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About Those Tax Cuts For The Richest Americans…
Posted on January 31, 2011 by grannyg
The following is from The Blog Prof:
"The rich in this country pay far more than their fair share. And not only does bottom 47% of taxpayers pay no federal income tax, but the bottom 40% GET MONEY BACK! The top 5% pay about 60% of the federal tax bill. It's now gotten so bad, so unfair, that the top 1% pay more in federal taxes than the bottom 95%"
This was President Obama's comment during the State of the Union Speech:
"And if we truly care about our deficit, we simply cannot afford a permanent extension of the tax cuts for the wealthiest 2 percent of Americans. It's not a matter of punishing their success. It's about promoting America's success."
President Obama continues to punish success and then wonder why there is not more of it, as illustrated by the chart below.
Red Herrings As We Search For Peace And Stability In The Middle East
John Podhoretz posted an article on the New York Post website yesterday with an interesting perspective on the unrest in the Middle East. Mr. Podhoretz points out that the Obama Administration has said that the key to peace in the Middle East is a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian dispute over territory and the creation of a Palestinian state.
Mr. Podhoretz reminds us that during the first twenty years of Israel's existence, all of its Arab neighbors were at war with her. During the past forty years, that situation has changed.
"Jordan effectively quit the fight after Israel's triumph in the 1967 war cut Jordan in half. So too did the Arab states that did not share a border with Israel. The bloody toll of the '73 war then led Egypt and Syria to surrender their ambitious military efforts to drive Israel into the sea."
Recently, the problems in Israel have been with terrorists claiming to represent Palestinian interests based either in the West Bank, Gaza, or southern Lebanon. None of this is related to what is going on in Egypt. Jordan, or any other Arab state experiencing protests.
The rulers in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Jordan have all been in place for a minimum of thirty years (Mubarak has been in power for thirty years, the others longer). These are not democracies and all have severe economic inequities. Israel (and America) have been used as scapegoats to take the blame off of the totalitarian regimes. Why then are we surprised when the protesters are yelling, "Death to Israel and Death to America?" It is highly unlikely that thirty plus years of blaming Israel and America will give us a pro-western government. Unfortunately, a democracy in Egypt may bring us another Iran.
Another Voyage Into The Law Of Unintended Consequences
Yesterday Mark Impomeni at the Daily Caller posted an interesting article about President Obama's State of the Union Speech. As you remember, this was the first State of the Union Speech where Democrats and Republicans sat together rather than on separate side of the chamber (described by some as Prom Dates).
The stated purpose of the seating was to show unity after the attack on Representative Giffords. Those of us who tend to be a little cynical felt that the change in seating was so that the extent of the Democrat loss in the November elections would be less obvious.
Mr. Impomeni observes:
"The seating arrangement contributed to an uncharacteristically restrained audience for the speech, which when combined with a lackluster performance from the president, ended up killing one of President Obama's best chances to make the case for his agenda."
Last year's State of the Union Speech (with Congressmen and Congresswomen in their respective 'corners') was interrupted by applause more than 100 times. This year there were only 70 interruptions. It may have been more civil (fewer standing ovations, interruptions by applause, etc.), but it was a whole lot less fun.
Who Is The Muslim Brotherhood ?
According to Wikipedia, the Muslim Brotherhood was founded in Egypt in 1928 by the Islamic scholar and Sufi schoolteacher Hassan al-Banna. (I don't generally like Wikipedia as a source, but you can usually get basic information there).
The Muslim Brotherhood was banned in Egypt under President Hosni Mubarak.
Jeff Goldberg in The Atlantic posted several statements by the new Supreme Guide of the Brotherhood, Mohammad Badi, (courtesy of the Middle East Media Research Institute):
"Today the Muslims desperately need a mentality of honor and means of power [that will enable them] to confront global Zionism. [This movement] knows nothing but the language of force, so [the Muslims] must meet iron with iron, and winds with [even more powerful] storms. They crucially need to understand that the improvement and change that the [Muslim] nation seeks can only be attained through jihad and sacrifice and by raising a jihadi generation that pursues death just as the enemies pursue life."
Mr. Goldberg cites further statements:
"The Soviet Union fell dramatically, but the factors that will lead to the collapse of the U.S. are much more powerful than those that led to the collapse of the Soviet empire – for a nation that does not champion moral and human values cannot lead humanity, and its wealth will not avail it once Allah has had His say, as happened with [powerful] nations in the past. The U.S. is now experiencing the beginning of its end, and is heading towards its demise…"
"Resistance is the only solution against the Zio-American arrogance and tyranny, and all we need is for the Arab and Muslim peoples to stand behind it and support it. The peoples know well who is [carrying out] resistance and who has sold out the [Palestinian] cause and bargained over it. We say to our brothers the mujahideen in Gaza: be patient, persist in [your jihad], and know that Allah is with you…"
The thing to consider here is that America is considered a target for revolution. As the news reports that the Muslim Brotherhood is reaching out to Mohamed El Baradei during the unrest, America needs to realize that El Baradei is not good news for either America or Israel. What is happening in Egypt is a subtle part of the war against the west. At some point America needs to realize that terrorism is a world-wide phenomenon and that we need to look at the entire picture–not just pieces of that picture.
The danger here is that Egypt will end its peace treaty with Israel and will align with the forces of Iran, Lebanon, and Syria in attempting to destroy Israel. Since Israel is armed with nuclear weapons that it will use as a last resort, an attack on Israel by a new Arab coalition would be a disaster for both the Middle East and the world.
Sad News At The Justice Department
On Friday, John Hinderaker at Power Line posted an article about the results of the Civil Rights Commission's inquiry into the Justice Department's handing of the New Black Panthers voter intimidation case. The Civil Rights Commission released their final report on the case Thursday.
The article quotes Civil Rights Commissioner Todd Gaziano:
"After a year of DOJ's intransigence and baseless refusals to comply with our subpoenas, two Department attorneys bravely defied orders to testify before the Commission: the former Civil Rights Division Voting Section chief, Christopher Coates, and a lead trial attorney in the NBPP case, J. Christian Adams. Their testimony and the sworn affidavits from former DOJ staff portray a pervasive culture of hostility to race-neutral enforcement of civil rights laws in the Civil Rights Division. The detailed allegations include: a former section chief who doctored a memo to try to prevent a meritorious case from being filed against black defendants, racially offensive statements by several supervisors and staff, and repeated instances of harassment and intimidation directed against anyone willing to work on lawsuits against minority defendants."
The video of the voter intimidation incident can be found at You Tube. Based on that video, it seemed like an easy case, but that's not the way it was handled.
The article quotes part of Commissioner Gail Heriot's statement on the case:
"[T]he actual activities of the Voting Section have been consistent with the policy statements Ms. Fernandes is alleged to have made and not with Assistant Attorney General Thomas Perez' efforts to assure the Commission that the Division operates race neutrally (made long before Adams's and Coates's whistle-blowing testimony). The New Black Panther Party case was indeed disposed of over the vociferous objections of the line attorneys who had worked on the case and against the advice of career attorneys in the appellate section. This is exactly what one would expert if the allegations against Ms. Fernandes [i.e., that the Obama Justice Department enforces the law in a racist manner] were true. No further voter intimidation cases (whether brought under Section 11(b) or the more commonly used Section 2) have been filed against African American defendants–again, exactly as one would expect."
I have no idea what action will be taken as a result of this report, but it is very troubling to me that the Justice Department has lost its objectivity in supporting voting rights.
Hang On To Your Hat–It's Going To Be Interesting
My Way news (Associated Press) reported yesterday that the Muslim Brotherhood has stated that the unrest in the Middle East will spread until all pro-western governments are overthrown.
There were protests in Jordan recently demanding the ousting of Jordanian Prime Minister Samir Rifai. The thing to be noted in the Jordanian protests is that the protests have been done by the Bedouins, not by the Palestinian population. Jordan is ruled by Hashemites, although the majority of its population is Palestinian. Transjordan was orginally created out of the territory the British had promised to Israel. The county was established with the Hashemites in charge as a reward for the role the Arabs had played in World War I (it was later discovered that their role had been exaggerated). The fact that the Bedouins are protesting means that there is unrest in the police force and military. This is not good.
The preceeding paragraph contradicts the news story, but is based on the comments of a former member of the Israeli defense services. His prediction is that Egypt will fall, followed by other countries in the area falling like dominoes.
According to the article, Hammam Saeed, the leader of Jordan's powerful Muslim Brotherhood, has stated:
"…Arabs have grown disgruntled with U.S. domination of their oil wealth, military occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan and its support for "totalitarian" leaders in the region.
""The Americans and (President Barack) Obama must be losing sleep over the popular revolt in Egypt," he said. "Now, Obama must understand that the people have woken up and are ready to unseat the tyrant leaders who remained in power because of U.S. backing.""
I understand that the Arabs may want to unseat their tyrant leaders, I just don't believe that the Muslim Brotherhood would be a move toward freedom. I think it will mean more human rights violations, just different violations than we currently have. I think the country to watch as this unfolds is Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is not a democratic society and is as vulnerable to public unrest as the countries currently experiencing such unrest.
The stategic move that America needs to make right now is to quickly increase its output of domestic oil resources. Unfortunately, that is opposite of the direction of the current administration. Unless we develop our own carbon resources very quickly, we will be paying upwards of $5 a gallon for gasoline in the near future.
Why Border Security Is Important
The U. K. Daily Mail reported yesterday that U. S. border guards arrested Said Jaziri, a Muslim cleric, trying to sneak into the United States in the trunk of a Mexican BMW.
"Said Jaziri, who called for the death of a Danish cartoonist that drew pictures of the prophet Mohammed, was being smuggled into California when he was arrested, along with his driver Kenneth Robert Lawler."
It would be interesting to know exactly where he was headed. According to the story, Mr. Jaziri had paid a Tijuana-based smuggling cartel $5,000 to take him across the border near Tecate, saying he wanted to be taken to a 'safe place anywhere in the U.S.'
Mr. Jaziri was deported from Canada to Tunisia in 2007 after it was discovered that he had lied on his refugee application about having served time in jail in France.
It would be interesting to know who else is attempting to sneak across the southern border of the United States.
Some Disturbing News From Egypt
Stratfor Global Intelligence is reporting today that their sources in Hamas have given them the information in italics below. They also point out that Hamas has an interest in exaggerating its role in the crisis in Egypt and also exaggerating its coordination with the Muslim Brotherhood.
The website reports the following unconfirmed, but important information:
"The Egyptian police are no longer patrolling the Rafah border crossing into Gaza. Hamas armed men are entering into Egypt and are closely collaborating with the MB. The MB has fully engaged itself in the demonstrations, and they are unsatisfied with the dismissal of the Cabinet. They are insisting on a new Cabinet that does not include members of the ruling National Democratic Party.
"Security forces in plainclothes are engaged in destroying public property in order to give the impression that many protesters represent a public menace. The MB is meanwhile forming people's committees to protect public property and also to coordinate demonstrators' activities, including supplying them with food, beverages and first aid."
I am simply not optimistic about what is happening in Egypt. Frankly I don't think it will matter to the United States or Israel whether or not the current government stands. I think we are entering a very dangerous period in the entire Middle East–with problems in Lebanon and Jordan, as well as Egypt–that is going to last for a while and have a very uncertain outcome. Until a group of democracies and free countries forms to help spread freedom and to deal with those who deny freedom to their citizens, freedom will not expand. I believe that was the original intention of the United Nations, but somewhere along the way they got lost. The outcome of what is happening in Egypt is much more likely to be in tune with Iran than with America.
There Is Little Hope Of A Pro-Western Government After The Dust Clears In Egypt
As I write this, the internet is shut down in Egypt, so there is very limited information available on what is going on there. There is, however, some good perspective from people who have studied the country for years.
Yesterday, Caroline Glick posted an opinion piece in the Jerusalem Post on the situtation in Egypt. She points out that Mohamed El Baradei is participating in the anti-government demonstrations (although at one point he was under house arrest), and is seen as the 'presidential hopeful' amid the chaos. Mohamed El Baradei was the man who looked the other way as Iran developed its nuclear program. He is not a moderate Muslim.
Ms. Glick points out:
