A basement is often used as storage. Due to its location under the main building, a basement is often under-used room. Now, man cave popularity has changed basement use. In this modern era, most basements are used as functional room like basement bar. Although you need extra cost to alter an under-used basement into a great basement bar, you will be so satisfied with the result later. The result of finishing basement must be awesome. You will do it in stages by starting from the basic design to improving on features and aesthetics.
A finished basement that is going to use as a basement bar requires bar furniture such as bar table, barstools, mini kitchen island, storage system and so on. Seen from the style of design, there are several bar designs for home basements. The designs are building in modern or contemporary, rustic, classic, country, and minimalist style.
Each style of bar design for home basement exposes special differences. Rustic style, for instance, shows natural element as the main construction and interior features. Log or timbers are often used as the main parts of rustic basement bar. Bar furnishing is also dominated by wood or other natural elements (like natural stones).
Classic and minimalist bar designs for home basements is totally in contrast. Classic style pays in detail (for structure and physic appearance like motifs/ prints, colors, etc), while minimalist style is so identical with simplicity and elegance. A minimalist basement bar is simple in color, design, furniture option, and layout / setting. To see the obvious differences among the styles of bar designs for home basements, here we share some basement bar designs in various styles.
How to Decorate White Baseboard? Should We Paint It in White?


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Guest Blogger: Draven St. James
Today I have the pleasure of welcoming Draven St. James, a fellow Loose ID Author, to A Little Bit of Naughty. I absolutely love her Firehouse Six Series and when she was looking for hosts for the release of the third book, Fused By Fire, I jumped at the chance. I personally can't wait for this to go on sale. It's at the top of my TBR list. Check out the blurb and excerpt below and you'll see why. *squee* I can't wait to read Simon and Michael's story!
PUBLISHER BUY LINK
Michael prides himself on being the man that everyone can depend on until one of his firefighters is severely wounded on the job. Will he be allowed to process the situation alone? Not when a loud and persistent Simon Winters shows up on his doorstep. The man hasn't met a boundary he didn't skip across.
Simon has had the biggest crush on Lieutenant Firefighter Michael Donovan since the first day he saw him. Which just happened to be at an interview for a job to work as a firefighter. Before his desire to lick the gruff older man from head to toe affects his work, Simon transfers over to being a paramedic. Just when he's begun to build a life that doesn't include hot shower fantasies of Michael, the object of his angst is thrust into his path.
All too quickly, Simon begins to barrel through Michael's defenses and dig up the desires Michael has fought so hard to hide. As passions flare out of control, tragedies collide from every side. Michael's struggle to keep Simon at a distance starts to crumble beneath the weight of the secrets that Simon is hiding. Will Michael be able to protect Simon when he needs it the most or will he lose Simon forever?
Simon knocked on his door. "Hey, all done out here. Want to come check my skills? We can play sexy maid and naughty boss."
Michael bit back a groan, shocked by the words. He'd really love to do that. Did the man know how much his offer tortured him? When did Simon become an overt flirt?
With a fortifying breath, he opened the door and stopped short. Simon stood directly in front of him with a mischievous smile on his face.
"I found something." Simon nibbled on his lush bottom lip.
Michael racked his brain for what Simon might have discovered that would warrant such a teasing expression.
Simon's lips curved into a huge grin as he produced a half-empty bottle of lube from behind his back.
"Shit," Michael muttered.
"Yeah, I was vacuuming out the couch cushions, and imagine my surprise." Simon arched a brow. "Did you buy this at a wholesale supermarket?"
Michael's face heated. Not because Simon had his lube, but because the last couple of times he'd used it, images of Simon in the firehouse showers had slipped unbidden into his thoughts.
He reached out to grab it, but Simon held it away from him.
"Tsk-tsk. Now, where do you hide your…material?" Simon brushed past Michael and into the bedroom.
Michael watched from the doorway as Simon rummaged through the drawers on both nightstands before coming away with a strip of condoms.
"Oh." Simon's face fell. He glanced from the bed to Michael, and his face reddened. With a loudly exhaled breath, he moved past Michael and walked back out into the living room. Michael followed along, only to be brought up short when Simon turned to dangle the condoms in front of Michael. "I guess you don't need any additional inspiration."
Michael finally managed to shake himself out of his frozen state. He snatched the condoms and lube away and tossed them on the couch. Simon just kept pushing and pushing, burrowing his way into all the crevices of Michael's life.
Michael stepped forward and grabbed Simon by his shoulders. "Why are you really here?" he snarled.
"Because you've locked yourself away?" Simon whispered and gazed at him with eyes filled with concern.
That look stabbed into Michael. "And you care why?"
"Because…" Simon shrugged, dislodging Michael's hold, and then cupped Michael's face with a trembling hand. "What happened wasn't your fault, and you needed someone to come and shove that truth into your face."
"You picked the short straw?" Michael hated that Simon's hand on his cheek brought him more comfort than anything else had. Just like at the hospital.
Simon shook his head, and his gaze fell to Michael's lips. His hand came down to brush against the edge of Michael's bottom lip. A pink flush rose along Simon's cheeks.
Michael felt that innocent touch like a jolt through his body. He tilted Simon's face up, and the sensual invitation in his eyes shocked and inflamed him.
He didn't have the energy to fight against what he wanted, and right now that was Simon. With a groan of defeat, he smashed his lips to Simon's and took the sweet oblivion that Simon offered. Simon melted into him, and a shudder worked its way through Michael's body. Michael grasped the backs of Simon's thighs and jerked until Simon jumped up and wrapped his legs around Michael's waist.
Brief astonishment that they were really kissing filtered through Michael's head as he stumbled back to sit on the couch. He traced his tongue along Simon's bottom lip and thrust inside.
I'm a born and raised Oregonian. I've traveled extensively in search of mischief and mayhem to fill my books. My ventures have been quite successful in inspiring a wealth of stories both sexy and humorous. It gives me a great excuse to do some crazy stuff in the name of research. Of course at the end of the day, coffee within reach, laptop at the ready is where I find my peace.
Where to find Draven on the Web:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/draven.stjames
Blog: http://dravenstjames.wordpress.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DravenStJames
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/dravenstjames/
Email: Dravenstjames@gmail.com
Labels: Draven St.James, Fire House 6, Guest Blogger

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


you endured a great contest of suffering.
at other times you associated yourselves with those so treated.
knowing that you had a better and lasting possession.
it will have great recompense.
You need endurance to do the will of God and receive what he has promised.
and if he draws back I take no pleasure in him.
but among those who have faith and will possess life.
bright as the noonday shall be your vindication.
and he approves his way.
for the hand of the LORD sustains him.
I feel like there are countless ways in which You, God, have not answered my prayers—or at least that's how I see it. I have intentions that are more immediate and they just don't pan out. I have intentions that I have been praying about for years, and I still don't see the answer that I want.
I think about praying so deeply to find my lost keys so I'm not late, and a half an hour later I'm still looking at making phone calls to alert people of my tardiness. Or how about the years that I have been praying for total relief from my anxiety? That certainly has not happened yet either. Don't you see these things would be good for me, Lord? I was told that if I truly trusted in Your power, You would hear my prayer and answer it. I trust you. This is good stuff I want here. How can you say "no"?
I DO take delight in you, Lord. Well, maybe not right this minute when I am feeling like You don't hear me or answer my requests. But, most of the time, especially when things are going well, I delight in You.
Well, I suppose I may not be committing myself to Your way. I feel like I may have this figured out if You would just listen to what I need. But, you're saying I need to pledge myself to your way, aren't you? Even if I don't understand it. Okay.
You are not a genie who will grant my well-intentioned wishes. You alone know what is best for me, even if that means a lifelong cross that I must bear. Instead of promising me freedom from all suffering, Lord, you promise to sustain me through the hardship. After all, the real reward, the real life, is not here on earth.
You will be my refuge, Lord. I will continue to ask things of You, but I will open my heart to the idea that life and suffering are a process which we need to walk through in order to be ready for what is truly real.
How can you suffer well and take refuge in our Lord?
In what ways is the Lord asking you to suffer in this life? How can you suffer well and take refuge in Him? See your suffering as a process of refinement. Thank the Lord for the suffering you have.
Jenna Hines has teeny army of three children (and one in utero), and is married to a bearded fellow named Mike. A former high school English teacher, she now stays at home where she blogs and runs a crafty embroidery business. You can find out more about her here.


Role DescriptionYou will be joining a tight-knit technology team, who are passionate about their job and enjoy playing an integral role. The team is responsible for a CI/CD pipeline that builds and tests 5 MLOC platform code that more than 100 developers contribute to on daily basis. The output is continuously being integrated by many teams.
Responsibilities• Responsible for development, maintenance and operation of the CI/CD pipeline, to meet the evolving needs of the local and remote development teams.
Other informationTeam player, fluent in English, analytical and creative thinker, yet with hands-on mentality, drive for quality, curious with desire to stay professionally up to date, likes to collaborate and support others.


I am working on a MVC 4 web site. It should allow the user to select which database to be connected with depending on user selection from the View. All the databases have the same table structure and schema etc.
I have a database ConnectionString defined in the Web.config file that allows for connection to the first database.
I also used Linq DataContext to initialize connection to the database. Table mappings were all automatically generated by Linq to SQL in MVC 4.
You don't need to worry about closing them or anything. SQL Server is handling all that for you. So you simply adjust the connection string slightly (Database Name) and create a new context based on whatever variable in every page you need to use the Context.


