer, Tropp
Previous Previous post: Sabres recall Alexander Sulzer for veteran presence; Cody McCormick out at least a week
Next Next post: Sabres' Tyler Myers confident he's finally regaining old form


text:
Toxic and Tax Exempt
April 2, 2013By Erin O'SullivanBlog Post, Featured, Subsidy Spotlight
Toxic and tax exempt: How tar sands spills from Michigan to Arkansas cost us all.
As the Obama Administration continues to ponder a decision on the Keystone XL pipeline, TransCanada has been assuring everyone of it's safety. "Safety of the public and the environment is a top priority for TransCanada" their slick website reads. Any spill is deemed "unlikely".
Hardly. Last year, there were 364 spills from pipelines that released about 54,000 barrels of oil and refined products. In 2010 in Marshall, Michigan an Enbridge pipeline sent 819,000 gallons of toxic tar sands crude into the town's creek just 80 river miles from Lake Michigan. Now in Mayflower, Arkansas, 22 homes have been evacuated this week as Exxon prepares to attempt to clean 10,000 barrels of this same dirty tar sands crude from neighborhoods.
The experiences of people of Marshall, Michigan may shed light on what the citizens of Mayflower, Arkansas may now be in for.
On July 26th 2010, at 7:30 a.m., Marshall resident Susan Connolly dropped off her children at daycare. That Michigan morning there was a strong smell in the air, making it hard to breathe. By the time she picked up her children just a few hours later, the symptoms had started.
That night her son vomited. The week following, her daughter had a rash, as did almost all the children at the daycare. The other children also reported cases of vomiting, upset stomach, shortness of breath, lethargy, headaches, rash, irritation with the eyes, sore throat, and cough. Meanwhile, Connolly and her husband experienced migraines, eye irritation, sore throat, nausea, and cough. Just six days later, their dog came in from the yard suffering from continuous vomiting and diarrhea.
They quickly learned that this was all related to a broken Enbridge pipe, spilling bitumen ooze into the water just 6/10ths of a mile from their children's day care and just two miles from their home. Bitumen is a thick, sticky, black semi-solid form of petroleum. It is transported from Alberta Canada as diluted bitumen (dilbit) on its way to refineries in the U.S.
"I'm a parent and I see the children and the staff of this center who have been affected by this spill," says Connolly, "Three months after the spill, four parents withdrew six children from the center due to their concern of their short-term health effects of their children. They were concerned about the smell, air quality, and potential long-term effects. An employee who has been with the child care center since it opened, who helped them build it from the ground up, left the center because she has been sick since the day of the spill."
Their concern is understandable. The EPA established that there were 15 parts per billion of benzene in the atmosphere in the region of the spill, which is roughly three times the standard established as safe for human exposure.
Connolly reports that "the argument made by Enbridge is: you cannot prove that the spill may be the cause. Well, my response as a parent is you can't prove that it's not… I'm not anti-pipeline, but I am an advocate for safety. You need to know the health impacts. There will be another spill, it's not an if, it's a when."
Connolly's story highlights the clear effects of the revolving door of money from politicians and fossil fuel companies keeping the safety standards and oversight low. In 2009 and 2010 fossil fuel companies like Enbridge spent $25.8 million lobbying Congress and in return they received subsidies and tax loopholes worth $20.5 billion. That's a 5800% return on political investment; about $59 in return for each dollar they spend lobbying.
Connolly sees the influence fossil fuel companies have on Washington, DC firsthand. She asks, "Who do you think [government officials] are looking out for more? Corporations or the people?"
Companies that transport oil are required to pay into the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund, giving the government a pot of money for immediate spill responses. The Enbridge pipeline in Michigan and the Exxon pipeline in Arkansas, however, are exempt because these pipelines are not considered to be carrying "conventional oil", despite the fact bitumen spills are more expensive and more dangerous.
In a January 2011 memorandum, the IRS determined that to generate revenues for the oil spill trust fund, Congress only intended to tax conventional crude, and not tar sands or other unconventional oils. This exemption remains to this day, even though the United States moves billions of gallons of tar sands crude through its pipeline system every year. The trust fund is liable for tar sands oil spill cleanups without collecting any revenue from tar sands transport. If the fund goes broke,the American taxpayer foots the cleanup bill.
When Connolly learned that Enbridge is not required to pay into the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund, she was shocked. "I can't believe that," she said, "it's unconscionable, disgusting. I can't believe it's not being brought up… [Companies] get enough tax loopholes; they can pay into the system and should not make taxpayers pay for their cleanup."
Connolly holds that the government needs to hold companies like Enbridge and Exxon accountable. She believes her government representatives should advocate for companies to pay into the Oil Spill Liability Fund and keep discussing the issue. "They're making a ton of money and they're calling the shots, but who do they answer to? We're asking the government to come and look at the impact, but no one comes out. No one looks; no one sees. They think it's all cleaned up."
Connolly has just one piece of advice for politicians and Enbridge CEO Al Monaco: "Come back to Michigan; meet with the residents who have concerns and questions. Don't come just for PR or to hand out checks. Make the time to talk to those involved in pipeline and cleanup. I'm not trying to bash anyone, but we should all learn from it and be better prepared… a spill like this will happen again."
And indeed it has.
-Erin O'Sullivan
Alice Burkhart says:
ok, let's get the foxes out of the position of writing epa and state department reports about the henhouse. Real science, and while we are at it, no tax exemptions or cost of cleanup exemptions, Exxon still hasn't fully paid for the Valdez… Come on.
Frederick Gooding says:
I am an American living in Canada. This article and many others are reasons that I am against the proposed pipeline
originating in Alberta and going into the United States
Who will pay for the spills and what loopholes will be granted to keep the company from paying.


