baaah! I want an iShuffle.
Lastnight I was searching for some 'Chik' shampoo advertisements in MagIndia and got one. But I needed installation of QuickTime for playing the ad. When I went to Apple's website to download the player. I randomly clicked on the store section to findout how much it costs to buy an iPod. To my surprise the Apple iShuffle is available for prices as low as $99. I always thought that it would cost some 6-7k and never ventured to findout the price also. Now here I am trying to buy the product. Strangely the same piece costs 6k in India. If only one of my friends is coming back from US I can request them to bring one iShuffle for me.
Till then, maaaaaaaaaa I want an iShuffle.
A digital camera is different from conventional cameras because it does not use photographic film or magnetic tape to record or store images. A digital camera is basically an electronic device that can capture and store images digitally.


text:
Colby Covington Blasts 'Selfish' Robbie Lawler, Reveals Reason 'Ruthless' Left American Top Team
Former interim UFC welterweight champion Colby Covington initially seemed he was taking a cordial approach to his upcoming fight with Robbie Lawler at UFC Newark. That didn't last long
Covington joined "The Ariel Helwani MMA Show" earlier today (Mon. July 8, 2019) and was asked about his matchup against his former teammate. "Chaos" didn't waste any time to begin shredding "Ruthless," who apparently departed American Top Team over a picture that was featured in the gym of Tyron Woodley holding his hands up after defeating Lawler for the 170-pound title:
"Yeah, pretty much "Snoozeman Marty Fake Newsman" is out there and he doesn't want to fight," Covington said. "So it only makes sense that I give a title shot to the most deserving guy in the division. A guy that's coming off a first-round knockout of Ben Askren, "Ruthless" Robbie Lawler. The biggest name in the division.
"If you go ask anybody on the street right now about any welterweight, whose the bigger name? Robbie Lawler or Kamaru Usman? He's [Lawler] a legend. So, he deserves a title shot, and I'm excited to give him a title shot, because he was so silver spoon fed at American Top Team. I earned everything the hard way. That guy had everything at American Top Team.
"I mean, all the coaches, all the training partners – and then all of a sudden he turned his back and left because of a picture? Oops, did I say that out loud, Ariel? I didn't mean to spoil the news out loud about why he left American Top Team, but he took his ball from the yard and left because of a picture.
"A picture they put up of Tyron Woodley getting his hand raised of when he beat Robbie Lawler. That's why he left the team. It was put up in the gym. He got up in his feelings, started crying, and turned his back on all the people who helped him from the start."
Because of the way things ended between Lawler and the gym, Covington, the self-proclaimed captain of American Top Team, believes it's his responsibility to make an example of "Ruthless":
"Absolutely there's heat, man," Covington said. "As team captain I have to handle this accordingly now. How dare he besmirch Dan Lambert and American Top Team, so, now I have to handle him accordingly."
Prior to Lawler leaving ATT, Covington and the former welterweight king shared a training room for several years. In fact, Covington was a primary sparring partner for Lawler when he fought Johny Hendricks – another southpaw wrestler – both times during his title run:
"Yeah, absolutely, many times," Covington said. "When he was getting ready for Johny Hendricks he needed a southpaw wrestler, and that's exactly what I am. So for both his Johny Hendricks fights I gave him hundreds of rounds of sparring."
However, Covington was reluctant to give away any details as to how those sparring sessions went:
"Come on, Ariel," Covington said with a smile. "You know I don't kiss and tell."
As August 3 closes in, Covington is dead set on getting one back for ATT, similar to the way he did against Demian Maia, who had defeated Jorge Masvidal 2017. Covington vowed to leave Lawler in a pool of his own blood:
"Absolutely, man," Covington said. "I will make him pay for it. He'll be in a pool of his own blood. Just like when I had to defend my boy Jorge when he lost to Demian Maia, I had to go out there and get one back for the team and leave him in a pool of blood.
"It's gonna be the same way for Robbie Lawler come August 3. He betrayed me, man. I gave him everything. Trained with him every single day, it was always on his time schedule, he had all the coaches, all the money he could ever need in the whole entire world from Dan Lambert and American Top Team, and he betrayed us because of a picture, man."
Covington will be facing Lawler in the main event of UFC Newark from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on August 3.
What to you make of Covington's comments towards Lawler ahead of their fight?
UFC Newark Poster Revealed (Photo)
American Top Team Owner Has Nothing Bad To Say About Robbie Lawler
Robbie Lawler Responds To Colby Covington's Alleged Reason For ATT Departure
American Top Team
Colby Covington
robbie lawler
UFC Newark

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Southbridge Europe Mezzanine Investment Fund on the sale of Arivia Group to Upfield Group BV.
Eurobank Ergasias S.A. on the sale of 80% in Eurobank Financial Planning Services S.A. to doValue S.p.A.
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The 2022 Benchmark Litigation Europe rankings have been published online and Koutalidis Law Firm was ranked as a TIER 1 firm. Through extensive interviews with litigators, dispute resolution specialists, and their clients, Benchmark Litigation ranks the world's leading litigation firms and lawyers. We would like to thank our clients for→
ITR Awards 2021 – "Tax Firm of the Year"
Koutalidis Law Firm Tax Practice is once again recognized for its first-rate tax advice by winning the "Tax Firm of the Year" in Greece award at the International Tax Review's (ITR) EMEA Tax Awards 2021. Commenting on this award, Dr. George Naskaris, Head of our Tax Department, said: "We continuously→
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Koutalidis Law Firm & George Naskaris, tax partner, ranked Band 1 by Chambers & Partners in High Net Worth 2021 Guide
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Koutalidis Law Firm shortlisted for the "Greece Law Firm of the Year" award at the Chambers Europe Awards 2021
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IFLR 1000 ranks Koutalidis Law Firm as Top Tier Firm for the year 2021, which marks the guide's 30th edition
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IFLR 1000 ranks Koutalidis Law Firm as Top Tier Firm
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The 2022 Benchmark Litigation Europe rankings have been published online and Koutalidis Law Firm was→
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International experts say that the key reason for that is the so-called accommodation policy in the money-and-credit policies claimed by the ECB and the Fed, which also resulted in decreased interest rates. Apparently, the raising tension in the Middle East are only fueling the bull rally in the gold market.
The other day, Donald Trump said he was ready to take revenge in Iran for shooting down an American drone. Fortunately, this decision was canceled at the last minute. However, the USA is reported to have made a couple of cyber-attacks on Iranian military missile facilities.
Apparently, the gold rally has been backed by the increasing demand coming from emerging markets, where the consumer demand for jewelry is still high, not to mention the stable demand coming from their central banks that keep on loading up on gold. The rally is also back by the uncertainty over the prospects of the stock market after 9 years of uninterrupted growth coupled with the fears for another major recession in the global economy.
Is It Profit-Taking Time?
The current threats for the gold rally are the possibility of hawk signals from the Federal Reserve and the possibility of a major trade agreement between the UnitedsTates and China, which will eventually make the dollar stronger. Also, watching institutional investors in the gold market can also be beneficial for those interested in gold and its price prospects. The thing is that they have been going long on the gold ETFs to increase the trading volume by 3,5 billion dollars.
Technically, gold broke the entire area of long-term resistance between 1365 and 1375 just in a couple of hours. It's interesting to note that there was almost no taling profits right after that and gold continued its way up to new price highs. The next target for gold is 1520 dollars per ounce. Still, there's a high chances of gold starting a period of correction, maybe down below 1400 per ounce, with 1365 and 1375 acting as the closest levels of support.


