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Teton Valley Health Introduces Employee Recognition Program, The Recognizing Excellence Awards
Teton Valley Health is excited to announce their new employee recognition program, Recognizing Excellence. Twice a year TVH employees, as well as patients, will have the ability to nominate a Medical Provider, a Nursing Team Member and a Support Team Member for going above and beyond in providing compassionate and personalized care. Nominations will be collected online as well as in writing at various drop-box locations throughout Teton Valley Health facilities.
The Medical Team Member award, The HELPING HANDS Award, will be awarded to a TVH Provider.
The Nursing Team Member award, The DAISY Award, will be warded to a TVH Nurse.
The Support Team Member award, The BEE Award, will be awarded to anyone working at TVH, as each of us are caregivers regardless of where we may work.
As mentioned, winners will be selected twice a year and receive a hand-made statue and certificate. A special ceremony will also be held in honor of our Recognizing Excellence winners. In addition, our winners will have their picture and story displayed in the Hospital Hallway to share with everyone what makes Teton Valley Health a place "Where Everyone Matters."
To kick-off TVH's employee recognition program, our Inaugural Recognizing Excellence Awards Ceremony was held Friday, May 6, 2022. Following are our winners and their stories.
The HELPING HANDS Award
Nathan Levanger, DO – Family Medicine
Every day at Teton Valley Health is an example of Dr. Levanger going above and beyond for his patients. Patients have shared that Dr. Levanger's bedside manner is comforting and calming and that he is attentive and genuinely interested in patient's health and well-being. Since Dr. Levanger started working at Teton Valley Health in 2011 he has set an extraordinary example of what it means to deliver quality patient-centered healthcare with compassion, integrity, and respect. Patients have also shared of their appreciation that Dr. Levanger spends time listening to them. Speaking of a recent appointment, one Teton Valley resident said, "Dr. Levanger was attentive and caring and listened to all my questions and concerns, providing insight and solutions." Patient feedback for Dr. Levanger has shown him to consistently be responsive, patient, and personable. We truly are fortunate to have Dr. Levanger here at Teton Valley Health.
Phil Nedoma, RN – Acute Care
Phil is a registered nurse in Acute Care, and has worked at Teton Valley Health since 2018. In his time at TVH, Phil has come to be known for his calming influence with his patients. He is professional and personable with an expert knowledge to act quickly when the need arrises. Patients have shared that Phil is not only thorough and caring but extremely attentive and helpful. Speaking of when she brought her son into the ER, Martha Farnsworth shared, "We are extremely grateful to have TVH in our community. We received excellent and compassionate care during my son's visit to the ER. Phil Nedoma immediately helped put our son at ease with some stickers. He provided great child-centered care to our son, explaining what was happening and making him laugh and keeping him comfortable and calm the entire time." Professional, efficient, knowledgeable, and friendly, Phil has proven himself to be an extraordinarily capable nurse at Teton Valley Health.
Teresa Schwarzwalter, RT(R)(M)(ARRT) – Radiology
Teresa is an exceptional radiology technologist. Since her start at Teton Valley Health in 2018 Teresa has performed over 2000 mammograms for our community. Patients have shared that Teresa is not only extremely talented, she is gentle, personable, and patient. Speaking of her own mammogram experience with Teresa, Nikki Ripplinger, Infection Preventionist at TVH, said, "She was genuine, caring, concerned, supportive and helpful with a procedure that can be a little scary at times." Teresa is more than TVHs mammography technologist, she handles the other parts of her job with the same attention to detail. She has a broad circle of influence in the area, having been the high school cheering coach and a vet's assistant in the past. Teresa takes initiative when needed and comes up with astute ideas for improvements in our department. Teresa consistently goes above and beyond to care for her patients. She's not afraid to be an advocate for them as well. Teresa has also taken on the department scheduling, guess that makes her Deputy Schwarzwalter as well. We are so proud of her and the example of quality and compassion she sets every single day at Teton Valley Health. Thank you, Teresa, we appreciate you!
Beyond the Call of Duty
In addition to our Recognizing Excellence Award Winners, we would also like to recognize Michelle Campbell, RN, CNOR, Director of Surgical Services at TVH, for going beyond the call of duty in developing Teton Valley Health's employee recognition program. Hundreds of hours have been spent in developing, collaborating, planning, and ultimately launching The Recognizing Excellence Awards, and today's inaugural ceremony. Many hands have contributed to this program, but it could not have happened without Michelle's leadership and direction. Every day with a positive and supporting attitude, Michelle has been at the helm ensuring our committee not only stayed on track but that today could go off without a hitch. We want to thank Michelle for her tireless efforts at Teton Valley Health. Saying she went beyond the call of duty is an understatement compared to the amount of work all of this took. We hope you know how much we love, value and appreciate you Michelle.
The Best Way To Say Thank You!
At Teton Valley Health our heroes demonstrate their extraordinary talent and skill every day, bringing quality and compassion to their work, expressing their commitment to the well-being of our patients, families, and community. We look forward to recognizing our remarkable staff for the incredible work they do each and every day through The Recognizing Excellence Awards.
If you are interested in nominating a TVH Staff Member for going above and beyond in their work, please click the link HERE.
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In 2012, after working in banking for four years, Sarah switched to the nonprofit world because she wanted her work to be more directly connected to making a difference in people's lives.
As a grants manager, Sarah handles the day-to-day activities of the grant files, which includes processing grant agreements, reports and payments to ensure that grant files are in compliance. She also helps with internal and external customer service, supporting the Foundation's Philanthropy team and helping grantees submit applications.
Sarah's favorite work activity so far has been attending two Rural Philanthropy Days — one in Pagosa Springs and one in Creede. Both events allowed her to meet people from different areas of the state and hear about the work being done there to promote healthier living.
After hours, Sarah enjoys spending time in the mountains — a love that began in her home state of Montana. Life is good when she is hiking, skiing or playing with her dog, Neiko. She is also an avid Denver Broncos fan. Go team!


The muted earth tones of Corinth glazed floor tile are quite reminiscent of the stone of ancient Corinth, renowned as a center of learning. It features a rustic finish, with a slight sheen that brings out its timeless character. Use Corinth to make a very smart fashion statement in your kitchen or entryway.


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Home > Wills & Probate > Theobald on Wills
Theobald on Wills
Series: Property and Conveyancing Library
Practice Area: Wills & Probate
Authors:Charlotte Ford; Alexander Learmonth; Jane Evans Gordon; Thomas Fletcher; John Ross Martyn
Publication Date: 28 Feb 2021
Theobald on Wills provides an unrivalled blend of academic analysis and practical advice on the law of wills. It covers every aspect of the subject, from the fundamental principles of will making to a wide range of practical issues and discussion of the latest case law.
Explains the fundamental principles of will making, clarifying complex concepts in clear English
Goes through the general principles of construction and the admissibility of evidence
Offers guidance on the interpretation of wills and the meaning of words for the purposes of construing wills
Shows how the courts have interpreted the law through detailed analysis of case law
Identifies problems which may arise in practice and provides possible solutions
Offers advice on procedural matters including the resolution of difficulties by court order and mediation
Covers related topics such as administration of estates and the law of trusts
Also available as an eBook on Thomson Reuters ProView™
Thomson Reuters ProView™ is the iPad app custom built for legal professionals like you.
Using ProView means you can connect to and interact with the content you rely on in new ways, wherever and whenever you like. Find out more about ProView.
Purchase this title as an eBook to start reading today:
eBook and print
WILLS & PROBATE MUST HAVES
Brighouse's Precedents of Wills
David Endicott
Contentious Probate Claims
Andrew Francis

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


I know that there are some debates on this right now, especially since HavaTampa runs gas. I think the short track smaller races would be better run on alky. How much does the burnoff really affect these cars down the long run?
I think the trend towards gas-only says it all. Every year more and more cars are going the gas only route. Gas is much easier to handle/aquire.I dont think the HP advantage is as benificial anymore as is handling. The old "Runs cooler" answer assocoated with alky no longer applies to only alky. Look at the Hav-A-Tampa guys using gas. The front ends are closed, no shrouds, 4-blade fans and they all run cool. I have at least 3 Gas stations here in Daytona selling race gas right at the pumps! Racing is much simpler using gas. Plugs are easy to read, dont have to flush the carb after the race, car starts easily, car stays more consistant during race due to the fact only half as much gas is consumed as compared to alky. You cant run a 100 lap feature on alky anyways. Just my opinion. X-1R "Run with the best!"
X1-R, I don't think that you could have said it any better than that. I agree 100%.
x1-R, Good post, How I feel also.
I think gas has its place, but alky on some engines will give you more power. If it makes more power, I am all for it, but like X-1R said, it isnt as much as it used to be. The reason they run gas in LM's is because of weight, length of the races and safety I think. There are benefits to both.
alky is too hard on the entire fuel system. Not to count the wear it does on cold start up of the engine. I have been at my engine builders shop and helped with dyno tests and seen a braswell gas carb make more power than a brand new alky carb. Our car has ran on gas going on 3 years now, bearings,rings, valve guides always look great. Alot less maintenance, less hassle.
One of the things I have also see at the engine builders shop is if your running gas you can use a less expensive carter mechanical pump.I guess it is like the pumps winston cup cars have to use. Less expensive than a belt drive pump by a long shot. Buddy of mine is going on second year without any problems with mechanical pump.