"His actions won him the support of the Iranian regime which he continues to defend. Just last week he dismissed the threat of a nuclear armed Iran, telling the Austrian News Agency, "There's a lot of hype in this debate," and asserting that the discredited 2007 US National Intelligence Estimate that claimed Iran abandoned its nuclear weapons program in 2003 remains accurate.
"Elbaradei's support for the Iranian ayatollahs is matched by his support for the Muslim Brotherhood."
The Muslim Brotherhood is an international group named as an unindicted co-conspirator in the Holy Land Foundation Case in 2004. The documents uncovered in that case revealed that the .
agenda to be carried out by these groups in the United States in reality had little to do with the organizations' publicly-proclaimed goals, such as protecting the civil rights of Muslims. Rather, the true goal is to destroy the United States from the inside and work to establish a global Islamist society.
John Waage at CBN News posted an article yesterday stating that:
"Egypt's next leader might be inclined to embrace Hamas and press harder for an end to Israel's naval embargo of the Gaza Strip.
"The Egyptian populace is solidly anti-American and anti-Israel. One political party wants to abrogate Egypt's 1977 peace treaty with Israel. The next leader may need to play to those sentiments to solidify power.
"Also, if freer and fairer elections take place there, they could well produce a similar result as the Palestinian elections in 2006, when the citizens handily elected Hamas."
Meanwhile, the peace accord struck between Israel and Egypt that resulted in Israel's giving up the Sinai Peninsula also paved the way for America to arm Egypt to the teeth.
Ms. Glick reminds us:
"Owing to that US (military) aid, the Egyptian military today makes the military Israel barely defeated in 1973 look like a gang of cavemen. Egypt has nearly 300 F-16s. Its main battle tank is the M1A1 which it produces in Egypt. Its navy is the largest in the region. Its army is twice the size of the IDF. Its air defense force constitutes a massive threat to the IAF. And of course, the ballistic missiles and chemical weapons it has purchased from the likes of North Korea and China give it a significant stand-off massdestruction capability."
I am not sure there is a good outcome to the protests in Egypt. The current leadership does not support freedom, but the potential new leadership will not support freedom either and will be more dangerous to the supporters of freedom around the world. At some point the world is going to have to take a really good look at the goal of some of the militant Muslims to set up a world-wide caliphate. The countries who support freedom will have to decide how to unify against that goal. I don't think we are there yet. I am not even sure we are truly aware of the problem.
To look at the documents presented in the Holy Land Foundation Case that detailed the intentions of the Muslim Brotherhood, you can go to Justice.gov, the website of the United States Justice Department.
The Hazards Of Being A Jihadist
Wired.com reported yesterday that a would-be suicide bomber was killed in Russia on New Year's Eve when her wireless carrier sent her an SMS (Short Message Service) text wishing her a Happy New Year. The message set off the explosives in the safe house where she was preparing for the attack, killing her.
"The authorities suspect the female bomber was part of the same Jihadist group that is suspected of hitting Moscow's airport on Monday with a suicide bomb attack that killed 35."
This is not all that unusual or new. There is a very old book called THE GANG THAT COULDN'T SHOOT STRAIGHT about wars between the organized crime families in New York City during the 1960's that had a similar incident where a 'family' member was carrying a bomb with a remote control device in order to place it under a gang rival's car. Someone made a call on some sort of short wave radio and that was the end of the bomb and the bomb placer.
Another Reason Ethanol Is Not The Answer
The Hill's Energy and Environmental Blog is reporting today that a draft Environmental Protection Agency report "concludes that expanded production of renewable fuels like ethanol and biodiesel carries an array of ecological risks in the U.S. and other nations, and calls for improved policies to mitigate these harms."
Wouldn't it be easier just to develop our nation's carbon energy resources and be done with it? (The devil you know, etc.)
A 2007 energy law includes a requirement that a new analysis of the ecological effects of expanding the development of biofuels be done. The article reports:
"The report comes as ethanol is already under attack from some environmentalists, and lawmakers seeking to strip tax subsidies. But renewable fuels are valued as a way to displace oil reliance and boost rural economies, and retain powerful political support on Capitol Hill.
"Elsewhere, the report addresses effects on wildlife and habitat. "Increased cultivation of feedstocks for biofuel could significantly affect biodiversity through habitat alteration when uncultivated land is put into production," it states, also noting risks of plant and animal exposure to pesticides, nutrient runoff into waters and other effects."
This is another journey into the world of unintended consequences. There will come a day when America can be weaned from her dependence on carbon fuel. However, that day will come as a result of a free market and the removal of some of the choking federal regulations that impact businesses. In the past, an idea was not generally successful the first time it was attempted, but inventors and companies understood the rewards of trying something until they achieved success. When the government overtaxes and overregulates, creativity decreases. Government subsidies do not create inventions and innovations, they inhibit them.
Something I Hadn't Even Considered
I am not a particularly mechanical person. My children are impressed that I finally learned how to work the VCR. Now I find out that VCR's are no longer sold–you have to get DVD players. This could be a problem.
Anyway, I never considered some of the unexpected consequences of the electric or hybrid car. I don't own a hybrid (Ford doesn't seem to make the Mustang in hybrid), so I was somewhat surprised when I read the article in today's Washington Post about the effects of cold weather on battery-operated or hybrid cars.
The article quotes another article at the car electric:
"All batteries deliver their power via a chemical reaction inside the battery that releases electrons. When the temperature drops the chemical reactions happen more slowly and the battery cannot produce the same current that it can at room temperature. A change of ten degrees can sap 50% of a battery's output. In some situations the chemical reactions will happen so slowly and give so little power that the battery will appear to be dead when in fact if it is warmed up it will go right back to normal output. . . . "
That doesn't sound like something that would work extremely well in New England or northern Minnesota. Why, then, is the government pushing hybrid or electric cars?
The Washington Post reports in its article:
"In his address Tuesday, the president reiterated his goal of putting 1 million plug-in hybrids and all-electrics on the road by 2015 and insisted that Congress spend hundreds of millions of additional dollars to achieve it. At present, fewer than 5,000 electrics are out there, so auto companies would have to make and sell about a quarter of a million vehicles annually between now and 2015 to meet his target."
In his pursuit of choosing winners and losers in the American economy, President Obama has chosen the manufacturers of electric cars as winners. As usual, the free market is ignored and this will become another federal boondoggle. Buying an electric car in the northern part of the country is not something that is without problems. The President's intentions may be noble, but, as usual, there are unintended consequences.
Jim DeMint Introduces Repeal Of Healthcare Reform In Senate
This story is based on two sources–the first is a press release by Senator DeMint and an article at wltx.com.
Senator Jim DeMint has introduced legislation to repeal fully the healthcare reform bill that President Obama signed into law on March 23, 2010. There are thirty-four Republican cosponsors for the bill to repeal.
These are the reasons Senator DeMint lists for repealing the bill:
Leading Economists project that ObamaCare will add roughly $500 billion in new health care taxes, passing those costs to patients and will raise the federal budget deficit by more than $500 billion over the next 10 years and by nearly $1.5 trillion in the following decade.
According to the Congressional Budget Office, ObamaCare will increase health care costs to families by $2,100 per year.
The Heritage Foundation estimates that the economy will lose 670,000 jobs under the new law, many of them in the health care industry.
An American Action Forum study finds that employers will be forced to drop employer-sponsored health care coverage for as many as 35 million Americans.
An analysis from HSA Consulting Services concludes the new law restricts the use of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and reduces the amount of money that can be contributed to Flexible Savings Accounts (FSAs).
As of Dec. 3, 2010, 222 waivers from ObamaCare's annual limit requirements had been granted to businesses, labor unions, and insurers, affecting 1.5 million enrollees.
On Dec. 13, 2010, a U.S. district court ruled that it is unconstitutional for the government to impose an individual mandate to buy health insurance.
At this point, I would like to mention that the number of waivers as of December 30 was 729.
The article at wtlx points out:
"Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-KY, has said he will work to put the House repeal measure on the Senate voting calendar.
The DeMint bill is meant as a backup in case the House bill fails. Democrats outnumber Republicans 51-47 in the Senate, and two independent members vote with Democrats.
"DeMint's measure is almost certain to fail, but it will put each senator's vote on the record. That could be used against Democrats when they come up for re-election.
"If DeMint brings his bill to the floor, Democrats are prepared to offer measures that would force Republicans to vote on some of the law's most popular provisions, such as one barring insurers from denying coverage due to pre-existing conditions, Reid's office said. Votes to repeal such provisions could come back to haunt Republicans in the next election."
Obamacare is a very bad bill. The House Republicans have already begun working on replacement bills that would solve some of the problems in our healthcare system without creating a massive government bureaucracy. The Senate Democrats' plan to list the good points in Obamacare may not work if the Republicans have proposed alternatives the the dramatic increase in government spending and authority. It really is time for everyone to take an honest look at what is best for the counrty. The problem here is a basic difference of philosophy. If you believe the government makes better decisions than you and your doctor, support Obamacare. If you believe that your medical needs are best met by you and your doctor, and not by the government, support repeal. Remember, the government brought us the Postal Service and the IRS. Do we really want them controlling medical care?
Posted in Uncategorized	| Tagged healthcare repeal, Senator Jim DeMint
The Number Of Waivers For Obamacare Climbs Dramatically
I reported on Tuesday (rightwinggranny.com) that 222 business, unions, organizations, etc., had been granted waivers from Obamacare. Well, Hot Air reported yesterday that the number has grown to 729 through the end of December.
"I don't think it's too much of a stretch to suggest that OCIIO (Office of Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight) was asked to hold this development until after the SOTU. Indeed the latest waiver approved in the list is from December 30th. There is an addendum at the bottom of the page noting that four states-Massachusetts, New Jersey, Ohio, and Tennessee-have applied for waivers covering another 93,000 people. The addendum is dated 1/21/11, but I can assure you it was not there on 1/21 or even Monday."
If Obamacare is so great, why do we have waivers covering 2.2 million people? Why are these people getting waivers? Why aren't you and I getting waivers?
The Unemployment Rate Is Above 9 Percent And The Obama Administration Is Eliminating Jobs
Yahoo News posted an Associated Press story yesterday about the new regulations the Obama Administration is placing on the coal industry. According to the administration's own experts, the new rules will cost thousands of jobs and slash production across the country.
The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) is replacing the Bush-era rules which set up buffer zones around streams and were aimed mainly at mountaintop removal mining in Appalachia.
""Neither the environmental impact statement nor the administrative record that OSM has developed over 30-plus year of regulation … justify the sweeping changes that they're proposing to make," West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection official Thomas Clarke told the Associated Press on Wednesday. "I've had OSM technical people who are concerned with stream impacts and outside contractors for OSM who are subcontractors on the EIS give me their opinion that the whole thing's a bunch of junk.""
U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, D-W.Va, has said that he will do everything he can to block these new regulations.
"Manchin already plans to introduce legislation to curb the powers of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which recently vetoed a permit the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had long ago issued for Arch Coal's Spruce No. 1 mine in Logan County."
America is the Saudi Arabia of coal. To shut down or increase restrictions on the coal industry is not a wise move for the American economy, particularly during a recession. This is another example of the government picking economic winners and losers–which is not the job of the government.
I've Heard Rumors That Las Vegas Is Taking Bets On This
There are two sources for this article, an article by Ed Morrissey posted at Hot Air yesterday and an article posted at Yahoo News yesterday.
Rham Emanuel's name has been put back on the ballot for Mayor of Chicago due to a stay issued by the Illinois Supreme Court.
Mr. Morrissey at Hot Air reports:
"The Illinois Supreme Court has granted Rahm Emanuel's stay. Which means he's back on the ballot.
"Earlier today Emanuel's spokesman Ben Labolt said the mayoral candidate had plans to turn to the U.S. Supreme Court if he didn't receive a favorable ruling from the state."
Yahoo News reports:
"Illinois' highest court agreed Tuesday to decide whether Rahm Emanuel can run for Chicago Mayor, and justices ordered election officials not to print any ballots without his name until they rule on the case.
"The action bought valuable time for the former White House chief of staff, who a day earlier was kicked off the ballot by an appeals court. The state Supreme Court said it would expedite the matter but gave no specific time frame.
