With the many themes to pick from for any specific room in the home, you are certain to find a style which fits with your personality. It shows within her style and decor. Fortunately, since it is quite eclectic, it incorporates nicely into nearly every style. Yes ladies, excellent style sometimes happens over 50, even if your on a little budget. Personally, it is among my absolute treasured styles. If you like the nation cottage style, then you are going to want to include it into your house's decor.
The kids adore the bench, states Mariella. A few sentimental details, accentuating the core of the dwelling, are the lovely wedding and pregnancy albums featured prominently in their very own exceptional nooks. More than 2,500 left-handed people are killed annually from using products which are created for right-handed men and women. In 1906 the first in a string of confidential military conversations happened between their military staff to be able to determine a standard strategy in case of a war against Germany. If you're on the lookout for a single today, it is worth it to explore your choices fully. The nation isn't clean in any way from the judgement. Any country with significant corruption level will probably experience developmental bankrupt.
Read more on the topic of French provincial decor abroad (with a lot of photos so that you can compare the look). In case you are opting for a shabby chic appearance, somewhat additional wear and tear on the furniture fits right into the style. It's never been really easy to attain a house dAAcor look or design because it's today.
In addition, it supplies your supplement which customized touch. You can surely locate these homes in a range of settings. After all, your house should force you to smile and bring you joy. Typically, should you be building a French-style house, you would select casement windows. French homes are extremely exquisite and popular all around the country. French country homes are an ideal marriage of conventional values and innovation.
The kitchen is an easy, efficient design opening on a breakfast room. It is one of the rooms in the house that offers endless possibilities when it comes to incorporating a particular theme in a room. Second, what would you like to have in your dream kitchen.
All your rooms do not need to get vibrant colours. It would likewise be adorable in just a little girl's room. 1 approach to prepare to remodel a specific room is to think of a theme that you would love to incorporate in a certain room. Family room involves an integrated entertainment center, creating an open, comfortable area where to entertain easily. Or perhaps you can boast a lovely wood floor.
Every side of the home looks like the front…so gorgeous and quite a complete set of plans." Everything is wherever your hand is. Coffee may lower the chance of some kinds of cancer. Undoubtedly, the wedding cake has at all times been among the central regions of the reception. It's possible for you to enrich your home decorations with these lamps. It can be hard to get the precise pattern, style and color of drape which you want.


text:
Our Top 10 Milestones for 2016
(Photo: leaders from our Malawi Chapter, Rowland Kaotcha (The Hunger Project), Petronella Halwindi (Heifer International) and Bedilu Shegan (Counterpart International) welcome Malawi's Minister of Local Government and Rural Development to the celebration of the Champiti Epicenter self-reliance.)
In this first year of the Sustainable Development Goals, our movement has achieved significant progress on the goals we set at our launch, and have built a strong foundation for empowering women and men everywhere to take charge of their own lives and destinies.
We raised the profile of CLD in international development, providing leadership opportunities for our members and establishing a "big tent" that has united diverse agencies in highlighting the profound policy transformation that will be required to achieve the SDGs.
We doubled the size of the movement to include 39 agencies with total collective revenues of US$4b per year and a presence in 92 countries.
We launched Country Chapters in Malawi, UK and the Netherlands, and the groundwork has begun in Haiti and 10 other countries for launches in 2017. We've set a goal of 50 country chapters engaging with their governments for country-owned CLD programming by 2020.
We signed an MOU with the government of Malawi that we intend will lead to taking CLD to national scale
We developed a Shared Analytic Framework that, to date, encompasses our collective approaches in 16 interventions across four distinct phases.
We presented the movement to key agencies, at the World Bank, IFPRI, IDS, USAID and at a broad range of UN conferences, producing video presentations on our website and forging partnerships with CLD champions within those agencies.
We shared case studies and best practices in our own webinars, also available on our website, and soon on UNDP's South-South website.
We joined forces with like-minded initiatives, particularly with the UNDP Saemaul Initiative and the LOCUS initiative on integrated development.
We began collecting evidence of the impact of CLD, which will require significant focused attention in 2017 to assemble what we need for effective advocacy.
We witnessed policy change. It's impossible to take credit for advocacy results, but we can celebrate new significant shifts in US policy in the direction of CLD within the new Global Food Security and Food for Peace strategies.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Over the years I have shared the joy of seeing the love between many couples, before and during their weddings. Many clients have become friends, but I have never been asked to photograph an Anniversary. This changed when Melissa, an old friend of mine from Montclair State University contacted me about the idea. Melissa is an artist, specializing in metalwork and jewelry. Years ago I photographed some of her pieces in school, and I was thrilled to hear from her again. Melissa mentioned that she and her husband Jon would like to have anniversary photos taken every year so that in the future they can look and reminisce over the years of their special relationship. I immediately agreed to this idea because of how awesome I thought it was. When I met Melissa and Jon outside of their apartment building, I was impressed that they had chosen such sharp outfits with matching color pallets. Jon also proudly donned a brooch made by Melissa on his black vest. We spent 2 hours in Hoboken, NJ wandering the main streets and cutting down some side streets as well, finally ending up on the iconic cobblestone of Court Street where our shoot concluded just as the final blue glow of dusk turned into a night sky lit by many city lights. Hoboken is an interesting and historic town with a surplus of settings for dramatic imagery. Melissa and Jon posed so naturally that I barely had to give them any direction. They are the kind of couple that just radiates, and I hope to see them again soon.
I think Anniversary Sessions are an amazing idea that more couples should try, married or not. If you are interested in a booking a session, please contact me.