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Category Archives: ObamaCare
WSJ Just Dropped Friday Newsbomb About Trump's Plans to Keep 2 Parts of ObamaCare
November 11, 2016 ObamaCareObamaCare, TrumpVictoria Taft
He says he did it "out of respect" for Obama. See the portions he says he'll keep–for awhile anyway–over here at my story on Independent Journal Review.
Kitzhaber's Flaccid Management Style Saw Him Hand Off His Biggest Governmental Boners to a Campaign Aid In Yet Another Ethical Breach
February 25, 2015 Government, Governor John Kitzhaber, ObamaCare, OrBamaCare, OregonColumbia River Crossing, Cover Oregon, Oracle, OrBamaCare, Patricia McCaigVictoria Taft
Kitzhaber's work wife and fake wife plundered his office. Worse? He was only to happy to let them loose on Oregonians — and their moth-filled wallets — as long as no one bothered him with details.
Image Credit: Daily Astorian
It's hard when you discover the 'cool' guy you voted for was actually an egotistical, hair sprayed airhead.
Oregonians should have taken John Kitzhaber at his word when he uttered his Nixonesque 'Oregon is ungovernable' you won't have him to kick around anymore epithet in 2002.
They should have believed the pundits who said 'It's the governor, stupid'.
Instead, voters let the perpetually affected, detached and bored executive back into office, whereupon he turned everything over to his unelected wives and handlers.
The emails the ex governor tried to destroy, but which were obtained by Willamette Week, show Kitzhaber turned over two of his biggest projects — and biggest failures — to his campaign chief, who ran Oregon's business in the Columbia River Crossing and Cover Oregon to the benefit of exactly one person: her client, candidate John Kitzhaber.
This may come as a surprise, but that's a Bozo-No-No.
Willamette Week still felt impelled to spell that out for the Van-Down-By-the-River/Occupy crowd:
If they made decisions based on Kitzhaber's personal political interests rather than what was best for taxpayers, that's not right," says David Friedman, an associate professor at the Willamette University College of Law. "It just looks bad."
When she wasn't working for the company managing the disastrous light rail program laughingly called Columbia River Crossing, campaign aid Patricia McCaig, Willamette Week reports she was paid to 'manage' the program for the Governor.
Then, because apparently she'd done such a *great* job with the CRC, Kitzhaber put McCaig in charge of the quickly circling-the -drain Cover Oregon plan.
McCaig saw her plan of action clearly. She didn't want to save the OrBamaCare program, she wanted to save the Governor.
According to the emails in Willamette Week, McCaig quickly saw an off ramp. She manufactured a meeting where the preordained demise of the program would be pronounced and then, aha! she'd orchestrate a lawsuit against Oracle. She even bragged about it to the boss, who called her his 'princess':
The emails also show McCaig orchestrated the state's legal strategy against Oracle. Polling showed voters blamed the governor for Cover Oregon's failure. McCaig wanted Kitzhaber to demand money back from Oracle.
"We need to start the discussion from a different place," McCaig wrote to Kitzhaber on April 7, 2014. "Mike [Bonetto] and I talked offline about Oracle—we're leaning, regardless of which option, of announcing we're going 'after' them."
McCaig added in a May 19, 2014, email to Kitzhaber: "We need to show the taxpayers that we are going after the money. It doesn't really matter if it is $200 million or $40 million, or how many people enrolled, until we make it clear that we're going after the money."
By mid-June, McCaig told Kitzhaber their Cover Oregon media strategy was working.
She was thrilled when the media lost interest in the story and didn't bother to do their jobs anymore.
"Quite a week," she wrote to him on June 13, "it wasn't all about Cover Oregon. (FYI—no cameras at [Cover Oregon] board meeting and only 2 reporters, that's great progress)."
And finally, the woman who had been doing the work of Oregon citizens, but was really a campaign aparatchik, got the word she needed from the man in office. He wrote this message to Patricia McCaig after a trip to the Pendleton Round Up where folks there can tell the real stuff from shinola:
No cheering crowds (but, then again, only one hiss), more horse shit that you can possibly imagine, highly efficient [fundraising] call time," Kitzhaber wrote. "I can pay you now…really."
'I can pay you now'?
I'll take a double order of conflict of interest, please.
Go read the rest at Willamette Week, but I leave you with three comments on the WW's story that tell the story of the learning curve of Oregon voters and show you the truth was always out there — you just had to find it for yourself:
Harley Leiber
Bringing McCaig on to smoke screen Cover Oregon to get re-elected was a slime bag move made by a desperate candidate hell bent on covering up the 3rd term dents to get to the "unprecedented 4th term." Especially since she had no healthcare experience. That makes it 10 times worse.
kick box kitty
This is completely outrageous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And Kitz was so happy to turn the whole thing over to her — because he had already screwed it up and didn't know what to do next and had no time to work on it because he had to rush off to Bhutan or some other place other than his actual JOB
Mark_Melrose
Why did it take so long to see Kitzhaber was inept? PERS, the Columbia River Bridge, CoverOregon and those goofy commercials? It's why so many that are not liberal just shook their heads at his third and fourth terms.
Remember when John Kitzhaber
1) Faked heart attack when state was flooded in 1996 and Vera was filling sandbags
2) Said health care should have been reformed on state level rather than
federal after being feted regularly by "The Economist" for medical
3) Vetoed Secondary Lands bill in Washington Park in 1995. Governor threw
tantrum in front of WW II veterans and stormed off – later told press
he doesn't "do public" well
4) Rip-rapped his own Neskowin beach house when others couldn't protect their homes
5) Built on his 10 acres on Umpqua River when land was zoned Exclusive Forest use
6) Vetoed a record 100 bills in 1997 Oregon legislature
7) Refused to do interviews with media other than liberal media – even
though he said he changed for this latest campaign — really?
8) Fleeing scene of Biscuit Fire five minutes before President Bush arrives, and leaving Sen. Wyden alone and furious
9) Unable to get along with legislative leaders – including Secretary of State of his own party, Phil Keisling
10) Refused to attend National Governors Association meetings, which at the time included innovative governors such as Jeb Bush, Tommy Thompson, John Engler, Bill Weld. Why? Because Kitzhaber already had the answers
11) Went fishing after 9/11 for a week when country was in crisis
12) Wanted to tear down dams on Snake River and freaked out then-Washington Gov. Gary Locke
Yes, some of us do.
Congress Wants Records on Kitzhaber's Disastrous OrBamaCare Program
February 15, 2015 Governor John Kitzhaber, ObamaCare, OrBamaCare, Oregon, UncategorizedConger, Cover Oregon, documents, Governor John Kitzhaber, House Arrest, ObamaCare, OrBamaCareVictoria Taft
The House Governmental Oversight Committee wants failed Cover Oregon records.
Image Credit: Washington Post
From the Zero:
Members of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform issued to Kitzhaber's office a wide-ranging demand for documents on Friday, the very day the governor announced he was resigning.
The letter cites a recent report that highlighted concerns sparked by a Kitzhaber staffer's attempt to have thousands of emails inadvertently stored from the governor's personal email account removed and deleted from state archives. A governor's spokeswoman said the intent was to preserve emails that pertained to the public's business, but not ones deemed personal.
Congressman Jason Chaffetz's committee wants to make sure Kitzhaber isn't trying to cover up what's become known colloquially as the Cover-Up Oregon health plan. But here's another angle on the story: Kitzhaber may have colluded to keep the Cover Oregon site down altogether, instead of constantly malfunctioning to help the Governor's re-election campaign.
And a set of emails leaked to Willamette Week in November showed that McCaig directed meetings to discuss the content and timing of an advisory committee's recommendation on Cover Oregon's future. Three weeks later, the committee publicly recommended closing down the Oracle-built exchange and moving to the federal one.
Oracle has accused the state of shutting down the exchange to help Kitzhaber's reelection campaign.
Friday was a very bad day for the Oregon chief executive.
Pete the Banker: Outrage Builds Over Gruber's ObamaCare Lies
November 14, 2014 ObamaCare, OrBamaCare, Pete the BankerCover Oregon, Jonathan Gruber, Lies, ObamaCare, OrBamaCare, Pete the BankerVictoria Taft
ObamaCare Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics
Recently disclosed statements by the Administrations point man on the Affordable Care Act, Jonathan Gruber, are reminiscent of the Jack Nicholson phrase in the movie a "A Few Good Men", "You can't handle the truth"!
Image: Pundit From Another Planet
Jonathan Gruber was the architect of Romney Care in Mass, the Obama Administration's Affordable Care Act, as well as a paid contractor who served as an implementer and spokesman for the ACA under a $400K contract. And now, according to the Washington Times, we discover Gruber made MILLIONS lying to the American public:
Those "stupid" people have been extremely generous to Mr. Gruber. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) in 2010 investigated the $297,600 that the Department of Health and Human Services paid Mr. Gruber to sing the praises of the health care scheme.
Minnesota, for example, used federal Obamacare grants to pay Mr. Gruber to attend one meeting, participate in a biweekly email list and print a copy of the report, all for $329,000. Wisconsin paid Mr. Gruber $400,000 for the same material, requested by the office of then-Gov. Jim Doyle, a Democrat. When the report was presented, Gov. Scott Walker, a Republican, didn't want Mr. Gruber at the news conference. Vermont is paying him another $400,000. Such a deal!
West Virginia, Maine, Colorado and Oregon have partaken of Mr. Gruber's services, too, guaranteeing him a tidy sum. The money bought lies and deception. That's Mr. Gruber's characterization, not ours. "If you had a law which made it explicit that healthy people are going to pay in and sick people get money," said Mr. Gruber, "it would not have passed."
Additionally, Gruber filed a Friend-of-the-Court-Brief defending the ACA in defense of the Administration's position before the Fourth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. This case is now pending appeal before the Supreme Court.
His comments reflect the ultimate deception of the ACA,
Lack of transparency is a huge political advantage. And basically, call it the stupidity of the American voter or whatever, but basically that was really really critical for the thing to pass…
Remember the Nancy Pelosi statement during the ACA debate, "We Have to Pass the Bill So That You Can Find Out What Is In It"
But rest assured, Nancy says she has never heard of Gruber; just ask her.
Deception, lack of transparency are truly the foundation of the ACA.
Oops, except she has:
Gruber's subsequent "apology" was,
The comments on that video were made at an academic conference.I was speaking off the cuff and I basically spoke inappropriately and I regret having made those comments.
Note that his selection of words in his alleged "apology" suggest he apologizes for the comments, but not about the central ideas he espouses. Nuanced indeed. When further pressed to elaborate on his response, he then launched into a tangential argument spinning blame on the Bush and prior Administrations for their lack of transparency. An obvious deflection again intended to mask his true beliefs.
Since the release of this first tape, two more videos (and now another) have emerged verifying that the first tape was not a single incident, nor a one time slip of tongue, but a strongly held conviction. Gruber again,
And again,
One more time(?),
But then, he is sorry for the comments?!?
And at a subsequent interview, Gruber has had the audacity to claim Republicans were confusing people?? He stated,
I think that this comes to the master strategy of the Republican party, which is to confuse people enough about the law so that they don't understand that the subsidies they're getting is because of the law.
Rather amusing that Gruber who admits "lack of transparency" and blames Americans for stupidity, then has the audacity to blame the bill's opponents for confusing people?! Perhaps this latest assertion will become the introductory statement in his next speaking engagement.
The promise of transparency has been the hallmark promise of Obama's Administration from day one, comparable to Ulysses version of sea nymph sirens whose beguiling and enticing songs rendered his crew defenseless. The incessant chant of "transparency" parroted by both Obama himself and his Administration have mesmerized hard working Americans to believe that all their problems and in this case all their medical issues will be forever resolved. Among other instances, these melodic chants were introduced with the 2009 call to transparency:
reinforced by a 2010 promise,
and who can forget the more recent Google Fireside Hangout Obama assertion in 2012 that,
This is the most transparent administration in history.
And Obama's White House Website itself repeats this pledge,
My Administration is committed to creating an unprecedented level of openness in Government. We will work together to ensure the public trust and establish a system of transparency, public participation, and collaboration. Openness will strengthen our democracy and promote efficiency and effectiveness in Government.
Interesting that while the Administration gave lip service to the concept of transparency, it eagerly embraced deception to pass ObamaCare.
Americans who accepted the Administration's and the Democrat's promises assuring them that the ACA would reduce medical costs, prevent accelerating insurance costs, improving the quality of health care, all while allowing them to keep their existing insurance, doctor, and hospital access were beguiled. Those melodic promises of the ACA's architects were nothing more than a cruel illusion perpetrated on hard working, decent Americans, guilty of only trusting elected representatives and not stupidity.
Expect more Liberians with Ebola to come to US
October 2, 2014 Government, health care, ObamaCareBrussels, Dallas, DC, Ebola, Timothy Eric Duncan, WashingtonVictoria Taft
How come Thomas Eric Duncan, a man who had been exposed to Ebola, was allowed to come to the United States?
Continue reading Expect more Liberians with Ebola to come to US →
Two rulings, one day. ObamaCare to head to the Supremes. Again.
July 22, 2014 Government, ObamaCare, OrBamaCare, Oregon, Supreme CourtCourts, ObamaCare, subsidies, supreme courtVictoria Taft
ObamaCare says what it says. That's what a three judge panel in the DC circuit court of appeals has basically said as much in a ruling today. In a two-to-one ruling, the judges said the ObamaCare subsidy doesn't apply to people who sign up on the federal health insurance exchanges, only state exchanges because that's what the law says.
Instead of taking the tunnel, then Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi made a point to walk through and mock the angry protesters who yelled, "Kill the Bill! Kill the Bill!"
The federal government says it will ask the full first circuit to review the case.
In the meantime, people who signed up with the federal government and qualified for subsidies, including those in the failed state plans in Oregon and Maryland, are wondering what will become of their free money.