"With less than a week to go before the first early ballots are cast, a number of potential scenarios loomed, including the possibility that Emanuel would have to resort to a write-in campaign or wage a desperate bid to take the matter to federal court."
Maybe I'm getting cynical in my old age, but this is Chicago and Illinois politics. I can't imagine Rham Emanuel being barred from running even if he were a little green man from Mars. He is part of the political machine in Chicago, regardless of whether or not he has lived there during the past two years. This may be a very interesting case to follow. I think it may be safe to say, even at this point, that Rham Emanuel will be the next Mayor of Chicago. I have no idea how that will happen, I just believe it will.
Did He Say That ?
Chris Field at Townhall.com posted an interesting comment on the President's State of the Union Speech. Mr. Field quotes the President as saying:
"We measure progress by the success of our people. By the jobs they can find and the quality of life those jobs offer. By the prospects of a small business owner who dreams of turning a good idea into a thriving enterprise. By the opportunities for a better life that we pass on to our children."
Mr. Field points out that in the above statement "the president made the Right's case for eliminating the Death Tax." If the American dream is to pass on your wealth to your children, why are the Democrats so intent on taking that wealth away from you when you die? How many family farms or small businesses had to be sold to pay the death tax because the wealth of the business was not in liquid assets? President Obama, if you understand that the American dream is a better life for our children, why are you trying to take that dream away from us?
General Electric And The Obama Administration
One of the major problems with the Obama Administration is that they seem to make a habit of using the government to pick winners and losers. For example, the unions were the winners in the Chrysler bailout, the stockholders were the losers. They ignored existing bankruptcy laws when they did that. They have picked the American energy producers as losers–the development and use of America's energy resources has been either serverly cut back or stopped by this administration. One of the winners they have picked is General Electric. Now General Electric CEO Jeffrey Immelt is to lead the President's new jobs council.
Yesterday's Wall Street Journal posted an article about what the federal government and General Electric have in common.
President Obama has stated that he wants to economy to grow. The article at the Wall Street Journal points out:
"Step back for a minute from the day to day policy fights and consider how an economy can grow faster. One way is to get people to work harder or longer. The government can contribute here with policies that reward work and investment, such as lower taxes.
"A second route to faster growth is innovation, which means inventions or new processes that increase productivity. Government can help with money for basic research, but private investment, human ingenuity and luck are the main drivers.
"The third way is through the more efficient use of capital, both human and monetary. These resources are scarce in any economy, and growth will be fastest if they are allowed to find their highest return. If resources are allocated to less productive uses or create asset bubbles due to bad policy, then overall growth will be slower than it should be."
The article focuses on the use of capital, both human and monetary. The Federal Reserve pumped money into the financial industry and real estate, and that bubble burst. When that happened, the government responded by expanding the federal government.
The article describes what has happened in the current economy:
"One reason the current recovery has been so lackluster is that it takes time for an economy to retool from these mistakes. Money that went to build now-empty condos on the Vegas Strip–or to government transfer payments–can't be reclaimed to rebuild American manufacturing and technology."
The article compares what has happened to the federal budget to what has happened to General Electric in recent years. During the build up to the economic bubble, GE Capital was the most successful part of General Electric. The article states,"Yet without federal loan guarantees for debt issuance, among other government aid during the crisis, GE Capital might well have taken the entire company down."
"Along with Mr. Obama, Mr. Immelt is now preaching the virtues of U.S. manufacturing and innovation. A glance at the GE homepage invites readers to "watch the rebirth of rails," of all things. GE also wants to produce more in the U.S., even though its domestic employment fell by about 34,000 from 2000 to 2009. These are laudable intentions."
"But even if you believe that such spending (tarp, stimulus, etc.) prevented a depression, it makes no economic sense to keep those resources under political sway now that the recovery is underway. Would you rather have Congress allocating that 4% of GDP, or millions of individuals deciding among Apple, Gilead Sciences, or the next great idea?
"The path back to faster growth, more jobs and a more competitive U.S. economy does not travel through more political mediation. Nor does it lie in endlessly easy Fed policy in a misguided attempt to refloat the housing bubble or revive the financial boom. A better economy requires policies that reward work and innovation, while letting capital flow to the companies and individuals with the best ideas. They might even be GE's."
If the economy is to grow, we need to get the government out of our pockets and out of business. Let business run business. The winners and losers will emerge in the free market without government intervention.
Fact Checking The State Of The Union Speech
Last night Yahoo Finance posted its fact check on President Obama's State of the Union Speech. These are some of the issues they found:
1. STATEMENT: Healthcare reform is one way to stop the growth of the deficit. FACT: There are some very arguable assumptions that go into the statement that the healthcare reform bill will save taxpayers (or consumers) money.
2. STATEMENT: The President promised to veto any bill that contains earmarks. FACT: Republicans have taken the lead in battling earmarks while Obama signed plenty of earmark-laden spending bills when Democrats controlled both houses.
3. STATEMENT: The President stated, "I'm willing to look at other ideas to bring down costs, including one that Republicans suggested last year: medical malpractice reform to rein in frivolous lawsuits." FACT: This has been suggested by the Republicans in the past and gone nowhere. The problem is that trial lawyers are a major part of the Democrat Party's funding.
4. STATEMENT: The President praised the bipartisan fiscal commission that gave its report last year. FACT: The President has not endorsed any of the ideas put forth by the commission.
5. STATEMENT: The President claimed that his diplomatic efforts to stop the spread of nuclear weapons has been successful. He cited the fact that Iran "faces tougher and tighter sanctions than ever before." FACT: He neglected to mention that although the sanctions have supposedly gotten tougher, they have not been effective.
The President doesn't seem to be aware of either the results of the November election or the danger that the growing deficit creates for our country. He needs to allow America to develop her own energy resources for a start. That will create jobs, provide affordable gasoline prices, help with the trade deficit, and stop the American funding of terrorism. None of that was in the speech. This man simply does not see the economic danger his budgets for the past two years have created. The best thing that can happen for America is a 2012 election when a President who is actually willing to allow the economy to grow can be elected.
A New Dimension In Thoughtlessness
Today's Daily Caller posted an article stating that California Democrat Representative Loretta Sanchez has requested that Representative Gabrielle Giffords be taken off of the House Armed Services Committee until she recovers from the injuries she sustained in Tucson.
These are the same Democrats who put Representative Hank Johnson on the House Armed Services Committee where he made the following statement to a military officer during a briefing about troop increases on Guam, "My fear is that the whole island will become so overly populated that it will tip over and capsize," I think they can wait for Representative Giffords to get back to Washington. I hope and pray that her recovery will continue to go as well as it has.
Representative Sanchez said that since every vote on the committee was critical, she felt Representative Giffords should be replaced at least temporarily.
"A spokesman for Committee Chairman Rep. Buck McKeon told TheDC that he does not support Sanchez's call to have someone fill in for Giffords."
Someone needs to explain to Representative Sanchez that it's not always about votes–sometimes it's about compassion.
Who Owns The Democrat Party ?
Today, Mark Tapscot at the Washington Examiner is beginning a series of reports on the Democrat Party. The reports deal with the influence of special interest groups within the party and the impact they have on the party. In his initial article today, he reminds us of the Howard Dean statement as to why tort reform was not in the healthcare reform bill even though it was needed.
The article quotes Howard Dean:
"Here's why tort reform is not in the bill. When you go to pass a really enormous bill like that, the more stuff you put into it, the more enemies you make. And the reason the tort reform is not in the bill is because the people who wrote it did not want to take on the trial lawyers in addition to everyone else they were taking on and that is the plain and simple truth."
Wow. An honest answer from a political figure.
The article lists the four gourps that currently control the Democrat party–lawyers, environmentalists, unions, and insiders. These groups fund the party and thus control the agenda.
Please follow the link above to read the article and see the list of upcoming articles in the series.
If They Supported The Bill, Why Are They Getting Waivers ?
Or are they getting waivers because they supported the bill? That is the question. What am I talking about? Unions and healthcare reform.
CNS News reported yesterday that:
"Three local chapters of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), whose political action committee spent $27 million supporting Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential election, have received temporary waivers from a provision in the Obamacare law."
Thus far, 45 out of the 222 waivers given have been given to labor unions. The other 177 waivers have been given to businesses and charitable organizations. One of the recipients of a waiver was the AARP, which also strongly supported the bill.
"A total of 1,507,418 enrollees are now included in the waivers. More than one-third — 512,315 – of the enrollees affected were insured by union health plans."
I didn't like the healthcare reform bill to begin with (or the way it was passed), but I really dislike its being used to repay political favors.
How Things Are Going In Afghanistan
This is a link to a three page letter written on January 25, 2011, by General Petraeus to the troops. The letter was posted on Michael Yon's website.
There are a few things in the letter that I find encouraging:
"The implementation of our stategy in 2010 was helped considerably by the deployment of additional ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) forces, the growth of the Afghan Army and Police, an increase in the number of our civilian partners, and the associated funding to enable it all. Indeed, together with the establishment of additional organizations and refinements of our stategy, the additional resources enabled us this past fall to get the "inputs" right in Afghanistan for the first time"
"…In sum, 2010 was a year of significant, hard-fought accomplishments. The year ahead is likely to be a tough one, too. Again, though, I am confident that the combined efforts of ISAF and Afghan forces will enable further important progress in 2011."
There are two things to note here. Thank you to all our military troops and their families (who also serve), and thank you to General Petraeus for the job he is doing.
The State's Rights Battle Over Obamacare
Hot Air reported Saturday that Idaho, the first state to sue the federal government over Obamacare, has now announced that it plans to use an18th century legal remedy that recognizes a state's right to nullify any federal law that the state has deemed unconstitutional in order to prevent Obamacare from being implemented there.
"Idaho is not the only state considering nullification as a remedy. Six others, including Maine, Montana, Oregon, Nebraska, Texas and Wyoming, are also considering bills that would in essence nullify the president's signature on the reform law."
Wow. The article reminds us that there are now 27 states involved in the lawsuit against Obamacare. Stay tuned for a whole bunch of legal battles.
The Youth Factor In The Abortion Debate
Today's Washington Post reports that the annual March for Life in Washington began today with a huge youth Mass at the Verizon Center. This will be the 38th annual March for Life.
"More than 27,000 young people secured tickets for the morning concert, pep rally and Mass, according to the Archdiocese of Washington. For the first time, a parallel event was held at the D.C. Armory to handle the overflow crowd."
On Friday, CNS News reported that Representative Michelle Bachmann (R-Minn.) will be the keynote speaker at its Rose Dinner event that marks the end of a weekend of protests and ceremonies focused on ending abortion.
The CNS News article cites two recent news stories regarding abortion:
"One report noted that 41 percent of pregnancies in New York City end in an abortion. That figure, twice the national average, was called "chilling" by New York Catholic Archbishop Timothy Dolan, who said he was "embarrassed" for the city over the high rate of abortions.
"The second major abortion story concerns a Philadelphia abortionist, Dr. Kermit Gosnell, who was charged with eight counts of murder after investigators discovered that one woman and seven babies died during botched abortion procedures that he reportedly performed."
The CNS News story reminds us that:
"According to the liberal Guttmacher Institute, 1.2 million abortions take place in the United states each year. Since the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, a little over 52 million children have been killed by abortion in America."
There are two things to remember here. I have heard it commented that the reason there is still debate on abortion is that the American people never actually got to vote on it. Up until Roe v. Wade, each state had established its own rules covering abortion rights. Roe v. Wade simply said that the federal government controlled abortion policies–not the states. If Roe v. Wade is overturned, abortion will not be illegal–it will become a state issue rather than a federal issue. At that point, each state will set up its own standards and rules regarding abortion.
Posted in Uncategorized	| Tagged March for Life, Roe v. Wade


