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Player ratings: USMNT held in El Salvador, World Cup qualifying
By Andy EdwardsSep 3, 2021, 7:20 AM EDT
The USMNT kicked off its 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign with a 0-0 draw in El Salvador on Thursday, as the Yanks struggled to consistently create scoring chances and retain meaningful possession of the ball.
[ MORE: USMNT World Cup qualifying schedule ]
Still, "three points at home and one point on the road" remains a (more than) viable path to World Cup qualification, even after the switch from the hexagonal to the octagonal format.
The result? Totally fine. Some of the performances? Less fine.
Here's a look at who stood out (for better or for worse) for Gregg Berhalter's side, with some special bonus commentary (of the dissenting variety) from PST's Nicholas Mendola (italicized)…
GK – Matt Turner: 6 (7) – Didn't face his first shot on target until the 57th minute, when he was quick to read and react in a nearly nervy moment; didn't face another shot the rest of the night. As uber-competitive baptisms go, this one was incredibly mild.
Made one critical save — and one comically flubbed pass — but most important, he claimed every ball he went for, even if the aggression was questionable at times.
RB – DeAndre Yedlin: 6 (6) – Hey, remember Yedlin? He started this game at right back after quite some time out of the first-team picture, and was pretty solid. Yedlin surely benefited from the vacant acreage down the left side of El Salvador's midfield, so he did lots of carrying the ball past midfield. He remains a solid backup option with 19 more USMNT caps than anyone else on the roster.
CB – Miles Robinson: 6 (6) – For 71 minutes, the USMNT's best scoring chance was Robinson's errant header in the 9th minute. A bit of a set-piece specialist, part of the point of picking Robinson for this particular game — a dogged away battle in Central America — is his ability to score on set pieces. The plan proved possible, if unsuccessful.
CB – Tim Ream: 6 (6) – Listen, everyone. Tim Ream is fine. He's going to be one of the four center backs on the roster for the World Cup (assuming health and fitness), and rightly so. The fact he started the very first qualifier was down to John Brooks playing 90 minutes on Sunday, traveling from Germany to Nashville on Monday, then Nashville to El Salvador on Wednesday. He was never going to play all three games anyway.
LB – Sergiño Dest: 4.5 (5) – In theory, playing Dest as an inverted left back gives the USMNT an extra central midfielder. In practice, especially against counter-attacking sides, Dest wanders too far upfield, where he's not particularly brilliant on the ball, and far too often gives it away with acres of space ready to be attacked in behind him. The Dest-on-the-left experiment is, perhaps, running short on time.
I don't have excuses for Dest, but I don't understand starting on his non-preferred side of left back (again) in favor of… DeAndre Yedlin?!
More USMNT news & analysis
USMNT roster for World Cup qualifiers in January, February
VIDEO: USMNT forward Josh Sargent scores first (two) Premier League goal(s)
DM – Tyler Adams: 7 (7) – Long seen as the most important/irreplaceable player in the USMNT pool, Adams took the captain's armband and assumed full control of the midfield. He's a brave firefighter on one end of the field and a daring line-splitter headed toward the other. When he's healthy, the USMNT is better. Simple as that.
He made Robinson and Ream better behind him, bailed our Dest a few times and allowed McKennie to forage upfield in search of attacking opportunities. A worthwhile performance from the youngest USMNT captain in World Cup qualifying history.
CM – Weston McKennie: 6.5 (5) – McKennie had the USMNT best scoring chance post-71st minute (another header from close range), and, like Robinson before him, couldn't put it on target. Still, McKennie ensured the USMNT wasn't overrun in midfield so that absolutely everything El Salvador did in possession had to come down the wings. There's huge value in making an opponent one-dimensional.
Passion and leadership? That all checked out, but he was missing his usual decisive passing and shooting. Sent one shot back to North America.
CM – Brenden Aaronson: 5.5 (5) – He will have a long and productive career for the USMNT, but Aaronson looks shaky — both in possession and defensively — when the game gets frantic, and if there's anything we know about CONCACAF with absolute certainty, it's that the games are always frantic.
[ MORE: Canada's Herdman on spying accusations: "CONCACAF a tricky place" ]
RW – Gio Reyna: 6.5 (6.5) – Highly influential in the game's opening 15 minutes, Reyna slipped a pair of passes in behind for Josh Sargent which ultimately amounted to very little danger. After that, like the rest of the attack, Reyna's influence faded.
Not quite a seven, but regardless of where he went the Yanks struggled to find him with the ball. Service was good and he played his part well enough to set up chances amid the late chaos.
LW – Konrad de la Fuente: 5 (4.5) – Konrad got something of a rude awakening in his first competitive fixture for the USMNT, though he's hardly to blame after being thrust into the fire with Christian Pulisic and Timothy Weah both unavailable.
CF – Josh Sargent: 5 (5) – Two things frustrated while watching Sargent lead the line: 1) he's a center forward who almost appears shot-averse, and 2) he often takes three or four or five touches, while retreating 10 or 15 or 20 yards back toward midfield, when he drops in to hold the ball up. It's maddening. Other than that, Sargent continues to show flashes on the counter. He is quite clearly the No. 1 option for Berhalter at this point.
Elsewhere in World Cup qualifying
Alphonso Davies doubtful for Canada vs USMNT due to heart inflammation
Tyler Adams: USMNT working hard to work hard, erase entitlement mentality...
Follow @AndyEdMLS


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Q: Portable Java Installation I'm trying to make Java work with some commands in a .bat file without installation. I have the Java folder that is installed in C:\Program Files when you normally install Java and Init.bat which does this:
set JAVA_HOME="C:\Users\mega\Desktop\DISK\Apps\Java"
set PATH=%PATH%;C:\Users\mega\Desktop\DISK\Apps\Java\bin
assoc .jar=jarfile
ftype jarfile="C:\Users\mega\Desktop\DISK\Apps\Java\bin\javaw.exe" "%1"

It should set the 2 environment variables and associating the variables, first of all, they don't set the variables, I do not know why but I am sure that I can fix it after this topic, but even then, I set them manually and when I try to open a .jar file it doesn't work.
So the Java is in 1 folder and it should function like if a Java were to be installed normally, but it doesn't, any help is good since I can't figure it out.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a Silpat baking mat.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the melted coconut oil, sucanat, and stevia and mix until smooth. Add the egg and vanilla extract. Next, add the shredded zucchini and mix until combined.
Drop cookie dough by heaping tablespoons, 2 inches apart, onto prepared baking sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until cookies are slightly golden around the edges and set (they will still be slightly moist). Remove cookies from pans and cool completely on wire racks.


text:
Rey David A
181 METRO DRIVE
FAIR ISAAC CORP [ FICO ] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
Officer (give title below) Other (specify below)
Common Stock 02/04/2020 M 5,000 A $23.59 5,000 D
Common Stock 02/04/2020 M 7,047 A $52.59 12,047 D
Common Stock 02/04/2020 S 100 D $418.15 11,947 D
Common Stock 02/04/2020 S 5,368 D $420.31(1) 6,579 D
Common Stock 02/04/2020 S 2,800 D $422.19(3) 0 D
Non Qualified Stock Option (right to buy) $23.59 02/04/2020 M 5,000 10/06/2012(4) 10/05/2021 Common Stock 5,000 $0 10,000 D
Non Qualified Stock Option (right to buy) $52.59 02/04/2020 M 7,047 02/24/2015(5) 02/10/2021 Common Stock 7,047 $0 0 D
1. This transaction was executed in multiple trades at prices ranging from $419.77 to $420.75. The price reported above reflects the weighted average sale price. The reporting person hereby undertakes to provide upon request to the SEC staff, the issuer or a security holder of the issuer full information regarding the number of shares and prices at which the transactions were effected.
4. This option vests in five equal annual installments commencing on this date.
5. This option vested in full upon this date.
EXHIBIT LIST - Exhibit 24 - Power of Attorney for David A Rey
/s/Carrie H. Darling, Attorney-in-fact 02/06/2020
EXHIBIT 24
KNOW ALL BY THESE PRESENTS, the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints MARK
R. SCADINA, MICHAEL I. MCLAUGHLIN and CARRIE H. DARLING, the undersigned's true
and lawful attorney-in-fact to:
1.	execute for and on behalf of the undersigned, in the undersigned's capacity
as an officer and / or director of Fair Isaac Corporation (the "Company"), Forms
3, 4 and 5, including Form ID application and verification, in accordance with
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules
and regulations thereunder;
2.	do and perform any and all acts for and on behalf of the undersigned which
may be necessary or desirable to complete and execute any such Form ID, Form 3,
4 or 5 and timely file such form with the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission and any stock exchange or similar authority; and
3.	take any other action of any type whatsoever in connection with the foregoing
which, in the opinion of such attorney-in-fact, may be of benefit to, in the
best interest of, or legally required by, the undersigned, it being understood
that the documents executed by such attorney-in-fact on behalf of the
undersigned pursuant to this Power of Attorney shall be in such form and shall
contain such terms and conditions as such attorney-in-fact may approve in such
attorney-in-fact's discretion.
The undersigned hereby grants to such attorney-in-fact full power and authority
to do and perform any and every act and thing whatsoever requisite, necessary,
or proper to be done in the exercise of any of the rights and powers herein
granted, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could
do if personally present, with full power of substitution or revocation, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that such attorney-in-fact or
attorney-in-fact's substitute or substitutes, shall lawfully do or cause to be
done by virtue of this Power of Attorney and the rights and powers herein
granted. The undersigned acknowledges that the foregoing attorney-in-fact, in
serving in such capacity at the request of the undersigned, is not assuming, nor
is the Company assuming, any of the undersigned's responsibilities to comply
with Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
This Power of Attorney revokes all prior powers of attorney of a similar scope
and shall remain in full force and effect until the undersigned is no longer
required to file Forms 3, 4 and 5 with respect to the undersigned's holdings of
and transactions in securities issued by the Company, unless earlier revoked by
the undersigned in a signed writing delivered to the foregoing attorney-in-fact.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused the Power of Attorney to be
executed as of this 21st day of August 2019.
/s/ David A Rey
David A Rey