Although the president has changed the law multiple times to suit his political aims and the IRS attempted to paper over this obvious issue, the Democrats, when they did the final cram down on ObamaCare, intended for there to be no subsidies paid at the federal level–hoping to force states to do it.
A federal appeals court on Tuesday struck down one of the pillars of ObamaCare, ruling that the law's premium subsidies are invalid in more than two-dozen states.
The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals said in a 2-1 decision that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) does not permit the IRS to distribute premium subsidies in the federal ObamaCare exchange, meaning those consumers must bear the full cost of their insurance.
"Because we conclude that the ACA unambiguously restricts the section 36B subsidy to insurance purchased on Exchanges 'established by the State,' we reverse the district court and vacate the IRS's regulation," the court said in its ruling.
As you can see by the ruling, the politically motivated IRS officials decided to take matters into their own hands and create a rule that directly circumvents the Democrats' own intention and the words in the law. That ruling was vacated by the court.
But two hours after this ruling, another court ruled the opposite way,
… [A] separate federal appeals court panel in Richmondunanimously upheld the law and its system of subsidies and tax credits, putting it in opposition to the D.C. appeals court. That could raise the potential of a Supreme Court showdown.
"If there is a split in the circuits, then I think the Supreme Court would have to step in," said Elizabeth Wydra, chief counsel at the liberal Constitutional Accountability Center.
As for what these decisions do to the people who are getting subsidized health care? The president's spokesman says they'll ignore the ruling for now,
*UPDATED* Supreme Courts rules in favor of Hobby Lobby, religious freedom in ObamaCare based test
June 30, 2014 Barack Obama, First Amendment, Government, ObamaCare, Religion, SCOTUS, Supreme CourtVictoria Taft
The Christian owners/operators of craft store chain retain right NOT to provide abortion drugs under ObamaCare
Hobby Lobby has won in the US Supreme Court. In a closely hewed decision by Justice Samuel Alito, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that an organization run by devoutly religious people can extend their beliefs into their organization or corporation.
Alito also said the decision is limited to contraceptives under the health care law. "Our decision should not be understood to hold that an insurance-coverage mandate must necessarily fall if it conflicts with an employer's religious beliefs," Alito said.
The owners of Hobby Lobby sued after the passage of ObamaCare because the government health care diktats required corporations to cover drugs that cause abortions. Hobby Lobby was already covering contraceptives in their health insurance and objected to the drugs which abort babies in contravention of their religious beliefs. The Obama Administration lawyers argued otherwise, of course. Alito tried to allay their fears that poor women would not get free contraceptives and abortion pills.
He suggested two ways the administration could ensure women get the contraception they want. It could simply pay for pregnancy prevention, he said.
But this case is shaping up to be another leftist lightening rod in the manner of Citizens United which recognized business owners had the right to give to political campaigns–just as non business owners and, more importantly, labor unions–could. Sadly, four of the five justices ruled religious beliefs end the moment religious individuals open a business and run it in, in this case, a Biblical way.
In a dissent she read aloud from the bench, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg called the decision "potentially sweeping" because it minimizes the government's interest in uniform compliance with laws affecting the workplace. "And it discounts the disadvantages religion-based opt outs impose on others, in particular, employees who do not share their employer's religious beliefs," Ginsburg said.
The case was joined by 50 other companies, including Conestoga Woods, a Mennonite cabinet maker.
*Update* Read decision here.
Attention ObamaCare dead pool players: Bungler Kathleen Sebelius to resign. Gone!
April 10, 2014 ObamaCareFail, Obama, ObamaCare, Resignation, SebeliusVictoria Taft
Obama's War on Women: Another woman to be named to oversee bungled ObamaCare.
News tonight from the Obama Administration the president will accept the resignation of Health and Human Services Secretary, Kathleen Sebelius. From USA Today,
Obama accepted the resignation this week and intends to announce that he will nominate his Office of Management and Budget Director Sylvia Mathews Burwell to replace Sebelius.
He will make the formal announcement at 11 a.m. on Friday at the White House, according to officials, who asked not to be identified so as not to preempt the president.
While USA Today attempted to ascribe recent gaffs to Sebelius's ouster, the reality is the entire ObamaCare overhaul was ill advised, one sided and horribly orchestrated by everyone in the Obama Administration–probably because–oh, I don't know–because the bill was horrible for the American people or something.
But hey, sucker, we have a song to send you off. I just wish you would take ObamaCare with it.
ObamaCare: BOOM. Failure to launch.
March 31, 2014 Congress, health care, ObamaCare38 changes, Failure to launch, Nancy Pelosi, ObamaCare, VideoVictoria Taft
ObamaCare is unpopular, unaffordable and the roll out has been horrible. It's a failure to launch.
The drop dead deadline to sign up for ObamaCare is/was/kinda/sorta today–until the Obama Administration moved it again, that is. This time the change–the 38th one since passage of the bill–is for an indefinite period of time. From the Wall Street Journal,
On Tuesday evening, the Health and Human Services Department announced that the six-month open enrollment period for ObamaCare insurance that began in October 2013 and was supposed to end on the last day of March would be extended indefinitely. As long as people self-attest and check a box that they had some difficulty signing up on with the 36 federal insurance exchanges, the deadline will no longer obtain.
If you have no meaningful deadline there are no metrics by which the government is measured. That's why they keep moving the little suckers. The objective is to keep the program in a cloud of confusion till they either figure out how to fix it or you're just so disgusted you demand the government run the whole thing as a single payer system.
According to the Wall Street Journal and the Galen Institute this is the 38th delay in the implementation of ObamaCare. I've included the list of delays below. Maybe Nancy Pelosi was talking about herself when she said, "We have to pass the bill before you can find out what is, ah, in it."
Sure, Mrs. Taft, we'll build you a house but we can't, ah, tell you what will look like until it is, ah, built. You'd trust somebody to do that, right?
Remember these–let's see, what invective did the left hurl and the media mimic–'crazy, racist, homophobic, nutty people' who implored, "Kill the bill!"?
They stood on the stairs leading to the capitol as Nancy Pelosi held her cartoonishly large gavel and, with house leadership, walked through the thousands of protesters. She mocked the people, laughing at them as she walked through. In fact, the photographer who took the photo nearby entitled it, "Pelosi Victorious."
Those nutty people? Yeah, if they were so wrong why does the Obama Administration fall all over itself to hide the real deadlines and real fall out from the original bill?
See the Galen Institute's list of ObamaCare changes (please see all their supporting documents at their website):
CHANGES BY ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION
1. Medicare Advantage patch: The administration ordered an advance draw on funds from a Medicare bonus program in order to provide extra payments to Medicare Advantage plans, in an effort to temporarily forestall cuts in benefits and therefore delay early exodus of MA plans from the program. (April 19, 2011)
2. Employee reporting: The administration, contrary to the Obamacare legislation, instituted a one-year delay of the requirement that employers must report to their employees on their W-2 forms the full cost of their employer-provided health insurance. (January 1, 2012)
3. Subsidies may flow through federal exchanges: The IRS issued a rule that allows premium assistance tax credits to be available in federal exchanges although the law only specified that they would be available "through an Exchange established by the State under Section 1311." (May 23, 2012)
4. Closing the high-risk pool: The administration decided to halt enrollment in transitional federal high-risk pools created by the law, blocking coverage for an estimated 40,000 new applicants, citing a lack of funds. The administration had money from a fund under Secretary Sebelius's control to extend the pools, but instead used the money to pay for advertising for Obamacare enrollment and other purposes. (February 15, 2013)
5. Doubling allowed deductibles: Because some group health plans use more than one benefits administrator, plans are allowed to apply separate patient cost-sharing limits for one year to different services, such as doctor/hospital and prescription drugs, allowing maximum out-of-pocket costs to be twice as high as the law intended. (February 20, 2013)
6. Small businesses on hold: The administration has said that the federal exchanges for small businesses will not be ready by the 2014 statutory deadline, and instead delayed until 2015 the provision of SHOP (Small-Employer Health Option Program) that requires the exchanges to offer a choice of qualified health plans. (March 11, 2013)
7. Delaying a low-income plan: The administration delayed implementation of the Basic Health Program until 2015. It would have provided more-affordable health coverage for certain low-income individuals not eligible for Medicaid. (March 22, 2013)
8. Employer-mandate delay: By an administrative action that's contrary to statutory language in the ACA, the reporting requirements for employers were delayed by one year. (July 2, 2013)
9. Self-attestation: Because of the difficulty of verifying income after the employer-reporting requirement was delayed, the administration decided it would allow "self-attestation" of income by applicants for health insurance in the exchanges. This was later partially retracted after congressional and public outcry over the likelihood of fraud. (July 15, 2013)
10. Delaying the online SHOP exchange: The administration first delayed for a month and later for a year until November 2014 the launch of the online insurance marketplace for small businesses. The exchange was originally scheduled to launch on October 1, 2013. (September 26, 2013) (November 27, 2013)
11. Congressional opt-out: The administration decided to offer employer contributions to members of Congress and their staffs when they purchase insurance on the exchanges created by the ACA, a subsidy the law doesn't provide. (September 30, 2013)
12. Delaying the individual mandate: The administration changed the deadline for the individual mandate, by declaring that customers who have purchased insurance by March 31, 2014 will avoid the tax penalty. Previously, they would have had to purchase a plan by mid-February. (October 23, 2013)
13. Insurance companies may offer canceled plans: The administration announced that insurance companies may reoffer plans that previous regulations forced them to cancel. (November 14, 2013)
14. Exempting unions from reinsurance fee: The administration gave unions an exemption from the reinsurance fee (one of ObamaCare's many new taxes). To make up for this exemption, non-exempt plans will have to pay a higher fee, which will likely be passed onto consumers in the form of higher premiums and deductibles. (December 2, 2013)
15. Extending Preexisting Condition Insurance Plan: The administration extended the federal high risk pool until January 31, 2014 and again until March 15, 2014 to prevent a coverage gap for the most vulnerable. The plans were scheduled to expire on December 31, but were extended because it has been impossible for some to sign up for new coverage on healthcare.gov. (December 12, 2013) (January 14, 2014)
16. Expanding hardship waiver to those with canceled plans: The administration expanded the hardship waiver, which excludes people from the individual mandate and allows some to purchase catastrophic health insurance, to people who have had their plans canceled because of ObamaCare regulations. The administration later extended this waiver until October 1, 2016. (December 19, 2013) (March 5, 2014)
17. Equal employer coverage delayed: Tax officials will not be enforcing in 2014 the mandate requiring employers to offer equal coverage to all their employees. This provision of the law was supposed to go into effect in 2010, but IRS officials have "yet to issue regulations for employers to follow." (January 18, 2014)
18. Employer-mandate delayed again: The administration delayed for an additional year provisions of the employer mandate, postponing enforcement of the requirement for medium-size employers until 2016 and relaxing some requirements for larger employers. Businesses with 100 or more employees must offer coverage to 70% of their full-time employees in 2015 and 95% in 2016 and beyond. (February 10, 2014)
19. Extending subsidies to non-exchange plans: The administration released a bulletin through CMS extending subsidies to individuals who purchased health insurance plans outside of the federal or state exchanges. The bulletin also requires retroactive coverage and subsidies for individuals from the date they applied on the marketplace rather than the date they actually enrolled in a plan. (February 27, 2014)
20. Non-compliant health plans get two year extension: The administration pushed back the deadline by two years that requires health insurers to cancel plans that are not compliant with ObamaCare's mandates. These "illegal" plans may now be offered until 2017. This extension will prevent a wave cancellation notices from going out before the 2014 midterm elections. (March 5, 2014)
21. Delaying the sign-up deadline: The administration delayed until mid-April the March 31 deadline to sign up for insurance. Applicants simply need to check a box on their application to qualify for this extended sign-up period. (March 26, 2014)
CHANGES BY CONGRESS, SIGNED BY PRESIDENT OBAMA:
22. Military benefits: Congress clarified that plans provided by TRICARE, the military's health-insurance program, constitutes minimal essential health-care coverage as required by the ACA; its benefits and plans wouldn't normally meet ACA requirements. (April 26, 2010)
23. VA benefits: Congress also clarified that health care provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs constitutes minimum essential health-care coverage as required by the ACA. (May 27, 2010)
24. Drug-price clarification: Congress modified the definition of average manufacturer price (AMP) to include inhalation, infusion, implanted, or injectable drugs that are not generally dispensed through a retail pharmacy. (August 10, 2010)
25. Doc-fix tax: Congress modified the amount of premium tax credits that individuals would have to repay if they are over-allotted, an action designed to help offset the costs of the postponement of cuts in Medicare physician payments called for in the ACA. (December 15, 2010)
26. Extending the adoption credit: Congress extended the nonrefundable adoption tax credit, which happened to be included in the ACA, through tax year 2012. (December 17, 2010)
27. TRICARE for adult children: Congress extended TRICARE coverage to dependent adult children up to age 26 when it had previously only covered those up to the age of 21 — though beneficiaries still have to pay premiums for them. (January 7, 2011)
28. 1099 repealed: Congress repealed the paperwork ("1099") mandate that would have required businesses to report to the IRS all of their transactions with vendors totaling $600 or more in a year. (April 14, 2011)
