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STPP Music Festival 2011 Wrap Up
On June 8, 2011, in Community, Concerts, News, Reviews, by Magnolia Guitar
This past weekend in Washington, DC was a blast! June 4-5, 2011 was the inaugural Sweet Tea Pumpkin Pie Music Festival, a 2-day event that showcased independent music from the Mid-Atlantic area.
Sweet Tea Pumpkin Pie, abbreviated as STPP or "STeaPP" as my wife and I began to say it (as in steeping iced sweet tea?) … is the creation of David Mann. The mouthful of a name is self-referential as it is also the name of his booking agency. And the name of his music blog. And the name of his former band. And it will probably be the name of his future line of lingerie (if he so chooses to take on yet another project).
OK, so maybe I was kidding about that last one. Maybe.
The STPP Music Festival featured over 125 bands and performers from DC, PA, NY, VA, MD, NC and beyond for an indie (but genre defying) music marathon. One performance every hour from noon to midnight for two days across six venues around U Street and 9th Street in Washington, DC! Even better, the entire festival was FREE, but you had to be over 21 to attend.
I had volunteered to work the door at Dukem (a very nice Ethiopian restaurant owned by equally nice Tefera Zewdie) on Saturday night, so I didn't get to see the majority of the acts at the other venues. But I don't feel like I missed out, because the variety and the caliber of musicianship did not disappoint me or the, at times, standing room only crowd.
Starting when I arrived on Saturday at 5pm, New Yorker Matt Singer was already well into his set, but what I heard was already a good sign. He was charming, witty, slightly folksy, but with a sort of Caribbean vibe to match his bright red pants! He was sometimes joined by his vocalist and xylophone partner (and her mom in the audience).
Jonathan Wood Vincent took the stage next and began auspiciously with a monolog and an a Capella number which hardly prepared us for the journey that we were about to take. With a clear command of his piano, his extended songs were both hilariously verbose and upbeat, taking sharp turns into deep solemnity, and quickly back without apology.
Jonathan Wood Vincent
When someone got up to leave he pleaded, "Don't go! The next song's about a penis!" And true to his word, it was. And I'm fairly certain he might have made it up right on the spot, but who cares? He's one of those artists (and I use that term intentionally here) that you either love or hate. But isn't that what art is all about?
Jokingly, Alec Gross followed up by admitting that his terrible name, "Alec Gross," is the exact opposite of a great name like, "Jonathan Wood Vincent." It is safe to say that his set was also probably the antithesis of it as well. But it was oh, so beautiful.
Alec Gross
Alec, like Vincent and Singer before him, also traveled from New York City to be with us. And I for one am glad he did. True to his singer/songwriter roots, he bills his music as "Cinematic Americana," which is as apropos as anything I could have written about him. Please, please check him out.
At times, during their set, it seemed that the duo known as Sequoya from Durham, NC had brought their own fan club with them. Bonnie, who sang and played guitar and Matthew on bass and banjo admittedly said they don't play out much anymore but you'd hardly tell from the crowd's reaction.
Charlie Harrison, who took the Dukem stage next to play a solo set in front of a standing room audience, was a last minute replacement for Dandelion Snow, originally scheduled for the 9:00pm slot. And it turned out to be a good thing too, because country music might not have been properly represented otherwise!
Charlie Harrison
He also played a full band set on Sunday. Clearly a songwriter's songwriter, you could imagine Harrison being a featured artist at the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, but he lives right here in DC, by way of Texas. Good news for us, so we can all be sure to catch his next act.
Rene Moffatt
Also representing DC that night was Rene Moffatt, who has been performing for the past four years, made the audience literally swoon! Moffatt whose wild hair, sweet voice and fingerpicking dexterity can't help but win you over is still no match for what a bright and nice guy he is off the stage.
Closing out the night, Amy K Bormet and her amazingly tight 3-piece jazz band displayed impressive skills. They had just come off from performing at the DC Jazz Fest which was still going on until June 13.
Amy K Bormet
The crowd changed over frequently all night as people sauntered in and out. At times it was standing room only, sometimes bustling with life and at other times, you could hear a pin drop with the audience focused entirely on the performance.
There has always been a strong music culture in Washington, DC (including jazz, punk rock and bluegrass), but it's often not viewed the same as other DIY music cities like Austin, Boston or Athens. But the 2011 Inaugural Sweet Tea Pumpkin Pie Music Festival has proven that indie music is alive and well and that people WILL come out to see it thanks to Dave Mann, who almost single-handely put the thing together seemingly by force of sheer will alone. Not to rest on his laurels, Mann is producing a documentary about the festival with filmmaker Patrick Ryan Morris and has already committed to doing it all over again this October 2011.
Even though everyone I spoke to all throughout the night had positive things to say, I've also learned quite a few lessons that I'll be sharing with Mann for the the next event. For example, we could have benefited from a schedule of performances on each table as well as handouts of the same including a map of the venues. People, not familiar with the area, were enthusiastic but often confused as to where to go. Additional volunteers assisting on the street in between venues would also help guide people.
More Photos at Brightest Young Things!
Coordinating between 6 separate venues, even though they're within walking distance to each other, is no piece of cake. It required a lot more logistical help than we had. But surprisingly, everyone was cool, calm, collected and professional. Bands helped each other with sound. Audiences entertained themselves in between setups and breakdowns. It was everything you could hope for from a city that supports independent music.
I only highlighted a small portion of the acts that played this weekend. A lot of credit goes to the many bands that I didn't see who traveled far and wide to participate even though they weren't being paid (since the event was free). It was as if they could sense that this may be the beginning of something big. Many took the opportunity to sell some albums and t-shirts and build their mailing lists. Some even passed around the tip jar. It may not make up for a 10-hour round trip drive, but it sure was an adventure.
Credit also goes to the restaurants and bars of Little Ethiopia that displayed the enthusiasm and foresight for the opportunity to bring an event like this to life. Most established music venues, understandably, weren't sure how the STPP Music Fest was going to play out. But due to the pioneering spirit of Dukem, 1920, Ghion, Queen Makeda, Bella and Almaz, we'll hopefully all be on the cutting edge of a new music landscape that could define a city.
Will that happen? You'll just have to attend the STPP Music Festival in October to find out. See you there!
Tagged with: 1920 • Alec Gross • Almaz • Amy K Bormet • Bella Cafe • Charlie Harrison • Dave Mann • David Mann • Dukem • El Vivo • Ghion • Jonathan Wood Vincent • Matt Singer • Queen Makeda • Rene Moffatt • Sequoya • STeaPP • STPP • Sweet Tea Pumpkin Pie
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"We can't thank you enough for all that you've done to help us out and get the site up. It has turned..."
We can't thank you enough for all that you've done to help us out and get the site up. It has turned out better than we could have ever imagined and we are excited for what it will do for our company. We feel like we have only touched on the tip of the iceberg as far as what we can do with it. Truly a work of Art.
Work for Byte Studios ?
"Byte Studios understands and responds to the needs of our business. Their creativity and innovation i..."
Byte Studios understands and responds to the needs of our business. Their creativity and innovation is evident in the design and elegant flow of our website. Our customers consistently remark on the ease in which they can place orders or view our menus online. The associates at Byte are friendly and efficient, and continue to provide us with exceptional customer service. I would recommend Byte to anyone seeking creative and reliable web and multimedia solutions.
"When we approached Byte Studios to build our website we had no idea where to start. The entire team t..."
When we approached Byte Studios to build our website we had no idea where to start. The entire team there was very helpful in guiding us along the correct way to construct a website. From site mapping to visual design to the CMS we were able to work together to get exactly what we wanted from our website design and function.
"It was a pleasure to work with the team from Byte Studios on the new Community Advocates website. Des..."
It was a pleasure to work with the team from Byte Studios on the new Community Advocates website. Despite complex website needs, Byte Studios went above and beyond in working to reflect the mission and services of our organization in a way that would be both easy to understand and attractive. Thanks to Byte Studios, our website is not only a tool for conveying information – it's also a way to reach out to people in need.
Don't see enough customer reviews? Check out these Byte Studios competitors.
"From the moment I began working with Michael, Sam, and Steven at Byte Studios, I knew I made the righ..."
From the moment I began working with Michael, Sam, and Steven at Byte Studios, I knew I made the right choice. They immediately understood my goals. Their design decisions were excellent. Whenever I ran into difficulty, the Byte team helped me solve the problem quickly. Their solutions were often highly creative.
"We wanted web designers that could create a site that was uniquely us from the look and feel to speci..."
We wanted web designers that could create a site that was uniquely us from the look and feel to special features. We also wanted a team of people that could speak our language and who took the time to really understand our business's soul. We found that in Byte. We also found a place that took us beyond what we could have envisioned and over time the look they created for our website has helped us to upgrade our brand look as well. The icing on the cake - their CMS rocks. We consider them partners and we directly attribute a our increased sales and brand awareness to the website we co-created with them.
Testimonials & Customer References of individual Byte Studios customers - their endorsements, recommendations, and customer success results of using the software or service. Read these Testimonials & Customer References to decide if Byte Studios is the right business software or service for your company.
Byte Studios reviews have an overall customer reference rating of 4.8 from 120 ratings.