text:
Tag: BER
Due to the announced warning strike at Berlin Airport, no passenger flights will be possible on Wednesday, 25 January 2023. The airport company officially informed its partners, such as the airlines, ground handling service providers,
BER Introduces Virtual Queuing Programme
Passengers at BER can now book additional access through the security controls: the airport company's new BER Runway service is now being offered to all passengers. This allows passengers to book a time slot online
Chemnitz Now Connected with BER
From June, the Saxon city of Chemnitz will be directly connected to BER Airport by rail: From Sunday, 12 June, Deutsche Bahn will extend its Intercity connection from Rostock-Warnemünde to Dresden to Chemnitz, twice daily
Terminal 2 at BER Off to a Flying Start
Operations at Berlin Brandenburg Willy Brandt Airport's (BER) Terminal 2 (T2) begin today. The main user will be the airline Ryanair. Terminal 2 serves as a check-in building for departures and arrivals. It is connected
BER Prepares for Increased Number of Passeners
In its first meeting in 2022, the supervisory board of the BER discussed preparations for the expected air traffic recovery and the company's medium and long-term financial development. It also discussed the effect the war
The Christmas Travel Season at BER Begins
For many people, the Christmas period is also a time of travel. During the holidays in Berlin und Brandenburg, the airport operating company is expecting slightly increasing passenger figures compared to the previous weeks. During
BER to Close New Runway a Month After Opening
The first supervisory board meeting after the successful commissioning of BER on November 27 was all about the massive effects that the ongoing pandemic has on the capital region's flight operations. The management reported that
Brussels Airlines Moves Its Operations to New Brandenburg Airport (BER)
Berlin Brandenburg Airport "Willy Brandt" (BER), named after former West Berlin mayor and West German chancellor Willy Brandt, opened its doors on October 31st. Following Austrian, Lufthansa and Swiss, today also Brussels Airlines moved its
Lufthansa to Launch Operations at BER
With the arrival of special flight LH2020 Lufthansa partakes in the opening of the new Berlin Capital Airport BER on 31.10. Lufthansa's Airbus A320neo "Neubrandenburg" is scheduled to take off from Munich (MUC) at 12:50


text:
By Default
domestic-policy / drugs / policing-and-crime
Govt starts cocaine crackdown
A new government crackdown on cocaine begins today with drug minister Vernon Coaker announcing a £1 million FRANK campaign aimed at 15 to 18-year-olds and a government commitment to Colombia's 'Shared Responsibility' campaign.
Mr Coaker will lead a summit this morning with representatives of the Colombian government, the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) and various treatment agencies.
The government is said to be committed to a sophisticated media campaign, including online advertising, given the drug's continued popularity among the young and successful. Cocaine is the only street drug whose use has risen over the last ten years. Just under five per cent of adults have used the drug over the last year.
Mr Coaker said: "Cocaine use has been stable in recent years but it is a very dangerous drug for users and has a devastating impact on the people that live in producing countries.
"Cocaine users need to realise that their drug use destroys more than their health; it destroys the lives of innocent people caught up in kidnapping, exploitation and armed violence."
The initiative comes as Columbia's government launches an all-out anti-cocaine initiative across the western world. The South Americans have decided to tackle users in Europe and America in an effort to cut down the demand for the drug.
The cultivation and sale of cocaine in Colombia funds several of the left-wing guerrilla groups which the Colombian government is intent on destroying.
Drug reform: Should cocaine be legalised?
If Labour really cares about left-behind communities, it'll push to reform our drug laws
Revealed: The moral disaster of Britain's drug laws
Canada shows how we can save ourselves from the drug war
THC rising: Failed war on drugs sees cannabis grow out of control
Cannabis reform: The chaos of the half-legal CBD market betrays patients
Drug reform police chief faces the Downing Street backlash
Cannabis reform: Legalisation in California could spell the end for prohibition


text:
Feminist Theology (10) Guides for the Perplexed (24) Inter-faith & World Religions (18) Liberation Theology (6) Practical Theology (4) Science & Religion (19)
Practice of Theology
A Reader
Colin Gunton, Colin E. Gunton, Stephen R. Holmes, Murray Rae
A Reader for introductory level university courses in systematic theology. Texts are selected from a variety of positions and historical periods. There is no comparable volume currently on the market.
Models of Contextual Theology
Stephen Bevans, Prof. Robert J. Schreiter, C.P.P.S.
Jesus: A Portrait
Gerald O'Collins, SJ
Modern Christian Thought
The Enlightenment and the Nineteenth Century
James C. Livingston
Cambridge Companion to Reformation Theology
David Bagchi (University of Hull), David C. Steinmetz (Duke University, North Carolina)
A comprehensive and accessible guide to the theology and theologians of the Reformation period.
Jonathan Edwards for Armchair Theologians
James P. Byrd
Black Church in the 21st Century
Joe Aldred, Keno Ogbo
First Theology
God, Scripture and Hermeneutics
Kevin J. Vanhoozer
Bible and Ecology
Rediscovering the Community of Creation
Virtue Reborn
Virtue Reborn is the first in a series of three titles about Christian life in the modern world, which will build on the themes of Simply Christian and Surprised by Hope and be aimed at a similar market.
£10.00 to £14.9956
Paperback / softback226


text:
TEA Talk Time
Dan Woog
You've heard of TED Talks. The 18-minute, internet-addictive presentations cover a broad range of topics. Originally, TED stood for Technology, Entertainment and Design.