29. No free-choice vouchers: Congress repealed a program, supported by Senator Ron Wyden (D., Ore.) that would have allowed "free-choice vouchers," that the Hill warned "could lead young, healthy workers to opt out" of their employer plans, "driving up costs for everybody else." The same law barred additional funds for the IRS to hire new agents to enforce the health-care law. (April 15, 2011)
30. No Medicaid for well-to-do seniors: Congress saved taxpayers $13 billion by changing how the eligibility for certain programs is calculated under Obamacare. Without the change, a couple earning as much as much as $64,000 would still have been able to qualify for Medicaid. (November 21, 2011)
31. CO-OPs, IPAB, IRS defunded: Congress made further cuts to agencies implementing Obamacare. It trimmed another $400 million off the CO-OP program, cut another $305 million from the IRS to hamper its ability to enforce the law's tax hikes and mandates, and rescinded $10 million in funding for the controversial Independent Payment Advisory Board. (December 23, 2011)
32. Slush-fund savings: Congress slashed another $11.6 billion from the Prevention and Public Health slush fund and $2.5 billion from Obamacare's "Louisiana Purchase." (February 22, 2012)
33. Less cash for Louisiana: One of the tricks used to get Obamacare through the Senate was the special "Louisiana Purchase" deal for the state's Democratic senator, Mary Landrieu. Congress saved another $670 million by rescinding additional funds from this bargain. (July 6, 2012)
34. CLASS Act eliminated: Congress repealed the unsustainable CLASS (Community Living Assistance Services and Supports) program of government-subsidized long-term-care insurance, which even the Democratic chairman of the Senate Finance Committee dubbed a "Ponzi scheme of the first order." (January 2, 2013)
35. Cutting CO-OPs: Congress cut $2.2 billion from the "Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan" (CO-OP), which some saw as a stealth public option, blocking creation of government-subsidized co-op insurance programs in about half the states. Early reports showed many co-ops, which had received federal loans, had run into serious financial trouble. (January 2, 2013)
36. Trimming the Medicare trust-fund transfer: Congress rescinded $200 million of the $500 million scheduled to be taken from the Medicare Part A and Part B trust funds and sent to the Community-Based Care Transition Program established and funded by the ACA. (March 26, 2013)
CHANGES BY THE SUPREME COURT:
37. Medicaid expansion made voluntary: The court ruled it had to be voluntary, rather than mandatory, for states to expand Medicaid eligibility to people with incomes up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level, by ruling that the federal government couldn't halt funds for existing state Medicaid programs if they chose not to expand the program.
38. The individual mandate made a tax: The court determined that violating the mandate that Americans must purchase government-approved health insurance would only result in individuals' paying a "tax," making it, legally speaking, optional for people to comply.
This list was originally published HERE on Galen.org and has been published on National Review Online. It was updated to 29 changes on December 10, 2013.
Cover Oregon to spend another $1 mil to advertise program that doesn't work
March 27, 2014 Government, health care, ObamaCare, OrBamaCare, Oregon, UncategorizedCover Oregon, disaster, Health Care, Laura Sandgren, ObamaCare, OrBamaCareVictoria Taft
After the disastrous roll out of this product, they didn't spend money to advertise it.
*This post has been changed to reflect a change in the person previously mentioned was a "friend." That person has asked me to change the information so that they are not targeted because they're friends with a conservative. I've changed the reference to protect them.*
The OrBamaCare–Cover Oregon–website doesn't work, but state spends another million to advertise extended deadline and tout success. Alas, 'success' doesn't describe friend's experience.
Cover Oregon's executives have been summarily fired or "let go" because the OrBamaCare program and its website don't work. At all. But that isn't stopping the state from spending another $1 million to advertise extra time to sign up for a program that doesn't work. That's $9.3 million in all for the ad budget (that we know of). I'm sure the taxpayers couldn't have found a higher and better use for that money had they been allowed to keep it in the first place.
I've never heard of Ben Gay Aspirin. Nobody has. It sucked, that's why. The Ben Gay people didn't say in the marketing meeting, 'Hey, well, it's an utter disaster, so let's spend more money to tout what a disaster it is.' Whatever happened to WebTV, anyway Microsoft? Seen any advertising for that lately? New Coke was a disaster. When it died Coke didn't spend more money advertising how disastrous it was. Bic underwear? Bic underwear?
But disastrous product rollouts be damned when it comes to government spending other peoples' money! The new web, TV and online campaign tells of the successes of OrBamaCare recipients and how, the program is such a success they're giving you more time to sign up! The success stories of "Ron", "Gilberto", "Judy", "Amy", "Katrina", "Cory and Doris", "Bayo" and "Andrea" seem to contrast with hundreds of thousands of other Oregonians who haven't been able to sign up–including my acquaintance, who will remain unnamed.
The unnamed woman emailed me to tell me her story. In short it goes something like this:
She tried to sign up for OrBamaCare online.
She thought it worked.
She was told she had insurance.
The state screwed up her info.
She kept trying by herself.
Then she called and got a "community agent" or "navigator" to get signed up online.
She called again.
Now she doesn't believe them.
Apparently, this is success worth advertising.
Because the website is a disaster and doesn't work, Cover Oregon says the only way you can sign up for OrBamaCare is to go online and find a "community agent" who has the double-secret-probation-prime-directive-password. Cover Oregon helpfully suggested a place to go online to get said "community agent." This is what I got.
It's not funny, Chief Justice Roberts
March 27, 2014 ObamaCare, Religion, SCOTUSChief Justice John Roberts, Conestoga Wood Specialites, Hobby Lobby, Individual Mandate, ObamaCare, Penalty, SCOTUS, supreme court, TaxVictoria Taft
Chief Justice John Roberts shares a laugh with Cardinal Theodore McCarrick at a recent event
It's not a penalty, it's a tax. It's not a tax, it's a penalty. John Roberts' ObamaCare decision draws laughs in the US Supreme Court on Monday. Hint: it's not funny.
We all remember the 2012 ObamaCare decision in which Chief Justice John Roberts pulled a dipsy doodle and saved ObamaCare by rewriting the law to say the individual mandate was a tax. "Such legislation is within Congress' power to tax."
Roberts made sure the issue of the ObamaCare individual mandate penalties was argued as a tax even though the Obama Administration argued it was not. After initially believing the Affordable Care Act was unconstitutional as it was written, Roberts contrived to turn it into a tax and –voila!–part of the president's cornerstone program was upheld.
On the upside, the Chief Justice limited the Congress' ability to abuse the Commerce Clause in the future, but Constitutional originalists may never forgive him for allowing ObamaCare's forced insurance purchase to be viewed as a tax instead of penalty.
The subject came up in the oral arguments of Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Wood Specialities on Monday. ObamaCare covers abortion drugs. These companies did not want to have anything to do with them. The issue is should companies owned by sincerely religious people be forced to denounce their religious beliefs to accommodate a government program? Hobby Lobby's insurance pays for all kinds of birth control but wanted nothing to do with abortion drugs.
On pages 23-24 of the oral arguments Hobby Lobby's attorney, Paul Clement, was asked by the liberal (and female) faction of the court about why the company doesn't just drop insurance altogether and pay the penalty! Isn't that nice of them? They're just looking out for the financial well being of Hobby Lobby and by simply paying the extortion, they get to retain their religious rights!
Some choice. Heads: the government wins, tails: the companies lose.
11 JUSTICE KAGAN: No, I don't think that
12 that's the same thing, Mr. Clement. There's one penalty
13 that is if the employer continues to provide health
14 insurance without this part of the coverage, but Hobby
15 Lobby could choose not to provide health insurance at
16 all. And in that case Hobby Lobby would pay $2,000 per
17 employee, which is less than Hobby Lobby probably pays
18 to provide insurance to its employees.
19 So there is a choice here. It's not even a
20 penalty by  in the language of the statute. It's a
21 payment or a tax. There's a choice. And so the
22 question is, why is there a substantial burden at all?
23 MR. CLEMENT: Well, just to be clear, we
24 were talking about the same thing. So the option, the
25 choice, is between paying a $475 million a year penalty
Alderson Reporting Company 23
Official  Subject to Final Review
1 and a $26 million a year penalty. That's what Hobby
2 Lobby faces. So $2,000 per person
3 JUSTICE KAGAN: No, between paying $2,000
4 per employee per year if Hobby Lobby does not provide
5 MR. CLEMENT: That's $26 million.
6 JUSTICE KAGAN: You know, Hobby Lobby is
7 paying something right now for the  for the coverage.
8 It's less than what Hobby Lobby is paying for the
9 coverage. There are employers all over the United
10 States that are doing this voluntarily because they
11 think that it's less.
12 CHIEF JUSTICE ROBERTS: I thought  I
13 thought that part of the religious commitment of the
14 owners was to provide health care for its employees.
15 MR. CLEMENT: That is true, Mr. Chief
16 Justice. It is also true that this
17 JUSTICE SOTOMAYOR: Well, if they want to do
18 that, they can just pay a greater salary and let the
19 employees go in on the exchange.
20 MR. CLEMENT: Exactly, which is, by the way,
21 why comparing the $2,000 penalty to the cost of the
22 health care is a false  it's a false comparison.
23 JUSTICE SOTOMAYOR: It's not called a
24 penalty. It's called a tax. And it's calibrated  and
25 it's calibrated
1 CHIEF JUSTICE ROBERTS: She's right about
3 (Laughter.)
4 MR. CLEMENT: And it has been treated for
5 some purposes as a penalty. And I think for this
6 purposes, it certainly feels punitive.
It certainly does feel punitive. And that's not funny.
*UPDATED* SCOTUS Hobby Lobby: How the media get their narratives
March 25, 2014 Government, ObamaCare, SCOTUSConestoga Wood Specialites, Hobby Lobby, media narratives, SCOTUSVictoria Taft
The Hobby Lobby case in the Supreme Court sends advocates to Twitter to tout narratives. Who picks them up?
How do media narratives get set? Good questions. Here's just one way I saw via Twitter. Reporters and advocates for all sides send out their micro messages on the 140 character social site. But who picks up the talking points?
I was scanning Twitter about the Hobby Lobby case before the Supreme Court (SCOTUS) while waiting for the next batch of not so live blog updates come in. Here's what I saw:
Planned Parenthood sets the tone:
Early word from the #SCOTUS argument: 3 female justices aggressively questioning #HobbyLobby and Conestoga attorneys.
— Planned Parenthood (@PPact) March 25, 2014
And then ABC picks up the hint:
Quick read on #HobbyLobby arguments: the women of #SCOTUS dominated the first half of questioning. 12pET: http://t.co/WwPibINfTs
— Steven Portnoy (@stevenportnoy) March 25, 2014
Originally there were four tweets I saw in this theme but, sadly, they got lost in the ether. Won't happen again.
Here's a new one you should be watching out for:
The Hobby Lobby case & the AZ #SB1062 Anti-Gay Law are cut from the same cloth. Can't use religion to discriminate! pic.twitter.com/tIBFcb8jSA
— FreeSpeechForPeople (@FSFP) March 25, 2014
*UPDATED* Hobby Lobby: The good, bad and ridiculous
March 25, 2014 Government, ObamaCare, Religion, SCOTUSConestoga Wood, Hobby Lobby, religion, Religious Freedom, SCOTUS, supreme court, TwitterVictoria Taft
While I'm watching the live blogs I'm bringing to you some of the more, ah, interesting reactions via Twitter.
The word "dominionist" is making a come back:
The case before #scotus today is just one chunk of a scary dominionist iceberg
— Pam Body Garf Head (@bigbigtruck) March 25, 2014
Here's someone who never heard of Jesus:
Since Bible endorses slavery #HobbyLobby should also be allowed to own slaves! #ReligiousFreedomForAll #tcot #LibCrib #scotus
— imfabulous (@imfabulous13) March 25, 2014
How about "secularist"? No religion in the workplace, you dominionists, you!
72% of women agree – employers shouldn't be exempt even for religious beliefs #NotMyBossBusiness #SCOTUS #HobbyLobby pic.twitter.com/h0yYXLTDGf
— CDA Women's Caucus (@CDAWomensCaucus) March 25, 2014
Here we go with humans not being in corporations again (but, just remember, humans exist in organized unions):
@HobbyLobby is a business, not a human, therefore it cannot have religious beliefs…it's that simple. #HobbyLobby #SCOTUS #RightToChoose
— WhenRightIsWrong (@Right_All_Wrong) March 25, 2014
https://twitter.com/BetsyinCalico/status/448510948798898176
Don't you know if you're an American with individual rights you can't take them in the workplace? Sheesh!
Any biz should be allowed to offer a HC plan to employees w/o being told what to put in the plan. #hobbylobby #scotus #tcot #p2 #inners @cnn
— ChampionofDeplorable (@FJ473) March 25, 2014
Here's a good point:
#hobbylobby Freedom is killed if americans are forced to be complicit in killing new humans #SCOTUS
— William J. Green (@wjgreen_) March 25, 2014
And another:
#HobbyLobby only declined to cover 4 abortifacients listed among 23 other birth control options. They already cover birth control. #SCOTUS
— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) March 24, 2014
The bossy girls are back:
. @RepMcKinley lawmakers headed 2 #SCOTUS 2 hear #HobbyLobby arguments. 99% of women use BC. Do u stand w/ #WV women? #NotMyBossBusiness
— WV FREE (@WVFREE) March 25, 2014
So inspired by everyone who went to DC for #NotMyBossBusiness #SCOTUS rally!
— Molly M Skinner-Day (@CedarMariposita) March 25, 2014
Mocking the business they're trying to bring down:
I know people are passionate about their arts and crafts, but that doesn't qualify as religion. http://t.co/vpiRz1DD5S #HobbyLobby #scotus
— Amy Lynn Smith (@alswrite) March 25, 2014
I suppose they'll cry when they read this tweet from a guy who thinks they're smart enough to make their own decisions:
.@TheTaskForce if you dont like your boss's business get a new boss. He's the boss not you. #SCOTUS #HobbyLobby
Intentionally missing the point that women were fully capable of buying their own abortions before ObamaCare:
I should not have to vet my employer's religious beliefs to assure myself adequate healthcare choices and rights. #SCOTUS #HobbyLobby
— Kimberly Brusk (@peaceforus4ever) March 25, 2014
"The Democrats" weigh in with their attempt to obscure the point and being ironic in the process (since they backed the government getting involved in a health care in the first place):
Why the #SCOTUS should protect a woman's right to make medical decisions with her doctor – not her boss: http://t.co/5EEPzF7mjf #HobbyLobby
— The Democrats (@TheDemocrats) March 25, 2014
And you're a racist. I mean a sexist. I mean a homophobe. No, you're just a bigot. Must be if you're a religious person, right?
Not paying for contraceptives is bigotry? @Westlaw: outside #SCOTUS during the #HOBBYLOBBY oral arguments today pic.twitter.com/ORXbO4gLIZ"
— Tim Tracey (@timothyjtracey) March 25, 2014
And a little truth:
#SCOTUS divided on #Obamacare #birthControl mandate in #HobbyLobby Case http://t.co/2zrr6fGDSp #tcot #ReligiousFreedom
— Richard Viguerie (@RichardViguerie) March 25, 2014