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Rhythms NetConnections Inc. (Former NASDAQ: RTHM) was in the business of providing broadband local-access communication services to large enterprises, telecommunications carriers and their internet service provider (ISP) affiliates and other ISPs. The company's services included a range of high-speed, always-on connections that were designed to offer customers both cost and performance advantages when accessing the Internet or private networks. The Company used multiple digital subscriber line (DSL) technologies to provide data transfer rates ranging from 128 kbit/s to 8.0 Mbit/s delivering data to the end user, and from 128 kbit/s to 1.5 Mbit/s receiving data from the end user. The company was delisted from NASDAQ in May 2001. On August 2, 2001, the company and all of its wholly owned United States subsidiaries voluntarily filed for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. Also in August 2001, the Company sent 31-day service termination letters to all of its customers.

Legal Action
A protracted class action securities lawsuit against the officers and directors of Rhythms NetConnections was settled on April 3, 2009.  Judge John K. Lane of the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado gave his final approval to a $17.5 million settlement. Judge Lane also awarded the plaintiffs' attorneys, Milberg LLP, Stull Stull & Brody and The Shuman Law Firm, 30% of the settlement fund and an additional $2.6 million in expenses from the fund.

A class of shareholders, who purchased shares in Rhythms NetConnections between Jan. 6, 2000, and April 2, 2001, brought the case. The lawsuit alleged that the officers and directors "knowingly or recklessly" made false statements about the company's subscriber line count, growth and financial condition in an effort to inflate its stock price.

At one time, Enron owned 5.4 million shares of Rhythms NetConnections stock.

See also
Covad Communications
Dot-com bubble
NorthPoint Communications

References

Summary of Class Action Suit

External links
Former Official site - www.rhythms.net
WORLDCOM PAYS $40 MILLION FOR RHYTHMS DSL ASSETS
InternetNews.com article - Rhythms NetConnections to End Service
The Register - Fattest Fat Cats Ever? - Article on Bonus Payouts to CEO and COO that occurred 3 days prior to bankruptcy

Verizon Communications
Defunct networking companies
Companies disestablished in 2001

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


You may be happy to have a job and thankful you can pay for basic expenses, but after a while going to work, paying bills, going home, and then doing it all over again the next day can become miserable if you don't like your job. If you're at a point where your job is making you feel unhappy, rather than immediately looking for a new job, one solution may be to talk to your boss about it. There is a high chance that your boss already senses your dissatisfaction. Coming to work late and looking a little unenthusiastic to be at your job can be pretty obvious. Here is a way to tell your boss you are unhappy at work.
First Identify why you are unhappy. Before setting up a meeting with your boss, have a clear idea of what you want to say. What specifically makes you unhappy at work? Your supervisor will have plenty of questions, so you need to make sure you can clearly articulate what is wrong.
Choose a time of meeting convenient for you both. When you set up your meetingwith the boss, make sure to have it at the right time of day. Choosing the wrong time could have a negative effect on the outcome of your meeting. Make sure to have your meeting at a time when you are both thinking clearly (Monday mornings are out). Productivity expert Andrew Jansen suggested that mid-morning meetings on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday are best.
Now that you know exactly why you aren't feeling great about your work, think of the best possible way to get your message across. Try to state your concerns with a positive attitude. Even though you're taking this time to share what's not going well for you, show respect while doing so. Also resist the urge to blame your boss for what isn't right with your job. Blaming will only make your supervisor feel defensive. Consequently, he or she will be less likely to listen with an open mind. Explain why you are not about work and calmly state how you have been feeling about your job.
Do not complain only, Suggest possible solutions. If you are going to speak with your boss about what is making you unhappy, you need to balance this out by presenting a list of possible solutions. Show that you care about your job and that you're willing to take the initiative and do what it takes to make things better. Don't expect your boss to solve all your problems for you. At the end of the day, it would be up to you to take responsibility for your career.
Have a Backup Plan. While things could get better at work, there is also the possibility that things could also get worse. Your boss may start to feel that you have your own interests ahead of the company's and may start to find ways to get you to leave. This isn't going to be a pleasant experience for you, so if you sense something like this is starting to happen, it would be wise to make plans to work elsewhere.
Revise your resume (this is something you should be doing on a regular basis, anyway), brush up on your skills, and start looking for your next job.


A shopping addiction is expensive and time-consuming. It's a hobby that drains your bank account, eats up countless hours of your time, and leaves you feeling never truly satisfied. In fact, many compulsive buyers often feel much worse after shopping.
Euphoric – This is the initial feeling many compulsive buyers experience while shopping. It's like they are in the "zone" and sometimes exhibit manic-like behavior. They move with purpose and feel a "high" when shopping.
Regret – Shopaholics initially feel happy while they're shopping, but this positive emotion is short-lived. After they've returned home with bags full of things they didn't need, many compulsive buyers feel regret for spending too much money.
Anxiety – Many shopaholics feel anxious about having to tell their partner, friends, or family member that they've overspent again. Sometimes compulsive buyers hide their purchases from their partner because they worry how their partner will react.
Overwhelm / Guilt – Many shopaholics feel overwhelmed when they open their closet. Their wardrobe is constantly growing, yet they feel like they have nothing to wear. They feel guilty about previous purchases, which may cause them to buy more items.
While a shopping addiction might sound harmless, it can take a toll on your finances and mental well-being. Obviously overspending can lead to debt, but it can also hurt your relationships and career.
Even if you don't feel like you're a full-blown shopaholic, a small addiction now can lead to serious consequences later. It's important to recognize the signs of a shopping addiction so you can learn how to quit and develop better spending habits going forward.
It started out innocently enough (like all addictions tend to do, right?) I got my first corporate office job after graduating from University, which meant I needed to transition from wearing leggings to class into a more appropriate outfit for the office.
My wardrobe needed a huge overhaul, which involved me spending money (I didn't yet have) in order to have enough appropriate outfits for my first week of work.
Because "work clothing" tended to be more expensive than leggings and sneakers, including extra fees like dry cleaning, I would shop the sales to save money. Finding a good deal was like a "high" for me. That's why I signed up to receive email alerts from all my favorite retailers so I would never miss a sale.
While this might have sounded like a good idea, it just was the start of my shopping addiction.
The flash sale sites were my biggest weakness. Every morning when the new flash sales would begin, I was online ready to buy. This was great for my haute taste on a bargain budget.
Every single week I was buying new shoes, clothing, or accessories. I somehow convinced myself that I was investing in my wardrobe. Dress for the job you want, right?
I started to notice that I felt "out of sorts" on weeks where I didn't go shopping. It's like I missed my shopping fix, and it didn't feel quite right.
Then there was a time when the Canadian dollar was on par with the US dollar, and that's when my shopping addiction got out of control. I would make multiple trips to the US exclusively to shop.
I was spending thousands of dollars on designer shoes and handbags because I was able to get them on sale in the US (and the Canadian dollar was doing great).
Many of the items I purchased were on impulse. While I initially felt a rush of excitement when buying something, it quickly turned into feelings of guilt afterwards. I wasn't able to control my emotions.
This is when I knew I had a shopping problem.
Deciding to quit my job and go back to school was ultimately was forced me to confront my poor spending habits. It made me want to break my addiction to shopping so I could save enough money to pay for graduate school.
Let me tell you, the journey to saving money was tough. It felt like a constant battle trying to stick to my budget while learning how to manage my spending triggers.
But over time, things got better. It's been over four years since I quit my job. I finished my graduate studies with no debt. I started this blog and turned it into a full-time career. I'm earning more money than I ever have in my life. But instead of shopping online or browsing the mall, I'm saving and spending my money wisely.
There was no overnight change or "eureka" moment on my journey to overcoming my shopping addiction. It took me a couple of years to understand my "triggers" and what my true priorities in life were.
I'll be honest with you, I still feel the urge to spend money impulsively, especially when I'm stressed. I don't know if those feelings will completely disappear (at least for me), but I've learned how to respond to these urges in a healthy way.
Here are 8 ways to overcome a shopping addiction!
If you find yourself being tempted to spend money every time a sales email pops up in your inbox, then it's time to click "unsubscribe". I recommend unsubscribing from ALL retailer emails to avoid the urge to impulse spend.
Initially when I started unsubscribing to retailer emails, I stayed on the mailing list for a few select stores. This was a big mistake though, because I still felt tempted to spend money whenever I received an email. If you're serious about overcoming a shopping addiction, then you need to unsubscribe from all retailers.
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If you love shopping, chances are your wardrobe is full of items you no longer wear or things that you've forgotten you even own.
Feelings of overwhelm, gilt, and regret are all too familiar for those with over-buying habits. It's hard to pick out an outfit that makes us feel our best when we're bombarded by these negative emotions. Instead, we tend to feel that our wardrobe is never good enough because our clothing doesn't align with our values.
Before I decluttered my clothes, I had the misconception that I would need to buy new things to replace everything that I donated or sold. This is simply NOT true! Decluttering forces you to decide what's actually important to you.
By getting rid of items you no longer wear, need, or love, it gives you a chance to feel good about the items you choose to keep. Decluttering teaches you how to be more decisive when choosing what to wear each day, and in other areas of your life too. You'll no longer want to waste time watching movies that don't interest you or talking to people who bring you down.
Decluttering can be a great way to make extra money by selling your gently used items online or at consignment shops. Decluttering also gives you more space. This doesn't mean more space to buy new items, but instead it provides you space to breathe, think clearly, and eliminate mental clutter.
Now that you've decluttered your closet, it's time to set new rules for your wardrobe. For example, when I was trying to overcome my shopping addiction, I made a rule to only buy items in neutral colors (black, gray, white, navy, an so on).
This didn't mean I went out to buy a whole new wardrobe in neutral colors. Instead, if I needed something, such as a new winter coat, I would buy it in a neutral color. By having a closet that focused on neutral colors, it was easier to mix and match items. By spending less time trying to decide what to wear each day, I was able to be more productive and focus on big picture things, such as school and building my online business.
Having a capsule wardrobe means I feel good about everything I own. It also cuts down the number of little decisions I need to make each day. Now I shop less often and more intentionally.
I am a firm believer that environment can play a huge role in our lives. Whether it's our friends, our co-workers, our workplace, or the neighborhood we live in, our environment can influence our behavior.
While we can't always choose our ideal environment, we do have the power to control some aspects of our surroundings. For example, it doesn't make sense for an alcoholic to eat at a bar, right? This is why you don't want to browse the mall if you're trying to quit your shopping habit.
Determine the root cause of your shopping habit. What drives you to shop? Even though a shopaholic's habits may appear irrational to an outsider, it's not. Those with an addiction to shopping believe that they are entirely rational and they are shopping for a reason – usually to fulfill a need.
It's not easy to self-analyze ourselves, and sometimes we do require professional assistance. However, understanding the psychological need that's driving the urge to shop can help you overcome your addiction.
For me, I found that my work environment and life stress was driving my buying behavior. I was constantly shopping to fulfill a need, but was never really satisfied.
Fortunately, I had the opportunity to completely change my environment: I quit my job, went back to school, and hiked in my spare time. Spending more time outdoors humbled me. I thought less and less about designer fashion and more about obtaining a healthy lifestyle.
If you've been trying to slowly break your shopping addiction, but are still struggling with your triggers, then you might need to ditch shopping completely.
Going cold turkey isn't easy, but sometimes it's absolutely necessary if you want to quit your poor spending habits. In this case, I recommend doing the no new clothing challenge for 30 days. The rules are simple: don't buy any clothing, shoes, or accessories for an entire 30 days (or longer).
The no new clothing challenge is an excellent way to save money, even for non-shopaholics. It forces you to breathe new life into the items you already have, by mixing and matching outfits.
I did the no new clothing challenge for a full year. It was tough, especially in the beginning, but I truly believe it's the reason I'm no longer addicted to shopping. You can read more about my experience doing the no new clothing challenge here.
As I already mentioned, your environment can impact your behavior. That's why it's important to recognize and learn how to manage your "triggers" which drive you to shop.
I recommend keeping a journal and documenting when you feel compelled to shop. Is it due to boredom, sadness, or anger? Do you feel the urge to shop after you've watched a particular television show? Do you want to shop after hanging out with a certain friend or family member?
Recognizing which triggers cause you to shop can help you learn how to manage these triggers.
You'd be surprised to learn that most of us don't know our values, or understand what's important to us. Instead, we usually focus on what our society and media values. Sounds pretty silly, right?
Doing the no new clothing challenge forced me to replace shopping with something more productive and better for my wallet. That's when I decided to start this blog. It was the perfect way for me to focus on something positive while I was doing the no new clothing challenge.
It's important to identify your values, because when our actions and values are aligned, that's when we feel most content.
Not sure what your personal values are? To get started brainstorming ideas, look back on your life and determine which times you felt really happy and proud of yourself. Choose examples from both your personal life and career.
Then, ask yourself why each experience was memorable? Make a list of values from these peak moments and define what these values mean to you. When your spending habits align with your priorities in life, you'll begin to feel more satisfied and live with intention.
Over to you — what are some of your core values?
If you're ready to get a head start on transforming your finances in 2019, having the right tools at your fingertips can help you do this with ease. The 2019 Budget Binder Printables package are the same worksheets I use to organize and manage my finances. You can learn more about the Budget Binder here.