Susan M. Harvey has been creating Medicine Horses since 1987. They are individually handcrafted one of a kind, clay sculptures whose design elements are taken from historical records, mythological beliefs, stories and religions of various horse cultures.
Originally Published: March 25, 2019 8:47 a.m.
Red Rose Inspiration For Animals is a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports animal welfare and has been promoting Art Shows in West Sedona since 2009.
The art shows help the non-profit generate revenue for the various long term existing animal-related programs, future rehabilitation center as well as potential veterinary spay and neuter clinic.
Red Rose upcoming spring Art Shows: March 23 and 24, April 13 and 14, April 27 and 28 and May 11 and 12.
These shows take place exclusively at the Olde Sedona Bar and Grill and Redrock Precision Motors at 1405 West Hwy 89A in West Sedona. The shows are not affiliated with any other events in town and benefit animal welfare through Red Rose.
Red Rose is proud to represent some of the most fabulous and talented artist. Displaying everything from clothing, accessories, jewelry, home décor, paintings, pottery, glass art and much more.
Karen Hammer creates unique stained glass owls, hearts, goddesses, dragonflies and hummingbirds and more. She can also create custom pieces.
Jenny Emminger uses a signature process making clay mimic the red rocks of Sedona creating healing hearts, crosses, skulls as decorative home décor.
Teresa Jennings creates the most beautiful tie dye clothing that is not only comfortable but fun to wear. In addition to her many styles Teresa and Red Rose have been collaborating on an up-cycled line of tie dye for years.
Christine Bendele creates jewelry that is beautiful, elegant and fun to wear.
She hand picks all the materials she uses, which are only natural gemstones, metals, leather and silk and pearls. Her techniques are macramé, hand knotted silk, and wire wrapping and weaving.
Sedona Jewelry husband and wife team Maria and Paul Lasia use beautiful copper pieces creating earrings, pendants and bracelets that are affordable for everyone and make for great gifts.
Jerry and Marshall Locke new to the Sedona scene and are sculptors that love stone. They create sculptures that resemble the mountain landscapes. They work in wonder of the colors, lines and textures, that hide beneath the surface and they are mystified by the geological process and the length of time required to create them.
Penny and Rose Fowler a mother daughter duo showcasing beautiful Native American Jewelry and ornaments.
Thease artists are onsite from 10 am to 5 pm Saturday and Sunday at 1405 West Highway 89A, free parking and admission with live music by Gina Machovina a classically trained guitarist.
For more information EMAIL: info@redroseinspiration.org or visit redroseinspiration.org.


Success in real estate comes through good communication, the basis of which is listening to and understanding your client and tailoring with them a solution for their unique situation.
With over twenty years of selling real estate this has provided Andrew with the experience and knowledge to enable him to provide the service and solutions to all his clients' requirements.
Being based in Rolleston has provided Andrew with opportunities outside of his traditional rural market. Residential, industrial and urban development work have all come his way giving him an excellent background of all aspects of the real estate market.
The majority of Andrew's clients are through word-of-mouth and/or repeat business, and they come to him for his honest, no-nonsense approach to real estate.
Having a farming background and currently running a dairy grazing and deer unit gives Andrew a great understanding of the requirements of his farming clients.
Living locally for forty years and working locally is also a very important aspect to his business. Every day Andrew runs into clients who have brought or sold through him.
Accountability and honesty is a must!
Priced below RV – Vendors demand action!
Seriously for sale – must be sold!
'Just wanted to pass on a massive thanks to you for all of the effort and advice you put in over the month to help us sell our property, we are so grateful that you did want the best deal for us – not just the first one that came through the door.
Andrew if you will have us again – we definitely will use you again and recommend you to everyone we know who is looking – so thanks so much, you were awesome.


So 2017 was not the best year for many people. It almost felt like the 'gods were against us'.
In my little corner of the world; I published a book, that seemingly went nowhere. I was under constant stress working while studying full time, then trying to build a new business (while raising 4 kids). On top of it all, I was constantly sick.
Things finally started looking up later in the year. I found myself an awesome doctor who won't settle for anything less than a definite answer, and by October we found out what was up with my body. I'm now on medication – mostly supplements – and slowly starting to improve.
Then I won a book award! Which was definitely the highlight of my year!
Anyway, I'm believing for a better 2018. With improving health, business starting to get better, and new Support Workers who help with Hayley – and now also the housework (bliss!).
I hope 2018 is a better year for everyone.