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


My goal is for my students to attain their academic potential as well as to develop critical thinking and problem solving skills.
33 years middle school experience teaching all grades and all core subjects as well as related arts and gifted education.
B.S. in Elem Ed from James Madison University with a concentrate in Phys. Ed.


text:
The Office of Governor Ned Lamont
Governor Ned Lamont
Current: Governor Lamont Announces Connecticut's Major Disaster Declaration From Hurricane Ida Amended To Include Fairfield and Litchfield Counties for Public Assistance Program
Search the Governor's Office
Governor Lamont Announces Connecticut's Major Disaster Declaration From Hurricane Ida Amended To Include Fairfield and Litchfield Counties for Public Assistance Program
(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he received notification from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that Connecticut's existing major disaster declaration that was approved by President Joe Biden in response to the damage caused by the remnants of Hurricane Ida in early September has been amended to include the approval of Fairfield County and Litchfield County for the FEMA Public Assistance Grant Program.
This approval means that municipal governments within those two counties, in addition to state government and certain nonprofit organizations, are eligible to apply for federal reimbursement of 75% of the costs associated with uninsured damage to public infrastructure caused by the storm, as well as costs associated with their response and emergency protective measures.
Governor Lamont's request for Middlesex County and New London County to be included in the public assistance program under this declaration is still pending review by FEMA.
Previously under this declaration, Fairfield County, New Haven County, and New London County received approval for the FEMA Individual Assistance Program. That program makes private homeowners, renters, and business owners who sustained uninsured or underinsured damage to their property within those respective counties eligible to apply for federal disaster assistance. The deadline for individuals to apply for assistance under that program was January 28, 2022. Preliminary numbers for assistance received under this declaration include $8 million in individual assistance, $12 million in Small Business Administration loans, and $20 million under the National Flood Insurance Program.
"The approval for municipal governments within these counties to qualify for federal disaster assistance will be a significant help in their ongoing efforts to repair damage and strengthen their infrastructure against future storms," Governor Lamont said. "I thank President Biden and FEMA for their ongoing work with our administration to protect Connecticut from damage caused by severe weather."
Twitter: @GovNedLamont
Facebook: Office of Governor Ned Lamont


text:
Q: Disabling only password ssh access for root I know it's possible to disallow root logins via ssh, and that it is a Good Idea™ to disallow root to ever login via ssh (preferring instead to use sudo or similar).
Is it possible to allow root to login only using keys, but to also allow su - to work from the commandline?
When I have disallowed root logins in the past, it has also killed the ability to do su - from another user.
If this is possible, how can I accomplish it?

A: Yes, it is possible.  Put the following at the bottom of sshd_config:
Match User root
PasswordAuthentication no

You want to put this at the end of sshd_config, since everything after Match User root will apply only to root.  See sshd_config for more details.


I originally fell in love with TEDtalks and the entire program of speakers when I first saw a video of Sarah Kay, a poet, that recited a piece named, "If I Should Have A Daughter." Her spoken word poem was so descriptive, thoughtful, comforting, and inspiring that it has stuck with me all these years. It is definitely one of my go-to's.
I also listen to TEDtalks at my desk and in the car during my commute to work when I want new ideas to flow through and hear life from the perspective of other people. I have found that a few of them just STUCK.
Below are a few of my favorites that really made me change my thinking and turn my mindset into one of a game changer and #girlboss. I hope that they inspire you too!
Self- Explanatory – Jason covers how to embrace change.


Just from Eagle1's headlines (and some exterior clues), I'm getting the sense the Yellowstone Super Volcano will erupt. This correlates with Revelation 9:2.
4/2 Emotionally Frozen - Volcanic ash blocking the sun will cause temperatures to drop.
4/1 April Destroy Sun - Volcanic clouds blocking the sun "destroys" the sun.
3/30 Luxury Clouds - Volcanic clouds of ash.
I do not want this to happen. It is important to note that the book of Revelation is not fixed and immutable. The fulfillment of prophecy is a subtle thing.
4/3 - Bot Update! Hmmmmm!
In the movie The Matrix the character Morpheus (named for the god of dreams) tells Neo that human beings scorched the sky in order to prevent the robots from gathering power from the sun via solar electricity.
Again, I'm seeing that the Yellowstone Super Volcano will erupt. The United States is a terrible country that imprisons more human beings than any other country in the world, and it invades other nations on behalf of the Jewish State of Israel. Perhaps the only way to stop the evil of the USA is for God to destroy it.
Very interesting assimilation of linguistics, John. Thanks for compiling all of that for us!


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Knight wrestlers learning through competition
Youth and inexperience are the biggest challenges facing the 13-or-so varsity wrestlers at Tyler Consolidated High School this year, but that was to be expected.
Head coach Chad Snider knew coming into the season that he would have few veterans and many beginners, and wins could be hard to come by. Especially team wins.
On. Dec. 7 at Tyler Consolidated, the Knights hosted their first dual of the season, and falling to River, as a team, 53-12. The Knights had no real chance in the team event, giving up several double forfeits and individual forfeits in 120, 132, and 195 weight classes.
Getting wins on the night were senior John Brosky at 126, pinning River's Luke Gilles in 17 seconds; junior Dustin Tawney, at 182, pinned Jered Hinkle in 2:16.
Junior Hunter LeMasters fell to River rival, Freddie Mundt by a Technical Fall in 3:16. Silver Knights Josh Ruble (145), Mario Matecon (160), Spencer Billings (170), Dakota Allen (220) and Cecil Spencer (275) were each pinned in their first outing of the year.
At Ritchie County on Saturday, the Knight grapplers were afforded the chance to not only see some fine wrestling, but participate in several matches throughout the day.
"This has been a good competition for years," coach Snider said of the Ritchie tournament. "I can remember when I wrestled in it. It's nice because it is set up as duals style tournament instead of a double elimination tournament. It gives our wrestlers many opportunities to secure their first wins to help build some confidence."
Overall on the day, Brosky led the team again, going 8-2 on the day in the 120 pound weight classification. At 170, Levi Henderson went 6-4; 220, Allen, 6-5; 152, LeMasters, 5-6; 182, Tawney, 5-5; 138, Ruble, 2-8; 160, Mantecon, 2-8; and 285, Spencer, 1-10.
Overall, Snider realizes his team is learning with every competition they participate in.
"Once again I have a very young team and myself am a young coach with many things to learn," he said. "My athletes have much to learn, so it makes it difficult to know what moves they need to learn because there are so many different styles and trends that each individual wrestler is going to bring to the table."
"Even though my guys may not have won the matches, they are improving by trying new moves that they have drilled in practice and breaking bad habits they have formed."
"After each competition we try to figure out what we did wrong and what we did well, then work from there."
The Silver Knight wrestlers traveled to Magnolia on Tuesday and will host their own tournament, the Knight Wrestle-A-Bout on Dec. 17.
Thirteen teams are expected to participate in the huge tournament which will begin at 10 a.m.
The Knight wrestling team is in hopes that local fans will attend to support them.