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K-Days parade to take over downtown streets on Friday
Cleanup underway after 320,000 litres of oil, produced water leaks at northern Alberta energy site
Alberta addictions minister's tweet about supervised consumption sites draws concern
Chuckwagon driver fined and disqualified after third horse dies at Calgary Stampede
July 12, 2019 Edctv news
Chuckwagon driver Chad Harden has been disqualified from the Calgary Stampede and fined $10,000 after Stampede officials determined he caused a crash on the track that resulted in the death of a horse belonging to another driver on Thursday evening.
Calgary Stampede officials confirm that a third horse died following a collision in Heat 7 of the Rangeland Derby.
An Independent Chuckwagon safety commission reviewed the crash involving Harden, who now faces a $10,000 fine and a lifetime ban from competing at the Stampede Chuckwagon event.
The Stampede has determined that Harden's wagon interfered with another driver in the backstretch just out of the first turn, which then caused a third wagon to collide with the inner wagon on the track.
The crash resulted in the death of a horse belonging to Evan Salmond's team and three other horses owned by Salmond were also injured in the incident. The extent of those injuries and an update on conditions has yet to be released.
The video appears to show the collision involving Salmond's rig and Danny Ringuette's chuckwagon. The inside lead horse of Salmond's team can be seen striking the guardrail and stumbling to the ground.
Ringuette's team was able to finish the race and no Chuckwagon drivers were injured in the crash.
In a release, the Calgary Stampede says it has 'a zero tolerance policy for preventable accidents and injuries and the care of the animals that participate in our events is our highest priority.'
The release goes on to say, 'With the death of two horses on previous nights of racing, this has been a difficult time for us an the greater chuckwagon community, seeing injuries, despite the best and safest conditions possible, is hard.'
Prior to Thursday night's action, two other horses had already died during the 2019 Rangeland Derby. On Wednesday night, one of Obrey Motowylo's horses was euthanized after suffering a fractured left front radius and a 14-year-old gelding belonging to Troy Dorchester died Monday night after collapsing.
The Calgary Stampede will provide more information at a press conference scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday. Check back here for livestream details…
Prime minister to make Trans Mountain pipeline announcement in Edmonton
Driver fined $10K, disqualified after 3rd horse in Calgary Stampede chuckwagon races dies
Human foosball event kicks up mental health awareness
Man charged, dozens of firearms seized after shots fired near Cold Lake


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Shannen Doherty reveals her breast cancer has spread
By: Tribune Media Wire
NEW YORK — Actress Shannen Doherty revealed that her battle with breast cancer has taken a heartbreaking turn.
In a sit-down interview with Entertainment Tonight, the 45-year-old said she learned her cancer spread after a recent surgery.
"I had breast cancer that spread to the lymph nodes, and from one of my surgeries we discovered that some of the cancer cells might have actually gone out of the lymph nodes," Doherty said.
The "Charmed" actress is currently undergoing chemotherapy.
"The unknown is always the scariest part," Doherty told ET. "Pain is manageable, you know living without a breast is manageable, it's the worry of your future and how your future is going to affect the people that you love."
Doherty began posted a series of photos to Instagram in July showing her shaving her head.
A post shared by ShannenDoherty (@theshando) on Jul 19, 2016 at 9:05pm PDT
"After my second treatment, my hair was really matted, like in dreadlocks. And I went to try and brush it out, and it just fell out," Doherty recalls. "I just remember holding onto huge clumps of my hair in my hands, and just running to my mom crying, like, 'My hair, my hair, my hair, my hair.'"
The actress was diagnosed with breast cancer in February. She has undergone three rounds of chemotherapy in a series of eight.


text:
module SecretsScanner
  # Base class for enumerators for filesystems, tarballs, github, etc.  Created with
  # an instance of Config, and a root file
  class Enumerator
    include Enumerable

    attr_reader :root
    attr_reader :config

    def initialize root, config = nil
      @root = root
      @config ||= SecretsScanner.config
    end

    def each
      return enum_for(__method__) unless block_given?
      each_file do |file|
        yield file
      end
      self # hide the result returned from #each_file so we don't have to put any
           # particular constraints on it's return value.
    end

    protected
    def each_file
      raise NotImplementedError, "Subclasses of #{self.class.name} must implement #each_file"
    end
  end
end

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Insider trading activities (stock purchases, sales, and option exercises) reported by insiders of Ballantyne Strong, Inc. (BTN) since 2005 are illustrated in Table 1 and Table 2. Table 1 shows the monthly insider trading data of Ballantyne Strong, Inc. since year 2005. Table 2 shows the detailed insider transactions of Ballantyne Strong, Inc. since 2005. The reporting company's ticker symbol is BTN. The reporting company's CIK number is 946454.
The total value of stock buying since 2005 is $9,337,300.
The total value of stock sales since 2005 is $3,397,212.
The total value of stock option exercises since 2005 is $1,013,277.
Table 1. Monthly summaries of insider stock purchases, sales, and option exercises for Ballantyne Strong, Inc. (BTN).
Insider trading activities including stock purchases, stock sales, and option exercises of BTN listed in the above tables cannot be completely guaranteed as to their accuracy. For more insider trading information of Ballantyne Strong, Inc. (symbol BTN, CIK number 946454) see the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) website.


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(Redirected from Sugar maple)
Conservation status: Secure
SugarMaple.jpg
A farm with a Sugar Maple
in the front yard
Order: Sapindales
Family: Aceraceae
Genus: Acer
Species: A. saccharum
Template:Taxobox section binomial botany
The Sugar Maple Acer saccharum is a prominent tree in the hardwood forests of eastern North America. It is the largest American maple, reaching heights of 30-37 m tall.
Sugar Maple leaves (pen cap for scale)
The leaves are deciduous, 8-15 cm long and equally wide with five palmate lobes. The basal lobes are relative small, while the upper lobes are larger and deeply notched. In contrast with the angular notching of the Silver Maple, however, the notches tend to be rounded at their interior. The fall color is often spectacular, ranging from bright yellow through orange to fluorescent red-orange.
The flowers are in corymbs of 5-10 together, yellow-green and without petals; flowering occurs in early spring after 30-55 growing degree days. The fruit is a double samara with two winged seeds, the seeds are globose, 7-10 mm diameter, the wing 2-3 cm long.
This tree is closely related to the Black Maple which is sometimes included in this species but sometimes separated as Acer nigrum.
Sugar Maple, and also Black Maple, are superb sources of sap for making maple syrup, with the Black Maple being regarded as being slightly the better. Almost all maples can be used as a sap source for maple syrup, but none of the others are as good as these two.
The wood is one of the hardest of the maples, and is prized for furniture and flooring. Bowling alleys and bowling pins are both commonly manufactured from sugar maple. A special type of maple, "birdseye maple" with wavy grain, is especially valued.
Sugar Maples in fall coloration
The Sugar Maple is a favorite street and garden tree, because it is easy to propagate and transplant, is fairly fast-growing, and has beautiful fall color. It also has some of the most dense shade to be found in shade trees. The shade and the shallow, fibrous roots may interfere with grass growing under the trees.
Cultivars of Sugar Maple include the tough-leaved 'Legacy' and 'Green Mountain', pyramidal 'Arrowhead', fast-growing 'Bonfire' and cutleaf 'Sweet Shadow'. 'Norselect' and 'Unity' are hardy selections suitable for the Prairie Provinces of Canada as far north as Edmonton, Alberta. Columnar varieties includee 'Columnare', 'Monumentale', 'Temple's Upright' and the very narrow 'Newton Sentry'.
Sugar Maple is the State Tree of New York, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
Trees of Canada
Godman, Yawney and Tubbs. Sugar Maple (http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_2/acer/saccharum.htm)
Acer saccharum (http://www.hcs.ohio-state.edu/hcs/TMI/Plantlist/ac_harum.html)
Columnar Trees for the Landscape (http://www.agnr.umd.edu/users/ipmnet/99-3nnws2.htm)de:Zucker-Ahorn
eo:Sukeracero fr:érable à sucre ja:サトウカエデ
Retrieved from "https://tantalum.academickids.com:443/encyclopedia/index.php/Sugar_Maple"
Categories: Sapindales | Crops


We are thrilled to have you as part of our commUNITY, and I want you to know, we have been waiting for you. You have special gifts and skills and we want to know about you and about your passions. Our commUNITY is built on the idea of building each other up and the more we know about you, the more we can utilize your talents and provide a place for you to spotlight your talents.
I invite you to see what our Transcended Souls CommUNITY has to offer you. Whether it's the education we provide, the mastermind groups and social events we host or the fact that we give the members of our commUNITY the chance to shine in the spotlight through interview and speaking opportunities, you will love us as much as we will love you. You will find that we are rich in providing opportunities, support, education, fun and deep connections of the heart.
Take a look now, and see what our family has to offer. We can't wait to see all you have to offer us as well!


Caribbean recipes include dishes from Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas and Puerto Rico they include great recipes like barbecue, cocktails and rum cake.
Because the flavour of chicken is quite mild, it benefits from a tasty marinade when barbecued or grilled, and this also helps to keep the outside from burning until the chicken is cooked through – especially when cooking over charcoal. This recipe is for a spicy Jamaican jerk lime-based marinade.
This is a Cuban-style dish, a one pot meal that is very easy and satisfying. You can also eat it wrapped in tortillas if you like.
Wait till you smell this baking in the oven! This recipe has been passed down in my family and you will just love it. It has a rich, spicy flavour that is truly unique. Top with cream cheese icing or eat as is!
Ginger, curry powder, chillies and allspice contain health-protective phytochemicals. This is also a simply delicious fish curry.


When you are viewing the corrective action, you can set the status to PASS.
If the CA is linked to a checkpoint you can just set the checkpoint to QC.
If you are on a checklist that has any number of open corrective actions you can close them all by setting the overall inspection checklist to PASS.