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The Mirrored World by Debra Dean
Posted: July 2, 2012 | Author: egghead23 | Filed under: Books | Tags: books, Books 2012, Debra Dean, novel, reading, Russia, The Mirrored World | Leave a comment
Debra Dean has written a wonderful historical novel, which I think, is even better than her first, The Madonnas of Leningrad, which I had trouble getting through. This one, The Mirrored Word, I could not put down, and read in about two days.
It tells the story of Russia's St. Xenia, who lived during the reigns of Elizabeth, Paul III, and Catherine the Great. She has a normal childhood, though her father is killed in war, which is when she comes to live with her cousin. The two bond closely, and are brought into the society of the Russian court. Xenia falls in love with one of the court's musicians, and after a few tragic events, begins to slip away from the material world.
Dean does a wonderful job of walking the fine line between madness and holy inspiration, as Xenia leaves everything behind to live among the outcasts, with her cousin Dasha always looking out for her.
The novel was written in beautiful, etherial prose. It reminded me of a cross between Geraldine Brooks' People of the Book and Sena Jeter Nasland's Abundance, both of which were also amazing reads. I also liked that it was a look into a historical period that we don't often see in Western literature, the Imperial Courts of 18th Century Russia.
I can't say enough good things about this book, but I will say this: I have had a REALLY hard time finding something good to read in this year of 50 Shades and Hunger Games, something interesting, with compelling characters and plot, that felt nourishing to my brain as well. The Mirrored World completely took me there, and away to another place and time.
End of Year Musings Week 4: Creation
Posted: December 21, 2011 | Author: egghead23 | Filed under: blogging, writing | Tags: End of Year meme, novel, writing | Leave a comment
Wednesday, Dec 21: Creation
What did you make this year? Whether something personal, like a song or some art, or a work project, share your process and the end result of your creation.
I worked a lot on my novel, Erasable You, this year. I tend to write like a spider spins a web. I have ideas that I put down and then spin around them. It's slow going. I'm not the kind of writer who can just sit and bang the whole thing out in one linear process. The name of the school is still up in the air. Its nickname is "East Plastic Jesus" Academy because of a tradition where all the fifth graders go through a kind of rite of passage. There's a big ceremonial mass, and they each receive a cheap plastic rosary. But I'm not married to that concept…still working on it.
Here then, are the first few pages:
No one had ever accused Annabel DiLuca of being unprofessional. In fact, they often found her quite the opposite, a bit of a stickler. A perfectionist, an if-I-want-it-done-right-I'll-just-do-it-myself-then kind of person, in short, a pain in the ass. This perfectionism, though it served her well professionally, tended to make her push things too far, and being an impetuous person, Annabel often found herself in the wrong place. Annabel's shrink, the caterpillar-moustached Dr. Anson Harrington, whom she hadn't seen in years, had once blamed it on her broken childhood. While her juvenile days had certainly been happy ones, with a loving father and a doting grandmother, her mother had been more or less absent, removed from Annabel's life by a speeding late-model Chrysler Belvedere on a Saturday afternoon in 1976.
Joanne DiLuca had spent that November afternoon browsing children's apparel shops in the old section of town where the Italian immigrants had settled, meticulously probing their overcrowded, plastic-covered wares for the right delicately stitched cardigan, something new for Annabel to wear to the family's Thanksgiving gathering. Joanne cut a fashionable silhouette that day, having adopted Jacqueline Onassises's sense of style in the early Sixties and followed along through the rest of her short life. That particular day, Joanne was wearing a pink tweed car coat, and, though she was of tiny-stature, she had to turn sideways to get through the narrow the aisles in the tiny shop. The two elderly ladies who worked there, Rose and Mary Marchiano (sisters in law only), looked at her over the rims of their chained spectacles to admire the way Joanne held herself. They thought Joanne was all class, always had been, even when her own mother had brought her in by the hand decades earlier. The way her handbag swung on her wrist, she seemed so young to the two women who spent their days on kitten heels, under high, starched, silvery hair. Indeed, Joanne DiLuca must have her whole life ahead of her, married to that nice DiLuca boy from Maple Street. They remembered Anthony DiLuca from his days as a high school track star; if he hadn't turned his ankle in the spring of 1955, he might have gone all the way to the Olympics. But he'd done all right in the end, following Old Man DiLuca into the concrete business. That family had really made something of themselves. Old Man DiLuca had made more money than Elvis selling all that rock, and here was little Joanne Petrillo (now DiLuca) living the dream homemaker life. Rose and Mary sighed to each other, thinking of their own children, long grown and out of the house. How nice.
Meanwhile, the Belvedere driver was at a college football stadium, downing beer-after-beer, first from a pony keg at a pre-game tailgate and later from a hawker in the stands. His fate collided with Joanne DiLuca's on a bridge to suburbia in the waning sunlight of an otherwise perfect autumn afternoon. Annabel ended up wearing the chocolate-colored sweater her mother had purchased not to Thanksgiving, but to her mother's funeral. Even though the sweater had been in the car when the accident occurred, it was still covered in protective plastic, and thus escaped the wreckage unscathed.
As she grew up, Annabel felt nothing was absolute, that try as she might, the rug could be pulled out from under her at any moment. She tried and tried to overcome the feeling, desperately clutching to control every situation, but in the end it never worked out. The more she sought control, the less she found she had, and things inevitably spun away from her.
On the last Saturday before the start of the school year, Annabel and Matt had attended the EPJ Academy faculty picnic like a perfectly normal couple. It was a civil gathering on the grounds of a once-grand local mansion, long since abandoned, but modernly available for a modest fee-by-the-hour to the public for affairs such as these. Her boss, Helen Stilte, EPJ's interim-head-librarian, had been there with her husband, a boring blowhard of a civil engineer who had recently retired, but was currently a consultant to the nuclear power industry. They all mingled so politely, Edgar Stilte smiling at Annabel with a mouthful of yellow teeth that reminded her of horse corn and hayrides. They had chatted and dined on fresh fruit and finger sandwiches. At moments, Helen clung to Annabel's arm, whispering bits of gossip about this person or that, and Annabel had felt discomfort at being introduced to her new co-workers through her supervisor's filter. She had tried a few times to break away from Helen, hanging with staff members and teachers who were closer to her own age, but then she'd notice Helen had quietly snuck up on her, listening to her every word over the heads of the people sitting between them. Annabel looked across the veranda at Matt to see whether he had noticed Helen's odd behavior, but he was oblivious, holding a cigarette in his left hand awkwardly, despite the fact that he smoked cigarettes regularly, and talking to the lacrosse coach over there on the patio. Matt was wearing a rumpled tweed sport jacket that he had gotten at Good Will for less than most people spent on a t-shirt. His tie was too thin to be fashionable, a leftover caramel-colored knitted thing from the 1980s. His long brown hair was pulled back into a short ponytail at the base of his skull. He held what looked like yet another fresh bloody Mary, self-medicating, Annabel guessed. This wasn't his crowd either.
The only person Annabel had felt an affinity with so far was Pam, the headmaster's very plain secretary. Pam had gone to middle school with Annabel, and the two hadn't seen each other from then until the day, four months ago, that Annabel had come to EPJ for her interview. Pam had married her high school sweetheart, a medical equipment salesman who traveled around the country, and was, by all accounts, the nicest guy in the world. Though honestly, most of that accounting came from Pam herself, since no one on the faculty had actually met the man.
Annabel finally settled in an uneasy plastic folding chair at a plastic garden table with a group of blonde-haired twenty-something women dressed in varying shades of pastel dresses. Annabel felt as if she were sitting in the middle of a preppy ad for Lily Pulitzer or J Crew, and she tried not to feel self-conscious about her own frizzy brown hair or the dress she was wearing, a vintage 1940's black and white A-line number that she had thought looked so good that morning, though now she wasn't so sure. She shifted from time to time in her seat, uncrossing and then re-crossing her legs at the ankles, hoping to get comfortable in a place where she didn't feel she quite belonged.
It was not so much that Annabel felt out of place at the picnic. She was just wrestling with her accustomed awkwardness when it came to acclimation. She felt as if she had transferred to a new high school in her junior year, and all the cliques had already been set. There were the popular kids, now coaching the sports at EPJ; the intellectuals, those who had been teaching at the school for years and years; the administrative staff, kind of the go-between clique; and Annabel, the librarian's drone, floating around the hive, just looking for a place to fit in. Annabel sensed with dread the familiar disconnect, the feeling that she couldn't relate, couldn't really understand the enthusiasm this group of people had for their jobs in general. They were all so gung-ho about the community of the school for which they were working. Annabel wanted desperately to feel that strongly about it. To feel that strongly about anything.