text:
National Hockey League and the New Jersey Devils Enter Into Landmark Partnerships with FanDuel
FanDuel Becomes An Official Sports Betting Partner & Official Daily Fantasy Partner of the NHL
FanDuel Receives In-Ice Exposure Via New Jersey Devils Partnership Agreement
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"We will continue to be at the forefront of the action for hockey fans, whether they're watching sports from a seat in the arena or at home on TV," said Kip Levin, COO of FanDuel Group. "Our partnership with the New Jersey Devils allows us to be on the ice during the action and in-game messaging is the perfect way to reach hockey fans during the games."
For information about Responsible Play on FanDuel, please visit https://www.fanduel.com/responsibleplay.
FanDuel Group is an innovative sports-tech entertainment company that is changing the way consumers engage with their favorite sports, teams, and leagues. The premier gaming destination in the United States, FanDuel Group consists of a portfolio of leading brands across gaming, sports betting, daily fantasy sports, advance-deposit wagering, and TV/media, including FanDuel, Betfair US, DRAFT, and TVG. FanDuel Group has a presence across 45 states and 8 million customers. The company is based in New York with offices in California, New Jersey, Florida, Oregon, and Scotland. FanDuel Group is a subsidiary of Paddy Power Betfair plc, a leading international sports betting and gaming operator and a constituent of the FTSE 100 index of the London Stock Exchange.
About the NHL
The National Hockey League (NHL®), founded in 1917, consists of 31 Member Clubs, each reflecting the League's international makeup with players from more than 20 countries represented on team rosters, vying for the most cherished and historic trophy in professional sports – the Stanley Cup®. Every year, the NHL entertains more than 670 million fans in-arena and through its partners on national television and radio; more than 151 million followers – league, team and player accounts combined – across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube; and more than 100 million fans online at NHL.com. The League broadcasts games in more than 160 countries and territories through its rightsholders including NBC/NBCSN and the NHL Network in the U.S., Sportsnet and TVA in Canada, Viasat in the Nordic Region and CCTV and Tencent in China. The NHL reaches fans worldwide with games available online in every country including via its live and on-demand streaming service NHL.TV™. Fans are engaged across the League's digital assets on mobile devices via the free NHL® App; across nine social media platforms; on SiriusXM NHL Network Radio; and on NHL.com, available in eight languages and featuring unprecedented access to player and team statistics as well as every regular-season and playoff game box score dating back to the League's inception, powered by SAP. The NHL is committed to building healthy and vibrant communities through the sport of hockey by increasing youth participation and engagement; fostering positive family experiences; promoting inclusion, positive culture and leadership; and supporting sustainable community impact.
About the New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils are part of the 31-team National Hockey League, with teams throughout the United States and Canada. Established in 1982, they are currently in their 36th season in the Garden State. During that time, the team has won three Stanley Cup Championships: 1995, 2000 and 2003. Follow the Devils at www.newjerseydevils.com, on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The New Jersey Devils organization is a Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment property.
*In Billboard's 2017 Year End Review, Prudential Center was ranked as the No. 8 Most Played venue in the world.