Business plan - check. Catchy business name - check. Business cards - check. Website - check. Traffic - oops! No traffic. What's an online entrepreneur to do?
Fortunately, there are many ways to get traffic to your site. We will cover some of them here.
The easiest way to drive traffic to your site is to provide visitors with content. A good content-rich site is like a traffic magnet. Make sure your keywords are included in your content so the search engines will find you. In fact, you really want to make a list of all your keywords and then develop a page devoted to each one. Put your keyword in the first paragraph of the page, preferably within the first 90 characters. Use it in a text link or hyperlink. Help the search engines find your keywords in every way possible.
Does your website have a site map? If not, you need to build one. A site map is another way for search engines to find you. And since it has links to all of your pages, it will help your visitors find their way around more easily. The easier your site is to navigate, the more likely you will get - and keep - visitors.
Market, market, market. Too many would-be online entrepreneurs put up a site, then sit back and wait for traffic to find them. When it doesn't they get very upset, declare it's all a scam, and quit. You have to let prospects know you exist. You do that by marketing your site both online and offline. Place ads, send emails announcing your new site to your lists, blog about it on your blog if you have one, Tweet about it, announce it on Facebook, LinkedIn, or any of the myriad social networking sites.
Write articles for others to use as content for their sites. Just make sure that when they do, they include a link back to your site. Many websites are looking for good content for their readers. My personal favorite is EzineArticles.com.
Get some PR. You are an expert in your chosen area. Participate in or host a press worthy event of your own, and let the local media know about it. It can be something as small as hosting a business workshop for teens or teaching newbies how to use social media. I have done both of these and both got me great press and new business. Plus the media now knows me and frequently contacts me to get my input on other stories and events.
Earlier I mentioned using your blog to promote your site. I assume you have one. If you don't, you need to start. It is one of the fastest and easiest ways I know to get exposure online. I like Blogger. I have clients who prefer WordPress. It doesn't matter which one you use. Just use one of them and get started.
Is your website listed on your business cards and letterhead? Sounds simple but not everyone thinks about it. I have at least three business cards right sitting in front of me right now from a networking event I attended this morning that don't have a website listed or email address. Since I like to look at a person's website before I call to find out more about their business, these three have just lost out. And while we're talking about adding your site to your print media, don't forget to add it to your email signature as well. If you're like me, you send a lot of email every day. Each one carries a link to my sites at the bottom.
SEO and meta tags, optimizing your videos and images - these all have a place in promoting your site. But for most beginners, it's a bit complicated. I don't even pretend to fully understand SEO. That's why I have someone else do it for me. Meanwhile, the tips listed above will help you get started. Once you have some traffic coming to your site, you can learn the rest. Or hire someone else to do it for you.


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We may collect non-personal identification information about Users whenever they interact with our Site. Non-personal identification information may include the browser, the type of computer and technical information about Users means of connection to our Site, such as the operating system and the Internet service providers utilized and other similar information.
This information is kept strictly private and is NEVER shared with third-parties. EVER.
Our Site may use "cookies" to enhance User experience. User's web browser places cookies on their hard drive for record-keeping purposes and sometimes to track information about them. An example of cookie usage on PC Game Haven would be remembering the name and email used in our comment section enhance user experience.
Information you provide helps us respond to your customer service requests and support needs more efficiently. Leaving an email in our comment section will ensure you are alerted of any replies to your comment or question.
We may use information in the aggregate to understand how our Users as a group use the services and resources provided on our Site. This allows us to keep creating content our Users like while dropping the content our Users do not like.
We may use feedback you provide as well as aggregated data to improve our content and overall user experience; user experience includes things such as page load time and page layout.
We adopt appropriate data collection, storage and processing practices and security measures to protect against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure or destruction of your personal information, and data stored on our server and/or database.
At PC Game Haven, we believe that keeping your data protected is extremely important. You can rest assured that all data collected will be kept exclusively private.
California law requires that websites and online services disclose how they respond to a Do Not Track signal. Some browsers have incorporated "Do Not Track" features. Most of these features, when turned on, send a signal or preference to the website or online service that a user visits, indicating that the user does not wish to be tracked. Because there is not yet a common understanding of how to interpret Do Not Track signals, we do not currently respond to Do Not Track signal.
We continue to work with the online industry to define a common understanding of how to treat Do Not Track signals.
At PC Game Haven we believe in a very strict no generic, targetted, or personalized ad policy. Any advertisements you see will be for PC gaming related websites that are personally vetted by the Editor in Chief for quality and relevance. This means no Google Ads or anything else of along those lines.
Due to our no personalized ad policy, this means we are able to collect even less of your data and ensure that more of what we do collect is kept within our control and not that of an advertising agency where we cannot control what happens.
At PC Game Haven we respect your right to privacy and want to provide our Users with reasonable access to the information they may have provided through use of our Site. If you wish to see or request deletion of any information we might have stored related to you, please see the "Contact us" section for steps on how to get in touch.
This policy is updated as needed per national and international guidelines and regulations. Please remain aware of any changes to this policy as your continued use after an update is effectively consent to the content herewithin.
By using PC Game Haven, you signify your acceptance of this policy. If you do not agree to this policy, please do not use our Site. Your continued use of the Site following the posting of changes to this policy will be deemed your acceptance of those changes.


text:
S3M-3963 Climate Change (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
[THE PRESIDING OFFICER opened the meeting at 09:15]
Climate Change (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
Resumed debate.
The Presiding Officer (Alex Fergusson): For the sake of people in the public gallery, I should explain that the next item of business is a continuation of yesterday's debate on motion S3M-3963, in the name of Stewart Stevenson, on the general principles of the Climate Change (Scotland) Bill. Speeches should be no longer than six minutes. ... ... ...
The Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change (Stewart Stevenson):
I am fully girded for the occasion.
I welcome the scope of the debate over the past two days, which has been of good quality. At least part of every member's speech has taken us forward and usefully informed the debate. I was particularly taken by Des McNulty's concluding remark that one of his key aims is to ensure that we keep it simple at stage 2. As the minister who has the pleasant duty of taking the bill through stage 2 on the Government's behalf, I heartily subscribe to his view and hope that we can deliver on it.
The debate has been unusual as, at least in this parliamentary session, it is unique in that four ministers have contributed to it. That does not just indicate the day-to-day engagement of those four ministers, but generally reflects the fact that every minister—like every member and everyone in the wider community—must be their own climate change champion in their own circumstances. I want to work with other members of the Parliament to put flesh on those bones and identify common ground and ways of taking things forward that sustain the very positive tone of today's debate.
Although we find ourselves able to support the Labour amendment, we cannot support the Liberal Democrat amendment because of its reference to the public duties. We are prepared to continue to discuss the subject, but we must recognise the very real sensitivities of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and local councils on this matter. Although we might be able to find some convergence and strike the right balance, the Liberal Democrat amendment does not do so and, as I say, we cannot support it.
The support for the bill's general principles that, unless I am very much mistaken, we will see at 5 o'clock this afternoon is but the first step in the process. Discussions will continue through stages 2 and 3, and we will have to do a great deal more work to justify what we all want: legislation and actions that will act as a beacon for others. I certainly think that challenging the EU to step up to the mark on a 2020 target of 30 per cent is an ambition that we all share.
As I turn to the points that have been raised during the two days of debate, I have to say that I expect that I will not deal with them all, but we will look very carefully at the Official Report and get back to members directly on any significant matters.
A discussion that I had with Mr McNulty and Ms Boyack after yesterday's debate suggests that we might have a greater common understanding on the annual targets that we will put in place in secondary legislation next year and the need for those to form the core of what ministers will be accountable for over the coming period. Within a couple of years, we will have set targets that take us halfway to 2050. That will certainly be a substantial set of commitments.
Ms Boyack described the provisions on public duties as vague commitments. We are looking at them again but, as I said earlier, we want to be very careful about how we progress in that respect.
Alison McInnes urged us to take early action. Earlier, I pointed out that we are building on action that has already been taken. This is a continuum of activity that transcends the transition from the previous Administration to this Administration and, indeed, will continue after many of us are no longer on this earth to see it in operation.
I sensed a suggestion that we might be able to disregard expert advice, but something that each and every one of us has to cling to is the need to use expert advice to determine the figures. The very moment politicians start to pluck figures out of the air, however well they might justify doing so by selecting what might have been stated elsewhere, they give future generations of politicians a hook for reneging on, moving back from or being less ambitious with commitments.
Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): Will the minister advise the Parliament on whose expert advice he has set the interim 2020 target?
Stewart Stevenson: The 34 per cent and 42 per cent figures came from the UK Committee on Climate Change. If things go to plan and we are able to set targets in June 2010, advice from that committee might give us a different answer. We will of course respect that. The fact is that, in this situation, information is evolving and understanding increasing.
With regard to the debate on how Parliament will scrutinise the Government's efforts, Alison McInnes made the interesting suggestion that we consider the model that was adopted for the national planning framework in the Planning etc (Scotland) Act 2006. We are looking at the text of the 2006 act to find out whether we can lift it and put it into the bill. Should we conclude that we can simply incorporate the wording of the 2006 act in the bill, it is more likely that we will do so at stage 3, given the tight targets for stage 2. We are looking seriously at that approach—it is not yet a commitment, but we are doing the work to see whether it is possible.
Patrick Harvie and I had a wee exchange on the subject of the Maldives, which is seeking to go carbon neutral. That is extremely admirable but, having looked into the subject, I make the point that aviation is not included in the Maldives' ambition. Given that tourism is the country's main industry, its situation is not quite the same as Scotland's; that illustrates the point that every country must find its own salvation. Patrick Harvie also referred to aviation and shipping; it is important that we continue to look at those issues.
Alex Johnstone commended the 34 to 42 per cent approach as one that would find favour with Conservative members.
Patrick Harvie: The minister will be aware that not everyone commended the 34 to 42 per cent approach that the Government has decided to take. Regardless of whether annual targets are included in the bill or in secondary legislation, how is a minister to set them after the bill has been passed if the Government has not yet decided—and will not decide for several years—whether it is aiming for a 34 per cent target or a 42 per cent target?
Stewart Stevenson: That is to misunderstand. Both the 34 per cent and the 42 per cent figure, together with the up-to-date advice that the Committee on Climate Change will provide next year, will inform the annual targets that will be set—there is an absolute linkage.
I must make some fairly rapid progress. Charlie Gordon came up with the best question of the debate, as he often does, when he asked:
"what are you actually gonnae dae?"—[Official Report, 6 May 2009; c 17120.]
That is absolutely focused and on the money. Once we get the bill out of the way, we must focus on delivery and on ensuring that we get the outcomes that we want.
Liam McArthur advocated a bottom-up approach to developing initiatives, which is commendable. However, I suggest gently that that is a little at odds with the idea that we should direct centrally, through public duties, what happens.
Lewis Macdonald spoke about the target of 11 per cent that has been set for heat from renewable energy. That is part of an overall 20 per cent that includes a range of other things—we are aiming to do a little better than the UK as a whole. That is reasonable.
I can tell John Scott that we are conducting a rural land use study, information on which we will provide shortly.
I am pleased to hear that Peter Peacock has the carpentry skills to build his own house. When I am building my next house, he can help me.
The community on Eigg that Rob Gibson mentioned was supported by the Scottish Government, under the excellent Scottish community and householder renewables initiative. We look with continuing interest at what is happening on Eigg.
This has been an interesting and engaging debate. It is the beginning of what will be a continuing engagement for years to come. Some years ago, John F Kennedy said that man can solve any problem that man creates. We must hope that John F Kennedy was correct, but there is no absolute certainty in that regard.
Yesterday, when we were discussing the electrification of the whole of Scotland's rail network, one of the senior Government directors said to me, "Surely we will have to have battery-powered trains to go to Kyle of Lochalsh and places like that." The good news is that some battery-powered trains are already operating in England. We will copy a good idea, wherever it comes from.
I support the motion in my name.