Get ready for Westport's version: TEA Talk. This Sunday (October 26, 2 p.m., Town Hall auditorium) the Westport Arts Advisory Committee is sponsoring 3 20-minute conversations. Because this is Westport, the focus is on Thinkers, Educators and Artists.
Gina Rattan
And because this is Westport, the TEA Talk features a combination of rising young talent, and well-established thinkers, educators and artists.
Gina Rattan — a Staples grad who's working now on the live broadcast of NBC's "Peter Pan," and is the resident director of the Broadway musical "Matilda The Musical" — will discuss the impact of technology on Broadway with Carole Schweid.
She directs the "Play With Your Food" series, and was an original Broadway cast member of "A Chorus Line." This segment will include video clips of some wizardry behind Broadway shows.
Nick DeBerardino — another Staples grad and Rhodes Scholar pursuing a master's in music at Yale, and the co-founder of Princeton's Undergraduate Composers Collective — will explore the integration of recent technology into music composition and performance.
Nick DeBerardino
He'll chat with Richard Epstein, professional bassoonist and host for 38 years of WPKN's "Sometimes Classical."
The program kicks off with Bill Derry — head of innovation at the Westport Library — discussing and demonstrating 3D printing's application to the visual arts. Joining him is Thomas Bernstein, a photographer and sculptor best known for his "Dancing Leaves" series.
Both Gina and Nick will be presented with "Horizon Awards," as up-and-coming artists (and movers and shakers).
The TEA Talk is followed by a reception, across the street at the Westport Historical Society. They'll serve hors d'oeuvres — and tea.
(Both events are free, and open to the public. For more information, click on www.westportarts.org)
Categories: Arts, Organizations, People, Staples HS
Tags: Gina Rattan, Nick DiBerardino, TED Talk, Westport Arts Advisory Committee


text:
Mostly law professors | Sometimes contrarian | Often libertarian | Always independent
About The Volokh Conspiracy
Volokh Daily Email
Takings
Supreme Court Decides to Hear Case Challenging State Law Empowering Government to Seize Entire Value of a House to Pay Much Smaller Property Tax Debt
Minnesota law allowed Hennepin County to seize a $40,000 home owned by a 93-year-old widow to pay off a $15,000 tax debt.
Ilya Somin | 1.14.2023 12:17 AM
On Friday, the Supreme Court decided to hear a case challenging the constitutionality of a Minnesota state law empowering local governments to seize the entire value of a property in order to pay off a much smaller delinquent property tax debt. The property owner in the case – 93-year-old widow Geraldine Tyler – argues that this kind of uncompensated seizure of home equity violates the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment, which requires government to pay "just compensation" anytime it takes private property, and the Excessive Fines Clause of the Eighth Amendment.
The case has important implications beyond Minnesota. Ten other states have laws that allow similar "home equity theft." In addition, the case might help resolve the longstanding debate over whether property rights under the Takings Clause are purely a product of state law, and therefore subject to elimination by state legislation.
The Pacific Legal Foundation, the public interest law firm representing Tyler, has a helpful summary of the facts:
As an elderly widow living alone, Geraldine Tyler was doing just fine in the one-bedroom condo she owned in Minneapolis. That is, until 2010, when a rise in neighborhood crime and frightening incidents near her home alarmed Geraldine and her family and prompted her hasty move to a safer area, where she rented an apartment.
Once Geraldine moved, she could no longer afford the property taxes on her condo in addition to the rent on her apartment. The taxes piled up, and Tyler accrued a $2,300 debt. In 2015, when the total tax debt, including penalties, interest, and fees, was $15,000, Hennepin County, Minnesota, seized the condo and sold it one year later for $40,000. Instead of keeping the $15,000 it was owed and refunding Geraldine the sale surplus, the county kept all of the $40,000.
The US Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit ruled for the government, concluding that Tyler had no constitutional property right in her home equity because property rights are ultimately a product of state law, and the Minnesota state legislature had abolished the rights in question by passing a statute eliminating them:
Whether a property interest exists "is determined by reference to existing rules or understandings that stem from an independent source such as state law." Phillips v. Wash. Legal Found., 524 U.S. 156, 164 (1998) (internal quotation omitted). We
therefore look to Minnesota law to determine whether Tyler has a property interest
in surplus equity.
Tyler argues that Minnesota recognizes a common-law property interest in
surplus equity in the tax-forfeiture context. She relies on an 1884 decision of the
Minnesota Supreme Court, Farnham v. Jones, 19 N.W. 83 (Minn. 1884), which
addressed an 1881 Minnesota tax-collection statute….
We conclude that any common-law right to surplus equity recognized in Farnham has been abrogated by statute. In 1935, the Minnesota legislature augmented its tax forfeiture plan with detailed instructions regarding the distribution of all "net proceeds from the sale and/or rental of any parcel of forfeited land." 1935 Minn. Laws, ch. 386, § 8. The statute allocated the entire surplus to various entities but allowed for no distribution of net proceeds to the former landowner. The necessary implication is that the 1935 statute abrogated any common-law rule that gave a former landowner a right to surplus equity.
The court goes on to conclude that current Minnesota tax foreclosure law is similar to the 1935 statute in stripping property owners' rights to surplus home equity.
A recent Sixth Circuit ruling in a similar home equity theft case effectively highlighted the flaw in this reasoning:
True, the federal "Constitution protects rather than creates property interests," which means that "the existence of a property interest," for purposes of whether one was taken, "is determined by reference to existing rules or understandings that stem from an independent source such as state law." Phillips v. Washington Legal Foundation, 524 U.S. 156, 164 (1998… But the Takings Clause would be a dead letter if a state could simply exclude from its definition of property any interest that the state wished to take. To the contrary, rather, "a State may not sidestep the Takings Clause by disavowing traditional property interests long recognized under state law…"Id. at 167.