Various fitouts within the CBD and regional centres as well as specialty facilities including laboratories and high security storage facilities.
The Department of Environment & Heritage naturally targets fitouts with a high level of social and environmental responsibility. Timbers are sought from managed forests, low formaldehyde and non-PVC products are chosen, plants are used to clean the air and all consumables are recycled such as glass, plastic, paper, cardboard and organics which are fed to in-house worm farms.


If you have suffered from significant decay and damage to your smile, a full mouth reconstruction can help you significantly improve your oral health. This advanced treatment will combine multiple restorative procedures to repair and rebuild your smile. Some patients may put off this vital treatment because they are concerned about the expense. However, you should not delay receiving the vital care you need. Dr. John F. Rink and his team can provide a personalized quote, as well as explain your unique full mouth reconstruction cost at our Charleston, SC, practice and work with you to place the cost of this treatment comfortably in your budget.
A full mouth reconstruction performed at our Charleston practice can give you a healthy, beautiful smile again.
A full mouth reconstruction will be based on exactly what you require. We cannot provide an accurate estimate without knowing your oral health concerns. During a consultation with Dr. Rink, he can examine your smile and help you plan your treatment. The main factors that will affect the cost of your full mouth reconstruction include the following.
Chosen procedures: When you are selecting the type of procedures to restore your smile, there are different options that can help you achieve similar results. Your cost can vary if you choose traditional dental crowns instead of our advanced CEREC® restorations. More extensive procedures such as dental implants will also cost more than more traditional tooth replacement options.
Types of materials: When choosing on the type of restorations for your exact needs, you will have a selection of materials. More advanced, aesthetic options will typically cost more than others.
Number of procedures: Both the total number of treatments and appointments will affect your cost. Undergoing multiple restorative procedures will increase your total expense. However, you can plan your treatments in advance, which will enable you to undergo procedures in a systematic order, and even allows us to combine multiple procedures into a single appointment, cutting back on the cost for multiple visits.
Anesthesia: The cost of anesthesia and additional sedation will add to the total for your procedure. However, because you can plan your treatments ahead of time and combine multiple procedures into one visit, you can reduce the amount of anesthesia and sedation you need, lowering your overall cost.
Investing in a full mouth reconstruction can be invaluable, as it can restore the function, comfort, and appearance of your smile.
Insurance: Many restorative treatments are covered partially or fully by insurance. More elective procedures, such as dental implants, are not typically covered. Our team can work with you to help you maximize your coverage and create a payment plan for any uncovered costs involved with this life-changing procedure.
Cosmetic procedures: Once your oral health has been restored, you may wish to include cosmetic treatments to enhance the appearance of your smile.
Dr. Rink is a recognized and accredited dentist who understands that investing in your smile is vital. He has gone through extensive training to provide the most advanced treatments using innovative methods and state-of-the-art technology. Our entire team will work with you to make sure we meet your goals and can address any concerns about cost that you may have. You can trust in us to provide valuable treatment that can restore a strong oral foundation that can last for years to come.
Investing in a full mouth reconstruction can be invaluable, as it can restore the function, comfort, and appearance of your smile. To schedule a consultation and receive your personalized quote, contact our office today.