text:
Agreement Express and TD Ameritrade Institutional Deliver Straight-Through Account Opening to Veo Platform
Agreement Express
'Total' Onboarding Solution for Wealth Management Now Integrated Into TD Ameritrade Institutional Veo Platform
VANCOUVER, Dec. 17, 2018 /CNW/ - Agreement Express, the leading provider of total digital onboarding for wealth management, today announced the integration of its platform with the TD Ameritrade Institutional Veo Platform. The integration allows wealth management firms to onboard clients digitally with a unified experience straight-through to Veo, fully digitizing the traditionally paper-based and manually intensive process to get assets under management (AUM) faster.
Agreement Express and TD Ameritrade Institutional Deliver Straight-Through Account Opening to Veo Platform (CNW Group/Agreement Express)
As the only total onboarding platform, Agreement Express provides a SaaS solution that delivers practically invisible client onboarding with visible business impact. The platform extends beyond just digital forms and e-signatures, providing the ability to open or transition multiple account types at the same time without the need to send multiple documents or rekey data into disparate systems, delivering a unified client experience and processing straight-through to TD Ameritrade Institutional.
"We are relentlessly focused on making it simple for wealth management firms to digitize their entire onboarding process, and are proud to deliver a game-changing integration to the TD Ameritrade Institutional Veo Platform," says Mike Gardner, CEO of Agreement Express. "The vision of making onboarding practically invisible came from insights gathered from RIAs and major custodians whose onboarding processes were buried in paper, required rekeying of information, and were fragmented throughout the process with multiple touchpoints and delays in getting assets under management and delivering an optimal client experience. TD Ameritrade Institutional is the first major custodian to remove the hurdles for its RIAs with straight-through processing delivered by Agreement Express."
The integration will provide users with a number of tangible benefits, including:
Simple opening of multiple accounts at the same time
Applied suitability and compliance rules from the moment an application is triggered
Pre-populated form fields with most recent, known client data
Removal of manual re-entry of data from forms or from one system to another
Accessibility from anywhere, on any device or operating system
Applied intelligent workflows with robotic process automation from the moment an application is sent
Visibility into the status of an application so firms can see where it is in the approval process
"Our collaboration with leading technology firms has helped us deliver automated solutions that address the frustrations most advisors experience when opening new accounts," said Robert Mahoney, director of technology solutions at TD Ameritrade Institutional. "Through integrations with industry innovators, we enable advisors to get these onboarding tasks completed more quickly and accurately."
About Agreement Express
Agreement Express is the only complete client onboarding platform for financial services. The Agreement Express platform allows financial institutions to design and execute consistent automated onboarding experiences across their product offerings and channels, while providing deep analytics that enable proactive and personalized client advice. The platform is the first of its kind to help top performing firms gather, use, and reuse client data to improve and evolve rich customer experiences. Agreement Express enables Fortune 500 financial institutions around the world to provide best-in-class digital onboarding to their clients and grow their business. For more information about Agreement Express, visit www.agreementexpress.com.
Connect with Agreement Express:
About TD Ameritrade Institutional
TD Ameritrade Institutional empowers more than 6,000 independent registered investment advisors to transform the lives of their clients. It provides powerful technology and resources that help simplify running a business and let advisors spend time more time doing what matters most — serving their clients. Through meaningful innovation, steadfast advocacy and unwavering service, TD Ameritrade Institutional supports RIAs as they build businesses that positively impact their clients and communities. TD Ameritrade Institutional is a division of TD Ameritrade, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC, a brokerage subsidiary of TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation.
TD Ameritrade, Inc. and Agreement Express are separate, unaffiliated companies and they are not responsible for each other's services and products. Veo Integrated is an indication of programming compatibility. It does not imply any TD Ameritrade, Inc. recommendation of, endorsement of, warranty of, or fitness for use of Agreement Express' products or services. TD Ameritrade is not responsible for information, opinions or services provided by Agreement Express. Brokerage services provided exclusively by TD Ameritrade, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Veo is a trademark of TD Ameritrade, Inc. TD Ameritrade is a trademark jointly owned by TD Ameritrade IP Company, Inc. and The Toronto-Dominion Bank. Used with permission. All rights reserved.
SOURCE Agreement Express
For further information: Media Contact: Roula Vrsic, CMO, Agreement Express, [email protected], 647-539-9551
Agreement Express is the leading client onboarding platform for financial services. The Agreement Express platform allows financial institutions to design and execute consistent automated onboarding experiences across their product offerings and channels while providing...


text:
<?php
	session_start(); // Starting Session
	require ("connection.php");

	$id = $_POST['id'];
	$status = $_POST['status'];
	$priority = $_POST['priority'];
	$description = $_POST['description'];

	// room map moet er nog bij
	$sSQL ="UPDATE `tickets1` SET status='$status', priority='$priority', description='$description' WHERE id='$id'";

@mysql_query($sSQL);
	if(!mysql_error())
						{

							echo '

Ticket is updated. Redirecting....';
							header("refresh:5; url=task.php");

						}
						else
						{
							die('Error: ' . mysql_error());

						}

$conn->close();
?>


here's what the room looks like today.
and turned it sideways (thanks to a great suggestion!).
i folded a dark brown coverlet on the end to break up the white.
i also have a lot of work to do on the pillows, but again, good enough for now.
here's the lamps joy found for me at marshall's for $40 each.
kind of pricey, but after looking all over for these lamps and really any lamp in general, $40 is a good price.
lamps are so stinkin' expensive!
they came with a drum shade, which i wanted, but its black.
it works, but i want to rework it somehow.
and get some window coverings.
we're getting some woven wood shades.
did i tell you that my husband OWNS a window coverings company?
here's the view on the other side.
yep, its kind of boring.
but not actually sure if the chair will stay there.
and our wedding picture on top of the dresser should probably get hung.
i really want to add a bunch of pics to this wall, but i haven't given it much thought.
you didn't think this makeover would be fast, did you?
i'm still happy with these pieces, so they're staying.
i need to pull some more accessories to add here without looking cluttered.
this little bear is the only thing on top right now.
he was made (not by me) from my late gramps' shirt.
and here's the garage sale chair all covered in sheets and blankets.
it really looks silly like this, but i can't handle the salmon/reddish color of the upholstery underneath.
i'm keeping my eye out for fabric to recover/slipcover this with.
oh, and thanks so much for all your comments on this process!
so many of them have been really helpful!
17 comments for "master bedroom redo, part 5"
step 1 – take all the leftovers and dump them in a huge bowl.
we chopped up all the turkey into bite size pieces first.
i didn't add the cranberry sauce because i didn't think it would taste good or look good all turned pink.
step 2 – pile mixed ingredients in a premade frozen pie crust.
you could make your own, but most likely you spent the entire day of thanksgiving preparing food, and at this point premade usually sounds nice.
you need 2 crusts for each pie.
and ate 4 of them in one sitting.
so let the top crust defrost for about 15 minutes then just flip it over onto the filling and crimp the edges down.
then cut a cute little design into the crust so the steam can escape.
if the pie is unfrozen, it takes about an hour to an hour and a half to bake.
be sure to cover the edges with foil until its almost done.
when the crust is golden brown, its done!
hopefully you haven't finished off your leftovers yet and you can give this a try!
if you've made more than you can eat, wrap the pie with tinfoil and freeze.
when you want to eat it it will take a couple days at least to defrost in the fridge.
6 comments for "bad pics, good idea"


I found Max when he was only 8 weeks old. Sense then we grown an amazing bond, loves to cuddle, potty trained. Up to date on all shoots and recently Neutered. My job requires me to travel and I can't show him the love an attention needed. Looking for a good home for my pup. Come with cage, shoot records, toys, clothing and his favorite blanket.