The question, then, is whether Michigan likewise disavowed traditional property interests merely by defining them away in its General Property Tax Act. The interest that the plaintiffs invoke here, again, is an entitlement to the equity in their homes—pursuant to principles long articulated by courts of equity, before their merger centuries later with courts of law….
I explained the significance of this issue in a post on the Sixth Circuit case, which also notes key reasons why the reasoning like that of the Eighth Circuit should be rejected:
This ruling is part of a longstanding debate over the extent to which the property rights protected by the Takings Clause are purely defined by state law (in which case the state can often avoid takings liability simply by redefining them), or whether they are also defined by some combination of general legal tradition and natural law. The Sixth Circuit is right to conclude that broader legal principles constrain the states here. But I would add that, at least as a matter of original meaning, states are also constrained by natural law understandings of property rights. I briefly cover this point in this article (pp. 52-53), and also in Chapter 2 of my book The Grasping Hand.
Given the high value the Founders placed on property rights, it would be strange—to say the least—if these constitutional rights were left entirely at the mercy of state governments to redefine as they please, because state law protects them and plays a key role in defining their scope. The same logic would equally justify allowing states to redefine the scope of many other constitutional rights. For example, rights to speech and bodily autonomy could similarly be left to the discretion of the states on the theory that state law historically defined the scope of protection against assault and battery, and the extent to which speech could be restricted by laws against libel, slander, sedition, and blasphemy.
I am guardedly optimistic that the Supreme Court will overturn the Eighth Circuit ruling and adopt something close to the approach embraced by the Sixth Circuit, and a number of other federal and state courts, such as the Michigan Supreme Court in the 2020 San Rafaeli case (decided under the Michigan State Constitution). While many property rights cases tend to split the justices along predictable left-right ideological lines, it is possible this one will not, as liberal justices may see the egregious nature of home equity theft, an the way it tends to victimize the relatively poor and disadvantaged. The facts of the Tyler case drive home this point well.
In addition to the Takings Clause issue, the case also raises the question of whether home equity theft violates the Excessive Fines Clause of the Eighth Amendment. This issue is a tougher one than the Takings Clause question, and I will perhaps return to it at a future time. If, as I tentatively expect, the Supreme Court rules in favor of Tyler under the Takings Clause, it may not even need to address the other issue.
NOTE: In both Tyler and the Sixth Circuit case the the property owners were represented by the Pacific Legal Foundation, which is also my wife's employer. She, however, was not involved in either case.
To get the Volokh Conspiracy Daily e-mail, please sign up here.
NEXT: SCOTUS Grants Cert To Reconsider TWA v. Hardison
Ilya Somin is Professor of Law at George Mason University, and author of Free to Move: Foot Voting, Migration, and Political Freedom and Democracy and Political Ignorance: Why Smaller Government is Smarter.
TakingsProperty RightsExcessive Fines
Show Comments (141)


text:
S.L.Frank: The Life and Work of a Russian Philosopher, 1877-1950
Boobbyer, Philip (1995) S.L.Frank: The Life and Work of a Russian Philosopher, 1877-1950. Ohio University Press, 290 pp. ISBN 978-0-8214-1110-0. (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:53759)
"There are many reasons for writing a biography of Semyon Frank. Quite apart from his philosophy, he lived a remarkable life. Born in Moscow in 1877, he was exiled from Soviet Russia in 1922 and died in London in 1950. The son of a Jewish doctor, he became a revolutionary Social Democrat in his teens and finished his life as a Neoplatonist Christian. One of the Russian revisionist Marxists, he was then involved in the Kadet Party during the 1905 revolution before breaking with active political activity and turning to philosophy. He lived in Petrograd through the First World War until September 1917, after which he went to Saratov, where he experienced the chaos of the Russian Civil War. Living in Germany after his exile, he witnessed the rise of Hitler in Berlin, left for France in a hurry in 1937, and spent part of the war hiding from the Gestapo in the Grenoble mountains. It was a life that encompassed a lot of history. "Yet along with this, Frank was arguably Russia's greatest twentieth-century philosopher. Indeed, V.V. Zen'kovskii, the historian of Russian philosophy, considered Frank 'in strength of philosophic vision ... the most outstanding among Russian philosophers generally -- not merely among those who share his ideas.' For its lucidity, conciseness, systematic character, and unity, Zen'kovskii considered Frank's system ' the highest achievement ... of Russian philosophy.' Doubtless, Zen'kovskii's assessment is disputable, but his remarks emphasize Frank's stature in the Russian tradition. In the style of German idealism, Frank constructed a comprehensive philosophical system, which he believed offered a coherent alternative to materialism. He was deeply worried by the implications of epistemological relativism and constructed a system of metaphysics designed to link epistemology and ontology, to bridge the gulf between thought and being. In addition, he attempted to express the idea of a personal God in philosophical language. His system also embraced social philosophy, anthropology, and ethics."-- from the Introduction by the author
D History General and Old World
M.R.L. Hurst
Boobbyer, Philip:


text:
Houston's downtown "Lazy River" is now open to the public
By FOX 26 Houston staff
HOUSTON, TX - Step into the Blue! If you're in need of a Texas-size refreshing break, the Marriott Marquis Houston has opened its Parkview Terrace to the public.
The hotel is now selling resort weekday-only passes to its Texas-shaped Lazy River and other amenities that were once open to overnight guests at the Marriott Marquis. The $50 pass gives you access from 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Thursday with admission to the lazy river, heated infinity pool, the hot tub and fitness center and towel service. Guests are also invited to buy food and drinks at the High Dive restaurant.
