text:
Chicago and Alton Railroad
TIMELINE OF THE CHICAGO & ALTON RAILROAD
1847-1852—Alton and Sangamon Railroad completed.
1854—The line extended to Bloomington, as the Chicago and Mississippi Railroad.
1855—The line extended to Joliet.
1855-1856—Joliet and Chicago Railroad chartered. It was leased by the Chicago and Mississippi creating a continuous line from Alton to Chicago.
1862—St. Louis, Alton and Chicago and then the Chicago and Alton Railroad were formed.
1863—Alton and the Pittsburgh Ft. Wayne and Chicago Railroad completed an agreement for the Alton to move from the Illinois Central depot, where they had been briefly, to the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago depot on Madison Street, later to become the Union Depot and finally Union Station, where the Alton resided until it's demise.
1864—Chicago and Alton chartered the Alton and St. Louis Railroad to complete its line to East St. Louis.
1870—Louisiana and Missouri River Railroad running from Louisiana to Springfield, Missouri, and the leasing.
1878—Kansas City St. Louis and Chicago Railroad running from Mexico to Kansas City, Missouri.
1906—Chicago and Alton Railway controlled at various times by the U. P., the Rock Island and Nickel Plate.
1931—Alton Railroad—subsidiary of the Baltimore and Ohio. Chicago & Alton name changed to the Alton Line, using B&O colors.
1947—Alton merged into Gulf Mobile and Ohio Railroad Alton name gone after merger.
1949—GM&O was first major railroad to convert to all diesel. All original C&A steam engines sold for scrap.
1971—Passenger service taken over by Amtrak
1972—Alton merged into Illinois Central Gulf
1987—Alton Joliet-St. Louis line sold to Chicago Missouri and Western
1989—CM&W acquired by UP
1990—St. Louis (& Springfield) to KC sold to Gateway Western Railroad
1998—Canadian National purchases Joliet-Chicago portion of old Alton. Passenger service operated by METRA
1997—KCS obtains St. Louis-KC line from Gateway Western
Chicago & Alton R.R. Map
Technological Advances by the Alton Railroad
The Alton was the first railroad to install a sleeping car designed by George Pullman and built in the C&A's Bloomington shops. This went into service on the Chicago to East St. Louis line on September 1, 1859.
The Alton was the first railroad to install a dining car, the Delmonico, in regular service. It was built by George Pullman in the CB&Q Railroad's Aurora, Illinois shops. Two more dining cars, the Tremont and the Southern were also built and leased by the Chicago and Alton, providing dining car service on all of its Chicago to East St. Louis trains.
In 1932 the Alton was the first Chicago-St. Louis Railroad to install air conditioning on its passenger trains.
The yard operation of Alton was the first to go all-diesel in 1947.
The Alton was the leading Railroad in Chicago to St. Louis service.
Chicago Tribune, August 17, 1859
MESSRS. PULLMAN & FIELDS' NEW SLEEPING CAR—A short time since we noticed the fact that the St. Louis Alton & Chicago Railroad Company were about to introduce Sleeping Cars on that line. These cars have come to be an indispensable part of the equipment of a first class road and have long since passed all necessity of argument in their behalf. To enjoy a night's rest on the cars, proceed on your journey with all the speed of flying wheels, the while you recline upon a comfortable couch, is a desideratum the force of which none deny.
Pullman Sleeper No. 9
First ran from Bloomington, Illinois to Chicago on September 1, 1859.
The difficulty has been how best to secure this end. How to secure the best requisitions for a car for night travel and yet in the least degree interfere with its comfort and commodiousness for ordinary day use, since such must be more or less expected of each car.
We believe from our own personal knowledge of the matter, strongly confirmed by those whose opinion is of more weight than our own that each and every requisition for day and night use combined, have been secured in the Sleeping Car just invented and perfected by Messrs. Pullman & Fields, and that to a degree we have never seen excelled if equalled by any of the numerous varieties in use.
The road above referred to have just adopted these admirable cars, and we are the more proud of them in that they are an Illinois institution throughout, having been turned out of the Bloomington car shop, and entirely too from wheel to roof a credit to the builders. The plan is not unlike others with which our readers may be familiar, in the feature of making a lower berth out of two seats, lowering from above them a wide berth slung closely to the ceiling of the car when not in use, but both operations are much simplified. The two seats with very little change become an admirable bed.
The great advantage of the upper berth as here arranged is the leaving the area of the car free from unsightly and inconvenient standards and compartments; all is a clear space within, the roof being strongly trussed without to give the needed accession to its strength.
The car is fitted up elegantly, and has at either end various saloons and closets that would do credit for a steamboat, and are a novelty on the rail. Externally the car is elegant in appearance, and in operation we have cause to know it to be a perfect success if the verdict of travelers be any criterion. Much better success in ventilation has been secured and the occupancy of an upper berth has especially a free access to pure air.
Yesterday afternoon Messrs. Pullman and Field with some officers and invited guests members of the city press and others went out to the Summit, the better to test the excellencies of the car. The universal verdict was in its favor. At the Summit the "make up" of one of the lower berths was given to "Edward" from John Wright's, with the most perfect success, in a neat little collation. The whole affair passed off pleasantly.
The railroad men will do well to consider the claims of the Pullman & Field style of Sleeping Car. It can be cheaply and easily adapted to the ordinary day car, and when the berths are all stowed is every way as serviceable in day trains, quite a desirable feature and lacking in most sleeping cars.
Pullman Sleeper
Chicago Tribune, June 16, 1864
A BEAUTIFUL WORK OF ART.—We have just seen a most beautiful specimen of chromatic engraving and printing, which was executed by the well-known engravers, Messrs. Bond & Chandler (Smith & Nixon Building, 145 Clark St., SW corner of Clark and Washington streets), for the Chicago, Alton and St. Louis R.R., and whether we regard the appropriateness of the design, the excellence of the drawing, or the harmonious arrangement of colors to produce an effective picture, we feel that nothing equal to it has ever been produced in the Western cities, and doubt if our Eastern artists can surpass it. The engraving to which we refer is an advertising card, exhibiting a map of the route of the Chicago, Alton and St. Louis R.R., surrounded by various emblematic devices, skillfully designed and grouped to illustrate the leading peculiarities of the road. Thus, on the right is seen the city of Chicago, with its mammoth elevators; on the left, St. Louis with her steamers. Implements of commerce and the mechanic arts are seen on every hand, mingled with the staple products of Illinois and Missouri, while to crown the work two classical female figures, remarkable for grace and energy, represent respectively the sister States which are brought into such intimate relations by this road. In our remarks we have had especial reference to the merits of the work in question, but we cannot refrain from making honorable mention of the fact that the C., A. & St. L. R. R. Co. have afforded encouragement to the artists to produce so excellent a work and one so original and striking in character.
The Land Owner, January, 1874
THE DROVERS' PALACE CAR.
We present herewith an engraving showing an inside view of one of the Drovers' Palace Cars, which the Chicago & Alton Railroad has recently introduced upon its lines. The novelty of the design, and its bearing upon the great stock-carrying interest here in the West, warrants its special notice in this issue.
These cars are attached to the stock trains on this road, and are fitted up with all the conveniences and luxuries of a Pullman Palace Car. The sleeping apartment, occupying one-half of the car, is for the exclusive use of drovers and men in charge of the stock, and is provided with eight double berths and coaches with spring beds. The other half is for the use of train men, and is furnished with side seats (as shown in cut) with a cupola or lookout, enabling train men or drovers to pass out readily, and giving them easy and safe access to any part of the train. The utility and convenience of this arrangement must be apparent to every one at a glance, and the present magnitude and rapidly augmenting importance of the stock interests, amply warrants the enterprise and foresight which prompts this road, always among the first to adopt any improvement conducive to the safety and comfort of travelers, to add to their already superior facilities something which shall materially better the accommodations of a large and important class of their patrons.
THE LIVE STOCK TRADE.—Interior of the Drovers' Palace Car, run on Chicago, Alton & St. Louis R.R.
It may not be generally known to what extent this Southern Kansas, Missouri and Texas cattle market is opening up to the wants and needs of Chicago and the East, and the direct instrumentality which the Chicago & Alton Road is exertiung in bringing it about. In view of the importance of this new interest, and the probable changes which will be wrought by it in the general market here and at the East, it may be interesting to our readers to consider, for a moment, the facilities which are opening up for the development of this inexhaustible Southwestern cattler supply.
The Chicago & Alton Company now operate nearly 700 miles of road, and are rapidly extending their lines to the West and Southwest. For instance, the new Chicago and Kansas City short line, recently opened, leaves the main road at Bloomington, passing through Jacksonville and crossing the Mississippi river at Louisiana on the great iron bridge lately completed there, connects with the St. L., K. C. & N. R. R., with which it has intimate relations at Mexico. Over this line it runs its cars, both freight and passenger, between Chicago and Kansas City without change.
The Southern branch, moreover, is completed from Mexico to Jefferson City, the capital of the State, and connection is made with the Missouri Kansas & Texas Road at Moberly, about 88 miles west of Mexico, thus forming almost an air line from Chicago to Fort Scott, Southern Kansas and Texas.
Close connections are also made with every other line at Kansas City and St. Joseph to all points West and Southwest.
So it will be seen at a glance that the Chicago & Alton Road in this way, opening up and reaching vigorously out for this new and immense field of enterprise, will undoubtedly secure a large share of the trade of that territory; and we repeat, the company can well afford to make its facilities for the accommodation of so large a class of its patrons as the stock dealers are going to be, in every respect superior, and we sa=hall expect to see Drovers' Palace Car speedily adopted on other roads, where the magnitude of the interest will warrant it.
Chicago & Alton Timetable
Chicago & Alton Railroad Chair Car
Chicago Tribune, January 24, 1931
Washington, D.C., Jan. 23.—(AP)—By double petitions placed today before the interstate commerce commission the Baltimore and Ohio railroad company sought permission to complete the acquisition of the old Chicago and Alton railroad system, incidentally wiping out the old corporation, which has been in receivership for more than eight years.
The Baltimore and Ohio purchased the entire property last December at a receivership sale in Illinois for a consideration to be about $23,000,000, though represented by securities of the old Chicago and Alton company having a considerably larger nominal value.
In its plan presented to the commission the Baltimore and Ohio proposed to bring about the organization of a new corporation, the Alton Railroad company, of which Harry A. Wheeler, Chicago banker, has been designated chairman of the board. The new Alton company would assume all the obligations of the old corporation and would issue to the Baltimore and Ohio $25,000,000 of common stock, less qualifying shares of director, thus merge its ownership in the B&O system.
The 1,028 miles of the Alton system, with termini at Chicago, St. Louis, and Kansas City, also are expected to pass into operation of the B&O organization through the specific arrangements for this program were not dealt with today.
It was not anticipated that any of the eastern railroad competitors of the Baltimore and Ohio system would enter a contest against the Alton acquisition, in view of the fact that the larger trunk lines all have agreed to a plan of eastern railroad consolidation which contemplates the assignment of the Alton to its present owner.
The Baltimore & Ohio Alton Abraham Lincoln
The first Streamlined Diesel Electric Train between Chicago and St. Louis.
The last steam locomotives built new for the former Chicago & Alton Railroad were five 2-8-2s delivered by the American Locomotive Company in 1921.
After the purchase of Chicago & Alton by Gulf Mobile and Ohio, the Alton name was gone forever. Pictured on top is a model of C & A No. 656 converted to GM&O No. 5296 in 1947. Gulf Mobile and Ohio was the first major railroad to convert to diesel in 1949.
The GM&O steam engine graveyard.
Life Magazine, October 10, 1949.
In the Jackson, Miss. "Graveyard" GM&O Locomotives that took 70,000 manhours each to build are turned into scrap by torch in five days. All former Alton Route steam locomotives were scrapped by 1950.
Life Magazine, December 5, 1949.
The Mammoth Camera
J.A. Anderson Company
The Mammoth camera was manufactured by the J.A. Anderson Company, Chicago in 1900. It was designed as the largest camera every made in order to capture a complete train with cars.
Railroad magazine, 1901:
The Chicago & Alton Railway had built a special train to go into fast daylight service from Chicago to St. Louis and wanted it photographed. Mr. Charlton, the director, believed his train to be the handsomest in the world and he wanted a photograph of it, six long Pullmans, engine, tender and all. He called the company's photographer, George R. Lawrence, and instructed Mr. Lawrence that it was necessary to have a photograph 8 feet long of the " Alton Limited. " The photographer explained that the train would have to be photographed in sections, and these sections fitted together during the process of printing. But he felt obliged to add that this was an ordinary method which was not conducive to absolute truthfulness of perspective, and one which would certainly show the joints, no matter how carefully the different sections were blended together.
But the directors did not want a half-and-half photograph. They had built a faultless train, of which they demanded a faultless photograph, and it must be a photograph at least 8 feet long. The photographer assured them of his helplessness in the matter, but the directors were more than obdurate; they insisted. At last a truce was called, and the railway photographer left the boardroom with an idea.
When, sometime after the conference, the photographer returned, it was with the plans for a camera holding a single plate 8 feet by 4 1/2 feet, this being three times as large as the largest plate ever before exposed. The Chicago & Alton Railway, then and there gave Mr. Lawrence, their photographer, carte blanche to have such a camera made.
The lenses were ground at great expense and trouble. They arc the largest photographic lenses ever made. The wide angle lens has an equivalent focus of 5 1/2 feet; the other lens, a telescopic, rectilinear lens, is of 10 feet equivalent focus. The latter was the one used when taking the large photograph of the "Alton Limited."
The plates for this gigantic camera are also the largest ever manufactured. They are made in St. Louis, and have to be coated entirely by hand. They cost $70 per dozen. Five gallons of developer arc used to develop one plate, and the services of eight men arc required to manipulate it during the process in the dark room.
The camera was transported on a flat freight car, but when away from the railway was moved in a specially padded van. Fifteen men were necessary to handle and set up the monster camera, to focus and photograph the train.
There was no snap-shotting this subject. On the occasion of this, the first exposure, the day was clear, but an exposure of 2 1/2 minutes was given. An isochromatic plate was used to preserve the colour-value of the train, and from the first exposure a perfect negative was secured, resulting in the largest photograph ever made on one plate, or, to quote the proud boast of the railway concerned, -the largest photograph in the world of the handsomest train in the world.-
Largest train in the world, Cavalry in foreground mounted on horses.
"Alton Limited"
Photographed by George Lawrence
Thomas TIllman says
My Fire Department ordered some pictures of old steam pumpers for our day room. One of them was a steam pumper going down a city street. In the background is the Chicago and Alton Railroad Office. Near the pumper is a city rail tram car from the M S Railway with Broadway marked on it. We did a search trying to date the photo. Greenland New Hampshire Fire Department..
Tom Mosele says
Apparently there is some confusion concerning the panoramic photograph that George R. Lawrence made with his mammoth camera during 1900.
The Library of Congress owns "Alton Limited" panoramic photograph shown . However, it was not made by George Lawrence's "mammoth camera" during 1900. George Lawrence made this "Alton Limited" photograph during 1905. The photograph is only 39.5 inches long and depicts the "Alton Limited" after it was re-equipped with a 4-6-2 Pacific steam locomotive pulling 8 Pullman Heavyweight cars.
I own an 8 ft long original "Alton Limited" panoramic photograph "The Longest Photograph Ever Made" by Lawrence Studios, copyright 1900. My photograph depicts Engine 502 ( a Brooks 4-4-0 steam locomotive) pulling six heavyweight Pullman Palace cars. This 1900 panoramic photograph was awarded the grand prize for photographic excellence at the 1900 Paris Exposition
James W. Richardson-Moseley says
I would just like to correct one small piece of information submitted in the previous post from Tom Mosele. Mr. Mosele points out that this is a photograph of the re-equipted "Alton Limited." This is true. However, It is not with one of the famous red Alton 4-6-2 Pacifics. I was just examining a high definition version of this photograph and came to the realization that the locomotive pulling the "Alton Limited" in this photograph is a 4-4-2 Atlantic. Having known how colorful Alton Road's paint schemes were, makes me consider that this locomotive was most likely red but the fact that this is a black and white photograph makes this impossible to tell. One can note that this is a 4-4-2 Atlantic because the locomotive is relatively short and the main driving rod straight from the cylinder connects to the rear set of wheels. The Chicago and Alton had a set of two series of Atlantics. The first series were classified as E-1's. These were built in 1903 and superheated in 1920. The E-1's were numbered 550-553. The second series were built in 1906 and 3 of the five built were also superheated in 1920. These were classified as E-2's and numbered 554-558. I was not able to determine which class of 4-4-2's is in this photograph. The one I looked at was not that clear.
The Alton Transportation Company Mega Bus | The Old Motor says:
[…] Volume 3-4, of 1926 reported that the Alton Transportation Company was a subsidiary of Chicago & Alton Railroad which began operating in 1862 with a run between Chicago and Alton, Illinois located on the […]