It is only because they do not know how to make use of God's action that so many Christians spend their lives anxiously pursuing a multitude of methods of perfection. These might prove useful if ordained by God's will, but they actually become injurious the moment they keep us from simply surrendering ourselves to God's will. These multiplied means cannot give what we find only in the will of God – that principle of all life which is constantly with us, and which stamps each of its instruments with its own character and causes its original and unique action in us.
Jesus has given us a teacher whom we do not heed sufficiently. He speaks to every heart and to each one he utters the word of life, the only word applicable to us. But we do not hear it. We want to know what he has said to others and do not listen to what has said to us. We do not sufficiently regard circumstances as having been given a supernatural significance by God's action. We should always accept them with the perfect confidence they merit, with an open heart and with generosity, sure that nothing will harm those who receive them this way. This limitless activity, which is the same from the beginning to the end of time, goes on every moment, giving itself in all its greatness and strength to the simple soul who adores it, loves it, and rejoices in it alone.
You would be delighted, you say, to find an opportunity of dying for God's sake. Such heroism enchants you. To lose all, to die, forsaken and alone, to sacrifice your life for others – such are the glorious deeds that charm you!
As for me, O Lord, let me glorify Your will in all things. In it I find all the happiness of martyrdom, bodily austerities, and the sacrifice of self for others. Your will is enough, and I am content to live and die as it decrees. It pleases me more for its own sake than all the means it uses and the effects it produces, because it permeates all things and makes them divine, and transforms them all into itself. It is heaven on earth to me, and all my moments are full of God's action. So living or dying, I shall always remain content with that.
Yes, my Beloved, I shall no longer single out times or ways but shall welcome You always and in any fashion. It seems to me, O divine Will, as if You had revealed your immensity to me. I will walk henceforth in the bosom of Your infinity, You who are the same today, yesterday, and forever. Streams of mercy never-ceasing have their springs in You. From You they begin and continue, and they are changed at Your will. No longer will I seek You within narrow limits of a book or the life of a saint, or of some sublime idea. No, these are but drops of that great ocean that covers every created thing. Your divine will floods them all. They are but atoms that disappear in this unfathomable sea. I will no longer look for Your will merely in the thoughts of spiritual persons. No longer will I beg my bread from door to door. I will depend on no creature, but I will live as the child of an infinitely good, wise and powerful Father whom I desire to please and make happy. I would live as I believe, and since Your activity works in everything and at every moment for my sanctification, I will draw my life from this great and boundless reservoir, ever present and ever available in the most practical way.
Is there any creature anywhere whose action equals that of God? And since this uncreated Hand directs all that comes to me shall I go in search of aid from created things? Such creatures are powerless, ignorant, and indifferent to me, and I should die of thirst rushing from one fountain to another, from one stream to another, when there is a sea at hand whose waters surround me on every side.
Yes, all that happens to me becomes bread to nourish me, soap to cleanse me, fire to purify me, a chisel to carve heavenly features on me. Everything is a channel of grace for my needs. The very thing I sought everywhere else seeks me incessantly, and gives itself to me by means of all created things.
O Love of God, will men never see that You meet them at every step, while they seek You here and there, where You are not to be found? How foolish to be in open country and not breathe its pure air! to search for a spot on which to place my foot when I may find Him and taste Him and find His will present in everything!
Good people, do you seek the secret of belonging to God? The only way is to make use of everything He sends you. Everything leads to this union. Everything may perfect it except sin and that which is contrary to your duty. You have but to accept all that he sends and let it do its work in you.
Everything is intended to guide, uphold and support you. Everything is the hand of God. God's action is vaster and more present to you than the elements of earth, air, and water. God will even enter by means of all the senses, provided you use them only as He ordains, because you must guard them and close them to all that is contrary to His will. There is not a single atom in your frame, even the marrow of your bones, that is not formed by divine power. From that power everything proceeds. By it all things are made. Your very life-blood flows through your veins by movement His power imparts. All the variations of your system, between strength and weakness, sluggishness and liveliness, life and death are divine means put in motion to effect your sanctification. Under His will, every bodily state becomes an operation of grace. All your thoughts, all your emotions, whatever their apparent source, proceed from this invisible hand. No created mind or heart can teach you what His divine action will do in you. You will learn it through experience. Your life flows on unceasingly into this unfathomable Sea, where we have but to love and accept at best what each present moment brings, with perfect trust in God's divine action, His will which can only work for good.
Yes, divine Love! All souls might attain supernatural, praiseworthy, incomparably sublime states if they would only be satisfied with Your will in action!
Yes, if they would but leave matters in this divine hand, they would attain a notable degree of holiness! Everyone would arrive at it because it is offered to all. You have but to open your heart and God will act. Every soul possesses in You, O God, an infinitely perfect model, and by Your action You work ceaselessly to make us in Your image. If we were faithful, we would all live, act and speak divinely. We would not need to copy one another, but would be shaped individually through the most ordinary things.
How, O my God, can I make your children appreciate what is offered to them? Must I, possessing a treasure that could make the whole world rich, see beloved souls perish in poverty? Must I watch them withering like plants in a desert when I can show them the source of living waters?
Come, simple souls, you who have no feeling of devotion, no talent, not even the first elements of instruction – you who cannot understand a single spiritual term, who stand astonished at the eloquence of the learned whom you admire; come, and I will teach you a secret which will place you far beyond these clever minds. I will make perfection so easy you will find it everywhere and in everything. I will unite you to God, and He will hold you by the hand from the moment you begin to practice what I tell you. Come, not to learn the map of this spiritual country, but to possess it, to walk in it at your ease without fear of losing your way. Come, not to study the theory of God's grace, or to learn what it has done in the past and is still doing, but simply to be open yourself to what it can do. You do not need to know what it has said to others, or repeat words intended only for them which you have overheard. His grace will speak to you, yourself, what is best for you.
PrevPreviousI Want to Pray but Struggle with My Schedule – What do I do?


Hi Joann here today, thanks for joining me!
Today I am sharing a cute little baby shower favor that I made using the CTMH Artiste Cartridge!
Isn't this box adorable and wouldn't it also be great as an Easter Box to fill with treats for kids?!?! To decorate my box I cut a 1 3/4 circle stamped an image using the CTMH-Holiday Tags stamp set and customized it with the due date using YES Months set for my month and finished it off with some scattered sequins.
Previous A Layout with a bit of Flair!
Next Happy (inter)National Scrapbook Day!!!


Even before the clock struck 2019, Taylor Swift had already thrown the party of the year — so far, at least. As her Netflix special, the Reputation concert film, debuted, Swift gathered her closest friends for the hardest ticket of NYE: her secret party. As her past 4th of July soirées have shown, Swift loves a good theme and her most recent hang out was centered around one.
Swift also shared her Netflix documentary with the party, as Hadid shared snippets of it on social media. Appropriately, in the concert film, which takes place on the last night of Swift's Reputation tour — her first stadium tour — she talks about friendship.
"If I had to take a guess and say the one thing that probably everyone in this stadium has in common, I think I would say that one thing would be that we all like the feeling of finding something real, like finding real friendship or finding real love or somebody who really gets you or somebody who is really honest with you," she says in the documentary. "I think that's what we're all looking for in life and I think that the things that can scare us the most in life are the things we think will threaten the prospect of us finding something real." What's realer than playing dress up with your friends?
Related: How Does Taylor Swift Solve a Problem Like Her Squad?


Our Week 6 2017-2018 boys team coach of the week is John Colosimo of the Juan Diego Catholic High football team. Colosimo now has 171 career coaching wins, and he is seeking a state-record tying eighth state title, having previous championship seasons in 2002, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2015 and 2016.
Juan Diego had a big win this week, knocking off a talented Juab team 33-28 to move its record to 7-1. Another huge game is coming this week as the Soaring Eagle take on Summit Academy for regional supremacy.
An amazing career record and strong start to this campaign earned Coach Colosimo our honors for the week of Oct. 9, 2017, the Week 6 selection for our boys team Anython Coach of the Week honor.


We are thrilled to announce Shark Tank star Daymond John as our esteemed CJU Keynote Speaker!
From humble beginnings to a self-made multimillionaire with over $6 billion to date in global product sales and a starring role on ABC's hit business reality TV show, Shark Tank, Daymond John is the personification of the American Dream. With over twenty years of hands-on proven business experience, his pragmatic advice resonates with small business owners and corporate professionals alike. Join us at CJU 2013 as "The Shark" shares his unique goal setting and achieving strategies that continue to bring him success.
To get more information on CJU13, our premier learning and networking event held in Santa Barbara, CA on Septermber 10-12, visit www.cjuniversity.com. View the full event agenda here.


Family and friends sniffled as they heard the details, and their faces were streaked with tears. Johnny King, Averett's boyfriend, spoke to the Ledger-Enquirer on behalf of the family after the proceedings. He said some family members were especially disturbed by how their loved ones were killed.
King said the family went to the hearing to show solidarity on behalf of the three victims.
He said the family would be donating money in memory of their loved ones for cancer research, which Gloria Short supported; a college scholarship for students at Shaw High School, where Caleb was enrolled; and tuition for students at a private school at Kingdom Metropolitan Centre, where Giannna was part of a dance team.
Tacara Hemingway, a family friend, said she was stunned by what police described at the hearing.
Also at the hearing were Tapley's mother, Rachel Tapley; his father, Christopher Williams; and his grandmother, Margaret Williams, who arrived in a wheelchair. Williams is the girlfriend of Gloria Short's brother, Robert Averett, who died of a heart attack after learning of the slayings. Jervarceay Tapley lived with the couple at their 4125 Calhoun Drive home and grew up as a friend of Caleb.
Margaret Williams said in an interview with the Ledger-Enquirer that Tapley was home with her at the time of the slayings watching DVDs up in his room. She came to the hearing to support him.
Rachel Tapley said her son was close to the Short family and it's hard for her to believe he would do the things he's accused of.
"He been knowing them for years, they never had no problems out of him," she said. "He cared about them, just as much as they cared about him. He even went to the funeral home with his grandmother for Caleb and them and then he went to his granddaddy's funeral.
She said Robert Averett had just given Tapley $200 the first of the month, she gave him $50 and his grandmother gave him some money. So he really didn't need any funds.
She said Tapley was living with Averett and Williams because he didn't like the school system in Valley, Ala., where she lives. He was a student at Spencer High School and optimistic about the future.
"He was just excited about getting what he wanted because he wanted to just finish the last two years in ROTC and enlist in the Marines," she said.
Rachel Tapley said her son and Gibson grew up as childhood friends in the Benning Hill area, but Gibson started getting into trouble and they parted ways. She said the charges against Tapley are unfounded and based on long-standing animosity between the two families.
King said he isn't aware of any animosity between the two families. And while he finds the details of the case upsetting, he believes police have a solid case.