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A broad range of writing, editing, and communications management experience for Fortune 500 and other companies, including AT&T, Citicorp, Johnson & Johnson, LexisNexis, AARP, HSBC, Merrill-Lynch, McGraw-Hill, Pfizer, SAP, and others.


The Deuter AirLite 14 SL Women's hiking pack is a fun, low-key day pack for short hikes or lightweight loving hikers who can now go faster and farther than ever before.
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The pension financing outlook is stable for the next few decades. The insurance contribution under the Employees Pensions Act (TyEL contribution) can be kept below 25 per cent of the wages until the 2050s. However, in the long run, the low birth rates will cause a pronounced pressure to raise the contribution rate. The required preparations should be made ahead of time.
The Finnish Centre for Pensions has updated its long-term projections on the development of statutory pensions.
The projections follow Statistics Finland's population forecast from 2018. According to that forecast, the working-age population in Finland will decline throughout the projection period (2019-2085) due to low birth rates. At the same time, the share of the population aged 65 or older will continue to rise.
Despite the weakening dependency ratio, the private sector TyEL contribution can be kept below 25 per cent up to the 2050s. After that, pension expenditure relative to wages will start to grow fiercely, generating a pressure to raise the contribution by several percentage points. With the projected demographic development, the contribution will rise to more than 30 per cent towards the end of the projection period.
"The pension financing outlook is rather stable for the next few decades. The low birth rates should be taken seriously, though. Now is the time to think about how to influence the demographic development," states development manager Heikki Tikanmäki of the Finnish Centre for Pensions.
There is no pressure to raise the contribution rate in the overall earnings-related pension scheme. In the public sector, pension expenditure relative to earnings will decline at mid-century as, among other things, the contribution burden caused by past higher pension benefits will lessen. Currently, the contribution income of the earnings-related pension system is slightly under 30 per cent relative to earnings. That is enough to finance earnings-related pensions also in the future.
The expected investment returns for the next few years are rather weak. In the next decade, the assumption of the real return on pensions is 2.5 per cent per year. After that it will rise to 3.5 per cent.
Despite the low investment returns, the pressure to raise the TyEL contribution in the near future is not significant in the baseline projection.
The general economic fluctuation is reflected in the optimistic and pessimistic scenarios. Due to the employment rate, the growth in earnings as well as the development of investment returns, the earnings-related pension insurance contribution will vary from 23 to 27 per cent in the 2020s in these scenarios.
"The contribution level in the next two decades depends on the economic development," Tikanmäki explains.
In 2017, the average monthly pension of people living in Finland was 1,656 euros. According to the long-term projection, the purchasing power of pensions will continue to grow. For example, in 2030, the average monthly pension is expected to be around 1,850 euros. The individual-level pension variation is not increasing.
For a long time, pensions in payment have been at a 50-per-cent level relative to the average earnings. After 2030, the ratio will drop below 50 per cent. In 2045, the average pensions are estimated at 46 per cent of the average earnings. In 2017, the ratio was 53 per cent.
The main reason for the declining ratio is the life expectancy coefficient, which adapts the benefit level to correspond to changes in life expectancy.
Statutory Pensions: Long-term Projections 2019. Finnish Centre for Pensions, Reports 02/2019 (Executive Summary). The full report in English will be published later this year.
an internal rate of return calculation, which shows how much the age cohorts and genders get in return for their pension contributions.


We specialize in custom tours to India as well as neighboring Nepal and Bhutan. Ayurveda & Yoga packages , Spiritual tours or simply the Palace on Wheels to explore the exotic state of Rajasthan. Here are a few sample packages.
Contact us now at travel@mywebtrips.com for a package specially tailored for your needs.
India is known for its Yoga and Meditation as a way of life. India, though taking impressive strides towards urbanization and industrialization, still has locales where the concepts of Yoga and Meditation form an integral part of human life. Rishikesh a well known destination is blended with natural beauty and everything is in tune with nature.
A journey worthy of kings. No wonder the experience is labeled the Palace on Wheels. It has been rated one of the ten best luxurious train journeys in the world.
South India launches its Luxury on wheels, taking you thru various facets of India. The Golden Chariot offers a unique 5-star experience on wheels with luxury and service to match.
Deccan Odyssey tour takes you on a journey through the historic kingdom of the Marathas. The Deccan Odyssey tour is a journey like no other. Cocooned in royal style, travelers on this luxury train travel on a weeklong journey across Maharashtra and Goa.


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Meny (meaning "Menu") is a Norwegian and Danish supermarket chain owned by NorgesGruppen and Dagrofa (only the Danish stores, NorgesGruppen owns a 49% stake in Dagrofa). The chain has historically only been active in Norway, where 187 stores operate under the brand. In 2015, 119 Meny stores opened in Denmark, which are rebranded SuperBest and Eurospar stores, brands owned by the Danish Dagrofa. The first Danish Meny stores opened in April 2015.

The brand operates so called 'full-service' supermarkets, focusing on offering a large choice of fresh and/or high quality products as opposed to discount supermarkets that offer low prices.

In Denmark Meny has 5,500 employees.

References

Supermarkets of Denmark
Supermarkets of Norway
1992 establishments in Norway
Retail companies established in 1992

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Jelani Lateef is killin the rap game. Originally from Chicago, Jelani has recently released his mixtape, "Cold Days and Dark Nights", which you can hear HERE for free for hip-hop enthusiasts.
Mixing puns with enticing lyrics and smooth beats, Jelani Lateef has a style similar to Nate Dogg. "Cold Days and Dark Nights" is a follow up to the album of the same title released in April 2015.
The "Cold Days Intro" gives listeners a glimpse of what to expect on the album. Each and every track is filled with catchy hooks and very thought out lyrics. Similar to childish Gambino the flow and style of Jelani Lateef is unmatched and one that is rarely seen with underground artist today.
Favorites on the album, "How it Feels" which has undertones of the late Notorious BIG and also "In God's Hands",produced by Deka Derse and features guest vocals of Fiyah Wayne, favors the beats and melody of rap in the early 90s. Throughout the album you will also hear him paying homage to his hometown. "One Life One Chance", is a song that is just about 'that' - having one life and one chance and simply making the best of this life.
The almost entirely self-produced album is raw, gritty, and is purely fire. It opens up and allows the listener to reflect back to when rap took actual talent and when rappers creatively rapped about important matters. It's encouraging and sends the message of making the best of any situation.


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TOR 4, BOS 5 Final
MLB Rumors: Former Red Sox Pitcher Doug Fister Signs With Rangers
by Logan Mullen on Sun, Nov 26, 2017 at 5:35PM
Consider the stove hot. Or warmed up a bit, at least.
The Texas Rangers reportedly signed free-agent pitcher Doug Fister on Sunday, according to reports from NBC Boston's Evan Drellich and MLB.com's Mark Feinsand.
Source: Rangers to sign Doug Fister to a major league deal, pending a physical. Righty leaves the Red Sox, who helped him get back on track https://t.co/8uOAfWudix
— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) November 26, 2017
Source confirms Doug Fister has agreed to a Major League deal with the Rangers. @EvanDrellich had it first.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) November 26, 2017
Fister had most recently pitched for the Boston Red Sox in 2017, going 5-9 with a 4.88 ERA over 18 appearances (15 starts). The 33-year-old started Game 3 of the American League Division Series for the Red Sox, but quickly was lifted after giving up three runs over 1 1/3 innings.
The one-year deal is worth $4 million, per SB Nation's Chris Cotillo.
Source: Fister gets a 1-year, $4 million deal from Texas that includes a team option for 2019. Escalators can take the option to $7M and there are incentives in both years.
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) November 26, 2017
For all we know, maybe this is the catalyst needed to get the hot stove going.
Thumbnail photo via Thumbnail Photo Via Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports Images.
Red Sox's Mookie Betts Apparently Can Hit Golf Balls Really Far, Too