This M3 has every box checked: low miles, coupe, carbon fiber roof, Competition Package, and a real 6-speed manual transmission! Also equipped with performance steering wheel with digital readout, heated front seats, enhanced premium sound, rain sensing wipers, shadowline exterior trim, rear PDC, xenon headlights with high-beam assistant, light package, navigation, and cruise control. Excellent condition, Clean Carfax and history with documented service at BMW.


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Q: EXCEL Function to Separate Only Last 3 Values From Address With Comma Delimited I am using Excel 2013. I have an excel sheet with addresses. I want to put Post Codes, Region, and town in s separate column. The addresses are separated from the comma. Of course, I can use the "Text to Column" function but the issue is that there are also address that have commas within the street address.
For example:

201 Battle Road, st. Leonards-on-sea, East Sussex, TN37 7AJ

&

Inside Pets At Home, unit 3, bridge of don retail park, denmore road,
Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, AB23 8JW

In this example, I am only interested in separating the last 3 values with a comma which is Town name, Region, and Zipcode. But the "Text to Column" function separates all the values which I don't want.
What's the best way to handle this so it only separates the last 3 values?
Thanks for your time.

A: In Excel O365 you could use (using spilling behaviour):
=TRANSPOSE(FILTERXML("<t><s>"&SUBSTITUTE(A1,", ","</s><s>")&"</s></t>","//s[position()>last()-3]"))

In other Excel versions (from Excel 2013 onwards) you could use:
=INDEX(FILTERXML("<t><s>"&SUBSTITUTE($A1,", ","</s><s>")&"</s></t>","//s[position()>last()-3]"),COLUMN(A1))

And drag two cells to the right.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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HealthyEats
Healthy Eats Home
Countdown to New Year's: No-Resolutions Resolution Plan Week 6
In this last week of our No-Resolutions Plan we're making lasting changes for 2015!
By: Kiri Tannenbaum
Top New Year resolutions
What's on your agenda this week? Digging into Ree Drummond's Christmas Queso? Sitting down to I na Garten's gorgeous rib roast or cutting into the Neelys' crowd-pleasing glazed ham? Perhaps you've been the one tasked with making those cookies left out for Santa conveniently disappear? Sounds like a lot of fun — and fun that should be had.
For the last week of our No-Resolutions Resolution plan, let's all be reminded: Holidays are meant to be celebrated. Relish in the once-a-year feasts, cocktail party nibbles, seasonal eggnog, gingerbread men and, of course, memorable time with your family — for better or worse. No one has said, though, that by kicking up your heels and indulging you are automatically given a free pass to pack on the pounds. "It's not like you have to gain weight," says clinical associate professor of nutrition and food studies at New York University Lisa Sasson. "The holidays are not a green light." OK, that may sound a little harsh, but somewhere along the way we've all been programmed to think: "Hey, it's the holidays! Gaining weight is just part of the deal!" Uh-huh. No one ever said the two needed to go hand in hand. There is a way to enjoy Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, New Year's — or whatever your food-filled celebration — and not be required to unbuckle your belt under the table. That said, what do you do to be sure you're not leaving the party with a belly that resembles Saint Nick's?
Be Mindful
"Think," says Sasson. It's really that simple: Be mindful before you even get to the festivities. Sasson suggests telling yourself: "There are times I will splurge, but the next day I'll be more active. Or say, "I'm not going to parties famished. I am going to make sure I have something to eat before I get there." Stick to a regular eating schedule and pause before you go in for seconds or thirds.
Don't Diet
Despite the fact that you're reading this, and hopefully that means you're going to enjoy yourself responsibly, what do you do Jan. 1 when your scale is not showing your normal weight? Here's what Sasson says not to do: diet. "That' one of the worst things that happens in the new year," says Sasson. "People set unrealistic goals and go on crazy diets." While a plan to cut back sounds reasonable, what's so wrong with dieting? Likely you'll start a diet on Monday (everything begins on Mondays), but by Tuesday, when you've already broken it, you'll tell yourself you'll start again next week; therein lies the problem. "If you're going to go on a diet, you're going to go off a diet," says Sasson. "That can't happen if you decide to change your eating habits." Give yourself reasonable goals, and tell yourself that this year you're going to change your patterns.
Make Lasting Changes
What's a good place to start? "Explore the main reasons you gain weight," says Sasson. "Is it that you drink too much? Snack too much? Whatever it is, figure it out." When you get to the root of the issue, find a solution, but make sure it's one you can take on. "Perhaps you tell yourself, 'Every time I watch TV I'm not going to snack.' Or, 'When I go to restaurants I'm going to split desserts.' Or, 'I'm only going out to dinner once a week and cook more at home,'" suggests Sasson. She stresses that making key lifestyle choices is the key to success. "These are longer lasting rather than the temporary Band-Aid approach that people only do for a couple weeks."
A challenge you may face in changing your lifestyle, however, is managing time. There is just never enough of it, and yes, if you're cooking more and ordering in less, you will need more of it. The key is to plan ahead. Sasson suggests batch cooking and making time to grocery shop, which will prevent you from eating junk when you come home starving at the end of the day. Think in advance what lunches you'll be making for the week, and have an array of basics on hand or frozen homemade soups ready to be reheated.
When you do ring in the new year, if you're going to resolve to do anything different, there's one biggie: change. "It's the best resolution you can make for 2015," says Sasson. "You have to do something, because there's no magic. It's time to make a change in your life."
Kiri Tannenbaum is a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu Paris and holds an M.A. in food studies from New York University where she is currently an adjunct professor. When her schedule allows, she leads culinary walking tours in New York City and is currently at work on her first book.
Countdown to New Year's: No-Resolutions Resolution Week 2
Become a vegan before 6 pm and you won't have to make any New Year's resolutions this January 1. More healthy eating tips like these at Food Network.
Forget the self-shaming resolutions of years past. Instead, avoid packing on the extra pounds during the holiday season so you enter 2015 with a bang.
It's the third installment of our No-Resolutions Resolution plan, and this week we're turning our attention toward the relationship between calories consumed and calories burned.
We're in the home stretch of our No-Resolutions Resolution plan. Here are our tips for how to shop for the best and healthiest packaged foods.
Focus on snacking smart now and you won't need to make that New Year's Resolution again this year. More healthy eating tips like these at FoodNetwork.com
Healthy New Year: 10 Reasonable Resolutions
All too often New Year's are made to be broken. Folks usually bite off more than they can chew ("I'm going to lose 20 pounds by February 1st"). Forget about the "all-or- nothing" and "cold turkey" approaches, how about some resolutions that are reasonable so you can actually stick to them?! Here are ten ideas to help get you started.
10 Non-Resolution Resolutions
Forget your typical resolutions….to lose 50 pounds this year, to fit into a size 4 or to hit the gym 5 days a week. This year make a resolution that's attainable without a number attached! Here are some non-resolution resolutions for 2011.
Strategies for Keeping Your New Year's Resolutions
Enlist these five nutrition strategies to help keep your New Year's resolutions.
New Year's Resolution: Go Meatless on Mondays
Start the New Year on a healthful note by cooking up Food Network's favorite meatless entrees, and check back each Monday to find more simple vegetarian meals.
New Year's Resolutions from Food Network Stars!
Best Meat Loaf Recipe
The Best Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
60 Best Mexican Food Recipes
Best Homemade Chocolate Brownies with Cocoa...
65 Best Cheesecake Recipes
How to Make Apple Pie From Scratch