Please check it out here and I'd love your comments. Dedicated readers to my blog might notice a discrepancy; I actually give Kudos to Amazon in the Marketing Daily column, but I pan them in my blog. Here's why: Marketing Daily is a broad marketing publication, and with marketing, perception is often reality. An Amazon marketer probably was able to increase market share for 'considering' assistive technology in the Kindle 2. But in the world of AT and universal design –basic text-to-speech isn't fully solving the problem for people with visual, or even reading, impairments.


text:
Young, Murkowski talk immigration, infrastructure, Tongass and pot
Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Rep. Don Young and Sen. Dan Sullivan are seen with President Donald Trump after passage of the tax overhaul bill in December. Young and Murkowski gave an update on what's happening, or not, in separate interviews with the Journal over the Presidents' Day recess. (Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP)
The Presidents' Day recess in Congress gave the Journal an opportunity to sit down with two-thirds of Alaska's congressional delegation.
Rep. Don Young stressed the need to update the nation's infrastructure, from bridges to icebreakers, and the means to pay for it during a Feb. 19 interview at the Journal office.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski highlighted her ongoing efforts to repeal the Roadless Rule in the state as a way to provide Southeast communities with more economic options.
Both discussed a similar desire to permanently resolve the in-limbo status of immigrants known as "Dreamers" — children brought to the U.S. at a young age by illegal immigrant parents or relatives — but with differing views on how the issue will play out in the coming weeks.
Sen. Dan Sullivan met with the Journal in late December.
Young said he wants to see a way for the immigrants to obtain expedited citizenship for those without criminal records and those who are employable or on their way to be if they are still too young to be in the workforce. He added that he doesn't like referring to them as "illegal" immigrants given the unique nature of their situation.
"Some people say that's amnesty. I'm saying no; if they were born here or came across (the border) unbeknownst to them and they're living here they ought to have the opportunity just like anybody else," Young said of the dreamers (so dubbed for a failed immigration bill known as the DREAM Act that would have addressed their status), many of whom are now adults.
Law enforcement agencies should focus on stopping illegal immigration, which undermines the efforts of those who attempt to move to the U.S. legally, according to Young.
President Donald Trump said last fall that he would end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program established via executive order by President Barack Obama after six months — on March 5 — if Congress does not reach a deal to settle their status.
Murkowski said the current situation does not allow Dreamers to better their situation through education or formal job training because they are technically illegal immigrants, and that helps no one.
Young contended the DACA issue wouldn't be resolved because Democrats in Congress do not want to solve what they can blame Republicans in Congress and Trump for not fixing. He noted that despite Republicans holding majorities in both chambers of Congress, Democrat support for legislation is needed to reach the filibuster-proof 60-vote threshold in the Senate.
Murkowski, on the other hand, said, "It's not dead, I refuse to believe that," in a Feb. 20 interview.
Four bills, including one Murkowski worked on with 25 other Senators, failed last week in the Senate. Murkowski's bill received 54 votes of the 60 needed to advance.
On the budget, Alaska's senior senator said she is desperate for Congress to get away from passing more continuing resolutions, or CRs, just to keep the government open now that an overall spending deal for the next two years has been reached.
The current continuing resolution is good through March 22.
On Feb. 8, Congress agreed on a budget deal to raise current spending caps by about $300 billion over the next two fiscal years.
The increased spending limits gives appropriations subcommittee leaders more flexibility in drafting agency budgets, Murkowski said, so the new numbers are being worked into prior spending plans that will hopefully result in an omnibus budget package.
"If we're not successful with this (budget) and we need to do a short-term CR I think that would either be six or seven. It's horrifying; it's embarrassing; it's wrong; it shouldn't be done," Murkowski emphasized. "Now that we got the budget deal and the caps have been set it's 'alright gang, everybody get to work.'"
The Tongass
Murkowski chairs the Appropriations subcommittee that covers the Interior Department, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Forest Service budgets. In November she released a $32.6 billion discretionary 2018 budget for those agencies with language that would have the Forest Service temporarily stop its transition to exclusively young-growth timber harvest in the Tongass National Forest and permanently exempt Alaska from the Roadless Rule.
The Tongass provisions would require the Forest Service to start the process to amend the 2016 Tongass Land and Resource Management Plan by Jan. 31 of next year. The current Tongass plan — an environmental impact statement started in 2013 by the Obama administration — took effect last December and directs forest managers to fully transition to only young-growth timber harvests in the Tongass within 16 years.
Murkowski supports eventually moving to young-growth harvests in the nation's largest national forest but has sided with Southeast loggers who contend the management plan is not based on accurate timber inventories and does not provide adequate harvest volumes to keep what's left of the region's timber industry alive.
"We need to make sure in the Tongass we have a multiple use management policy. I set out on a strategy — there was no secret to it — I said, 'within the Tongass we need to have some forest management reforms. If we're going to have an inventory it needs to be an honest inventory,'" she said.
Murkowski couldn't say whether or not the Tongass and Roadless Rule language would stay in the Forest Service budget bill when the full budget is debated but noted the state is petitioning the Forest Service for an exemption to the Roadless Rule as well.
Several attempts by the State of Alaska to secure an exemption to the Roadless Rule through the federal courts or have it thrown out entirely have been unsuccessful.
The petition route to a Roadless exemption is lengthy, but Murkowski said the administration is aware of the challenges the Clinton-era order presents and other western states such as Idaho have managed to negotiate exemptions that have benefitted their economies.
She added that the Roadless Rule doesn't only hamper timber harvests, but it also impedes small communities in the Tongass from advancing generally supported infrastructure projects.
"In certain parts of Southeast — even though you have so much hydropower — there are certain communities that are not tied into one another and the (energy) costs that they're facing are just sky high and yet you can't have some kind of access road to build transmission (lines), to build your renewable energy resource," Murkowski said. "If nothing happens those villages will die on the vine."
Opponents to the Tongass management changes stress the region's economy has shifted from timber and fishing to tourism and fishing since the peak logging days of the 1980s and early 1990s. Attempting to revive a marginally economic timber industry will just deter visitors who do not come to Alaska to see logging — not to mention the potential for damage to salmon habitat — they argue.
Infrastructure, icebreakers
The Trump administration's scaled-back $200 billion federal infrastructure spending proposal is too small for Young's liking because it is the federal government's responsibility to provide a reliable brick and mortar foundation for the country, he said.
"We need a universal (transportation) system for economic purposes," Young said.
A $1 trillion infrastructure package was one of Trump's primary campaign pledges.
But adding spending in roads, bridges and airports should not grow the deficit, either, he said. Young supports the president's 25 cents-per-gallon increase to the federal gas tax as a means to pay for the upgrades.
"It seems high; it looks high; I know Alaskans won't like it but if you want a transportation system someone has to pay for it and we're $23 trillion in debt. You're not going to borrow to do that," he said.
The problem with the current gasoline tax of 18.4 cents per gallon is that when it passed in 1993 it was not indexed to inflation and therefore the effectiveness of the tax to support the Highway Trust Fund has dwindled, according to Young.
He has long supported other types of highway user fees based on miles driven or other options as well to capture revenue from drivers of electric cars and more fuel-efficient vehicles that use roads but pay less or no fuel taxes.
Young said despite broad rhetorical support in Congress he does not foresee a direct appropriation for roughly $1 billion to the U.S. Coast Guard to build a new heavy icebreaker.
Instead, he supports providing the Coast Guard an avenue to lease icebreakers long-term, which would also get around a federal statute that requires the Coast Guard to maintain its vessels with the cheapest parts possible, regardless of quality. It's that mandate that has led to the degradation of the nation's current small fleet of three icebreakers — one of which, the Polar Sea, has been inactive since a 2010 engine failure.
"The ship (would be) maintained by the owner of the vessel and you sign a 25-year contract or a 30-year contract or a 10-year contract, that's up to the owners. And when you get done as the Coast Guard you decide to release it, then the ship is still in good shape and the owner of the vessel can lease it to another agency," Young described.
Federal cannabis conflict
Murkowski and Young reiterated their opposition to legalized recreational marijuana in their state but also held firm on their joint stance that they will support the will of the majority Alaska voters who legalized it and try to remove federal roadblocks to operating a safe cannabis industry in the state.
Both said federal laws prohibiting banks from entering the state-legal cannabis trade continue to be a problem.
"I don't like it; I don't use it but it's a states' rights issue to me," said Young, who is vice chairman of the House Cannabis Caucus made of representatives from states with legalized marijuana use. "I got interested because if you want to cause problems, have too much cash laying around. What I want (cannabis business) to be able to do as a business is work with the banks."
Being unable to use banks has forced cannabis growers and sellers to operate on a cash-only basis, which has made them targets for robberies.
Young and Murkowski agreed that a bill changing the marijuana banking restrictions is not likely to make it through the Senate despite the fact that medical or medicinal use is permitted in a 29 states and polls show a majority of Americans support some form of legalization. More states are expected to have marijuana initiatives on 2018 election ballots.
"I think you have some resistance from members (of the Senate) who are just so opposed to marijuana legalization in any way, shape or form that regardless of what has happened in their states they're not willing to move on that," Murkowski commented.
"We are setting up law abiding citizens to be (robbery) victims and that is just wrong," she continued. "We have got to be able to reconcile this."
Young said he expects Congress to prohibit the Justice Department from spending any money to enforce federal marijuana laws in states where recreational use is legal after Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Jan. 4 issued a memo nullifying the 2013 Cole memo, which said the Justice Department would defer to state laws regarding marijuana.
Sessions is a staunch opponent to legalized marijuana and the spending prohibition for recreational use would expand what Congress' similar directive related to medical marijuana operations.
While preventing spending as a means to control agency actions is far from ideal, as both indicated, it's the best option for the time being, they said.
Murkowski added that she found Sessions' marijuana memo "troubling" because it caught her off-guard. She said to her knowledge no senators were given a heads-up that it was coming, though it could have been different in the House.
"(Marijuana enforcement) has almost been kind of left to the U.S. attorney in the respective states for determination as to where they're going to go," she said. "That's not very good policy either. I think it lends to further inconsistencies in application of the laws that are out there."
The Alaska U.S. attorney has indicated enforcing federal marijuana laws is not currently a priority of federal prosecutors in the state.