Plumbing problems can quickly cause your restaurant to lose business. A burst pipe, for example, can turn your dining room into a flood hazard. A backed up sewage line can create a health hazard inside your kitchen. The best way to minimize these financial losses is to have repairs carried out immediately. An on-call plumber makes it easy to schedule plumbing maintenance as soon as a problem occurs. Plus, on-call plumbers with 24/7 service can help your restaurant during a weekend catering job or privately hosted after-hours event.
Rushed calls during a plumbing emergency can lead you to hire an unqualified technician. These amateur contractors can actually make your plumbing problems worse and cost you more money in the long run. You can avoid this scenario completely by hiring the same on-call plumber for each emergency. Make sure that your professional has years of experience and multiple specialties—this can help you solve all of your plumbing problems with one phone call.
Some plumbers offer special rates and discounts for their loyal customers. Your restaurant can take advantage of great plumbing deals by trusting one experienced company for every repair. Call your local plumbing company for more information on specials and commercial rates.
Don't let a plumbing mishap take your kitchen by surprise. Instead, make sure your restaurant is backed by a reliable West Palm Beach plumber. Call Du-All Plumbers at 888-800-2555 to find out how you can get a discount on your next service call.
Although pleasing to the eye, the trees and shrubs planted near your house may be wreaking underground havoc on your home's plumbing system. You may think that tree and shrub roots are no match for clay, concrete, or PVC pipes, but once roots reach your sewer lines, they can crack and obstruct the pipes. This will require repair or replacement by a professional plumber. Why are roots such a big threat to your sewer lines?
They can cause extensive damage to your sewer system. Many varieties of trees and shrubs need a lot of moisture and nutrients to grow. In order to get enough water, these plants will send out roots in search of moisture. Many trees are capable of sending their roots quite a long way for this quest. The roots can detect moisture from the cracks of your sewer system and will grow into the pipes at any point of entry. They can completely block the sewer lines with their hair-like root masses, which then gather grease and other debris that flow from the home to the main sewer line.
No type of sewer line is immune to roots. Clay pipes, the most common kind of pipe in older water and sewer systems, are the most susceptible to root damage. Roots will penetrate any crack, hole, or poorly sealed joint in a sewer line. Concrete and PVC pipes are less susceptible to root intrusion but are not root-proof. Once roots penetrate the line, they can exert considerable pressure on the pipe, which then must be repaired or replaced.
Root damage can cause extensive damage to your home itself. Once the sewer lines have been compromised, many problems can occur within the home. The water supply can be interrupted and floor drains and toilet can back up, potentially causing flooding or damage to appliances.
If you suspect your sewer line has been damaged by roots, call Du-All Plumbers at 888-800-2555. Our technicians can detect the location of the break and perform the necessary repairs.
Low water pressure can indicate many plumbing problems, from almost negligible to urgent. Read about four causes of low water pressure from Angie's List.
Did you know that you can buy anti-clog toilets? Anto-clog toilets work as advertised and can guarantee a good flush.
Rather than using hazardous chemical drain cleaners like Drano, check out eco-friendly drain cleaners.
For more information on avoiding and solving common toilet problems, call Du-All Plumbing at 888-800-2555.
Before you hire a professional plumber, you should ask several questions to help you get the best possible service. By asking questions, you can ensure you secure reliable, experienced, and trustworthy service.
As with any contractor, request information regarding proof of licensing and insurance. Many unlicensed contractors may mean well, but they cannot provide you with the same level of service as a professionally licensed plumber. Experience and qualifications are equally important, and once you have verified the appropriate licensing and insurance coverage, you can begin to ask after these qualities.
Does Your Company Have a Master Plumber on Staff?
Plumbers have ranks, such as journeyman or master. A plumbing company should have at least one master plumber on its staff, and every plumbing technician should be qualified to handle nearly any residential plumbing job. A well-equipped plumber can help you with new fixture installations, repairs, and more.
Don't be afraid to ask your plumber for references from previous jobs. Great plumbers will be more than happy to provide you with a list of previous customers. A plumber that has been around for a long period of time has been serving his customers well in order to maintain business.
Ask how long the company has been in business and when their most recent job was. A good plumber will be doing business every day and has several years of experience.
Finally, determine if your plumber has a local office. Quality local plumbing companies are a part of their community and have the appropriate licensing to operate in your area.
Have A Smelly Sink Drain?
What Causes My Drains to be So Smelly?
Gunk – Clogged drains are often the culprit when there is an odor emanating from your drain. Kitchen sinks can trap food particles that start to rot, causing a foul odor. Be sure to clean the underside of the trap if you start to notice a smell. With bathroom sinks and shower drains, the offender can be hair, soap scum, and mineral buildup.
Sewer Gas – If you clean your drains and they are still emitting a gaseous odor, this may be a sign of a more serious problem. All drains should have a trap on them that prevents sewer gas from rising up the pipe and into your house. If, for some reason, a drain does not have one of these plugs, or if the original plumber installed it incorrectly, sewer gas can invade your home and drive away even the most stuffed-up noses.
What Can I Do About a Smelly Drain?
Call a Plumber – Whenever you have a plumbing issue, your best bet is to speak with an experienced, professional plumber. He will be able to narrow down the cause of the problem and determine what to do from there. Pouring chemicals down the drains is not always the right solution to the problem and can actually lead to potentially hazardous situations. To ensure that you do not create a bigger mess, call a professional plumber at the first sign of a smelly drain.
Du-All Plumbers are your go-to-plumbers for any type of smelly drain issue. We can fix any clogged drain and even inspect your sewer line to make sure the problem isn't arising from there. Give us a call today at 800-481-4100 for all your plumbing and septic tank needs!
Part of going green means preserving water, and one of the biggest areas of your home where you can save water is the bathroom. Start by using aerators on your sink faucets and specialized shower heads to lower water use. As for your toilet, you may have heard about low-flow and ultra-low-flow fixtures. When installed, these fixtures can be a big part of your water savings.
In 1992, a national law mandated that new toilets use 1.6 gallons of water or less per flush. However, while many new toilets use this amount of water, toilets created before 1992 can use up to seven gallons per flush. That adds up every day, especially if you have a large family.
Low-flow toilets use 1.6 gallons or less every time they are flushed. Some are even augmented by a pressure assist system that uses air to increase the force of the flush without adding any water. These are more typical in commercial locations, while gravity-assisted low-flow toilets are common in residential areas. According to the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority, changing from a toilet built before 1992 to a low-flow toilet can help cut water use in the bathroom by up to 50%.
Ultra-low-flow toilets use even less water than low-flow toilets and often offer a dual-flush option. Liquid waste can be flushed away with as little as 0.8 gallons, while solids are removed with either 1.6 or 1.28 gallons, depending on the model.
Your professional plumber can help you determine what type of low-flow toilet is right for your home. Families with a lot of kids can benefit from dual-flush models, while other homeowners may find a simple 1.6 gallon low-flow toilet is fine for their needs.
You can expect to see savings when you select a low-flow toilet. Our plumbers can help you select the right toilet, and then install the toilet for you.
Don't get bogged down in time-consuming DIY plumbing repairs—plumbers are always your best choice when leaks and backups impact your home. Visit Du-All Plumbers online to find out what a professional plumber can do for your home.
Use this SmarterTravel.com guide to protect your home from water damage during the holidays.
Learn about the dangers of flooding with this FEMA.gov resource.
Explore how lax plumbing maintenance can shut down a business with this Chron.com article.
You can also call us at 800-481-4800 to schedule an emergency repair for your home.
A flood can quickly devastate your entire household or business location. Moisture can be even more destructive when you're out of town or away from the building. A professional plumbing service should be called in if you experience flooding when you're away.
A burst pipe or broken water heater will continue to leak water into your building until the problem is resolved. That's why building owners should have a professional plumber on-call to respond to flooding emergencies. Full-service plumbers are even available 24 hours a day. If possible, leave an extra key to your building with a neighbor or trusted employee—make sure this person is prepped to hand the key over to a plumbing professional in case of an emergency.
It's important to contact your insurance company as soon as you become aware of flood damage. A quick response ensures your claim will be handled without issue. In addition, the support of your insurance company will make it easier to organize financing for your plumbing repairs and remediation services.
Floods could quickly spread to your home's most vulnerable features. Electrical wires and gas pipes don't mix well with large bodies of water, especially when these utility installations are active. Protect your home by having your electricity and gas shut off quickly.
Your home may look very different after a flood. In addition, the flood damages may have left parts of your home in serious disrepair. Organize a safety kit and equipment if you plan to visit your home before a remediation specialist can restore the building. Use gloves, a hard hat, and a filtered face mask to keep your body safe from debris. You should also pack tools like a first aid kit and waterproof flashlights.
Du-All Plumbers is the company you can trust to deal with your flood problems. We can be reached at all hours of the day and night for household and commercial plumbing emergencies. Get in touch with our offices by calling 800-481-4100.
Neglected septic systems can cause significant problems. This video can teach you everything you need to know about keeping your septic system in good shape.
Septic system maintenance is relatively straightforward. Regular maintenance from a professional plumber, for example, typically prevents the system from overflowing. Plus, there are many steps you can take inside of your home to protect your septic system. Watch the full video to learn more.
Don't leave your septic tank repairs in the hands of an amateur. Septic tank pumping and cleaning are among Du-All Plumbing's professional specialties. Visit our website or call 800-481-4100 to learn more about our septic tank services.


May. 4, 2014 8:00 a.m.
Tears flow down young cheeks and sleeves mop damp eyes as Greg Drew pounds home his point about the consequences of making bad decisions.
The gruff retired firefighter from Fort Langley is pacing back and forth on the hardwood gym floor at Belmont secondary, every clomp from his well-worn cowboy boots helping to rivet the attention of the Grade 12s gathered in the stands.
It's his first ICBC-sponsored presentation to a grad class on Vancouver Island, almost 11 years after his son, Jay, died from injuries suffered in a high-speed, single-vehicle car wreck near the suburban Lower Mainland town.
"Do you know what it's like to hold your son's hand as his heart beats its last beat?" he bellows, his words reverberating through the high-ceilinged room.
Drew proceeds to tell the shocked teens how horrible that felt and the guilt he felt at not being able to help his younger son.
Then, as if his impassioned speech wasn't enough about the consequences of such bad decisions as drinking and driving, or, in his son's case, driving way too fast back home to get that case of beer his older brother bought him – yet another bad choice, Drew says – he pulls out the trump card.
After imploring the students to get a dialogue going with their parents, hug them and their siblings and be grateful for what they have, he laments not being able to hug Jay anymore. As he calmly says he still talks to him, Drew reaches into a bag behind him, pulls out a solid black box and introduces his late son's cremated remains to the dumbstruck crowd.
One finished he receives a heartfelt standing ovation and there are lots more tears to go around, as well as a handful of hugs for the still-grieving dad from random students.
Over the years, Belmont principal Ray Miller has listened to many pre-grad presentations, designed to impress upon students the importance of making smart decisions ahead of and during their celebrations.
Even he was surprised at Drew's strategy.
"This'd be the first time we've had the created remains of a victim brought in with his father," Miller says.
Outside the gym, where he has hauled Jay's mangled Eagle Talon for students to file past before and after the presentation, as he does with all of his talks, Drew spoke about the passion he still has for keeping kids safe and relaying a parents' grief.
"Any parents who have gone through this know it changes your life," he says.
If the reactions of members of Belmont's class of 2014 are any indication, he'll likely be granted that wish.


text:
// Copyright 2005-2015 Giacomo Stelluti Scala & Contributors. All rights reserved. See License.md in the project root for license information.

namespace CommandLine.Tests.Fakes
{
    class FakeOptionsWithDouble
    {
        [Value(0)]
        public double DoubleValue { get; set; }
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Awesome Printables Multiplying And Dividing Integers Worksheet Gotaplet , Download this wallpaper for free in high resolution. Awesome Printables Multiplying And Dividing Integers Worksheet Gotaplet was posted in June 11, 2018 at 10:12 pm and This Awesome Printables Multiplying And Dividing Integers Worksheet Gotaplet Wallpaper has viewed by 64 users. If you wanna have it as yours, please click full size and you will go to page download in full size, so you just choose the size above the wallpaper that you want in "Download", Click it and download the Awesome Printables Multiplying And Dividing Integers Worksheet Gotaplet Wallpaper.