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Grand Rapids Legal News
Varnum attorney Linsey Gleason joins YMCA board
Varnum attorney Linsey Gleason has been named to the board of directors for the YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids.The YMCA is one of West Michigan's leading nonprofits, dedicated to ensuring a stronger, healthier community for all and a commitment to nurturing the potential of youth.
In addition to its fitness offerings, the YMCA offers a wide variety of programs and classes, including cooking, nutrition and gardening, as well as day and overnight camp opportunities.
Gleason, a partner on the Estate Planning Practice Team, provides full service estate plan preparation for her clients, focusing on estate and trust administration, guardianship and conservatorship services, elder law advice and special needs trusts.
She is also very active in several other community organizations. She serves on the boards of the Grand Rapids Public Museum Foundation and Senior Neighbors, Inc., and also on the campaign cabinet for Grand Rapids Whitewater, Inc.
Gleason is the former winner of a number of awards, including the Center for Community Leadership's "Create GReat" award, which is given to recognize members of the CCL community "for exceptional work that makes Grand Rapids a community of uncommon greatness;" one of the Grand Rapids Bar Association's 3-in-10 awards in 2017; and one of the 40 Under Forty class of 2015, named by the Grand Rapids Business Journal. She also regularly appears on the Super Lawyer and Best Lawyer lists.
Varnum now has over 180 attorneys in seven offices; for more see www.varnumlaw.com.
headlines Grand Rapids
Barnes & Thornburg expands life sciences IP practice, adds offices in Ann Arbor, Raleigh
Research uncovers what police know about digital evidence
Varnum's Kyros joins Citizens Research Council board, bringing facts to governing
You are here: HomeGrand Rapids > Duly Noted

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Q: python: How to determine which file a dict is from? I'm trying to debug a memory leak.  It's a script that runs as a daemon, and has dependencies in about 10K lines of code in 30 different files.  After a while you see the memory usage start creeping up.
I used heapy to determine that that it's a dict that's growing, but how can I find out which file that dict lives in?

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Here's the trailer for the upcoming film Watchmen directed by Zack Snyder and based on the limited issue DC Comics graphic novel series written by Alan Moore and illustrated by Dave Gibbons. The film is scheduled for release on March 6th, 2009.
Here's a classic coding joke represented by a lovely cross-stitch by Jenutech Designs.


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BudTrader.com Seeks Promotions Manager to "Sample Marijuana Products, Hang Out With Models and Party"
Online Medical Marijuana Marketplace Sets the Bar 'High' For MMJ Marketing & Promotions Job Opening in A Rapidly Expanding Industry.
Press Release - updated: Mar 22, 2017
San Diego, CA, March 22, 2017	(Newswire.com) - BudTrader.com, which is the largest online medical marijuana marketplace, has begun the search for a Promotional Marketing Manager to oversee their bevy of supermodel promo girls at upcoming events.
"We need somebody who can manage models and promotions but also knows how to party," says BudTrader.com CEO Brad McLaughlin, when asked what kind of candidate they are looking for. "But they have to know the difference between partying in their personal life, and partying as a job. We need somebody that knows how to party professionally as a career."
The technical requirements are reasonable – Candidates only need to have their high school diploma or GED, and drug testing will not be done at this workplace (obviously). Brad McLaughlin says they are mostly looking for someone who fits in with the high-energy dynamic of the growing company. "We need someone who is a hardworking, hustler, a multitasker who knows how to have fun but is also ready to put in work."
The team at BudTrader.com is no stranger to 'putting in work'. They launched a flashmob-style promo at the California Cannabis Business Expo in San Diego earlier this month called "Blunts & Babes". At the event their team of supermodels gave away 10,000 pre-rolled joints and hugs to expo attendees. "The reaction to our BudTrader.com Blunts & Babes event was even bigger than we expected," says CEO Brad McLaughlin. "We know we had to hire someone super competent to make sure the models' interactions with BudTrader fans go smoothly and to make sure everyone has an awesome time."
This job comes with some unusual benefits, too. The job posting by BudTrader.com lists the job-related perks as a "unlimited samples" of various Marijuana/CBD/Hemp related products, along with a free gym membership, and hair cut & styling by a top stylist. The ad says, "We need our employees feeling good and looking sharp!" (see full ad description at https://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/lab/6054535685.html)
BudTrader has been growing rapidly since the election in November. According to CEO Brad McLaughlin the site is averaging 5 million monthly visitors and currently has over 500,000 registered users, making it the largest medical marijuana website in the Country. The company plans to open up a Google-style campus in San Diego, California, and wants to attract the best and the brightest minds to help them cash in on what CEO Brad McLaughlin calls "the green rush". "Google was voted the best company to work for in 2016. In 2017, it's going to be BudTrader.com. Google were coming for your title this year!" says McLaughlin.
djohnson@themarijuanajournal.org
The Marijuana Journal
http://themarijuanajournal.org/
Categories: Humor, Business Technology, Marketing
Tags: budtrader, cannabis, dispensary, google, jeff sessions, journal, marijuana, medical, medical marijuana, models, president trump, supermodels
Contributing News Source


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USENIX 2004 Annual Technical Conference, FREENIX Track — Abstract
Awarded Best Paper!
Pp. 19–28 of the Proceedings
Wayback: A User-level Versioning File System for Linux
Brian Cornell, Peter A. Dinda, and Fabián E. Bustamante, Northwestern University
In a typical file system, only the current version of a file (or directory) is available. In Wayback, a user can also access any previous version, all the way back to the file's creation time. Versioning is done automatically at the write level: each write to the file creates a new version. Wayback implements versioning using an undo log structure, exploiting the massive space available on modern disks to provide its very useful functionality. Wayback is a user-level file system built on the FUSE framework that relies on an underlying file system for access to the disk. In addition to simplifying Wayback, this also allows it to extend any existing file system with versioning: after being mounted, the file system can be mounted a second time with versioning. We describe the implementation of Wayback, and evaluate its performance using several benchmarks.
View the full text of this paper in HTML and PDF.
The Proceedings are published as a collective work, © 2004 by the USENIX Association. All Rights Reserved. Rights to individual papers remain with the author or the author's employer. Permission is granted for the noncommercial reproduction of the complete work for educational or research purposes. USENIX acknowledges all trademarks within this paper.
If you need the latest Adobe Acrobat Reader, you can download it from Adobe's site.
To become a USENIX Member, please see our Membership Information.
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USENIX '04 Home
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We will present emerging technologies that have the potential to change the way we learn, teach, or do business. These will include i) collaboration tools, ii) video platforms and live video streaming, and iii) location services linked to your phone's GPS. In true entrepreneurial style and trusting the power of technology, one of the presenters will be in North Wales. During and after the presentations, delegates will be encouraged to debate how these technologies can be used for learning, teaching, an business support; what can go wrong using them; and how on earth do you get started!


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Heroin antidote coming to local police departments
Andy McNeil
Police in South Jersey may soon have a new tool to help save lives from the scourge of heroin and prescription drug abuse.
The prosecutor's offices in Burlington, Camden and Gloucester counties say they will issue directives to police departments in the coming weeks on training officers to carry and administer a heroin and opiate antidote.
Naloxone — also known under the brand name Narcan — is already being used in a pilot program by police in Ocean and Monmouth counties. Police in Ocean County delivered their first living-saving dose Sunday at a Seaside Heights motel.
Last month, Gov. Chris Christie's administration issued a waiver to more than 28,000 certified EMTs in the state that would allow them to administer the drug.
The push can't come soon enough for some police departments.
"The quicker that we can get this life-saving tool in the hands of our officers, the quicker we can reduce the number of fatal overdoses on the streets," said Camden County Police Chief Scott Thomson.
During a public naloxone training Tuesday at St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Washington Township, the chief noted the problem has grown "beyond epidemic proportions."
"In the city (of Camden) alone, so far this year we've had over 100 overdoses and unfortunately 14 parents have had to bury their children because of that."
Gloucester Township Police Chief Harry Earle and Deputy Chief David Harkins, as well as Pine Hill Chief Chris Winters attended the event.
Earle pointed out his township has seen 30 opiate overdoses and four fatalities in the first three months of this year. A possible fifth fatality is still awaiting a toxicology report.
Pine Hill has had six overdoses since Dec. 29 with one fatality, according to Winters.
All three departments plan to train officers to carry the antidote after they receive approval. The effort is voluntary and other departments will have to decide whether to follow suit.
The training was organized by the South Jersey AIDS Alliance and activist Patty DiRenzo of Blackwood.
DiRenzo, who lost her son Salvatore Marchese to an overdose in 2010, championed the Overdose Prevention Act signed into law last May.
The law shields those who call 911 during an overdose situation from being prosecuted for drug possession and recommends wider distribution and more prescriptions for naloxone.
"If you want to save your child, have it in your house," DiRenzo insists.
Those who attended the training received a free injectable naloxone kit. The drug is also available as a nasal spray by prescription. Both are available to the public.
Among the two dozen or so people who attended the training were Doug D'Alfonso of Washington Township and Colleen Howard of National Park.
Both saw their sons' lives saved by naloxone in recent years.
D'Alfonso's 29-year-old son was brought out of an overdose last summer by the antidote; the two now attend St. Charles Borromeo's weekly recovery group for families.
"In my experience, you can't just work with the addict, you need to work with the whole family," said Father John Stabeno, who runs the program and has worked in addiction treatment for 28 years.
About 60 to 80 people attend the weekly gathering.
"I've never had a group like that before," D'Alfonso said. "I've been to a lot of things with my son. A lot of clinics, psychiatrists, psychologists, treatment centers — nothing like the dynamics that Father John has."
Howard's son, Joshua, was saved by the antidote when he was hospitalized for an overdose in July 2008. The 24-year-old died the following year when he overdosed on a bus ride from Camden to Woodbury.
"His friends are still dying," Howard said. "I go to funerals two or three times a year."
Babette Richter, a registered nurse with the South Jersey AIDS Alliance, explained the drug works by blocking opiates from attaching to receptors in the brain that tell the respiratory system how to function.
"This does not make the overdose go away," she noted.
Rather, it buys time — about 20 minutes — to get the victim medical help, making it crucial to call 911.
Once injected with naloxone, overdose victims enter immediate withdrawal and experience painful sickness often referred to as the "dope flu." A second or third dose can be administered if help doesn't arrive in time.
Richter said the likelihood of an overdose caused by too much naloxone was a "very, very nonexistent possibility," explaining it might be possible if 10 or more times the normal dose is given at once.
The drug has no affect on a person who does not have opiates in their system, she added.
Drug-related deaths are on the rise, not just in Camden County, but in Gloucester and Burlington as well.
According to the Gloucester-Camden-Salem Medical Examiner's Office, Camden County's drug-related deaths rose from 138 in 2012 to 159 last year. Gloucester County's increased from 57 in 2012 to 71 last year.
The Burlington County Medical Examiner's Office said drug-related deaths jumped from 48 in 2011 to 67 last year.
"There are so many dying," Stabeno said. "I could do a funeral a week for these kids."
The Asbury Park Press contributed to this report.
Reach Andy McNeil at amcneil@cpsj.com or (856) 486-2458. Follow him on Twitter @Andy_McNeil.
See more coverage on New Jersey's fight against heroin use:


The goal for a sales organization should be to create a high-performing sales culture. There are many factors that contribute to a high-performance sales culture but ongoing sales training is one of the main planks. Making the sales team more productive and better at their craft allows the company to grow in the short, medium, and long-term.
The biggest immediate attribute is increased customers and better client retention. This will, of course, lead to more revenue for the organization. Another big benefit is growing the sales team to move to other sales and leadership roles within the organization. It is not easy to create a high performing culture or to implement ongoing sales training. There are a few tips that can help you on your journey.
For ongoing sales training to be most effective, it should be part of a sales person's regular day. That means it should be part of regular tasks and systems they use. The training should take advantage of the systems the sales person uses on a daily basis.
Don't create an onerous system for the sales team members to access the sales training. Make it easy and quick to do. Ideally, leverage your systems to integrate the training into tools they are already using versus creating a new platform that they need to access.
Jill Konrath calls bite-sized learning "chunking". That means breaking down the training into smaller digestible pieces that are presented on a regular basis. Research has found that micro-learning makes the transfer of learning 17% more efficient than traditional training.
One of the other hallmarks of a successful sales culture is the desire to get better. This not only means providing training for the team, but also evaluating how the reps are using the training and tools. The goal over time is continuous improvement of the training. It is also important to measure the success of the reps and marry it back to the types and frequency of the training. On a micro level this will help when dealing with the individual sales reps success.
Lurniture is a sales enablement solution that can help with the ongoing sales training for your team. If you are interested in understanding more about Lurniture please sign-up for our demo.


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Saudi Arabia's New Independent Water Project: PPPs Come to the Water Sector
Water Production Project will have a daily capacity of 600,000 cubic meters of desalinated water
RIYADH, DEC 25 (CIC) – To meet growing demand for potable water in Saudi Arabia, the Water & Electricity Company (WEC) Board of Directors, chaired by the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Alfadley, has signed an agreement calling for the privatization of water production and wastewater projects, starting with the Rabigh-3 IWP desalination project, which is expected to produce 600k m3/day by 2022. The project has already entered Phase 3.
According to Alfadley, the project about 150km north of Jeddah will utilize reverse osmosis to produce desalinated water. It is just one of the water production and wastewater projects the government will tender to the private sector in line with Vision 2030.
The Council of Ministers recently approved the tendering of the first batch of water production and wastewater projects, which comprise four water production projects and three wastewater projects.
Alfadley also said these projects will improve service levels and capital expenditure efficiencies, while leveraging the private sector's finance experience and increasing its participation in the economy. The Ministry, according to Abdulrahman Alfadley, has been successful in reducing power consumption in independent water production projects by 20% and increasing local content to 40% in the beginning of the projects with an aim of it gradually reaching 70% within the first five years of operation.
Also, attending the signing was Saudi Minister of Economy and Planning, Mohammed Altwaijri, the Chairman of the National Center for Privatization & PPP (NCP), and a member of the MEWA Privatization Supervisory Committee. The Project will supply potable water to the Makkah Region to meet increasing demand. The project was tendered to investors on a BOO (build-own-operate) basis and the wining consortium was led by ACWA Power.
Minister Altuwaijri described NCP as a contributor to the privatization and diversification goals outlined in Vision 2030, with an eye toward reducing the Kingdom's long dependence on oil.
"We at NCP are working hard to execute the Privatization Program," Alutwaijri said, "by improving the quality of serv ices and increasing the contribution of the private sector from 40% to 65% of GDP.
"Today, with the signing of these agreements," Minister Altuwaijri continued, "we are witnessing the first public-private-partnership (PPP) in the Environment, Water and Agriculture sector under the Privatization Program. Over the last several months, the Supervisory Committee has developed the sector privatization strategy in accordance with the Privatization Program objectives.
"The signing of the Rabigh 3 independent water project marks the beginning of the execution of the strategy. It will also contribute to the quality of service provided to the Makkah Region, the pilgrims coming to visit the holy mosque and support other Vision programs such as Dhyouf Ar-rahman program."
The Supervisory Committee for the privatization of the Environment, Water and Agriculture sector launched activities in the water sector and wastewater management. It also contributes to increasing capital expenditure efficiencies by increasing operational efficiency in potable water production to 5 million m3/day of desalinated water, the largest desalination rate nationwide.
Category: Press Release December 25, 2018
PreviousPrevious post:Janadriyah Festival showcases Saudi Culture Against Backdrop of ModernisationNextNext post:Saudi Arabia's King Salman Presides Over Council of Ministers Meeting to Approve the General Budget of the State for Fiscal Year 2019


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September 10, 2019 /0 Comments/in Luskin's Latest Blog Ian Holloway /by Mary Braswell
Ian Holloway, associate professor of social welfare, has received an Avenir Award of more than $2 million from the National Institute on Drug Abuse to advance his research into health interventions for LGBTQ communities. Holloway leads a UCLA team that is developing a social media tool designed to offer highly personalized health information to prevent substance abuse and HIV infection among gay men. Under a previous grant, the researchers built a library of nearly 12,000 data points made up of text phrases and emojis that correlate with offline health behaviors. Holloway's Avenir Award will be used to create a machine-learning system that will monitor social media interactions with participants' consent, then send customized health reminders and other alerts via an app. The team's goal is to develop a wide-reaching and cost-effective tool to promote public health, said Holloway, director of the Hub for Health Intervention, Policy and Practice at UCLA Luskin. The Avenir Awards, named for the French word for "future," provide grants to early-stage researchers who propose highly innovative studies, particularly in the field of HIV and addiction.
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Nexus Prime Exposed (Images, Video & "Proper" Specs)
by Vincent Chow October 11, 2011 3 min read
Smartphone and tablet superiority issues aside, there's surely one thing that Apple does better than Samsung. And that's keeping a secret. Samsung and Google postponed the Nexus Prime and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich announcement, initially planned for Oct. 11, 2011, out of respect for the late Apple co-founder, Steve Jobs.
While a new date hasn't been announced yet, detailed information has already been leaked. This includes an image, a video and reportedly "proper" device specifications as well as several screenshots of Android Ice Cream Sandwich. All of this has been circulating on the interwebs and we're bringing it together for your perusal.
The image shown here is courtesy of Digital Life, a Greek website from the looks of it. As far as I can tell from the translated text, the author did not mention where the image originated. However, citing "the alien and the source," I'm pretty sure this is Google Translate's fault, he reaffirmed the specifications previously leaked on Boy Genius Report (BGR) — 4.65-inch display, 1,280 x 720 resolution, 1GB RAM, 1.2 Ghz dual-core processor and a five megapixel camera.
The only discrepancy: the size of the on-board memory. Digital Life says it will be of 16GB, and if I understand it correctly, it's not expandable. BGR, on the other hand, claims that it will be 32GB.
Just how much truth is there in these leaked specs? "They may turn out to be completely and utterly wrong," GSMArena wrote. The mobile site was tipped by a "Google insider familiar with the next Nexus phone," and it turns out that the Nexus Prime may come with a more monstrous spec sheet than previously thought. Among others:
Samsung's own chipset with 1.5 Ghz dual-core processor and a dual-core GPU from Imagination
8 megapixel camera with full 1,080p HD video recording
LTE-enabled; dual-mode GSM/CDMA radio
For those of you who are curious about what's coming out of Google's strategy to unify Android on both smartphones and tablets, you can now check it out for yourself, thanks the leaked screenshots published on TechCrunch.
Not satisfied? Here's a video of the Nexus Prime/Ice Cream Sandwich courtesy of Romanian blog Gadget.ro.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Py9TfZGie48?rel=0&w=580&h=325]
Samsung Nexus Prime Event Postponed, Specs Leaked
Google Nexus Tablet Specs Leak, But No Jelly Bean Details
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Vincent Chow


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News – August 2018GDPR and Tax Worksheet updated with final 2017-2018 Section 24 changes.
News – March 2018Support for arbitrary transaction types, plus additional improvements.
News – December 2017Tax Worksheet updated with 2017-2018 Section 24 changes.
Read all news articles here.


Hotel Mumbai's prospects in the US look very promising after Anthony Maras' thriller played to full houses in its platform release in Los Angeles and New York last weekend.
Bleecker Street launched the film co-written by Maras and John Collee, which stars Dev Patel, Armie Hammer, Nazanin Boniadi, Anupam Kher and Tilda Cobham-Hervey, at four cinemas, grossing $88,065 for a per-screen average of $22,016.
Hotel Mumbai was the No. 1 film at the Angelika and third at Lincoln Square in New York behind Jordan Peele's Us (which rang up a superb $71.1 million nationwide in its debut) and Captain Marvel.
The thriller produced by Basil Iwanyk, Gary Hamilton, Mike Gabrawy, Julie Ryan, Andrew Ogilvie and Jomon Thomas ranked second behind Us at the Landmark and the Arclight in LA.
Bleecker Street's Jack Foley told Deadline there were sell-outs and near-sell outs at all four locations, from matinees through to evening sessions.
"Those heavy matinee and post prime evening sales trends reveal Mumbai's broad demographic attraction with older matinee patrons and younger ticket buyers who attend later evening shows," Foley said.
Bleecker Street and ShivHans Pictures, which co-acquired the US rights after The Weinstein Co. filed for bankruptcy, plan to expand the release to 800-plus screens next Friday.
ShivHans has financed a number of Bleecker Street acquisitions including Jay Roach's Oscar-nominated Trumbo (which grossed $7.8 million in 2015) and Brad Anderson's war drama Beirut ($5 million).
Rolling Stone's Pete Travers said Maras brings a Hitchcockian feel for suspense and a documentarian's eye for detail to the brutal events and he creates a sense of actual lives hanging in the balance.
Travers predicted that releasing the film so soon after the grisly carnage in Christchurch will fuel the ethical debate about "gilding the lily of real-life horror" and marketing it as entertainment.
In Australia the Icon release scored $632,000 in its second weekend, easing by 35 per cent, hoisting the total to a solid $2.06 million.


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NIH names Walter J Koroshetz director of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
National Institutes of Health director Francis S Collins has announced the selection of Walter J Koroshetz, as the Director of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). He has served as acting director of the NINDS since October 2014.
"I am very pleased that Koroshetz has accepted the enormous responsibility of being the NINDS director," said Collins. "His deep grounding in clinical neurology and basic neuroscience research makes him the ideal candidate to lead NINDS into the future and to fulfil the Institute's mission to seek fundamental knowledge about the brain and nervous system and to use that knowledge to reduce the burden of neurological disease."
In announcing the appointment, Collins recognised Koroshetz' role in the creation of the StrokeNet, a national clinical trial network for research in stroke treatment, prevention, and recovery as well as his role as point person for traumatic brain injury research at the NIH, and co-founder of the NIH-Uniformed Services Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine (TBI research centre).
Koroshetz serves as co-chair of the NIH BRAIN Initiative. He was instrumental in establishing the NIH Office of Emergency Research and is the NINDS representative to the federal Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee; chair of the Interagency Pain Research Coordinating Committee and the NIH Pain Consortium, and co-chair of the Common Fund Undiagnosed Disease programme.
"I am delighted to have the opportunity to lead the NINDS when there is such an enormous potential for unlocking the mysteries of brain function. Since the president's announcement of the BRAIN Initiative, all eyes have been on the efforts to uncover the circuits and connections in the brain that make us who we are. NINDS grantees are passionate about understanding how the brain develops and functions to enable human behaviour, and learning how to treat disabling disorders," said Koroshetz.
As the new director of the NINDS, Koroshetz will oversee an annual budget of US$1.6bn and 1,141 scientists, physician-scientists, and research administrators.
Before coming to NIH as the NINDS deputy director in 2007, Koroshetz was a Harvard professor of Neurology, vice chair of Neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital, director of Stroke and Neurointensive Care, and a member of the Huntington's disease unit.


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New Blood Test Reveals Individual's Precise Internal Clock
Sep 10, 2018 | Circadian Rhythms, Future of Sleep | 0 |
A simple blood test to identify an individual's precise internal time clock as compared to the external time has been developed by Northwestern Medicine scientists.
The test, TimeSignature—which requires two blood draws—can tell physicians and researchers the time in your body despite the time in the external world. For instance, even if it's 8 am in the external world, it might be 6 am in your body.
"This is a much more precise and sophisticated measurement than identifying whether you are a morning lark or a night owl," says lead author Rosemary Braun, PhD, MPH, assistant professor of preventive medicine (biostatistics) at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, in a release. "We can assess a person's biological clock to within 1.5 hours. Various groups have tried to get at internal circadian time from a blood test, but nothing has been as accurate or as easy to use as TimeSignature."
Previously, measurements this precise could only be achieved through a costly and laborious process of taking samples every hour over a span of multiple hours, Braun says.
The paper is published today in the journal PNAS.
Processes in nearly every tissue and organ system in the body are orchestrated by an internal biological clock, which directs circadian rhythm, such as the sleep-wake cycle. Some individuals' internal clocks are in sync with external time but others are out of sync and considered misaligned.
The new test will offer researchers the opportunity to easily examine the impact of misaligned circadian clocks in a range of diseases from heart disease to diabetes and Alzheimer's disease. When the blood test eventually becomes clinically available, it also will provide doctors with a measurement of an individual's internal biological clock to guide medication dosing at the most effective time for his or her body.
The software and algorithm are available for free to other researchers so they can assess physiological time in a person's body. Northwestern has filed for a patent on the blood test.
"This is really an integral part of personalized medicine," says coauthor Phyllis Zee, MD, MPH, chief of sleep medicine in neurology at Feinberg and a Northwestern Medicine neurologist. "So many drugs have optimal times for dosing. Knowing what time it is in your body is critical to getting the most effective benefits. The best time for you to take the blood pressure drug or the chemotherapy or radiation may be different from somebody else." Zee also is the Benjamin and Virginia T. Boshes Professor of Neurology.
The test measures 40 different gene expression markers in the blood and can be taken any time of day, regardless of whether the patient had a good night's sleep or was up all night with a baby. It is based on an algorithm developed by Braun and colleagues by drawing subjects' blood every two hours and examining which genes were higher or lower at certain times of day. Scientists also used gene expression data from studies conducted at four other centers.
The scientists then developed a novel machine-learning method that was used to train a computer to predict the time of day based on patterns in these gene expression measurements. Out of about 20,000 genes measured, these 40 emerged with the strongest signal.
"Timing is everything," says study coauthor Ravi Allada, MD, a professor of neurobiology at Northwestern's Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. "We know if you have disruption of your internal clock, it can predispose you to a range of diseases. Virtually every tissue and organ system are governed by circadian rhythm.
"Before we didn't have a clinically feasible way of assessing the clock in healthy people and people with disease. Now we can see if a disrupted clock correlates with various diseases and, more importantly, if it can predict who is going to get sick."
A link between circadian misalignment and diabetes, obesity, depression, heart disease, and asthma has been identified in preclinical research by scientist Joe Bass, MD, PhD, chief of endocrinology, metabolism and molecular medicine at Feinberg.
Down the road, Zee envisions improving health and treating disease by aligning people's circadian clocks that are out of sync with external time.
"Circadian timing is a modifiable risk factor for improving cognitive health, but if we can't measure it, it's difficult to know if we've made the right diagnosis," Zee says. "Now we can measure it just like a lipid level."
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Dubious milestone
Thread starter rconn
Today we eclipsed a milestone I'd rather not have seen:
100,000 attempted spammer registrations on the JP Software forums for 2011.
which is up about 40% from last year.
Whoopie.
Sammamish, WA
Thank you for whatever steps you have taken so I don't see the results of
that! Wow!
On Tue, Oct 11, 2011 at 10:03, rconn <> wrote:
> Today we eclipsed a milestone I'd rather not have seen:
> * 100,000 attempted spammer registrations on the JP Software forums for
> which is up about 40% from last year.
> Whoopie.
2011 Monday: 4/4, 6/6, 8/8, 10/10, 12/12 and 5/9, 9/5, 7/11, 11/7.
Next year they're Tuesday.
Coincidentally, this announcement landed in the Spam folder of my Gmail account. :-/
DMcCunney
On Tue, Oct 11, 2011 at 1:41 PM, TEA-Time <> wrote:
> Coincidentally, this announcement landed in the Spam folder of my Gmail account. :-/
<chuckle> Didn't do that here. But then, I have a filter that labels
and archives traffic to the JPSoft forums, so it won't be seen as
A while back, the biggest source of spam false positives in GMail was
messages to the SpamBayes mailing list (an open source email spam
filtering tool). I found it amusing and ironic.
mfarah
www.farah.cl
I don't know if it'll make you feel better, BUT...
On my personal website, I have a page with my late grandmother's *old* pictures. Since we don't know all details from them, I set up a simple comment system where anyone could write in who's who on a given picture. I expected to deal with vandals that would write curses and stuff like that. Instead, I had to shut off the comments for several weeks because of spamming to porn sites. On old B/W pictures.
Miguel Farah — http://www.farah.cl/
dcantor
Good job, Rex. We see very few spam messages making it into the forums.
Dave Cantor
Peter Bratton
dcantor said:


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Home TA Online Protect, empower, unite and inspire the people
Protect, empower, unite and inspire the people
The people have suffered too much. It is time to be empowered and inspired
DR WONG SOAK KOON/ALIRAN
As the pandemic continues, online delivery services have snowballed in an essential service.
Foreign media have reported on how these workers are increasingly being exposed to extreme work-related conditions leading to strain, as seen in South Korea.
Protect the workers
Here in Malaysia online delivery services are seen both as a bonus and an escape vault.
It is a bonus for those with capital, owning and managing the huge warehouses and delivery services as more and more Malaysians avoid shopping at public places.
But the delivery staff in motorbikes, cars and vans rushing to meet delivery deadlines and quota are certainly not doing this tedious work for fun. Braving the heat and rain, the risks are inherent. Those working inside warehouses have to put up with the long hours.
Taking up these jobs was a means for these young men and women to make up for lost or reduced income during the pandemic.
The government has a duty of care to put in place quick measures to protect these delivery workers.
Leaving it to online service owners is not the answer, as certain employers will exploit these workers to reap huge profits.
We have to ensure that the delivery personnel have reasonable working conditions including proper health and social security coverage and safer, well-maintained vehicles for their work.
Interim measures should be introduced to protect their interests until long-term protection is put in place.
Empower, don't muzzle
A news portal recently carried a report about a Chinese vernacular school in Kuala Kangsar.
Many ethnic Malay pupils were enrolled in that school. When the journalists approached the principal to get more information on this phenomenon of ordinary kampung folk sending their children to a Chinese vernacular school instead of a nearby Malay-medium national school, they could not get the exact enrolment figures.
READ MORE: National unity: Politicians must walk the talk
The reason? The school head declined to comment, saying the Education Department had directed them not to talk to the media.
This is what we call 'ketinggalan zaman'. A government that keeps muzzling its employees is like an ostrich that buries its head in the sand out of sheer fear.
In this age of a rapidly advancing media technology, where every citizen has the freedom, power and choice to communicate anywhere and anytime, such gag orders are reminiscent of dark-age politics.
Ironically, and as proven repeatedly, despite the gag order that prevented the principal sharing basic information, it did not need rocket science for the journalists to still get the story out.
What our politicians fail to understand is that when an authority declines comment or refuses to give information, the media have other means of getting the story out that could be even more damaging for the government.
In this particular report, it was parents of the Malay pupils who revealed the truth.
Don't blame the media. They are only fulfilling their duty to channel the facts to the people, who have right to know the truth.
It is time our politicians went back to school to learn, appreciate and value how the media world operates and to understand the advantages of not gagging civil servants.
It has no place in the networked society of the 21st Century.
Heal and unite the people
Pope Francis' historic visit to Iraq comes at a time when the world faces extreme religious schism and divisions in many places.
The papal visit and dialogue with the senior official for Islam there should set the direction for other leaders around the world too.
As the Shia Muslim cleric and the pope met in the spirit of interfaith harmony and understanding, we in Malaysia cannot just look the other way. Our leaders need to seize on this climate of hope to forge Islamic and Christian understanding here as well.
READ MORE: Political leaders must stop dividing the people
In a country where religion has been politicised to the hilt over decades, we need to strengthen our interfaith acceptance and understanding, taking the cue from this historic dialogue between the representatives of Christianity and Islam.
The pope's historic visit to Iraq is not only symbolic but also a clarion call to all nations divided along religious differences and sectarian schism.
Iraq which was the birthplace of Abraham, upon whose lineage was given to humanity the three Abrahamic world religions – Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Today, we witness Christians and Shia Muslims embracing each other in the name of humanity.
Let's pray and hope interfaith cooperation, acceptance and support for each other's religion will also grow in Malaysia.
In a country where even the use of the word Allah has been disputed amid fears of proselytising, Malaysian leaders and politicians should recognise the progressive steps taken by religious leaders like Pope Francis and Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani.
We are a small nation of just over 30 million inhabitants. We too can walk the path of peace, progress and interfaith respect as the pope and Ayatollah al-Sistani have done.
For multi-religious Malaysia to become a fully developed nation with progressive social, political and economic achievements, it must embrace quickly the 21st Century's awakening of humanity.
Inspire the people
Meanwhile, the lockdowns have left deep scares of bankruptcies, lost jobs, pay cuts and a host of social and emotional pains along with the financial setbacks.
In addition, since the political coup of February 2020, Malaysians have not been spared an overload of political speculation, allegations, gossip and a host of greedy, cunning manoeuvres.
READ MORE: Youth and politics in Malaysia: Towards shaping the future of the nation
The assurance of "saving the nation" is hardly felt at the grassroots level, while politicians desperately plot and counter each cunning move to stay in power.
Meanwhile, the people (including millions of migrant workers) languish, frustrated and confused by the waves of decisions, announcements and actions taken by various government agencies.
All these have taken a toll on the minds and hearts of the people. Heading for the polls at this time will probably result in heavy blows to political parties and their kingpins who harbour ambitions of power, control and profit from vested interests.
It is time therefore to inspire an unfairly battered nation. Leaders, especially those in government, must rise to the occasion. They need to inspire us with concrete policies, plans and their implementation to benefit the people – not by ethnic or religious affiliation but across the board.
Inspire us not by increasing the penalties that are now easily concocted with an emergency ordinance in place.
Inspire us by returning democratic Malaysia to its position as enshrined in the Federal Constitution – by giving us back our Parliament in session.
Inspire us by nailing the many financial fraud cases still unresolved.
Inspire us by bringing to full closure the despicable murder of Altantuya, public speculation over which is still swirling.
Inspire us with decisive policies and affirmative action that will be a progressive example for the region.
Talk to us – not preach to us. Inspire us – not admonish us endlessly.
An inspired people is the only reliable currency of peace, progress and development.
The people have suffered too much at the hands of politicians. It is time to demand our right to be inspired.
JD Lovrenciear, an Aliran member, is a KL-based writer, trainer and consultant who also offers his time to support initiatives to build a progressive society.