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This is why THAT Bohemian Rhapsody scene is so iconic
By Aisha Victoria Deeb 11 months
As a master of disguise, it may take you a moment to spot Canadian actor Mike Myers underneath a thick British accent. But, you'll be glad you did.
Myer's character of Ray Foster may be fictional, but he is loosely based on former EMI executive Roy Featherstone who was a predominant figure in Queen's first UK distribution deal.
However, there is one pretty iconic scene during the film in which Roy first hears 'Bohemian Rhapsody' and hates it. Roy tells the aspiring band, "Mark these words: No one will play Queen." He then continues to say that teenagers are not going to be head-banging in the car to "Bohemian Rhapsody."
Which is a clear reference to this.
Although the scene is packed full of irony considering 'Bohemian Rhapsody' quickly became one of the most iconic pieces of music of all time, there's also a pretty sweet and personal fact that pays major homage to Freddie Mercury.
As we all know, the 1992 film, Wayne's World, which stars Mike Myers, opens up to the lead character head-banging to the Queen song. And, although Myers had to take copious amounts of Advil to curb the headache that followed, he refused to use any other song. Myers demanded "Bohemian Rhapsody", and even threatened to quit the production unless it was used. He was even quoted as saying. "I said to everybody, 'Well I'm out. I don't want to make this movie if it's not 'Bohemian Rhapsody,' and they were like, who the F are you? And I said, 'I'm somebody that wants to do that movie, that's the movie I want to do."
Prior to the film's release, 'Bohemian Rhapsody' had only placed at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 in America, after the film came out, it hit No. 2. Freddie Mercury died a few months before the film was released, but he did watch it and gave Myer's and producers his approval.
So it seems Freddie and Mike were fans of eachother.
TOPICS: Entertainment, Movies & TV shows, Movies, Oscars 2019, UAE


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Why Jewish Kids Don't Have Peanut Allergies
March 11, 2018 March 12, 2018 stephenmcalpine
Jewish children rarely have peanut allergies.
Come to think of it, very few people in my primary school had peanut allergies either.
There we were in the playground, hair to our collars, flared corduroys, white hi-tops, dreaming of the days when the internet would be invented, and stoically eating peanut butter sandwiches at lunchtime. Every lunchtime. Almost to a child.
So why the onslaught of peanut allergies?
In short; the lack of any contact with peanuts whatsoever! Reduced exposure to peanuts is one reason for the increase in allergic reactions, so it's a vicious circle.
Speaking at New York University last month, the UK's Former Chief Rabbi, Lord Jonathan Sacks, observed in a conversation with Professor Jonathan Haidt, that Jewish children are rarely allergic to peanuts.
Why? Because the favourite kiddy snack in Israel is made with peanuts. Immunity levels to the toxins peanuts contained increased with incremental exposure to, well, peanuts!
Lord Sacks was not focussed on peanuts. He was focussed on the increasing fragility among university students, who cannot cope with ideas that are opposed to their own without either resorting to violence, or who become the so called "cry-bullies" that Catholic thinker Rusty Reno speaks of.
The rise of no-platforming at universities; the need for safe spaces; speakers such as Jordan Peterson being shouted down at university settings; Christian groups on campus being told to vacate the public squares in case they quote the Bible and upset students; these are the signs of a deep fragility borne from little or no exposure to ideas that they don't like.
It's all a sign, according to both Sacks and Haidt, that it's the parents who are nuts. Children raised in bubbles, not afforded the rigour of pushback, never taught bit by bit to be strengthened and tempered against a future in which their views are going to be challenged, inevitably succumb to the intellectual equivalent of anaphelactic shock.
Nassim Taleb, in his book Antifragile: Things that Gain From Disorder, posits that some things benefit from repeated exposure to difficulties, because these are the means by which their "anti-fragility" is harnessed. And he uses that peanut example too.
It's tempting as the parent of a 17 year old who will be university bound (most probably in an Arts degree) in the next couple of years, to seek a similar pathway for my daughter.
How can I protect her from the nutty lecturers who positively salivate at seeing yet another young Christian step into their midst? My immediate reaction is to hide her in cotton wool. Look for another option other than university. Steer her away from the peanut gallery in the Arts Faculty.
The other way, of course, is to start prepping her now, increasing her anti-fragility. Start pushing back carefully on her with some opposing ideas that will challenge her young tender and beautiful faith; a faith that may prove too tasty to many a godless ideologue lecturer.
Hence I find myself becoming the devil's advocate on many an occasion, testing my daughter with a toxic idea here, an allergic concept there, to see how she responds. Kitting her out for immunity. Prodding and pushing back on holes in her arguments.
And of course it's not just her ideas. As I was reminded this morning, we're not like brains on a stick. The godless lecturer may not entice her, but the godless young man with the smile, whose read Tolstoy, and sings like Justin Vernon, just might. And if he did, you'd be surprised at just how quickly that lecturer's ideas begin to sound like common sense to her!
So we push back on the things she watches on Netflix, the Youtubers that garner so much praise and attention; which call incessantly for her to "go with your heart", "be yourself", "discover your true identity."
Of course, it's not all down to me – and my cultural awareness. My daughter is a feisty young woman who can more than hold her own in an argument and seems to have inherited a double portion of her father's sarcasm and irony, along with an eye-roll that I cannot match.
But it's not all down to her and me either! For that sarcasm and irony could well be turned against the gospel, as so much has been among from those who once were soft of heart towards the things of God.
No. The sovereign Lord's work in the lives of young people like my daughter is central. So we must pray for our teens like never before.
As our teenagers go into a university setting far more toxic than we went through. As they hit a workforce that is being prepared to resist all biblical ethical frameworks, and in fact denounce them as toxic, it will be the Spirit of God who ultimately equips them for the task.
I don't say we throw them to the lions – or the peanuts – in some fatalistic act, but that we prep them as hard as we can for what it is going to be like as we live together as the church.
That parents make a pact with each other to raise these young people in ways that are obviously godly. That we as parents don't say one thing and do another. That we swap ideas, pray for each other, form thick communities with each other, and model to our children in the midst of all the busyness that being with the people of God regularly, richly and repeatedly is a given.
Our role is, by God's grace, to create an anti-fragility within them, praying over them, grappling with them, listening to them, establishing them in a Christian community that copes with their sins and failures and doubts (as it does so with ours).
And even so, despite all of that preparation, a time may come where many a university, and many a workplace is no longer open to confessional Christians who refuse to sign off on statements that go against their conscience. Rod Dreher is right. There's a good chance that we may have build some of our own institutions in order for our next generation to study or work in fields they wish to.
Yet that's the time that anti-fragility; a vibrant immunity to the toxic culture, will be most required. That's the time that our culture will require a generation of young people immune to the toxicity, and not cowed by the increasing vehemence they receive for following Jesus in thought, word and deed.
The peanuts are taking charge of our public institutions, especially our universities. Time to start the exposure to their nutty toxins now.
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I'm Joining the Yakezie Challenge!
What the heck is Yakezie?
So as one of my goals of 2014 I decided to join this challenge. The Yakezie network was started by a blogger named Financial Samurai. It has grown in popularity and is a large collection of financial and lifestyle blogs.
When I started this blog back in March of 2012, I didn't think anyone would be interested in what I was doing. I've been surprised and met a lot of fellow bloggers that have the same goals in mind. That goal is typically to reach financial independence (FI) at an early age. Some of us have different strategies on how to get there.
Some bloggers have a normal middle class income but have created a massive portfolio in a short amount of time by living life frugally and investing every penny they can save (Dividend Mantra comes to mind).
Other bloggers are leveraging every penny they can by buying real estate as quickly as possible (FI Fighter comes to mind) in hopes of bringing in massive cash flows that just keep growing.
I tend to find myself somewhere in between. I have two rentals and a growing dividend growth portfolio. I'm not the most frugal person (I do try) but I own my own business and am still able to invest the majority of all my income so that some day, I too can reach FI at an early age.
There's always new blogs popping up and I honestly don't care that much about receiving the most page views. It just usually happens to be the byproduct of producing engaging and interesting articles. So I promise to continue posting updates of my financial life in order to keep track myself and also to network with other like-minded people out there to bounce ideas off of them.
Hopefully some of you will enjoy reading what I have to say this year!
Hello. I was examining your net worth section and was wondering about something. Why is it that you have 3 stock brokerage accounts? Could expound on this? Thanks for your time.
That's a great question. It has a couple of answers. First, my Sharebuilder account is giving me cheaper commissioned trades with the $12 monthly fee. Second, brokerage accounts are secured by the SIPC for up to $500,000. At some point I plan to have this much in each account. However, I'd like to leave plenty of room for growth so it's for diversification. I don't think one of these companies will go bankrupt but you never know.
Great job on joining the Yakezie! I'm sure you'll get to the goal in no time…I started in the millions when I first started. Great reads as well…I'll be back for more!
Thanks for stopping by to comment. I'll be checking out your site as well.
Welcome to the Yakezie Challenge!
Thanks! It will be exciting to see if I can beat the challenge.
Sam and his Yakezie and Financial Samurai sites have been like a best friend in my pursuit to spread the word on investing. Good luck with the Challenge!!
Yeah, so far I'm finding a lot of common interests with many bloggers I never knew about before. It seems like a great network. Thanks!
I want to create a big portfolio.
I don´t want buy houses and rent them out.
I feel more free, if I can buy and sell every day.
You do make a point. Stocks are extremely liquid, meaning you can buy or sell them instantly when you need the cash. I plan to invest in both though as there are benefits in real estate also.
Congrats on joining the Challenge. I hope you acheive all of the goals and grow your blog as well. It's always good to spread the word and encourage more people to radically change their lives for the better.
Thanks for the mention as well. We have a great community going here!
Thanks! I appreciate that. I plan to put a little more work into the blog this year and see what happens. It's also great that we can help people start saving for their own future and FI.
You're welcome. It's nice to be able to share ideas and learn from each other.
Alexa is a decent metric, but don't forget to focus on domain authority too. With Google Pagerank going to the birds, DA is next up for one of the most important ones to track.
I didn't even know about DA so I'll have to look into that one. You seem to have a lot of good ideas on your blog so I will have to read through some of your articles.


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Josh Gad reveals it was his idea to make LeFou gay in 'Beauty and the Beast' remake
The 2017 live-action remake starred Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, Luke Evans, Sir Ian McKellen, Ewan McGregor and Emma Thompson
Words: Steve Brown
Josh Gad reveals it was his idea to make his Beauty and the Beast character gay.
The 2017 live-action remake of the Disney classic starred the likes of Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, Luke Evans, Sir Ian McKellen, Ewan McGregor, Emma Thompson and Josh Gad and received international critical acclaim.
Director Bill Condon also announced that the film was going to introduce the first ever gay character in a Disney movie.
And although, it was a blink-and-you'll-miss-it scene, where Gad's LeFou was scene dancing with another man at the end of the movie, it was a huge step forward for the conglomerate.
Now, Gad has revealed it was his idea to have LeFou end up with a man at the end of the film.
While speaking on Radio Andy with Andy Cohen, the Frozen 2 star said: "Here's what we decided – we decided that LeFou's happy ending would be to dance with another man.
"It was my pitch, that's how I really wanted the movie to end. I was so amazed they let us do it.
"That became such a controversial thing, apparently, even though it was only three seconds of screen time.
"We never put a spotlight on it. We never meant to put a spotlight on it. It became a conflated, weird controversy."
Watch the clip below:
Dan Stevens
live-action remake
Luke Evans


When following the article How to Create a Smart Blast here, you will need two email templates and two Smart Segments if you are doing a 50/50 test.
1. Create the two email templates.
2. Create the segments you are split testing under Your Segments.
Give your "Group 1" segment a unique, easy to identify name. ex: "2016 December Promotion Group A 5% Off"
Select the parameters for all users you want to include in the A/B test.
In this example we will be A/B testing sends to users in the United States.
Pro Tip: Be sure to include "Is Subscribed Is True" as part of any segment you create to ensure you're targeting only customers that are subscribed to your emails.
Add the filter condition "A/B Testing Groups".
Determine the total number of groups you'd like to create and enter that number into the second box. This can be as few as two groups to as many as you'd like to create.
Select "Is" in the operator field, and enter "1", as this is the first group in your set.
Give your segment a unique, easy to identify name. ex: "2016 December Promotion Group B 10% off"
Repeat as necessary for the number of groups you wish to test.
Complete your Smart Blast by following the How to Create a Smart Blast article here.


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Consultation EST
Spiritual Detox
Video Login
$50 million endowment for Indigenous university scholarships
by blacksonrise
The Australian National University (ANU) has today launched a new scholarship program and endowment to unlock university and personal opportunities for Indigenous Australians.
The Kambri Scholarships will provide major financial support as well as a tailored student experience that sets students up for academic, professional and personal success.
ANU will provide $25 million in matching funds to help establish a $50 million endowment to fund the scholarships in perpetuity.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Brian Schmidt said "the University will match donations to the endowment dollar for dollar".
"As Vice-Chancellor of the national university, my hope is that never again will Indigenous students miss out on the ANU experience," Professor Schmidt said.
"As the national university, it is both a responsibility and a privilege to contribute to the advancement of Australia's First peoples; through education, research and providing a platform for meaningful debate that shapes the national conversation.
"But if Australia is to trust its national university, we must do everything we can to resemble the country we seek to serve.
"Talent exists in every community, in every ethnic group, at every age, and is not symbolised by physical abilities or conventions.
"That is why I am so proud and delighted to announce the creation of a new sector-leading scholarship scheme – the Kambri Scholarships.
"These scholarships will provide any Indigenous student who is admitted to ANU, the financial, academic and pastoral support they need to thrive in our community.
"We've made this major commitment – it's important for us, it's important for the nation. Now we are looking for partners, big and small, across the community, to help us turn this vision into reality."
The endowment will fund at least 30 scholarships per year worth up to $30,000 annually.
As 'Kambri Scholars' scholarship recipients will benefit from a financial, academic and pastoral program developed by the ANU Tjabal Indigenous Higher Education Centre; receive individualised support, mentoring and leadership training; and participate in specialised activities, funded by the University.
Ms Anne Martin, Director of the Tjabal Centre, has been instrumental in the formation of the scholarship program.
"Student success is not just about financial support, it is about the entire student experience," Ms Martin said.
"That's why the Kambri Scholarships program offers a holistic approach by providing financial, academic and pastoral assistance across the learning lifecycle-from undergraduate and postgraduate studies, to employment opportunities.
"Our vision is for ANU to attract a diverse cohort of academically talented Indigenous students and to support those students in the culturally appropriate ways they need.
"The program gives Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from across the country the opportunity to come to ANU, focus on their studies and go on to fulfilling careers.
"We hope the ANU experience will support the long-term success, autonomy and self-determination of Indigenous students."
The ANU Council has committed to create an endowment of at least $50 million dollars, with the University matching philanthropic gifts dollar for dollar, until that goal is reached.
The University has provided several million dollars of seed funding to ensure the program can start this year, with scholarships for incoming Indigenous Australians in 2020. The investment returns will fund the program in perpetuity.
If you would like to give, please visit https://www.anu.edu.au/giving/kambri-scholars
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BriefCompaniesGoogleSocial MediaSocial News
Best of The Bests In 2012 From Google's Eye
By Shilpa Shree
This year's Google Zeitgeist includes the top trending searches for gadgets, people, events and Google+ hashtags from around the globe and some confined only to India. Google says 2012 saw 1.2 trillion searches in 146 languages worldwide. So what was everyone searching for in 2012? Here are some of the highlights of "2012 Search Trends".
The tragic death of singer Whitney Houston in February topped the world's trending searches list for 2012, followed by PSY's hit song Gangnam Style, which Google says also became the most watched video in YouTube history. Rounding out the top 5 were Hurricane Sandy, iPad 3, and Diablo 3.
Amanda Todd
Trending consumer electronics
When it comes to gadgets, Apple captured the imagination of the world with the third-generation iPad, which featured 4G LTE connectivity, Retina display and a better camera. Coming in second place was the Samsung Galaxy S III, followed by theiPad Mini,Nexus 7, and Galaxy Note 2. Surprisingly, the iPhone did not rank in the top 10 consumer electronics for 2012, according to Google.
Since she was at the top of the worldwide trending list, it's no surprise to see Whitney Houston at the top of the world's trending people searches. The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, was the second person in the trending people searches list, followed by Amanda Todd. Actor Michael Clarke Duncan, who passed away in 2012, was fourth on Google's trending people, One Direction took fifth. Daredevil skydiver Felix Baumgartner also made the top 10, coming in in sixth place. NASA's mohawk guy did not make the list.
KateMiddleton
AmandaTodd
Michael ClarkeDuncan
Felix Baumgartner
Google+ hashtagsHashtags
on social networks such as Twitter and Google+ can give you a sense of the issues and moments that people were sharing with one another during the year. In 2012, Google+ users worldwide were obsessed with SOPA Awesome, Hurricane Sandy, Google I/O 2012 and the Mars Rover Curiosity.
#SOPA
#Sandy
#Curiosity
#SXSW
#Debate
#BlastFromThePast
#Eastwooding
What India searched Google in 2012?
Which are the keywords Indians are searching in Google? If you want to know then, here is the latest Google Zeitgeist 2012 India data. It gives the top ten keywords in different categories like,
Most searched people:
Sunny Leone (born Karenjit Kaur Vohra May 13, 1981) is a Canadian actress, businesswoman, model and now actress in Bollywood, is in the first position of most searched people in India. Followed by Rajesh Khanna, Poonam Pandey, Alia Bhatt, Nirmal Baba, Sherlyn Chopra, Yash Chopra, Saif Ali Khan, Diana Penty and Vilasrao Deshmukh
Nirmal Baba
Today, IBPS has become a body providing integrated end to end solutions for human resource management of client organizations and stood first in the most searches list in India, followed by Gate Exams, the Bollywood superstar Sunny Leone at top three. while, Ek Tha Tiger, Rowdy Rathore, Cbse, Rajesh Khanna, Aakash Tablet, Hdfc and Jabong which were rated among top ten.
Gate Exams
Rowdy Rathore
Aakash Tablet
Most Searched Movies:
Ek Tha Tiger stood first in terms of the most searched movies starring Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif, followed by Rowdy Rathore, Jannat 2, Housefull 2, Raaz 3, Jism 2, Barfi, Ishaqzaade, Agent Vinod and Vicky Donor.
Raaz 3
Most Searched local Places:
Yamuna Expressway formerly known as Taj Expressway, is a 6-lane (extendable to 8 lanes), 165 km long, controlled-access expressway, connecting Greater Noida with Agra in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, stood first in most searched local places. Freedom Park is located in the Central Business District of the city of Bengaluru, Karnataka, India which was formerly the Central Jail was ranked second.
Yamuna Expressway, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
Freedom Park Bangalore
Meenakshi Amman Temple, Madurai, Tamil Nadu
Ramlila Ground Delhi
Siddhivinayak Temple, Mumbai, Maharashtra
Itpl, Bengaluru, Karnataka
Most Searched News:
SENSEX is a free-float market capitalization-weighted stock market index of 30 well-established and financially sound companies listed on Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) has gained the 1st position in terms of most searched news. The second position goes to Vilasrao Deshmukh's death, was an Indian politician who served as Chief Minister of Maharashtra who passed away this year.
Vilasrao Deshmukh Death
Aseem Trivedi Cartoons
Abhishek Manu Singhv
Earthquake In Chennai
Pranab Mukherjee President
Rajesh Khanna Death
Most Searched cities:
Delhi officially is the National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT) that includes the Indian capital New Delhi, is the second most populous metropolis in India after Mumbai which acquires the first position in India's most searched cities, followed by is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka. The top ten list includes Mumbai, Chennai, Pune, Hyderabad, Coimbatore, Kolkata, Jaipur and Goa
Of course, the internet is not just for games and entertainment. We also use the web to find information on anything from recipes to real estate. Then there are holidays, products, sports, names and thousands of other categories. One could spend a whole day playing around with this tool. What's even more interesting is that these only represent the search volume on Google and not all those wonderful sites Google partners with to showcase ads, nor does it represent Bing, Yahoo and all the other search competition. The key to successful marketing online is to understand keywords and consumer's behaviour.
Freedom Park-Banglore
Google Zeitgeist 2012-India
PSY's-Gangnam style
Yamuna Expressway
Previous articleShipments Of Google Nexus 7 Tablet Would Reach 4.5 – 5 Million Units In 2012
Next articleGen Y And Their Smartphone Habits: 40% Feel Anxious Without Smartphone [Study]
Internet Users In India 2014: Mumbai Tops, Followed By Delhi And Kolkatta
Brief Ambika Choudhary - November 5, 2014 0
If the number of internet users is an indicator, the city of Mumbai has another reason to reaffirm its place as the financial capital...
NyooTV.com enters into Bollywood & Indian TV
Brief Dazeinfo - June 7, 2010 0
US-based AKG Technologies has launched NyooTV.com, an online video service that offers Indian TV shows, Bollywood movies, music videos and event clips aggregated from various entertainment content providers to the Indian audiences in US and India.


Our mission is to engage offenders in sustainable and replicable environmental social enterprises that deliver reparation and reduce the costs of punishment while providing a route to employment in the green economy.
Our programmes, products and services are designed to deliver transitional change to the lives of offenders, their families and communities by harnessing the opportunities of a growing green economy. Through collaborative agreements with Probation Trusts, prisons, environmental social enterprises and other agencies, we channel time served on Community Payback or in prison into constructive endeavour of multiple benefit and lasting impact.
By bringing together environmental, justice and social enterprise agendas, Green Reparation is able to secure strategic outcomes on three fronts.
Better environment: Using the time and skills of offenders and ex-offenders to enable waste and environmental initiatives that otherwise would not be commercially viable.
Reduced reoffending: Providing a specific route way from crime to employment through offender employability and employer engagement in the green economy.
Stronger economies: Using social franchising both to strengthen local regeneration through local ownership and to provide national economies of scale that promote the growth of sustainable social enterprises.


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Councillors must be free to represent their electorate
02.11.15: Councillors are elected by people on the street, not some council official, so they should be able to represent, freely, their electorate. Another restriction is where you have a political party using the whip on councillors. 19...
Pay caps are robbing Peter to pay Paul
17.08.15: By capping pay increases, whilst the cost of living is still rising, will drive increasing numbers on lower pay scales into the poverty bracket, meaning that they will have to claim tax credits and other benefits just to keep themselves within a...
'Check-off' abolition
10.08.15: There seems to be another option, which would be that trade unions actually pay for the service to support direct deductions from pay. There would be income generation for employers as well as a simple way to make union payments. Why a...
Charging at waste sites increases fly-tipping
03.08.15: Here in Cornwall, the unitary authority has made the decision to introduce charges to all at waste sites, on the grounds that the revenue generated exceeds the cost of responding to fly-tipping incidents. Needless to say, it is not an attit...
What's left for councils to cut?
27.07.15: I can't speak for all departments, but consumer protection nationally is way past the 'pips squeaking' phase, and in many authorities is essentially non-existent, leaving the most vulnerable consumers with no protection at all...
Inappropriate housing developments
20.07.15: I guess you're not alone. Here in the village of Robertsbridge 155 new homes have been imposed on us. Inevitably this means green field development and we are in an AONB! The only way forward it seems is to get a Neighbourhood Plan for your pari...
Green belt land is meant to stop urban sprawl
13.07.15: I have read your article and hope you can help. We live in Staffordshire Moorlands in Blythe Bridge and Forsbrook Parish. Staffordshire Moorlands District Council have proposed sites on green belt land for housing development and we are in the c...
Outsourcing public services is a disaster waiting to happen
05.07.15: It's not just financial cost that matters. When an outsourced supplier goes bust or has a business interruption then the public sector *still* has to pick up the pieces (despite having reduced capability and capacity due to being cut). In the ca...
Pooling health and care budgets will just transfer cash to NHS
29.06.15: Until the NHS is able to control its staffing costs, additional funding will not help, and pooling health and social care budgets will only transfer spending from social care into health care. Re: LGA calls for £5.2bn transformation f...
The value of counter-fraud training
22.06.15: Isn't this a case of 'after the horse has bolted'? CIPFA have been 'banging on' about fraud for years but never 'grasped the nettle' until now. I can remember going to any number of events, organised by CIPFA, where fraud was the feature su...
Libraries have to move forward into a digital age
15.06.15: This is absolutely correct. Libraries have to move forward into a digital age and have the competitive advantage by being at the heart of the community, already in a position of trust and responsibility. They can be innovative in their thin...
The case for proportional representation is overwhelming
08.06.15: The case for proportional representation is overwhelming in a supposedly fair and democratic country. I speak as a Labour councillor in south-west England, sitting on a unitary authority where Labour polled in the high teens percentage vote...
Business-minded councils
01.06.15: What a really interesting article. It is good to see such innovation from the public sector. I look forward to seeing more examples of council owned business models. Re: In business
Carer's allowance and pension not the same
26.05.15: Source: Catherine Absolutely not! The pension is an entitlement for your old age for yourself, earned after years of hard work and paying national insurance and tax. The Carer's allowance, pitiful as it is, is to cover for the job you are d...
Carer's allowance
18.05.15: Carer's Allowance and pension are both replacement for work benefits. You would effectively be claiming twice to receive both. Re: New online Carer's Allowance application system
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Echeveria Neon Breaker This patented hybrid is characterized by its intense, colorful leaves. Once planted, the leaves rosettes begin as a blue-green with faint pink at the tips. As the 'Neon Breakers' receive continuous full to partial sun, its colors transform into its own, vivid sunset. The blue-green reverts to a deep purple and a magenta, pink hue at the tips of its leaves.
In bloom, during late summer and early fall, its colors heighten and tend to become even more vivid. Purplish stems grow vertically while producing bright pink flowering buds. The variation in the color is fascinating in the fact that the change in color is so dramatic.
'Neon Breakers' offers a sense of uniqueness, because unlike its parents, Echeveria shaviana 'Pink Frills,' it is able to withstand far more diseases and doesn't shut down seasonally, meaning that it will continue to grow regularly season after season. Its growth is both continuous and robust, especially when given the proper amount of sunlight. This difference between both parent and child is greatly shown in its color intensity. 'Neon Breakers' is brighter in color and variation than its parents.
This rosette-forming succulent has wavy, crinkled edges that are an unusual leaf texture, unlike other Echeveria. Its leaves are thinner compared to others, but it's still considered a hardy plant. While these plants can start out small, its rosettes can grow to 8" or more in diameter. In this case, taking care of these beauties is simple. 'Neon Breakers' are forgiving in that fact that they have the capability to thrive with little water and dry, poor soil. These plants originate in a habitat that is higher in altitude with little soil. Many grow on rocky outcroppings without a problem, as long water drainage is quick and frequent. Proper drainage resists root rot.


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By Amelia Kelly | 12 September 2022 | Add a Comment
Compostable Coalition UK, an initiative for compostable packaging, has launched after receiving £1.2 million through UK Research and Innovation's (UKRI) Smart Sustainable Plastic Packaging Challenge.
Consisting of 10 industry, academia and infrastructure associations – the coalition aims to examine the practicality of collecting, sorting, and treating compostable packaging through existing bio-waste collection and treatment routes.
The scheme has been described as the first of its kind, examining the role of compostable packaging in transitioning away from the current reliance on single-use plastics, of which 50 per cent cannot be or is not recycled.
For this reason, the two-year study seeks to inform necessary government policy and legislative interventions to meet key goals of the UK Plastic Pact. The pact aims to see achieve 100 per cent reusability, recyclability, or compostability in packaging, with 70 per cent then effectively and appropriately processed.
Information provided by the project will respond to the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (Defra), which has called for further evidence to support the case for the 'wide inclusion of compostable packaging in UK's bio-waste treatment streams'.
As part of the coalition, customers of the online retailer Riverford Organic Farmers will participate in a take-back programme. Alongside this, residents of Milton Keynes and shoppers across multiple cafeterias in London will be encouraged to divert compostable packaging into proper food waste bins.
It has also been announced that the packaging producers TIPA, Futamura, Vegware, and Biome will be working to assist in the removal of hard-to-recycle plastics from the market. Hubbub and the University of Sheffield will lead research on consumer behaviour.
Composting facility EnVar and recycling company Paper Round/Recorra are also expected to join the project, alongside trade associations REA and RECOUP.
Bio-waste partners will investigate whether compostable plastic can be sorted and processed to create high-quality compost that can be applied to support soil fertility.
Kate Stansfield, Business Development and Commercial Director at EnVar, said: "EnVar processes around 350,000 tonnes of organic waste each year to make PAS100 accredited compost.
"For a number of years now we have been successfully processing compostable packaging alongside our existing food and garden waste streams. EnVar welcomes its involvement in this project and looks forward to helping produce new data sets to evidence the benefits of this process, to secure the continued support for compostable materials from our industry and Government partners."
David Proctor, Waste Services Client Manager, Milton Keynes added: "Milton Keynes Council have been collecting food waste successfully from residents for many years and are looking forward to working with this project by exploring how local residents can support the inclusion of compostable plastic in food waste bins."
Nick Cliffe, Deputy Director, Smart Sustainable Plastic Packaging Challenge, also commented: "We are delighted to offer funding to the Capturing and Processing Compostable Packaging project led by TIPA.
"The research and innovation will further our understanding of how the best outcome for compostable packaging can be delivered in the UK and where these products fit within the sustainable packaging system which the SSPP Challenge seeks to support."
Julia Schifter, VP of Strategy Analysis at TIPA, finished:"We are confident the project's findings can successfully signpost the policy and behavioural interventions that will reduce our dependence on hard-to-recycle plastic packaging and achieve the UK Plastics Pact goals.
"All members of the consortium would like to thank UKRI for its generous funding and support of this project."


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Florida AG slams KB Home after 10Investigates reports
TAMPA BAY, Fla. – Thousands of homeowners will be eligible for restitution after Florida's attorney general struck an eight-figure settlement with KB Home, one of the largest homebuilders in the Southeast, over widespread construction defects and problematic business practices. The deal comes three-and-a-half years after 10Investigates first exposed shoddy construction and questionable corporate behavior statewide.
Author: Noah Pransky (WTSP , WTLV)
Since 2012, 10Investigates has followed the plight of homeowners who had given up hope of ever receiving compensation for their damages: condos crumbled due to poor stucco installation; water intrusion led to severe mold; and homeowners' attempts to get warranties honored were all-too-frequently denied.
A September 2013 investigation uncovered a lawsuit from a former KB Home human resources director alleging the home-builder knew condos at the troubled Willowbrook Townhomes in Lakewood Ranch had structural defects, but employees were ordered not to disclose them to home-buyers.
Since then, Attorney General Pam Bondi's office launched an in-depth investigation into possible deceptive and fraudulent business practices, interviewing more than 200 KB Home homeowners. The three-year investigation culminated Thursday, with the approval of a settlement mandating KB Home complete more repairs, pay restitution, and reform company business practices to include more consumer protections.
The AG's allegations include:
Failing to disclose to certain purchasers in Florida that the homes being constructed violated applicable building codes;
Failing to disclose to certain purchasers in Florida that the homes being constructed did not conform with the original building plans and specifications;
Denying certain consumers' warranty repair requests because they purchased short sales or from banks after foreclosure proceedings, not proper exclusions under the KB HOME warranty; and
Refusing certain consumers' warranty repair requests due to a lack of maintenance by the homeowner when the structure's problems were attributable to defective construction.
Anyone who has owned a KB Home built in the state of Florida since April 17, 2005 could be eligible for repairs and/or restitution; an estimated 18,000 homes were built in Florida during that time period.
Homeowners will have 18 months to file their claims, giving some homeowners more than 12 years to assess possible construction damage. 10Investigates has previously spotlighted how the state's 10-year statute of repose gives home-builders a tremendous incentive to push significant repairs off until homeowners' legal right to sue expires, a decade after the home is completed.
"KB Home Florida has cooperated with the Attorney General's office to address issues with residential stucco performance, which we consider to be an industry-wide challenge in Florida," the company wrote 10News in a prepared statement. "We share the Attorney General's interest in improving residential stucco standards in Florida, and we are proud to have implemented comprehensive stucco standards, which we are backing with a new, industry-leading warranty on stucco. KB Home is committed to providing quality homes and we stand behind our product."
SETTLEMENT DETAILS:
1. Repairs
KB Home worked with the attorney general's office during the course of its three-year investigation to complete a reported $71 million in repairs to 1,688 Florida homes;
KB Home will continue to make repairs to homes suffering from construction defects;
Any homeowner seeking repairs can contact KB Home directly for a free, third-party inspection.
2. Restitution
KB Home will pay an additional $6.5 million to cover the cost of the attorney general's investigation, and pay current and previous KB Home homeowners who have documented proof of defect-related out-of-pocket expenses; the amount of the payouts will depend on how many homeowner submit for reimbursements;
Some single-family homeowners, as well as owners in the Willowbrook, Palm River, and Waterford complexes are eligible for additional "loss of use" restitution payments for their significant troubles and displacements during reconstruction.
3. Changes in business practices
After the attorney general's office says homeowners' warranty claims were rejected for vague and "invalid" reasons, KB Home will be required to make major consumer-friendly reforms to its warranty procedures and new warranty agreements, including: better documentation of repair schedules; written explanations for any denials; an option to appeal to a third party if denied
Since many of the problems involved shoddy stucco installation, KB Home is committing $17 million over the next five years to required stucco training and improved materials for all of its contractors and sub-contractors;
KB Home will be required to use only licensed stucco contractors, with strict third-party oversight for the next three years to ensure the company adheres to all building codes.
To seek repairs, homeowners should contact KB HOME to arrange an inspection. For homeowners in the Tampa area, call KB HOME at (813) 387-9600 or send an email to TampaClaims@kbhome.com. For homeowners in the Orlando area, call KB HOME at 1-800-305-2246 or send an email to OrlandoCustomerService@kbhome.com. For homeowners in the Jacksonville area, call KB HOME at (904) 596-6690 or send an email to KBJaxCustServ@kbhome.com. For locations outside of these regions, contact the closest region above for repairs.
To apply for restitution, homeowners may download and complete a claim form found at Florida-AG-KBSettlement.com or may contact the claims administrator, A.B. Data, Ltd., at 1(888) 210-5486.
To view the consent decree and final judgment, click here.
To view the attorney general's complaint, click here.
To view the attorney general's frequently asked questions, click here.
This investigation by Noah Pransky originally appeared on WTSP.com.
© Noah Pransky, WTSP


Beverly Hodsdon of Joyce Design Solutions was recently recognized as a winner in the 34th Annual Educational Advertising Awards, sponsored by Higher Education Marketing Report. Hodsdon's submission of Portsmouth Christian Academy's "Total Recruitment Package" received a gold award.
"I was honored to receive a gold medal in the 34th Annual Education Awards. Working with the team at PCA meant sharing the vision of an integrated Christian community. Everyone on our creative team understood what we were trying to achieve and helped make it possible. This award may have my firm's name on it, but in truth it belongs to everybody who has worked to make this year's publications campaign a reality. We continue to share the mission and core values of PCA, and hope our publications help guide families who will cross the bridge to a brighter future," stated Hodsdon, founder and president, Joyce Design Solutions.
The Educational Advertising Awards is the largest, oldest, and most respected educational advertising awards competition in the country. This year, over 2,200 entries were received from over one-thousand colleges, universities and secondary schools from all fifty states and several foreign countries. Fifteen institutions were recognized by the judges as a "Best of Show" winner. Gold awards were granted to 324 institutions, silver awards were awarded to 203 and bronze awards were awarded to 143 institutions.
"Beverly is incredibly talented, and we are so proud of her and the entire PCA marketing team for their creative collaboration on our recruitment materials," commented Kelly Belmonte, PCA's Director of Advancement.
Judges for the Educational Advertising Awards consisted of a national panel of higher education marketers, advertising creative directors, marketing and advertising professionals and the editorial board of Higher Education Marketing Report. The complete listing of the Educational Advertising Awards winners is now live at https://educationaladvertisingawards.com/.
Ranked "#1 Private K-12 School in New Hampshire" by Niche 2019 Best Schools, Portsmouth Christian Academy has been inspiring students on the seacoast to maximize their potential for nearly forty years. PCA provides a nurturing educational environment that emphasizes Christ-centered community, outstanding academics, differentiated learning, and exceptional character. Located just minutes northwest of Portsmouth, NH on a fifty-acre riverfront campus, PCA is a dually accredited, independent, college-preparatory day school where young people from preschool to Grade 12 are challenged to thrive academically and grow as servant-leaders prepared to impact the world for good. For more information, visit pcaschool.org.


We got back to the cold and wet in early July. While we were checking up on the Bridgetown house, I was lucky enough to see a Restless Flycatcher on the back patio – such a beautiful bird. July also saw a mad dash to Canberra for my daughter's graduation, sadly without my camera. Back in Perth, I did get to Herdsman Lake a few times as the house we are renting is not far away.
In August I flew to Adelaide for the awards night for the Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year competition. I was super excited to find out my "Windblown Egret" was the winner of the Animal Portrait category, at a great evening where I met many amazing nature photographers in person. It was a surreal experience seeing my image on banners in front of and inside the South Australian Museum.
After the awards I was lucky enough to have a day or two to explore the region, seeing the stunning little Diamond Firetails and some other great birds.
Perth had plenty of of rain this winter and Herdsman Lake has been lovely and full, providing many photo opportunities in spring.
School holidays in October gave me a bit of time to get out and capture more birds doing their reproductive thing, from Tree Martins collecting nesting material in Bridgetown to Moorhen chicks at Herdsman.
Going through all my images has made me realise I found time to take photographs – what I struggled with was time to sort and process the images. In November, I was out of action for a few weeks when I was in hospital and recovering; on my first outing with my camera I did feel lots of sympathy for this poor Willie Wagtail who had lost all its tail feathers, possibly in defending its nest from a family of Australian Ravens.
2017 finished in a lovely relaxed fashion, spending some time at our house in Bridgetown, enjoying all the birds who visit the bird baths and sprinklers, and watching a pair of Tree Martins very busily feeding their chicks who were somewhere in our roof space. Two of the Tree Martins fledged the day before we left; so adorable.
Thank you for reading. I'm really hoping to get a few more blog posts out in 2018, so you don't have to wait until this time next year. In the meantime, wishing all my followers a wonderful year.


Dartess' dedicated Fine Wines business unit has its own 13,500 m² of temperature-controlled warehouses – perfect for storing the very finest vintages. We keep a constant eye on conditions in our warehouses, apply strict security and data confidentiality measures, recruit only highly skilled and attentive staff, and monitor stock levels in real time. The Fine Wines business unit was set up specifically for traders, foreign importers and investors.
Dartess Fine Wines delivers the excellence that the best wines deserve. We offer both Bonded Warehouse and Export Customs Suspensive Regime (RFSE) options for the wine trade, giving our customers access to new opportunities. Each and every day, we work hard to uphold our core values: safety, innovation, advice and bespoke operations.
E-logistics is a genuinely bespoke service allied with information systems know-how and human expertise. Because it involves a wide range of tasks and time pressures, it demands highly professional staff with complementary skills who are committed to flawless service delivery. It's my job to advise our customers on the best solutions that will help them meet their own customers' needs.
The advent of the internet has naturally turned the wine and spirits trade on its head, giving you incredible new opportunities to distribute your products in France and worldwide. Here at Dartess, we help our customers determine the best operational processes and customs regimes. And our expertise means that we consistently achieve service levels in excess of 99.9%.
As a member of the wine and spirits trade, you know just how demanding your customers are when it comes to speed and personalisation. These days, the same wine comes in a dozen different forms to meet specific labelling, format or country requirements. With 36,000 m² of dedicated warehouse facilities and an almost flawless level of service, we've become Europe's leading player in this field.
Here at Dartess, we understand the importance of planning ahead and working to strict procedures when selling wines and spirits destined for the fast-moving consumer goods market. We boast unrivalled expertise of the French and export markets and product traceability capabilities that are second to none.


The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, commonly referred to as EISA, amended the Federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) by mandating specific quantities and types of renewable transportation fuels for each year–known as the yearly "applicable volume." The applicable volume for a particular fuel (conventional biofuel, advanced biofuel, cellulosic biofuel, biomass-based diesel) determines the quantity fuel refiners, importers and blenders much purchase each year. The below graph illustrates the statutory legal requirements for renewable transportation fuels under the RFS.
The legislative standard, however, is only the first step in setting the actual yearly renewable transportation requirements. Because the volumetric requirements established by Congress in EISA assumed significant innovation in the cellulosic biofuel industry, Congress created an escape hatch in which the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can reduce the mandated quantity of advanced and cellulosic biofuel based on the projected production by the nascent industry. If the projected production volume of advanced and cellulosic biofuel for a year is less than the statutorily mandated volume, the EPA is required to reduce the applicable volume that fuel refiners, importers and blenders much purchase each year. The rationale behind this safety valve is that petroleum refiners are dependent upon the biofuel industry to produce advanced and cellulosic biofuels for them to purchase and blend into their product. If there is no biofuel to purchase, the refiners in essence have no option other than to miss the mandate and pay the accompanying penalty. As illustrated below, for each year of the RFS, the EPA has reduced the cellulosic biofuel applicable volume due to a lack of production capacity.
The issue in the American Petroleum Institute (API) litigation is the EPA's mandate of 8.7 million gallons of cellulosic biofuel for 2012. Specifically, API challenged the process EPA used to reach the 8.7 million gallon applicable volume. EISA requires EPA to determine the projected volume of cellulosic ethanol based on an estimate created by the Energy Information Administration (EIA). The EIA projected 6.9 million gallons of cellulosic biofuel production in 2012–significantly less than the 8.7 million established by EPA as the applicable volume. The chart below illustrates the difference between EIA and EPA projections from 2010 to 2012.
API claimed that the EPA's projection derived from a methodology biased toward overstatement in an effort to promote growth in the cellulosic biofuel industry–a methodology that is not based on a strict reading of the statute. The Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia in API vs. EPA , (Jan. 25, 2013) agreed. In reaching its 8.7 million gallon projection, EPA considered EIA's projection, general progress made by the cellulosic biofuel industry, the EPA's own assessment of the industry's progress, and public comments submitted in response to the draft version of the rule. In large part, the court accepted EPA's technical approach to projecting industry capacity (slip opinion at page 8-9). It found fault, however, in EPA's acknowledged "tilt" towards "promoting growth" in the cellulosic biofuel industry in which the risk of overestimation of production volumes is set to deliberately outweigh the risk of underestimating cellulosic production (slip opinion at page 10). This effort by EPA to boost the cellulosic biofuel industry, although acknowledged by the court as Congress' intent in creating the RFS mandates, in the court's opinion, exceeded the agency's power. As a result the court vacated the cellulosic–and only the cellulosic–portion of the 2012 RFS rule.
Although the court rejected EPA's approach favoring overestimation of projected cellulosic biofuel production, the RFS itself, and EPA's general methodology of establishing both advanced and cellulosic biofuel projections, both survived the API challenge. As a result, regulated parties under the RFS (refiners, importers and blenders) can expect EPA to establish a final applicable volume for 2013 and beyond perhaps more in line with EIA projections, but the agency retains significant flexibility to justify deviations, even substantial deviations, from EIA estimates so long as the methodology does not have an explicit bias toward overestimation. The real question going forward with the cellulosic biofuel industry, however, will not be EPA projections, but the technical ability of the industry to develop capacity to meet RFS mandates in the future.
Expanding the Ethanol Blend Wall – a Role for E85?