text:
Football Index hopes to return further customer funds with CVA after hearing
18th May 2021 | By Nosa Omoigui
The administrators for BetIndex, operator of Football Index, have confirmed that additional plans are in place to return funds to customers besides this week's court hearing.
A redress scheme through a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) has been designed and will "also look to return further funds to customers," the operator said. It added that administrators were confident the proposal for this arrangement will be shared with creditors in the next few weeks.
However, the operator did not provide any information on how much money might be provided to customers via this scheme.
A hearing to determine how the £4.5m in the company's player protection account will be distributed is already set for 21 May.
Originally set to be heard before the Insolvency List, the hearing was raised to the High Court earlier this month, after Football Index operator BetIndex announced first steps had been taken to pay back customers.
The operator owes £3.2m for money held in customer accounts on the site. While its terms and conditions said that money spent on players through bets on the platform were "sums at risk" and therefore not protected, administrators said dividends – a form of winnings – may be owed up to a certain date, which will be determined through the hearing.
However, the CVA announcement suggests that a certain amount of money spent on bets or further dividends may be able to be returned.
The business also announced it was cancelling all current unmatched bids by 18 May as it prepares for the paying out of cash balances. Administrators have said this will cause "fluctuations in portfolio benchmarks and prices displayed relating to certain footballers".
The Football Index mobile app will also be disabled from midnight on 20 May to facilitate the repayment process. As a result, players who wish to log into their account must do so on the Football Index website.
BetIndex first entered administration in March when the Gambling Commission suspended its operating license.
The Gambling Commission initially defended its decision not to revoke BetIndex's license earlier, however the government has since announced an inquiry into the platform's collapse, where it will also examine the regulator's role.
The company was also forced to cut short shirt sponsorships with football teams Queens Park Rangers and Nottingham Forest.
Sports betting regulation
Football Index
BetIndex