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There are currently many ongoing clinical trials and studies conducted at the Truong Neuroscience Institute (TNI).
When is the best time to start L-DOPA?
In one research effort, neurologists at TNI will start enrolling patients recently diagnosed with Parkinson's disease to examine the timing of starting L-DOPA (trade name Sinemet). There are long existing debates between scientists whether L-DOPA should be used in the early course of the disease or not. Many have raised concern about the possible damage that the early use of L-DOPA could result in if L-DOPA is found to have toxic effects on the brain because of the free radicals that it releases.
This study is the first large scale study of the relationship between the use of levodopa and the progression of the disease. It intends to determine whether L-DOPA should be initiated sooner or later after the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease has been made. It seeks to answer whether early use of Sinemet in Parkinson's disease is associated with a more rapid progression of the disease.
The study is carried out in 35 centers across the U.S. and is organized by the Parkinson's Study Group. Nationally 310 patients will be enrolled. The principal investigator at this site is Dr. Daniel Truong, a member of the Parkinson's Study Group. Patients will be seen by Dr. Truong only at the beginning and at the end of the study. During the mean time, they will be treated by Dr. Mayank Pathak, another neurologist at TNI for their parkinsonism.
Treatment of Parkinson's disease with medications such as Sinemet and Permax could sometimes result in unwanted side effects such as hallucination and odd thought content. Patients may see strangers living in their home, or even animals surrounding them. Odd thought contents such as believing that their spouse is trying to get rid of them may occur. Some patients retain insight, some do not.
These side effects are sometimes very bothersome to family members. The Truong Neuroscience Institute is investigating a marketed drug to control these side effects. However, we no longer enroll patients in this study.
Dopamine Agonists
There is evidence suggesting that motor fluctuations and dyskinesias are more related to the duration of levodopa therapy than disease progression. Dopamine agonists have received widespread clinical acceptance because of their potential to delay the initiation and reduce the amount of levodopa needed. Early Parkinson's disease patients could be managed successfully initially with agonist alone and later in combination with low dose levodopa. When compared to L-dopa monotherapy, patients treated with an agonist from the onset had a lower risk of developing dyskinesias. Agonists may therefore reduce the amount of free radical induced neuronal damage caused by the dopamine turn-over. There are also some evidences that dopamine agonists may confer neuroprotective benefit to Parkinson's patients.
Animal and clinical studies have shown that treatment of Parkinson's patient with long acting dopamine agonist should offer significant delay in the onset of complications and perhaps a slowing of the disease progression. It would be ideal, if the medication could be delivered steadily. None of the currently available dopamine agonists have an ideally stable 24 hours blood level. The "peak and trough" blood levels of multiple doses of dopamine agonists may result in non-physiological, pulsatile stimulus, which may contribute to the cause of the motor complications in Parkinson's disease. We are currently investigating the use of a transdermal patch to deliver dopamine agonist in a steady manner.
Apomorphine
We also study apomorphine, a compound that has shown to be effective for late stage Parkinson's patients in studies conducted in Europe. This trial aimed at Parkinson's patients, who suffer marked fluctuation of the symptoms. Apomorphine has not been approved by the FDA and is currently still in the research phase.
Non-dopaminergic Drugs: Adenosine A2A Receptor Anatgonists
Until now, the focus of treatment of Parkinson's disease has been dopaminergic drugs such as levodopa (Sinemet), dopamine agonist and medications that block the destruction of levodopa. Recently non-dopaminergic drugs have been found to be effective in rodents and monkeys. This represent an exciting new approach for the treatment of Parkinson's disease as a new era of therapy may emerge.
It is known that adenosine receptor, namely adenosine A2A receptors, are abundant in the basal ganglia, especially in the striatum. They are predominantly localized on the neurons, which project to the globus pallidus internus (striatopallidal indirect pathway). This pathway is generally assumed to be hyperactive in PD. Adenosine A2A receptor anatgonists suppress this excessive activation. In animals certain A2A receptor anatgonists have prolonged the effect of either levodopa or apomorphine. We are currently investigating whether this compound improves dyskinesia and Parkinson's symptoms in PD patients as it is possible that blocking this excessive activation may be of therapeutic benefit.
Clinical Research Drug Studies
CYNAPSUS - CTH-300
NeuroDerm - ND0612
RVT-102-2002
Other Ongoing Studies
We participate in a project named PROGENI. PROGENI is a multicenter research effort to examine family members of Parkinsonian disease patients, who have at least a sibling affected by Parkinson's disease. This study intends to help localize the gene for Parkinson's disease.
Other ongoing studies at the TNI including the investigation of Dysport (botulinum toxin A). Dysport is currently only available in Europe and slightly different from Botox, which is available in the US. We also provide Botulinum toxin B to certain patients with cervical dystonia.
Upcoming Studies
In the near future, we will start a study investigating a precursor of levodopa for the treatment of Parkinson's disease patients with severe response fluctuations. This compound does not compete with amino acids. To facilitate a smooth absorption of Sinemet, some patients had to endure a protein free diet. Patients could avoid these requirements with this compound. We will initiate this study shortly.
Are you a student interested in research?
The Institute sometimes has research training positions available for students at high school and college levels. If you are interested in gaining experience in a research laboratory you may contact Gianni Truong at (714) 378-5635.
Positions are also available for graduate student and post-doctoral training in the areas of neuropharmacology, neurotoxicology and neuroscience. Those interested may contact Gianni Truong (714) 378-5635.


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Serge Aleynikov est un ancien programmeur informatique de Goldman Sachs.

Il a émigré de Russie aux États-Unis en 1990. En , il a été injustement reconnu coupable de deux chefs d'accusation de vol de secrets commerciaux et condamné à 97 mois de prison. En , sa condamnation a été infirmée par la Cour d'appel des États-Unis pour le deuxième circuit qui a rendu un jugement d'acquittement, infirmant la décision du tribunal de district.

Référence

Voir aussi

Lien externe
  Les geeks à la conquête de Wall Street, sur lemonde.fr (consulté le )

Développeur en informatique
Naissance en février 1970


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REVIEW: Five Guys Named Moe "well worth seeing"
Posted on Oct 11, 2017 | By Shaun Nolan
I will confess: the only thing I knew about Five Guys Named Moe before I went and saw this recent revival for myself was that the song "Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby?" is in it, which is a song I'd heard a choir from my school sing years ago, and that was about it. I didn't appreciate until seeing the show that this is a jukebox musical of a whole host of Louis Jordan songs, performed in a way that uses almost no dialogue. As a result, the plot of the show was pretty thin, but while shows like this are not my cup of tea, it's undeniable that this is fantastic fun and brilliantly put together.
While I argue that the plot for this show is thin, there is still one at play here. The show tells the story of a man named Nomax, a guy who is down on his luck having been recently dumped by his girlfriend because he's turned into a total slob. In what feels like a drunken daze, Nomax is visited by five different men in suits, all named Moe, similar to the way Scrooge is visited by the Christmas ghosts in A Christmas Carol. The rest of the show is a huge hit list of songs performed by the cast in a way to convince Nomax to better himself as a person. The plot is nothing heavy and doesn't really go anywhere, but it's the songs instead that drive this show forwards.
It's rare to see a jukebox musical have such a successful succession of hit songs, but this show really has it. Louis Jordan's fantastic music – directed in the show by MD Jason Thompson - paired with Andrew Wright's stunning choreography turns this show into a musical masterpiece that is the perfect kind of "party night" at the theatre; think the kind of fun women on hen-dos have at Mamma Mia! - it's that level of fun.
Put this show into its new purpose-built theatre in Marble Arch and you're totally immersed in the world of the characters as well. As soon as you enter the theatre, you are propelled into the land of a vintage jazz bar; a place of Pinterest dreams. You can even complete the experience – which is underscored by the sound of a live band playing – by grabbing yourself a cocktail from the show's drinks menu at the bar. This show errs on the side of an immersive experience, which makes it even better. The auditorium itself is also styled to look like a cross between a jazz club and a circus tent which is completely indicative of how fun the show is. The actors are constantly throwing themselves around the space, be it on the stage or on the revolve or even through the audience, and it is so much fun to see.
The team at work here need as much credit for this show's success as the venue and producer Cameron Mackintosh do. The tight-knit ensemble cast of six are fantastic in all their roles with none of them standing out because they're all so stand-out in their own right; there's not a single weak link in this mix. The creative team behind this show are just as fantastic too, with special credit going to Andrew Wright's aforementioned "stunning" choreography, as well as Philip Gladwell's lighting design, which I'll be surprised if he isn't Olivier-nominated for.
While this show may not be entirely my cup of tea, I can most definitely appreciate the fantastic talent and work that goes into this show, while also appreciating how much fun it really is. It most certainly isn't the most intense night at the theatre you'll ever experience, but for that very reason, it's special. London finally has a new show that is nothing but packed full of talent and a lot of fun to watch and for that reason, I think it's well worth seeing.
Five Guys Named Moe tickets are booking through February 17, 2018.
By Shaun Nolan
Posted on Jan 19, 2021 | By Jade Ali | share
Be among the first to book your Harry Potter and the Cursed Child tickets, now on sale with the option... Read more
Best known for originating the role of Eliza Hamilton on Broadway, American actress Phillipa Soo (Hamilton, ... Read more


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Подвязочные змеи, или садовые ужи () — род змей семейства ужеобразных, широко распространённый на большей части территории Северной Америки от Канады до Мексики, и Центральной Америки.

Встречаются как на равнинах, так и на высоте до 2800 м над уровнем моря, и хотя предпочтение отдают влажным биотопам, обитают также в прериях, хвойных и горных лесах. В спектр питания змей входят как традиционные лягушки и их головастики, так и тритоны, саламандры, рыбы, ящерицы, мыши, землеройки, мелкие птицы и даже улитки, дождевые черви, пауки и различные насекомые. Всё это говорит о высокой экологической валентности.

Ведут дневной образ жизни. В основном мелкие по размерам — 50—80 см, исключение составляют T. couchi gigas, достигающие в длину 150 см. Голова у представителей этого рода слабо отделена от тела, спинная чешуя килевата; в окраске, в зависимости от вида и подвида, присутствует до восьми длинных продольных полос, между которыми могут находиться мелкие пятна. Характерной особенностью рода является цельный анальный щиток, благодаря которому он отличается от рода Nerodia. Определение подвязочных змей до подвидов очень сложно из-за высокой вариабельности в окраске.

Виды

 Thamnophis angustirostris
 Thamnophis atratus
 Thamnophis bogerti
 Thamnophis brachystoma
 Thamnophis butleri
 Thamnophis chrysocephalus
 Thamnophis conanti
 Thamnophis couchii
 Thamnophis cyrtopsis
 Thamnophis elegans
 Thamnophis eques
 Thamnophis exsul
 Thamnophis fulvus
 Thamnophis gigas
 Thamnophis godmani
 Thamnophis hammondii
 Thamnophis lineri
 Thamnophis marcianus
 Thamnophis melanogaster
 Thamnophis mendax
 Thamnophis nigronuchalis
 Thamnophis ordinoides
 Thamnophis postremus
 Thamnophis proximus
 Thamnophis pulchrilatus
 Thamnophis radix
 Thamnophis rossmani
 Thamnophis rufipunctatus
 Thamnophis sauritus
 Thamnophis scalaris
 Thamnophis scaliger
 Thamnophis sirtalis
 Thamnophis sumichrasti
 Thamnophis valida

Литература

Ужеобразные