Superspreader 'swinger' party busted in South LA
PD: 16-year-old boy shot, killed in Phoenix


text:
Brotherhood the common bond for CSU rugby team
Brett Kennedy
Video by Brett Kennedy, CTV Sports
The Colorado State men's rugby team talks about its success this season. Backs coach Ryan Walker discusses teaching the simple things to his players, along with how close the team has gotten.
"We're sending little, precise messages about doing the simple things right, those things you take for granted when you start winning a lot of games,"Walker said. "We're emphasizing the basics."
Teammates Ben Pinkelman and Luke Engelhaupt talk about how the team's key to winning is focus and playing as a brotherhood.
"You have to attack with a lot of depth so you're catching the ball at full speed," Pinkelman said. "If you can just get an accurate pass, it means a ton, it don't seem like much but it changes the whole flow of the game."
The team had a 10-game win streak going into hosting their Seven's tournament on April 11. The Rams came in second place to Air Force and missed Nationals for the first time in three years.
The team will wrap up its season on April 18 in an away game against the Denver Harlequins.
CTV Sports Reporter Brett Kennedy can be reached at sports@collegian.com
CSU sweeps 1st and 2nd in 2-day Winter Invite
Isaiah Stevens breaks CSU's 30-year career assist record
Wyoming spoils Stevens' record-breaking day in final seconds
Rams basketball took a back seat in annual Fight like a Ram matchup
CSU women's basketball wins 5th straight against Nevada
Colorado State sends SDSU into OT, falling in the finish
Trace Young: Creation, life, basketball (in that order)
Rams track and field impress at CU Potts Invitational
Rams track and field's indoor season is underway, here's what you need to know


text:
Tempur Sealy to add about 700 new jobs in the U.S. to meet demand for its mattresses
By Ciara Linnane
CiaraLinnane
Corporate news editor
Tempur Sealy International Inc. TPX, -0.05% said Wednesday it is planning to add about 700 new jobs in the U.S. to meet growing demand for its Tempur-Pedic, Stearns & Foster and Sealy mattresses. The announcements comes a day after Lexington, Ky.-based Tempur Sealy announced new retail agreements with Big Lots Inc. and Mattress Firm Inc. The new jobs include management roles, operations and logistics and sales and will be spread across the U.S. Shares were not yet active premarket, but have gained 70% in 2019, while the S&P 500 SPX, -0.47% has gained 16%.
Tempur Sealy International Inc. U.S.: NYSE: TPX


text:
Lanza-Weil Named Next Executive Director
Eric Grant, President of the Board of Directors of the Greater Shelburne Falls Area Business Association (GSFABA) announced that the organization has appointed Carmela Lanza-Weil to serve as its next Executive Director. "Carmela has proven herself by overseeing the management of the organization since July and has done a great job. The board unanimously agreed to invite her to stay on permanently in the position to help lead us into the next chapter of the GSFABA's story."
"I'm thrilled to accept this appointment. It is truly an honor and I look forward to leading the organization," said Lanza Weil. "Building on the solid foundation that Mary Vilbon -- and those before her – created, we'll be able to take advantage of some exciting opportunities coming up. We'll work diligently to leverage the prospects ahead, build partnerships to attract and retain businesses, support and grow the creative economy, and continue to build on our robust tourism initiative. Through all these development strategies, we'll see the entire region grow and stabilize economically – while retaining the unique, rural character of the area. "
Lanza-Weil noted the organization was recently awarded funding from the Massachusetts Cultural Council for new activities in the Shelburne Falls Cultural District. Details on that effort will be forthcoming in the next few weeks.
Founded in the mid-1980s, the Greater Shelburne Falls Area Business Association works tirelessly to improve the economy and sustain the rural quality of the Village of Shelburne Falls and surrounding Hilltowns of Western Massachusetts.
"Solarize Shelburne" Project
The Town of Shelburne will hold a public meeting on Thursday, October 22 from 7:00 – 8:30 pm in the select board meeting room at the Shelburne Town Hall, 51 Bridge Street in Shelburne Falls, to explore how and whether to launch a "Solarize Shelburne" project in 2016. All Shelburne residents and business owners are invited to attend, particularly those interested in installing sun-powered electricity generating systems at their homes or businesses. The meeting is also open to residents of neighboring towns who may wish to join a multi-town bulk purchasing Solarize program.
The meeting will include two brief presentations and time for questions and discussion. Tim Walter, solar coach for the town of Plainfield, will describe the Solarize program developed by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center to organize discounted bulk purchase and installation of solar systems. Ashfield, Buckland and Plainfield are currently collaborating on a 3-town Solarize program that has so far enrolled 90 participating households. John Walsh, former energy efficiency program manager for the Western Massachusetts Electric Company (now Eversource) will provide details on installing and operating a typical roof or ground-mounted solar system designed to generate the electricity needed for an average home. He has installed a 2.6 kilowatt system and a 4.4 kilowatt system that he co-owns with another household on the roof of his home in Shelburne Falls.
According to Shelburne Selectman Andrew Baker, "the purpose of the meeting is to see if there is interest among Shelburne residents in creating a group purchasing program for solar systems this coming year. The 30% federal tax credit for solar systems expires at the end of 2016 – that means we have a little over a year to create a Solarize program, choose a solar company to work with and get systems installed. For those interested and able to install your own solar system, now is the time to get going, and a bulk purchase program can lower the cost." For more information about the public meeting or to join a Solarize Shelburne working group, contact Andrew Baker at (413) 625-8465.