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


A Chinese space probe is moving into position to land on the dark side of the moon for the first time, the official Xinhua news agency reported on Sunday, a mission seen as an important step as the country looks to push forward its space program. Readers solve the case of a previously healthy 67-year-old gardener who is too exhausted and feverish to garden.
The video-sharing site said that it was clarifying its policies on the posting of harmful content to explicitly exclude pranks with a perceived danger of serious physical injury. With a little time, typing and easy-to-use software, you can quickly see your financial picture much more thoroughly and better plan for the future. Investigators say the suspect, Jake Patterson, mapped out a plot to abduct the middle-school student after a chance sighting at a school bus stop. June 15 - A community in East Java, Indonesia, is turning methane from the local garbage dump into gas for more than 400 homes. Local authorities have set up a system where methane produced by rotting waste is extracted and pumped to villages nearby, turning greenhouse gas emissions into useful energy. Tara Cleary reports. Sales of electric vehicles are low in the United States but that's not stopping global automakers from planning to spend $300 billion on the alternative fuel vehicles and showing off what they're planning at the annual auto show in Detroit. Chilled to the bone? Warm up by dipping into one of these books set in blazing hot summers, during heat waves, even in the desert. Parent firm Braits shares fall more than 20 pct (Recasts, adds Brait share price, trader quote, detail, bullets) Those who developed breasts younger than their peers had a higher risk of depression, a new study found. John Lewis and Partners has revealed that Marie Kondo'spopular decluttering Netflix series Tidying Up has given a huge boost to the sales of its storage and organisation products. I am a firm believer in the ability of music to help people express their emotions, hopes and fears, making their medical conditions more tolerable. The Queen of Pop debuted a new look in an adorable selfie with one of her 6-year-old twins. Ron DeSantis, the new Republican governor, suspended Susan Bucher on Friday, saying she had demonstrated incompetence and neglect. Sales of the British standby have soared so much that the country added it back to the basket of goods it uses to measure inflation. Now, distillers are looking to reach a global cocktail crowd. Tearful mourners have started to arrive at a church in West Sussex to pay their respects to late Absolutely Fabulous actress June Whitfield, who passed away in her sleep in December. The transition to new fifth-generation cellular networks, known as 5G, will affect how you use smartphones and many other devices. Lets talk about the essentials. Almost all manufacturers want more than 500 extra for a grey metallic paint finish, in some cases meaning that paint alone makes up around 5% of the total value of a new model.
After years of struggling, St. Johns basketball is back, thanks to a roster filled with players who began somewhere else. Producing the slogan turned out to be far easier for Republicans than producing an actual replacement for President Obamas Affordable Care Act. Pulisic, the 20-year old American player, will join Maurizio Sarris Premier League team in the summer. JEFF POWELL - BOXING COLUMN Manny Pacquiao defends his title against Adrien Broner at 40 but he will be 68 years younger than the oldest active sportsman on the planet. Ceremonies were held by the Fashion Scholarship Fund, WebMD and the Ellis Island Honors Society.


The Book of Mormon is known by name throughout the world. However, most people don't know what the message of the Book of Mormon is. This activity gives people a chance to see what's inside. So far, thousands of people have participated from all around the world.
The Book of Mormon is known by name throughout the world. However, most people don't know what its message is. This activity gives people a chance to see what's inside. So far, thousands of people have participated from all around the world.
As a result of the experiment, many people have a positive experience with the Book of Mormon, realize that it talks about Jesus Christ, and often ask questions or express a desire to learn more.
At a location with good foot traffic, ask people if they'd like to try the Book of Mormon Experiment. Explain that you have a random page from the book; the experiment is for them to read the page and mark references to God and Jesus Christ.
After they've read and marked the page, ask what they thought about it. Be sincere and listen carefully. Offer to write down what they shared on the back of the page, and return the page to them. (On the back of each page is a link to thebookofmormon.org, where they can see what others shared.) If they express interest in learning more, share with them! Match what you share to the subject they are interested in and the level of their interest.
If you are a youth and you receive contact information from someone who wants to learn more, share the contact details with the full-time missionaries as soon as possible.
Go to local gathering places where there are a lot of pedestrians, including young adults, who can conveniently stop for a few minutes to participate.
Always obtain permission before using private property. Check local civic ordinances or contact a property manager to obtain permission for government-operated properties.


LIFT is available in 3 sizes – S, M and L – covering weight range from 75kg -185kg. The design brief of LIFT aims to combine the best aspects of reflex wing with performance, handling and launch APCO is known for – perfectly blended into a well built, robust chute made to last.
Landing – nice and soft even when brakes are half way down with more space for good flare – piece of cake!!
Flying – properly described – awesome!!!
Flexon battens® , HIT Valves ® ,SRS® and embedded hook-in point are exclusive APCO innovations, often imitated, never matched!!
* Higher wing loading advised when flying trike.
The LIFT has been thoroughly tested by us, here in our facility, and we have complete confidence in the wing.


Pilots and controllers have reported to the agency about 150 incidents this year of drones flying close to aircraft or airports, with a surge in such incidents in recent months, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday.
The disclosure by the FAA comes at a time when it is under pressure to allow drones, known in FAA jargon as unmanned aircraft systems, to be used for commercial purposes. Amazon.com, for example, has said it is testing the use of drones for package deliveries.
The use of UAS for commercial purposes is currently prohibited though the FAA has said it plans to allow commercial operations in low-risk, controlled environments. The use of model aircraft for recreational purposes is, however, permitted but with a number of restrictions.
The FAA in September exempted some aerial photo and video production companies to allow them to use drones.
FAA had previously disclosed a near-collision between a drone and a passenger aircraft in March over Tallahassee, Florida.
The pilot of a Piper Archer II reported in September a small red drone passing 50 to 100 feet away at an altitude of 3,000 feet (914 meters), while on descent to Portland International Airport. In another incident, US Airways Flight 5180, operated by regional carrier PSA Airlines, reported a drone passing 200 feet below the aircraft while three miles (4.8 kilometers) southeast of Norfolk International Airport.
FAA could not be immediately reached for comment.
New FAA rules expected by the end of this year are expected to require operators of commercial drones "to have a license and limit flights to daylight hours, below 400 feet and within sight of the person at the controls, The Wall Street Journal reported this week, citing people familiar with the rule-making process. The rules will be finalized after receiving feedback from the public, it said.
The FAA is required by U.S. Congress to frame a "safe integration" plan for the commercial use of UAS by Sept. 30, 2015.
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board ruled this month in an appeal that drones are to be treated as aircraft for the purpose of the FAA's prohibition of their careless or reckless use.


Three Reasons to Play Fantasy Football + A GIVEAWAY!
I know, I know I can't believe it myself… I am a girl who loves playing fantasy football! I never grew up a huge fan of NFL football (my family was all about College Gameday and cheering on our Florida Gators) but I didn't have an affinity for any professional team. However, my extended family resides in Wisconsin and they live, eat, and breathe Packers football! #GoPackGo I will never forget visiting them in Green Bay a few years ago, and my uncle took me to Lambeau field and told me all about the history and what gameday is like (he even owns a piece of the field!). Ever since then, I've always had a soft spot for those crazy cheeseheads!
So now, I have a blast playing in my all-girls Fantasy Football league. It's so fun each week competing with my friends and figuring out who is going to make you the most points. So if you don't play, then please let me tell you my top three reasons you should play Fantasy!
Seriously y'all- I now LOVE watching football games on Sundays because I like to watch my players and see how they are doing (I also pay attention to players I may want to pick up) – I know, who am I?
All I can say is that draft day involves wine, food, + lots of silly girl time! None of us knew what we were doing this year, and we cracked up trying to draft our teams and come up with the best roster. There's nothing better than making memories with your girlfriends!
Now it's your turn! You can win a sweater of your choice (either NFL, Christmas-themed, or just plain "ugly") from UglyChristmasSweater.com– use the rafflecopter below to enter! Good Luck!
O.K. The sweater turned out adorable. You look too cute. Hope your teams won this week!
I told you so!! 🙂 And I won big this week- woo hoo!
Your sweater is adorable! My husband's family are also big packers fan and they would get a kick out of it. I've played fb one season and my team sucked, so now I just play vicariously through my husband's teams.
I think those "ugly sweaters" are adorable! I love the Harry Potter one, but the Snoopy one is my fave!! So cute!!
Even if you're not "good" at it (i.e. ME!) it's a lot of fun!! 🙂 Good Luck!
i've always wanted one of these sweaters! i think the "ugly" snowman one is so cute!
What a fun top! I didn't even know they made them for sports teams!
I played in a fantasy league with my brothers and totally won! I've since retired 😉 Went out on top!
I like all the NFL sweaters too..so fun!
Decisions, decisions, all the Christmas sweaters to choose from. I think I would get the Red Dr. Seuss "Thing 2" Sweater. Thanks so much.
I would get the Peanuts SNOOPY Happy sweater. Thanks for the chance!
If I had to choose a Christmas sweater I'd definitely choose the Griswold family Christmas sweater! Oh that crazy family!! I watch that movie every year!!
Fantasy football is lots of fun especially with friends. And if you are girl that plays fantasy sports the guys will be amazed 😉 I was interested for a long time in it and after that I came across Daily Lineups where you can get a guide on fantasy sports. Its a great place to start.


Image via Miniature Kitchen Facebook page.
Who knew watching a man make a tiny cake in a tiny kitchen would be so mesmerising? But trust us, it is.
Creating miniature – and edible – food that is currently sending the internet wild is Miniature Space, a kitchen dedicated to making very small and very tasty food stuffs. Our favourite is the strawberry cake You'll never want to eat a full-size slice of cake again (probably).
The silent video of Miniature Space slowly and methodically creating the cake using teeny implements is both odd and compulsive.
Is it going to be the next food trend? Well, let's just say, you're not going to find a cuter one.


"Ask Further Tax Gifts as Price of Housing Project: Alderman Also Ignored in Choosing Fifth Site." Chicago Daily Tribune, Aug. 11, 1939. p. 8. Retrieved September 11, 2008 from ProQuest Historical Newspapers.
"Wells Housing Project Now Is Entirely Filled: It Pays No Taxes So Rents are $18 to $23." Chicago Daily Tribune, September 20, 1941. p. 2. Retrieved September 11, 2008 from ProQuest Historical Newspapers.
The Edith T. Ross Collection at the Special Collections Department of the University of Illinois-Chicago contains newsletters from the Ida B. Wells Homes.


The Service Professional Agreement is the contract that governs the use of the platform for independent service professionals. Before registering for the platform, every pro is required to agree to the terms within that agreement. You can view the full agreement here.


text:
PBA Clash Set for $50K, Winner-Take-All Showdown on FOX
Pro BowlingSlider
by Jerry Schneider, Professional Bowlers Association November 1, 2019 10:57 am0
LAKE WALES, Fla. (Oct. 31, 2019) – The top eight money earners from the 2019 Go Bowling! PBA Tour season will battle for a $50,000 winner-take-all first prize when the second edition of the PBA Clash airs on FOX Sunday from the renowned Kegel Training Center.
Four-time PBA Player of the Year and 22-time Go Bowling! PBA Tour titlist Jason Belmonte of Australia leads an elite field that also includes 2019 standouts Jakob Butturff, Bill O'Neill, Kris Prather, EJ Tackett, Anthony Simonsen, Sean Rash and PBA Hall of Famer Norm Duke.
As a preamble to the 2020 season on FOX Sports, competition begins Sunday with "eliminator" rounds leading up to a full-game championship match between the two survivors. In the first round, all eight players beginning with the No. 8 qualifier will bowl a 10th frame. The player with the lowest pinfall will be eliminated. The non-title special event converts to a one-ball format for rounds 2-6 with the player rolling the lowest pinfall eliminated until the surviving two players are determined for the championship match.
All competition will be conducted on a mixed (or dual) lane condition – 44-foot PBA Billy Hardwick lane condition on the left lane and 37-foot Johnny Petraglia lane condition on the right lane.
The PBA Clash airs on FOX adjacent to the NFL Singleheader on Sunday, Nov. 3 (2:30 p.m. ET or 4:30 p.m. ET) depending on region. Viewers should check their local listings for air times in their areas.
Here's a look at the eight competitors along with their season highlights:
Jason Belmonte, Australia – Making his second Clash appearance,the two-hander from Australia and four-time PBA Player of the Year, won the 2019 PBA Tournament of Champions and PBA World Championship earlier this year for his 10th and 11th PBA Tour major victories to top the all-time major titles list. With nine television appearances in 2019 that also included a runner-up finish in the PBA Players Championship, the only four-time winner this season also won the Chameleon Championship and DHC Japan Invitational to bring his career titles total to 22.
Jakob Butturff, Tempe, Arizona – With three wins and eight television appearances in 2019,the seven-time tour champion won the PBA Oklahoma Open, Lubbock Sports Shootout and USBC Masters for his first major title. Making his second Clash appearance, the 25-year-old left-hander also was runner-up in the season-opening PBA Hall of Fame Classic, the DHC PBA Japan Invitational and PBA World Championship.
Bill O'Neill, Langhorne, Pennsylvania – With six television appearances,theinaugural PBA Playoffs runner-up won the season-opening PBA Hall of Fame Classic and the Harry O'Neale Chesapeake Open for his 10th and 11th career titles. He won the $25,000 first prize in the FloBowling PBA ATX Invite, a non-title event, and finished third in the PBA Scorpion Championship and fourth in the PBA World Championship.
Kris Prather, Plainfield, Illinois – Won the inaugural PBA Playoffs and a $100,000 first prize in July.Also won the PBA Scorpion Championship for his first Go Bowling! PBA Tour title. Had eight top-10 finishes in 2019 including a third in the Storm PBA/PWBA Striking Against Breast Cancer Mixed Doubles, fourth in the Go Bowling! PBA Jonesboro Open and fifth in the Barbasol PBA Tour Finals.
EJ Tackett, Bluffton, Indiana – Won his second Barbasol PBA Tour Finals in 2019 for his 13th career tour title. Making his second Clash appearance, he has five television appearances this season which also included runner-up finishes in the PBA Tournament of Champions, Bear Open and FloBowling PBA Illinois Open.
Anthony Simonsen, Little Elm, Texas – Also qualifying for his second Clash, the 22-year-old two-hander won the 2019 PBA Players Championship to become the youngest player ever to win two majors. He also won the PBA Bear Open for his seventh career tour title. Among his five other television appearances were a runner-up finish in the 2019 Go Bowling! PBA Jonesboro Open and a tie for third in the Barbasol PBA Tour Finals.
Sean Rash, Montgomery, Illinois – Won the Mark Roth-Marshall Holman PBA Doubles Championship with Matt Ogle and the PBA Wolf Open for his second win of the season and 14th of his career. The 2011-12 PBA Player of the Year also had runner-up finishes in the PBA Wilmington Open, Lubbock Sports Open and PBA Bowlerstore.com Classic. He also won the USBC Cup as the FloBowling PBA Summer Swing points winner, which netted him $20,000.
Norm Duke, Clermont, Florida – Landmark season for the 55-year-old PBA Hall of Famer included winning the Go Bowling! PBA Indianapolis and Go Bowling! PBA Jonesboro Opens to become the oldest player to win back-to-back PBA Tour titles. The Jonesboro win was the 40th of his career as he joined all-time PBA Tour title winners and fellow Hall of Famers Walter Ray Williams Jr. (47) and Earl Anthony (43) as the third player to win 40 or more PBA Tour titles.
Marshall Kent won the 2018 PBA Clash at the Kegel Training Center with a 218-215 championship match win over Dom Barrett to win the $25,000 first prize. Neither player qualified for the 2019 PBA Clash.
The 2020 PBA Tour season begins with the PBA Hall of Fame Classic Jan. 14-19 at the Bowling International Training Center in Arlington, Texas. The stepladder finals will air live on FS1 Sunday, Jan. 19 at 1 p.m. ET.
Jerry Schneider, Professional Bowlers Association
USBC Anticipates 17% Participation Increase in 2020 Open Championships
Francois Lavoie Wins Second Career U.S. Open Title
Business / by Bob Johnson - 1 day ago
Slider / by Matt Cannizzaro, USBC Communications - 5 days ago
Business / by Bob Johnson - 6 days ago
Inside Line / by Gianmarc Manzione - 6 days ago
Pro Bowling / by Bill Vint, Professional Bowlers Association - December 26, 2019 2:13 pm


We are all dying to graduate faster and some of us are lucky to do it this year. Along with being the time of no homework, no exams, no thoughts of our future, graduation remains the time of the most ridiculous events. Previously, Typical Student told you about What's It Like Being US College Student in 21st Century? And, if you're looking for some crazy stuff students do, check out 8 MOST Creative Graduation Cap Designs Class 2018, Fashion Choices: 5 CRAZIEST Prom Dresses That Went Viral on Social Media in 2018 and 10 DIY Prom Dresses That Will Make Heads Turn Your Way in 2018.
#2 If you see no ways to enter and graduate from the college with the help of your marks, be sure there are lots of other means. How about this one?
#6 For all the pessimists life looks surely like this, but we stay on the bright side, don't we?
#9 Making your own graduation cap is a total challenge! Why then not to remind yourself for the last time of the most dreadful words heard from probably the strictest teacher of your high school?
#12 Support from relatives means everything for us, especially when they believe in us so fiercely. How does your family prepare for this day?
#13 Every student is waiting for the celebration night of their life, what gifts do you crave to get? What if you've received the cake made with 1$ banknotes?
#17 Do you have a plan for your whole life? How many points have you fulfilled?
#18 And finally, you may be on the cloud nine because of finishing high school or college, but guess what?
Hopefully, you don't feel sad anymore! Good luck in your adult life!
4 Trans Female Athletes Who Won School Sports Competitions & Made Parents Furious!


New Delhi: Evaldesign, a cutting-edge Education Research Consulting firm set up in 2013 with a focus on designing and evaluating programs was delighted to announce the launch of the Handbook on measuring 21st Century Skills. The Handbook is an effort to unpack the competencies outlined by various 21st Century Skills frameworks, and outline their sub-components (or constructs) in a granular and mutually exclusive manner. Anil Swarup, Secretary, School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Human Resource and Development, Government of India graced the launch conference with his presence, amongst other eminent speakers.
The launch conference introduced the concepts of the handbook to a large audience of practitioners, policymakers and researchers and ignite the debate on the need for specificity of definition and methods of measurement of 21st Century skills constructs.


We at Stoney Creek Charms hope you have a fantastic shopping experience with us! We strive to give you excellent customer service and offer you a wide and beautiful selection of custom laser engraving options from jewelry to cutting boards.
We also have a great selection of floating charms and floating charm lockets. We have our own line of SCC charms and hope to add more charms and lockets in the future.
Floating lockets contain glass, which if dropped or mishandled may break and cause injury.


Modern and contemporary accent chairs are the ideal way to add a touch of class and personality to your living room. So, which style should you choose?
Contemporary accent chairs go beyond the functionality of normal, everyday chairs. A carefully selected and complementary accent chair can add vigor and zest to the decor of your home. By themselves alone, accent chairs are simply beautiful to look at, and many consider each one like an individual work of art. You will find accent chairs at high-end hotels, resorts, and luxurious homes and now everyone is catching on. As an added bonus, beautifully designed accent chairs are often cheap enough that you can own more than one and turn your living spaces into an example of magazine-worthy interior design. Contemporary accent chairs are now popping up everywhere, don't let your home be left out. Take a look at our collection of affordable accent chairs, and discover their huge appeal as statements of class, taste, and lifestyle. Check out our beautiful modern accent chairs and choose the best one you like best.
Like any style piece, contemporary accent chairs can cause us a design conundrum when we are faced with so many beautiful pieces to choose from. This is why we found the best colorful accent chairs and unique accent chairs on the internet and handpicked them for you. Here are a few things to keep in mind when choosing an accent chair for your living space.
Material - Choosing the right material for your comfortable accent chairs is important. It all comes down to the quality of the material or fabric used. Fabric accent chairs look light and stylish while leather accent chairs look sturdy and solid. The frames come in a variety of different materials including wood, steel, aluminum, and even cane. Whichever material you choose, make sure it adds to and complements the overall beauty of your room. Our colorful accent chairs are made from the highest quality materials and each is designed to be an interesting style item.
Size - Like all furniture, comfortable accent chairs come in different sizes to suit all tastes and needs, including your own. Plus-size, kid-size, medium-size, whatever-size, it all depends on the space you have in your room. Choosing the right size for your accent chair is important. Too big and it will dominate the decor and space. Too small and the chair's impact will be lost. Consider the size of the room where the chair will be placed, then take a look through our catalog of beautiful and unique accent chairs to find the style and size that's right for your decor.
Color - If you are looking for accent chairs or unique accent chairs, you are probably looking for a specific color to match the decor in your room. If you have a more flexible color scheme, there are some handy design hints when it comes to chairs. These are: keep living room chairs in light, bright, and breezy colors and patterns; bedroom chairs can be more colorful or covered in funky patterns; study room and kitchen chairs work well in solid colors. You can also combine and mix it up as you want. Every room requires a specific color to fit, and accent chairs often play a lot with colors. Ready to super-charge your decor? Take a look at our selection of comfortable accent chairs.
Style - Style matters a lot when deciding to buy an accent chair. After all, the pursuit of style is the reason why accent chairs exist in the first place. Tastes differ from person to person but because accent chairs come in such a wide variety of styles, we're sure that you'll be able to find the perfect one for you. Do you want patterned accent chairs, or is it traditional accent chairs you prefer? Or perhaps you need something really funky? We've got you covered with our stock of accent chairs that will turn your home decor from drab to daring.
This is an epic blue wood accent chair, by: Homelegance, an extraordinary home décor design piece. Material: the highest quality of wood and fabric. This is a bargain modern accent chair, lovable and cute. A must for every house.
Modern beige accent chair, created by Harper&Bright Designs. Top of the line fashionable accent chair, a must have living room adornment. Get ready to have the best modern accent chair, it's absolutely stunning and unforgettable.
Delicate navy fabric accent chair, made by: Kinfine USA Inc., model: K6499-B215. Made with fine fabric, save money with this fine accent chair, a cool interior design accessory. Update your style with this classic accent chair, this is perfect!
If you want to add a touch of style you need this beige accent chair, manufactured by Belleze, amazing home décor stylish accessory. Made with excellent fabric and the best wood. Now on discount, 60's accent chair, tremendous!
Look no further and buy this taupe fabric accent chair, produced by Homelegance, a must have living room brilliant masterpiece. Made of the highest quality of fabric. This item received the best reviews for modern accent chair.
Gem blue fabric accent chair, by: Divano Roma Furniture, model: EXP89-FB-1S. Made of high quality of fabric, discounted luxurious accent chair, a must have interior design accessory. Experience an adventure with this modern accent chair.
Ingenious cream white/cherry vinyl accent chair, by: Kings Brand Furniture, model: AC6314. Low cost bold accent chair, an extraordinary home décor stylish accessory. If you are a fan of art you will love this classic accent chair!
If you love style and design you will need this grey fabric accent chair, created by Merax, a beautiful living room brilliant masterpiece. Made with first-class fabric. Best savings for 60's accent chair, astounding and remarkable.
Dramatic yellow polyester blend accent chair, made by Best Choice Products, model: SKY3946. Made of the very best polyester, cheapest price for such a rich accent chair, a heavenly interior design stylish accessory. astounding and remarkable.
This is one of the coolest white/blue fabric accent chairs, by Christopher Knight Home, a beautiful home décor upgrade piece. Made of the very best fabric. A great deal for a modern item, a very unique décor piece that's sure to turn heads.
Probably the coolest wasabi accent chair out there, by: GDF Studio, a must have living room brilliant masterpiece. Made of classic materials and a stylish touch. Best price for classic accent chair, it's completely staggering.
A really unique blue fabric accent chair, created by Roundhill Furniture, a must have interior design design piece. Made with supreme fabric. Luxury 60's looking accent chair, super fun to sit on and even more fun to design your home with.
Make your friend's jaws drop with this light brown/dark cherry microfiber accent chair, made by Kings Brand Furniture out of top-notch microfiber with a unique new age stlye. This is a bargain modern accent chair, don't linger around!
The astonishing best seller light grey wood accent chair, brand: Divano Roma Furniture, a beautiful living room showpiece accessory. Discounted modern accent chair, it's absolutely stunning and unforgettable. Get it now!
Fancy light green fabric accent chair, by: Kinfine, model: K7307-F2145. Made with top-level fabric, now on discount sensational accent chair, a superb interior design fine accessory. The astonishing best seller classic accent chair, exceptional.
Bold gray solid wood frame, polyester fabric accent chair, made by Giantex, model: HW52683GR. Made of classic solid wood. If you want to add a touch of style you need this 60's accent chair, incredibly fun and stylish!
Exquisite gray fabric, wood, sponge accent chair, made by LSSBOUGHT. Made with the finest fabric, a heavenly living room masterpiece. Finally the best modern accent chair, this will put a smile on your face in the morning.
Decorative storm hardwood frame, polyester accent chair, a piece by Stone & Beam, model: AS-5018-Storm. Material: supreme hardwood and polyester, a delightful interior design accessory. A true smashing modern design hit!
We just can't get enough of this cascade pewter fabric accent chair, by: Emerald Home Furnishings, a delightful home décor fashionable piece. Made with fine fabric. A very unique décor piece that's sure to turn heads.
Artistic beige fabric accent chair, by Merax, model: WF034955AAA. Material: the finest fabric, a beautiful living room design piece. Prepare yourself for the best 60's accent chair, super fun and for a reasonable price.
Nostalgia is back with this beige fabric and wood accent chair, made by Merax, amazing interior design design piece. Made of top-notch fabric and wood. Customized modern accent chair, perfect for your new livingroom. A masterpiece!
Get ready for the best grey fabric accent chair out there. An astonishing home décor layout accessory. Material: prime fabric. This item received the best reviews for a modern accent chair, this will blow your mind for sure!
Incredibly cool, this amazing gray accent chair, by BONZY, a beautiful living room elegant piece. Get the best price for this bergain classic accent chair, so amazing and beautiful. This item will help you create the perfect modern environment.
Get ready for the top selling blue polyester accent chair, made by Great Deal Furniture, a beautiful interior design classic accessory. Made with classic polyester. A very unique décor piece that's sure to turn heads.
Room plan: The way you want to arrange your living room chairs is a big factor in deciding which accent chair to buy. Often, an accent chair is bought to complement other furniture. Are you buying just one? Do you have a big sofa? Do you have enough floor space? Consider your space and the role you'd like the accent chair to play in it.
Budget: As expected, different styles of accent chair all come at different prices. Depending on your taste, your perfect chair might cost less or more than others do. However, when deciding which one to buy, be sure to set your budget limit. Doing so will help you keep a cool mindset and not overspend.
Chair style: Like other furniture items, accent chairs offer numerous gorgeous options to choose from. Club chairs, wingback chairs, and bergère chairs are all popular. Browse our catalog and you'll see examples of each of these accent chair styles. Each has distinct attributes and brings a unique sense of style to your decor scheme.
Interior design: For an impactful look, choose a chair that complements your décor. You can select a specific color that will correspond to or contrast with your wall paint, lamps, or soft furnishings. Picking a complementary color means you'll be able to highlight your room's best features.
Cultured bluish gray dining chair, by: Harper & Bright Designs. Get a great deal for glorious dining chair, astonishing interior design fashionable piece. If you are like us you'll can't get enough of this modern dining chair, so beautiful!
Incredibly cool, this amazing grey dining chair, created by Harper Bright Design, a must have living room adornment, will change the way you feel about your home. The best affordable modern dining chair, don't linger around!
If you are like us you can't get enough of this black polyurethane dining chair, created by Merax, an extraordinary home décor design piece made out of the finest materials. Customized 60's dining chair, fun and affordable.
Fine grey Fabric dining chair, manufactured by: Merax, model: WF016104. Material: first-class fabric, a delightful interior design item. Make your friend's jaws drop with this dining chair, this will put a smile on your face in the morning.
Incredibly cool, this amazing beige Fabric dining chair, by: Merax, a beautiful living room fine accessory. Material: top-notch Fabric. Special mid-century modern dining chair, this will put a smile on your face in the morning.
Tasteful beige dining chair, produced by Harper & Bright Designs, model: PP038186. Made with top-notch wood, a must have home décor showpiece accessory. If you love style and design you will need this modern dining chair, so beautiful!


text:
New Jersey: Some more *GOOD* CO-OP news!
Last week, in light of the #RiskCorridorMassacre debacle, I tried to find some good news on the CO-OP front, and while I didn't find much to cheer about, there were some bright spots in Maine/New Hampshire (where one CO-OP actually turned a profit last year), along with Illinois, Montana, Idaho, Ohio and Wisconsin (where the CO-OPs are still losing money, but seem to have staunched the blood flow and claim to be stable now, to put it in medical terms).
Today I can add one more state to the Good News column...New Jersey:
During the past month, five health insurance co-ops across the country have announced they are shutting down at the end of this year.
Health policy analysts are predicting more closures, but Health Republic of New Jersey probably won't be one of them.
The nonprofit reported net income of $3.1 million for the first half of 2015, according to its second quarter filing with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. This is a huge turnaround, considering it saw a net loss of $16.5 million at the end of last year.
Co-ops — consumer operated and oriented plans — are nonprofit health insurance companies established under the Affordable Care Act. They were kick-started with federal loans and set up to increase competition in the state-based and federally facilitated health insurance exchanges.
...Only 13 of the original 23 co-ops are still operating.
It's hard to make direct comparisons given that each of the co-ops is operating in a unique market and had significantly different enrollment numbers. At the end of 2014, only the Maine co-op reported a net income.
Of the five co-ops that recently announced they will be closing, New York's saw a net loss of $35.2 million at the end of 2014; Colorado's was down $23 million; Kentucky's was out $50.4 million; South Carolina's lost $3.8 million, and Utah's was down $19.9 million, according to a July report released by the Office of the Inspector General.
Health Republic of New Jersey was down $16.5 million but is since turning a profit.
UNLIKE OTHER CO-OPS, Health Republic of New Jersey did not rely on risk corridors payments, a federal reimbursement program that fell short. And it gradually built its enrollment, allowing it to better manage risk and capital reserves. It was also one of the few co-ops that benefited from risk adjustment payments, meaning its patient population was sicker when compared to the average patient population in the state.
The article goes on to note that Health Republic is still obviously not out of the woods yet; they're still in the red overall, the results for the 2nd half of 2015 still aren't known, and who knows what'll happen next year? Still, the official tally is now:
2 CO-OPs operating in 3 states turning a profit (ME/NH, NJ)
4 CO-OPs operating in 5 states treading water (IL, MT/ID, OH, WI)
7 6 CO-OPs holding on by the skin of their teeth (AZ, CT, MD, MA/NH, MI, NM, OR)
1 CO-OP dissolved (IA/NE)
9 10 CO-OPs dissolved at the end of 2015 (KY, NY, NV, LA, CO, TN, UT, OR, SC, AZ)
UPDATE 10/31/15: (sigh) the Arizona CO-OP is shutting down as well. Updated.


Celebrate the Sr Men's season Appetizers, Buffet dinner , dessert Music and the coveted Sr men's Awards. Featuring cement hands last in the bar and many more.
Welcome to the 2018/19 NSWC Men's Hockey Season.
Sr Men's Draft Friday September 28.
The Captains will be drafting your teams Friday night come down the bar and meet your teamates.
Brendan B Boy Wilson with a hat trick 1st and 2nd Star of the game.
This site is best viewed with the latest version of your browser. © iRec Interactive Schedules Co. 2007-2019 -- All Rights Reserved.


text:
It could be an ice storm or a hurricane, a tornado or a blizzard, a fire or a flood.
The truth is, it doesn't really matter what type of emergency you're facing. What does matter is that when the lights go out, it's up to you to get them on again. Fast.
When disaster strikes, lrby is your first source of help. lrby's 24-hour Emergency Response Program ensures you have the products, the people, and the resources you need to get back up and running.
When conditions are at their worst, Irby is at its best.
MATERIALS WHEN AND WHERE YOU NEED THEM
lrby has the materials you need when you need them the most. Our network of 60 strategically located utility, commercial, contractor; and industrial branches allows lrby to respond rapidly, and our depth of inventory creates a reliable supply chain for the duration of the storm and recovery.
lrby has access to more than 1.5 million products at all times. lrby can locate and ship materials out of any of our 60 locations nationwide within hours, providing timely service other distributors with limited stock and fewer branches simply can't match.
lrby has enough inventory on hand to keep the average utility company up and running for three days during an emergency. Should the situation demand more, lrby relies on its strong relationships with the industry's top manufacturers to keep materials flowing as long as there's a need.
Manufacturers are willing to work with lrby to deliver more products, more quickly in a crisis. This solid working relationship is a benefit to utility customers available only from lrby.
DELIVERY WHEN AND WHERE YOU NEED IT
In the midst of a disaster; finding the means to pick up orders and distribute material is part of the challenge. lrby OnSite delivers material directly to the job site, on an lrby truck driven and unloaded by an lrby driver. When an emergency occurs, lrby works its delivery schedule around you, rather than trying to squeeze your emergency delivery into a fixed schedule.
lrby can also leverage its solid relation ships with freight carriers and with manufacturers that operate their own fleets, choosing the most efficient method possible for delivering the materials you need, when you need them. Emergency job site trailers are also available to save time money with materials management.
MANPOWER WHEN AND WHERE YOU NEED IT
In a crisis, lrby is your logistics team. lrby Storm Response Teams based in different areas of the country mobilize within hours, putting more than 200 experienced sales people, purchasing experts, warehouse personnel, and truck drivers to work for you immediately, 24 hours a day. At every position, lrby has the personnel you need to get the job done - a depth and breadth of experience and specialized service other distributors simply can't match.
We'll be there through the entire restoration period, helping restore not only your customers' power; but also their confidence in your company. lrby is with you at every level, every minute, until the situation is under control.
TECHNICAL SUPPORT 24/7
lrby's emergency call-up program links customers with lrby technical specialists available to assist them 24/7. lrby also has access to more than 2,700 industry manufacturers who can provide additional technical support if needed. Customers can turn to lrby with any question or crisis; if we don't know the answer, we will find it for you. Fast.
"On behalf of all of us at Florida Power & Light Company whose power was affected by hurricanes Frances, Charley, and Jeanne, thank you for the support and assistance you provided as part of our restoration team. Never have we experienced such back-to-back disasters, which interrupted the power of 5.4 million customers. "Working together and around the clock, we were able to complete restoration within two weeks of each hurricane. These achievements would not have been possible without lrby's help."
ARMONDO J. OLIVERA, President / Florida Power & Light Company


text:
Дубровник: от коммунизма к капитализму
Location:Dubrovnikпосмотреть карту
My name is Jelena, licensed tour guide for Dubrovnik, and ex-journalist rewarded by Croatian Association of Journalists in 2013. In love with her new job :) But beware, as wise man once said: You can leave journalism, but journalism never leaves you. Thus, your local tour guide is an expert in history of Dubrovnik of course, but as well political and economic situation in all Balkan countries.
Not so long ago Croatia was a part of Yugoslavia, a federation of states formed on a one-party system in which parliamentary democracy was a forbidden term. Yugoslavia was led by Tito, its president for life, and whose idea of communism was more progressive than in Stalin Russia. Thus, "Titoism" was a synonym for "betrayal of communism" in Soviet Union. Tito, therefore, has remained for the…
Ticket to the Museum of Red History in Dubrovnik
This tour starts in Gruž, part of the city where in socialism heavy industry was flourishing. Tour also includes a visit to the Museum of Red History, and ends in the Carbon Graphite Products Factory, one of the key monuments of the socialist period in the city of Dubrovnik, where we will discuss how this part of history, which ended with a bloody war, affected the political and economic situation in independent Croatia.


This is an old essay that never got posted. I've edited it slightly to fix the context and otherwise cleaned it up and polished it a bit.
Made it to Forge Midwest 2010, and had a delightful time. The first game of the day was giving Giants a run-through–something I've been trying to arrange to do since I got the ashcan at Gen Con 07.
Short, short version: the organization is horrible, and we're not sold on having to devote an entire scene to feasting/healing, but otherwise I think the game is actually "all there". It's too bad that it appears to be abandoned.
I was reading an essay about sexism in art for D&D, implicitly for the new edition, and it got me to thinking about how women portray female characters in RPGs.
But, as usual for such discussions, it was a bunch of guys having the discussion. I shall now compound the problem. But, in my defense, I'm not going to claim to speak for women (or even claim that they are a monolithic entity that can be spoken for), or to read minds, but will instead simply report what I have observed and experienced.
I am in the fortunate position of playing with a group that is 3 women and 3 men, and most of my RPG groups since high school have had at least a couple women, if not equal numbers or even female-dominated (I was the token guy in one all-girls group in high school, and only there because this was the GM's first time GMing and she wanted the only GM she'd ever gamed with there for moral support; once she was comfortable, I got "thrown out").


Are you in a very big project and need a hand with recyclables, construction debris, common garbage, and/or yard waste in Millburn, NJ? Well, look no further! Dumpster Deliveries offers all of your dumpster rental demands in Millburn for a great and inexpensive price with no extra difficulties. To learn more about what type of dumpster rentals we provide and about our rates, call 888-234-4587.
Dealing with waste management is a difficult thing to do particularly if the disposables are out of the ordinary. Renting a dumpster can take a lot of the worry out of finding somewhere to throw your trash. Renting a dumpster in New Jersey can be accomplished in just a few easy steps! Stop worrying about everything and let Dumpster Deliveries do all of the work for you. All you have to do is load your roll-away with everything you want to dispose of and they will come pick it up. This will allow you to devote more time to the things you want to work on instead of trying to figure out where to throw your trash.
Dumpster Deliveries is your smartest choice for renting a dumpster in Millburn, NJ.
Do not be tricked by all of the other dumpster rental businesses in New Jersey and pick one that you know you can rely on. The most effective thing you can do is hire Dumpster Deliveries. Our track record speaks for itself.
It usually is a struggle to call multiple dumpster rental corporations just to get the best prices and a reputable and qualified supplier. So why not use somebody professional without a fuss rather than going through the process of renting a dumpster?
Millburn has restrictions and by-laws in terms of disposing junk. You need to consider the risk you're taking if you don't hire a professional to do the dirty job. Let our experts take care of your dumpster rental and trash removal.
To get your garbage rolling, here are some suggestions in renting a dumpster with Dumpster Deliveries in Millburn, NJ.
The very first thing you need to do is evaluate how much junk you have and what you will be getting rid of. This will help you figure out what size dumpster you need to have and how long you will need it for. For more questions and information about dumpster rentals in Millburn, contact Dumpster Deliveries at 888-234-4587.
Dumpster rentals are used for clearing debris from your home, work place, or when starting a sizeable construction project in Millburn, NJ. Dumpster Deliveries is your ultimate source of obtaining the dumpster you need. They offer both the least costly prices and the largest selection of dumpster rental sizes. Just call 888-234-4587 to obtain a quote for the size you will need.
If you are going to book a dumpster rental, you will need to be alert to a few things in Millburn, NJ. If it is the first time, you might get a little confused about how to go about this process. The process is really very uncomplicated when you get your dumpster from Dumpster Deliveries.
Just simply call 888-234-4587 for the quote on the size of the dumpster your job will be needing. The roll-off dumpster will be taken to your site at the exact time you requested and it will be picked up when you ask. To begin, just call now!
For those who have never rented a dumpster previously in Millburn, NJ, you will probably be wanting to know why a person would wish to rent a dumpster.
This is when you will have plenty of waste at your site that you would want someone to pickup. If you phone Dumpster Deliveries at 888-234-4587, you will be able to order a dumpster and have all your waste and trash handled.
The process of leasing a dumpster in Millburn, NJ is quite simple if you contact Dumpster Deliveries.
In order to get a dumpster rental for your job in New Jersey, just follow the straightforward four steps mentioned above. You can fill it up with whatever rubbish you have and call Dumpster Deliveries to pick it up from your site.
a dumpster isn't cheap. If you have no experience concerning this, you could possibly end up having to pay a lot more than you need to.
Always compare costs of dumpsters between different organizations. Be sure to compare dumpsters that are the same dimensions when comparing prices.
Make sure you determine what size you need so that you don't get a bigger size. Dumpster Deliveries will help you in choosing the appropriate size dumpster as well.
Abide by these tips to avoid wasting money when booking your dumpster rental in New Jersey from Dumpster Deliveries. Everyone needs to read these suggestions prior to calling 888-234-4587 to book your dumpster rental.


Our pub crawl will take you around five of Hackney Wick's independent craft beer bars, each serving up a fantastic offering of both London brewed, and internationally sourced, beers and brews. We will meet at 12pm noon at Tap East, head over to Howling Hops Tank Bar and Crate Brewery, wander to Four Quarters and, finally, end at Mason & Company around 5pm. We will stop and enjoy a beer in each location.
Join the Five Points team for an afternoon of beer-hopping for a good cause! We're looking forward to this one, so we hope to see you there.


text:
What are you laughing at?
Finance VP Huidekoper taking post at Brown
Well, Richard Pryor, Woody Allen, Peter Sellers. What about S.J.Perelman?
By Ken Gewertz Gazette Staff
Ernest Bernbaum Professor of Literature Leo Damrosch gets a big kick out of an electronic kung fu rat. Staff photo by Kris Snibbe
"Dying is easy, comedy is hard." Reportedly, these were the last words of Sir Donald Wolfit, British actor and director. Wolfit's deathbed quip has been quoted often, perhaps because it captures so well comedy's essential paradox.
How is it that laughter, a behavior so basic and essential to human life that babies laugh long before they learn to walk, should be so devilishly hard to evoke – so much so that even the best efforts of professional comedians and comedy writers often fall flat?
Most of us love to laugh, and the therapeutic effects of laughter have been extolled for centuries, but who can explain what laughter is, why we do it, or what makes something funny? Few thinkers have tackled the problem, and the handful of theories that exist hardly seem to fit the elusive and protean nature of their subject.
"Literary criticism has always been more comfortable with high-minded theories of tragedy than with trying to explain comedy. It's tragedy whose existence is easy to explain and laughter that seems mysterious," said Leo Damrosch, the Ernest Bernbaum Professor of Literature.
Not that college catalogs aren't full of courses about subjects like "Attic Comedy," "Early Roman Comedy," and "The Comedies of Molière." But as Damrosch is the first to admit, even the best schtick by Aristophanes or Plautus rarely gets even a forced chuckle from today's readers.
"Humor gets dated fast," he said. "It has a brief shelf life." It is for this reason that Damrosch has limited his summer course, "Wit and Humor" to material that is actually still funny.
Instead of puzzling over obscure puns and footnoted references in the comedies of yore, students in Damrosch's class are getting their yucks hot off the presses and movie screens. The earliest items on the reading list are by Mark Twain and Oscar Wilde, two 19th century authors whose humor, in Damrosch's opinion, still passes the laugh test. Most of the material is of more recent vintage: James Thurber, Peter Benchley, P.G. Wodehouse, Woody Allen, and Dave Barry.
This is the second time Damrosch has taught the course. The first was as an undergraduate seminar last spring that attracted so many applicants that Damrosch turned it into a lecture course. For the summer school version, he has edited the reading list, mercilessly eliminating material that failed to get laughs on the first go-round, regardless of its reputation or pedigree.
One casualty was the once-popular humorist S.J. Perelman.
"Perelman sank like a stone. He just left them cold. I don't feel it's my job to spend a week telling them why they ought to like Perelman."
In addition to written humor, students view a selection of films that include the Marx Brothers' "A Night at the Opera," the fast-paced 1930s comedy "His Girl Friday," Stanley Kubrick's "Dr. Strangelove," Woody Allen's "Annie Hall," the performance film "Richard Pryor Live!," and the compilation of Monty Python skits "Now for Something Completely Different."
The students also read a selection of theoretical writings, including seminal essays by Sigmund Freud and Henri Bergson. But Damrosch has no illusions that one theory can explain all humor.
"One of the fundamental themes of the course is that humor is extremely various. There's no unified field theory of humor."
Damrosch has not only eliminated the moldy humor of yesterday, he also draws the line at the other chronological extreme, excluding material he feels personally unable to relate to.
"If the students had their way, the entire course would be about 'Seinfeld' and 'The Simpsons.' But it's not for me to tell them about 'The Simpsons.' I want to be able to get inside the material and feel I have a right to talk about it."
Damrosch, 60, feels he is not the man to talk about that long-running send-up of the American nuclear family, and even less so about its more hard-edged offspring, "South Park."
"I can't relate to that all-embracing irony where you see through everything, you don't take anything seriously, and you just chuckle at everything and move on."
Damrosch's taste runs more to the irreverent, boundary-busting comedy of Richard Pryor who can find devastating humor in the experience of a near-fatal heart attack.
"'Richard Pryor Live!' just blew them away. I was really surprised at how few of them were aware of his early work. That's one of the great things about the course, being able to introduce them to things they might not have been aware of. It's like making them a present of something they can really appreciate."
In some ways, Damrosch seems an unlikely person to be teaching a course on the likes of Richard Pryor and Woody Allen. Born in the Philippines where his father was an Episcopalian missionary, he spent his early years unaware of the 1950s television personalities – entertainers like Milton Berle, Jack Benny, Sid Caesar, Lucille Ball, and Steve Allen – who formed the comic sensibility of most members of his generation.
As a scholar, Damrosch has specialized in the English writers of the 18th century, writing prolifically on most of the major figures of that era, including Samuel Johnson, Alexander Pope, Daniel Defoe, Henry Fielding, William Blake.
But he has also branched off into other literatures, tracing the influence of such figures as Voltaire, Rousseau, and Goëthe on the development of the modern sensibility. His most recent book, "The Sorrows of the Quaker Jesus: James Nayler and the Puritan Crackdown on the Free Spirit" (Harvard University Press, 1996), explores the intellectual and religious significance of an obscure 17th century preacher. He is currently working on a biography of Jean Jacques Rousseau, the 18th century thinker whose writings have had such a profound impact on the modern temper.
So what is a scholarly heavyweight like Damrosch doing messing around with frothy effusions, wacky skits, and raunchy stand-up routines? Does this material somehow form part of an overarching scholarly project? Is Damrosch seeking to put the "lite" back in enlightenment?
The answer, in a word, is no.
"There's really no bridge between the two," he said. "I suppose you could say that a lot of the writers I've worked on were humorists, but I think I've just always been drawn to humor."