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You Can be In the Next X-Men Movie!
by Matt Heywood on March 30, 2010 CatchallMovies honor movies sweet
Well, more like someone with copious amounts of disposable income, but there is hope. I guess CharityBuzz has an auction up right now to score a walk-on role in the next X-Men movie. I think it's a great idea to raise some money, but it almost makes me think that this is the true sign that the X-Men movie franchise has jumped the shark.
The first sign of shark jumping in my opinion came with the lack of an R rating for each of these films. I mean I get why they have to be PG-13 a la the suits to make more money, but sometimes you need to stick to your guns. There should be no movie that features Wolverine without massive amounts of blood and lost appendages. How can a guy with the sharpest metal claws in the universe slash people up and not have one drop of red sweetness on his claws? I liked his movie, but felt like the PG-13 rating really compromised the way the story was told.
Either way if you want to score a role in the next film head on over to CharityBuzz and make a bid. I think it's around 11K right now with expectations of it reaching 25K as the final worth. You only have 2 days left to become the next pussified character in the X-Men movie franchise!
You've been enlightened…
Via [Gizmodo]
Tags : honormoviessweet
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The Law Offices of Parente & Norem, P.C. Achieves Highest Settlement in November 2022
The Law Offices of Parente & Norem, P.C. is proud to congratulate Christopher M. Norem, Dennis M. Lynch, and Joseph D. Parente for achieving the highest settlement in the $11M category as published in the December 2022 edition of Jury Verdict Reporter. Way to go, team!
$6.785M Construction Injury Settlement in Cook County
$6.785M settlement (plus the complete waiver of a $269K worker's comp. lien) in the matter of Juan Hernandez Aguilar v. Kinzie Builders, LLC, et al. (2018 L 010486) pending in Cook County, IL before the Honorable Judge Jerry A. Esrig. This matter settled late Friday...
Parente & Norem Trial Attorney, Dennis M. Lynch, Published in ISBA's 'Tort Trends'
Parente & Norem trial attorney, Dennis Lynch, has been published in this month's Illinois State Bar Association Tort Trends newsletter. The article, 'Confusing Duty and Breach of Duty in Motion Practice' highlights differences between the two and how they are often conflated and...
Injured Worker Settles for $6M | Man Was Employed as Union Carpenter Before Spine Surgery
$6,000,000 settlement for carpenter after offer is increased by $2,000,000 following opening statements A Cook County construction negligence case has settled for $6,000,000 mid-trial. Joshua Rominski was a Local 13 Union Carpenter when he was injured on the job on...
Parente & Norem Trial Attorneys Obtain $1.75M Jury Verdict
Cole Munvez Dennis Lynch The Law Offices of Parente & Norem, P.C. trial attorneys, Dennis Lynch and Cole Munvez, obtained a $1.75 million gross verdict for a union carpenter apprentice who broke his leg and injured his knee on a downtown jobsite. The apprentice has since returned to...
Parente & Norem Trial Attorney, Cole H. Munvez, Achieves Top Settlement In Cook County
The Law Offices of Parente & Norem, P.C. is proud to congratulate trial attorney Cole H. Munvez, on achieving the top settlement in Cook County in the category of $700,000. Way to go, Cole! To read more click here.
Attorney Dennis Lynch named a Top 40 Under 40 Member!
Congratulations to attorney Dennis M. Lynch for his selection as Chicago Lawyer Top 40 Under 40 Member! You can read the full article by clicking here: Chicago Daily Law Bulletin Class of 2021 - Top 40 Under 40.
Parente & Norem Update on NBC Channel 5 News – Maggie Daley Park Slide Injuries
The Law Offices of Parente & Norem, P.C. was featured again on NBC Channel 5 News as the 25-foot-tall Tower Slide at Chicago's Maggie Daley Park is set to be removed after dozens of reports of injuries and lawsuits have been made, as well as several emergency vehicles responding to the...
$3.9 Million for ORD Truck Rollover
Subcontractor hauling dirt for projects at O'Hare had shoulder, knee injuries BY JORDYN REILAND Law Bulletin staff writer A truck driver who was injured when the dump truck he was operating flipped onto its driver's side has settled his lawsuit with all but one of the defendants for more...
$18.6M awarded in fatal tractor trailer crash
High-low agreement, however, reduces sum to $15M; transit broker included in verdict BY JORDYN REILAND Law Bulletin staff writer A federal jury awarded $18.6 million to the wife of a Canadian truck driver who died after a collision with a tractor trailer on Interstate 80 in LaSalle...
Parente & Norem on NBC Channel 5 News – Maggie Daley Park Slide Injuries
The Law Offices of Parente & Norem, P.C. was featured in an NBC Channel 5 News investigative report relating to the Maggie Daley Park Tower Slide Injuries. You can view Christopher Norem in the NBC Channel 5 News investigate report by clicking on this link: Has Maggie Daley Park Cleaned Up...
Matthew J. Coleman has been named partner
The Law Firm of Parente & Norem, P.C. takes great pleasure in announcing Matthew J. Coleman has been elevated to a Partner at the firm and head of its Workers' Compensation practice. Parente & Norem, P.C. is a Plaintiff's litigation and trial practice firm that concentrates in workers'...


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More Friends Of Cara Delevingne Come Forward, Says She Desperately Needs Rehab
Home / Top Stories / More Friends Of Cara Delevingne Come Forward, Says She Desperately Needs Rehab
by Kelly Coffey-Behrens Posted on September 16, 2022 at 10:45 am
Actress and model Cara Delevingne, 30, has struggled with mental health issues and substance abuse, but now, it seems the "Suicide Squad" actress has hit a new low.
Friends of Delevingne are now coming forward saying the 30-year-old model and actress desperately needs to go to rehab and therapy before it's too late.
Margot Robbie Speaks Out, Worried About Cara Delevingne's Health
It seems Cara Delevingne's mental health is decreasing as friends of the actress are coming forward, saying she is struggling with issues that go beyond substance abuse.
One of Delevingne's closest friends, Margot Robbie, recently visited the model in her L.A. home, but was visibly distraught shortly after leaving.
Sources close to Delevingne told TMZ that Margot's emotions came out that day for good reason. Apparently, the "Paper Towns" actress has been struggling for a while now, initially with mental health issues, but now those close to her believe she needs rehab and therapy too as it seems her substance abuse has spiraled out of control.
Robbie visited Delevingne the same day she was supposed to be at her own New York Fashion Week, however, she never made it to New York City.
Other Close Friends Are Now Worried About Cara Delevingne's Life
TMZ was told Margot Robbie, as well as other close friends, are advocating for the 30-year-old actress and model to immediately get help, specifically into a rehab treatment program that includes both mental therapy and substance abuse treatment so that she can get her life back on track.
Delevingne's inner circle of friends and family are said to be trying to convince her to get help, including Delevingne's older sister Poppy, 36, who has been spotted in and out of her Los Angeles home on several occasions.
TMZ has sources who say Delevingne is not opposed to getting serious treatment, however, she is avoiding it and "Dragging her feet."Sources say her struggles are getting worse.
Cara Delevingne's History
In August, Delevingne and Robbie went on vacation together along with some of friends to celebrate Delevingne's 30th birthday. The group traveled to Spain, but once they got back, it seems things have spiraled for the actress.
Reports have come in saying Delevingne's appeared increasingly erratic in public, swinging her arms and pacing around while on the phone. She was also seen flinging her hands and head backward multiple times, as though she was on some type of drug.
Other reports say the model was seen "dropping an unknown liquid from a pipette into her mouth and apparently 'zoning out'."
And last week, TMZ reported she looked "totally disheveled and seemed confused after initially boarding one of Jay-Z's private jets in Los Angeles". Apparently, the flight never left, and she got off the flight 45 minutes later.
In a recent interview with Stylist Magazine, Delevingne said she is shocked she is alive.
"Honestly, I didn't think I'd be alive at this age," the actress said. "I literally couldn't wait to turn 30, because the 20s are f***ing hard.
She continued, "You're basically still a teenager — but you're meant to be an adult and everyone's telling you this is the best time of your life."
Filed Under: Entertainment, Pop culture, Top Stories, Trending Tagged With: Cara Delevingne, Margot Robbie
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The ultimate in WRX STi headers has arrived with the new JDL Auto Design equal length header. This stainless steel header features all mandrel bent 1.625" runners and 0.5" flanges at the heads as well as the manifold to up-pipe joint. Every weld is meticulously addressed with TIG precision and back purged to ensure clean penetrated joints. The real magic takes place in the collector of this premium performance part where a fully 3D CNC machined single stock of stainless steel has been formed into nothing short of a robotic masterpiece of precision. If you want the best there is, then look no further as this header is the beginning to a full line of modular exhaust components JDL Auto Design offers for the WRX STi platform. The JDL Auto Design equal length header will give your WRX STi the edge in quality, performance, and show stopping looks.
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Voices from the Cape - Reprinted.
We are back in our beloved Cape Town - catching up with friends, enjoying the beautiful summer and joy of joys living in a 'Brexit Free' zone. If only I could sabotage Sky News my happiness would be complete.
At last, it's finished BEYOND GARTSHERRIE. Thankfully feedback so far has been positive which comes as a great relief.
Trust me, writing a follow-up book is a great deal harder than just taking family stories and my imagination and letting it rip as I did with THE LAWS OF GARTSHERRIE.