Solar for All: Developing Community Shared Solar for your Community
The Roundhouse – Colrain, MA
October 23rd, 5 pm to 24th, 5 pm, 2015
Purpose: Community Leaders share knowledge and experience in building large solar projects that 20 to 500 families can share.
Keynote Speaker: Steven Strong, Solar Design Associates
Steven Strong is acknowledged as a pre-eminent authority on integration of renewable energy systems in buildings. Drawing on his background in architecture and engineering, he has pioneered the concept of integrated design with applications such as solar electricity (photovoltaics), solar thermal and wind energy. Steven has designed dozens of homes and buildings powered by solar electricity - from the Outermost House to the White House.
5 – 6 pm Dinner
5:30 – 6:20 pm Pre-Training Workshop
Eli Moulton, Merritt, Merritt and Moulton - Community Shared Solar Projects and Securities Law
6:30 – 7:45 pm Solar Energy On the Line
Keynote Address: Steven J. Strong, President Solar Design Associates.
7:45 – 9 pm Music, socializing, etc.
8 – 8:45 am Breakfast
8:45 – 9:15 am Putting the Community Back in Community Solar - Welcome and Introductions with Lynn Benander, Co-op Power's CEO
9:30 – 10:45 am Workshop 1
Community Shared Solar for All · Peter Wingate, Community Action and Lynn Benander, Co-op Power - Brainstorming Strategies for Including Participants from Limited Resource Communities in Community Solar
Solar Options for Homeowners · Dwayne Breger, UMass Energy Extension - Lease, Buy a System, or Buy a Share in a Community Solar Project - How do you choose?
11 – 12:15 pm Workshop 2
Community Shared Solar Basics · Josh Hilsdon, PV Squared - Site Selection and Solar Technology Options for Community Shared Solar
Community Shared Solar Policy · Claire Chang, The Solar Store of Greenfield - An overview of Solar Policies supporting Community Shared Solar in Massachusetts and what we're doing to ensure they continue. Claire will also talk about the community solar project she's working on with Greening Greenfield.
12:15 – 1:15 pm Lunch
1:30 – 2:45 pm Workshop 3
Community Shared Solar Legal Considerations · Jill Winans, McCauley Lyman LLC - Legal Considerations for Community Shared Solar
Co-op Power's Model for Community Solar · Isaac Baker, Co-op Power - Community Shared Solar Partnership Flip Financial Model
3 – 4:30 pm What's Next?
Building Community Shared Solar - Options and Opportunities
Massachusetts Solar Loan Program
Greenfield Savings Bank Offers Workshop: Online Tools to Simplify Banking
58 Bridge St., Shelburne Falls
Small is the Next Big
The nation's highest-potential shoppers are turning away from the mall and back to 'Main Street'
Macy's just announced it will be closing 35-40 stores in 2016. This will likely mark the slow, steady progression toward death for the malls to which those stores are attached. But maybe the closure of these Macy's stores are a symptom of a deeper problem in the mall shopping experience, not the cause of the malls' failure.
Today shopping malls are becoming 21st-century ghost towns. Since 2010, more than two dozen enclosed shopping malls have closed, and an additional 60 are on the brink. By 2025, an estimated 15% or more malls will be closed or repurposed, according to projects by Green Street Advisors.
While mall owners blame the trend on the closing of anchor stores, like Macy's, the real reason behind the demise of malls is that shoppers, especially the high-potential affluent customers, have lost interest.
Today, the sameness and ubiquity of the big-box store experience is beginning to show fatigue. Walk through any of the nation's 1,000 or so enclosed malls and you might notice they all look much the same.
Filled with the same stores offering the same merchandise at the same 'sale' price, it's too much of the same thing. Consumers are beginning to look for something new and different and finding it on 'Main Street' not in the malls.
Shoppers are abandoning malls and coming back to Main Street
Main Streets and the independent retailers that thrive there are on the cutting edge of a new shift in retailing. While the Great Recession took out a wide swath of retailers -- economic natural selection at work -- the successful retailers that remain represent, by and large, the best and brightest. They have come through the worst and emerged onto the other side stronger, smarter and more resilient.
Specialty retailers need to target the affluent customers in their communities. While the middle class lost its spending power in the recession and has yet to recover, the affluent, especially the HENRY (high-earners-not-rich-yet) mass-affluent who are the new mass-market customers with discretion, have the incomes on which specialty independent retailers rely.
The HENRYs are passionate about fulfilling their desires in smaller shops where they know store owners and staff. They tend to demand to be treated with a high level of personal service, and expect a differentiated, experiential sell.
Over the next 10 years, independents will thrive as multi-generational customers cut back on the one-size-fits-all approach of mass retail and the sameness that it engenders. Customers will seek these smaller stores for a variety of reasons, based on their socio-economic, psychographic and demographic outlooks. As a result, growth at mass will slow down and profits will shrink.
The next decade will see a great winnowing down, restructuring, and right sizing of mass-market retail, which will give a new opportunity to independent specialty retailers.
From Pam Danziger & Unity Marketing Blog
Franklin County Chamber Hosts Speaker DeLeo
The Franklin County Chamber of Commerce's next breakfast will be October 23 at Terrazza at the Country Club of Greenfield. Robert DeLeo, Speaker of the House of Massachusetts, will be the presenter. He is unquestionably one of the three most powerful figures in Massachusetts government and he comes to us through the efforts of Representative Paul Mark, who represents many of our Franklin County towns.
Among possible topics, Speaker DeLeo will discuss issues related to energy, the environment, state budget, higher education, tourism and agriculture. Speaker DeLeo lives in Winthrop and represents the 19th Suffolk District. He was elected Speaker of the House in January, 2009. A Globe article in February of last year praised him as "one of the biggest champions of our innovation economy" and described him as "knowledgeable and fluent in getting things done, what the innovation economy needs."