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Senior Alyssa Sweda and sophomore Katherine Lewandowski tied for first place as MMI Preparatory School's "Best of the Best" for the first semester of the 2018-2019 academic year. As part of the biannual competition, 10th and 12th grade students delivered presentations during an all-school assembly.
Sweda's presentation focused on Henri Bendel, while Lewandowski discussed the Bilderberg Group.
Sophomore Ella Urosevich talked about how technology negatively affects us and sophomore Samantha Sparich gave a presentation on The Hero's Journey in literature.
CAPTION: Katherine Lewandowski and Alyssa Sweda, pictured at center from left to right, tied for first place as MMI's "Best of the Best for the first semester. Also pictured are, from left: Ella Urosevich and Samantha Sparich.


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Q: Word boundary won't match the beginning or end in Javascript I'm getting unexpected results with this code:
'foo'.match(new RegExp('\bfoo\b')); // Returns null

Why is this returning null while this one returns "foo"?
'foo'.match(new RegExp('foo')); // Returns "foo"

Doesn't a word boundary marker match the beginning and end as well?
EDIT: I need the regular expression itself to be a string because I am injecting variables into it.

A: Escape the backslashes
'foo'.match(new RegExp('\\bfoo\\b'));

A: Don't wrap it in quotes... instead, do this:-
'foo'.match(new RegExp(/\bfoo\b/))


Check remote file size in php using PHP5 and cUrl.
To check file size you need PHP5 and Curl. It first try checking headers. But if file size is not specified in headers, it use cUrl to download the file and checks the size. File is saved in memory temporarily.


Pre-order the Gold & Grey album in any format and add the Gold & Grey Album Cover T-Shirt to your order for $20.
Copyright © 2019 All Rights Reserved. Musictoday II, LLC, is the seller of all Baroness Merch merchandise and is solely responsible for all aspects of your purchase.


I found this article and wanted to share.
"Has your attention become narrowly fixated on your work?"
In order to further understand one of the inner dynamics of workaholism — that perfectionism leads to obsession, and in turn, obsession leads to increasing levels of narcissism — our focus now turns to the role that obsession plays.
The Thinking function has a single-focused awareness capacity that zeros in on one subject at a time. As a consequence, extraneous distractions tend to fade into the background. Because Thinking is hierarchical and naturally competitive, it strives to stay on the top rung of the proverbial ladder. Therefore, striving to be the best, winning, and conquering adversity are important values.
A workaholic is a work-obsessed individual who has gradually become emotionally crippled and addicted to power and control. Caught up in a compulsive drive to gain personal approval and public recognition of their success, these driven men and women live a Gerbil-wheel adrenalin-pumping existence rushing from point A to B, narrowly fixated on the next desired goal or accomplishment. Eventually, nothing or no one else matters.
If you or someone you care about is struggling with workaholism, contact Hired Power at 800-910-9299 or click here.


It has been a good summer, gone too quickly. But the fall touring season is upon us, and I am excited at some of the opportunities on the table.
This weekend I will be in Rochester, NY for a Friday night concert. Then I will head to Ithaca, NY where I will appear Sunday night on the famous live folk radio show Bound For Glory. Those that cannot attend in person may tune in on line. Links and info below.
Later this fall I will be performing in Austin, TX; Ottawa, ON; Iowa, Illinois, New York (People's Voice Cafe & Carnegie Hall!!!) and Thanksgiving weekend, I will be in concert with my whole family in DeKalb IL. Many of you have wondered where this music came from? Well, on November 28th, you are invited to a special concert at the Egyptian Theater in DeKalb for a once-in-a-decade musical experience. More details will follow.
The New CD, Links In A Chain is out and receiving radio play all over the US, Canada, Australia and beyond! More info will follow in Early October.
I have been reflecting deeply on the meaning of community and family lately. Two weeks ago, one of my dearest and oldest friends took his own life. It has been hard to reconcile the beautiful and talented man I knew, with the state of despair that would have caused this action. As such, I have been hanging out inside my "turtle shell" a bit. I am acutely aware of how precious is life, and how precarious the balance. But I have been surrounded by the love of my communities both personal and professional... and truest that the grief will subside in the fullness of time.
As such... the website and many other professional matters have been left unattended. But, they will be updated soon. So, please forgive this brief note... but I wanted to let you all know I am out and about, making music in all of its healing beauty, and thinking with gratitude of you, the community that have sustained my musical and life dreams for more than 10 years!
Old Town School, Carnegie Hall, & Gratitude!
Joe Jencks: April Tour Dates, Recording, and GREAT News!


The H2's new aviation-inspired garb underlines the piece's legibility, a defining element for all flight instruments. The path and the color of the minute hand have been redrawn with its quarter hour indexes enlarged and in red. The central hand underwent the same treatment. Magnified and tipped by a red arrow, a first for HYT. The crown position indicator (H-N-R) located at 3 o'clock is visible via a window that displays the selected function. To ensure all components shine with maximum visibility they are placed on a DLC-treated movement with a satin finish and polished angles. The contrast with the neighboring chrome is optimal, the reading of the time simple and intuitive. The watch is offered in a limited edition of 40 pieces.


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The Express Tribune > Opinion > Editorial
Dangerous roads
We need more regulation of the buses, coaches, vans and other vehicles which carry commuters.
By Editorial
A view of wreckage at the site of the accident in Bahalwalpur. PHOTO: INP
For ordinary people who do not possess their own vehicles, travelling in our country has become like a game of Russian roulette. It has become impossible to say if the journey will end safely or whether the traveller will reach his or her final destination or not. More and more often, the latter is the case.
In the latest major crash to be reported from our roads, 24 persons were killed and several others injured when a passenger van collided with a truck at a bypass near Bahawalpur. Reports say the van carrying passengers to a location outside the city was overcrowded and that the drivers of both vehicles were driving well above the speed limit when the van made a blind turn into the bypass lane. There was obviously too little time for brakes to be slammed and the result was mass death, including that of women and children. For them, there will be no other journeys.
But others, of course, will be forced to make them and the question we need to ask ourselves is how to make our roads and highways safer. Information is rarely made public regarding the number of road accidents that occur each year but existing data suggest they run into tens of thousands of fatalities. It is hard to calculate what percentage of these accidents involve public transport vehicles but the number is certainly sizeable. We need more regulation of the buses, coaches, vans and other vehicles which carry commuters. In the first place, as is the case in many other countries, the system of licensing drivers must be improved. At present, it is possible to hire just about anyone to drive a public transport vehicle. Many do not possess any training at all. Others are paid 'per trip', making it tempting for them to keep the accelerator pressed firmly down. Traffic authorities, backed by federal and provincial governments, need to direct greater attention to the problem so that deaths can be averted and unnecessary hazards removed from road travel. This is something authorities owe people everywhere.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 1st, 2012.
Honouring heroes


The Health and Counselling Centre provides a comprehensive range of professional and confidential services. This includes health services for students and staff, along with counselling services for students of Massey University.
Monday - Friday: 8.30am - 5 p.m.
What if I need assistance outside of opening hours?