Ski priced and sold as a single unit, not per pair.
This big-mountain ski is the ultimate accessory for skiers with no boundaries. Sporting a 108mm waist, the Monster 108 leaves behind a wide footprint designed for floating in powder. The ERA 3.0 rocker and camber combination supports fast, reactive, and responsive open turns in all terrain types.
We recommend using a 170cm ski for most mono rig applications.


You bought a ton of candy but forgot to turn on the porch light. Sugar transforms your sweet, little angel into the Anti-Christ. You're on a diet. Although it's difficult to imagine, we realize that not everyone is thrilled with the idea of a metric ton of candy hanging around for the next few months. Therefore we offer up five suggestions for dealing with post-Halloween candy overload.
5. Repurpose Your Raisins Raisins. The bane of Halloween candy hauls. But before you chunk those wrinkly bastards, check this out. Apparently dropping a few raisins into a champagne bottle that's gone flat will get it bubbling again--and create a low-tech lava lamp in your glass as the raisin floats, then sinks, then floats, and sinks. Why this works? We read all sorts of varying reports having to do with surface area and carbon dioxide--our conclusion: it just does, okay? Now drink your damn champagne already.
4. Blend It What's better than vanilla ice cream with chopped up candy bits? I know, we can't think of anything either. The combo has made Dairy Queen a fortune, but you don't need to be a pro to blend your own frozen deliciousness at home. The most common mixtures use candy bars, but don't be afraid to think outside the box. Smartie Sundae anyone?
3. Add Some Booze You love booze. You love candy. Booze-filled candy is delicious--how about candy-filled booze? This recipe from Food Network magazine for a Candy Corn-infused Martini gave our sweet tooth goosebumps.
(infused vodka) Combine the candy corn and vodka in an airtight container. Set aside for at least 3 hours. Then strain.
(the mix) Add 4 ounces of your candy corn vodka, the orange liqueur, lemon juice and egg white to a cocktail shaker. Shake very well. Strain into 2 chilled martini glasses and garnish.
2. Fun with Fondue A fondue pot + leftover Halloween candy bars = deliciousness. Melt those suckers down and enjoy with fruit or pretzels.
1. Donate It Donate your excess sweets to an organization that sends care packages to troops overseas. One such program is The Halloween Candy Buyback, comprised of a group of dentists that collect candy each year for Operation Gratitude. If you'd like to make an impact locally there's Military Moms and Wives of Brazoria County. Click here for a list of drop-off locations.


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Online resources can make interns watchdogs, too
by Sunlight Intern May 21, 2009 2:24 pm
"I'm proud to present the second part in a series of research projects from the Sunlight Foundation spring semester interns. This post is by Tim Wiseman, he spent time looking into Rep. Hal Rogers (KY-5) earmark requests trying to find out if they are truly what the Congressman claims." – Nisha Thompson
By Sunlight Foundation Intern, Tim Wiseman
Thanks to online resources, basic watchdogging is now so easy, an intern could do it. Unfortunately, complete and total answers about lawmakers and their activities are still elusive, whether you are an intern, a journalist or anyone else. I learned these facts firsthand while spending some of my internship researching the earmark requests of Rep. Hal Rogers (KY-5).
The 22-page PDF of earmarks that Rogers posted to his Web site caught my eye, and not just because it was sideways. Looking through the list of 103 earmarks, which totaled $446 million, I found some names familiar to me from reading Sunlight's Real Time Investigations blog. Outdoor Venture Corp. and Phoenix Products were in the running for earmarks again ($16 million for each). In late 2007, the Real Time Investigations blog had reported on the two Kentucky firms' booming earmark business and their connections to Rogers, and more recent data showed those ties remained strong.
Additionally, earmarks for some non-profit organizations stood out since all are based in Rogers' small hometown of Somerset, Ky.:
A $15 million request for the National Institute for Hometown Security, which had received an $11 million earmark in 2008
$2 million in requests for the Center for Rural Development
A $1 million request for the SEKTDA (South and Eastern Kentucky Tourism Development Association)
A $13.75 million equest for Operation UNITE (Unlawful Narcotics Investigations, Treatment and Education)
A $10 million request for Eastern Kentucky PRIDE (Personal Responsibility in a Desirable Environment)
$1 million request for SEKTDA (South and Eastern Kentucky Tourism Development Association)
$500,000 request for SKED (Southeast Kentucky Economic Development Corporation).
In relatively little time, I had gone from scanning the list of earmark requests from Rogers' Web site to clicking my way to finding connections to past earmarks and donors. While I was using spare moments to do this online research, the Lexington (Ky.) Herald-Leader (my hometown paper) was undertaking a similar effort, eventually publishing a front-page overview of Rogers' 2009 earmark requests. The article offered basically the same information as I had found, but with a few comments – including some from Real Time Investigations' Bill Allison – about the earmark requests and earmarks in general.
"You're using federal money to create organizations that wouldn't exist," Allison told the Herald-Leader. "They're hiring people — sometimes bringing in political supporters. Sometimes (those supporters) promote the lawmaker as much as the group because they're out in the community and people identify the group with the member. It amplifies the member and it raises a lot of questions."
Since the Herald-Leader article left those questions hanging, I tried to find out more about those organizations, especially the National Institute for Hometown Security (NIHS), which Rogers had praised in a subsequent article in the (Somerset, Ky.) Commonwealth Journal.
"Unelected and uninformed editorial boards, such as the Herald-Leader, do not represent the interests of my district," Rogers told the Commonwealth Journal. "These 'vague non-profits' that the Herald lampoons are very real and have made a measurable impact on people's lives. To denigrate the organizations is to denigrate the tens of thousands of Fifth District residents who have poured their sweat, blood, and tears into making them a success."
While I had hoped to discover the "measurable impact" of these organizations, I found more dead-ends. Using Guidestar.org (free registration required), I downloaded 990 forms filed by the NIHS and the Center for Rural Development (CRD). These forms give a basic overview of the organizations: general spending and revenue categories/totals, salaries of top employees, mission statements, etc.
The NIHS declared its mission is "1) to provide national leadership in discovering and developing community-based critical infrastructure, 2) facilitate the commercialization of these solutions, and 3) encourage the deployment of these solutions." The CRD declared that its mission is "to provide economic development to Southeastern Kentucky."
The 990 form showed a majority of NIHS's 2007 spending going out of Rogers' district, such as $238,449 to Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld in Washington, D.C., for legal service, $497,246 to G & H International, also of Washington, D.C., for "management support services" and $530,786 to the Center for Technology Commercialization of Westborough, Mass., for "management support services." NIHS spent $2.6 million total in fiscal year 2007, so I was curious about this spending pattern as well as the reason behind the jumps in earmarks – $11 million received in 2008, and now $15 million more requested in 2009. I also noticed that James Egnew, president of Outdoor Venture, was a member of the NIHS board, a connection I would have liked to explain.
The Web sites of both organizations did not do much to clarify those generic statements, or to answer the questions I had about budgets, etc. The sites provided press releases and "success stories" – many featuring quotes from, or photos of, Rogers – but little that demonstrated a truly "measurable impact." There was information about the Rogers Scholar and the Rogers Scholars at the CRD Web site, and at the NIHS site, there was news about addditional funding for a "Milk Transport Security Project." Again, I found little to explain or to help me understand the "measurable impact" of the organizations.
"There's no question that those dollars have some positive impact in these areas," Dr. Ken Troske, an economist at the University of Kentucky who has studies rural development, told me. "But you should talk about maximizing the effect of those dollars and that might mean not spending them there."
Generally, Troske said there is often little evaluation when it comes to these type of rural development or non-profit programs, and those lists of grants or scholarship winners don't count.
"That's not analysis," he said. "They aren't looking at what the situation might have been had there been no federal money spent; they aren't looking at how and why this money may have had a impact."
While I had been able to track down Troske in Australia, I had less luck speaking with anyone in Somerset, Ky. I called the NIHS, but I bounced around the organization's phone tree before leaving messages in the mailbox of President Ewell Balltrip. As of this posting, I have not heard from him. Only recently did I find staff e-mail information on the NIHS site; I am waiting for a response.
My calls to the CRD were not returned, nor were their staff e-mail addresses available online. Yesterday, I received an e-mail to the one I submitted through the CRD's generic Web form. The response, however, was a copy of a recent promotional magazine produced by the CRD. I responded and hope to learn more, but weeks after beginning my search, I have made little progress.
In the first minutes of my search, online transparency tools brought information instantly to my cubicle. That information – on donors, on earmarks, etc. – is valuable, but it also prompts more questions. Perhaps the NIHS and the CRD have the answers to these questions, and they very well could, but they certainly aren't promoting it on their Web sites or eager to chat about it with inquiring interns. That's far from transparent, and more than anything, it's just frustrating for anyone – intern or not – who wants answers about the government's impact at a local level.