Please join us for this opportunity to hear the words and opinions of someone who influences the decisions and initiatives that affect you and all the residents of the Commonwealth. It is your chance to make certain that the issues important to you and your business in Western Massachusetts are heard and delivered to Beacon Hill.
Please make reservations by October 16. FCCC members $13 (if prepaid or pay-at-door), $14 (billed) or non-members $16. Call (413) 773-5463 or email.
Franklin County CDC's 36th Annual Meeting
At the Arts Block,
Downtown Greenfield
Guest Speaker - Katie Stebbins, Assistant Secretary - Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, MA Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development
Hear stories from local entrepreneurs are that are innovating and stimulating our local economy
Taste some new delicacies from FCCDC clients
Drink local fermented beverages (and some non-fermented ones as well!)
Catch the entrepreneurial excitement!
FCCDC Business Training
Variety of classes & support
Business Training is available from a variety of organizations and consultants along with Information Sessions for Small Businesses to Start and Grow.
Boswell's Books
Sunday, October 18 at 4:00 pm, Lisa Rogak, author of Cats on the Job, will be at Boswell's Books signing copies of the book along with our own Boswell the cat, who is featured in the book.
Thursday, November 5 at 6:30pm, Archer Mayor, the prolific author of the Brattleboro-based detective Joe Gunther series, will be at the Arms Library in Shelburne Falls to talk about and sign his new novel, The Company She Kept.
Sunday, November 15 from 2:00-4:00 pm: Boswell's Annual Game Day! Come enjoy a fun time learning some new games or playing old favorites. It's a great opportunity to preview and select games as holiday gifts or just have a good time. We will be offering free hot cider and cookies!
The Art Garden
In Someone Else's Shoes (about perspectives and empathy): A community exhibit.
Participation is free and open to the public. Deadline for submissions is November 2; Opening reception November 7th 6 -8 pm with performances at 7pm.
New Series at Mocha Maya's
We're very excited to announce a new series that will run from Tuesday, Oct. 20th through Tuesday, Nov. 24th.... it's Taste of Theatre Tuesdays! It's a series of six play reading performances with professional actors. The plays range from a comedic send-up of Hitchcock's 39 Steps to an Irish drama about five sisters to a play about a couple at a Boston party who meet 30 years after an exciting night in Capri. The shows start at 7 and are on Oct. 20, Oct. 27, Nov. 3, Nov. 10, Nov 17 and Nov. 24. Admission is by donation. Come join us for an evening of laughs and fantastic theatre.
On October 20th, we present 'Dancing at Lughnasa' (1998). This extraordinary play is the story of five unmarried sisters eking out their lives in a small Irish village in 1936. A radio is their only link to the world at large and romance. Then their older brother arrives from a missionary in a Uganda leper colony, followed shortly by the father of the only child they've begotten.
Ponte Restaurante's New Menu
Download the PDF!
Soup: 4.00
Check Today's Specials
Blue Chips and Mild Salsa: 3.25
Beef: 3.95
Ground beef, cheese, sour cream, carrot cabbage slaw
Pulled Pork: 3.95
Pulled Pork, cheese, sour cream, salsa,carrot cabbage slaw
Chicken: 3.95
Shredded Chicken, cheese, sour cream, salsa, carrot cabbage slaw
Swordfish: 6.00
Swordfish pieces with watercress pesto and carrot cabbage slaw
Bean: 3.00
Black Beans, cheese, sour cream, salsa, and carrot cabbage slaw
Taco de Papa: 3.75
Roasted Garlic Chipotle mashed potatoes, cheese, sour cream, salsa and carrot slaw
Deviled Egg Salad: 3.50
Made with Chipotle Peppers, lime, mayo, and served with carrot cabbage slaw.
7 inch Individual Plain: 5.00
Cuban: 6.00
Margherita: 6.00
Jamaican Meat Pie: 4.95
Ginger Fizz: 2.75
Hibiscus Iced Tea: 1.75
Limeade: 2.75
Mexican Sodas: 2.25
Cubano Sandwiches
Classic: 12.50
Pressed sandwich on house made Pan Cubano bread, Roasted Pork, Ham, Swiss Cheese, pickles, jalapeños, mustard
Veggie: 7.50
Pressed sandwich on house made Pan Cubano Bread, Swiss Cheese, Pickles, Jalapeños, Deli Mustard
Pulled Pork Sandwich: 7.00
1/2 lb BBQ pulled pork on a roll topped with carrot slaw
Slider: 2.50
All Beef Patty with Mexican Spices served on a roll
The Flying Dog returns to Ponte Restaurante
The New Englander: 3.25
Dog, Bun, Mustard and Relish
The Mexican: 3.75
Bacon Wrapped dog with cheese, salsa, sour cream, jalapeños, carrot cabbage slaw
The New Yorker: 3.25
Sauerkraut, mustard, chili pepper
The Puerto Rican: 3.25
Puerto Rican style onion sauce, Deli Mustard
The Reuben: 3.25
Sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, 1000 Island dressing
The Chili Dog: 3.75
Chili, Raw Onion, Cheddar Cheese Sauce, Deli Mustard
The BBQ Dog: 3.75
BBQ Sauce, Crumbled Bacon, Cheddar Cheese Sauce
Rice, Black Beans, Salsa, Carrot Cabbage Slaw, Cheese and Sour Cream: 6.50
Add Chicken, Pork or Beef: 1.50
Please inform us of any food allergies before ordering.
Call and place your order: 413-489-3062
Volunteers Needed for CiderDays!
Get involved in one of the county's most exciting events - CiderDays! The Cider Days Committee is looking for individuals to help pour tastes of hard cider during the tasting salons at the event on Saturday afternoon (November 7) at Berkshire East. We also need some help for a few hours setting up chairs at the Shelburne Buckland Community Center Friday afternoon (November 6).
Contact Lisa Duval to sign up!
GSFABA Annual Pancake Breakfast & Membership Meeting
Trinity Church, 17 Severance St. in Shelburne Falls
For reservations, call the office at 625-2526 or email Wes
Last Art Walk of the year!
Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015
Shelburne Falls
Cider Days
Workshops at the Community Center, Berkshire East, and other locations throughout West County!
Moonlight Magic's Coming!
Look for an invitation to help light the village coming soon!
Business Doings
Davenport Maple Farm opens their restaurant on weekends through November 1st. The restaurant is a very important part of their farm and helps support the farm throughout the year. Go enjoy great food and support our local economy!


text:
Parahuna Trailer: Kulwinder Billa & Wamiqa Gabbi are ready to offer you 'Parahuna' Culture
By Punjabi Pollywood Team | September 11, 2018
Newly singer turned actor of Punjabi music industry 'Kulwinder Billa' is coming up with his second Punjabi movie in 2018 that is 'Parahuna'. In this new Punjabi movie Parahuna, Punjabi model and actress 'Wamiqa Gabbi' is also going to lead opposite to Kulwinder Billa. The trailer of this movie is out now and is promising major laughter to the audience.
The trailer gives a glimpse of the megastar cast of film 'Parahuna', which includes perfect theatrical faces having the best command of portraying emotional and comic roles on the screen. The names include Karamjit Anmol, Harby Sangha, Sardar Sohi, Hobby Dhaliwal, Anita Dutt, Malkit Rauni, Nirmal Rishi, and Rupinder Roopi. The trailer has briefed the concept of the movie that the story would revolve around the 'Parahuna Culture' of Punjab, as the Son-In-law is termed as 'Parahune' in the local language.
During the events like marriages, the son-in-law expects huge formalities and formal care from his In-laws. Simultaneously his attitude and satisfaction become a major issue for the whole family as well. Because of these conditions, a lot of drama happens especially in the Malwa region of Punjab from where the star Kulwinder Billa comes.
The trailer is ensuring that all this family drama will be put up on the screen by the makers of the Punjabi film "Parahuna". This all happened during the 90's more. And interestingly from the sets and dresses from the movie seem to be from 90's Punjab. Thus, the movie is going to be an attractive production from the present uncle-aunties more than the younger generation. Also, if the youth wants to understand the family system during their parent's marriage then also they would love to watch it.
Parahuna Movie Trailer
Though the movie was supposed to be released on the first Friday of October, now it is coming one week earlier, on last Friday of September 28th. The trailer is being liked by everyone; hence it has crossed 3 million views very swiftly.


text:
Fire extinguisher explodes at BKK airport, killing one staff
A fire extinguisher exploded in a service zone inside Suvarnabhumi Airport on Thursday afternoon, killing one person and injuring four others.
Police said staff were replacing the cylinder when it fell down from its position due to an insecure valve, and caused the fatal blast.
"We have received reports of casualties," Provincial Police Region 1 chief Pol Lt-General Ampol Buarabporn said.
Police said the blast occurred at a service corner between Zone 2 and Zone 3 of the airport at a spot close to the Airport Link's station.
The blast scene has been cordoned off. There is no report of the incident affecting the airport's operations.
Fire extinguisher explodes Suvarnabhumi Airport Fire extinguisher


text:
'Concerned and frustrated' Stoke City boss sends January transfer message amid poor form
Stoke City are now five points adrift of the play-off positions after suffering successive 2-1 home defeats
Mark Mothershaw
Stoke City manager Michael O'Neill on the touchline. (Image: Getty Images)
Michael O'Neill is as concerned and frustrated as anybody else by his side's alarming mid-season slump in form
The Northern Irishman cut a frustrated figure after watching his side surrender a one-goal lead before succumbing to defeat against a Preston side who had been out of action for almost a month.
Like the Potters, Covid-19 had ravaged their festive schedule, but they returned with a bang by inflicting more bet365 Stadium misery upon O'Neill's men, just days after they went down to another 2-1 loss to Derby.
Ben Wilmot's stunning first goal for the club had the hosts in the ascendency before Brad Potts and Andrew Hughes turned the game on its head during a dramatic finale.
The manner of the late turnaround infuriated O'Neill, who admitted that he won't have the benefit of dipping into the January transfer window to address his side's issues.
"I am frustrated and concerned about the team, obviously," the Stoke boss told the media.
"I am not going to stand here and just say that we will be able to turn things around, because that isn't going to just happen.
"We have got to work hard to turn things around, and we are going to have to do that with the group that we have within the building.
"Whilst other sides will get stronger by virtue of what they do in the transfer market, we will get stronger by getting players back from injury, because we are restricted in the market.
"At the moment having players back from injury isn't imminent for us, so we have simply got to carry on working with what we have available to us – there is nothing else we can do.
What do you think? Have your say in the comments section
"There are no shortcuts to this. Our performances haven't been consistent enough over a 90 minute period to earn us the points we would have liked.
"We are a little bit fragile and we are a little bit vulnerable, so we are having games like this where we take the lead which we then go on to lose.
"Even the game against Derby, we are 1-1 and then we give away a bad goal, so we are throwing points away at this moment in time, which is hugely frustrating."
Boos at full-time as Stoke City continue worrying home form vs Preston
Stoke City player ratings vs Preston as Wilmot sizzler in vain