With all of the great shows on Netflix, picking one to binge can sometimes be an excruciating decision.Thankfully, I found Santa Clarita Diet, a unique show that was almost impossible to stop watching.
Despite some negative reviews from critics and Netflix users, I found Santa Clarita Diet to be quite good. Think of it as The Walking Dead meets Suburbia. Sheila, played by Drew Barrymore, is transformed into a flesh-eating zombie. Joel, played by Timothy Olyphant, tries to find the balance between his wife's desire for human flesh and living as a normal family.
Santa Clarita Diet isn't a show for children. With suggestive dialogue and adult innuendo, it's definitely one of Netflix's raunchier shows. It's also one of its most grotesque. I'd recommend that if you're the least bit squeamish to think twice about watching.
Being that it's such a raunchy show, I found it rather interesting that Drew Barrymore plays the lead. Always thought of as a clean-cut actress, she really doesn't hold back in this show. Whether it be chowing down on flesh, or dropping the F- bomb, she's in rare form on Santa Clarita Diet. It does work for her, though, as she's without question the highlight of the show.
Sheila and Joel's daughter, Abby, a girl that is trying to cope with her mother's new lifestyle.
With only 10 episodes, you were left wanting more. Unfortunately, the ending didn't do much to answer the shows many questions. You're left with a few cliffhangers, but ultimately they could have benefitted from adding two or three more episodes to the season.
Aside from a lackluster ending, Santa Clarita Diet is a great option for a lazy day at home. It's not going to win an Emmy, but can provide a few laughs, especially if you're a fan of zombies. Knowing Netflix, there should be a second season, and I'll be waiting for it.
Fitness Focus! 5 Ways to Set Realistic Fitness Goals!


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Evans staying put - Chairman
Tony Stewart talks to www.themillers.co.uk...
Rotherham United Chairman Tony Stewart has moved to put final clarity on the situation regarding manager Steve Evans, and the recent press speculation.
Following on from Steve's words earlier today where he re-affirmed his commitment to Rotherham United FC, the Chairman has further clarified that the Millers boss will be remaining at the helm at New York Stadium.
"Despite the recent press speculation over the past 24 hours, I would like to fully clarify that Steve Evans will not be joining Sheffield Wednesday," the Chairman told www.themillers.co.uk
"Steve is a key part of Rotherham United's efforts to progress to the Championship and both the Board of Directors and Steve are delighted with progress made so far.
"We will now draw a line under the speculation as we look to prepare for the FA Cup second round match with Rochdale this Saturday."


Cork, 6 December 2016: Teams of students from schools across Cork presented the Apps they developed to judges at the recent CEIA's SySTEM Finals held at CIT. With a record number of female team entries, the Mount Mercy College team was announced as overall winner for their educational gaming app.
SySTEM requires students to develop an educational gaming app over a number of weeks in teams before the final competition. With training workshops for participating teachers and students, CEIA provides support on programming, design, project management and presentation skills, as well as team mentors for each team.
"The SySTEM programme is of huge benefit, not just in terms of exposure to STEM learning such as coding, but also marketing, presentation and teamwork.
This year's entries all demonstrated really high levels of understanding the premise of coding and devleoping and marketing apps. We are really delighted to present the all-girls team from Mount Mercy College with the SyStem Award, and congratulations to them and our other team winners." said Dr Eamon Connolly, Electrical and Electronic Engineering Promotion Officer, CEIA.
Presentation College, Ballyphehane won Best Functionality Award for their App, while St. Als Carrigtwohill scooped Best Design and Graphics. Mount Mercy College also won 'Best Marketing' award for a second team entry.
"Each team had to create an educational gaming android app; the team activities included project management, app development, graphic design and sales and marketing. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all of the participating teams, each one showed excellent skill and creativity in the development of their Apps," he added.
The CEIA Skills and Education Group, which is supported by Science Foundation Ireland, promotes STEM education to students from the ages of 10-18 through programmes such as the SySTEM App competition, HighTech Elec, maths tutorials linked to the leaving cert curriculum, Discover Science workshops and other events. Further information is available on the CEIA website www.ceia.ie.
Cork City, founded in 606 AD, besides being rich in local and national history, is also steeped in heritage and has been home to such figures as William Penn, Charles Boyle, Walter Raleigh, Edmund Spenser, Charles Berkeley and George Boole.


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Q: Business Continuity Plan for web application and database I have been asked by work to set up a business continuity/disaster recovery plan for two similarly implemented web applications and associated databases.
Not something I'm familiar with doing.
What are the best practice procedures for creating plans of this nature?

A: Business Continuity can be a complicated beast and you'll need to involve affected departments/users to make sure everyone knows the 'plan'.  The main two things you'll tend to see over and over are: RTO (Recovery Time Objective) and RPO (Recovery Point Objective)
RTO basically is the maximum time allowed to get things back to 'normal' or at least functioning.  You would need to take into consideration small problems (server went down) to big problems (the building just exploded).
RPO basically is, how much data could we 'possibly' lose should a bad problem happen?  5 minutes, 1 hour, 1 day, NONE?
There are lots of good stuff on the Internet about this topic - I think it would be time well spent doing some internet searches for IT Business Continuity Plan.
Here are a couple of good articles right off the bat:
http://www.cio.com/article/2381021/best-practices/how-to-create-an-effective-business-continuity-plan.html
https://www.brentozar.com/archive/2014/05/new-high-availability-planning-worksheet/
https://www.brentozar.com/archive/2011/12/letters-that-get-dbas-fired/
https://www.brentozar.com/archive/2015/09/why-rpo-and-rto-are-actually-performance-metrics-too/


This is just some words I scribbled on some paper about the guy I have yet to meet. I call it him.
This is a really good piece you wrote. I could feel the emotion in wanting to say something to someone but not doing it. I can tell you really love the said "him" this piece is about. Thank you so much for sharing.
Thanx so much. Once I get inspired to write again I will share.
I like this, as well as the drawing on the bottom!


As we build the Metro Tunnel, the safety of our workers and the public is our number one priority.
There is an increasing number of trucks travelling to and from our worksites in Kensington, North Melbourne, Parkville, the CBD and South Yarra as they transport excavated material, equipment and machinery.
If you see any safety concerns while traveling around our sites, please contact us.
We recently partnered with the Amy Gillett Foundation to pilot a truck driver program to raise awareness about travelling near cyclists.
Watch the video below to see what the truck drivers learnt from the pilot program.
As part of Bicycle Network's 'Swapping Seats' campaign pilot, bike riders at Around the Bay were invited to step up into a truck and sit in the driver's seat. Riders where then asked to look in the mirrors as a bike rider moved around the truck.
The aim of the campaign is to build a positive relationship between the drivers of heavy vehicles and bike riders by showing people just how little a driver can see at an intersection.
Trucks have many blind spots and sometimes it can be hard to see cyclists on the road. Watch the video below to see an example of the challenges cyclists and trucks encounter when sharing the road.
For more information on how to be visible around trucks, go to bicyclenetwork.com.au/swappingseats.


text:
Dk Najibah Eradah Pengiran Ahmad Mahdi Al-Sufri (20 de mayo de 1983), y es la primera Bruneiana en haber llegado al Polo Sur.

Vida personal

Anteriormente profesora de matemáticas en la escuela secundaria, se convirtió en funcionario del gobierno en Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores y Comercio de Brunéi.  Está casada con Mohd Faierony Hazelin Haji Mat Jair.

Logros

Ella y otras siete mujeres, cada una de una Mancomunidad de Naciones, fueron seleccionadas entre más de 800 candidatos para participar en la Expedición Antártica Kaspersky, que llegó al Polo Sur el 29 de diciembre de 2009.

Explicando su participación en la expedición, dijo: "Soy una apasionada de los temas ambientales y espero usar mi participación en la expedición para crear conciencia en Brunei del calentamiento global y el cambio climático".

Los medios de comunicación de Brunéi describieron su logro como "un día histórico para Brunei y un día trascendental para las mujeres de la Sultanía". Saiful Ibrahim, Vicepresidenta de la Asociación de Recreación de Aventura de Brunéi, la describió como "un icono para todos los Bruneianos, especialmente para las mujeres y nuestros jóvenes". Se ha dado a conocer en Brunéi como "la Chica Polar"..

Véase también
 Capa de hielo de la Antártida

Referencias

Exploradores de la Antártida
Exploradores del siglo XXI
Bruneanas
Exploradores de Brunéi

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Current Bitcoin (BTC) price is □353.16733335634 XAG. It has a current circulating supply of 17,659,300 BTC coins and a Market Cap of □6,236,679,469 XAG. Bitcoin price is up by (0.28%) today. □915,345,028 XAG worth of Bitcoin (BTC) has been traded in the past 24 hours. You can follow Bitcoin (BTC)'s progress by adding it to your favourites and creating a free portfolio if you wish. You can view live price chart, candelstick chart and historical price chart.


