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Beloit Snappers Win 7-6 in Extra Innings
Robert Villarreal
Minor League Baseball, Oakland Athletics
Photo Credit to: Kimberly Contreras/ Scout.com
Coming into today's contest versus the Cedar Rapids Kernels, the Beloit Snappers are not only coming off last night's loss but also own an overall record of 17-25. They're 15 games back of the Quad City River Bandits in the Western Division of the Midwest League.
The Snappers, Single-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics, put up the game's first run in the top of the first frame with a leadoff solo home run by center fielder James Harris. The Kernels answered when they took a 2-1 lead in the second inning with some timely RBI's by Pat Kelly and Blake Schmit. Righty Dustin Driver got in a quick spot start for the Snappers but gave way to Jordan Schwartz in the third.
Kernels right handed pitcher Keaton Stele was having a decent outing (sans the first inning lead off home run) until the third when he gave up back-to-back home runs to Snappers shortstop Yairo Munoz and designated hitter Sandber Pimentel (Pictured above, Pimentel is on the Left), giving the Southern Wisconsin squad a 3-2 lead.
The home run barrage continued in the top of the fifth inning when Trey Vavra took one straight away to center field, which also ended Jordan Schwartz's day on the mound for the Snappers. Edwin Diaz got to second base for Beloit on a fielding error by the Kernels' TJ White at third base. James Harris drew the walk and next up was Trent Gilbert who sacrifice flied out to center driving in Diaz. Harris finished off the fifth inning with his second runoff the day giving his team a 5-3 lead going into the sixth inning.
Yairo Munoz, not to be outdone by the other home run contributors of the afternoon, hit his second bomb of the contest in the bottom of the seventh plunking the left field foul pole, extending the Snappers' lead 6-3 heading into the eighth.
Carlos Navas pitched a solid eighth inning, but started the ninth giving up a hit and a walk with only one out. He then gave up a two-run single to Zack Larson leaving the Snappers with only a one run advantage. Brett Doe came to the plate for the Kernels still with one out and the bases now loaded, knocking in one run with a sac fly to straight away center. Tyler Kuresa grounded out leaving a few on base but the damage was done as Cedar Rapids tied the game 6-6 in the top of the ninth. Beloit couldn't get anything going their half of the frame sending the game into extra innings.
Cedar Rapids failed to score in their half of the tenth giving way to Beloit who managed to load the bases with one out. Shawn Duinkerk came to the plate and after cracking a few foul balls put one over the Kernels' Nick Gordon at shortstop for the winning RBI driving in Sander Pimentel. Jose Tores notched the win in this contest brining his season record even to 3-3.
I talked to the Snappers PA Announcer Bobby Coon after the game and he mentioned, "Yairo Munoz will most likely be awarded 'farm hand of the week' for this two-home run effort in today's contest." He's having a modest season slashing a respectable .268/.292/.365 to go along with his four home runs and 22 RBI's.
The Snappers (18-25) have the Kernels (26-17) again tomorrow afternoon, 2pm CT at Polman Field in Beloit, WI to end their eight game home stand.
beloit snappersCedar Rapids KernelsOakland A'sYairo Munoz
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Rob began his writing career in 2013 with SportsBlog.com. He was promoted to editor in 2014 and has had multiple works published both nationally and abroad. A 1999 graduate of Kishwaukee College, he's an experienced public address announcer who aspires to be in sports radio. Robert joined Baseball Essential in December 2014.
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> Uncategorized > The 'Best of Bill's' unveiled in St Albans
The 'Best of Bill's' unveiled in St Albans
Published on: 1st February 2018 | By: Jason Allen | Category: Uncategorized
Bill's St Albans has been transformed. We were invited to the launch party to sample a selection of the new dishes and cocktails.
It was a great atmosphere and the ambience of the restaurant still offers the same welcoming home from home feel with fresh eclectic British dishes.
The service was fantastic and the serving staff were friendly. It was also good to see the Mayor of the City and District of St Albans, cllr Mohammad Iqbal Zia enjoying himself.
The new specially designed menu will offer an expanded weekend brunch menu featuring new dishes such as the indulgent Steak and Oxford Blue Cheese Sandwich and the Sweet Potato Hash for a vegetarian option.
The expert food team have developed and tailored an all-day menu to feature dishes that are exclusive to St Albans. The Sharing Supper will be available from 5pm-9pm – perfect for families and groups.
Sharing dishes include Garlic and Rosemary Roasted Chicken, Macaroni Cheese and Bill's Lamb and Beef Meatballs in a Tomato and Basil Sauce and will be brought to the table on platters with delicious sides.
The all-day menu also features new dishes such as Bill's Steak and Ale Rarebit Pie for a twist on a classic and an Ancient Grain Bowl for a healthier option. A revamped kid's menu is bursting with tasty treats.
Evenings will see Bill's transform into a must-visit for drinks and dinner. Not forgetting its former life as a pub, the restaurant also features a seated bar area with the bar menu offering a selection of delicious cocktails and nibbles where you can enjoy a classic Campfire Espresso Martini, or an English Country Garden for a quirky alternative to a G&T.
To complement the drinks, a bar snacks menu will be served. Try sampling Duck Puffs or Beetroot and Goats Cheese Crispy Rice Balls whilst sipping a cocktail.
Bill Collison, founder of Bill's, which started as a small café in Lewes, East Sussex, said: "St Albans is a historic market town which, as a former greengrocer, is very special to me. We look forward to welcoming back our local fans and tempting in some new faces.
"It's evolution, not revolution. We have built on the solid foundation by adding more WOW factors across a range of guest touchpoints from crockery to menu options and uniform to furniture. It is all the best bits of Bill's in a gorgeous setting with some brilliant new food to enjoy for any time of day."
St Albans is one of three specially selected Bill's restaurants to trial the new concept alongside Covent Garden and Westfield in London. Go try it out.
www.bills-website.co.uk | 2 Chequer St, St Albans AL1 3XZ | 01727 851436
POLICE APPEAL FOR INFORMATION INTO ASSAULT AT MOOR PARK STATION
Ageing gas mains to be replaced hear historic Whippendell Woodland
103-year-old's birthday banter is on fire

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Hey everybody! Here's the first article I wrote when I started to take writing seriously. I sent it to Guideposts Magazine in 2007.. They loved it but it didn't quite fit their criteria, so it never made it to the magazine. It's my testimony. Enjoy!
The date: February 8, 1983. The time: around noon. The weather: cool and breezy. The newscasters would call this the Santa Ana winds. The baby is not due to come until April 8, but there is a problem. The baby is ready to come early.
The mother to be is at her next-door neighbor's house and calls the grandmother to be, who then rushes over to take her to the hospital and pages the father to meet them there. Once they are at the hospital, the doctor rushes Rosemary into surgery and delivers the baby by emergency C-section. When the baby comes out of the womb, it stops breathing. Within 15 minutes, the doctors are able to get no more than five breaths out of it. Imagine trying to hold your breath for 15 minutes. Could you do it? No. You'd kill yourself if you tried.
Unfortunately, the baby's skin is blue. It's not making a sound—not even a normal baby cry. It's quiet— too quiet. Rosemary's water broke early, causing the baby to become very ill. The doctors realized two days later that the baby had pneumonia, and that lack of oxygen had caused serious brain damage. Is there any hope for this child? Or, should the parents of this child say good-bye right now? Is it even possible to say good-bye to babies who haven't even taken their first steps, their first breath of air, or their first look at life?
After that, the doctors tried everything medically possible, but the baby's body didn't respond. When the doctors were about to lose hope, they tried one more thing. They gave the baby antibiotics. The baby began to recover within 24 hours, and then the doctors knew that the baby would live.
Now that the baby would live, what about a name? I'm sure that Rosemary and Rex hadn't thought about that yet. After all, the baby wasn't even due until April 8, and here it was February 8, two months early.
Rex decided on a name and its spelling. "Her name will be Rachael Benson," he said. When the nurses found out this baby would live, they were ecstatic, and they started writing the name on everything.
I'm Rachael Benson. I'm the "miracle child." I'm 24 years old now and have cerebral palsy. This is the story of what happened when I was born.
Even though everyone was sure I was going to live, that didn't mean I could go home right away. Because of complications, I weighed only three and one half pounds. The doctors would not let me go home until I weighed five pounds.
Heartbroken that she couldn't bring me home, my mother traveled back and forth to the hospital for five weeks to feed me. If I was asleep when she came, she just had to wait for me to wake up. Finally, I reached five pounds and the doctors said I could go home.
When they brought me home, they had to put me on a heart monitor for my first year to monitor my heart rate. The heart monitor's alarm went off quite often, causing my parents to jump up to check on me, but nothing ever happened. It only went off because I moved around so much. My parents would look at me and I would just smile. My heart never completely stopped. But, it slowed way down at times, especially if I had a stressful day. The doctors were monitoring what is called apnea, which is where you forget to breathe. My mom and other family members were well prepared for the worst before the doctors sent me home. They had taken a special CPR class so that they would know what to do in an instant if they had to. They did it together so that Mom could have a break every once in a while.
Mom said that while I was on the heart monitor, I slept in my parents' room in a bassinet so that she could see me and drop what she was doing in an instant if she had to. She said she could see out of the corner of her eye that I was all right.
Because of my health problems, my mother, even though a follower of Christ, harbored anger against God until she realized that she had quite a bit of spiritual growing to do. She says I was her wake-up call.
After my mother got past her anger, she made sure that church was a high priority in my life. This taught me to focus on the positives about my disability, like learning to walk with a walker. I'm thankful that I can talk to people and make intelligent conversation. I don't have a speech impediment, although I stutter occasionally.
Most of all, I'm thankful for a mother who emphasized that God had a reason for allowing me to have CP. She wouldn't allow me to have a "woe is me I'm disabled" attitude. She has taught me (and is still teaching me) to focus on what I can do, not what I can't do. Thanks to her and the many other friends and family members that have loved me, I came to know the Lord at a very early age.
I've learned to be thankful for only have two seizures in my lifetime: once when I was a year old, and again when I was fifteen. The second seizure happened because the doctor tried to take me off the medication. I'm stable enough that, even though my mom has to help me quite often, she doesn't have to be there all the time. While my mom runs errands, someone else can help me, and I can socialize with people my age.
I'm also thankful that my disability is physical, not mental. Although I sometimes have trouble with my sense of direction and math, or things that require a lot of motor planning, I don't have any major behavior problems that scare others away. I don't scream or throw tantrums in public.
I'm thankful for the people God has put in my life to help me learn the essential skills I need for my life, like walking with a walker. I am very thankful that God allowed me to live. Instead of being in heaven right now, waiting for my mother to arrive, I am sitting here at my computer, writing this story.
Since I was created in my mother's womb, how could my disability be a mistake? It wasn't. God didn't say" oops" when I was born. He doesn't punish people by giving them disabilities, but allows them to go through trials to develop character. The Bible says in Romans 5:3-4: "Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, character; and character, hope." (NIV).


On 21st of September 2018 we were officially opened by Ken Skates AM Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport, Lesley Griffiths AM Assembly member for Wrexham. We have relocated from Gobowen to Ellice House, on Wrexham Technology Park into a hi-tech HQ creating new jobs in North Wales. We have 10,000 current clients, including some of the biggest corporate names and charities in the UK, and signing up an average of 120 new customers every month. As a result, the company is on course to increase the number of checks from 350,000 last year to half a million by the end of 2018.


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Satin Stainless Steel on/off key switch with two width options.
Momentary contact 3 position euro profile keyswitch. Surface mounted ideal for use on roller shutter doors.
This 3 position Asec key switch is suitable for flush mounting and comes supplied with 2 keys and fixings. It is engraved, `AUTO`, `OFF` and `ON` and is ideal for use with roller shutter doors.
This 3 position Asec key switch is suitable for flush mounting and comes supplied with 2 keys and fixings. It is engraved, `1`, `2` and `3` and is ideal for use with roller shutter doors.
Flush fitting 2amp indicator key switch. This item is not supplied with the cylinder.


Along with the former President his sons Alaa and Gamal, Husein Salem businessman and the former Minister of Interior will sit on the bench. Their health status is unstable. In Cairo, former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak will be judged on August 3. Mubarak, who ruled Egypt from 1981 until he resigned from the Presidency on February 11, is hospitalized in the tourist resort of Sharm the Sheji. The Undersecretary of the Ministry of Justice, Mohamed Mania, has ensured that it has been resolved definitively that the trial against the former President, the businessman and his two sons Alaa and Gamal Husein Salem will be held in the Egyptian capital. Their health status is unstable. Doctors assured last July 26 serving him is in acute state of weakness and that he has stopped eating and ingested only liquids. Both Mubarak and his sons are accused of abuse of power, illegal enrichment and be behind attacks against protesters during the revolution of January 25.


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A Very Hugh Grant Scandal
He's cute and cuddly, with floppy hair, baby-blue eyes, and the gobsmacked look of a lovestruck teenager. The Jeopardy question would be: Who is Hugh Grant? Actors, of course, are not identical to the roles they play. But after seeing (more than once) such charming British films as Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill, and Love, Actually, I find it hard not to associate Grant forever with his signature romantic roles.
But Grant is (gulp!) sixty now, and more than ready to put those adorable personae behind him. He was ambiguous as the supportive (though philandering) husband of Meryl Streep in 2016's Florence Foster Jenkins. And he's moved much further into dark territory of late with such TV fare as A Very English Scandal, presented by Amazon Prime in 2018. It is a three-part enactment, directed by the always worthy Stephen Frears, of an actual political scandal that mesmerized the British press and the British public in 1976-1979.
Grant (who was a very cute, very young British prime minister in Love, Actually) here plays Jeremy Thorpe, a Member of Parliament who is moving rapidly into the leadership of the upstart Liberal Party. Charming and cocky, he deftly conceals ongoing homosexual flings (wholly illegal in England until 1967) while appearing in public as a progressive statesman with a bright future. In 1961, while visiting a country estate, Thorpe meets a naive 21-year-old stable boy named Norman Josiffe, and feels a strong attraction. When Norman shows up in London, out of work and desperate, Thorpe installs him in an apartment and seduces him into the life of a kept man. Norman (in the stunning performance of Ben Whishaw) is a chap who's destined to cause trouble. Mentally unstable, he craves beyond anything to be loved and to have that love acknowledged. Though Thorpe was once smitten enough to write him passionate letters, he also recognizes Norman as a liability to his political future. That's why he eventually cuts Norman loose . . . but there is hell to pay.
Norman—who now calls himself Norman Scott—tries on various post-Thorpe lifestyles, succeeding briefly as a male model and party-boy. He also, briefly, gets married . . . as does Thorpe, twice. But the always erratic Norman wants public recognition of the affair, as well as a reinstatement of his essential National Health card, which would threaten to expose the true nature of his past Thorpe connection. Stymied by Norman's growing coziness with the tabloid press, Thorpe comes to an important conclusion. He wants Norman Scott dead.
Norman doesn't die. In fact the real Norman Scott is alive and well, as revealed in the series' inevitable final crawl. But far be it from me to disclose the grim outcome of Thorpe's skullduggery, as well as the results of the trial that gripped the United Kingdom in the late 1970s. Why is this scandal so "very English"? Perhaps because it tells us a great deal about the English talent for keeping up a façade, whatever the circumstances. And it also implies many things about British class distinctions, and how these enable the upper classes to live lives of their own choosing, while also skirting social and sexual standards to which they merely pay (stiff upper)lip-service.
For me both Wishaw and Grant were revelations. I don't know Wishaw's work, though I'll certainly be looking out for it in future. As for Grant, who also stars with Nicole Kidman in this year's new series, The Undoing, who knew he'd be so good at being bad?
Posted by Beverly at 9:34 AM
Labels: Ben Wishaw, Hugh Grant
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"It is the mission of Seattle Youth Soccer Association to foster the physical, mental and emotional growth of all children looking to play soccer in the city's of Seattle and Shoreline. We strive to provide safe, educational and fun environments for all players to develop skills through the sport of soccer, at all levels of competency and ages."
Other local organizations (non-profit, have alignment of goals).
Copyright © 2001 - 2019 Seattle Youth Soccer Association. All Rights Reserved.


MINERALS are important building blocks of functional life that aid in countless bodily processes. When the body in question is a 1,500 lb. beef cow, she may need supplemental minerals during several crucial periods throughout the year, according to Kansas State University Research & Extension beef specialist Chris Reinhardt.
"Speaking specifically about the beef cow herd and production beef cows, they require macro minerals such as calcium, phosphorous, sodium, chlorine, potassium and magnesium," Reinhardt said. "They also have requirements for trace elements."
These trace elements include, for example, copper, zinc, selenium, manganese and cobalt, Reinhardt said. Some of these minerals are stored in the liver or other tissues during times of plenty for use during times of deficiency.
"We need to be aware of the mineral balance in the forages a cow might be consuming, and we have to be aware of the demand that cow has for those minerals," he said.
Reinhardt outlined several scenarios where a cow may have different needs.
"Calcium is being drawn out in milk during lactation. Copper and zinc are used heavily for reproduction, during the gestation and during immune challenges. The needs of the cow change throughout the year, and the supply of minerals available changes tremendously throughout the year as well. Our job, as producers, is to make sure we are matching what the cow has access to with what her needs are," he said.
"The first step is to assess the needs of the animal," Reinhardt said. "For instance, a gestating cow requires different levels of calcium and phosphorus than does a lactating cow."
During peak lactation, producers have to ensure that the cow has access to adequate macro and trace minerals, he said.
"The second step of developing a strategy is assessing what is available to the animal," he continued. "For example, we've had abundant rains throughout Kansas and much of the western U.S. In the spring, when we have adequate rainfall to produce abundant, lush forage, the forage alone is adequate in phosphorus to meet most of the needs of a lactating cow. However, as that forage matures into summer months, phosphorus content will decline to well below the needs of a lactating cow."
This is where producers need to intervene and ensure that adequate provisions are made not only for calcium and phosphorus but also for many of the trace minerals, he explained.
To determine the mineral content in the available forage, Reinhardt said producers may initially want to have forages analyzed for mineral content. Then, producers can work with their veterinarians or beef nutritionists to determine a supplement that fills the gap, he said.
According to Reinhardt, many producers use the "one mineral concept," where they buy a mineral that meets most of the animals' needs most of the time. When the cattle eat it adequately and predictably, the producer simply leaves the mineral out year-round. During times of the year when the cattle's needs may be lower, such as in spring, when there is ample high-quality forage available, they may eat only a little or none of that one mineral.
"As the grass quality declines, you will notice an increase in the consumption of that mineral," Reinhardt said. "In the fall or winter, when we are supplying supplemental feeds such as soybean meal, distillers grain and good-quality hay, the cattle may go back to a period where they may not be eating a tremendous amount of mineral."
Another option is to use different mineral formulations during different times of the year, he explained.
"If you're feeding wet distillers grains and high-quality hay, you may have a need for calcium and trace minerals but not a tremendous need for supplemental phosphorus," he said.
Mineral labels are subject to law that states that if a mineral ingredient is included in a product, there are certain items that must be included on the tag, which is the first place producers should check, Reinhardt said. Pay close attention to levels of phosphorus, calcium, salt, potassium, copper and selenium.
Adequate selenium is important in beef cattle diets, but it is highly regulated by the federal government, because it is toxic to humans and livestock at high levels. Because soils and forages in parts of the U.S. have low levels of selenium, it is important that producers make sure cattle are getting adequate selenium.
If copper is included in the product, it must be at a guaranteed minimum level on the label. There are many areas of the U.S. where copper is deficient in the soil and in the forages during various times of year, so Reinhardt said producers should make sure to have a formula that works well with the geography.
K*Coe Isom and The Beef Cattle Institute (BCI) at Kansas State University recently unveiled an agreement to work together and with the beef industry to provide educational and communication resources on sustainability topics. The partnership will focus on two key areas.
The "Online Sustainability Education & Training" project will add beef sustainability training for producers as an option they can access on BCI's existing beef quality assurance platform. Producers will learn the latest research on animal care, environmental, economic and community/worker engagement issues.
The partnership will also host a Beef Sustainability Knowledge Summit, which will provide a vehicle for bringing multiple stakeholders together to share the latest academic research, market trends, consumer communication ideas and best practices within the key categories of animal care, economic, environmental and worker/community engagement issues related to the beef industry. The purpose of the summit will be to advance education, communication and dialogue across the entire value chain.
"In the coming decade, the food and agriculture industry will be facing significant challenges: shifting consumer preferences, natural resource scarcities, increasing demand for protein in emerging economies and more extreme weather events. All of this adds up to an unprecedented level of market risk," said Sara Harper, director of sustainability and supply-chain solutions at K*Coe Isom.
"Together with (Kansas State) and working with others in the industry like the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, we're creating new opportunities for beef producers to add to their knowledge on topics that we believe could significantly help them manage against these future risks," Harper added.


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This is a list of notable alumni, faculty, and students, from Waseda University. Those individuals who qualify for multiple categories have been placed under the section for which they are best known.

Prime ministers
 Tanzan Ishibashi (1956–1957)
 Noboru Takeshita (1987–1989)
 Toshiki Kaifu (1989–1991)
 Keizō Obuchi (1998–2000)
 Mikio Aoki (Acting: 2000-2000)
 Yoshirō Mori (2000–2001)
 Yasuo Fukuda (2007–2008)
 Yoshihiko Noda (2011–2012)
 Fumio Kishida (2021- present)

Politics

Diplomats
 Chiune Sugihara
 Tsuneo Koizumi
 Katsuhiko Oku – rugby player and diplomat, promoted posthumously to ambassador

Business leaders

Academics

Authors

Journalists
 Soichiro Tawara
 Yoh Henmi
 Satoshi Kamata
 Chang Deok-soo

Performing arts

 Jerome Polin  -YouTubers

Scientists
 Shingo Futamura - rubber industry scientist

Sports

Baseball

Figure skating
 Shizuka Arakawa – 2006 Winter Olympics gold medalist
 Rena Inoue – Pairs skater
 Yukari Nakano
 Fumie Suguri
 Yuzuru Hanyu – Men's singles figure skater, 2014, 2018 Winter Olympics gold medalist and two-times world champion

Football
 Kunishige Kamamoto
 Saburo Kawabuchi – ex-President of Japan football association and ex-Chairman of Japan professional soccer league

Martial arts

Rugby
 Katsuyuki Kiyomiya – player and coach
 Hiroaki Shukuzawa – player and coach
 Ayumu Goromaru
 Yoshikazu Fujita

Swimming

Volleyball
 Yoko Zetterlund – Former player of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_women%27s_national_volleyball_team
 Ryuta Homma – Former roster of men's national volleyball team and currently active in V.League Division 1
 Taichi Fukuyama – Current roster of men's national volleyball team
 Yuto Fujinaka – Former roster of Japan U-21 and U-23 national volleyball team and currently active in V.League Division 1
 Mitsuki Kobayashi – Former roster of Japan U-21 and universiade national team, competing in 2019 Summer Universiade. Currently active in V.League Division 1
 Kento Miyaura – Current roster of men's national volleyball team
 Otsuka Tatsunori – Current roster of men's national volleyball team

Miscellaneous

Other

Notable current students

Sports
 Tatsuki Machida – Figure skater
 Shingo Nishiyama – Figure skater
 Rika Kihira – Figure skater
 Miyabi Onitsuka – Snowboarder
 Kanako Watanabe – Swimmer
 Ippei Watanabe – Swimmer
 Tatsunori Otsuka – Men's national volleyball player, being a part of 2020 Olympics men's tournament

Performing arts
 Jyongri – singer
 Natsuki Sato – idol singer, former member of AKB48
 Yui Ogura – voice actor, roles include Toki Onjōji (Saki Achiga-hen Episode of Side-A)

Notable faculty members

Principals, de facto presidents (1907–1923), and presidents

Principals
 Hidemaro Ōkuma, 1882–1886
 Hisoka Maejima, 1886–1890
 Kazuo Hatoyama, 1890–1907

De facto presidents (1907–1923)
 Sanae Takata, 1907–1915
 Tameyuki Amano, 1915–1917
 Yoshiro Hiranuma, 1918–1921
 Masasada Shiozawa, 1921–1923

Presidents

Trustees
 Ryuhoku Narushima, poet, journalist, and one of the first trustees of Waseda
 Azusa Ono (1852–1886), law scholar and one of the first trustees of Waseda

Benefactors
Waseda University has had numerous benefactors, including:

References

External links
 Waseda University Alumni Association (WUAA) website

Lists of people by university or college in Japan
Tokyo-related lists

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Assemble the Right Team with Us
Labourers Supplier
Steel Erecting
Ilie Crăciunescu, 25 Years, Supervisor Refresh AMS
Duration: 12 February 2019 - 22 April 2023
You are here: Home / Events / Ilie Crăciunescu, 25 Years, Supervisor Refresh AMS
Howdy! I came as a Traffic Marshal / Laborer and I slowly learned a little, I admit that I still have to learn given what I know now I am a supervisor. I worked hard and I work, here I have a second family. And financially, in the 2 years since I worked at this company run by our wonderful team leader Alexandru, I got up, I build a house and I want to end up winning with Refresh AMS. Expect to work on some weekends. The pay was decent and the cost of living was reasonable. Work was fun, it was a lot of interaction with other team members.
We help each other because that's how people are … we have to help each other, especially us Refresh AMS. Moreover, I don't know what else to say. I really thank everyone in this company for accepting me as I am!
"I started the job at Refresh AMS Ltd: September 2020 (laborer) December 2020: mech. fitter February 2021: slinger signaler October 2021: lifting supervisor (in progress) This is my journey in the company Refresh AMS Ltd, the conclusion is that there is the possibility of personal and professional development. I enjoyed the 10 months at Refresh AMS, it is a good work / life balance, the management team is very helpful and the atmosphere is excellent. At the same time, there is an understanding on the part of management when a personal problem arises. People are friendly and nice. If you want to have a family at work, this is the place to come. Tips for new employees would be: Gain the trust of your supervisor. Be brave and decisive. Pay attention to technical progress. Always be prepared. This means that you are well acquainted with all the technical documents. Give and receive criticism constructively. " "
Mirel Ion, 32 Years Lifting Supervisor Refresh AMS
Duration: 11 Jan 2021 - 26 Aug 2022
"Hello, my name is Andrei Sendrea, I am 35 years old! In this company I started through a friend in February 2020, I was skeptical from the beginning, this job was something new for me, I started as a fitter mate and I gave my interest to learn! Even though it was a bit difficult for me from the beginning, I learned a lot and at the moment I became a supervisor, which I want to thank in large part to Mr. Borcea! Tips for new colleagues? -is a team with great potential. -it improves your motivation -each person has their own profile and it is important to respect this. -It's a Family! I am proud to be part of this team and I hope to continue as well! Good luck to all colleagues!"
Andrei Sendrea, 35 Years, Supervisor Refresh AMS
Duration: 19 Feb 2020 - 23 Jun 2023
"I am Tudor Cepoi, I started in this company as a supervisor, since then I have completed 2 projects, now I am in the 3rd, I like what I do and I think this can be seen from the results obtained and the good relationship with all colleagues, contractors , subcontractors or customers. The company is always growing, giving everyone the opportunity and support to grow and from year to year it is better and better developed to be a successful company. It all depends on the people, especially those who do not miss any opportunity to advance in their career, to learn new things and then to put them into practice. Tips for new colleagues? Work on projects using the latest technologies Enjoy a dynamic work environment Work on interesting projects Create products that help thousands of people around the world Work with talented developers Be part of a team that loves to learn and is proud of their work Earn a competitive salary Enjoy an excellent work-life balance I consider myself one of them and I think I brought a plus to this company just like my other colleagues."
Tudor Cepoi, 36 Years, Supervisor Refresh AMS
Duration: 4 Mar 2020 - 25 Jan 2024
"I started my job at Refresh AMS in June 2020 … I started as a laborer, in two months I became a mechanic and after another 6 months supervisor
Marius Savoiu, 31 Years, Supervisor Refresh AMS
Duration: 10 Jun 2020 - 14 Jul 2023
"Hello, I'm Costache Ionel, I'm 34 years old. I met Alex Borcea, the manager of Refresh AMS on the phone, he was recommended to me by some friends, I was in Romania, at that time I didn't have much confidence in what he said, but it seems that I was wrong and everything I had discussed with him remained that way. I got a job as a fitter, of course I didn't know the field I worked in but with patience and attention I started to progress and thanks to my mentor (Bobo) a boy of grade 10 whom I will not forget I thank whenever I will I have the opportunity. I and several of my colleagues have advanced a lot, I have progressed day by day in this family called Refresh AMS. Now I became a Supervisor, although I didn't have that in mind when I took the first step here, but with the support and confidence of Mr. Alex that it is possible even more and I want to thank him in this way for trusting me … "
Costache Ionel, 34 Years, Supervisor Refresh AMS
Duration: 30 Aug 2018 - 23 Feb 2023
"Hello nation, my name is Cristinel Maftei I have been working on this Refresh AMS for 10 months I started as a Fitter, now I am a Supervisor, on this occasion I want to thank the manager Refresh AMS Alex for the trust given. If I had asked what advice I could give to someone who wants to join the Refresh AMS team, I can clearly say that I like working here. It is a company that deserves to work and a great opportunity to progress. A good team environment. Good people and good management. There are many opportunities with the job in the UK, in the country the salaries are very low compared to how much I earn now, I can say that I am satisfied with myself and my position in the company. Our growth as professionals is also the growth of the company. My evolution in Refresh AMS is a reflection of the evolution of our company, which reflects our ambitions and aspirations."
Cristinel Maftei, 28 Years, Supervisor Refresh AMS
Duration: 11 Jan 2021 - 20 Apr 2023
Howdy! I came as a Traffic Marshal / Laborer and I slowly learned a little, I admit that I still have to learn given what I know now I am a supervisor. I worked hard and I work, here I have a second family
Duration: 12 Feb 2019 - 22 Apr 2023
Adrian Damean, I am 24 years old and I started working at this company in December 2019 as a fitter mate
Adrian Damean, 24 Years, Logistic Supervisor Refresh AMS
Duration: 18 Dec 2019 - 22 Sep 2023
I was the first employee, Alex was my supervisor before.., I started in two working from the beginning at these conveyor belts where we now know everything, working hard we both got to the top.
Dragoș Ristoiu, 29 Years, Supervisor Refresh AMS
Hi! I'm Mihaela, secretary / office coordinator / office manager, I don't have a specific title. I represent the `office` Refresh AMS and as far as I know, I am the only one.
Mihaela, Office coordinator / Human Resources'
Duration: 10 Oct 2019 - 10 Oct 2025
As a team leader, it was my role not only to ensure my team met our deadlines but also to communicate bandwidth to other departments and keep my team motivated.
Alex Borcea 36 Years Manager Refresh AMS
Duration: 12 Jan 2018 - 17 Jun 2030
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Expires 5 months after purchase. Limit 2 per 1, 2 or 4 people, may buy 2 additional as gifts. Mandatory booking required. Check availability here and book here. Prior cancellation at least 48 hours in advance. Valid only for option purchased. Adult is 12 and above. Pick up and drop off from Sheraton Cornish Parking lot by bus or from home or hotel anywhere in AD by a 4x4. Pickup time is 4:30 am and drop off is 9 am for sunrise safari. Pickup is 9 am and drop off is 1 pm for morning safari. For more information contact zaidafe@nettoursauh.com, +97126794656 or +971552758800. Printed voucher must be presented. See the rules that apply to all deals.
Established in 1989, Net Tours has years of experience showing tourists and locals a wild time, and the team knows the desert like the back of their hands. The company offers tourists a variety of experience packages in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, mixing modern and traditional cultural activities.


Individual equity securities are prone to large and abrupt stock price drops. In this article, the authors provide a framework for measuring, forecasting, and avoiding such stock price crashes. First, the authors identify the events that most frequently cause stock prices to crash, and then they construct a parsimonious model for forecasting stock price crashes. Finally, they examine how positioning a portfolio to reduce exposure to stocks with high crash risk can improve investment performance. This article provides a framework that should help investors construct equity portfolios with fewer stock price crashes, higher returns, and lower volatility.


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HomeNEWSEXTRAMichael Jordan to donate $100 million to organizations fighting for racial justice and equality
Michael Jordan to donate $100 million to organizations fighting for racial justice and equality
Glaring Star World June 06, 2020
NBA legend, Michael Jordan and Jordan Brand have announced the donation $100 million on Friday, to help the ongoing fight against racial injustice.
In a joint statement released by his manager Estee Portnoy, the basketball legend said that over the next 10 years, he and his brand will donate $100 million to "organizations dedicated to ensuring racial equality, social justice and greater access to education."
"Jordan Brand is more than one man. It has always been a family," the statement begins. "We represent a proud family that has overcome obstacles, fought against discrimination in communities worldwide and that works every day to erase the stain of racism and the damage of injustice."
It continues, "The will, the work, the excellence the world has come to know is the result of one generation after another, pouring their dreams into the next. It's 2020, and our family now includes anyone who aspires to our way of life. Yet as much as things have changed, the worst remains the same."
"Black lives matter. This isn't a controversial statement. Until the ingrained racism that allows our country's institutions to fail is completely eradicated, we will remain committed to protecting and improving the lives of Black people," they share.
In his previous statement on George Floyd's death and the ongoing police brutality and racial injustice protests, the 57-year-old former Chicago Bulls great and owner of the Charlotte Hornets said he was "deeply saddened, truly pained and plain angry."
"I stand with those who are calling out the ingrained racism and violence toward people of color in our country. We have had enough," he said. "… We must listen to each other, show compassion and empathy and never turn our backs on senseless brutality. We need to continue peaceful expressions against injustice and demand accountability."
CELEBRITIESHINT NEWSEXTRA


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Australia and the Commonwealth must ...
High Court affirms importance and ...
Victoria must not become first state in democratic world to wind back protection of human rights
Victoria will become the first state in the developed, democratic world to substantially weaken the legal protection of human rights if the recommendations of a parliamentary committee on the future of the Victorian Charter of Human Rights are accepted. The Scrutiny of Acts and Regulations Committee today tabled its review of the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities. While the Committee recommends against repeal of the Charter, it does recommend that courts have no role or a substantially reduced role in enforcing human rights and providing remedies when they are breached. It also recommends that government departments and public services have no or reduced obligations to act compatibly with rights
"Overall, the Committee's report is profoundly disappointing," said Phil Lynch, Executive Director of the Human Rights Law Centre. "The recommendations do not reflect the overwhelming evidence as to the value and benefits of Victoria's Charter of Human Rights. These benefits include greater government accountability, more responsive public services, and a better deal for some of Victoria's most vulnerable groups, such as people with disability, people with mental illness and the homeless."
Mr Lynch said that while the report made some welcome recommendations that could streamline and strengthen parliamentary scrutiny of the human rights impacts of proposed laws, most of the proposed reforms were regrettable and regressive. "Parliament has an important role to play in promoting and protecting human rights, but it's not the be all and end all. Government and public services also have a critical role to play in respecting human rights and courts in upholding them," said Mr Lynch.
"This review should have been used as an opportunity to strengthen the human rights of all Victorians, such as by amending the Charter to enshrine the rights to adequate housing, education and health care," he said. "Instead, if enacted, the recommendations will reduce government accountability and Victorians' access to a fair deal if their rights are breached."
The Victorian Government has six months to respond to the report. "If the Baillieu Government is serious about its commitment to a fair and just Victoria, it will reject most of the recommendations in this report," said Mr Lynch. "Victorians deserve greater recognition and protection of values such as freedom, dignity, equality and respect, not less."
The SARC report is available at http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/sarc/article/1446.
The Human Rights Law Centre submission to the inquiry is here.
Phil Lynch (03) 8636 4450 or 0438 776 433
Ben Schokman (03) 8636 4451 or 0403 622 810


Dog Walkers in Martensdale, IA - Dog Walking Near You | Wag!
Situated where Highway 92 and Highway 65 meet, Indianola is a very accessible locale. DeNelsky Park, Dayton Park, South Park, and Moats Park are all excellent options to have a stroll with your pooch or for a quick potty break since there are so many to choose from! McVay Trail is part of the nationwide conservation project called Rails-to-Trails that repurposes old railroads into multipurpose trails for humans and canines to enjoy. The local Quality Inn and Airbnb providers provide dog-friendly lodging options in the area; the Quality Inn does charge an extra $10 for each dog, with a limit of 2 dogs.
13 miles north of Martensdale, the cute little community of Orilla offers plenty of shopping, dining, entertainment and outdoor activities to keep everyone, including your pup, busy! Raccoon River Dog Park is a 12-acre space that is securely gated and offers small and large dog areas, agility equipment, trails, shade, and a water filling station! If you and your pooch deserve to treat yourselves, Dairy Queen and Orlondo's On Park Bar & Grill cater to dogs and allow them to relax on the patio area. If you and Fido are needing some shut eye, Drury Inn & Suites, Element West, Hyatt Place, and Homewood Suites are some of the doggie accommodating hotels in Orilla.
This fun town is located near Drake University, Interstate 235, and Interstate 35, making it extremely accessible. Colby Park invites dogs and their owners to make use of the grounds and walk or jog on the paved walkways, or make a detour onto the Clive Greenbelt Trail! This fun exercise path was once a railroad that has been converted into these fun multi-use trails that are ideal for walking or jogging dogs. There is also a local PETCO where you can satisfy all of your dog's eating, playing and grooming needs!
This intimate community lies directly off Interstate 35 and Interstate 235, and about 20 minutes north of Martensdale. The Des Moines Trail is one of the over 1600 Rails-to-Trails Conservancy nationwide projects that go around the United States and reutilize unused railway systems, transforming them into the cool exercise trails they are today. There is a PetSmart in the area that also hosts fun holiday events like Easter Fun for Every Bunny where your fur baby can get their picture taken with the Easter Bunny! If you are looking for dog-friendly hotels, you've come to the right place. Days Inn, Wildwood Lodge, and Country Inn & Suites are a few of many hotels that love pups.
This hub of Iowa offers art, culture, dining, entertainment, nightlife, outdoor recreation and easy access to Interstate 235 and is located about 25 miles northeast of Martensdale. Riverwalk Dog Park is a fenced, off-leash park where dogs can use the provided agility course and shade trees! Pete Crivaro Park, Columbus Park, Burke Memorial Park, and Mercy Park all allow on-leash pooches to stroll their sidewalks and open spaces which is a great option if your pup doesn't care for dog parks. Des Moines restaurant scene is quite dog-friendly; Mad Meatball, Wasabi Tao, Malo, South Union Bread Café, and Scenic Route Bakery open their patio to pups.


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Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jay Carney, 10/16/2013
James S. Brady Press Briefing Room
12:56 P.M. EDT
MR. CARNEY: Welcome, everyone. Thanks for being here, as ever. We can go right to questions because I have no announcements to make -- although I'm sure I know what you're going to ask.
Q All right, then can you please give us the White House reaction to the Senate deal that was struck today?
MR. CARNEY: The President believes that the bipartisan agreement announced by leaders of the United States Senate will reopen the government and remove the threat of economic brinksmanship that has already harmed middle-class families, American businesses, and our country's economic standing in the world.
The President applauds Leader Reid and Minority Leader McConnell for working together to forge this compromise and encourages the Congress to act swiftly to end this shutdown and protect the full faith and credit of the United States of America.
Q And I assume that means that he supports the provisions that are included in that, including the two dates for opening the government and raising the debt ceiling.
MR. CARNEY: Well, he does -- he believes that this agreement achieves what's necessary in terms of reopening the government and removing the threat of default and the kind of brinksmanship that we've seen. And, again, we haven't seen legislation move through either house at this point, so we're not issuing an official statement of administration policy, but he looks forward to Congress acting so that he can sign legislation that will reopen the government and remove this threat from our economy.
Q Is he confident that both the Senate and the House will be able to vote on this measure today?
MR. CARNEY: We leave parliamentary procedures to the Congress. We obviously hope that each House will be able to act swiftly, because we're already on day 16, I think -- correct me if I'm wrong -- of a wholly unnecessary shutdown of government with real consequences for real people, and we are obviously very close to the point beyond which the United States Treasury no longer has the authority to borrow new money to meet our obligations. So as soon as possible is essentially the recommendation we would have from here.
Q Since we are so close to that deadline, are there any operations or procedures that are going in place today to prepare for the possibility that Congress cannot pass this measure today?
MR. CARNEY: The Treasury is the place that would answer questions like that. What I can tell you is what Secretary Lew has made clear in his testimony and in his letter to Congress, and that is that the Treasury Department will exhaust borrowing authority at the end of the day, tomorrow, Thursday, October 17th, and that beyond that point, the Treasury would have only cash on hand. It would not be able to borrow new money to meet obligations.
Jeff.
Q Jay, how confident is the White House that the House will pass this deal?
MR. CARNEY: We are not putting odds on anything. We're simply applauding the leaders of the Senate for reaching the agreement that they've reached and calling on both houses of Congress to act swiftly to take action to ensure that the government reopens and the threat of default is removed, and that the continuing harm that these two situations have caused to our economy can stop.
Q The President has said from the beginning that he would not negotiate on this. Now that it looks like there is a deal, do you feel like he fulfilled that pledge?
MR. CARNEY: What the President made clear was his position is that he would not allow a situation to develop where he paid ransom to any party in Congress that was trying to extract unilateral political concessions in return for Congress fulfilling its fundamental responsibilities. And he believes that's the right position for his to take, that it was the right position, it is the right position, and it's the right position for presidents of the future to take, because our economy is extremely dependent on the faith and credit that is invested in it by investors around the world.
In other words, there is a real, even if intangible, value to the safeness of investing in the United States. And as we've discussed many times over the past days and weeks, threatening that does real harm, and obviously default would cause even more harm. But we're already -- there is already a price that has been paid, as we saw in October -- I mean, in 2011, and we've seen again now in the various ways that the flirtation with crossing that line and flirting with default has brought about consequences.
So he felt and feels that it's the right position to take, and again, applauds the leaders of the Senate for coming together and working out a bipartisan solution.
Q Is there any concern, even with this deal being made, that a downgrade from some of the credit rating agencies could still be pending?
MR. CARNEY: Well, I would refer you to Treasury for those kinds of assessments. I think that we focus on the things we can control, which is calling on Congress to quickly act on this compromise agreement and ensure that the government reopens and that the threat of default is removed.
Q And lastly, this is leading to additional budget talks later this year. Once those talks are underway, will the White House and will the President insist that revenue continue to be on the table?
MR. CARNEY: The President has insisted that in these budget negotiations that he's been calling for all year, everything has to be on the table, and that will be his position going forward. What he believes is a fair approach to resolving our budget challenges is reflected in the budget he submitted. He knows that even though that was a compromise proposition from the beginning and reflected the offer he made to Speaker Boehner at the end of last year, that he will not get in a budget negotiation everything he wants, and neither will Democrats and neither will Republicans. And that's the nature of compromise.
But he firmly believes that balance -- when it comes to further reducing our deficits and building on the work that has been done over these past four years in which we have reduced our deficits by half, we need to continue to take a balanced approach so that no sector of society unfairly has to bear the brunt of that project. That's always been his position, and it will be his position moving forward.
Q Thanks, Jay. Can you just give us a little color, how the President was informed of the deal, who told him, what his reaction was?
MR. CARNEY: No.
Q None?
MR. CARNEY: Right now, Brianna, I think we're looking to Capitol Hill for action to be taken. The President, as you know, has been in contact with leaders in Congress, as have members of his team, and we are encouraged by the progress that we've seen and hope that it is fulfilled through votes in both the Senate and the House.
Q Can you give us any more about how he was involved in the process?
MR. CARNEY: Well, as I've said and as you know, he's had meetings with leaders of Congress, he's had phone calls with leaders of Congress. He invited all the members of both houses to the White House. And it is also the case that we don't inform you of every phone call that he makes either to members of Congress or to others. So he's been engaged in this process. His team has been engaged in this process.
Ultimately our position has been consistent and clear and, therefore, not that complicated to communicate either to you or the public or to Congress. We have simply urged all sides to put down sort of -- or put aside the efforts to achieve partisan advantage and leverage and instead to move forward with an agreement that opens the government and raises the debt ceiling so that the threat of default does not hang over us at this time.
Q The President said yesterday basically once this whole mess was resolved -- he said, once that's done, the day after, I'm going to be pushing to say call a vote on immigration reform. Does he really think that a recipe for success on immigration reform, one divisive issue, is to deal with it right after another divisive issue is resolved?
MR. CARNEY: The President believes that one of the consequences of these manufactured crises is that time is taken away from the pursuit of other goals that we have as a nation, and that includes economic goals that go to the heart of his agenda to building a better bargain for the middle class. And it goes also to the project of bringing about legislation that he can sign that comprehensively reforms our immigration system in this country.
Now, that legislation passed the Senate with a significant bipartisan majority. And he absolutely believes that the House ought to take up that legislation and pass it. And as we've discussed in recent days, that's not a partisan pursuit -- it's the opposite of a partisan pursuit, one, because it requires votes from both parties, and it also would benefit both parties.
Q But does he think pushing it right away increases the chances of yielding a result that he might --
MR. CARNEY: I think the President was simply reflecting that, unfortunately, even though we've been pushing for comprehensive immigration reform all year long and it's been a major priority, there is no question that the decision by the House to shut the government down and to flirt with default has forced him and everyone in Congress to pay attention to those problems and to those crises, rather than the many other things that we could and should be working on. And immigration reform is one of them.
And I don't think -- again, there are many, many proponents of comprehensive immigration reform in the Republican Party and within the broader Republican universe. So this is not a -- he's not saying that he's going to -- wants to come out and push some Democratic agenda item. He wants to continue the effort that has been underway all year to try to pass a bipartisan immigration reform legislation that would strengthen the economy, help our middle class, reduce the deficit, and make us more competitive in the future. So that is one of the many priorities that he will be pushing and he hopes members of Congress will be pushing once we can move past these unfortunate and unnecessary crises.
Q He thinks he has a better shot to do that right now, though?
MR. CARNEY: Well, again, I don't think that I can sort of place quantitative odds on the prospects of any of this. The Congress is a difficult institution to make predictions about.
So our view is simply that it's the right thing to do and we're going to push for it. And we think there's a strong argument to be made on a whole array of areas when it comes to immigration reform. It's the economically right thing to do. It's the right thing to do when it comes to deficit reduction. It's the right thing to do when it comes to ensuring that the best and the brightest from around the world who come here and get an education stay here and start businesses. It's the right thing to do when it comes to further strengthening our border security.
So there is something in that bill for everyone, which is why it's the right thing for America.
Jon.
Q On just one -- got to try on phone conversations. When was the last time the President spoke to the Speaker of the House?
MR. CARNEY: I don't have any new conversations to read out to you, but as I've noted many times -- so don't read anything specific into this -- the President has conversations with members of Congress that we do not read out in all cases. So at this time, I have no readouts to provide.
Q Does the President have an assurance from the Speaker of the House that the House will vote on this?
MR. CARNEY: I would refer you to the House in terms of actions that the House may or may not take.
Q Does the President expect the Speaker to bring this up for a vote?
MR. CARNEY: The President hopes that both houses will act swiftly on this agreement in order to reopen the government and remove the threat of default and this continued brinksmanship from the harm it's causing to this economy. I'm not sure that was a great sentence, but I apologize. You understand what I'm trying to say.
Q I totally understand. Does this agreement represent --
MR. CARNEY: I can't even -- the Red Sox game wasn't even late, so I can't blame that. But since I'm speaking about the Red Sox, how about John Lackey, huh? Pretty good.
Q Moving on --
MR. CARNEY: Moving on. (Laughter.)
Q Does this agreement represent a complete win for the White House?
MR. CARNEY: There are no winners here. We've said that from the beginning and we're going to say it right up to the end because it's true. The American people have paid a price for this. And nobody who is sent here to Washington by the American people can call themselves a winner if the American people have paid a price for what's happened. And the economy has suffered because of it, and it was wholly unnecessary.
And let's just remind ourselves we're not even out of it yet. This is not done. We need action to be taken so that the government can reopen and the threat of default can be removed.
Q The President -- in this agreement, is there a little bit of ransom paid? I mean, there is a provision in here that requires verification for recipients of subsidies under the Affordable Care Act.
MR. CARNEY: The income verification provision to which you refer was negotiated by Senate Democrats and Senate Republicans and is a modest adjustment to the existing Affordable Care Act law. We have always said we are willing to make improvements and adjustments to the law. Ransom would be a wholly different thing and --
Q Well, it's a little bit of ransom because it's something that was done with a gun on the table or the atomic bomb or --
MR. CARNEY: No, not if both sides agree to it and we support it. We're fine with it.
Q Okay. And very quick, two factual things on the Affordable Care Act. Can you give us some updated figures on web traffic? You were very free with this in the first few days, so where are we now?
MR. CARNEY: Here's what I can tell you. Today we are two weeks into the implementation of the Affordable Care Act's health insurance marketplace where Americans, regardless of their income, job status, or age or health status, can access quality, affordable health coverage they can rely on.
Health care reform is more than a website. Across the country, people are getting health insurance. Although the glitches are unacceptable, so is the idea of leaving millions of Americans on their own, including families across the country who now have access to health care that they did not have.
I noted that on one network today that there was a suggestion that that network could not find a single story of someone enrolling, which was ironic because they're all over the rest of the media, including in Delaware a small business owner found a plan that cost her $150 less than the cost of her previous plan.
Again, these are other media reports, not information we're collecting or disseminating. Kaiser Health News refers to a college student who will pay $70 a month after federal subsidies, the same amount he is currently paying but for much broader coverage in this case. And he says, "I'm thrilled to get something this good at that price. It was a complete surprise."
In New Mexico, a business owner signed up his employees and got quoted a policy that will save $1,000 per month. This is the owner of a law firm in New Mexico. And I mentioned some other stories.
And these are just stories that reflect that, despite the glitches that we acknowledge and that absolutely must be fixed, people are getting on and enrolling. They are finding an enormous array of options available to them that weren't available to them in the past.
And we are focused on consumers here. And consumers are just regular Americans out there who want the option of being able to buy affordable health insurance. And what we're seeing from the anecdotes that have been reported are that people are finding those options available to them and are excited about them. And the volume that we've seen reflects the fact that the interest is extremely high. And that volume continues. I don't have in front of me -- maybe I can find it for you -- it continues to be extremely high. We have 560,000 calls have been made to the marketplace call center. And I'm sure -- I just have a lot of material here -- I know that the numbers of people coming to the website remain extremely high.
Q So you'll get that -- you'll get the updated numbers?
MR. CARNEY: Sure. [NOTE: Healthcare.gov has had 17 million unique visitors since October 1st.]
Q And do you have even an estimate for me now -- we're two weeks into this -- of how many people have enrolled?
MR. CARNEY: We've said repeatedly, Jon, that we will release enrollment figures monthly. So I would expect the first figures to come out in mid-November.
Q Thanks.
Q Jay, I understand what you were saying about there's no winners. But, clearly, the White House and the President wanted to establish a new norm -- no reopening of the government with what you consider to be partisan legislative attachments; avoiding default with the same approach. Has that strategy been vindicated? Do you believe 16 days of shutdown was worth that effort to achieve what you hoped --
MR. CARNEY: The shutdown was wholly unnecessary and this was a manufactured crisis. The President's position from the beginning was that Congress ought to pass a continuing resolution at existing funding levels. He made no request associated with that, demanded no concessions in return for signing legislation that would extend government funding to allow for broader budget negotiations.
Q But he did want to push back on the idea that you could use either one of these pieces of -- these deadlines as leverage.
MR. CARNEY: The President believes that it was the right position to take and it remains the right position to take that -- especially when it comes to the full faith and credit of the United States -- that neither he, nor any of his successors, can allow a dynamic to take root where raising the debt ceiling is used as leverage -- or the refusal to raise the debt ceiling is used as leverage to try to achieve some partisan policy objective.
Q And do you believe this now settles that question?
MR. CARNEY: Again, we don't have a bill to sign, so we're not in a position here to even say that the government has been reopened or the debt ceiling has been lifted. So I don't -- I think, hopefully when we do, we can have a fuller discussion about what comes next, so I don't want to get ahead of where we are today.
We are pleased with the progress made in the Senate and the agreement announced by leaders Reid and McConnell today, and very much appreciate the bipartisan effort underway in the Senate that reflects, we believe, a model for how we can move forward. And, after all, this has only been about basic stuff -- funding the government, making sure the United States pays its bills.
We will have, hopefully, serious, substantive negotiations around a broader budget agreement. And in that process, hopefully, there will be a willingness to compromise by both sides. And if that is the case, then perhaps we can reach a broader budget agreement that will settle some of these disputes in a way where nobody gets everything he or she wants, but the American people win because there is increased certainty and necessary investments to help our economy grow and protect and expand the middle class. And that's what we seek here. And we think that those are goals that really have been and can be shared by members of both parties.
Q I'll get to those negotiations in a second. Can the country anticipate hearing from the President when this process finishes itself on Capitol Hill?
MR. CARNEY: I don't have any scheduling announcements to make when it comes to the President. Obviously he's been very much engaged in this and has spoken publicly about it rather frequently. So we'll have to see once we have a resolution as to what format his first comments about it will take.
Q Logistically, is it important, once the legislation is completed, when it is completed, that it get over here right away to avoid this scenario that the Treasury Secretary has laid out? Or do you think there's some time -- 24, 48 hours, it's not an urgent matter that the legislation get here?
MR. CARNEY: I think that the uncertainty that has already been created has caused harm to our economy -- and I'm just citing the financial press in saying that. This is not some inside information. We know it based on what's been reported. So the sooner -- as soon as possible is the approach, is the ask that we're making of Congress: Act swiftly.
The problem with breaching the debt ceiling, the problem with reaching that date where beyond which the United States no longer has the authority to borrow new money is that it is uncharted territory and --
Q There was a degree of urgency to avoid that deadline again.
MR. CARNEY: I would point you to what Secretary Lew and others have said about this and simply urge Congress to act swiftly.
Q On the negotiations, once they occur, is it the highest priority of the White House to undo or redraw sequestration?
MR. CARNEY: The President has many priorities reflected in his budget. I think the President believes we ought to set budget policy in a way that makes wise choices about how we invest, and sequester definitely does not fit the bill in that because it was sort of mindless, across-the-board cuts that -- I mean, by design -- that took away from lawmakers and policymakers the ability to make wise choices about how we fund our government and what investments we make so that the economy can grow, and what programs provide the best bang for the taxpayer dollar when it comes to growth and job creation. So we certainly --
Q -- in August about we need to invest and we're not going to be so obsessed with deficit reduction; it's important but we're going to try to deal with other investments. You take those speeches all throughout August, this agreement, push it up to January 15th when the next layer of sequestration cuts really begin to bite in a new and fundamentally different way, it would be fair to deduce that that's the number one priority, to redraw those numbers.
MR. CARNEY: Well, again, I don't think it's all about sequester. The President's budget has savings that completely eliminate the sequester and then exceed it when it comes to deficit reduction. So it is clearly his belief, as a belief shared by many Republicans, that the cuts created by sequester are done with an ax instead of a scalpel -- or a cleaver instead of a scalpel -- and they thereby do harm unnecessarily to various aspects of our government and our economy. And we ought to do better.
We ought to come together and negotiate a broader budget agreement in which everybody can agree on where to cut, how to reduce the deficit, where to invest and plus up some programs because they're good for the economy and good for the middle class, good for educating our children and investing in our future. And from that, we can strengthen the foundation that we've built already for economic growth in the future.
Q Jay, following on Major's question about the strategy of not negotiating over default and whether or not that's been vindicated -- during the campaign, the President also talked about if he won the election, he would break this Republican fever he felt was there to sort of not work with him. With this deal, do you think he's made any progress in breaking that fever, or have Ted Cruz and other Republicans kind of driven both sides further apart?
MR. CARNEY: It's a great question, and I think it's fair to say that the experience that we've all had demonstrates that the kind of hyper-partisanship that was a problem in the past, especially in one house, continues to be a challenge, and that when pursued at the expense of good governance and the American people, it does harm to our economy and causes dysfunction here in Washington.
It's a way of asking -- a good way, but a way of asking the same question that was asked before, which is, how do we -- what odds do we set on cooperation and bipartisan compromise in the future? And I don't think we would put odds on that. We would simply hope that this experience, if and when it's over, would remind all of us here that these kinds of crises only create harm to the American people and to the American economy. There are costs that have already been incurred because of shutdown, because of the flirtation with default, and they're not retrievable.
So we ought to instead focus on making progress instead of creating all this unnecessary conflict. But whether or not this experience will lead to different choices in the future is really a question for members of Congress.
Q And on the last part, of Ted Cruz, I know you guys don't like to comment on him directly, but him and whoever supports him, have they been -- do you think they've driven people apart? Do you think that there's any room for a compromise you talked about moving forward from this?
MR. CARNEY: Well, Ed, again, completely legitimate questions. I think that these are questions that can be best answered by Republicans in both houses. What we know is that the strategy that was pursued shut the government down, caused harm to the economy and to the American people, kept people out of -- a lot of people out of work -- has kept a lot of people out of work -- I should very much refrain from using the past tense here -- and has brought us already to the brink of breaching the debt ceiling. And it certainly doesn't seem, based on my armchair analysis, to have won -- of the adherence to that approach -- anything substantive.
So I would simply say that -- but I think it's important to note that the voices calling for a reasonable approach and for compromise have been both Democratic and Republican. There is a, I think, large constituency of conservative Republicans who believe that it's not right for the American people and the American economy to take an all-or-nothing approach. And we've heard those voices, and some of the Republicans who have expressed that opinion are the ones who have been very helpful in the Senate in helping bring about the agreement that was announced today.
Q Thank you for trying to answer the Republican side and to --
MR. CARNEY: I didn't, really.
Q Well, you tried. But let me ask you -- take a final crack at it from the President's perspective. In one of the interviews he did yesterday with WABC in New York, he said the problem is that Speaker Boehner gets weakened every time he negotiates with the President -- these are the President's words -- he gets an agreement with him, then Boehner goes back and, "can't control his caucus." So if we accept that premise -- I expect the Boehner people might push back -- let's accept the President's premise, question, very simple, what is the solution? Does the President want a new Speaker? Does the President think there's something he can add, a solution, some new approach he can bring? You said the American people paid a price from this debate. Has the President, with three years to go? Have the Republican leaders? Have they paid a price? What's the solution?
MR. CARNEY: I think, again, everyone pays a price for the failure to function here in Washington. So on that question, the answer I think is pretty clear.
I think what the President was saying in that interview is reflected by what we've all seen over these past several years and many of you have reported, which is that even when there has been a sincere willingness in our view by Republican leaders to try to find a compromise on some of these broader budget issues, there has not been the support for leadership to consummate those potential agreements. And I think that is a bland statement of the obvious, and that has played out a number of times.
I think, as I've said many times, the President has a good relationship with Speaker Boehner -- and I'm not trying to harm him by saying that -- and believes that Speaker Boehner has, in their negotiations over the years, sincerely wanted to or tried to find a compromise. And when it comes to moving forward, the President is going to take the same approach with the same open-mindedness about compromise that he has in the past. And he hopes that there will be leaders and rank-and-file members of the Republican Party willing to meet him halfway and reach a deal that does good for our economy and for our people.
Q Thank you.
Q The President recently from that podium, Jay, apologized to the American people for having to put up with government by crisis. I think you've addressed this in some form, but why today, given the fact that this is such a short-term deal, should Americans have any faith that any broader deal can be achieved by this President and this Congress within 90 days?
MR. CARNEY: Well, it's a fair question. I think that, again, there seems to be an openness not just by Democrats but by Republicans to trying to forge a compromise on our broader budget issues. How big that agreement would be will depend on how the negotiations go. But the President has sought that kind of broader compromise, and certainly Democrats have sought it, and there have been Republicans and are Republicans who seek it. So perhaps this will create an opportunity to finally reach a broader agreement that invests in areas of the economy that need to be invested in, and that makes smart and balanced choices about further reducing our deficit.
Q Does the President have any regrets about anything relating to his management of these simultaneous crises or any crises that preceded these that may have created this situation we're presently in? What would be his number-one regret from his position?
MR. CARNEY: I think the President's position has been pretty clear, so --
Q There have got to be lessons.
MR. CARNEY: Well, I was going to -- let me get -- in these two manufactured crises that we've been dealing with in the last several weeks, the President made clear what his view was, made clear that he was asking for nothing in return for Congress doing its job, no concessions demanded on his part, and made clear that he believed that shutting the government down and threatening default would only do harm to the American people and the American economy. And I think he believes that that was the right position to take and continues to be the right position to take. And he is very optimistic or hopeful that the agreement announced today can be moved through Congress so that we can get beyond these crises.
I think it's fair to say, as the President has said, that what happened in 2011 created the precedent here that was so important to avoid in 2013, and that the willingness at the time to try to link the debt ceiling issue -- the absolute need for Congress to ensure that the United States pays its bills -- around a series of policy demands by the Republicans did real harm.
And those I think are lessons that we all learn, because there's no question -- as we've debated and discussed here in the past, in previous years -- legislation to increase the debt ceiling has been attached to different bills and has been discussed within the context of budget and other policy negotiations. But the concrete willingness to default and threaten default is not something we had ever seen until 2011. And the economy paid a price as a result. And I think we all, including the President, learned lessons from that.
Q Already, some businesses are reaching out to their employees -- contract employees and others and preparing them to come back to work as early as tomorrow. Has the White House done anything proactively to have its entire staff back in position as early as tomorrow?
MR. CARNEY: Not that I'm aware of, but we'll take the question.
Q When you were asked about how you guys -- if you are confident that the House will pass this agreement, you said you're not going to put odds on anything. So given that you seem a little skeptical about it, is there anything that the President is doing today to try and move this forward either on the House or Senate side?
MR. CARNEY: Again, the President has been in regular communication with congressional leaders. I don't have any specific conversations to read out. His team has been in regular communication with congressional leaders and their staffs. And I'm not expressing skepticism, I'm simply not saying this is done, because it's not done. And we call on Congress to act quickly to pass legislation that the President can sign so that we can reopen the government and remove the threat of default that has been looming over us for so many days now.
Q So investors are holding $120 billion in Treasury bills coming due to tomorrow. Should they still be --
MR. CARNEY: You guys get the sense that Bloomberg is asking the question? (Laughter.)
Q Should they still be worried that they're not going to be paid?
MR. CARNEY: I would refer you to Treasury. I would simply say that the borrowing authority of the United States that Treasury has under current law is exhausted at the end of the day tomorrow, as the Treasury Secretary has made clear repeatedly. Beyond that, if there's not a resolution to this and the debt ceiling isn't lifted, then we have a cash-on-hand situation when it comes to meeting our obligations. For more on that, I refer you to the building down the street.
Q And given that the agreement only extends the debt ceiling to February 7th, why should investors not anticipate that they'll be in this economically precarious position four months from now?
MR. CARNEY: I'd say a couple of things. One, the agreement includes retaining the abilities of the Treasury Secretary to exercise extraordinary measures, which is important because we need to have that cushion against the prospect of a potential unwillingness by Congress to raise the debt ceiling. And those are authorities that have always existed throughout this process, but there was some discussion at various stages of this debate about removing those authorities.
But that should not give anybody any false security. I would simply say that it is important that those authorities be retained.
Secondly, going to questions I got from the front row, we can only hope that this experience and the experience from 2011 is informative to members of Congress when it comes to the absolute necessity to ensure that the United States can always pay its bills on time without drama or delay -- because even if you go to the brink, you inflict damage on the economy. You basically cause a premium to be charged to the American people so that the actions of flirting with default, flirting with crossing the debt ceiling deadline result in higher costs for the American government and therefore the American taxpayer.
And it's just -- and there's no upside to that. That creates lasting damage. And that is why this debate has been so serious. That is why we have emphasized for so long that this is not -- when it comes to the debt ceiling and the need to ensure that the United States pays its bills on time, this is not your run-of-the-mill policy debate or partisan dispute. This is something that goes to the heart of America's economic strength.
Q As you guys have watched this play out and you've seen a lot -- some Republicans both in the Senate and in the House push back against their more conservative members -- thinking of the kind of gang of Republicans in the Senate that helped work out this deal, and then also some of the more sort of moderate Republicans, centrist Republicans you've seen in the House -- have you guys been encouraged that maybe there's a new path forward on other -- you've got three more years. You've got other agenda items. Is there some sense that something new has emerged that could make for a more workable relationship? Or is this a passing phenomenon that then sort of everything reverts back after this gets done?
MR. CARNEY: Because I don't know the answer to the second question I can't really say that we're either encouraged or discouraged because we will just have to see. The President will take the approach that he has always taken, which is one that expresses a willingness to compromise, a willingness to discuss any idea brought to him by a member of either party when it comes to budget decisions and other policy decisions, and his willingness to find a compromise solution -- because he doesn't believe that he has a corner on all good ideas, or that Democrats have a corner on all good ideas, or that Republicans do, but that if we can approach these things with the goal of a compromise and therefore an understanding that we're not going -- no side is going to get everything that it wants, then we can probably get some important things done.
And that is true in the budget arena, but true also in so many other areas where the American people expect us to make progress on their behalf.
So I think it's early days, given what we've been through, to start predicting future bipartisan harmony. I wouldn't expect or recommend that, but I would simply say that this President, the President will take the same approach moving forward when it comes to trying to find common ground with Republicans that he has in the past.
Let me move around a little bit. Time Magazine.
Q Thanks, Jay. What is the timeframe from when this deal gets passed and when the government reopens? When do the parks reopen? When do federal employees go back to work? And how does -- can you enlighten to the process by which the federal government reopens and is the administration preparing to make sure that that is a smooth process?
MR. CARNEY: I don't know how quickly everything gets turned back on if an agreement is reached and signed -- reached, passed and signed. I would try my colleagues over at OMB to see if they have more information about how that process works. It would certainly be our hope and desire to return to normal working order as quickly as possible and to get people back to work -- again, provided that we get the action that we hope for out of Congress and the President is able to sign something into law.
Mr. Collinson.
Q Thanks. Granted that you won't negotiate from the podium, can you say whether Iran has shown a seriousness that you are looking for in negotiations in this first round of talks in Geneva?
MR. CARNEY: As you know, discussions are continuing today between the P5-plus-1 and Iran in Geneva. Yesterday, for the first time, the P5-plus-1 and Iran had very technical discussions, and we found the Iranian presentation very useful. The Iranian proposal was a new proposal with a level of seriousness and substance that we had not seen before.
And I, of course, am not going to negotiate from here, nor am I going to characterize the proposal further, as we do not want to have these technical and serious conversations in public, or go into details of these proposals that the Iranians made. Having said that, no one should expect a breakthrough overnight. These are complicated issues; they're technical issues. And as the President has said, the history of mistrust is very deep.
The onus remains on Iran to come into compliance with its international obligations and any deal must prove to the international community that Iran's program will be used for exclusively peaceful purposes. The P5-plus-1 remains united in this approach, and I understand that High Representative Ashton announced that the next meeting will take place in Geneva November 7th and 8th.
April, and then John.
Q Jay, could you update us on the President's conversations with world leaders, particularly as it relates to the shutdown? Because anything happening economically here has a ripple effect around the world. Could you talk just about that?
MR. CARNEY: I don't have any presidential-level conversations with world leaders to report to you or read out to you on this subject. He is meeting with the Prime Minister of Italy -- I believe that's tomorrow -- but not on this subject necessarily, but I'm sure there will be updates on this and many other issues. And the President very much looks forward to that meeting.
The Treasury Secretary has participated -- there were some IMF meetings and foreign finance ministers in town, and I'm sure that there were many conversations about what was happening in the United States in those meetings. But I don't have anything with the President's name attached to it to report out to you.
Q What is the general sense, the common thread among the world leaders that maybe the Treasury is -- that they're relaying back to the White House? What the world leaders --
MR. CARNEY: Well, I wouldn't speak for them. I would simply say that the entire world has a stake in the historic, unmatched stability of the U.S. economy, and the historic, unmatched dependability of the premise that the United States pays its bills. And that is why -- going back to our earlier discussion -- this whole debate around the debt ceiling and default was so, and is so, serious, and why it is not something to be treated lightly or to be used in an attempt to achieve a partisan goal. That's simply dangerous and it's bad for the American people, bad for the American economy, and bad for the global economy.
And we're very hopeful that we will have resolved this issue soon, if Congress takes action, for now, but it is important going forward that the effect of flirtation with reaching the debt ceiling and the flirtation with default is negative in all cases and harmful to the American people in all cases, and harmful to the economy in all cases. And you can say you don't care what people around the world think, but you ought to care, if only because people around the world invest in the United States and don't have to, so the security of that investment needs to be protected.
Q So this hiccup, at this moment, could impair the global economy?
MR. CARNEY: Well, no, I'm not going to make projections about the global economy. We know that -- and I'm citing financial press reports, no inside information -- but we know that there has been a negative impact already of the shutdown and of the flirtation with breaching the debt ceiling. And that is why it's so important to come to a resolution so we can move forward.
Q Thanks, Jay. Two things. First, would the President have been willing to sign off on this deal coming forward from the Senate on September 30th?
MR. CARNEY: The President's position all along was raise the debt ceiling and keep the government open.
Q So the only extra piece is a budget conference --
MR. CARNEY: The President's position all year long has been that there ought to be a budget conference. He supported the Democrats when they called on the House to appoint conferees 19 times and were told no 19 times. And it's a hypothetical, but the President's position that the debt ceiling ought to be raised and the government ought to be kept open -- or reopened -- is reflected in this agreement, and we hope that Congress acts swiftly to pass it and send it to the President.
Q And, second, there is a lot of focus on immigration from the President's interview yesterday, that sort of being the next big issue on the table. What would you say to the folks who want to see healthcare.gov work better, about why that isn't the 100 percent focus? You've got millions of uninsured Americans that would like to be able to sign up, millions more who just want to see Obamacare work effectively.
MR. CARNEY: I can guarantee you that the efforts around the clock that have been underway since the launch of healthcare.gov will continue, at the President's insistence and direction. So I think identifying immigration reform as something that he wants to see action on right away does not preclude or does not suggest that he doesn't want or won't insist upon action on other things. And when the implementation of the Affordable Care Act and fixing the issues with the website -- those are obviously things administratively that we are working on and will continue to work on.
Comprehensive immigration reform requires action in the House, action in Congress. So action on one end and emphasis on one does not exclude action and emphasis on the other -- quite the contrary. Let me reassure you -- or assure you that the President has made clear that he wants every effort to be undertaken to ensure that the consumer experience consistently improves throughout this enrollment period.
Q But the one does not distract from the other?
MR. CARNEY: No, it doesn't. No.
Scott, and then -- two Scotts.
Q Just following up on what you said earlier about these kinds of conversations distracting, taking time from other things -- the budget conference will take place at a time when -- months after it was -- it usually takes place under regular order. Do you think, given the way this deal has been established with these relatively short deadlines to get to the next deadlines, is there enough room, is there enough time for the President to do anything but talk about fiscal issues, concentrate on fiscal issues? And does Congress have the bandwidth to do much more than that?
MR. CARNEY: The answer to both I think is yes. I think that the President has already done a lot of work on these issues and had a lot of conversations on the budget issues with Republicans. And his positions are reflected in his budget. And I think that, as you note, the fact that there already is a process in place and budgets passed for conferees to work on reflects at least the potential for action in Congress. They don't have to start from scratch. And we're very hopeful that everyone who is working on that effort in Congress will have as a goal a compromise solution that reflects principles of both sides, but is a compromise, and one that invests in areas of the economy that need investment and that tackles deficit reduction in a balanced way.
So the question suggests that in this country we even have the luxury of only doing one thing at a time, and we don't. And that's why, given everything that is on our plate already and all the priorities that we and Congress have already, we should not be creating crises unnecessarily that suck attention and time away from the priorities that we can and should be acting on.
Q Can I do a quick -- there are a lot of vacancies in senior positions around the government, in agencies -- nominations pending. How quickly does the President imagine Congress will act on those? And how much do those vacancies affect his ability to act -- executive action and other issues -- I'm thinking of climate change and things like that.
MR. CARNEY: Well, when it comes to different agencies, obviously it depends on what vacancies there are. The President moves in a very deliberate fashion to nominate individuals for important posts, and he'll continue to do that. And we continue to call on Congress -- the Senate, rather -- to fulfill its responsibility to consider nominees and then give them a vote. And we hope that, again, if we can move past these crises and focus on other issues, that this is one that can get some attention.
Scott Horsley.
Q I just want to double-check, Jay. You said a moment ago that it's the end of the day tomorrow that the existing borrowing authority runs out.
MR. CARNEY: That's correct, that the borrowing authority is exhausted at the end of the day. Today is the last day that the United States Treasury can borrow new money -- I mean, sorry --tomorrow is the last day.
Q Because that's more specific than Treasury has been with me, and I just want to make sure that that's --
Q So the countdown clocks are wrong.
MR. CARNEY: Well, I have latitude to be very --
Q The countdown clocks are wrong.
MR. CARNEY: Well, we obviously did not create those countdown clocks. I think if you look at what the Treasury Secretary has said, that October 17th -- tomorrow -- thank you -- October 17th is the day that borrowing authority is exhausted. So they have the authority to borrow tomorrow.
Q Inclusive.
MR. CARNEY: Inclusive, as I understand it.
Q Just in case there's some hiccup over at the other end.
MR. CARNEY: And then, after that, that borrowing authority no longer exists and it's a cash-on-hand situation.
Thanks very much, everybody.
1:50 P.M. EDT


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text:
Zoonami's Hollis: More 'Living Room Social' Games Needed
Zoonami founder and Goldeneye N64 director Martin Hollis has been discussing his new WiiWare title Bonsai Barber and accessible games with Gamasutra
by Staff, Christian Nutt
Zoonami founder and Goldeneye N64 director Martin Hollis has been discussing his new WiiWare title Bonsai Barber and accessible games with Gamasutra, suggesting that humor in games is key to "a living room social" game experience. Talking as part of an in-depth Gamasutra interview, Bonsai Barber is a downloadable WiiWare casual game aimed at the "new core", as Hollis puts it. It puts you in charge of sculpting the heads of trees to match haircuts, using only the Wii remote and a range of tools including scissors, clippers, and a spray tool to grow foliage. Even more interestingly, you are only permitted to cut five trees per day, with the game's extra features being unlocked over time if you play for just a few minutes every day. Talking about humorous elements present in the title, and arguing for the importance of comedy and social aspects in gaming, Hollis explains: "There should be a whole genre like it is for movies. And this is trying to be a comedy game. Really -- we've put a huge amount of work into that. I mean, that could be our genre. It's supposed to be like a TV show -- Friends! This is one of our models for this game. This is supposed to be like Friends. So, that's like another answer to your question, "how do you engender that in a design sense for the living room?" A bunch of people can sit in the living room and enjoy Friends, and maybe half of them are only half paying attention. And you can have a conversation, dip in and out, get a few jokes here and there. If people are laughing, they're laughing together, and that brings the room together into a group. A comedy like that is perfect for a living room social... It's entertainment." You can now read the full Gamasutra interview on the subject, including lots more specifics on the genesis of the title, prototyping for it, and how small, multi-talented teams can better create interesting titles.