text:
Cash rich lenders bankroll Japan Inc's shopping spree
Flush with cash from the Bank of Japan (Tokyo Stock Exchange: 8301.T-JP)'s (BOJ) stimulus effort, lenders won't be put off from financing Japan Inc's habit of paying too much for overseas acquisitions, even as a weaker yen makes those deals more expensive, analysts say.
"The banks need someone to lend to and M&A (merger and acquisition) financing is one of the few growth areas for them," said Barclays (London Stock Exchange: BARC-GB) bank analyst Shinichi Tamura. As long as a company "looks creditworthy enough to pay back the loan, the banks will be happy to back the deal."
Deal volumes sank to a twelve-year low in 2014, but a recent flurry of M&A deals suggests Japanese companies are ready to shop overseas again.
Last week, Japan Post made a $5.12 billion bid for Australia's Toll Holdings (ASX: TOL-AU). On Monday, chemicals company Asahi Kasei (Tokyo Stock Exchange: 3407.T-JP) announced it would buy U.S.-based Polypore (NYSE: PPO)'s energy storage business for $2.2 billion. On Tuesday, Hitachi (Tokyo Stock Exchange: 6501.T-JP) announced it would buy Finmeccanica (Milan Stock Exchange: FNC-IT)'s transportation operations for 800 million euros ($909 million).
Whether the companies pay too much for overseas acquisitions is not the banks' problem, according to Japan Macro Advisors chief economist Takuji Okubo: "That's the company's problem – the banks only care about the creditworthiness of the acquirer's parent company."
Desperate for borrowers
Japanese banks have faced a predicament for years: despite low interest rates, they can't find enough borrowers.
The situation took a turn for the worse after the BOJ launched an unprecedented asset purchase program in April 2013. The program involves buying government bonds – the main source of yield income in the past for banks. Yields have trended ever lower but failed to stimulate any new demand for loans.
As a result, margins on bank loans in Japan continue to skim record lows. For example, the lending rate on domestic loans at Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (Tokyo Stock Exchange: 8306.T-JP), one of the country's biggest banks, slipped to 1.10 percent in the last three months of 2014, from around 1.3 percent in early 2013, before the BOJ started its massive asset purchase program.
Read More Is Japan Post overpaying for Toll?
Flush with cash from the Bank of Japan's stimulus effort, lenders will keep on financing Japan I …
That makes shorter M&A financing package loans that carry higher risk premiums and yields more attractive for banks, said Barclays' Tamura. A typical loan will be rolled over into a three- to five-year syndicated loan, he said.
"The banks are desperate and are willing to take on the risks," said Japan Macro Advisors' Okubo.
But banks aren't overly concerned about the risk factor.
"Private sector banks believe the loans carry implicit government guarantees" because public sector banks like Japan Bank for International Cooperation lead the M&A financing consortiums, Okubo said.
Japanese companies may not need to worry about financing their overseas shopping sprees, but they should worry about the potential for further yen weakness, analysts said.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's economic policies, dubbed Abenomics, and the BOJ's quantitative easing efforts have weakened the yen by over 40 percent since Abe returned to power in December 2012. Many analysts expect the yen to weaken further.
"It makes sense for companies to be pre-emptive and do deals before the yen weakens anymore," said BNP Paribas chief credit analyst Mana Nakazora.
Given strong cash balance sheets and a shrinking domestic market, that appears likely, according to PwC Corporate Finance director Gregory Bournet. He expects the number of outbound M&A deals to rise to 20 percent of all deals in fiscal 2015 from 10 percent in 2014.
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February 26th, 2015 | Tags: australia, central, chief, cnbc, company, exchange, financial, king, london, minister, tokyo | Category: Uncategorized | Comments are closed
Stewart Information Services to Increase Annual Cash Dividend to $1.00
HOUSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Stewart Information Services Corp. (STC) ("Stewart"), a leading provider of real estate services, including global residential and commercial title insurance, escrow and settlement services, lender services, underwriting, specialty insurance and other solutions that facilitate successful real estate transactions, today announced that its Board of Directors has approved an increase in the Company's cash dividend payable to common shareholders from $0.10 per share annually to $1.00 per share to be paid quarterly at a rate of $0.25 per share beginning in the second quarter of this year. The Company's existing share repurchase authorization will remain in effect and be used opportunistically based on various factors such as the Company's stock price, operational performance and other relevant criteria.
"Today's dividend increase highlights the solid progress we have made toward transforming Stewart and reflects our confidence in the Company's ability to deliver solid cash flow in 2015 and beyond," said Matthew W. Morris, Chief Executive Officer. "We continue to engage our shareholders regarding our capital return strategy. Given the continued progress in our business, we are pleased to be in a position to advance a competitive and sustainable dividend policy alongside our share repurchase program. Going forward, we will remain committed to returning meaningful amounts of capital to shareholders on a regular basis while also maintaining our ratings and a capital base that supports the growth in our business."
The continuation of the quarterly cash dividend is subject to certain factors, including, among others, the ability to obtain excess capital from Stewart's regulated insurance subsidiary, the performance of the Company's business, the Company's ratings and the capital surplus position of the Company.
About Stewart
Stewart Information Services Corp. (NYSE:STC) is a customer-focused, global title insurance and real estate services company offering products and services through our direct operations, network of approved agencies and other companies within the Stewart family. Stewart provides these services to homebuyers and sellers; residential and commercial real estate professionals; mortgage lenders and servicers; title agencies and real estate attorneys; home builders; and United States and county governments. Stewart also provides loan origination and servicing support; loan review services; loss mitigation; REO asset management; collateral valuations; due diligence for capital markets; home and personal insurance services; tax-deferred exchanges; and technology to streamline the real estate process. Stewart offers personalized service, industry expertise and customized solutions for virtually any type of real estate transaction, and is the preferred real estate services provider. More information can be found at http://www.stewart.com/news, subscribe to the Stewart blog at http://blog.stewart.com or follow Stewart on Twitter @stewarttitleco.
Certain statements in this news release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements relate to future, not past, events and often address our expected future business and financial performance. These statements often contain words such as "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "seek," "will," "foresee" or other similar words. Forward-looking statements by their nature are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to be materially different than those expressed in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the tenuous economic conditions; adverse changes in the level of real estate activity; changes in mortgage interest rates, existing and new home sales, and availability of mortgage financing; our ability to respond to and implement technology changes, including the completion of the implementation of our enterprise systems; the impact of unanticipated title losses or the need to strengthen our policy loss reserves; any effect of title losses on our cash flows and financial condition; the impact of vetting our agency operations for quality and profitability; changes to the participants in the secondary mortgage market and the rate of refinancing that affects the demand for title insurance products; regulatory non-compliance, fraud or defalcations by our title insurance agencies or employees; our ability to timely and cost-effectively respond to significant industry changes and introduce new products and services; the outcome of pending litigation; the impact of changes in governmental and insurance regulations, including any future reductions in the pricing of title insurance products and services; our dependence on our operating subsidiaries as a source of cash flow; the continued realization of expense savings from our cost management program; our ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses; our ability to access the equity and debt financing markets when and if needed; our ability to grow our international operations; and our ability to respond to the actions of our competitors. These risks and uncertainties, as well as others, are discussed in more detail in our documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Form 10-K, our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and our Current Reports on Form 8-K. We expressly disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this news release to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date hereof, except as may be required by applicable law.
Trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
FinanceInvestment & Company Informationreal estate Contact:
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John Arcidiacono, 713-625-8019
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February 25th, 2015 | Tags: chief, exchange, executive, king, marketing, officer, private, services, stc, united | Category: Uncategorized | Comments are closed
Bipartisan bill puts payday loan industry before people | The Stand
By JOHN BURBANK
(Feb. 12, 2015) — If your friend told you that she could get a payday loan of $700, and that the interest would be 36%, plus a small loan origination fee of 15%, plus a monthly maintenance fee of 7.5%, you might advise her to get out her calculator. Here's why: That $700 loan could cost her $1,687, even if she makes all her payments on time. Right now, under state law, she can get the same loan and it will cost her $795 in all.
Which loan would you choose? That seems like an easy question to answer. But a lot of legislators have failed this test in Olympia. They are sponsoring a bill, HB 1922, to enable MoneyTree to sell "small consumer installment loans," with high interest, maintenance fees, and origination fees.
Why would these legislators — 36 in the House and 12 in the Senate, both Democrats and Republicans — want to enhance the revenue of the payday loan industry? State Rep. Larry Springer (D-Kirkland) is the prime sponsor of this legislation. He says that "(o)ur current payday lending system is broken. Too often it leaves consumers in a never-ending cycle of debt."
Unfortunately, HB 1922 makes matters worse, not better, for borrowers.
Rep. Springer may not know how well the law that he helped pass in 2009 reformed payday loan practices. That law leashed in the payday loan industry, with new standards that helped to make sure that people with loans did not get pushed deeper and deeper into debt. The industry didn't like it, as the total amount of loans fell by more than $1 billion, from $1.3 billion in 2009 to $300 million in 2013. The amount of fees that the industry collected dropped by $136 million annually. The number of payday loan storefronts has fallen from over 600 in 2009 to less than 200 now. The total number of loans has fallen from 3.2 million in 2009 to 870,000 in 2013. That's a lot of money for people to keep in their communities, rather than giving it to MoneyTree.
But very quietly last year, the owners and executive staff of MoneyTree, principally the Bassford family, dropped $81,700 in campaign contributions to both Democrats and Republicans. Many of the beneficiaries of this largesse are sponsoring the MoneyTree bill, HB 1922. In fact, the chief sponsor in the Senate, Sen. Marko Liias (D-Edmonds) received $3,800 from the Bassfords.