text:
Home Essays DPU Asean Fred Bailey Case
DPU Asean Fred Bailey Case
Topics: Economy of Japan, Home Office, Proposal Pages: 3 (2169 words) Published: November 20, 2014
Fred Bailey: An Innocent Abroad
Fred Bailey gazed out the window of his 24th floor office at the tranquil beauty of the Imperial Palace amidst the hustle and bustle of downtown Tokyo. Only six months ago, Fred had arrived with his wife and two children for his three-year assignment as the director of Klien & Associates Tokyo office.
Klien & Associates is a large, multinational consulting firm with offices in 19 countries. Fred was now trying to decide if he should simply pack up and tell the home office that he was coming home, or whether he should somehow try to convince his wife and himself that they should stay and finish the assignment. Given how excited Fred thought they all were about the assignment to begin with, it was a mystery to Fred as to how things had gotten to this point. As he watched the swans glide across the water in the moat that surrounds the Imperial Palace, Fred reflected on the past seven months.
Seven months ago, the managing partner of the main office in Boston, Dave Steiner, asked Fred to lunch to discuss 'business'. To Fred's surprise, the 'business' was not the major project that he and his team had just finished but was instead a very big promotion and career move. Fred was offered the position of managing director of the firm's relatively new Tokyo office which had a staff of 40, including seven Americans. Most of the Americans in the Tokyo office were either associate consultants or research analysts. Fred would be in charge of the whole office and would report to a senior partner who was in charge of the Asian region. It was implied to Fred that if this assignment went as well as his past ones, it would be the last step before becoming a partner in the firm.
When Fred told his wife about the unbelievable opportunity, he was shocked at her less than enthusiastic response. His wife, Jenny, thought that it would be rather difficult to have the children live and go to school in a foreign country for three years,...
Fred Bailey Case Analysis Essay
...IDENTIFICATION OF PROBLEMS The strong cultural difference between the two countries of Japan and America created many problems to arise in the life of Fred Bailey. Fred Bailey was not only upset with the procedures in the office but also had some family problems with his wife regarding the life in Japan. Let us see the issues faced by Fred in Japan. The communication between the American and the Japanese employees were poor. Fred found that the Japanese employees in the firm were not organised and didn't give any particular reply for the problems in the firm. Family problems faced by Fred in Japan. Mrs Fred Bailey found the lifestyle of Japan very expensive and awkward to pass through. This created many problems during their stay in Japan. In fact Mrs. Bailey had made up her mind to get back home with her children in Boston. Fred Bailey's poor management strategies which resulted in delay of the projects for the top clients from Japan. ANALYSIS: The firm consisted of seven Americans and thirty three Japanese staff. Fred Bailey had organised for a general meeting with his subordinates. The meeting was to discuss his plans for the future directions of the company office for achieving their goals. At the very instance, Fred was not serious about the American...
Fred Essay
...your intellect. On the down side, Vata-Pittas tend toward addictive personalities and need stability. Vatas usually have a hard time gaining weight and lose it easily. The Pitta-influence strengthens your digestion and betters your chances of holding on to hard-won weight gains. It also helps you to move the weight away from your belly and toward a more even distribution. This is the physical constitution (prakrti) with which you were born. It gives you some idea of your tendencies, and your physical strengths and weaknesses. Now let's take a look at your current dosha state to see if you are balanced or imbalanced. Vikrti: Vata ImbalanceVikrti is a state of imbalance in which one of the three bodily humors or doshas is excessive. In your case, you have an excess of the Vata dosha. Vata is the air dosha (a mix of air and space). Because Vata is the most powerful of the doshas, an imbalance of Vata is not to be taken lightly. Ayurveda lists eighty diseases that are caused by aggravated Vata. Worse, because Vata controls movement through the body, an imbalance in Vata can, if left untreated, cause imbalances in the other two doshas as well. Vata ailments include: Insomnia and sleep disorders Muscle twitching All types of stiffness, pain, and numbness in muscles and joints, including arthritis Muscle atrophy Toothache All types of paralysis Fainting, giddiness, yawning, hiccuping, delirium, convulsions, and weakness Earache, tinnitus...
Fred Maiorino Case Essay
... Case Study IV – How to Motivate Fred Maiorino? MGT585 Texas A & M University - Commerce Case Study IV – How to Motivate Fred Maiorino? This case shows how the importance of manager's leadership by the example of Reed's managing style. Fred Maiorino was unmotivated and frustrated by his boss Reed and was wrongfully terminated by him and was discriminated against by his age. This case is a good example of why choosing leaders within an organization is important. Main Factors Leadership Skills Leadership is the process of influencing others to understand and agree about what needs to be done and how to do it, and the process of facilitating individual and collective efforts to accomplish shared objectives (Yukl, 2012). However, in the assigned case, Reed's poor leadership skills surfaced and it is the main issue in this case. Reed did not have good leadership skills that were suited for his job. Being a leader is not easy. The ability to develop effective leaders continues to concern the majority of modern organizations looking to create high-performance working practices (Zheltoukhova, 2014). Evidence suggests that leadership skills of line managers contribute to higher engagement levels and, ultimately, productivity of employees (MacLeod & Clarke, 2009). The systematic approach to understanding leadership has led multiple...
Asean Essay
...How Thailand implements the roadmap for ASEAN Community by 2015 Introduction My name is P. I am a human resource development officer in the Department of Foreign Trade in Thailand. According to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Community 2015 that Thailand is planning to attend in 2015, my responsibility is providing support in the various human resource functions, which include training and developing. The main purpose of this document is to provide the preparation for Thais on the roadmap of ASEAN Community 2015. Thailand is supposed to create a new policy that would assist Thailand to wisely develop the country and expand the economy among ASEAN Community 2015. Overview of the Issues The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was established on 8 August 1967 by five leaders - the Foreign Ministers of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand and then membership has enlarged to include Brunei, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, making up what is today the ten Member States of ASEAN. ASEAN is an inter-governmental and economic organization. ASEAN has considerably contributed to strengthening the basis for peace, stability, security and prosperity in the region as well as enhancing the regional coherence and competitiveness in the face of new challenges unleashed by globalization and the rise of new economic powerhouses in Asia. The...
Asean Research Paper
...Operation 6. SWOT Analysis 7. Some major Criticism of the Organisation. 8. Conclusion & Recommendations 1. Introduction The Association of South East Asian nation (ASEAN) is an Organisation formed by the East Asian nations in 1967. These nations include Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand which were the first five members state that formed the Association and later were joined by other smaller and weaker states such as; Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, and Myanmar. This association is framed basically not to look at security matter and prefer to avoid also controversial political issues living it to national actions and multinational corporations through other channels. This means that other ASEAN member that joined the association is very weak state and is in process to building up their states. They purposely joined the Organisation just to increase their sovereignty and being able to dance in the international arena. This will enable them to be criticized on what they do; action on humanity, trade and other activities from their fellow members which might create tension that the Organisation cannot resolve will surely create disunity which will undermine the influence of ASEAN. In this paper the author will give the reader a clear overview of what ASEA and discuss the structure, the mission, the objective and the operation in short...
Supra-National Organizations: the Case of Asean Essay
...organizations are the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) in 2008 and the African Union in 2002, where member countries group together to achieve common economic, political or cultural goals. This paper will examine the case of ASEAN -a supranational nation that is made up of all the Southeastern Asian Countries with the exception of recently independent Timor Leste. The study of ASEAN will be split into studying its emergence and history coupled with the impact that it has had on individual member countries and the world at large in hopes of giving a holistic and objective view of the effectiveness of ASEAN as a supranational organization. This paper will also analyze the cultural impacts of Southeast Asian influences and how this has shaped and molded the practices and relationships within ASEAN as compared to Western Supranational organizations such as the European Union. ASEAN: the beginning ASEAN was founded on the 9th of August 1967 with the signing of the ASEAN declaration by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Brunei Darussalam joined ASEAN in 1984, six days after gaining independence, Viet Nam in 1995, Laos and Myanmar in 1997 and its newest member, Cambodia in 1999. One unifying factor other than geographical proximity that ASEAN countries had in common was the intrusion of Western...
Fred Maiorino Case Study Essay
... Overview Fred Maiorino began his career at Schering-Plough in 1958 at the age of 28. He had been a successful sales representative till Jim Reed took over the position of General Sales Manager for South Jersey sales district in 1987. In 1988, Fred received his lowest ever performance evaluation of "Good" which was lower than any other sales representatives' in the district. In fact, Fred's salary increase at the end of the quarter was less than half of the average of other sales representatives who were at least 20 years younger to him. When Reed first came to New Jersey sales district, he turned to Fred for help and leadership. He implemented a new performance evaluation measuring system which rated salesmen according to two different measures. This new system included evaluations based on product market share gains and critical incidents of effective and ineffective salesmen actions recorded during joint calls made by district managers and sales reps. Moreover, Reed began coaching his subordinates and providing them with medical journals to help improve sales pitches. Unfortunately, even after working at Schering-Plough for over three decades as a highly successful salesman, Fred was terminated over coffee with Jim Reed at a local diner. This paper discusses why the different initiatives taken by Schering-Plough to motivate Fred Maiorino had failed. It also examines Reed's role in the alleged...
Essay about Baileys Study Case
...Question 3 How does Baileys translate its brand strategy and positioning communications into brand meaning in its various international markets? To start answering this question it is necessary to assess the position of the brand, which comes out of being the first to develop a cream liqueur and expand their name through an optimization of the product. Afterwards, the company created some new drinks linked to the essence of the product which was the liqueur cream. Thereafter, competitors appeared and comparisons were made, but Baileys reacted with innovations made according to consumer's preferences. Moreover, the innovations were not only through product developments, but through slogans that matched the sought image and the context of the market. Particularly in Japan, the strategy was to add an extra touch of mellowness and the creation of a refined package. This modifications of the product resulted in what they called the Baileys Gold. To name another adaptation to foreign markets we should recall the design and deployment of Baileys Minis which were made mainly for the British market. Nonetheless, the brand strategy always referred to the unique taste and originality. Given the fact that all markets are unique and are at different stages of development, the Baileys brand will be perceived according to the context of each country. For example, in a developing country the image would be...
Colgate-Palmolive Company: the Precision Toothbrush
Ethan Frome Lit Crit
Riordan Manufacturing's Human Resource Information System
Acting Essay
Short story Essay
Foreign direct investment Essay
Marine debris Essay


Governor Cuomo took a step deeper into the partisan politics of the State Senate Tuesday night, telling two Democratic factions they'll have to work together if the November elections go their way.
Cuomo, long an ally of Republicans in the Senate, for the first time headlined a major fundraiser for the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee, and told them that he can no longer rely on Senate Republicans to approve key issues like the Dream Act for children of undocumented immigrants, and a reform package that limits campaign contributions.
The governor also told the Democrats that if they win , and keep, enough seats in November, they'll likely have to learn to work with a breakaway faction of Democrats, the Independent Democratic Conference, in order to form a governing coalition. He likened the arraignment to a "marriage", with many compromises.
Cuomo has been offering increasing support to Democratic candidates in the Senate as Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump falls and Hillary Clinton rises in polls. The state Democratic Committee, which he controls, will be offering phone banking and other Get Out the Vote support in the next two weeks.
Senate Republicans have begun to hit back, bringing up a corruption scandal now afflicting Governor Cuomo's Administration. Chris McGrath, is the GOP candidate running in the district of former Senate Republican Majority Leader Dean Skelos, who is facing prison time for corruption. McGrath issued a scathing statement against Cuomo, after the governor endorsed the Democrat who now holds the seat, Todd Kaminsky. McGrath says Kaminsky has now allied himself with a governor " who is right in the middle of the most serious and far-reaching corruption scandal in state history , which involves billions of dollars in taxpayer money being steered to his campaign contributors". Nine people, including Cuomo's former top advisor, have been charged with federal bid-rigging, extortion and bribery. The governor has said he didn't know anything about the alleged wrongdoing.
"Recycling (state GOP Party Chair) Ed Cox's stand (Westchester County Executive and Cuomo 2014 opponent) Rob Astorino's pathetic lies that hinge on the hearsay testimony of a convicted felon is a feeble attempt by Dean Skelos' heir apparent to distract from the fact that he, unlike Senator Kaminsky, doesn't support comprehensive ethics reform," said Cuomo spokesman Rich Azzopardi.


Ways of Seeing is a cultural multispace run by the artist collective Sun In Jang (a play on words that literally means "cactus" and also implies the gathering of admirable people). While they also run a café and shop, it's so much more—rotating art exhibits fill the space; workshops, film screenings and concerts take place here; and fashion magazine Cracker Your Wardrobe has been hosting the FIFTY SEOUL charity flea market here since 2011.
If you're simply looking for a place to get a drink and something to eat, the menu offers plenty of options. Vegans and the lactose intolerant will be happy to see soy milk coffee drinks, which can be difficult to find at independent cafes in Seoul. Meat eaters will appreciate the handmade ham sandwich. Fans of sunlight (and smoking) take note: There's a giant deck with outdoor seating in nice weather.


Alan has more than 35 years of experience litigating and trying cases in state and federal courts and has extensive experience in arbitration and mediation. He has tried and arbitrated matters to judgment for plaintiffs and defendants relating to contract interpretation and breach; long-term supply agreements; force majeure; tortious interference; UCC Article 2; lending liability; state and federal banking regulations; restrictive covenants; trade secrets; breach of fiduciary duty; environmental damage and waste to real property; corporate ownership, control and governance; and will, trust and probate disputes.
Alan chaired FBT's business litigation group, the firm's largest practice group, for six years. He has argued cases to the Indiana Court of Appeals, Indiana Supreme Court, and 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, and has had primary responsibility for appellate briefs for the winning sides in key decisions involving contract formation (Mays v. Trump Indiana, 253 F.3d 351 (7th Cir. 2001)); lender liability (Wabash Grain, Inc. v. BankOne, 713 N.E.2d 323 (Ind.Ct.App. 1999)); foreign currency exchange and employer codes of conduct (Interactive Intelligence, Inc. v. KeyBank, 546 F.3d 897 (7th Cir. 2008)); trade secrets and RICO (AGS Capital Corp. v. Product Action Int'l. 884 N.E. 2d 295 (Ind.Ct.App. 2008)); promissory estoppel (Classic Cheesecake v. JPMorgan Chase, 546 F.3d 839 (7th Cir. 2008)); dissenting and minority shareholder rights (Fleming v. International Pizza, 676 N.E.2d 1051 (Ind. 1997)); and fiduciary duties among members and managers of LLCs (Purcell v. S. Hills Investments, LLC, 847 N.E.2d 991 (Ind.Ct.App. 2006)).
Alan is recognized as one of Indiana's leading business litigators, receiving annual recognition in publications including Martindale-Hubbell® (AV rated); Best Lawyers in America®; Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business®; Benchmark Litigation®- Local Litigation Stars; and Indiana Super Lawyers®.
In addition to his litigation work, Alan counsels companies and entrepreneurs regarding contract terms and conditions, and the development of general business, litigation and litigation-avoidance strategies. Alan works with growing companies to help them identify their contract, tort and insurance risks and institutionalize systems and practices to manage those risks.
Indianapolis Business Journal, "Who's Who in Law"


From the UK, to North America, Australia, Hong Kong and Japan, shoegaze and dreampop sounds have returned in a global renaissance.
Navigating the abundance of the web, year-end overviews and best of features make for a great aid in exploring the cutting edge of the past 12 months in global arts.
One of the last great unmined veins of popular music of the postwar era runs through the Japanese underground of the 60s and 70s, all the up to the crest of the late 80s New Wave. This year and next sees a series of compilations unearthing gems from these largely overlooked movements and scenes.


text:
Compare Cable TV and Internet Deals in Silvana, WA
DISH in Silvana, WA
DIRECTV in Silvana, WA
According to independent consumer surveys of satellite TV providers and cable companies in Silvana, WA, DISH has earned the title of best TV service provider in Silvana.
What are the best TV providers in Silvana, WA?
What are the cheapest TV providers in Silvana, WA?
What are the highest rated TV providers in Silvana, WA?
What are the TV providers with the most channels in Silvana, WA?
Summary of Cable TV Providers in Silvana, WA
Check out cable providers in nearby cities: Arlington, WA, Stanwood, WA, Marysville, WA, Mount Vernon, WA, Lake Stevens, WA, Freeland, WA, Everett, WA, Oak Harbor, WA, Burlington, WA, Snohomish, WA, Coupeville, WA, Mukilteo, WA, Sedro Woolley, WA, Mill Creek, WA, Anacortes, WA, Port Townsend, WA, Lynnwood, WA, Monroe, WA, Edmonds, WA, and Mountlake Terrace, WA


text:
"""
Common methods w.r.t. testing.

Quantitative tolerances policy:
    - Relative tolerances starts at:
        - 0.5% for mesh count, i.e., volume or triangulated data
    - Absolute tolerance of zero for integer count

Created on Fri Apr 27 12:47:46 2018

@author: Fabio Kasper
"""
import glob
import os
import re
import common.star as star

def _assert_content_count(key, argument, expected, tolerance, relative):
    actual = _float_from_argument(r'%s Count:\s(.*)\n' % key, argument)
    print('\n[assert %s Count]: ' % key),
    assert_value(actual, expected, tolerance, relative)

def _assert_exists(filename):
    assert os.path.exists(filename), 'File not found: "%s"' % filename

def _assert_report(argument, report_name, expected, tolerance, relative):
    re_patt = r'Report -> %s:\s(.*)\n' % report_name
    actual = _float_from_argument(re_patt, argument)
    print('\n[assert Report] %s: ' % report_name),
    assert_value(actual, expected, tolerance, relative)

def _assert_scene(argument, scene, displayer, expected, tol, relative, key):
    re_patt = r'Scene -> %s -> \w+ -> %s %s:\s(.*)\n' % (scene, displayer, key)
    actual = _float_from_argument(re_patt, argument)
    print('\n[assert Scene] %s -> %s: ' % (scene, displayer)),
    assert_value(actual, expected, tol, relative)

def _base_name(filename):
    return os.path.splitext(filename)[0]

def _contents(filename):
    with open(filename, 'r') as f:
        data = f.read()
    return data

def _env_var(value):
    env_var = os.getenv(value)
    assert env_var is not None, '%s environemntal variable not defined' % value
    return env_var

def _float_from_argument(re_patt, argument):
    if isinstance(argument, int):
        return _float_from_demo(re_patt, argument)
    elif isinstance(argument, str):
        return _float_from_sim_file(re_patt, argument)
    assert False, 'Invalid argument: "%s"' % str(argument)

def _float_from_contents(re_patt, contents):
    found = re.findall(re_patt, contents)
    assert len(found) > 0, 'Pattern not found: "%s"' % re_patt
    return float(found[0])

def _float_from_demo(re_patt, demo_number):
    contents = summary_contents(demo_number=demo_number, overwrite=False)
    return _float_from_contents(re_patt, contents)

def _float_from_sim_file(re_patt, sim_file):
    contents = summary_contents(sim_file=sim_file, overwrite=False)
    return _float_from_contents(re_patt, contents)

def _glob(pattern, validate=True):
    """Make sure glob is always done at TESTHOME"""
    os.chdir(_test_home())
    found = glob.glob(pattern)
    if validate:
        assert len(found) > 0, 'File not found: "%s"' % pattern
    return found

def _int_from_argument(re_patt, argument):
    return int(_float_from_argument(re_patt, argument))

def _load_sim(sim_file, macro_file):
    _run_sim(sim_file=sim_file, macro_file=macro_file)

def _new_sim(macro_file):
    _run_sim(sim_file=None, macro_file=macro_file)

def _pair(key, value, fmt='%g', multiplier=1.0):
    return '%s = %s' % (key, fmt % (multiplier * value))

def _percentage(key, value):
    if value < 1e-6:
        fmt = '%.2e%%'
    elif value < 1e-4:
        fmt = '%.2f%%'
    else:
        fmt = '%.1f%%'
    return _pair(key, value, fmt, multiplier=100.0)

def _remove(filename):
    if isinstance(filename, list):
        for f in filename:
            _remove(f)
    else:
        if os.path.exists(filename):
            os.remove(filename)

def _run_sim(sim_file=None, macro_file=None):
    os.chdir(_test_home())
    sh, np, is_batch = _star_home(), 1, True
    if sim_file is None:
        star_cmd = star.new_simulation(sh, macro_file, np, is_batch)
    else:
        star_cmd = star.load_simulation(sh, sim_file, macro_file, np, is_batch)
    os.system(star_cmd)

def _star_home():
    return _env_var('STARHOME')

def _summary_file(sim_file):
    return 'Summary_%s.ref' % _base_name(sim_file)

def _summary_macro():
    macro = 'WriteSummaryTest.java'
    assert os.path.exists(macro), 'Macro not found: "%s"' % macro
    return macro

def _test_home():
    return _env_var('TESTHOME')

def _write_summary(sim_file, ref_file):
    _remove(ref_file)
    _load_sim(sim_file, _summary_macro())
    _assert_exists(ref_file)

def assert_cell_count(argument, expected, tolerance=0.005, relative=True):
    _assert_content_count('Cell', argument, expected, tolerance, relative)

def assert_face_count(argument, expected, tolerance=0.005, relative=True):
    _assert_content_count('Face', argument, expected, tolerance, relative)

def assert_file_size(filename, expected, tolerance=0.001, relative=True):
    actual = os.path.getsize(filename)
    print('\n[assert on file size "%g"]: ' % actual),
    assert_value(actual, expected, tolerance, relative)

def assert_files_count(glob_pattern, expected, tolerance=0, relative=False):
    actual = len(_glob(glob_pattern, validate=False))
    print('\n[assert on glob pattern "%s"]: ' % glob_pattern),
    assert_value(actual, expected, tolerance, relative)

def assert_pictures_count(demo_number, expected):
    assert_files_count('Demo%d_*.png' % demo_number, expected)

def assert_pictures_count_in_folder(glob_pattern, expected):
    assert_files_count(glob_pattern, expected)

def assert_part_surfaces_count(argument, part_name, expected, tolerance=0,
                               relative=False):
    actual = _float_from_argument(r'Part -> %s:\s(\d+) Part' % part_name,
                                  argument)
    print('\n[assert Part Surfaces Count]: '),
    assert_value(actual, expected, tolerance, relative)

def assert_iteration(argument, expected, tolerance=0.0, relative=False):
    actual = _int_from_argument(r'Iteration:\s(\d+)', argument)
    assert_value(actual, expected, tolerance, relative)

def assert_report(argument, report_name, expected, tolerance=0.01,
                  relative=True):
    _assert_report(argument, report_name, expected, tolerance, relative)

def assert_scene_min(argument, scene_name, displayer_name, expected,
                     tolerance=0.01, relative=True):
    _assert_scene(argument, scene_name, displayer_name, expected, tolerance,
                  relative, 'MIN')

def assert_scene_max(argument, scene_name, displayer_name, expected,
                     tolerance=0.01, relative=True):
    _assert_scene(argument, scene_name, displayer_name, expected, tolerance,
                  relative, 'MAX')

def assert_summary_contents_by_demo(number):
    contents = summary_contents(demo_number=number, overwrite=True)
    assert len(contents) > 0

def assert_summary_contents_by_sim_file(filename):
    contents = summary_contents(sim_file=filename, overwrite=True)
    assert len(contents) > 0

def assert_time(argument, expected, tolerance=0.0001, relative=True):
    actual = _float_from_argument(r'Time:\s(.*)\n', argument)
    assert_value(actual, expected, tolerance, relative)

def assert_value(actual, expected, tolerance=0.01, relative=True):
    '''Assert a quantitative value, relative or absolute'''
    error = actual - expected
    if (relative and expected == 0.0) or error == 0.0:
        relative = False  # Revert to absolute
    if relative:
        assert tolerance > 0, 'Relative tolerance must be positive'
        error /= float(expected)
        s_error = _percentage('error', error)
        s_tol = _percentage('tolerance', tolerance)
    else:
        assert tolerance >= 0, 'Tolerance must be equal or higher than zero'
        s_error = _pair('error', error)
        s_tol = 'tolerance = %g' % tolerance

    message = '%s; %s; %s; %s' % (_pair('actual', actual),
                                  _pair('expected', expected),
                                  s_error, s_tol)
    print(message)
    assert abs(error) <= tolerance, message

def assert_vertex_count(argument, expected, tolerance=0.005, relative=True):
    _assert_content_count('Vertex', argument, expected, tolerance, relative)

def demo_id(filename):
    """Get the demo_number from a test macro"""
    b1 = re.match(r'.*/test_demo\d{2}\.py', filename)
    found = re.findall(r'.*/test_demo(\d{2})\.py', filename)
    b2 = len(found) == 1
    is_test_file = b1 and b2
    assert is_test_file, 'Not a test file: "%s"' % filename
    return int(found[0])

def simulation(demo_number):
    """Get the latest/newest sim file related to a demo number"""
    return simulations(demo_number)[-1]

def simulations(demo_number):
    """Get a list of sim files related to a demo ordered by creation date"""
    return sorted(_glob('Demo%d_*.sim' % demo_number), key=os.path.getctime)

def summary_contents(demo_number=None, sim_file=None, overwrite=False):
    """Return a list of strings"""
    check_syntax = sum([bool(demo_number), bool(sim_file)])
    if check_syntax == 0:
        raise SyntaxError('Provide at least a demo_number or sim_file')
    elif check_syntax == 2:
        raise SyntaxError('Provide a demo_number or sim_file not both')
    os.chdir(_test_home())
    if demo_number is not None:
        sim_file = simulation(demo_number)
    ref_file = _summary_file(sim_file)
    if overwrite:
        _write_summary(sim_file, ref_file)
    contents = _contents(ref_file)
    return contents

if __name__ == "__main__":
    pass


We are proud to sponsor this summer's Security Fest to be held in Gothenburg, Sweden, on June 1.
Tickets are already being sold online for this all-day IT security conference. Internationally renowned speakers will be talking about cutting-edge topics in the field. Training sessions will also be held the day before, for a limited number of attendees.


Hi Marco Kwan. I have come across your profile and I am interested in your services as a Sales Representative.
Disclaimer By entering my contact information I give my express consent to be contacted by 'Sultan Realty Inc., Brokerage' and or real estate salespeople on behalf of 'Sultan Realty Inc., Brokerage' to discuss potential services.


text:
The Diary of Wimpy Kid series of books, by best-selling author Jeff Kinney, charts the highs and lows of our middle school hero, Greg, as he stumbles and fumbles from childhood to teenhood via school-hood. Sometimes helped by his friends and family, often not helped by himself!
Can't wait for more details about Book 9? Here's what we can tell you: Greg Heffley and his family hit the road in author-illustrator Jeff Kinney's latest instalment of the phenomenal bestselling Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. Not much to go on? You KNOW it's going to involve Greg being the daft idiot we all love, and his family driving him nuts, and his friend-issues... so buckle-up, it's going to be a side-splitting ride!
Available on orders $50 to $1000 - Learn more
Other Titles by Jeff Kinney
Titles in Series
Rodrick Rules
The Third Wheel
The Meltdown


There are many misconceptions about Africa and African investing. One of the more common remarks when introducing Africa to potential investors is, "I know, this is a high-risk investment with a high potential return", argues Paul Clark of Ashburton Investments. Read on to find why investing in African equity markets should decrease the volatility of a global portfolio and provide significant diversification benefits, while generating good returns (pp.14-15).
in this month's issue of AGF we caught up with George G. McPherson of Criterion Africa Partners to learn more about the Africa Sustainable Forestry Fund II and opportunities in the forestry sector. Read on to find more about the fund's investors, its investment strategy and objectives for the next 12 months (pp.16-17).
In this edition, we also spoke with the portfolio managers of Mazi Asset Management, a South African fund manager. Its flagship long only specialist equity capability was launched in 2007 for which they have built up a compelling track record. Learn more about the Mazi Capital Prime Africa Fund and its top holdings on pp.11-13.
Finally, our commentary piece focused on Zimbabwe, the country which is currently at a turning point. The need to attract investment is critical to kick start the economy, write Kwadwo Sarkodie, Partner, and Joseph Otoo, Senior Associate, Mayer Brown (p.22).


text:
The Last Great Race on Earth
In the frigid Alaskan air, the
sound of a dog sled team mushing through the snow may be the only noise in a
land covered in silence and cold. Edmond native Patrick Beall says nothing exists that is quite as pure as traveling over 1,000 miles in the wild lands of Alaska with a team of dogs as your only companions in wide open vistas of one of America's last wild places. In 2015 or 2016, Patrick will join intrepid explorers and racers from the past as he attempts his first shot in one of the longest and most grueling races known to man—the Iditarod.
The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race
is a long-distance sled dog race which is run in early March from Anchorage to
Nome, Alaska. Mushers take a team of 16 dogs on the race to cover 1,049 miles
in 9 to 17 days. Started in 1973, The Iditarod now lures in more than 50 racers
and is known as the "last great race on Earth."
Patrick, 24, felt the call of
the wild when he was learning about the Iditarod in grade school at Cross
Timbers Elementary in Edmond. The attraction to the race remained with him
after his graduation from Edmond North High School and from the University of
Oklahoma in 2011. His soul belonged to the outdoors, and he promised himself he
would spend as much of his life as he could working, living and playing in the
open air.
"I've always loved the outdoors,
and when I got out of college, I decided to do everything I could to stay
outside," he said. Everything included helping South Americans set up a bird
research field site in Lawton and working as a logger and tree climber in
Maine. "I wanted to stay outside as long as possible."
Upon returning to Oklahoma,
Patrick got a job offer from a local oil company, but instead took less pay to
join Living Lands & Waters, a nonprofit with the mission of cleaning up
rivers in America. Living on a barge on
the Mississippi River, Patrick was back in the open air, this time traveling
from Tennessee to Minnesota on the Ol' Man river. "I loved it," he said. "I
left in 2012, because someone said I should work at a lodge in Alaska."
Following the currents of the
wind, Patrick packed up for Bettles Lodge in Bettles, Alaska, where he worked
as an outdoor guide, helped field planes in, set up hunter camps and more. He
also got his first chance to work with the famous Alaskan sled dogs.
"Working with the dogs rekindled
my interest in the Iditarod," Patrick said. "I thought, That would be so wild, so
cool. The lodge had 10 sled dogs and I volunteered to care for them. I taught
myself mushing."
Mushing, or working with a sled
dog team, isn't an 8-to-5 job—it's 24 hours a day. But those days brought
Patrick into the pack and gave him a passion for working with animals that are
more wolves than hounds. "It's a lifestyle, not a job. You never stop working."
The dream of racing the Iditarod
took an icy hold of Patrick, and he knew that if he wanted to race, he would
need to return to Alaska. He had met Dallas Seavey when he lived in Alaska, and
he knew that the Iditarod winner was who he needed to contact.
In 2012, Dallas Seavey was the
youngest musher to win the race and is the third generation in his family to
race. Mitch Seavey, Dallas' father, won in 2004 and 2013, and Dan Seavey, Dallas'
grandfather, was one of the organizers of the first races. While Dallas was the
youngest musher to win the race, his father was the oldest when he won in 2013
at the age of 53.
"I called and bugged him until
he told me to come out," said Patrick. "He wanted a guy to help him with dog
training and to get me in as a puppy team. We do 200- and 300-mile practice
runs together, and once the season progresses, we'll put more miles on the
dogs. These dogs are amazing—they run thousands of miles a year."
The training is endless. Patrick
currently helps train the puppies to start working as a team and on a harness.
Although he isn't able to qualify for the 2014 Iditarod, he plans to race in
either 2015 or 2016 as a B Team for Seavey.
"I love the dogs so much, and I
love the sport," he said. "There is nothing like being in the middle of nowhere
in the dead quiet with just me, the dogs and nature. Life is never as pure as
when you're running the teams. The dogs are almost wolves; they are Alaskan
huskies—specialized mutts bred and evolved for racing."
For Patrick, life couldn't be
any better. "I never regretted my decision, not once," he said. "I don't make
much money, but I've lived in the most beautiful places and I've met amazing
people. I have endless opportunities to be outside."
In a few years, Patrick will be
among the mushers covering over 1,000 miles in the coldest weather possible.
The freezing temperatures and the ice in his beard won't bother the Oklahoma
native. "Part of the reason I do this is that I'm infatuated with battling the
elements—putting my mind and body to the test," he said. "I love the way my face
and beard feel with ice on it—it helps me remember why I'm here."
To help support Patrick's race to the Iditarod
or to learn more about the dog sled race, contact Patrick Beall at
pabeall1989@gmail.com.
BUSINESS: College Nannies and Tutors
by Paul Fairchild
Edmond's College Nannies and Tutors has been a community fixture since 2010. Owner Karin Dallas has built the company's reputation on reliability, flexibility and excellent customer service. Her approach is simple: meet with families, identify their needs and match them with the best available assistance.
BUSINESS: Care by Design
If you are looking for information regarding Care by Design we removed this business story. If you are with the Care by Design organization, please contact Andrea at our office, 405-478-4080.


El Sewedy EMG's slogan "Manage Utilities Better" is a reflection of our belief that our responsibility lies beyond the metering solution or service that we provide to our customers. Our mission is to enable Utilities around the world to manage their operations and services in a better way. That was the main driver behind developing our Energy Management Services business unit.
Utilities are sometimes overwhelmed by the new technological developments and confused by the big variety of metering solutions offered in the market place. To enable our customers to focus on Managing their Utilities Better and not to be distracted by the various suppliers and held back by the various on-ground challenges of finance, technical knowledge and operational capabilities. We offer our customers end-to-end energy management services, which includes the optimized metering technology, finance, operation and service to overcome their on-ground challenges facing their operations and consumers.
El Sewedy EMG offers an expanding list of Energy Management Services to enable Utilities overcome their operational challenges, while avoiding new capital investments and improving their Asset utilization and enhancing the quality of their service.
Copyright © 2016 ElSewedy, All Rights Reserved.


With spacious, uniquely luxurious rooms with iPod docks, the award-winning QC's Seafood Restaurant & Townhouse is located in the town of Caherciveen. Guests can enjoy fantastic seafood, caught fresh from the restaurant's own boat.
Qc's Townhouse & Seafood Restaurant, Overview. Find the lowest rate for the Qc's Townhouse & Seafood Restaurant in Caherciveen, Ireland at KAYAK.
6 days ago ... Qc's Townhouse & Seafood Restaurant Gasthäuser & Pensionen in Cahersiveen, Irland. Zimmer Preise: € 70,00 - € 90,00.


text:
Taxing The Poor: The Only Tax Increase Republicans Support
Throughout the debate about raising the federal debt ceiling, Republicans have denied deal after deal because Democrats insist on adding new revenues to trillions of dollars in spending cuts. Republicans have opposed repealing oil and gas subsidies, removing a tax loophole for corporate jet owners, letting the Bush tax cuts expire, and all other forms of revenue Democrats have suggested. Raising taxes in a weak economy, they argue, is unthinkable — even if conservative patriarch Ronald Reagan did just that.
But there is one tax increase some Republicans seem to favor: raising taxes on the working poor, senior citizens, and other low-income Americans.
While they fight the expiration of the budget-busting Bush tax cuts, Republicans have continually cited a report that shows that 51 percent of Americans don't pay income taxes, even admitting that middle- and lower-class Americans need to shoulder a larger burden in deficit reduction efforts. Here is a sample of Republicans who have made that argument:
Sen. Orrin Hatch
(R-UT): In a May 5 appearance on MSNBC, Hatch said, "The place where you've got to get revenues has to come from the middle class," saying the poor needed to understand "that there's a civic duty on the part of every one of us to help this government to, uh, to be better." On the Senate floor July 7, Hatch said the poor "need to share some of the responsibility" for deficit reduction.
Sen. John Cornyn
(R-TX): Cornyn also cited the report on the Senate floor July 7, when he said Congress needed to address tax reform to make the system "flatter, fairer, and simpler." He then cited the report, saying, "51 percent — that is — a majority of American households — paid no income tax in 2009. Zero. Zip. Nada."
Sen. Dan Coats
(R-IN): Coats echoed the talking point last weekend, saying "everyone needs to have some skin in the game." He added: "I realize that some with low incomes and not much money are not paying much in taxes. Nonetheless, we all have a stake in this country and what needs to be done. I think it's important that this burden not just fall on 50 percent of the people but falls on all of us in some form."
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor
(R-VA): Cantor was among the first Republicans to begin hitting this particular talking point, doing so in April on CNBC's Squawk Box. "We also have a situation in this country where you're nearing 50 percent of people who don't even pay income taxes," he said.
Republicans, of course, ignore why most of the 51 percent do not pay income taxes and the myriad ways in which they are subject to other forms of taxation. The majority who do not pay federal income taxes simply do not make enough money to qualify for even the lowest tax bracket. But they do contribute through payroll, state, and sales taxes. Less than a quarter of Americans don't contribute to federal tax receipts, and the majority of those are students, the elderly, or the unemployed.
Meanwhile, the richest Americans are paying less than they were a generation ago, leaving the United States with one of the largest income gaps in the industrialized world.
By: Travis Waldron, Think Progress, July 25, 2011
July 26, 2011 Posted by raemd95 | Budget, Class Warfare, Conservatives, Debt Ceiling, Debt Crisis, Deficits, Democrats, Economic Recovery, Economy, Elections, GOP, Government, Government Shut Down, Ideologues, Ideology, Income Gap, Jobs, Lawmakers, Middle Class, Politics, Public, Republicans, Right Wing, Tax Increases, Tax Loopholes, Taxes, Teaparty, Unemployed, Wealthy	| Bush Tax Cuts, Elderly, Low Income, Payroll Taxes, Poor, Poverty, Rep Eric Cantor, Ronald Reagan, Sen Dan Coats, Sen John Cornyn, Sen Orrin Hatch, Seniors, Spending Cuts, Students, Tax Rates, Tax Revenues | Leave a comment
Sen Orrin Hatch's Desire To Raise Middle-Class Taxes
I think the pressure is starting to get to Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah). He saw what happened to his former colleague, Bob Bennett, in a GOP primary in 2010, and Hatch is starting to panic that he'll meet the same fate.
But when the heat is on, some rise to the occasion, showing poise and grace. Some, like Hatch, just fall apart.
Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) voted against beginning debate on a measure that would have the Senate declare the rich should share the pain of debt reduction Thursday, a day after arguing that it's the poor and middle class who need to do more.
"I hear how they're so caring for the poor and so forth," Hatch said in remarks on the Senate floor Wednesday, in reference to Democrats. "The poor need jobs! And they also need to share some of the responsibility."
Hatch went on to say he finds it outrageous that so many millions of Americans don't pay income taxes, adding, "And that's going up by the way because of our friend down in the White House and his allies."
Just so we're clear, Hatch is incensed because President Obama and his allies aren't taxing the middle class enough.
This comes up from time to time, and I continue to find it fascinating. Specifically, when conservatives complain about too many Americans not paying federal income taxes, they tend to overlook relevant details — such as the fact that these same Americans still pay sales taxes, state taxes, local taxes, Social Security taxes, Medicare/Medicaid taxes, and in many instances, property taxes.
It's not as if these folks are getting away with something — the existing tax structure leaves them out of the income tax system because they don't make enough money to qualify.
Moreover, the GOP has a natural revulsion to any tax system, but there's an eerie comfort with a regressive agenda that showers additional wealth on the rich while asking for more from lower-income workers.
While we're at it, let's also not forget that Hatch is the ranking member on the Senate Finance Committee, and would be in a position to serve as chairman if he wins reelection and Republicans take the Senate next year. At that point, he could use his power to punish working people more directly.
Hatch has always been a conservative Republican, but he'd developed a reputation over the years for idiosyncratic positions. Despite being firmly on the right — at least as "the right" was defined in, say, the '90s — Hatch supported stem-cell research, co-sponsored the DREAM Act, and partnered with Ted Kennedy to pass the State Children's Health Insurance Program, bringing health coverage to low-income kids. Centrist Democrats hoping to craft a major bipartisan deal would immediately reach out to Hatch.
Needless to say, those days are over.
By: Steve Benen, Contributing Writer, Washington Monthly-Political Animal, July 9, 2011
July 10, 2011 Posted by raemd95 | Class Warfare, Congress, Conservatives, Corporations, Debt Ceiling, Deficits, Democrats, Economic Recovery, Economy, Elections, GOP, Government, Government Shut Down, Ideologues, Ideology, Jobs, Middle Class, Politics, Republicans, Right Wing, Tax Loopholes, Taxes, Unemployed, Wealthy	| Bipartisan, Dream Act, Poor, SCHIP, Sen Bob Bennett, Sen Orrin Hatch, Senate Finance Committee, Stem Cell Research, Tax Revenue, Workers | Leave a comment
Justifying Cuts: A Well-Used But Misleading Medicaid Statistic
"Cash-strapped states are also feeling the burden of the Medicaid
entitlement. The program consumes nearly 22 percent of states' budgets today, and things are about to get a whole lot worse."
— Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), June 23, 2011, at a hearing of the Senate Finance Committee
"Medicaid is the lion's share of that spending burden as it now consumes about 22 percent of state budgets now and will consume $4.6 trillion of Washington's budget over the next ten years."
— Former Kentucky governor Ernest Lee Fletcher (R), June 23, 2011, at the same hearing
"Across the country, governors are concerned about the burgeoning cost of Medicaid, which in fiscal 2010 consumed nearly 22 percent of state budgets, according the National Association of State Budget Officers. That's larger than what states spent on K-12 public schools."
— Washington Post front page article, June 14, 2011
When a statistic is universally tossed around as a certified fact, it's time to get suspicious.
Such is the case with this oft-cited statistic that 22 percent of state budgets is being gobbled up by Medicaid, the state-federal program that provides health coverage for the poor and the disabled. Medicaid supposedly is even dwarfing what is spent on educating children and teenagers.
But note the phrase "state-federal." There's billions of dollars in federal money involved, and the "22-percent" statistic obscures that fact. Let's dig a little deeper into the numbers.
Medicaid was a central part of President Lyndon Johnson's "Great Society" initiative in the mid-1960s. Each state administers its own Medicaid program, but with federal oversight, federal requirements—and plenty of federal dollars. On average, the federal government provides 57 percent of Medicaid funds.
Initially, Medicaid was focused low-income Americans, but elderly nursing home care has also become a big part of it. The new health care law would also greatly expand eligibility to people up to 133 percent of the official poverty line.
There's no question that the recession has put pressure on Medicaid spending, as more people lost jobs or income and so became eligible for coverage. The new requirements of the health care law also will boost Medicaid spending.
The assertion that Medicaid is 22 percent of state spending, and thus now exceeds education spending, comes from an annual survey of the National Association of State Budget Officers (NASBO). But if you dig into the report — if you just go to page
one — you will see that this number includes the federal contribution, in what
is known as "total funds."
If you want to see what states themselves are spending on Medicaid —"general funds" — you have to use another set of statistics.
As NASBO says on page one, "For estimated fiscal 2010, components of general fund spending are elementary and secondary education, 35.7 percent; Medicaid, 15.4 percent; higher education, 12.1 percent; corrections, 7.2 percent; public assistance, 1.9 percent; transportation, 0.8 percent; and all other expenditures, 27.0 percent."
In other words, without the federal dollars included, Medicaid falls to second place, far behind education. It turns out that on average, states spend 15.4 percent of their funds on Medicaid — not 22 percent.
Brian Sigritz, NASBO's director of state fiscal studies, said, "You are correct that there are several different ways of looking at Medicaid spending that you can use. If you consider just general funds, K-12 easily remains the largest component of general fund spending, as it historically has been."
Indeed, when you look at NASBO's historical data (table three of this report), it becomes clear that Medicaid spending, as a proportion of general funds, has remained relatively consistent since 1995 — about 15 percent — in contrast to the popular image of being a drain on state budgets.
Sigritz said that the two figures provide a different picture of state spending. "General funds gives you a sense of spending deriving from state revenue, while total funds gives you a sense of total state expenditures," he said. "Typically when you discuss overall state budgets you examine the various funding sources that go into them including general funds, other state funds, bonds, and federal funds."
The Office of the Actuary for Medicare and Medicaid makes this distinction. The 2010 Actuarial Report for Medicaid notes the broad figure, but then takes pains to add: "This amount, however, includes all Federal contributions to State Medicaid spending, as well as spending from State general revenue funds and other State funds (which for Medicaid consists of provider taxes, fees, donations, assessments, and local funds)." The report concludes: "When only State general revenues are considered, however, Medicaid spending constitutes an estimated 16.2 percent of expenditures in 2009, placing it well behind education."
Antonia Ferrier, a spokeswoman for Hatch, defended the 22-percent figure, noting its wide use. "It is part of their budgets, and there are many different streams of funding that fund those state budgets (including federal funding, taxes, etc.) that fund their many programs," she said.
But Colleen Chapman, a spokeswoman for the Georgetown University Center for
Children and Families, a policy and research center, said, "In the current budget debate, the data are being misused to argue that the Medicaid program in states is out of control and needs to be cut dramatically, when in fact, Medicaid is still much less of state spending than education and has not grown, as a portion of state budgets, in any way close to the mammoth way that others argue it has."
We will label this with one of our rarely used categories: TRUE BUT FALSE.
(We still need to get an appropriate icon for this one — suggestions are welcome.)
Yes, the 22-percent figure is a valid number. But it is being used in an inappropriate way, and therefore is misleading. Hatch and Fletcher are only the latest in a long line of public figures — and news outlets — who have seized onto this number without apparently realizing that it is the wrong statistic to use. If people want to understand the impact the Medicaid is having on state budgets, politicians should begin to use the 15-percent figure — or at the least offer a caveat to the 22-percent number. Otherwise, there might be some Pinocchios in their future.
By: Glenn Kessler, The Fact Checker, The Washington Post, July 5, 2011
July 5, 2011 Posted by raemd95 | Conservatives, Deficits, Economy, Education, GOP, Health Care, Ideologues, Ideology, Lawmakers, Medicaid, Middle Class, Politics, Republicans, State Legislatures, States	| Disabled, Federal Funds, Federal Government, Gov Ernest Fletcher, Great Society, Low Income, NASBO, Poor, Sen Orrin Hatch, State Budgets, State-Federal, Statistics, The Washington Post | Leave a comment
GOP Supported Individual Mandate To Prevent 'Government Takeover' Of Health Care
The Los Angeles Times' Noam Levey looks at the history of the individual health insurance mandate and discovers that not only was the provision designed by Republicans as an alternative to President Bill Clinton's health care reform plan in the 1990s, but it was specifically seen as a way to prevent a "government takeover" of health care:
"We were thinking, if you wanted to achieve universal coverage, what was the way to do it if you didn't do single payer?" said Paul Feldstein, a health economist at UC Irvine, who co-wrote the 1991 plan with Pauly.
Feldstein and Pauly compared mandatory health insurance to requirements to pay for Social Security, auto insurance, or workers' compensation.
So too did the Heritage Foundation's Stuart Butler, who in 1989 wrote a health plan that also included an insurance requirement.
"If a young man wrecks his Porsche and has not had the foresight to obtain insurance, we may commiserate, but society feels no obligation to repair his car," Butler told a Tennessee health conference that year.
"But healthcare is different. If a man is struck down by a heart attack in the street, Americans will care for him whether or not he has insurance.… A mandate on individuals recognizes this implicit contract," said Butler, who was the foundation's director of domestic policy studies.
Levey notes that fully a third of Republicans supported a bill that included a national individual requirement, introduced by then-Senator and current Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee. Sens. Bob Dole (R-KS), Charles Grassley (R-IA), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), and Richard Lugar (R-IN) all backed that measure. The National Federation of Independent Business, a conservative small-business group, even "praised the bill 'for its emphasis on individual responsibility.'"
And this wasn't some fluke of the '90s either. As recently as 2007, "[t]en Republican senators — including Tennessee's Lamar Alexander, now a GOP leader — signed on to a bill that year by Bennett and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) to achieve universal health coverage." The legislation penalized individuals who did not purchase insurance coverage.
Listing all of the GOP presidential candidates who have previously supported the mandate (Romney, Gingrich, Huntsman, Pawlenty) would only belabor the point, which is that the GOP's new-found religion on the mandate and its constitutionality is driven by the political need to unravel the Democrats' crowning social achievement, not any great concerns about policy, constitutionality, or freedom.
By: Igor Volsky, Think Progress, May 31, 2011
June 1, 2011 Posted by raemd95 | Businesses, Class Warfare, Conservatives, Constitution, Democracy, Democrats, Freedom, GOP, Government, Health Care, Health Reform, Human Rights, Ideologues, Ideology, Individual Mandate, Insurance Companies, Lawmakers, Liberty, Middle Class, Politics, Public Option, Republicans, Right Wing, Single Payer	| Bill Clinton, Government Takeover, Health Insurance, Health policy, Heritage Foundation, John Huntsman, Lincoln Chafee, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Sen Lamar Alexander, Sen Orrin Hatch, Sen Richard Lugar, Social Security, Tim Pawlenty, Universal Health Care | Leave a comment
In America, Being Poor Is A Criminal Offense
It takes a special kind of bully to target the most vulnerable and neediest families in society, which millionaire politicians like to argue are draining America's treasury. I am referring to Rep. Charles Boustany (R-LA), who recently introduced a bill that would require states to implement drug testing of applicants for and recipients of the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. This is reminiscent of Sen. Orrin Hatch's (R-UT) failed legislation last summer to drug test the unemployed and those receiving other forms of government cash assistance, which ultimately died in the Senate. So far, Boustany's proposal is following the same fate as Hatch's, but around the country states are taking matters into their own hands.
In at least 30 state Legislatures across America, predominately wealthy politicians are quite impressed with themselves for considering bills that would limit the meager amount of state help given to needy families struggling to make ends meet. Many have proposed drug testing with some even extending it to recipients of other public benefits as well, such as unemployment insurance, medical assistance, and food assistance, in an attempt to add more obstacles to families' access to desperately needed aid.
Florida's Legislature has passed a bill that will require welfare applicants to take drug tests before they can receive state aid. Once signed into law by Republican Gov. Rick Scott, which is likely, all adult recipients of federal cash benefits will be required to pay for the drug tests, which are typically around $35. In Maine, Republican lawmakers introduced two proposals that would impose mandatory drug testing on Maine residents who are enrolled in MaineCare, the state's Medicaid program for low-income and disabled residents. Under a similar bill that passed both the House and Senate in Missouri, recipients found to be on drugs will still be eligible for benefits only if they enter drug treatment programs, though the state wouldn't pick up the tab for their recovery.
In Massachusetts — where about 450,000 households receive cash or food assistance — a bill introduced by state Rep. Daniel B. Winslow (R-Norfolk) would set up a program requiring those seeking benefits to disclose credit limits and assets such as homes and boats, as well as the kind of car they drive. His reasoning is "If you have two cars and a snowmobile, then you aren't poor. If we do this, we will be able to preserve our limited resources for those who are truly in need and weed out fraud, because we know there's fraud and we're not looking for it." State Rep. Daniel K. Webster (R-Pembroke) filed a budget amendment requiring the state to verify immigration status of those seeking public benefits. Webster made it clear that his proposal does not mean he dislikes poor people or immigrants, but "this is all unsustainable and the system is being abused."
This is rather shocking because I can't recall any Republicans or Democrats demanding that the CEO of Bank of America or JP Morgan disclose inventory of their vacation homes, private jets, and yachts before bailing them out in what amounts to corporate welfare. Nor did they insist that these CEOs submit to alcohol and drug screenings before receiving taxpayer money. No objections were made regarding the immigration status of the people running these companies or whether they happen to employ undocumented workers for cheap labor.
Some would argue that corporations are different, in that they create jobs. To that I will point out that corporations are making record profits, even as they layoff workers and pay next to nothing in Federal income taxes. And this doesn't even begin to scratch at the surface of corporate abuse by the very entities that are soaked in taxpayer money. Just contrast these proposals with the way the rich are treated in this country with billions of dollars in subsidies and tax breaks.
This is simply an extension of a conversation that began in 1996, when President Bill Clinton and House Speaker Newt Gingrich passed bipartisan welfare reform, whose results have been tragic to say the least. The 1996 Welfare Reform Act authorized, but did not require, states to impose mandatory drug testing as a prerequisite to receiving state welfare assistance. Back then, unproven allegations of criminal behavior and drug abuse among welfare recipients were the rationales cited by those in support of the bill's many punitive measures that were infused with race, class, and gender bias.
The majority of the proposals for drug testing require no suspicion of drug use whatsoever. Instead they rest on the assumption that the poor are inherently inclined to immoral and illegal behavior, and therefore unworthy of privacy rights as guaranteed under the Fourth Amendment. These proposals simply reaffirm the longstanding concept of the poor as intrinsically prone to and deserving of their predicament. Jordan C. Budd, in his superb analysis Pledge Your Body for Your Bread: Welfare, Drug Testing, and the Inferior Fourth Amendment, demonstrates how the drug testing of welfare recipients is part of what's called a "poverty exception" to the Constitution, particularly the Fourth Amendment, a bias that renders much of the Constitution irrelevant at best, and hostile at worst, to the American poor.
Kaaryn Gustafson extensively documents the trend toward the criminalization of poverty. She demonstrates how, in her words "welfare applicants are treated as presumptive liars, cheaters, and thieves," which is "rooted in the notion that the poor are latent criminals and that anyone who is not part of the paid labor force is looking for a free handout." I would argue that given the disdain that has been shown for "entitlements" over the years, it won't be long before this treatment extends to Social Security, Medicare, and even Financial Aid recipients.
The notion that the poor are more prone to drug use has no basis in reality. Research shows that substance use is no more prevalent among people on welfare than it is among the working population, and is not a reliable indicator of an individual's ability to secure employment. Furthermore, imposing additional sanctions on welfare recipients will disproportionately harm children, since welfare sanctions and benefit decreases have been shown to increase the risk that children will be hospitalized and face food insecurity. In addition, analysis shows that drug testing would be immensely more expensive than the acquired savings in reduced benefits for addicts
With regard to welfare legislation, it's beneficial to highlight where on the class ladder members of Congress stand. According to a study by the Center for Responsive Politics released late last year, nearly half of the members in congress — 261 — were millionaires, compared to about 1 percent of Americans. The study also pointed out that 55 of these congressional millionaires had an average calculated wealth in 2009 of $10 million dollars and up, with eight in the $100 million-plus range. A more recent study released in March, found that 60 percent of Senate freshman and more than 40 percent of House freshmen of the 112th congress are millionaires.
Why is this so important? Because very few of our lawmakers understand what it's like to struggle financially. Millionaires can generally afford healthcare without grappling with unemployment, foreclosure, or an empty refrigerator. The majority of our representatives haven't a clue what the daily lives of the people they represent are like, let alone the constant struggle of single mothers living below the poverty line. They are constantly arguing that we all must sacrifice with our pensions, our wages, our education, the security of our communities, and with the belly's of our children, while they sit atop heavily guarded piles of money.
With the ranks of the underclass growing and the unemployment level at a staggering 9%, it's more clear than ever that the wealth divide between "we the people" and our representatives has caused a dangerous disconnect. State and federal legislators claim to be acting fiscally responsible, but they support budgets that create unimaginably difficult circumstances for the lives of the most vulnerable people, especially children. There is no question that these newest proposals amount to class warfare, and the longer we ignore it, the more it will spread.
By: Rania Khalek, CommonDreams.org, May 14, 2011
May 14, 2011 Posted by raemd95 | Banks, Class Warfare, Congress, Conservatives, Constitution, Corporations, Economy, GOP, Gov Paul LePage, Gov Rick Scott, Government, Governors, Health Care, Income Gap, Jobs, Lawmakers, Maine, Middle Class, Politics, Republicans, Right Wing, State Legislatures, States, Unemployment Benefits, Wealthy	| Children, Criminals, Drug Testing, Families, Florida, Income Taxes, Massachusetts, Missouri, Politicians, Poor, Poverty, Rep Charles Boustany, Sen Orrin Hatch, Social Safety Nets, State Budgets, TANF, Welfare Reform, Workers | Leave a comment


Citation: Menghe, L.H., Wise, D.J., Bosworth, B.G., Lucas, P.M., Kingery, K. 2016. Effects of no feeding, maintenance feeding, and refeeding on production and processing characteristics of market-size hybrid catfish. North American Journal of Aquaculture. 78:(3)224-228.
Interpretive Summary: n commercial catfish production, harvest delays can occur for various reasons (off-flavor, oversupply of fish, or low fish prices). Delays in harvest increase risk of fish mortalities and restrict cash flow resulting in diminished profits for farmers. In addition, fish larger than optimal harvest size convert feed less efficiently and decrease in value because they are too large for routine processing. Issues with harvest delays are accentuated in hybrid catfish (female channel catfish × male blue catfish) because of their very aggressive feeding and rapid growth. Development of feeding strategies to maintain body weight of market-size hybrid catfish is needed to minimize economic losses associated with harvest delays. A pond study was conducted to examine effects of no feeding, maintenance feeding (feeding once weekly), and refeeding on production and processing characteristics of market-size hybrid catfish. Fish were either not fed, fed once weekly or fed to satiation once daily for two months; and then fish in half the ponds were harvested, measured for total weight and processing traits. All fish in the remaining ponds were then fed daily to satiation for an additional month. Fish not fed for two months had a 14.3% weight loss and fish fed once per week had a 6.7% weight gain. Fish not fed and fed once per week both had reduced visceral fat and fillet yield compared with fish fed daily. After one month of daily feeding following feed restriction, fish previously not feed and fed once per week had the same weight gain, fat levels and fillet yield. Fish fed daily throughout the trial had significantly higher visceral fat and marginally higher fillet yield than both feed restricted groups at the end of the study. Feeding once weekly to maintain body weight, followed by a month of re-feeding seems to be the best strategy to prevent fish from becoming to large and alleviate reductions in carcass yield due to feed restriction.
Technical Abstract: A pond study was initiated to evaluate effects of no feeding, maintenance feeding, and refeeding on production and processing characteristics of market-size hybrid catfish (female Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus × male Blue Catfish I. furcatus). Fish with an average weight of 644 g were stocked into 20 earthen ponds (0.04 ha) at 14,826 fish/ha at the end of May. They were either not fed (N2), fed once weekly (W2) to satiation for 2 months to simulate a longterm harvest delay, or fed daily (D2) to satiation. After 2 months fish in half the ponds in each of the two feedrestricted treatments were harvested, and all fish in the remaining ponds were fed daily for an additional month. After 2 months N2 fish experienced a 14.3% weight loss compared with a weight gain of 6.7% for FW2 fish. After 2 months both N2 and W2 fish had reduced visceral fat and fillet yield compared with fish fed daily, but there were no significant differences in visceral fat percentage and fillet yield between N2 and W2 fish. At the end of 3 months, there were no significant differences in weight gain, net yield, fillet yield, or visceral fat whether fish were previously not fed or fed once weekly for the first 2 months, but fish fed daily throughout had significantly higher visceral fat and marginally higher fillet yield. Feeding once weekly for 2 months followed by 1-month full feeding resulted in significantly higher feed conversion ratio than fish fed daily for 3 months. Results demonstrate feeding once weekly can generally maintain body weight of hybrid catfish. No feeding or feeding once weekly for 2 months does not affect survival but significantly reduces fillet yield. One month of full feeding following no feeding or maintenance feeding improves fillet yield relative to values before refeeding.