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McConnell's plan sucks
Dorian Davis Adjunct Journalism Professor, Marymount Manhattan College
July 18, 2011 11:13 AM ET
Congress might be running out of time to raise the $14.3 trillion national debt ceiling, but Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's plan is the biggest disappointment since "Soul Plane."
The other options blew too. Last month, Joe Biden-led talks hatched a plan for $2 trillion in spending cuts, a few hundred billion in tax hikes and a $2.4 trillion debt-limit increase. But those talks broke down over Rep. Eric Cantor's refusal to agree to new taxes. Then Cantor countered with a $2.4 trillion debt-limit increase plus dollar-for-dollar spending cuts. The White House shot that down. President Obama himself got involved in the next round, floating a $2.5 trillion debt-limit increase in exchange for $1.5 trillion in cuts. That plan fell short when Democrats balked at the cuts. But McConnell's plan — giving the president power to raise the debt ceiling three times between now and next summer without a tax hike but without spending cuts either — is perplexing. Even with the $1.5 trillion in guaranteed budget cuts that some Democrats have suggested adding, it's based on more bad judgment calls than Snookie's latest Sudoku.
For one thing, it exacerbates the problem — not the debt itself but the spending that got us here. It took the federal government from 1791 to 1981 to run up $1 trillion in debt. But the debt has tripled in the past decade, rising $4 trillion under Obama alone. If it got much bigger, Stedman would date it. The $1.5 trillion in cuts over the next decade that could be part of McConnell's plan sound like a lot, but the deficit this year alone will be about $1.5 trillion. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. The federal government has over $100 trillion in unfunded liabilities, making it impossible to ever get the debt paid off. Even the latest addendum to McConnell's plan — a bipartisan entitlement commission with a guaranteed congressional vote on its recommendations — has no chance of solving that problem. Who'd vote to cut entitlement spending six months before Election Day?
Fred Barnes writes at The Weekly Standard that Obama "outmaneuvered" Republicans on this issue, and there's something to that. The government is in no danger of imminent default, per MarketWatch.com's Kurt Brouwer, because it brings in enough revenue to cover the $15-20 billion per month interest on the debt. And Reuters has reported that the Treasury Department might not be able to stop its computers from sending out three million checks worth $49 billion on August 3, even if it wants to, unless it reprograms them completely. But the White House is predicting Carmageddon — more or less without a GOP rebuttal. Obama told CBS News last Tuesday that Social Security checks might get held up next month if Congress doesn't reach a deal. If he can scare GOP leaders into backing McConnell's scheme, he can claim in his re-election bid that he protected the public from potential raids on Medicare and Social Security.
Mitch McConnell's plan is like "The Paul Reiser Show": impossible to justify and painful to watch unfold. There has to be a better one out there.
Dorian Davis is a former MTV HITS star turned libertarian writer. He's been published in Business Week, NY Daily News, XY & more. He's an NYU graduate and National Journalism Center alum. He teaches journalism at Marymount Manhattan College.
Tags : debt limit dorian davis mitch mcconnell tax
Dorian Davis


Getting ready for the new child care subsidy? Here's what you need to do!
By now, you probably heard of the new Child Care Subsidy that will come in to effect from 2 July 2018. So how do you prepare and what do you need to do to get ready for the change?
In our recent post 'The New Child Care Subsidy – An Overview for Parents', you would've hopefully gained a better understanding of what the new Child Care Subsidy actually is, how it differs to the Child Care Benefit and Child Care Rebate that we're used to, and what it entails.
You know that the new Child Care Subsidy will commence on 2 July 2018, but what does that actually mean? What do you, as a parent of a child enrolled in a child care service, actually need to do to transition to the new system?
Unfortunately, as the new subsidy is one overall package eliminating what were previously two packages, you won't be automatically rolled over to the new system. More importantly, without completing the assessment required to transition, you will not receive any subsidy from 2 July 2018.
There are a number of things you can do to get yourself ready for the new Child Care Subsidy.
We covered the new Child Care Subsidy and what it entails in detail, in a previous post 'The New Child Care Subsidy – An Overview for Parents'. If you haven't seen it, be sure to check it out.
Completing the transition to the new system is easy and can be done through your myGov account.
If you don't already have a myGov online account, now would be an ideal time to create one. The YMCA Children's Programs website has published an excellent PDF tutorial on how to create a MyGov account. Check out the 'How to create a myGov account' for step-by-step instructions.
MyGov allows you to access online services of numerous government online services, including Centrelink, Medicare and the Taxation department, all within the one portal.
Once you have a myGov account, you will need to link it to any government services you utilise (most importantly Centrelink, where the Child Care Subsidy is concerned). Any web browser for the aforementioned, or their corresponding smart phone apps, can help to make the next few steps much easier to follow. These same steps can be followed for families currently receiving Special Child Care Benefit for a child at risk or for financial hardship.
For families currently receiving child care assistance, you will need to complete the Child Care Subsidy assessment.
An official step-by-step guide, complete with desktop-related screenshots, can be found here.
Once each of those steps has been completed, you're done! You have successfully prepared for the new Child Care Subsidy and do not need to do anything further.
Centrelink will notify you once they've assessed your claim application.
If for some reason, you notice anything incorrect or unusual, or your child's details are wrong, please be sure to contact Centrelink as soon as possible. It is imperative that all information is correct before 2nd July 2018 in order for you to receive the entitlements you are eligible for. It's also a great idea to contact the service provider your child is enrolled at, to confirm with them that you have completed the process.
Centrelink provide online estimators for parents to utilise in order to estimate the possible subsidy amount. This can be found at Payment and Service Finder.
If you have any questions at all or would like to discuss the new Child Care Subsidy assessment process, you can contact Centrelink directly either online, in person at your local Centrelink office or phone Centrelink on 136 150 (Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm).
If you have any questions or concerns about the new Child Care Subsidy and how it may affect you, speak to your early education and care provider. They are there to support families and will be able to answer any questions you may have.
The sooner you complete the assessment, the better! Completing it now will ensure you have time to rectify or discuss any concerns or issues that may arise, and ensure that the subsidy you receive is accurate. It doesn't take a lot of time to complete, and if the government's hopes are anything to go by, this new subsidy should be more supportive and allow for more flexibility for your family!


In support of AB's overall focus on wellness and with the planning and coordination of several dedicated students and staff members, this week has been declared Wellness Week. The goal is to highlight different areas of wellness each day and to have interested student groups run related activities. Thank you to the Acton-Boxborough United Way for the support of these programs.
Learn about the college application process as it relates to students with IEP's and 504 Plans. Learn about support services and strategies to navigate the admissions process. Students and parents are invited to attend this informative evening in Room 184W.
The Program of Studies , PCR form, and Directions for Electronic Course Selection are documents containing course descriptions and information to help students in the organization of their schedules for the 2019-2020 school year. Teachers will be working with students over the next month to advise and help them select courses for next year. We recommend using these documents when developing your schedule for next year.
The Acton-Boxborough Regional School District is pleased to introduce a new payment option called e-funds for Schools. This program offers various options for parents/guardians who choose to make payments online and is extremely user-friendly. Not only will you have the ability to have various school fees electronically withdrawn from your checking account or charged to your credit card you also have the flexibility to make a payment at any time. Click on this link for detailed information and to set up an account.
You will need your student's ID number which can be found on the Parent Portal under My Class Schedule for High School students or under Team Assignment for Junior High Students.