What would be the result of the bill that Rep. Springer and Sen. Liias are pushing? For a $700 loan, what now costs a total of $795 could cost $1,687. The poor person (literally) who gets this loan would end up paying $252 in interest, $105 in origination fees, and $630 in monthly maintenance fees, as well as, of course, the original one-year loan of $700. From 2017 on, the fees on these loans will be automatically raised through the consumer price index.
MoneyTree's investment of $81,700 in campaigns could result in literally hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue. That's quite a cost-benefit equation for the Bassfords. How about the working people who take out these loans? Their average monthly income is $2,934, or about $35,000 a year. With this bill, legislators punish the already poor for being poor, while enhancing the wealth of the payday loan perpetrators.
The legislation pretends to be helpful to borrowers by requiring this notice to be included in loan documents: "A SMALL CONSUMER INSTALLMENT LOAN SHOULD BE USED ONLY TO MEET SHORT-TERM CASH NEEDS." Now isn't that helpful! What is not helpful is that this bill was scheduled to be voted out of committee Thursday, even before the committee heard the bill on Wednesday, and even before any bill analysis was developed by legislative staff.
Our current payday loan system may be broken from MoneyTree's perspective. But, while it is not perfect for low-income borrowers, it works, and it is a lot better than the previous system. Perhaps some responsible legislators will slow down the fast-track on the MoneyTree bill, and put people ahead of MoneyTree profits.
John Burbank is the executive director and founder of the Economic Opportunity Institute in Seattle. John can be reached at john@eoionline.org.
February 12th, 2015 | Tags: bassfords, burbank, cashwoe, chief, house, liias, money, moneytree, seattle, springer, state | Category: payday loans | Comments are closed
Rules are coming on payday loans
WASHINGTON — Troubled by consumer complaints and loopholes in state laws, federal regulators are putting together the first rules on payday loans aimed at helping cash-strapped borrowers avoid falling into a cycle of high-rate debt.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau says state laws governing the $46 billion payday lending industry often fall short, and that fuller disclosures of the interest and fees — often an annual percentage rate of 300 percent or more — may be needed.
Full details of the proposed rules, expected early this year, would mark the first time the agency has used the authority it was given under the 2010 Dodd-Frank law to regulate payday loans. In recent months, it has tried to step up enforcement, including a $10 million settlement with ACE Cash Express after accusing the payday lender of harassing borrowers to collect debts and take out multiple loans.
A payday loan, or a cash advance, is generally $500 or less. Borrowers provide a personal check dated on their next payday for the full balance or give the lender permission to debit their bank accounts. The total includes charges often ranging from $15 to $30 per $100 borrowed. Interest-only payments, sometimes referred to as "rollovers," are common.
Legislators in Ohio, Louisiana and South Dakota unsuccessfully tried to broadly restrict the high-cost loans in recent months. According to the Consumer Federation of America, 32 states now permit payday loans at triple-digit interest rates, or with no rate cap at all.
The CFPB isn't allowed under the law to cap interest rates, but it can deem industry practices unfair, deceptive or abusive to consumers.
"Our research has found that what is supposed to be a short-term emergency loan can turn into a long-term and expensive debt trap," said David Silberman, the bureau's associate director for research, markets and regulation.
The bureau found more than 80 percent of payday loans are rolled over or followed by another loan within 14 days; half of all payday loans are in a sequence at least 10 loans long.
The agency is considering options that include establishing tighter rules to ensure a consumer has the ability to repay. That could mean requiring credit checks, placing caps on the number of times a borrower can draw credit or finding ways to encourage states or lenders to lower rates.
Payday lenders say they fill a vital need for people who hit a rough financial patch. They want a more equal playing field of rules for both nonbanks and banks, including the way the annual percentage rate is figured.
"We offer a service that, if managed correctly, can be very helpful to a diminished middle class," said Dennis Shaul, chief executive of the Community Financial Services Association of America, which represents payday lenders.
Maranda Brooks, 40, a records coordinator at a Cleveland college, says she took out a $500 loan through her bank to help pay an electricity bill. With "no threat of loan sharks coming to my house, breaking kneecaps," she joked, Brooks agreed to the $50 fee.
Two weeks later, Brooks says she was surprised to see the full $550 deducted from her usual $800 paycheck. To cover expenses for herself and four children, she took out another loan, in a debt cycle that lasted nearly a year.
"It was a nightmare of going around and around," said Brooks, who believes that lenders could do more to help borrowers understand the fees or offer lower-cost installment payments.
Last June, the Ohio Supreme Court upheld a legal maneuver used by payday lenders to skirt a 2008 law that capped the payday loan interest rate at 28 percent annually. By comparison, annual percentage rates on credit cards can range from about 12 percent to 30 percent.
Members of Congress also are looking at payday loans.
Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio, the top Democrat on the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, plans legislation that would allow Americans to receive an early refund of a portion of their earned income tax credit as an alternative to a payday loan.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., wants the U.S. Postal Service to offer check-cashing and low-cost small loans. The idea is opposed by many banks and seems unlikely to advance in a Republican-controlled Congress.
February 10th, 2015 | Tags: association, brooks, chief, congress, housing, king, louisiana, payday, payday loans | Category: payday loans, Uncategorized | Comments are closed
Tighter payday loan rules intended to shield debtors | TribLIVE
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said state laws governing the $46 billion payday lending industry often fall short and that fuller disclosures of the interest and fees — often an annual percentage rate of 300 percent or more — may be needed.
Details of the proposed rules, expected early this year, would mark the first time the agency has used the authority it was given under the 2010 Dodd-Frank law to regulate payday loans. In recent months, it has tried to step up enforcement, including a $10 million settlement with ACE Cash Express, accusing the payday lender of harassing borrowers to collect debts and take out multiple loans.
Legislators in Ohio, Louisiana and South Dakota unsuccessfully tried to broadly restrict the high-cost loans in recent months. According to the Consumer Federation of America, 32 states now permit payday loans at triple-digit interest rates, or with no rate cap.
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February 2nd, 2015 | Tags: agency, case, chief, consumer, frank, louisiana, news, payday loans, research, south, work | Category: payday loans | Comments are closed
Federal regulators plan payday loan rules to protect borrowers
A payday loans sign in the window of Speedy Cash, London, December 25, 2013. For the first time, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau plans to regulate payday loans using authority it was given under the Dodd-Frank law. Photo by Suzanne Plunkett/Reuters.
WASHINGTON — Troubled by consumer complaints and loopholes in state laws, federal regulators are putting together the first-ever rules on payday loans aimed at helping cash-strapped borrowers avoid falling into a cycle of high-rate debt.
"Our research has found that what is supposed to be a short-term emergency loan can turn into a long-term and expensive debt trap," said David Silberman, the bureau's associate director for research, markets and regulation. The bureau found more than 80 percent of payday loans are rolled over or followed by another loan within 14 days; half of all payday loans are in a sequence at least 10 loans long.
February 1st, 2015 | Tags: america, association, brooks, bureau, chief, congress, financial, frank, housing, louisiana, protection, south | Category: payday loans, Uncategorized | Comments are closed
Regulators prepare rules on payday loans to shield borrowers
WASHINGTON (AP) — Troubled by consumer complaints and loopholes in state laws, federal regulators are putting together the first-ever rules on payday loans aimed at helping cash-strapped borrowers avoid falling into a cycle of high-rate debt.
Follow Hope Yen on Twitter at http://twitter.com/hopeyen1
LoansInvesting Educationpayday loansannual percentage rate […]
February 1st, 2015 | Tags: agency, association, brown, chief, congress, consumer, democrat, frank, housing, south | Category: payday loans, Uncategorized | Comments are closed
Rangers agree to £10m Sports Direct loan
The cash-strapped Rangers board has agreed a £10m emergency loan deal with Mike Ashley's Sports Direct firm, the Scottish soccer club told the London Stock Exchange today.
Without the injection of fresh funding, the Ibrox outfit would not have been able to cover pay checks due to be delivered on Thursday.
The loan will be secured against Murray Park, Edmiston House, Albion Car Park, and the club's registered trademarks – but not Ibrox.
The move spells the end of attempts by the Three Bears – wealthy fans Douglas Park, George Letham and George Taylor – to have their own loan offer accepted.
It was their promise to match Ashley's deal while demanding Ibrox remained unsecured that forced the Newcastle United owner to drop the stadium from the terms of his agreement.
In return for the money – which will be paid to Rangers in two £5m tranches – Ashley will be able to nominate two more directors to the board.
His associates Derek Llambias and Barry Leach are already serving as chief executive and financial director.
January 27th, 2015 | Tags: bears, board, chief, derek-llambias, exchange, house, ibrox, rangers, stadium, stock, united | Category: Uncategorized | Comments are closed
Rangers considering using Ibrox as security against new loan
LONDON (Reuters) – Scotland's Rangers football club, battling to raise cash to stay afloat, said on Monday it was in talks to agree new funding which could use the club's Ibrox stadium as security.
Rangers, the 54-times Scottish champions who had to reform as a fourth-tier club in 2012 after being wound up, said it was in talks with two of its stakeholders about raising funds to bolster the team, and that part of a deal could include using Ibrox as protection.
"Such a decision would not be taken lightly," said the club.
According to media reports, two stakeholders – Sports Direct founder and Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley, and a wealthy consortium called the Three Bears – are separately ready to provide 10 million pound loans, with Ashley reported to want Ibrox as protection.
Rangers, which have also recently rejected two takeover deals, said it continued to need further, urgent short-term funding but that at the current time its assets, cash flow and business did not support a significant financing, leaving the stadium deal as an increasingly viable option.
It said it could also not issue shares in the club in the timeframe required.
In a separate statement, former Rangers director Dave King, whose New Oasis Asset Management vehicle owns almost 15 percent of the club, called for a general meeting to put forward resolutions for the removal of several directors.
King wants Chairman David Somers, CEO Derek Llambias, Finance Chief Barry Leach and James Easdale to be removed and himself and two others to be appointed directors. Rangers said it intended to have the notice withdrawn to avoid extra costs.
"In the meantime the directors will not be distracted from the more important matter of securing the future of the business," it said.
(Reporting by Kate Holton; Editing by Neil Maidment)
FinanceBoard & Management ChangesRangers football clubIbrox stadium […]
January 19th, 2015 | Tags: bears, business, chief, editing, finance, ibrox, london, scotland, sports | Category: Uncategorized | Comments are closed


Explore Taroko National Park, home to many waterfalls, cliffs, and gorges, before heading to Sun Moon Lake for a boat ride. Take in beautiful views during long drives, try delicious cuisine, and venture to the mountain area of Alishan—known for its Oolong tea, amazing sunsets, and forests.
Pass Qingshui Cliff on the coastal Suhua Highway, more than 3,280 feet (1,000 metre) above the Pacific, on the drive to Taroko National Park. As you explore Taroko Gorge, a world-class natural wonder with towering mountains, canyons, and streams, admire the Eternal Spring Shrine and the Swallow Grotto. Then hike the Baiyang Trail to the Baiyang Waterfall and trek through the Water Curtain Tunnel.
Cross the Central Mountain Range on the Central Cross-Island Highway, pass the Bilu Sacred Tree, a Formosan Chinese fir more than 3,200 years old, and drive to the highest point of Taiwan's highways—Wuling, at 10,645 feet (3,275 metre). Then at Sun Moon Lake, try traditional indigenous cuisine at Ita Thao Village.
Welcome the morning at Sun Moon Lake and take in splendid views from Wenwu Temple. During a day at the lake, ride a boat from Ita Thao Wharf to Xuanguang Temple, go cycling on one of the world's best bike routes, and snap a few photos.
On your way to Alishan National Scenic Area, one Taiwan's best mountain areas, stop at the town of Jiji to explore Checheng Old Street and enjoy a premium traditional boxed lunch at Fenqihu just as local lumberjacks did in the past.
Early in the morning, take the Alishan Mountain Railway to Zhushan Station and witness one of the area's famous sunrises at an exclusive spot away from the crowds. Then go for a walk in the Alishan Forest Recreation Area and admire thousand-year-old cypress trees before driving back to Taipei.
You can cancel free of charge until 11 days before your reservation starts. After that time, no cancellations, changes or refunds will be made.
Hotel pick-up is available from most centrally located Taipei hotels. Please arrange pick-up from your hotel or a nearby location when you call to confirm your reservation.


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Mixed clouds and sun with scattered thunderstorms. High around 90F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..
Evening clouds will give way to clearing overnight. Low 72F. Winds light and variable.
Vermont Senator and Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders (left) and Republican presidential candidate and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson (right) are scheduled to speak at Liberty University in September and November, respectively.
AP Photos
Sanders, Carson scheduled for Liberty University convocations
Jessie Pounds
This story was updated early Thursday afternoon with a statement from Sen. Bernie Sanders about his acceptance of the invitation from Liberty University.
Vermont Senator and Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders will speak at Liberty University's Convocation on Sept. 14.
Republican presidential candidate and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson is set to take the podium at the evangelical university Nov. 11.
Sanders and Carson are just two of the names on a schedule of convocation speakers for the fall semester released to media Wednesday. Others include former major league baseball player Darryl Strawberry, former U.S. Education Secretary William Bennett, evangelist Clayton King and Rabbi Daniel Lapin.
University President Jerry Falwell said the university is inviting all presidential candidates for the 2016 election cycle. He wasn't sure who the university has or has not formally contacted at this point, but said the idea is to reach everyone. Republican candidate and Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker was part of the planned lineup, Falwell said, but he had to reschedule.
School attorneys, he said, believe inviting all candidates during this 2016 election cycle is the safest course of action to protect Liberty University's nonprofit status under U.S. tax law.
With that said, Falwell explained he thinks it's also important for Liberty University students to hear a variety of viewpoints at convocation.
He said he's looking forward to meeting Sanders and Liberty students have a good track record of being respectful to speakers of all kinds. Still, he said, Sanders will be playing away rather than home field, politically speaking.
"We have a very conservative student body," he said. "I admire him for having the courage to come to Liberty and speak."
Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist who touts his campaign as a grassroots movement, held a live kickoff event July 30 in which he said was broadcast to 100,000 people nationwide. More than 50 of those potential volunteer campaign workers watched the broadcast from two rooms in Michael Brosmer's Lynchburg home.
"It is kind of strange, not really an expected stop as far as we are concerned, but we are excited for the opportunity to get to have Bernie here in Lynchburg and hopefully do some meet and greet here with our group," Brosmer said, Wednesday evening.
"I'm not familiar with Liberty's convocations. I've never attended one. … I'm hoping they will open up at least to some members of our organization to attend."
Sanders issued a statement about his acceptance of the invitation from Liberty University.
"Liberty University was kind enough to invite me to address a convocation and I decided to accept. It goes without saying that my views on many issues – women's rights, gay rights, education – are very different from the opinions of some in the Liberty University community. I think it is important, however, to see if we can reach consensus regarding the grotesque level of income and wealth inequality in our country, about the collapse of the middle class, about the high level of childhood poverty, about climate change and other issues," Sanders said in the statement.
"It is very easy for a candidate to speak to people who hold the same views. It's harder but important to reach out to others who look at the world differently. I look forward to meeting with the students and faculty of Liberty University."
Liberty's convocations are open to the public, though Falwell says the school typically doesn't advertise because students fill most of the seats.
Liberty's convocation has become a stop for many Republican politicians seeking the White House. At least eight of the 17 Republican presidential hopefuls have spoken at convocation.
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, of Texas, made a speech there in March after he became the first candidate to officially enter the 2016 race. Jeb Bush, former Florida governor, spoke at Liberty's commencement ceremony in May before he announced his presidential campaign.
U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky; Rick Santorum, former U.S. congressman from Pennsylvania; real estate tycoon and reality TV star Donald Trump; former Texas governor Rick Perry; former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee; and former Virginia governor Jim Gilmore also spoke at the university.
U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a D-Virginia, then the commonwealth's governor, stumped at the university for then-candidate President Barack Obama.
Going further back in history, the university has hosted left-wing politicians and leaders such as Jesse Jackson and the late Ted Kennedy. Liberty had planned to host Virginia's Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe last spring, but that was scrapped temporarily due to Cruz's visit.
Falwell said Wednesday the school is working on bringing the Governor to campus soon, though his name isn't on the fall list of convocation speakers.
Falwell said he personally asked for Rabbi Daniel Lapin to be included in this fall's lineup. He said Lapin is a longtime friend to the university and a strong supporter of the state of Israel. Falwell sees urgency for discussing the topic in light of discussion about Iran's nuclear capacity.
"I think if Iran had a nuclear bomb they wouldn't hesitate to use it against Israel," he said. "That's a scary thought."
Convocation is Liberty's thrice-weekly student gathering, frequently drawing more than 12,000 people. It is mandatory for residential undergraduate students.
Staff writer Alex Rohr contributed to this story.
Cruz courts evangelicals with campaign announcement at Liberty University
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, the first candidate to officially enter the 2016 presidential race, picked LU as the setting for his presidential campaign launch — a first for the city and a rare move for a candidate whose political roots are in another state.
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Contact Jessie Pounds at (434) 385-5561 or jpounds@newsadvance.com. Find her on Twitter: @JessiePounds.
For a full list of Liberty's commencement speakers for fall, visit www.liberty.edu/news
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Falwell: A Unique Tradition That's Worth Upholding
Danville woman dies after she was bitten while strolling on the Riverwalk. Her friend thinks it was the kissing bug.
Amherst council votes to expel member; Wheaton says she was 'shut down' in decision-making process
10 years ago a Bedford woman started a feeding program in Uganda. Now she has left Africa amid accusations about her work.
Forced removal of Amherst council member draws criticism; town calls move 'difficult'
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use GraphAware\Neo4j\OGM\Annotations as OGM;

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 */
class Hotel
{
    /**
     * @OGM\GraphId()
     *
     * @var int
     */
    protected $id;

    /**
     * @OGM\Property()
     *
     * @var string
     */
    protected $name;

    /**
     * @OGM\Relationship(relationshipEntity="Rating", type="RATED", direction="INCOMING", mappedBy="hotel")
     *
     * @var Rating
     */
    protected $rating;

    public function __construct($name)
    {
        $this->name = $name;
    }

    /**
     * @return int
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    public function getId()
    {
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    /**
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    {
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    }

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    }
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Letters to the Editor (4/23/09)
Roundabout reservations
Judging from the letters to the editor and talk around town it seems that the subject of a roundabout in Williston Village is an unfinished conversation. I, too, have serious reservations about the roundabout.
My husband and I have driven in many European countries and the United Kingdom and have driven through many roundabouts. They serve to slow traffic on open highways and to better distribute vehicles within towns. Concerning congestion, Mr. Jim Dillon ("Letters to the Editor: Real-world roundabouts," April 16) refers to Switzerland and other countries in saying he has never seen more than two cars waiting to enter a roundabout. In contrast, we have often waited with several cars to enter. In many European towns roundabouts are entered only by traffic lights which control flow from several busy roads.
There seems to be agreement that a roundabout in Williston would have to be very large in order to accommodate trucks or farm vehicles. Such a large structure would take out the gas pumps at the Kwik Stop and reach the front steps of Williston Federated Church. This would put the store out of business and would render the front of the historic church inaccessible.
Chris Roy says the roundabout would be a "modern" one. In a historic village where residents can't change their windows without approval from historic preservation authorities, how is it possible for the town to build a large "modern" roundabout that affects historic structures? Given the single lane roads and volume of traffic at rush hour, wouldn't traffic lights be required to regulate the even flow of cars into the roundabout? If so, why not just put traffic lights at the existing intersection?
I believe Williston residents need to be intentionally included in this conversation. Otherwise, the Selectboard cannot say, "Residents' views were not disregarded" ("Letters to the Editor: Roy explains Selectboard decision," April 16).
Sally Stockwell-Metro
Little Details (4/23/09)
Letters to the Editor12/24/08
Dec. 24, 2008 Fire Department recruiting Greetings from the Williston Fire Department! Thanks to the recent recruitment efforts we were able to fill the remaining call staff spots on our roster (a mem
New water storage tank needed, study says (10/1/09)
Cost may be shared with water district Oct. 1, 2009 By Greg Elias Observer staff A rusting water storage tank built when Lyndon Johnson was president could be torn down and replaced with one big enoug
Guest Column (5/7/09)
Take time with school recommendations May 7, 2009 By Tanya Marshall I have three children in Lighthouse at Williston Central School (two children in first grade and one in second grade). Last month th


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Eating quarter pound of red meat a day raises early mortality risk: Study
Eating food that's better for you is the key
Can you look to government for nutritional guidelines?
Vegging out is simple, healthful
The meat in the global warming sandwich
Some foodservice vendors try out 'low carbon diet'
Knife and forking the world to death
Eat locally, or eat differently?
I can't believe I'm still a vegan
Compassion Over Killing harnesses teen TV to spread the word
Faith in our food choices
Stella McCartney's alternative for leather-clad Paris
Animal sentience: Stone-throwing chimpanzee displays planning abilities
Q&A: Undercover animal-rights investigator
Tough times trump foie gras feast
Proposed Australian animal transport standards 'disappointing'
'The face on your plate'
Vegan before dinnertime
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People over 50 who eat large amounts of red and processed meats face a higher risk of death from heart disease and cancer than those who eat the smallest amounts of hamburgers and hot dogs, a study of more than 500,000 Americans reports. In [the March 23] issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine, Rashmi Sinha and colleagues at the National Cancer Institute in Rockville, Md., looked at the link over 10 years between meat intake and risk of death among people aged 50 to 71. "For overall mortality, 11 per cent of deaths in men and 16 per cent of deaths in women could be prevented if people decreased their red meat consumption to the level of intake" in the lowest quintile or one-fifth, the study's authors wrote.
CBC, Canada - March 23
BBQ meat linked to higher risk of death
Sydney Morning Herald (March 24)
Green leafy vegetables may halve lung cancer risk
NutraIngredients.com (March 11)
To eat well, says Michael Pollan, the author of In Defense of Food, means avoiding "edible food-like substances" and sticking to real ingredients, increasingly from the plant kingdom. There's plenty of evidence that both a person's health - as well as the environment's - will improve with a simple shift in eating habits away from animal products and highly processed foods to plant products and what might be called "real food." From these changes, Americans would reduce the amount of land, water and chemicals used to produce the food we eat, as well as the incidence of lifestyle diseases linked to unhealthy diets, and greenhouse gases from industrial meat production. All without legislation. [Article by Mark Bittman, author of "Food Matters: A Guide to Conscious Eating" - see "Books" below.]
New York Times - March 22
Full story: San Francisco Chronicle, CA, U.S.
As scientific researchers, we find President Obama's directive on "restoring scientific integrity to government decision-making" very welcome news. We hope this will lead to health care policy that is informed by [the] most ignored scientific fact on health: That a whole-foods plant-based diet can prevent and in many cases reverse heart disease, diabetes, cancer and other chronic diseases. . . Here is a daily diet that meets government nutrition guidelines: Breakfast: 1 cup Fruit Loops; 1 cup skim milk; 1 package M&M milk chocolate candies; fiber and vitamin supplements. Lunch: Grilled cheddar cheeseburger. Dinner: 3 slices pepperoni pizza, with a 16-ounce soda and 1 serving sugar cookies. This helps explain why 12-year-old schoolchildren develop thickening of their carotid arteries to the brain, and 80 per cent of 20-year-old soldiers, dying in combat, are found to have coronary artery heart disease. . . Unfortunately, the scientific findings on diet and disease are marginalized by the political power of huge, mutually reinforcing commercial interests - meat, dairy, sugar, drugs and surgery. [This is, of course, by no means a situation unique to the U.S.]
San Francisco Chronicle, CA, U.S. - March 17
Full story: Denver Post, CO, U.S.
So, you're thinking about cutting back your family's meat consumption? Maybe it's for health reasons, or a way to trim the family budget in trying economic times, or maybe one of the kids refuses to eat anything with a face. Fortunately, adding flavorful and filling vegetarian entrees to the cooking repertoire isn't too difficult - even if you've got picky eaters in the family. Chefs say the answer can be as simple as adapting a family favorite side vegetable into a main dish, or putting a meatless spin on foods they already crave, such as pizza, enchiladas or Thai.
Denver Post, CO, U.S. - March 16
Full story: Sydney Morning Herald, Australia
Forget the carbon-belching car or the coal-fired power station - it's the humble steak we should be worried about. "Not many people know it but the meat industry is a big contributor to climate change," [Mark Berriman, the director of the Australian Vegetarian Society] says. "People talk about helping the environment by stopping driving and getting low-energy light bulbs but the most effective thing you can do is cut red meat out of your diet." Berriman is not alone in this opinion. Last year, Nobel laureate Rajendra Pachauri, the chief of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, strongly suggested the world's population curb its consumption of meat to counter global warming.
Sydney Morning Herald, Australia - March 23
Full story: Mercury News, CA, U.S.
A hungry student at the University of San Francisco couldn't find a few college staples at the campus eatery - a juicy hamburger and a cheesy slice of pizza. It was "Low Carbon Diet Day," and beef and cheese were off the menu. With 18 per cent of the world's greenhouse gases emitted by livestock raised for meat and dairy products - more than cars, trucks, ships and planes combined, according to a United Nations report - more food purveyors are launching initiatives to lower their "food carbon footprint."
Mercury News, CA, U.S. - March 8
Full story: Pacific Free Press
It was 1987, and I was a first year student at De Anza College in California when my environmental/social justice awakening began. Their Liberal Arts degree program got me thinking about evolution, ancient history, and the magical ecological processes of planet Earth. With other concerned students and supportive professors we launched the Green Future Club, hosted a Rainforest Awareness Week, and established an on-campus recycling project that exists to this day. I gave up my traditional Alberta-raised, British parent-influenced meat-centric diet, learned to soak beans and spice tofu, and reveled in my new 'direct action' veggie lifestyle.
Pacific Free Press - February 26
Full story: Environmental Science & Technology
Christopher Weber and H. Scott Matthews of Carnegie Mellon University examined the environmental benefits of eating locally grown foods and found them a bit lacking in the carbon-footprint department - eating less red meat and dairy turned out to be a better way to reduce greenhouse gases than an all-local diet, according to the pair's life-cycle assessment. The team found that eating an all-local diet saves the greenhouse gas equivalent of driving 1000 fewer miles each year, but eating a vegetarian diet 1 day per week is equal to driving 1160 fewer miles per year. Food writer Michael Pollan has embraced the authors' ideas and recently suggested that President Obama lead the country in enacting "Meatless Mondays" at the White House (no word on whether the president has taken up his proposal). According to Pollan, if all Americans eliminated meat from their diets one night per week, the environmental effect would be equivalent to taking "30 to 40 million cars off the road for a year."
Environmental Science & Technology - March 4
Ready for your own "Meatless Mondays?" for your health and the planet?
Check out Meatout Mondays from FARM
Take the Veggie Challenge from the Toronto Vegetarian Association
Request a free vegetarian starter kit from PETA
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Check out the experiences of "Star McDougallers" - people making the transition and changing their health.
Full story: Newsweek
More than halfway through my sixth decade, I have learned to live with the routine insults and occasional horrors of passing time. . . There is one thing, however I will not abide: getting fat. Which is why, in early January, as my holiday food intake helped push my weight past the 210 mark for the first time (I'm six feet tall) I became a vegan. Much to my surprise, more than two months later I am still a vegan. I am also 12 pounds lighter and I have substantially more energy than I did when I was a flesh eater. (That's the term I use now to describe people who eat meat; annoying non-vegans, I have found, is one of the best things about being a vegan.) I began by following the 28-day program described by the vegan firefighter Rip Esselstyn in his new book The Engine 2 Diet. At age 46, Esselstyn, a former professional triathlete, has been eating a plant-based diet for more than 20 years. As it turned out, radically revamping my eating habits was not as hard as I expected it to be.
Newsweek - March 14
Full story: QSR Magazine (Fast Food Industry)
[The nonprofit Compassion Over Killing (COK) airs commercials linking fast food to animal cruelty on MTV, a teen-oriented TV network. This article looks at their impact on the quick-serve (fast-food) industry.] "I almost bought fried chicken for lunch today," one viewer said in an e-mail to COK. "Then remembered your commercial I saw on TV last night." The commercials have affected the diets of countless young consumers, and COK has convinced [some fast-food] industry big wigs to offer more vegan options. We spoke with Erica Meier, executive director of COK, to find out what the campaign is about and how quick-serves can avoid being stung by its campaign. . . What do you hope quick-serves will take away from your campaign? From small restaurants to locally based mom-and-pop-owned restaurants to national companies, I think that the message seems to be clear from consumers that these options are in higher demand. As more and more companies recognize this, I think they can benefit from it.
QSR Magazine (Fast Food Industry) - March
Full story: Florida Times-Union, U.S.
While the motivations and details vary from religion to religion and person to person, they share a belief that there are physical, spiritual and moral consequences in people's food choices. . . The notion that environmental awareness and compassion should factor into food choice is influencing a growing Christian vegetarian and vegan movement. "Christians who take their faith seriously see it impacting their entire life . . . and that would include the food they eat," said Stephen Kaufman, a physician and chairman of the Christian Vegetarian Association. Growing awareness of the negative environmental impact of animal agriculture - its consumption of foods that could feed the poor and its emission of greenhouse gases - makes vegetarian a moral imperative for Christians and a society that now has plenty of healthful alternatives to meat, Kaufman said. There is also a question of compassion for animals subjected to the cruel killing methods of the factory-style slaughter houses, he said.
Florida Times-Union, U.S. - March 3
Meat scandal gives Jews kosher dilemma
Quote: "The rationale behind keeping kosher has always been to spare the animal pain," Silver said. "The practices now are the opposite: They are causing the animals to suffer. If you want to be true to your Jewish beliefs, you would become a vegetarian." - South Florida Sun-Sentinel, U.S. (February 24)
Cooking with conviction: Adventists encourage healthy eating with vegan classes
mlive.com, MI, U.S. (March 21)
Documentary - "A Sacred Duty: Applying Jewish Values To Help Heal The World"
Jewish Vegetarians of North America
allcreatures.org
Interfaith initiative
Full story: New Zealand Herald
With leather a huge trend on and off the catwalks - practically le tout Paris is in rock chick-style leather leggings or jackets - the ethical could find themselves stranded in sartorial Siberia. Enter Stella McCartney. The latest collection from the British designer and lifelong vegetarian showed skinny faux leather and suede thigh-high boots, and fur-like wool coats, which offered a convincing, and pointed alternative, to the real versions.
New Zealand Herald - March 10
Santino knew the humans were coming. So each morning, he trolled for stones and fashioned concrete disks to be stashed in strategic locations until it was time to hurl them at his pesky visitors. As a chimpanzee, Santino wasn't thought to be capable of anticipating events in a way that so closely resembled human behavior. But cognitive psychologist Mathias Osvath became convinced after watching the 30-year-old primate repeat his routine for a decade at a Swedish zoo, according to a report published in the journal Current Biology. "Such planning implies advanced consciousness and cognition traditionally not associated with animals," wrote Osvath, research director at the Lund University primate research station in Gavle, Sweden. In human evolution, "similar forms of stone manipulation constitute the most ancient signs of culture."
Los Angeles Times - March 14
Full story: TIME Magazine, U.S.
One of the most powerful tools animal-rights activists have is the video footage shot inside places like poorly run dog kennels, animal-testing facilities and factory farms, used as grim evidence of the brutality that can take place. But how do animal-rights crusaders actually get those videos? Through people like "Pete," a 20-something undercover animal-rights investigator who, armed with a hidden camera, surreptitiously got a job in 2006 at an Ohio hog farm. The resulting footage - captured with the help of a group called the Humane Farming Association - and eventual courtroom drama that followed are featured in the HBO documentary Death on a Factory Farm. TIME talked to "Pete" about his undercover work, what it does to his personal life and the lengths he's gone to keep his cover intact. [The documentary is scheduled to run on HBO April 1 in the U.S., April 5 and 13 in Canada.]
TIME Magazine, U.S. - March 9
"Death on a Factory Farm: Youtube clips HBO info "Variety" Review
Industry reaction to "Death on a Factory Farm"
Quote: For any of us the agriculture industry, this documentary sends shivers down our spines. - BEEF Magazine (March 2)
Full story: The Sun News, SC, U.S.
It's hard to find a silver lining in a recession. But there is one bright spot: Food magazines have stopped force-feeding their readers recipes featuring foie gras. Gourmet and Bon Appetit have reportedly forsaken foie gras in favor of more budget-friendly options. That's a good thing. It's just a shame that it took a tanking economy - rather than an ethical revolution or even a sense of revulsion - to make some foodies give up diseased duck livers. Long before the global economy started spiraling downward, a number of countries banned foie gras production because it is inhumane. There's no legitimate reason for producing foie gras anywhere. It's a selfish indulgence that we can all do without and, as Giles Coren, food writer for the U.K.'s The Times, says, "a lazy way for a half-competent chef to make his food seem flash." The economy will recover - hopefully sooner rather than later - but if caring people get their wish, foie gras will never rebound.
The Sun News, SC, U.S. - March 22
Full story: ABC News, Australia
An animal welfare group has appealed to Australia's agriculture ministers to reject proposed standards for animal transport. Animals Australia executive director Glenys Oogjes says the standards - which are supported by the dairy industry - failed to address the treatment of newborn calves. 'Bobby' calves are five-days-old when they are sent to be slaughtered. Ms Oogjes says 6,000 bobby calves die during transport nationally each year because they travel long distances without food.
ABC News, Australia - March 18
Full story: Los Angeles Times, CA, U.S.
Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson wants to help all meat eaters wake up from the dream of denial they are experiencing. He wants to prepare us for what he describes as a "transformative moment," when we look at the meat or animal product on our plate (fish, fowl, mammal, egg, milk, cheese) and acknowledge that it came from a living being, capable, he has no doubt, of suffering and happiness. Like children when they are first told that the drumstick is actually a leg, the tongue is really a tongue, the bacon was once a pig, Masson hopes, with all his heart, that we will say, "Eeeuwww, yuck." The Face on Your Plate is one of many written in the last few years that implore readers to consider and reimagine how what they eat affects not just their own health but the health of the Earth. Masson's aim is a life with a purpose; his interests follow a powerful trajectory that has led him here, bringing everything to bear on the certainty that eating meat is cruel and immoral.
Los Angeles Times, CA, U.S. - March 16
Many people struggle to improve their eating habits. The Times food writer Mark Bittman, [tells] about an unusual strategy that has worked for him. All day long, he eats a vegan diet. But after about 6 p.m., anything goes. In his newest book, Food Matters: A Guide to Conscious Eating, Mark explains how increasing fruit and vegetable consumption and reducing dependence on processed foods will lead to better health not only for your body, but also for the planet. Mark made the changes after a doctor suggested he adopt a vegan diet [to address health issues]. But for a food writer, Mark said, becoming a full-time vegan was both unrealistic and undesirable. Instead, he came up with a compromise: "I decided to do this sort of 'vegan till 6' plan. Within three or four months, I lost 35 pounds, my blood sugar was normal, cholesterol levels were again normal . . . and my sleep apnea indeed went away. All these good things happened, and it wasn't as if I was suffering so I stayed with it.
New York Times - February 27
Full story: The Oakbook, CA, U.S.
There was a time in high school when Bryant Terry "went off the deep end with junk food." The author of Vegan Soul Kitchen indulged an adolescent appetite for McDonalds, Burger King, and the offerings of other dreck purveyors in his hometown of Memphis. The memory of the satisfaction that came from cheap, fatty food informs Terry's work as a food writer and activist in Oakland some 20 years later. He's not judgmental when he sees a kid tucking into a bag of Cheetos. He just wants the kid to know there's a better world of food out there. Terry's foray into the world of fast food was a short interlude. The food Terry grew up eating was [largely home-grown,] simple, fresh, minimally seasoned, and delicious. It's the same sort of fare that he gives a vegan twist to in Vegan Soul Kitchen: Fresh, Healthy, and Creative African-American Cuisine. It's his second book. In 2006, he co-authored Grub: Ideas for an Urban Organic Kitchen with Anna Lappe, the daughter of Frances Moore Lappe, who published Diet for a Small Planet in 1971. Bryant doesn't call himself a vegetarian. He says he has a "plant-based diet that's devoid of meat."
The Oakbook, CA, U.S. - March 9
Full story: San Francisco Chronicle
John Robbins, best-selling author of Diet for a New America and The Food Revolution, found out on December 11 that 98 per cent of his and his wife's net worth was suddenly gone, lost in the Madoff Ponzi scam. Robbins said the initial shock of discovery was paralyzing, but he's had to swiftly move past the anger and bitterness because "I can't afford the distraction." After talking with Robbins, I've been trying to moderate my thinking about money. Well, I think that the economic crisis of today, the foreclosures, the bank failures, the massive unemployment, could be a turning point. There is a rupture taking place. And I believe that provides an opening, as all major illness does, on a personal level. There is an opportunity to redefine progress, which we absolutely need to do, so that we don't see it merely as the GDP growing but instead in terms of genuine wealth and what really makes our lives worth living . . . and how we can live sustainably, joyfully and reverently on this planet with one another.
San Francisco Chronicle - February 23
Recipe intel
Ever see a great-looking recipe, except for the meat? The article below makes substituting easy for beef, chicken, pork and more. You'll also find tons of information and recipes in the highly recommended: How to Eat Like a Vegetarian - Even If You Don't Want to be One. Plus, now that perfect hiking weather is about to arrive, here are some great post-hiking snack ideas.
How to choose a meat substitute
"How to Eat Like a Vegetarian"
Post-hiking snacks
VegE-News recipes
Share your food wisdom
In a recent New York Times blog Michael Pollan says: "Will you send me a food rule you try to live by? Something perhaps passed down by your parents or grandparents? Or something you've come up with to tell your children – or yourself? I will post your suggestions on my Web site and plan to include the best in a collection of food rules I'm now compiling."
Michael Pollan wants your food rules
A healthy veggie pregnancy
A recent blog in the Vancouver Sun made the false assertion that being vegan during pregnancy was dangerous. Chad Skelton later retracted his blog - and it was a good opportunity for lots of people weighed in with the facts - it is not only safe, but healthier for mom and baby. Read the comments after the blog for some thoughtful comments and links.
Chad Skelton blog - Vancouver Sun
Doctors endorse vegan and vegetarian diets for healthy pregnancies
Earth Hour: Wherever you live on planet earth, turn out the lights 8:30PM local time March 28
2,848 cities, towns and municipalities in 84 countries have already committed to VOTE EARTH for Earth Hour 2009, as part of the worlds first global election between Earth and global warming. Be part of it!
Looking for a healthy vegan pet food?
AMI Dog and Ami Cat are great tasting and nutritionally complete. Available in stores in Ontario, BC, Alberta and Saskatchewan, several U.S. states and over the internet everywhere! Click below to find store addresses and internet sources.
Where to buy Ami vegan pet food
Thanks to a courageous Canadian Senator, Marc Harb, there is now a Bill in the Canadian parliament to end Canada's shameful commercial seal hunt, which is expected to take the lives of more than 250,000 baby seals this year alone. Support the historic Bill to stop the hunt!
Petition to support the bill to end the Canada's seal hunt
International Human Society campaign to stop Canada's seal hunt
Each year, in Canada's north, sled dogs are subjected to grueling conditions as their owners press them beyond endurance to win the Iditarod race. Register your vote for the animals below.
Iditarod race deaths cause concern
A note for veggie organizations and members
If you are a vegetarian organization that would like to discuss having your own customized version of VegE-News, let us know. We are pleased to produce customized versions of VegE-News for the Australian Vegetarian Society, the New Zealand Vegetarian Society, Vegetarians of Alberta, Toronto Vegetarian Organization, and Winnipeg Vegetarian Organization. Members receive the regular VegE-News PLUS listings of their local events. If you are a member of one of those organizations, but not receiving the customized version, just drop us an email if you would like us to switch you to the specific list.
Email VegE-News


text:
« UK Economy | Back to most recent briefing | European Reform Treaty »
Asked if the Government was concerned that further credit had been given to Northern Rock, the PMS replied that the Chancellor and others had made the situation in relation to Northern Rock clear on numerous occasions. There was a process of sale of Northern Rock underway, with Virgin having emerged as the preferred bidder. As people would also know, the lending was secured against Northern Rock's assets.
Asked repeatedly if the Prime Minister was 100 per cent confident of getting it all back, the PMS said that the Prime Minister's position was that he was supporting the Chancellor's efforts to secure a sale of Northern Rock. Negotiations were underway on that front. The Prime Minister and Chancellor had made the position clear. Asked if he was confident that Northern Rock's assets were worth what they had said they were worth, the PMS replied that it was not for him to make those judgements. The Treasury had made their position clear, as had the Bank of England on numerous occasion, so he would let them speak on such matters.
Asked if the nationalisation of Northern Rock was still a fallback option, the PMS replied that it would be best to raise such questions with the Treasury. As people knew, the position at the moment was that there was a preferred bidder; negotiations were underway which were commercial and market sensitive and the PMS did not think it appropriate to comment further in view of that.


Vezi Acum Broad City S04E03 - Just the Tips Online Subtitrat in romana calitate HD. Broad City S04E03 - Just the Tips este un episod lansat pe 27 septembrie 2017 super! Vezi acum online gratuit!
Ilana goes on a spending spree with cash she makes from her waitress job; Abbi basks in the glow of a new relationship; the girls bump into an old friend at a party.
Distribuie sau scrie parerea ta despre episodul Broad City S04E03 - Just the Tips.


An article about how we use Cat Litter to make rich garden compost.
A comparison of registered cats and kittens to designer hand bags!
Why cat cubes are a great idea and a step by step assembly guide including pictures.
Find out how two entire male British Shorthair cats not only live together but love each other.


Make sure you are actually getting the treat you expect rather than getting tricked by misleading labels. You may be spooked by the actual ingredients list!
Several times recently, I've caught myself getting tricked by popular labels and buzz words. This usually happens when I'm in a hurry and do not actually read the ingredients list. In my haste I jump to conclusions based on the shiny wrapper with buzz words like gluten free, all natural or fat free. I could go on all day but we'll stop here for this blog.
As a person with a wheat allergy and sensitivities, I usually stick to a gluten free diet. At first I was elated to find the growing collection of conveniently packaged items prominently labeled GLUTEN FREE. Well, now I'm spooked by the growing misconception that gluten free equates with being "healthy". Companies are making bank by slapping a gluten free label on their products and they are not necessarily good for our health based on the ingredients list. While I appreciate the heads up with more prominent labeling and am thankful for the new labeling laws*, gluten free is not synonymous with "healthy". Moderation and serving sizes are the key my friends. These items are processed foods and are typically not found in the perimeter of your grocery store. Many gluten free packaged foods are made with white rice flour and corn which contain very few nutrients. Also pay attention to the amount of sugar and unhealthy types of fat in these products because some products increase the amount to compensate for the lack of gluten. Let's all become more vigilant in reading labels.
A widely used trick is the use of the "natural flavor" label which is often included right on the ingredients list. Really? My friends reading this are laughing now because they now this drives me nuts! This label does not mean it is natural or healthy. Artificial and natural flavors are manufactured in chemical plants. If it's natural then why doesn't it have parentheses and list the individual ingredients in the "natural flavor"? It may or may not be harmful to your health but it seems like a trick to me. I'll pick a different treat with only a few ingredients that I can pronounce and I know where each of them come from in nature.
Treat yourself to some healthy fat! Don't be tricked into believing fat is bad. We need it for our brain health among other things. Your body needs fat in order to burn fat for energy. Some fats are good for your health and I'd suggest that they be incorporated daily into your diet. Does your treat say it's fat free? Watch out, check the label. It could be a trick! While it may be fat free, check the sugar content. Most fat free products dramatically increase the sugar and some introduce artificial ingredients. They do this to improve the mouth feel and flavor to compensate for the lack of fat.
Don't get tricked when selecting your treats! Read the labels and know what you're getting. Go for items with only a few ingredients that you can pronounce and you know the source of the ingredients in nature. Use moderation with processed foods and check the serving sizes. Be mindful when you eat but mostly…enjoy your food!
← Health and Nutrition Coach. Yoga and Fitness Instructor. Advocate for You.


A man is recovering in hospital after being shot in the leg in one of two overnight shootings reported in Derry.
The man, who is in his 60s, was shot in the leg by masked men at a house in the Ballymagroarty area of the city.
A group of masked men is reported to have burst into his property at around 11pm and forced him to the floor before a firing a single shot and making their escape.
In the second incident, in the early hours of this morning, a shot was fired at a house in the Rossnagalliagh area of Derry.
The PSNI has confirmed its enquiries into both incidents are continuing.
They have asked anyone with information to call police on 101.


1. In a small saucepan, bring 1 quart of water to a simmer, season with salt.
2. Slice the celery root into ½-inch thick rounds.
3. Cook celery root slices in the simmering water until tender. Remove and let cool.
4. Add the spices and pecorino to the breadcrumbs and stir to combine.
5. Set out 3 bowls, each wide enough to fit the largest slice of celery root comfortably. Put the flour in one bowl, the egg in the second, and the breadcrumbs in the third.
6. Grab a slice of celery root and toss it in the flour to coat. Shake off excess, and toss it in the egg. Let excess drip off, and toss it in the breadcrumbs, pressing down to get it fully and evenly covered. Repeat with remaining slices.
7. In a frying pan, heat enough olive oil to fully cover the bottom of the pan. Working in batches if needed, pan fry he celery root slices until golden brown and crispy, remove to a paper-towel lined plate.
8. Serve with a lot of fresh parsley cast over the top, and a generous squeeze of lemon juice.
1. Sweat the onions in a little vegetable oil.
2. Add the curry paste and fry till aromatic.
3. Add the spinach, coconut milk, and rice, and simmer for 10 min.
4. Add the peas and simmer for 3-5 minutes, until peas are tender.
6. Add water (if needed) to adjust the consistency.
This is adapted from Marcus Samuelsson's recipe in Soul of a New Cuisine.
2. Sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
3. Beat together 1 cup of the sugar, egg, 1 Tbs butter, and jelly in a large bowl until pale and fluffy. Beat in the flour mixture.
4. Butter an 8-inch cake pan, set aside. Mix together the milk, vinegar, and vanilla in a small bowl, then fold into the egg mixture until thoroughly mixed. Pour into the buttered baking dish, and cover with lightly oiled foil.
5. Bake the pudding for about 30 min., until set. The cake will look spongy, with little holes dotting the top.
6. While the pudding is baking, combine the evaporated milk, the remaining 8 tablespoons of butter, and the remaining ¼ cup of sugar in a saucepan and heat, stirring, until the butter melts and the sugar has dissolved. Remove from the heat.
7. Pour the warm sauce slowly over the hot pudding and allow to stand for 10 minutes, or until all of the liquid is absorbed. Serve warm with whipped cream.
1. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, egg and vanilla until smooth.
2. In a separate bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt together. Stir this into the butter/sugar mixture.
3. Stir in the oats, raisins and walnuts, if using them.
4. At this point you can either chill the dough for a bit in the fridge and then scoop it, or scoop the cookies onto a sheet and then chill the whole tray before baking them. You could also bake them right away, if you're impatient, but I do find that they end up slightly less thick.
5. The cookies should be two inches apart on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake them for 10 to 12 minutes (your baking time will vary, depending on your oven and how cold the cookies were going in). Take them out when golden at the edges but still a little undercooked-looking on top. Let them sit on the hot baking sheet for five minutes before transferring them to a rack to cool.