text:
Benefit Sanctions — [Mark Pritchard in the Chair] (13 Dec 2022)
David Linden: ...it trying to clean up the mess that has been caused by Westminster. Indeed, using our limited social security powers, next year the Scottish Government will spend an extra £311 million on the game-changing Scottish child payment of £25 a week. That is in stark contrast to the British Government's outrageous two-child policy and associated rape clause. We can begin to see a pattern...
Public Bill Committee: Online Safety Bill: Clause 12 - Adults' risk assessment duties (13 Dec 2022)
Kirsty Blackman: ...people from the harm that can be done to them by others. It is also supposed to be about protecting people from that radicalisation and that harm that they can end up in. It is supposed to make a difference. It is supposed to be game changer and a world leader. Although, absolutely, I recognise the importance of the child-safety duties in the clauses and the change that that will have,...
Public Bill Committee: Online Safety Bill: Clause 11 - Safety duties protecting children (13 Dec 2022)
Kirsty Blackman: ...to harm children no longer have access to private messaging and are no longer able to use the part of the service that enables them to do these things?" Somebody might be doing a great job of making games in Roblox, but they may be saying inappropriate things. It may be proportionate to block that person entirely, but it may be more proportionate to block their access to voice chat, so...
Scottish Parliament: Moveable Transactions (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1 (13 Dec 2022)
Paul Sweeney: Martin Whitfield makes a really important point about the gaming industry. It is a good example of where Scotland is a world leader but has to sell the companies to overseas owners in order to raise the finance to bring the games to market. In a way, we are seeing massive overseas ownership of a sector in which Scotland leads the world because the companies that grow out of Scotland cannot...
Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill - Committee (1st Day): Amendment 3 (12 Dec 2022)
Lord Trees: ...noble Baroness, Lady Bennett, had at Second Reading. I turn to this group. I very much welcome the inclusion of animals in the Bill. This is a valuable adoption of modern technology. It can be a game-changer in the way we control and prevent diseases in animals, and will have positive welfare and environmental benefits. In this debate, we really need to weigh up the benefit-cost ratio....
Football: Abuse and Violence - Question (12 Dec 2022)
Lord Addington: ...idea of their opinion of the professional conduct in football whereby people sit around and shout at a referee who has given a decision they do not like? Will the Government encourage the FA to make sure that dissent is punishable by a card or a sending off? If you do this, you can rest assured that professional managers will not want to end games with seven or eight players.
UK Asylum and Refugee Policy - Motion to Take Note (9 Dec 2022)
Lord Green of Deddington: .... As a matter of fact, 15% of cross-channel arrivals in 2019 had already made a claim elsewhere, 70% were men aged between 18 and 39, and 98% had no passport. Why? Because they had destroyed it to make their case more difficult to decide. Of course, 100% are coming from a safe country. This really cannot be allowed to continue. We must find a way forward within the framework of ethics...
Protection from Sex-based Harassment in Public Bill (9 Dec 2022)
Stella Creasy: ...society. We have normalised the harassment of women and an environment in which it is acceptable to target women, and then we blame women for not taking the joke and not thinking that it is a fair game or that it is nice that somebody is attracted to them—it is never about attraction. The 12 police forces currently recording where a crime is motivated by a victim's sex or where their...
Arts and Creative Industries Strategy - Motion to Take Note (8 Dec 2022)
Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: ...industries and ensuring that more people have the opportunity to enjoy or take part in them through levelling up are somehow in opposition, and I must disagree. The point of levelling up is to make sure that everyone, in every part of the United Kingdom, can be part of the arts and creative industries' success story. That is a story that many noble Lords have told eloquently again today....
Written Answers — Cabinet Office: Inflation: Christmas (8 Dec 2022)
Sarah Olney: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an estimate of the impact of inflation on games and toys for the domestic market in each of the last five years.
Scottish Parliament: International Human Rights Days (8 Dec 2022)
Annie Wells: I agree with Stephen Kerr. I, too, am disappointed that the SNP has chosen to politicise the issue, and the Scottish Conservative amendment makes clear our disappointment. Through its constitutional blame games, the SNP has already managed to land the taxpayer with a bill of almost £200,000, due to legal fees that are related to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child...


"Not liking guns is a millennial thing, it's the cool thing to be against guns," said Vaughn.
Jacob Thomas, 20, a student at Germanna Community College in Fredericksburg, Va., said he's experienced the same situation.
"You can't express that opinion, especially on college campuses," he said.
While their peers elsewhere have been adding their names to campus walkouts to protest gun violence, several students here said they took advantage of the National Rifle Association's show discount and signed up for membership.
"The Second Amendment is what we're protecting," said Abby Brinkman, 22, a senior at Shawnee State University in Portsmouth, Ohio who wore a dress imprinted with the words "We the People." She said there have been talks on her Ohio campus about starting a group to help students who are turning 21 and are interested in carrying a concealed weapon.
"People have been so quick to turn on gun owners rather than smart solutions," she said.
Liberty Fuchs, 19, a self-identified libertarian from Los Angeles, said she strongly empathizes with the Florida students, but is afraid their tactics are alienating even those sympathetic to them. She said she's read statements on social media that equate support for gun rights to sanctioning school shootings.


Mayor de Blasio said he'll sink another $22 million in his efforts to fight opioid overdoses in the city, saying the initiative had begun to show results as overdose rates in the city flatten following years of increases.
De Blasio made the announcement, which will bring total funding for the "Healing NYC" program to $60 million, on Staten Island, a borough that has been hard-hit by the opioid epidemic — but where preliminary data shows overdose deaths declined in 2017 compared to 2016.
"We're beginning to see progress, and I emphasize the word beginning," de Blasio said at Richmond University Medical Center. "It's going to be a long fight."
De Blasio was joined by Fredi Weinstein, who lost her son, Miles, 29, to an overdose a year and a half ago. She said police later told her there had been 20 fentanyl overdoses in the borough the weekend he died.
"A year and a half later I still struggle to focus. Honestly, I struggle to function. Sometimes, I feel like I struggle to breathe," the heartbroken mom said.
The mayor's wife, Chirlane McCray, applauded Weinstein for speaking out even though it is painful.
"You remind everyone that this crisis is not about numbers or statistics — it's about the people we love, our sons and our daughters, our partners and our friends," she said.
The announcement of city efforts aimed at preventing overdoses by connecting people to treatment options and providing them naloxone, a drug that can reverse overdoses, came the same day as President Trump rolled out his own plan — which included the death penalty for some drug traffickers.
"I hear it will include some resources for prevention and treatment, obviously I applaud that — I want to see the details but I applaud any additional resources for prevention and treatment because we need that endlessly," de Blasio said.
But on the criminal justice end, he recalled advice from NYPD Commissioner James O'Neill: "You can't arrest your way out of the opioid crisis."
"I disagree with the President on the death penalty, because I disagree with the death penalty," de Blasio added. "I don't think the death penalty is morally right and I don't think it's a deterrent."
None of the new money announced by de Blasio Monday will go to law enforcement — instead it is focused on preventing overdoses and connecting people to treatment.
The city will hire 29 new staffers to expand its Health and Engagement Assessment Team and its Rapid Assessment Response Team, which both respond to overdose calls and assist in coordinating responses by the NYPD and Department of Health.
A diversion program for people arrested on low-level drug offenses started on Staten Island, called HOPE, will also be expanded in the borough and launched in the Bronx, aimed at diverting 1,400 people annually from the criminal justice system to treatment.
Those two boroughs have been particularly hard-hit by the epidemic, de Blasio said. While Staten Island had a well-publicized prescription pill crisis that morphed into a battle against heroin and fentanyl, Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark noted the borough never stopped struggling with heroin after it emerged in the 1970s.
"The origins were very different but I think the reality now is very much the same around the city and around the country," de Blasio said. "I think we're all in a common struggle now."
The city will also expand a program called Relay, which connects people with a peer counselor immediately after an overdose; will increase inpatient hospital interventions at public hospitals, and launch a program that will have FDNY EMS workers leave behind extra naloxone kits, which can be used to stop an opioid overdose, to homes they visit for overdose calls.
De Blasio said he expected the program to save 400 lives over four years. In 2016 alone, the city saw 1,374 overdose deaths. Numbers for 2017 are still preliminary, but the administration said citywide they are "flattening' rather than continuing to surge.


text:
Shri Santosh Bagrodia a politician from Indian National Congress was a Member of the Parliament of India. He represented Rajasthan in the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian Parliament till 2010.

On 6 April 2008, he became the Coal Minister of India.

Career
He worked for 20 years as a social worker and then in 1975 he started his politics career with Indian National Congress.

References

External links
 Profile on Rajya Sabha website

Indian National Congress politicians
Rajya Sabha members from Rajasthan
Rajasthani politicians
Living people
Union ministers of state of India
Year of birth missing (living people)
Indian National Congress politicians from Rajasthan

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


I just wanted to let you know we have completed our Warranty Item list. Throughout the entire process, the Customer Care Team has been extremely responsive to our requests and has kept us apprised of what was going on. We would like to thank them especially, and you, for your help in these matters. We know that dealing with some of these customer issues can be frustrating at times, but we feel that you both did a great job and made the experience for us that much easier.
I was most satisfied that everyone was courteous.
They also gave us options and they were ahead of schedule.
They were interested in what we thought.