Whenever you purchase a brand new air con unit, don't let the salesperson talk you into too large of a unit. This will likely be a waste of money and won't efficiently cool your private home. The longer a system runs, the extra efficient will probably be when it's working, so search for one which runs 15 to half-hour. Outer coils might be cleaned with a daily out of doors hose earlier than you turn the unit on for the season. That said, inside coils ought to be taken care of by an expert in order that you don't do any injury as you attempt to clean them. Deliver somebody in to complete a examine up.
Never rent an HVAC contractor that doesn't maintain a legitimate license from your state. There are people out there that may supply to do inexpensive work since they haven't any license. Whereas it might seem to be a bargain, you'll have numerous points in the occasion that one thing goes mistaken. Each spring it's essential to ensure that your condenser fan's coils and blades on the fan part are clean. Turn it off first so you aren't getting harm or break something. Then take off the grill, take the blades out, and gently clear them.
Coping with a damaged HVAC system is a nightmare each house owner dreads. However, taking the time to analysis the subject of HVAC techniques, any house owner can keep away from the nightmare of coping with a final minute fix. It's doable for any homeowner to resolve any points quickly and at an affordable cost by remembering the advice discovered here. Ask for references and you'll want to name them as well. You are coping with a high ticket item here, so you will want to do your due diligence to make sure you are getting one of the best in your cash. Ask for references, however do not stop there. Name each reference to examine. A lot of people do not take that important final step.
Make an HVAC system run extra efficiently by determining what path your own home faces. Bushes in certain areas can present shade, which implies your home will stay cooler. If there is less warmth within the residence from daylight, then the HVAC will require less work to actually cool the house. Change your filter on a regular basis. This is one of the best HVAC tips that you can do your self. It is usually one of the least expensive things that you are able to do to ensure that your system is operating effectively. Clogged and dirty filters could make your unit work 5-10% tougher.
This text has some helpful information for dealing with these points.
When you should rent someone that will help you out together with your HVAC system, make sure you find out about all the requirements your state has legislated relating to licencing and insurance coverage. You need to be able to ask anybody you plan to rent if they meet these necessities earlier than you hire them. It is best to do your research earlier than hiring anyone to come back to your house to complete any HVAC initiatives. Watching house improvements shows might be deceiving since things rarely go as easily as they do on television. It is very vital that you recognize what to expect earlier than issues get began.
A great HVAC system can preserve your home comfortable, no matter how hot or how cold it might be exterior. However, it can be hard to search out the proper system for your wants. There may be so much that you must bear in mind. The ideas you've gotten read here shall be very helpful to you. Unless you are lucky sufficient to reside in a place the place the climate is always beautiful, you will need an HVAC system in your home. Without one, you will sweat all summer time and shiver all winter. What you could have just learn will assist you choose a system that meets your needs.
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Get an estimate earlier than agreeing to have any work completed in your HVAC unit. This will assist preserve you from being stunned by a invoice at the finish. Any respected technician should be capable to take a look at your unit, decide the issue and provide you with an estimate as to how a lot it can price to fix it. So as to lower your expenses overnight, buy an air conditioner with a swap that sets it to be fan-only. This may push sizzling air outside and usher in cool air from near the bottom. Turn this on just earlier than mattress with the intention to cool the home as you sleep.
This drain ought to be inspected regularly. If algae types in the drain line or if the drain line freezes, you possibly can be in for some expensive repairs.


The Citywide Council on Special Education adopted a resolution expressing deep concern about the use of student test scores as part of teacher evaluation. The Board signed on as supporters of our paper. You can view the resolution through the link below.


Have you lost your phone, your Instagram photos or just want to be safe and perform a backup?
Did you love that one beautiful Instagram photo or video and want to keep it forever?
InstaSave Pro allows you to download Instagram photos and videos to your device memory, allowing you to see them anytime, anywhere.
Please report by mail any problem or sugestion before sending a bad rating.
Please do not use this program to save photos without the permission of the respective owners. Respect the rights of the Instagram users.
InstaSave uses the Instagram public API and depends on the Instagram servers. InstaSave uses the OAuth 2.0 protocol to authenticate the user.


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At Ampleforth we welcome visitors to come and see us here in the valley, be it for a walk in our beautiful grounds or to join us for Mass, a retreat or to find out more about life as a monk. The beauty and tranquillity of this place are God-given. Our duty is to care for the Ampleforth estate so that as many people as possible can appreciate and enjoy it, while preserving its essential qualities for those who will come after us.
Please click here to learn more about coming to Ampleforth to explore our Tea Room, Abbey Shop, Orchards and visitor experience.
Please click here to learn more about coming to Ampleforth to attend a retreat or to learn more about our Benedictine community.


text:
Public belief in climate change weathers storm, poll shows
in Earth, Politics, Social
UK Public acceptance of climate change as a human-caused threat seems to have survived recent media controversies, and some periods of seriously cold weather. That's according to a recent opinion poll published by Guradian/ICM.
An overwhelming 83% of British people agreed that climate change is a current or imminent threat. Since the last poll 18 months ago, the number of people saying climate change isn't a current threat rose by only 3%.
This poll comes after the UK has experienced two abnormally cold winters in row. In addition, three times as many people said the cold weather had made them even more concerned about climate change. So much for people being influenced by local conditions, in relation to a rising global temperature issue!
Could more people be beginning to understand the complexity of the problem do you think?
Image CC licensed by anniemullinsuk
This article titled "Public belief in climate change weathers storm, poll shows" was written by Damian Carrington, for theguardian.com on Monday 31st January 2011 14.03 UTC
The public's belief in global warming as a man-made danger has weathered the storm of climate controversies and cold weather intact, according to a Guardian/ICM opinion poll published today.
Asked if climate change was a current or imminent threat, 83% of Britons agreed, with just 14% saying global warming poses no threat. Compared with August 2009, when the same question was asked, opinion remained steady despite a series of events in the intervening 18 months that might have made people less certain about the perils of climate change. Emails between climate researchers that were released online in November 2009 had led to unfounded suggestions that the scientific basis for global warming was flawed. World leaders also failed to agree to a global deal to combat warming and a mistake over the melting of Himalayan glaciers was handled badly by the UN's science panel.
Supporters of action on climate change, from government to business to campaigners, will be relieved that this series of negative news failed to increase scepticism significantly. Polling by other organisations in early 2010 suggested a rise in the proportion of those unconvinced of the danger of climate change. But over the 18-month period between the ICM polls, the proportion of people saying climate change is not a current threat rose by just 3% and was balanced by a 3% rise in those saying it is a threat, representing a small polarisation of the opposing viewpoints.
The UK also suffered two unusually cold winters in 2009 and 2010. But three times more people said the freezing weather had actually made them worry more about global warming than those who were less worried. The finding runs counter to the idea that people are influenced more by local conditions than by reports of globally rising temperatures. It may also indicate an understanding of how warming is projected to increase extreme weather events and that people distinguish between changes in short-term weather and long-term climate.
A large majority of people think that humanity is causing climate change, with 68% agreeing and 24% choosing to blame non-man-made factors, which again is very close to the August 2009 response, with figures of 71% and 23% respectively. In 2007, the UN's science panel collated the work of thousands of scientists to conclude that the link between the emission of greenhouse gases by human activities and climate change was 90% certain.
While climate sceptics remain a vocal presence in some parts of the climate change debate, the new poll shows them to represent a fringe position. An analysis of those who think climate change poses no threat reveals them to be predominantly men (70%) and about twice as likely to be over 65 and to have voted Conservative in 2010 than the general population.
Examine the full Guardian/ICM poll data. ICM Research interviewed a random sample of 1,000 adults by telephone on 22-24 January 2010. Interviews were conducted across the country and the results have been weighted to the profile of all adults. ICM is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.
Tagged as: Article, climate change, Damian Carrington, environment, News, science, UK news
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European communications conglomerate O2 is planning a refresh of it's XDA line of PDA/phones. The new XDA will have an integrated camera with a 640×480 resolution, a tri-band radio, 64 MB RAM, the newer PXA255 processor at 400 MHz, and PocketPC 2003 Phone Edition. The device will be released in Europe by Christmas, however there is no information on when it may come to the U.S..
Asian electronics manufacturer MiTAC has plans to launch a new PocketPC based on NAND memory and a Samsung processor for a list price of $199. It's currently unknown whether the MiTAC PPC will be released in North America or Europe.
Much more interesting than the new hardware is the continued trend towards the Samsung 2410 processor. The HP iPAQ 1930 and 1940 series' use this processor, and it's believed that the upcoming Dell Axim ultralight will as well. If this trend continues, or if any more chips start being used, Intel may find itself fighting for it's previously dominated territory in the PDA space.
The Dana, by Alphasmart, a Palm-powered 'laptop alternative', is getting a new addition to the family. The new model includes WiFi, SDIO, a 16-shade greyscale screen, and support for USB modems. It still remains to be seen, however, whether the Dana can find a market even with it's new features.


Rikki Age: 18. If you would like to meet me, just drop me a line and write some details about you and your idea of our meeting.Will keep this shortPhone: +I was looking for a place to sit down and I noticed this cute babe tanning on her beach towel.
i want to spoil you a bit in the bed after you finish at work and can switch off your mind with me,with the wild cat who is very elegant and cute but wild in private time. Caroline has a very tight body, with hot curves and nice round B cups.


text:
from django.conf.urls import url
from django.contrib.staticfiles.urls import staticfiles_urlpatterns

from . import views

urlpatterns = [
    url(r'^$', views.glossary, name='glossary'),
    url(r'^json/$', views.glossary_json, name='glossary_json'),
]

urlpatterns += staticfiles_urlpatterns()

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub