text:
Murray D. Watson May 9, 2020
It came as no surprise (to me) that the potential reconstruction of Scottish Football, has been blown out of the water by the top flight SPFL clubs. After the shambles…
Football / SPFL
What Next for Scottish Football: A Danish Style Model
By Murray D. Watson - May 9, 2020
It came as no surprise (to me) that the potential reconstruction of Scottish Football, has been blown out of the water by the top flight SPFL clubs. After the shambles that was the vote on whether the Scottish Football season (in the lower leagues) should be finished, the focus had moved towards league reconstruction.
I still believe that the way forward in Scotland is Summer football (and this is an ideal opportunity), starting in March next year, giving the time to finish this season and not compromise next season and subsequent seasons (see blog: March 30th 2020, https://mdwatsonsport.com/2020/03/a-golden-opportunity/). This would give complete sporting integrity, to all clubs across the Scottish Football pyramid.
If the reconstruction had gone ahead at least some sporting integrity would have been upheld. This would primarily allow the teams in the relegation places and most play-off positions not to be punished for an incomplete season. The teams that were most effected would have been Heart of Midlothian, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Partick Thistle, Falkirk and Stranraer.
Now that reconstruction appears to be off the table, there are reasons I feel that the way the SPFL are going to end the season is unjust.
The two main concerns I have is that there is still almost a quarter of the season still to go, and no matter how poorly or well a team has been playing, with so many points to be played for and teams having to play each other, it is by no means certain who is going gain the greatest number of points. Also, especially in the Premiership, using an Americanism, the strength of the schedule that each team has played is different, so the suggested points per game (PPG) methodology would be skewed. Also, and this is a main gripe, I do not understand why the teams that are in the play-off position at the bottom of the leagues would not be affected. This is the major flaw. If the teams that are in the automatic relegation position are demoted, why are the teams in the play-offs not involved in some sort of play-off. It may be difficult to arrange, but I feel that they shouldn't be able to make a call on some parts of the league (Champions, automatic relegation as well as European qualification positions), but not the others (play-off), as has been set at the start of the season.
As for the reconstruction conundrum, the lower leagues were behind a 14-14-14 set up, but as a permanent change rather than temporary solution. The way it has been reported it would include a split after each team had played each other twice. It is then that the leagues would be split into top 7 and bottom 7, in the top league, and then the other leagues, play another round of fixtures. In the lower divisions, this would give an unbalanced schedule, with some teams playing 15 home and 14 away, rather than 14 home and 15 away. While the imbalance can be reduced with analysis of schedules, it still is a concern, come the end of the season, if the top prize is separated by less than 3 points.
As for the top league, I don't agree with the split going to two sevens, and I think this may be the reason that the top-flight clubs did not vote for it. I think that they should follow a similar format to the top league in Denmark. The Danish model, which is quite complicated, which is also a 14 team league splits after two rounds of fixtures (26 matches) and then split into a Top 6 and Bottom 8. While the Danish model splits the bottom half into two leagues, I would suggest that after the split in Scotland, the teams in each split should play each other twice more giving a further 10 (top half) or 14 (bottom half) games.
My reasoning for the change from the suggested 7 : 7 split to the 6 : 8, is that some teams covet the guarantee of three home matches against Rangers / Celtic, and they would miss out on the third match if the split came after two rounds. If they missed out on this, the clubs would then have an extra home match, which would reduce their financial loss. The need for an additional four games (after the break) could be accommodated as they could be played in midweek, alongside the UEFA matches as it is unlikely that these matches would be the pick for Sky Sports. The one issue about a split (6/8) after the second round of fixtures, is that if there is a logjam between 4th to 10th, is it fair that the teams that are put in the lower split, miss out on the opportunity to fight their way into UEFA competition contention. This is where I the Danish model, comes into its own! The team that finishes at the top of the lower half, then go into a play-off with the team that qualifies for the last UEFA qualification position (currently the Scottish Cup Winner or 4th in League). This would then give all teams in the lower half something to play for, as being best of the rest potentially has a tangible reward at the end of the season.
While reconstruction appears dead, if it was to be reconsidered, this is the way I feel the Scottish game should proceed.
Share. Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Pinterest Email
FootballScottish FootballSPFL
← Nantwich Town Podcast: Episode 11; Greg Hall
Thoughts on ending of English Football League season →
Murray D. Watson
View all posts by Murray D. Watson→
Website: https://mdwatsonsport.com
Nantwich Town Podcast: Episode 25: Will Season Be Null and Void???
Nantwich Town Podcast: Episode 24: FA Trophy 1st Round review
Nantwich Town Podcast: Episode 23: Football is Back in Lockdown
Change the Bonus System in Six Nations Rugby
Nantwich Town Podcast: Episode 22: The season so far October 2020
Nantwich Town Commentaries
I am a regular commentator for Nantwich Town F.C. Use the player below to listen to the latest broadcast during the match.
NTFCRedShift is on Mixlr
Visit Mixlr.com for an archive of past match commentaries.
@MDWatsonSport on Twitter
Tweets by @mdwatsonsport
Tim Bowker on Nantwich Town Podcast: Episode 13: Matt Bell
Dan on Nantwich Town Podcast: Episode 10: Phil Parkinson talks FA Vase (2006) and FA Trophy (2016)
Joe on Nantwich Town Podcast: Episode 10: Phil Parkinson talks FA Vase (2006) and FA Trophy (2016)
Tim Bowker on Nantwich Town Podcast: Episode 10: Phil Parkinson talks FA Vase (2006) and FA Trophy (2016)
Tim Bowker on Nantwich Town FC Podcast Episode Two
European Rugby
Northern Premier League
Time for a Captains Challenge in Football and Rugby Union
Nantwich Town Podcast: Episode 8: Dabbers in the Cup 2019-20
It's Getting to the Business End of the 6 Nations
Are the Scottish Premier League Play-Offs fit for their purpose?
Follow @mdwatsonsport
All content by Murray D. Watson, unless otherwise specified.
Website Setup and general management by Darren Turpin
© 2015 Murray D. Watson. All rights reserved Powered By WordPress


text:
Amara Deepam alias Eternal Lamp (1956)
T Prakash Rao
FormatB-W
LanguageTamil
Length5117.29 meters
Number of Reels19
Gauge35 mm
Censor RatingU
Censor Certificate Number14094
When Ashok tries to rescue Aruna, the girl he fancies, from her kidnappers, he is hit by a car and loses his memory. He wanders around and joins a group of nomads. Rupa the gypsy in the group falls in love with him. Her love and songs have a therapeutic effect on Ashok who is given to bouts of depression whenever he tries to recollect his past. Eventually, Ashok is cured of amnesia and is reunited with Aruna. Rupa is shot while trying to save Ashok as the bad guy tries to kill him, and dies. It is revealed that Rupa is, in fact, Aruna's sister who had been kidnapped as an infant.
This film had all the ingredients of an entertainer - group dances, songs, drama, and a climactic ending. The story and script were written by C V Sridhar, who later emerged as a successful director and made the "eternal triangle" his favorite theme. He later wrote and directed many films based on the same motif, with all the characteristic conventions of such stories.
An interesting feature was that more than one person composed the music for this film. G N Balasubramaniam, the Carnatic music maestro composed one and the other was composed by G Ramanathan. The popularity of the lead actors, Sivaji Ganesan as Ashok, Savithri as Aruna, and Padmini as Rupa, all three at the peak of their careers, was another reason for the success of the film. There was also a comic sub-plot, with Thangavelu in the lead. The cinematography of the film stood out as well as A Vincent made his mark in this film and particularly the scene where the villain smashes a radio, recalling a similar sequence in A Street Car Named Desire (English, 1951).
Anti-capitalist sentiments and vague radical ideas are mouthed by the hero, who works for a brief time, in a factory and as proof of his ideology, one of the songs makes a reference to the landowner and tiller conflict in the Thanjavur area.
[from the book The Eye of the Serpent by S Theodore Baskaran]
Watch Film
Savithri
Sivaji Ganesan
M N Nambiar
Thangavelu
Venus Pic, Madras
A Vincent
G Ramanadhan
C V Sridhar
Charana Daasi

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Yorkshire Web Design from Simulant of York; offering Responsive Web Design packages that utilise the very latest CSS3 and HTML5 website development for your business or organisation.
All websites built by our team are designed to be fully 'Responsive' so they fit perfectly and work at their best on any device they are used or viewed on. This means your bounce rate will be lower and you won't lose potential clients or customers to website display problems or menus that are difficult to navigate.
We can build and design your business website to your brand requirements, with choice of layout, features, colours and styling. We're happy to also help with logo design, graphic design, print and business website photos.
Simulant Yorkshire Web Design aims to always beat any other Web Designer, Host or other provider on price for like-for-like services. If you have been quoted for website design please contact us and we'll be glad to give you a much better deal.
We offer website design for businesses, charities, accommodation, local services and organisations. Whatever type of website you require, Simulant can help. We have built many online shops or eCommerce websites for local retailers too, as well as offering a 'Build Your Own' website SiteBuilder for those on a tighter budget. Please feel free to contact us to discuss your Responsive Web Design requirements or order online now if you wish for us to get started right away.


Our breakfast is buffet style with a good selection of fresh products.
American filter coffee and chocolate are available on the buffet but if you want to experience a real italian espresso or cappuccino please do not hesitate to ask the waiter.
Opening time is 7.30 - 10.00 a.m.


text:
Q: How to find out if an Oracle column is SecureFile In Oracle 11gR2 which view(s) I have to query to find out if a CLOB column is stored as SecureFile?

A: Just use the dba_lobs view (or all_lobs/user_lobs if you don't have the necessary privileges):
select * from dba_lobs where securefile = 'YES'

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Q: Recursion vs For loops - Factorials, Java Which of these two methods of getting a factorial (loop vs recursive) is more efficient/faster? and if that one can be improved, how so?
Language: Java
private static long factrecur(int n) {
    if (n == 0) {
        return 1;
    }
    else {
        return n * factrecur(n-1);
    }

}

private static long factloop(int a) {
    long total = 1;
    for (int b=a;b>=1;b--) {
        total *= b;
    }
    return total;
}

A: With 21 calls, your long will overrun, which is very early to measure a difference, which could get relevant.
You might need BigInteger to measure a significant difference, when measuring factorial (10*1000*1000) or something that large. If you don't have high numbers to calculate, but calculate low factorials often, a hashmap with precalculated values will be faster than recursion and looping.

A: The only problem with recursion is that every time that the function is called it's address is put on the top of the stack, concatenating a lot of call can cause a stack overflow exception if the number of recursion calls is high .

A: The for loop will be more efficient because there is no overhead of the method calls. (As a general rule loops are almost always more efficient than recursion)
To explain why you have to get into the nitty gritty details of what happens when you call a method and something called the call stack.
Basically when you call a method it needs a bit of space to work with (for things like its local variables etc) it also needs space for the incoming parameters being passed to it and a place to store the return address of where it should go when it is done executing. This space is dynamically provided by 'pushing' the values on to a stack. That stack space remains occupied until the method returns at which point it is 'popped off'.
So think about recursion in this context: every time you call the method from within itself you push more data onto the stack, without returning from the method you were in (and thus without freeing up the stack space the calling method was occupying). As your recursion goes deeper the amount of memory increases.
In contrast the for loop you wrote just uses the fixed amount of memory provided by one stack frame push.


text:
The Numbers Behind A World Class Undergraduate Career Office - Poets&Quants for Undergrads
First Jobs
The Numbers Behind A World Class Undergraduate Career Office
by: John Byrne on February 25, 2015 | 1 Comment 5,553 Views
Undergraduate students at The Wharton School
Let's face it. If you're interested in majoring in business at the undergraduate level, it may be that you have a profound passion for capitalism. But it's also more likely that you want to get a business degree because your chances of employment at graduation are going to be significantly higher than those history, philosophy and English majors.
That said, what does a world class career development office look like at the undergraduate level? One of the very best is at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School where undergrads typically get among the highest starting salaries for business majors anywhere in the world and roughly 65% of its 2014 graduates get jobs through career services.
It was another good year for Wharton grads. The average starting salary for the Class of 2014 hit a record $69,506, up from $67,986 a year earlier. The average sign-on bonus was $9,468, and the vast majority of the class reporting that they expected a year-end bonus of $29,231. Especially impressive is the number of Whartonites getting sign-on and year-end bonuses: 81% and 84%, respectively. A record 91% were employed three months after graduation, up from 88.9% a year earlier and 82.9% in the recession-impacted 2010.
WHARTON STUDENTS AVERAGED 12.3 JOB INTERVIEWS & 2.4 JOB OFFERS IN 2014
Given the success of Wharton undergrads, it's not surprising that the school makes public one of the most transparent placement reports available. At Wharton, for example, the typical business undergraduate in 2014 had 12.3 interviews, with 10 of them being a direct result of the school's career services department. Some 390 companies came to campus to recruit Wharton's undergrads in 2014, holding 11,167 interviews with students. Those interviews led to an average 2.4 job offers for each member of the Class of 2014, with just 0.7 offers resulting from independent job searches.
Source: Wharton Undergraduate Class of 2014 Career Plans Survey Report
A SCHOOL'S ABILITY TO GET A STUDENT AN INTERNSHIP IS CRITICAL TO GETTING FULL-TIME JOB OFFERS
Some 34.6% of students accepting full-time jobs indicated that they interned with the employer who made the offer. That's a telling statistic because it means the school is highly successful in getting those crucial internships that can be converted into full-time job offers. The nearly 35% conversion rate at Wharton is among the highest for an undergraduate school. At Bentley College, another highly rated undergraduate program by corporate recruiters, 24% of the latest class landed jobs as a result of their internships. At Brigham Young's Marriott School, 34% received job offers from their internship employers.
Source; Wharton Undergraduate Class of 2014 Career Plans Survey Report
Tagged: job stats for undergraduate business majors, major employers at Wharton, Wharton undergrad job stats, Wharton undergraduates, who employs Wharton undergrads
2017 Report Card: How Alums Grade Their Schools
Acceptance Rates At Top B-Schools
What Business Majors Make
Previous: Stern Gets Big Gift For Low-Income Students
Next: How The Best Undergrad Programs Prep Students For The Job Market


text:
Tag: Howie Carr
What's next for Howie Carr?
On November 13, 2014 By Dan KennedyIn Media4 Comments
Howie Carr in 2010
At the bottom of Howie Carr's column in today's Boston Herald is this: "Howie will be back on the radio Monday at 3 p.m." Since Carr had just been released from WRKO (AM 680), I figured he was going to do at least a temporary stint at the Herald's Internet radio station — maybe even with his old sidekick Doug "V.B." Goudie, who was put on waivers this week by Cox Media, the new owner of WFXT-TV (Channel 25.) (And who except us old folks remembers that it was Carr who gave Goudie his nickname, which stands for "Virgin Boy"?)
But as the redoubtable Scott Fybush of NorthEast Radio Watch writes Monday and today, Carr has numerous syndication options — none of them particularly attractive, but nevertheless very much in play. He's still on the air in several smaller markets, and the possible deals he could cut are complicated and involve stations you've likely never heard of. But Fybush, as always, has the goods, and you should read him if you want to know every last tidbit.
As for Carr's departure from WRKO, well, it says a lot about both Carr and his former employer that this isn't a bigger story. When Carr tried unsuccessfully to get out of his contract and jump to WTKK (96.9 FM) some years ago, it was huge news. Now WTKK is gone, Carr doesn't have a Boston radio outlet, and WRKO is sucking wind. Non-sports talk has been in decline for years, and Entercom management has seemingly done everything it could to hasten that decline, driving a once-great station into the ground. Carr had long been 'RKO's sole remaining asset, but high-priced talent isn't part of the business plan these days.
And if you don't think Carr has talent, you should have read him in the '80s or heard his show in the '90s. He knew more about Massachusetts politics than anyone alive, and he was absolutely fearless. But I've just defined the problem, haven't I? In addition to letting his natural mean-spiritedness curdle into something uglier than that, Carr has also been phoning it in for years, both at the keyboard and behind the microphone.
But despite our very different political sensibilities, I am a former fan, and I'd love to see him rediscover what made him a must-read and -listen.
Photo (cc) by Mark Sardella and published under a Creative Commons license. Some rights reserved.
Why Rupert Murdoch probably won't buy the Herald
On June 25, 2014 June 26, 2014 By Dan KennedyIn Media1 Comment
Published earlier at WGBHNews.org.
Here's the answer to today's Newspaper Jeopardy question: "Maybe, if there's a willing buyer and seller."
Now for the question: "With Rupert Murdoch getting out of the Boston television market, is there any chance that he would have another go with the Boston Herald?"
Following Tuesday's announcement that Cox Media Group would acquire WFXT-TV (Channel 25) from Murdoch's Fox Television Stations as part of a Boston-San Francisco station swap, there has been speculation as to whether Murdoch would re-enter the Boston newspaper market. Universal Hub's Adam Gaffin raises the issue here; the Boston Business Journal's Eric Convey, a former Herald staff member, addresses it as well. I've also heard from several people on Facebook.
First, the obvious: There would be no legal obstacles if Murdoch wants to buy the Herald. The FCC's cross-ownership prohibition against a single owner controlling a TV station and a daily newspaper in the same market would no longer apply.
Now for some analysis. Murdoch is 83 years old, and though he seems remarkably active for an octogenarian, I have it on good authority that he, like all of us, is not going to live forever. Moreover, in 2013 his business interests were split, and his newspapers — which include The Wall Street Journal, The Times of London and the New York Post — are now in a separate division of the Murdoch-controlled News Corp. No longer can his lucrative broadcasting and entertainment properties be used to enhance his newspapers' balance sheets.
Various accounts portray Murdoch as the last romantic — the only News Corp. executive who still has a soft spot for newspapers. The Herald would not be a good investment because newspapers in general are not good investments, and because it is the number-two daily in a mid-size market. Moreover, the guilty verdict handed down to former News of the World editor Andy Coulson in the British phone-hacking scandal Tuesday suggests that Murdoch may be preoccupied with other matters.
On the other hand, who knows? Herald owner Pat Purcell is a longtime friend and former lieutenant of Murdoch's, and if Rupe wants to stage a Boston comeback, maybe Purcell could be persuaded to let it happen. Even while owning the Herald, Purcell continued to work for Murdoch, running what were once the Ottaway community papers — including the Cape Cod Times and The Standard-Times of New Bedford — from 2008 until they were sold to an affiliate of GateHouse Media last fall.
There is a storied history involving Murdoch and the Herald. Hearst's Herald American was on the verge of collapse in 1982 when Murdoch swooped in, rescued the tabloid and infused it with new energy. Murdoch added to his Boston holdings in the late 1980s, acquiring Channel 25 and seeking a waiver from the FCC so that he could continue to own both.
One day as that story was unfolding, then-senator Ted Kennedy was making a campaign swing through suburban Burlington. As a reporter for the local daily, I was following him from stop to stop. Kennedy had just snuck an amendment into a bill to deny Rupert Murdoch the regulatory waiver he was seeking that would allow him to own both the Herald and Channel 25 (Kennedy's amendment prohibited a similar arrangement in New York). At every stop, Herald reporter Wayne Woodlief would ask him, "Senator, why are you trying to kill the Herald?"
The episode also led Kennedy's most caustic critic at the Herald, columnist Howie Carr, to write a particularly memorable lede: "Was it something I said, Fat Boy?" Years later, Carr remained bitter, telling me, "Ted was trying to kill the paper in order to deliver the monopoly to his friends" at The Boston Globe.
Murdoch sold Channel 25, but in the early 1990s he bought it back — and sold the Herald to Purcell, who'd been publisher of the paper, reporting to Murdoch, for much of the '80s. It would certainly be a fascinating twist on this 30-year-plus newspaper tale if Murdoch and Purcell were to change positions once again.
Howie Carr falsely claims Bill Ayers is 'a convicted terrorist'
On December 8, 2013 By Dan KennedyIn Media36 Comments
I could turn Media Nation into a full-time Howie Carr Watch, and I don't want to do that. But it seems worth pointing out that Howie's description today of Bill Ayers as "a convicted Weatherman terrorist" is — oh, how shall I put this? — false.
As for Carr's claim that Ayers ghostwrote Obama's autobiography, "Dreams from My Father," if you Google around you'll see that Ayers once joked about it and thereby ignited many heated imaginations on the right. Take my word for it: it's not worth it.
Howie misspells name, mocks legislator for misspelling name
On December 7, 2013 By Dan KennedyIn Media1 Comment
Note to Howie Carr: When mocking someone for misspelling a state legislator's name, try extra hard not to misspell the name of a congresswoman. It's Kuster, with a "K."
Whitey Bulger plays unfavorites in the press
On June 4, 2013 By Dan KennedyIn Media3 Comments
A few days ago we learned that Whitey Bulger had named Boston Globe reporter Shelley Murphy, Globe columnist Kevin Cullen, Boston Herald columnist Howie Carr and former Globe reporters Dick Lehr and Gerard O'Neill as possible witnesses in his federal trial.
Today we learn the likely reason: the five, all of whom have written books about Bulger's murderous ways, might be barred from attending the trial if Judge Denise Casper rules that potential witnesses must be kept out of the courtroom.
Murphy writes that her paper has asked Casper to allow her and Cullen to attend the trial on the grounds that they are the Globe's leading experts on the Bulger case, having covered it since the 1980s. She reports that prosecutors have called Bulger's witness list a ploy to keep out certain media and non-media witnesses.
In the Herald, Laurel Sweet quotes Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Kelly as saying, "It's not a real witness list. He's just putting names on there in order to keep them out of the courtroom."
Let's hope Judge Casper refuses to go along with this travesty.
Was Ordway firing more about ratings — or money?
On February 14, 2013 February 14, 2013 By Dan KennedyIn Media8 Comments
Yes, as a matter of fact, I am old enough to remember Glenn Ordway as the color man back when the legendary Johnny Most was doing Celtics play-by-play.
I have nothing especially profound to say about Ordway's departure from WEEI Radio (AM 850), a station he helped build into a sports powerhouse and that is now lagging in the ratings behind relative newcomer WBZ-FM (98.5 FM), better known as the Sports Hub. I'm only pointing out the obvious by observing that if this was all about the ratings, then no one is safe, starting with John Dennis and Gerry Callahan.
The one thing I'd keep an eye on is whether the move to dump Ordway was about money as much as it was about ratings. Marc Ganis, a sports business consultant based in Chicago, tells Matt Stout of the Boston Herald that Ordway's salary — $500,000, down from $1 million a couple of years ago — was seriously out of whack with what local stations pay these days. Chad Finn of The Boston Globe reports that Ordway's replacement, Mike Salk, is expected to make about $100,000.
We've already seen the dismantling of political talk radio in Boston. WTKK (96.9 FM) recently switched to music. WRKO (AM 680), which, like WEEI, is owned by Entercom, has cut way back over the years, to the point at which afternoon host Howie Carr is the station's only highly paid star. The one exception to the downsizing trend on the commercial dial is Dan Rea's evening show on WBZ (AM 1030).
Sports talk starts from a much higher ratings base than political talk, so perhaps Entercom is willing to spend some money to get WEEI back in the game. But it's not only about ratings these days. It used to be that if you put up the numbers, the advertising would come rolling in. The ad business has changed considerably in recent years, and it's not that simple anymore. There are plenty of non-radio options for people to listen to in their cars these days.
Ordway is talking about pursuing Internet options, and I wish him well. The challenge is that Internet radio doesn't make money, and is generally used to promote something else. Consider the city's two online alternative-music outlets. WFNX.com and RadioBDC exist to extend the brands of The Phoenix and the Globe's Boston.com site, respectively. I don't think anyone expects them to become profit-generating monsters.
As for the battle between WEEI and the Sports Hub, it could be that the most interesting sports talk you'll hear over the next few weeks and months will be about the stations, not what's on them.
Glenn Ordway opens up about departure from WEEI (Chad Finn, Boston.com)
WEEI replaces Glenn Ordway with Mike Salk (Chad Finn, Boston.com)
Glenn Ordway gets ax in sports talk battle (Matt Stout, Boston Herald)
Ordway will be missed, but game goes on (Steve Buckley, Boston Herald)
Looking to future for next big thing (Gayle Fee, Boston Herald)
WEEI fires Kevin Winter from morning show (Chad Finn, Boston Globe)
WEEI convenes focus group of Sports Talk listeners (Chad Finn, Boston Globe)
WEEI statement on Glenn Ordway (Bruce Allen, Boston Sports Media Watch)
Ordway confirms exit on the air today (Bruce Allen, Boston Sports Media Watch)
Photo (cc) by uzi978 and published under a Creative Commons license. Some rights reserved.
WTKK and the ongoing collapse of corporate radio
On January 3, 2013 January 3, 2013 By Dan KennedyIn Media16 Comments
This commentary was previously published by the Huffington Post.
Update: I'll be on New England Cable News on Friday at 7:15 a.m. to talk about WTKK and the future of radio.
At 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Jim Braude and Margery Eagan signed off for the last time from the morning talk show they had hosted on Boston's WTKK Radio (96.9 FM). A few minutes later, the station reemerged as Power 96.9, a faceless entity blasting out robo-music of some sort. And Boston found itself with just one full-time talk radio station. (The station was quickly redubbed Nova 96.9, apparently because of this.)
The demise of WTKK has been portrayed as another nail in the coffin of right-wing talk radio. The estimable D.R. Tucker calls it part of "a downward spiral for a key element of the conservative entertainment complex." And, yes, that's surely part of it.
But what we are really seeing is the demise of commercial radio in general, as corporate owners (Greater Media in WTKK's case) attempt to squeeze the last few nickels of profit out of a medium that may be in its final stage of collapse.
By the end, WTKK wasn't even a right-wing talk station. Braude, a liberal, and Eagan, a moderate, hosted a civil show that was more about entertainment than politics. Moderate politics and humor were the rule during midday. The only right-winger was afternoon host Michael Graham, whose idea of a good time was to make fun of people with dwarfism.
It was a far cry from the days when WTKK's signature host, Jay Severin, would call Al Gore "Al Whore" and refer to Hillary Clinton as "a socialist" and "a pig." Then again, Severin himself was long gone, having made the mistake of joking about sex with interns at a moment when his ratings were falling.
During the 1970s, '80s and '90s, Boston was a terrific town for talk radio, the home of pioneers such as David Brudnoy, Jerry Williams and Gene Burns, among others. Yes, they leaned right, but their approach was intelligent and respectful (OK, Williams often wasn't respectful), and they were immersed in the local scene in a way that few talk-show hosts are these days.
So now we are left with one full-time talk station, WRKO (AM 680), home to right-wingers Rush Limbaugh and Howie Carr, a local legend whose shtick descended into bitter self-parody years ago. (Limbaugh's syndicated show recently moved back to WRKO from a weak AM station owned by Clear Channel.) It certainly hasn't helped either WTKK or WRKO that their ratings pale in comparison to two full-time sports stations — a phenomenon that didn't exist during the heyday of local talk.
The only bright light is Dan Rea, who helms a very conservative evening program on all-news station WBZ (AM 1030). Rea, a former television reporter, eschews the shouting and demeaning putdowns in favor of smart conversation.
What happened to talk radio in Boston? I would point to three factors. And I would suggest that none of these are unique to our part of the country. Boston may be on the leading edge, but these same trends could sweep away talk elsewhere, too.
• Corporate consolidation. Since the passage of the lamentable Telecommunications Act of 1996, corporations have been buying up radio stations in market after market, transforming what was once a strictly local affair into a bottom-line-obsessed business.
As far back as 1997 I wrote in the Boston Phoenix that the rise of chain ownership would eventually kill local talk. We are now seeing that come to fruition. The automated music stations that are on the rise may not garner many listeners. But they are cheap, which means that their owners can bleed some profits out of them regardless.
"In our current media environment, corporate owners seem to have less tolerance for the station that is unusual, the station with the niche audience," media scholar and radio consultant Donna Halper wrote for Media Nation earlier this year. "Part of what makes radio unique as a mass medium is its ability to befriend the listener. So losing a favorite station is much like losing a friend."
• The rise of public radio. Boston is home to an exceptionally vibrant public radio scene. Two stations with strong signals — WBUR (90.9 FM) and WGBH (89.7 FM) — broadcast news, public-affairs programming and (yes) talk all day and night, and enjoy some of the largest audiences in the Boston area. (Disclosure #1: I'm a paid contributor to WGBH's television station, Channel 2.) Other, smaller public stations broadcast far more eclectic musical offerings than anything on commercial radio.
This trend is related to corporate consolidation, as it was the slide in quality on the for-profit side that sent many listeners fleeing to nonprofit radio. If anything, that trend will accelerate.
• Technological change. Earlier this year The Phoenix sold the FM signal for its independent rock station, WFNX, to Clear Channel — but kept streaming online. The Boston Globe, meanwhile, hired a few of the people who were laid off when WFNX left the air and now streams its own indie rock station, RadioBDC. All of a sudden, we've got a war between two local music stations, neither one of which can be heard over the air. (Disclosure #2: I'm an occasional contributor to The Phoenix.)
These days it's not difficult to stream Internet radio in your car, which is where most radio listening takes place. Pandora, Spotify and out-of-town music stations (WWOZ of New Orleans is a favorite of mine) are powerful draws, which gives the local flavor of online stations like RadioBDC and WFNX a considerable edge over computer-programmed corporate radio — or, for that matter, subscription-based satellite radio.
It is this last development that gives me reason for optimism. Radio has always been held back by the physical limits of the broadcast spectrum. In a world in which those limits don't exist, "radio" stations must compete on the strength of their programming rather than their stranglehold on the AM and FM dials.
Seen in that light, the end of WTKK is just another step on the road toward what may be a brighter, more diverse radio future.
Michael Graham is gone as WTKK rumors swirl
On December 24, 2012 December 24, 2012 By Dan KennedyIn Media17 Comments
Michael Graham has left WTKK Radio (96.9 FM), according to AllAccess.com. I certainly won't miss him, but his departure, unfortunately, would appear to presage Greater Media's rumored decision to relaunch WTKK as an automated music station. Here's more from Radio Insight.
Talk radio, as we all know, is not what it used to be. But if WTKK is taken out of play, I wonder if Entercom might decide to reinvigorate WRKO (AM 680), which has all but disappeared except for Howie Carr's afternoon-drive show. If Jim Braude and Margery Eagan are out at 'TKK, then they deserve a slot somewhere.
Meanwhile, Dan Rea continues to do well evenings at WBZ (AM 1030) with a talk show that is as conservative as any on the air — but that is also intelligent and respectful of its listeners. Is there a lesson in that?
At the Boston Herald, 30 years down the road
On December 3, 2012 December 3, 2012 By Dan KennedyIn Media1 Comment
The Boston Herald has put together a video to mark the paper's 30th anniversary of its current incarnation. In December 1982, Hearst nearly closed the doors before Rupert Murdoch swept in and rescued the tabloid in return for concessions from the paper's union.
The video, featuring Herald columnists Joe Fitzgerald, Margery Eagan and Howie Carr, publisher Pat Purcell (who bought the paper from Murdoch in 1994) and others, is a self-celebration over Boston's having remained a two-daily town — rare then and even more rare today. It's accompanied by a column in which Fitzgerald remembers the emotional rollercoaster everyone was on.
I should add that Fitzgerald was the subject recently of a touching column by his colleague Jessica Heslam following the death of his wife, Carol. Heslam's piece has slipped into the paid archives, but John Carroll recently excerpted parts of it. Media Nation extends its best wishes to Fitzgerald and his family.
The Brown-Warren race and the ghosts of a 2010 poll
On September 30, 2012 September 30, 2012 By Dan KennedyIn Media, Politics22 Comments
With today's Boston Globe poll reporting that Democratic challenger Elizabeth Warren leads Sen. Scott Brown by five points, get ready for Brown's defenders to dredge up an infamous Globe poll from two years ago — the one that showed Attorney General Martha Coakley leading Brown, a Republican, by 15 points.
Globe-bashers like Howie Carr love to point to that earlier poll as a sign of the paper's liberal bias — and I'll predict right now that that will be the subject of Carr's next column in the Boston Herald.
In fact, Globe polls are not Globe polls — they are conducted by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center, a respected, independent polling operation.
So what went wrong in 2010? My theory: Nothing. The story about that earlier poll is protected behind a paywall (I'm a subscriber, so I've reread the whole thing). But as you can see from this excerpt, the poll was conducted between Jan. 2 and 6, and the election to fill the U.S. Senate vacancy created by Ted Kennedy's death was held on Jan. 19.
Thus it's likely that the poll was accurate when it was conducted. People were just getting back to their normal routines coming out of the holidays. The race broke very late for Brown. By the time the story was published, on Jan. 10, the race was already trending away from Coakley, and within days, other polls were reflecting that.
What does that mean for Brown now?
First, the margin of error in the new poll, which shows Warren with a 43 percent to 38 percent lead, is 4.4 percent. In other words, if the election were held tomorrow, Brown could beat Warren by several points without calling the validity of the poll into question. The race is still essentially tied.
Second, this is not a low-turnout special election, and as the Globe story notes, Brown faces some harsh realities. By wide margins, people like Brown and like the job he's doing — but they are increasingly leaning toward Warren because of the enormous enthusiasm among Massachusetts voters for President Obama. I suspect you would not be able to get Brown to utter the words "Mitt Romney" these days even if he were being waterboarded.
Third and most important: It's still early. No, it's not as early as it was during the pre-Labor Day period, when you could argue that most people weren't paying attention. But it's early enough for things to change dramatically if Warren stumbles badly. That's why I think Brown is making a mistake by putting a torch to his nice-guy image with his continued attacks on Warren's claim that she's part-Native American.
David Bernstein of The Phoenix offers some further analysis of the Globe poll. And Nate "The Great" Silver of the New York Times takes a deep look at conservative claims of liberal bias in polling — and buries the assertion in an avalanche of well-marshaled data.
Illustration (cc) by DonkeyHotey and republished under a Creative Commons license. Some rights reserved.


text:
struct ANativeWindow;

namespace WebKit {
class WebGraphicsContext3D;
}

namespace content {

class GraphicsContext {
 public:
  virtual ~GraphicsContext() { }

  // Create a UI graphics context that renders to the given surface.
  static GraphicsContext* CreateForUI(ANativeWindow* ui_window);

  virtual WebKit::WebGraphicsContext3D* GetContext3D() = 0;
  virtual uint32 InsertSyncPoint() = 0;
};

}  // namespace content

#endif  // CONTENT_PUBLIC_BROWSER_ANDROID_GRAPHICS_CONTEXT_H_

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Med-Label operates an onsite service facility to provide fast and efficient label gun repair for their customers. Repaired label guns are returned in 24 hours. Customers who exclusively purchase their labels from Med-Label are not charged for the parts or labor to repair their label guns. All customers do pay for the shipping and insurance expense to return their label guns to their facility. An ink roller is considered a consumable item and should it be needed by the service technician to make the label gun operate optimally then there will be an additional charge. Med-Label reserves the right to fix or replace label guns that need repair. Any label gun that has a broken handle, smashed body or missing print head is deemed to be "maliciously abused" and cannot be repaired. At customers discretion, a maliciously abused label gun can be replaced for a nominal fee. Customers who exclusively purchase their labels from Med-Label and whose label guns show excessive wear and tear will have their label guns, at no charge, upgrade on exchange to "like new" tools. This support is the foundation for the companies "Life Time" Label Gun Warranty Program. Label gun repairs do not require a MRA [Material Return Authorization] number. The company does require a valid PO [Purchase Order] to be attached to the repaired label gun so the returned repaired label gun[s] will be properly returned and received by their customers. Please refer to "Label Gun Repair" web-site header for repair location address and additional information.
Over 50% of all label gun repairs can be done by our customers as the problem is a label jam, ink roller malfunction, or lack of cleaning and adjustment. For Med-Label customers who wish to make their own repairs these two movies will provide the necessary information.
Med-Label provides depot repair service support for all electronic printers and scanners that the company sells. These products do require a MRA [Material Return Authorization] number to be issued as the serial numbers of these products need to be tracked and recorded through the repair process. Please call Med-Label so we can issue a MRA number and send the paper work to start the electronic repair process. A quote for the repair will be supplied to the customer for a Purchase Order to be issued before any work is done on the electronic item that needs service.
Please click below to review our repair procedures.


DO YOULive in the Broadgreen, Liverpool area?
Only 20 minutes away from the Broadgreen area. We have over 70 displays which can rival or better any other showroom.
New & Display Clearance Fireplaces for sale in Broadgreen, Liverpool.


The Meta passive arming immobiliser with 2 RF Driver Recognition cards, works by detecting if a tag is within range of the vehicle when the ignition is turned on. If there is no tag present the vehicle will simply not start. The Touch key is only used in the event of the battery in the ADR tag going flat. The unit will passive arm after 20 seconds and will remain immobilised until the Driver Recognition Cards and ignition key are present.
This device is ideal if you want the best security, but don't want to enter a code every time you get inside the vehicle. This really is a no hassle product, simply get in and drive away. The system also features an optional window mount LED which can either be mounted in the window screen or not at all for maximum security.
If in the event a thief gets inside the vehicle without the ADR card the vehicle will be fully immobilised, the emergency touch key responder can be hidden / mounted in an unseen location making it impossible for anyone to know what is fitted or how they could bypass it.


I wanted to read this book for two reasons: because it's a Hugo nominee for best novel, and I'm reading my way through all the nominees I can, and because it's described as a space opera and I've been desperately craving a good space opera, of the sort I used to read years ago. Unfortunately, it didn't quite satisfy the craving on the second front; while it's space opera under the broad definition, it wasn't the sort of sweeping, not-necessary-to-explain-FTL galactic empire story that I was looking for.But the novel shouldn't be faulted for my expectations. It's a good story with some really compelling characters (once I got to know them a little) and intense conflict, which suffered from a bit too much head-hopping, in my opinion. The fact that I kept calling one of the characters a sanctimonious, self-righteous idiot and momentarily thought about throwing the book across the room is actually a compliment. I was invested. I wanted to know where it was going. I wish I could give 3.5 stars, but ultimately I thought it was closer to 4 than 3.


This position contributes to the mission of WINGS by supporting all development department initiatives, including fundraising and communications, with the overall goal of meeting the revenue needs of WINGS' programs. The position has particular responsibility for managing all aspects of WINGS' external communications, including individual donor communications, electronic and print publications, social and traditional media outlets, group presentations, and related special projects.
This person will be responsible for development, coordination and implementation of Plan's advocacy and campaigns strategy targeting the EU for policy change around child rights and gender equality, working in a small and dynamic team in Brussels.
The Information Officer will work under the guidance of the South Sudan Country Director to write and edit stories related to Samaritan's Purse (SP) South Sudan programs for the benefit of International Headquarters (IHQ); provide editing support to the Program Development officer (PDO) and Regional Program Development Officer (RPDO); and assist in project evaluations on the field. Primary responsibilities of the Information Officer would be within South Sudan, but this would not exclude potential short-term assignments to other countries within the region as needed.
The multimedia manager is responsible for shooting, producing, and archiving all photo and video content for the William J. Clinton Foundation, its Initiatives, and President Clinton. As the sole in-house photographer/videographer, s/he attends events, identifies appropriate content to capture, shoots raw photo and/or video, and selects content to release to media and other distribution channels as necessary.
Ensure an excellent standard for all of our outreach projects.
Keep project plans updated and all stakeholders informed of progress.
Plan and execute 1-2 exhibitions/performances per year.
Brief the Managing and Executive Directors on all ARI-related information.
The Advisors will lead communications efforts for USAID-funded and other donor-funded projects, as well as work directly on behalf of national governments to improve overall communications activities and approaches. They will develop communications strategies, recommend targeted in-country approaches and work on crafting key messaging and audience targeting. Social media and video production will also likely be part of overall communications efforts. These positions will be short-term, field based in nature, with durations from 2 weeks to 6 months.
Creating and implementing an internal and external global communications strategy for the organization and providing guidance on all communications matters to the Concern Worldwide U.S. Inc. executive team.
Responsibilities include facilitating local stakeholder meetings, promoting GHEI's work through social media and blogging, and organizing campaigns for current and potential donors. This position is requires a great deal of flexibility since responsibilities can change greatly throughout the year. During the summer months, GHEI hosts a series of short-term volunteer groups, and the Communications Officer plays a role in recruiting, training, and supporting these teams of volunteer.
This position will develop and execute digital strategies to maximize Global Impact's efforts to build brand equity, effectively position the organization in the market and engage and inspire its key audiences. Additionally, this position manages the day-to-day operations of Global Impact's primary website, www.charity.org, as well as its business line websites.


text:
Kainji National Park is a national park in Niger State and Kwara State, Nigeria. Established in 1978, it covers an area of about .
The park includes three distinct sectors: a part of the Kainji Lake in which fishing is restricted, the Borgu Game Reserve to the west of the lake, and the Zugurma Game Reserve to the southeast.

Due to insecurity in the region, the National Parks Service temporarily suspended operations and research in the Kainji National Park in 2021; operations were also suspended in the Chad Basin National Park and the Kamuku National Park.

History
Kainji National Park was established in 1978 and is divided into three distinct sectors, the Zugurma Game Reserve, the Borgu Game Reserve and Kainji Lake.
Since 2005, the protected area is considered a Lion Conservation Unit together with Yankari National Park. The park is owned by the state and managed by the Federal National Park Service (FNPS), receiving direct government funding. This means that enforcement actions against poachers can be pursued under national park law and not in the local courts.

Geography
The Borgu Game Reserve is mostly made up of savanna forest and has an area of , while the Zugurma Game Reserve is smaller, at . The two main parts of the park are separated by the Kainji Lake, a  long reservoir. The Zugurma sector has no access roads and only the Borgu sector is used for tourism.

The southern and western parts of the Borgu Game Reserve drain into the Oli River, a tributary of the Niger River, while the other parts drain directly into the lake via four small rivers. The Zugurma Game Reserve has little drainage; the smaller watercourses dry up during the dry season, but there are a number of permanent waterholes along the Oli River and elsewhere in the park. The Borgu sector consists of undulating hills with some quartzite ridges and ironstone pans, while the Zugurma sector consists of a low plateau, with soils derived from sandstone, much eroded in places. The mean annual rainfall is about , with the wet season lasting from May to November and the dry season from December to April.

Flora
The savanna woodland of the Borgu sector is dominated by Burkea africana, Terminalia avicennioides and Detarium microcarpum. Below the quartzite ridges Isoberlinia tomentosa predominates, and further down the hillsides on the relatively dry lower slopes are stands of Diospyros mespiliformis, with an understory of Polysphaeria orbuscula. Terminalia macroptera occurs on moist savannas and Isoberlinia doka is found on higher ground in ironstone areas. In the Zugurma sector the tree cover is typical of the Guinean forest-savanna mosaic although this area is overgrazed and eroded, and the main woodland is besides the watercourses and waterholes. Common trees here include Afzelia africana, Daniella oliveri, Pterocarpus erinaceus, Terminalia schimperiana, Parkia clappertoniana, Vitellaria paradoxa, Detarium microcarpum, Isoberlinia doka, Uapaca togoensis and Khaya senegalensis.

Fauna
65 mammal species, 350 species of birds, and 30 species of reptiles and amphibians have been recorded in the park. These include lion, leopard, caracal, elephant and African manatee, numerous species of antelope, hippopotamus, African wild dog, honey badger, cheetah, Senegal bushbaby, many species of monkey, and African clawless otter. Reptiles include the Nile crocodile, West African slender-snouted crocodile, four turtle species, Nile monitor, savannah monitor, other lizards and snakes, and 12 amphibian species. There are 82 species of fish in Lake Kainji. The fauna of the Zugurma sector is less varied than of the Borgu sector because of poor drainage, overgrazing by cattle, poor quality vegetation and extensive poaching.

References

National parks of Nigeria
Kainji Lake
Niger State
1978 establishments in Nigeria

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Q: My 87-year-old mother is not in good physical condition, and occasionally she becomes confused and "loses it." Her mind seems to be elsewhere for a few minutes, but she returns to her normal self soon. I have spoken to the doctor on several occasions, but he has dismissed the issue. I am not satisfied with his answers, and I want to make sure I have the best knowledge to help her.
A: You are her health advocate, so it is important to assume an active role in her care. This will require some effort on your part. Schedule a second opinion with another doctor, and get a more comprehensive view of her condition. Obviously, there are multiple reasons why your mother is experiencing difficulties, and you first need to determine what they are.
This could be happening for many reasons other than her age. It could even be caused by mixing medications. Because of her age, it may be necessary to actually count the number of pills remaining in the bottle.
--Face: Ask her to smile. Does one side of her face droop?
--Arms: Ask her to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
--Speech: Ask her to repeat a simple phrase. Is her speech slurred or strange?
--Timing: If you observe any of these signs, call 911 right away.
Your mom is lucky to have you as her advocate. Keep up the good work!
Q: One of my neighbors has recently had problems with identity theft, and now I'm concerned that I'm vulnerable.
A: There are several common ways in which criminals may attempt to steal your identity. Keeping track of the following suggestions will cut down on your risk.
Shred any documents with your name and address. Pay special attention to financial statements or credit offers, as they contain extremely sensitive information.
When paying by debit card (especially if it doesn't have a chip), cover the pin pad with one hand while typing in your PIN. Someone may have installed a camera to spy on customer transactions. Gas stations are especially vulnerable to outside manipulations, so go inside to pay.
Don't write checks to small vendors. Pay in cash or money order, as these don't list your bank information. The person you're dealing with may be honest, but you don't know how careful they are.
Never submit your Social Security number or bank account information to an unsolicited source or public network. This includes emails -- which may appear to be from your bank -- or online stores. If you're suspicious, call or visit your bank and ask if it is attempting to contact you.
Doug Mayberry's weekly column, "Dear Doug," can be found at creators.com.


text:
Flagstaff Business News Profiles Pioneer Title Agency in Northern Arizona
« TITLE TALK / Flagstaff Business News Profiles Pioneer Title Agency in Northern Arizona
Agency in Action, Awards and Honors, Branch News, Media Coverage
Celebrating its 20th anniversary in Coconino County this year, Pioneer Title Agency handles all types of real estate transactions, ranging from the small, secondary loans to the transfer of large, sophisticated commercial properties. "After graduating NAU in 1979, my first real job was for the Kuban family at Minnesota Title," said Pioneer Title Agency co-Founder and President Keith Newlon. "We were like a family – and Bob Kuban was a mentor to me." So much so, in fact, that after Newlon moved south to start his own business with his parents, Bob and Betty, and his wife, Cindy, he stayed in touch with his Minnesota Title friends – eventually learning in the early 1990s that the elder Kubans wanted to retire. "I respected the kind of company Bob and Neldeanne created at Minnesota Title and was proud to be able to purchase it from them in 1993 to create Pioneer Title Agency in Flagstaff. Our goal then and our goal now is to never have to answer to outside stockholders or investors," said Newlon. And to true to his word, Pioneer Title Agency in Coconino County has remained a wholly family-owned business since day one – eventually growing to seven offices throughout Flagstaff, Page, Sedona, William and Winslow and outlasting all of the big-box chains in the area through the recession. But for as proud as the team is of its business success and growth, they seem even more enthusiastic about their positive footprint on the surrounding community. "Pioneer Title Agency has operated under the philosophy of 'Commitment to Service' since its inception, which to us also means a commitment to service within each of our local communities," said Andy Fox, Pioneer Title Agency's Coconino County manager. Under its "Pioneer Title Agency in Action" community relations umbrella, from sponsoring local sports teams to organizing fundraising walks to simply donating to causes important to the community, Pioneer's management empowers and supports each of its team members across Arizona to be active members of the communities where they work and live. As a result, the Flagstaff team members are actively involved with more than a dozen local organizations including Big Brothers Big Sisters, Soroptimist International of Flagstaff, Northland Family Help Center, Hope Cottage, the Flagstaff Ski Team, Flagstaff Family Food Center, Flagstaff Community Foundation, the local Boy Scouts, Flagstaff Family YMCA, Literacy International, Hope's Close, BOTHHANDS and more. "Giving back locally is only truly successful on every level if it is modeled by executive leadership and management," said Fox, noting that Newlon is so dedicated to the area that he was inducted into the W.A. Franke College of Business' National Advisory Board Alumni & Faculty Hall of Fame in 2010. In addition, Newlon also launched the Dr. Betty J. Newlon Memorial Scholarship in his mother's honor to help graduate students living and working in to Arizona earn advanced degrees in counseling. "Having not only the freedom, but the expressed desire to get involved in the Flagstaff community is one of the many reasons I've been proud to be a part of this team for more than 10 years," said Pioneer Title Agency's Flagstaff Marketing Director Brenda Silveus, who was honored in 2010 by the Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce with its prestigious ATHENA Award. For more than two decades, the Chamber has presented the ATHENA Award to a local businesswoman who has achieved excellence in her field, served the community and assisted other women in the attainment of their goals. Most recently, Flagstaff native and Pioneer senior escrow officer Mandy Mann was honored by the Northern Arizona Association of Realtors® on Oct. 31, with its Affiliate of the Year Award, which is not awarded every year, but only when someone has gone above and beyond traditional service to the organization. "Here's to another 20 years of growing, giving and amazing teammates," said Newlon. To view story in the Flagstaff Business News, please click here.


Our other websites and applications may have their own privacy notice, which may differ from this one. You should check the privacy notice for each of our applications and websites that you use.
Miscellaneous (including our contact details).
We treat your information in the same way as we would expect our information to be treated.
Non-Personal User Information – We may also gather non-personal user information about your computer or device and how you use our Services. This information is typically anonymous and the analytics that we share for this purpose will not identify you as an individual. The collection of this non-personal data is in order for us to learn more about your and our other users' online behaviour so that we can improve the Services and general marketing to provide a better experience of our brand and cater more to your and our other users' needs.
You represent and warrant that all the Information you provide in relation to obtaining the Services is true, accurate, current and complete and you agree to maintain and promptly update such Information, as and when necessary, to keep it current. If we have reasonable grounds to suspect that such Information is untrue, inaccurate or incomplete, we have the right to suspend or terminate the Services.
You may at any time request us to provide you with a record of all your Information that we have in our possession. Should you wish to remove/delete your Information in whole or in part from our systems you can request us to do so by writing to us. We will take necessary measures to verify the identity of the requestor and where this is consistent with the owner of the Information, we will endeavour to fulfil this request. Where we receive such a request to remove/delete your Information from our systems, you acknowledge and accept that it is not always possible to completely delete the data due to technical constraints. We also retain a back-up archive of data where this is necessary to comply with applicable law, to resolve disputes, troubleshoot problems and enforce terms and conditions. However, we keep this data under periodic review to ensure it is still necessary for us to retain it, in compliance with applicable data protection law.
We and/or our service providers may automatically collect certain Information from your device through which you access our Services. This information includes, but is not limited to, your language preferences, your phone number or other unique device identifier, the IP address of your device, the manufacturer, model and operating system of your device, the name and version of our Services you are using, information regarding your browser and information that allows us to personalize our Services. We or our service providers may also collect information about how you interact with our Services and any of our websites or applications to which our Services links or third party websites/applications that link you to our Services, such as how many times you use a specific part of our Services, the amount of time you spend using our Services or how often you use our Services, actions you take in our Services and how you engage with our Services.
Before you share any information with us about other people, you must make sure that you have their consent to do so. For the avoidance of doubt, we shall not be liable, in any manner whatsoever, for failure on your part to obtain such consent.
(g) understanding how you interact with our Services and any of our websites to which our Services links or third party websites that link you to our Services.
You acknowledge and accept that we may use your Information to improve the Services which we provide to you and this may include aggregating and/or anonymizing your data for analytical purposes.
We use information regarding your location or the location of your device through which you access our Services for a number of purposes, including, but not limited to: (a) identifying Providers who may provide you with healthcare services; (b) providing you with a list of nearby pharmacies that may fulfill any prescriptions provided to you by your Provider; and (c) identifying other healthcare providers whom you may visit at the recommendation of your Provider.
We will only store and/or use your Information for as long as it is necessary to do so. Non-Personal User Information may be held for as long as it is necessary in order that we can monitor aggregated statistics about use of our site and exposure to our brand.
(c) a third party in the event of any reorganization, merger, sale, joint venture, assignment, transfer, liquidation or other disposition of all or any portion of our business, assets or stock to such third party.
We may anonymize or de-identify your Information and use or disclose that anonymized or de-identified information for any purpose including, but not limited to, aggregating anonymized information for the purposes of analyzing data, trends and patterns relating to the Services. For the avoidance of doubt, we are not required to destroy or return to you any information that has been anonymized or in any way de-identified and such anonymized information may be shared with our affiliates or third party service providers.
Although no system can ever be 100% secure, we are committed to and take great care in ensuring that your Information is secure. This includes physical security measures, as well as industry standard encryption, password controlled access and audit trails. In order to prevent unauthorised access or disclosure, we have put in place physical, electronic and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure the personal information we collect online.
Where we have given you (or you have chosen) a password to access certain parts of the Services, you must keep this password confidential. You should not share this password with anyone. You are responsible for what happens with your log in credentials.
When using our Services, you may choose not to provide us with certain information, but this may limit the features you are able to use. You may also choose to opt out of receiving certain communications (e.g., newsletters, promotions) by contacting us through phone, email or other channels. Please note that even if you opt out, we may still send you service-related communications.
If you have any security concerns or requests regarding our Services or any complaints or grievances, or if you wish to ask us to any questions about the information which we hold about you or wish us to correct or delete such information, please use the contact information below.


text:
Law is a system of rules that are created and enforced through social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior. It has been defined both as "the Science of Justice" and "the Art of Justice".[3][4] Law is a system that regulates and ensures that individuals or a community adhere to the will of the state. State-enforced laws can be made by a collective legislature or by a single legislator, resulting in statutes, by the executive through decreesand regulations, or established by judges through precedent, normally in common law jurisdictions. Private individuals can create legally binding contracts, including arbitration agreements that may elect to accept alternative arbitration to the normal court process. The formation of laws themselves may be influenced by a constitution, written or tacit, and the rights encoded therein. The law shapes politics, economics, history and society in various ways and serves as a mediator of relations between people.
The history of law links closely to the development of civilization. Ancient Egyptian law, dating as far back as 3000 BC, contained a civil code that was probably broken into twelve books. It was based on the concept of Ma'at, characterised by tradition, rhetorical speech, social equality and impartiality. By the 22nd century BC, the ancient Sumerian ruler Ur-Nammu had formulated the first law code, which consisted of casuistic statements ("if … then ..."). Around 1760 BC, King Hammurabi further developed Babylonian law, by codifying and inscribing it in stone. Hammurabi placed several copies of his law code throughout the kingdom of Babylon as stelae, for the entire public to see; this became known as the Codex Hammurabi. The most intact copy of these stelae was discovered in the 19th century by British Assyriologists, and has since been fully transliterated and translated into various languages, including English, Italian, German, and French.


Question: how did you get into engineering?
Asked by dat athlete to Alex on 14 Nov 2017.
I've always been curious of how things work ! And when given the opportunity to start working in engineering I grabbed it with both hands.


I am someone who totally believes in removing the clutter in regular intervals from my home. I have been practicing this more seriously after we moved into our own home where it is easy to always find enough space to add new stuff. To make things easier, I use donations bins/baskets to collect the stuff as and when I feel I don't need them anymore and donate them all at once. I have donation bins in my closet to drop off the clothes and one in the garage for all the other stuff. This makes it easy for me to think of removing the clutter and also actually do it.
Yes, I call it a "Clear surface" system. Having clear surfaces everywhere (kitchen, bathroom counters, office space) not only gives aesthetic satisfaction but also motivates me to put things back in their respective places (or find a home for such stuff) rather than just dropping things on the counter. Oh before you ask, this system, in no way means clear outside and clutter inside 🙂 It only means, clear outside and clean inside!
This is particularly very helpful to collect all the stuff that needs to leave the house. Shopping returns, stuff to be given to others, library books are just dropped in here. This could be anywhere near the exit to your home. I use the storage ottoman by the front door as the drop off zone and remember to check it before heading out. Yes, I do remember (sometimes).
You might think that this is in contradiction to my "Clear surface" system. Let me tell you why it is not! I love bags, watches, jewelry etc and having them displayed in an organized way not only reminds me to use them but also quickly choose the right one. This system is not about laying out everything on the dresser or somewhere, but is about choosing the right method to systematically/artistically display such accessories that needs easy access everyday.
This is technically not a system but something that is very helpful to avoid photo print clutter (when was the last time you opened your photo album :-p) and filling the walls with zillion photo frames. A digital photo frame also makes it easy to re-visit the beautifully captured memories by adding a simple decor to your living room.
These systems are nothing fancy and very easy to adapt in your everyday life. Organizing is all about changing some habits without losing your personality.
Let me know if you already follow any of these at home or any of the above interests you.
I love the idea of a donation bin! I think I'll set one up myself, thanks for the tip!
Awesome…! That made a big difference in planning my de-clutter!
Lots of very doable tips here; it can get so overwhelming when things get unorganized. Making it simple is so important.
I am glad you liked it Andrea! Happy organizing!
I need to keep these tips in mind. I am working on being more organized. I've been wanting a digital frame! And I recently purchased some containers as well.
You are doing a great thing Amber! Digital frame to me is a must!
I have actually started decluttering my home this weekend and I just finished the living room. The bins system is definitely the way to go, and keeps you organised. I will take your advice for organising the bathroom toiletries, as I have so many!
Awesome.. I am glad the post came in handy for you! I can imagine bathroom toiletries can get over whelming.
Oh em gee! i really needed these tips! Labelling things really help but containers too! I have my jewelry on display and also all my makeup product. I feel like my system is a disorganized mix of all your tips!
Haha.. Disorganised mix of the tips 🙂 I am glad you liked the tips 🙂 Containers and labeling does wonders to me!
Everything's a great idea. It's good to label everything and to have different containers for them. One thing that I haven't done is to add a donation bin. Usually we just pile everything up which is messy! I'd love to have a bin to keep things organized.
Yup! The donation bin near any place which can accumulate clutter has been super helpful to me!
I love these ideas, I think I need a drop off zone and definitely more containers, containers sound like they could most definitely become my friend.
Thanks amma… Totally my baby steps of organzing started from Atta!!
Clear surfaces are my instant satisfaction!
I use labels and containers to stay organized at home. Thanks for the additional ideas that I can use.
You are most welcome! I am glad you find it useful!
SO TRUE!! I really want to declutter my house, but never find the time. I made a start last week by donating two bags of clothes.
I love the idea of labeling. I tried it on our toiletries and it worked. Might as well try the rest of this list.
Good thinking on the digital photo frame. It really does help declutter your home and keeps all your photos in one place.
Absolutely! Memories got to stay intact. What say?
I love the tips and ideas in this blog post! In my household, containers come so handy in organization. They are the perfect tool.
Absolutely ! Keeping countertops and tables clear is the best way to encourage others and yourself at home to put everything where it belongs ! Specially when you have kids, its important to teach them early! Nobody goes to sleep here until we have all put the toys where they belong 😛 (We also sing the little clean up song) Thanks for sharing !
I used to be so good at labeling. I'm not at home anymore, but I am at work! It makes a difference.
I should really get a container system going. It would save on a lot of space in our house.
Oh these are indeed great ideas! I love the donation bin, I guess I need to practice it. and also the container system to let my small things be more organized.
I stay on top of things because I follow the mandra "everything has a place put it there now! It works for me, lol!
Thanks for these great tips! I've been wanting to stay organize and glad to stumble upon your post. I like the idea declutering.
Cute ways to keep your place organized. I want to do better!
Great tips! I'm actually in the process of organizing my desk right now. I'm definitely going to be using the container system to keep everything neat.
I need to get some bins for things that I have no idea where to put them. This will help me a lot with staying organized.
These tips are all so useful, thank you for sharing! I'm a very organised person and like to keep a clean house all the time, your tips are definitely essential!


The pressed corners of our Venetian pavers convey a warmth and appeal of authentic cobblestone.
The Venetian Random bundle includes three different sized pieces. As there is no set laying pattern for these stones, they can be used to construct a wide range of designs that are each distinctive and extremely attractive.
With the Venetian Soldier and/or Venetian Square, you can create distinctive borders along the outside edge of your driveway or patio, or you can mix them in with Venetian Random to increase the pattern possibilities.
Venetian Circles add innovative design opportunities to your outdoor environment. Through the inclusion of full and half circles, fans or sweeping radiuses.


In my eco-beauty reviews for The Penny Rose's predecessor, the Obsessive Beauty blog, I set out to share my favorite finds from the increasingly impressive market of natural, organic and vegan hair, skin and body care products. These natural offerings have come a long way in the last decade or two, but are still often written off as ineffective or too granola. However, following a lengthy quest to completely "green" my beauty routine, I resurfaced with complete faith that eco-friendly products could live up to (or outshine) conventional counterparts.
So, to kick off my cameos on The Penny Rose, I thought it would be fun to do a little round up of my skincare products du jour—items I believe to be further proof that green is a great way to go when it comes to beauty.
First up, my current favorites: the Vitamin C Revitalizing Complex and Lavender Protective Moisturizer from Naturopathica (naturopathica.com). The latter is my go-to daily moisturizer, complete with SPF 17, zinc oxide to protect from UV damage and turmeric root to reduce redness. I use the revitalizing complex at night, relishing in how my skin soaks up the light, vitamin-packed serum. I can't say whether it is because of one or the conjunctive use of both, but within a week of adopting these two products, my skin tone was unmistakably more even and less red. Both are super hydrating and leave my skin soft, but never greasy. But not only do the items work (and well), the company gets extra eco-friendly points for using recycled packaging and sourcing local, American ingredients (all of which are natural and certified organic).
Another line that has caught my attention as of late comes from MyChelle Dermaceuticals (mychelle.com), an innovative company that combines natural ingredients with cutting-edge skincare science. The Fruit Enzyme Scrub stands out, in particular, as an effective exfoliant and face "polisher." And although I'm not big on face masks (who has the time?), MyChelle's Hydrating Cactus Mask is a delightful treat. It's more like a cool, wet cream that you leave on for 20 minutes than a typical mask that dries up. (Side note: You can read my review of Ecco Bella's Organic Dark Chocolate Face Mask, which I'm also a fan of.
Last but not least on my list of skincare picks is the Hydrating Sunscreen with SPF 30 from Pevonia (pevonia.com). As the weather warms up, I can't wait to start slathering on this intoxicatingly floral-scented sun block. And for the man in your life, note that Pevonia has an Easy Glide Shave Emulsion that makes even the scruffiest face silky smooth.


provided by a powerful digital marketing agency.
Generate new leads through advanced online marketing provided by a powerful digital marketing agency.
A Modern Responsive Web Presence On Any Device.
Our services are tailor fit to your organization's needs and goals.
Custom website design that looks great on every device and always SEO friendly.
Professionally managed pay-per-click advertising campaigns to turn clicks into calls.
Increase the organic ranking of your website when people search for what you do.
We create non-skippable video pre-roll ads displayed on premium web properties.
Text and image banner ads with remarketing capacities on premium web properties.
Get more reviews on Google with a tablet that makes it easy for customer feedback.
Get your business listed on over 70 premium web properties so you can be found.
A one stop source to get your message or offer into the hands of your ideal clients.


text:
W.Bro. W. J. Lendrim, V.C., P.G.P.
The history of Albert Edward Lodge would not be complete without due honour and mention being given to this extremely brave and popular soldier.
William James Lendrim had 46 years of Military Service, the latter half of which, until his death in November 1891, was spent as Instructor of Field Works at the Royal Military and Staff Colleges and Sergeant Major at the latter establishment.
The outstanding acts of gallantry which earned the award of the order The Victoria Cross make extremely interesting reading, indeed the whole career of this military man is absolutely outstanding.
The very condensed description of not one but three acts of gallantry are simply described as follows:-
Royal Engineers No. 1078 Corporal William J. Lendrim:
Intrepidity-getting on top of a Magazine, and extinguishing sand-bags which were burning, and making good the breach under fire, on the 11th April, 1855.
For courage and praiseworthy example in superintending 150 French Chasseurs, on the 14th February, 1855, in building No. 9 Battery, Left Attack, and replacing the whole of the capsized gab ions under heavy fire. Was one of four volunteers for destroying the farthest Rifle Pit on the 20th April.
Corproal Lendrim was among the first to be awarded this new award for bravery, the actual ceremony with full Armed Forces participation took place at Hyde Park on Friday, June 26th, 1857. Her Majesty Queen Victoria personally pinned the plain bronze cross, with red rib and for the army and blue riband for the Navy, on to each breast of the officers and men of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Army.
At his death Bro. Lendrim left a widow and 12 children, 8 of whom he had succeeded in "placing in the world" (The Times Quotation).
Addition to the published history:
W.Bro W.J. Lendrim was initiated in Lodge of the Thirty-seventh Company of Royal Engineers, No. 963 on 8 July 1863 and passed on 12 August the same year. As the Lodge warrant was withdrawn on 22 February 1864, he was raised in United Chatham Lodge of Benevolence, No. 184, Chatham on 12 April 1864, resigning in November the same year. He was our first Junior Warden, and its third Worshipful Master in 1879. He was appointed to Provincial Grand Steward in the Province of Surrey in 1878, and Provincial Grand Pursuivant of Surrey in 1881
A copy of the solicitation for votes and interest on behlaf of Laura Lendrim can be seen to the left, the full copy of "The Freemason" dated March 11 1893 can be obtained by clicking the image of solicitation.
Issue 9 (April 2004) of the Masonic MQ Magazine carried a letter from W.Bro Michael Alliott following an a article about masoinc VC holders:
"Albert Edward Lodge No. 1714 does not have a photo of W. Bro. William James Lendrim wearing his VC, although I believe one existed when our centenary history was written 26 years ago, but the author died recently.
We do, however, have a photograph of him wearing military uniform under his regalia. He was among the first 62 recipients of the award, and was invested by Queen Victoria in Hyde Park at the very first ceremony.
The story of W. Bro. Lendrim, who won the VC at Sebastopol, as one of the very first to win the award, may be of interest to all.
Wonersh, Surrey"
One of the items hanging in the stairwell is the record of James Lendrim's actions , and the details of his masonic career.
W.Bro William James Lendrim was initiated in Lodge of the Thirty-seventh Company of Royal Engineers, No. 963 on 8 July 1863 and passed on 12 August the same year. As the Lodge warrant was withdrawn on 22 February 1864, he was raised in United Chatham Lodge of Benevolence, No. 184, Chatham on 12 April 1864, resigning in November the same year.
A copy of the minutes of that lodge recording his raising at the the Golden Lion Inn, Brompton, Gillingham, Kent, can be seen on the right (kindly supplied by W.Bro Ken Perrin PPAGDC, secretary off the (renamed) Gillingham Lodge of Benevolence No. 184.)


text:
구독신청(Subscribe) 샘플신청(Free Sample) PDF
Gangnam-gu, South Korea
Fine Dust :
Home > Opinion > Editorials
+ A
The task at hand for Park
The Grand National Party has finally patched up its differences to seek a new path. A party committee passed reform measures to create an emergency council under its former chairwoman, Representative Park Geun-hye.
Park, who attended the party lawmakers' caucus for the first time in nearly three years, said the biggest imperative was to restore public credibility and unity. "We don't have much time. We must use the limited time to approach the people, turn to their needs, and work amongst them if we want to save ourselves."
She hit the nail on the head: the party is sinking because it has lost the people's trust. The GNP has been too engrossed in factional feuds to care for the livelihood of the people. Because they were busy seeking self-serving interests, they failed to see that the people had deserted them. The GNP, as Park said, is now paying the price. To start fresh, it must ruminate on where it went wrong and how to fix the problems. Park must share the party's self-evaluation and future plans before launching the emergency council. People won't return unless they feel the sincerity of Park's promise to "change to the bones."
Park hinted at sweeping changes, but she must create the right environment to make the reforms take root. She must form an emergency council that party members can trust and unite behind. Park should first prove that she will break factionalism. The look of the council should be welcomed by her opponent's faction. She won't get the unity the GNP needs if there are voices of complaint.
Park must also pay attention to the opinions of others. At the caucus, many said Park could not do the reform alone. She should seek counsel and help from representatives like Kim Moon-soo and Chung Mong-joon as well as others outside the GNP. If she succeeds in engaging her rivals, the reform will be a lot easier.
Recreating the GNP has been tossed to the council without a consensus in the party. Conflict can resurface. Park must understand the sense of insecurity held by lawmakers from the capital and South Gyeongsang areas. She must show leadership in selecting candidates and trotting out new policies.
More in Editorials
Don't look up?
An inhumane farewell
Populism in full swing
Unstoppable contradictions
The collapse culture
Off guard for three hours (KOR)
Unidentified person crosses border into North Korea
SK Innovation marketing new battery at CES 2022
Half of the rich got richer in terms of stock, half didn't
Log in to select media account
Log in to Twitter or Facebook account to connect
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
Social comment?
To write comments, please log in to one of the accounts.
Standards Board Policy (0/250자)
What's Popular Now
Korea JoongAng Daily Sitemap
E-mail Address Privacy
All materials contained on this site are protected by Korean copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior consent of Joins.com | Tel: 1577-0510


text:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>

<!--
  ~ Copyright 2012 Red Hat, Inc. and/or its affiliates.
  ~
  ~ Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
  ~ you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
  ~ You may obtain a copy of the License at
  ~
  ~       http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
  ~
  ~ Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
  ~ distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
  ~ WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
  ~ See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
  ~ limitations under the License.
  -->
<!DOCTYPE ui:UiBinder SYSTEM "http://dl.google.com/gwt/DTD/xhtml.ent">
<ui:UiBinder xmlns:ui='urn:ui:com.google.gwt.uibinder'
             xmlns:gwt='urn:import:com.google.gwt.user.client.ui'
             xmlns:bootstrap='urn:import:org.gwtbootstrap3.client.ui'
             xmlns:guvnor='urn:import:org.guvnor.common.services.project.client'>

  <ui:with field="i18n" type="org.guvnor.common.services.project.client.resources.i18n.ProjectConstants"/>
  <ui:with field="resources" type="org.guvnor.common.services.project.client.resources.ProjectResources"/>

  <gwt:HTMLPanel>
        <bootstrap:Form type="HORIZONTAL">
          <bootstrap:FieldSet>

            <bootstrap:Legend>
              <ui:text from="{i18n.ProjectGeneralSettings}"/>
            </bootstrap:Legend>

            <bootstrap:FormGroup ui:field="pomNameGroup">
              <bootstrap:FormLabel text="{i18n.ProjectName}" addStyleNames="col-md-4"/>
              <bootstrap:Column size="MD_8">
                <bootstrap:TextBox ui:field="pomNameTextBox" placeholder="{i18n.ProjectNamePlaceHolder}"/>
                <bootstrap:HelpBlock ui:field="pomNameHelpBlock"/>
              </bootstrap:Column>
            </bootstrap:FormGroup>

            <bootstrap:FormGroup>
              <bootstrap:FormLabel text="{i18n.ProjectDescription}" addStyleNames="col-md-4"/>
              <bootstrap:Column size="MD_8">
                <bootstrap:TextArea ui:field="pomDescriptionTextArea" placeholder="{i18n.ProjectDescriptionPlaceHolder}"/>
              </bootstrap:Column>
            </bootstrap:FormGroup>

          </bootstrap:FieldSet>

          <bootstrap:FieldSet ui:field="parentGavEditorFieldSet" visible="false">
            <bootstrap:Legend>
              <ui:text from="{i18n.ParentsGroupArtifactVersion}"/>
            </bootstrap:Legend>

            <bootstrap:Button ui:field="openProjectContext" addStyleNames="btn-mini" text="Open Project Context"/>
            <guvnor:GAVEditor ui:field="parentGavEditor"/>
          </bootstrap:FieldSet>

          <bootstrap:FieldSet>
            <bootstrap:Legend>
              <ui:text from="{i18n.GroupArtifactVersion}"/>
            </bootstrap:Legend>

            <guvnor:GAVEditor ui:field="gavEditor"/>
          </bootstrap:FieldSet>

        </bootstrap:Form>
  </gwt:HTMLPanel>

</ui:UiBinder>


text:
Real Estate Boom for McHenry
By Matthew Murray
Posted October 19, 2007 at 6:18pm
Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) took to the House floor late last spring and ripped into Democrats for blocking his proposal requiring Members to disclose the existence and value of their personal residences.
"We've seen in recent Washington scandals the results of this loophole that allows Members to hide ownership of properties," McHenry said.
But according to a Roll Call analysis of public records, McHenry has taken considerable liberty himself with the House's personal property exemption, not disclosing at least three pieces of North Carolina property that he owns worth more than $300,000 combined.
In addition, since he was first elected in 2004, McHenry's financial statements overall offer only vague hints into myriad land deals that are transforming Congress' youngest Member from a college student, who is a licensed real estate agent, into a prosperous man in less than a decade.
For example, on this year's forms McHenry disclosed his October 2006 purchase of a house in central North Carolina. Public records show McHenry paid $87,500 for the property, which he bought from a local politician. Within months of the sale, tax assessors determined the house was worth 30 percent more.
And last summer McHenry, his four siblings and a business partner sold a 40-acre plot to a local developer for $1.5 million. The developer, Charlotte-based E.C. Griffith Co., plans to soon break ground on a 1,000-plus-unit suburban housing development. McHenry made a short-term profit of at least 200 percent on the deal.
According to a Roll Call analysis of public records, McHenry this year held properties worth roughly $850,000 combined. McHenry also owns natural gas stakes worth about $15,000 and draws on bank accounts holding $16,000 to $65,000.
McHenry is hardly Congress' wealthiest Member — far from it. He borrowed heavily to finance the deals and also went into debt to pay for his first Congressional campaign. But his relatively paltry net worth on paper belies the brisk appreciation of his modest nest egg, providing a rare glimpse at a junior Member who has proved to be adept at the real estate game.
"I am proud of the success I have had in real estate," the Congressman said in a statement provided to Roll Call. "I'm a capitalist."
Growing a Nest Egg
McHenry at first made money the old-fashioned way: He inherited it. The lawmaker declined to value his portion of the family estate, which he received when his father, who owned a commercial lawn-mowing company, died in 2000.
Using current property values, the real estate holdings McHenry inherited from his father and still owns are now worth about $275,000 — a sum likely worth far less when he signed on as a Bush administration political appointee in early 2001.
A little more than a year after graduating from college at the end of 1999, McHenry began what would become a short-term stint at the Labor Department. Needing a place to live, in early 2001 McHenry and a friend purchased a home for $285,000 in the now-booming eastern portion of Washington, D.C.'s Capitol Hill neighborhood.
Within a year, McHenry and his friend had sold the property. Their take on the flip: about $50,000.
In 2002, McHenry was elected to a seat in the North Carolina House of Representatives and began investing heavily in Gaston County-area real estate. The area, once flush with steady factory work, was hemorrhaging manufacturing jobs. Media reports at the time claim that from 1999 to 2002, Gaston County alone lost more than 7,000 textile jobs. From 2001 to 2002, the county's residential foreclosure rate doubled.
In an interview, one local real estate agent described the local housing market around 2003 as "terrible."
"We were predominantly textile [mills]," the Gaston County real estate agent said. "Almost all of the textile plants have moved to other countries."
McHenry made his move, plowing the $25,000 profit from his Washington, D.C., home sale into a three-bedroom, two-bath Gaston County house at 1426 Buckingham Ave., which he purchased in November 2001 for $80,000. After some light remodeling, McHenry sold the property two years later for $110,000.
By 2003, McHenry was serving his first term in the North Carolina Legislature. The year before, McHenry, with his older brother, William, purchased a 12-unit apartment building in Gaston County for $312,000. The building, located at 215 Robinson Road in Gaston County, was last purchased in 1986 for $286,000.
In 2003, property records also show the McHenry brothers purchased a two-bedroom, one-bath house located at 621 W. Garrison Blvd., also in Gaston County, for $25,000.
On his disclosure forms, McHenry estimated that the property is now worth $15,001 to $50,000. According to the most recent tax assessment, the home is now worth about $60,000, 140 percent more than he paid for it.
Unlike some states, county revenue departments in North Carolina are required to value property at 100 percent of a home's market value; that is, while the assessments aren't perfect or uniform, McHenry and other property owners generally can expect to sell their homes for at least the amount listed on their tax bills. According to the Gaston County tax assessment office, property appraisers finished their most recent round of assessments in early 2007.
A Gaston County real estate agent also said the local market has perked up dramatically since 2003 and, overall, continues to trend upward. But the agent also warned that some local sellers are now feeling the burn from tanking subprime mortgage markets, a slowdown the realtor said likely is temporary.
"We're seeing stirring activity," the agent said. "Things are improving."
With McHenry and his brother making the most of a soft market, the then-state legislator also again struck out on his own, buying up at least three more properties in the area under his own name. At the time, McHenry's only disclosed income was a $21,000 salary from the North Carolina Legislature.
In 2003 he bought another home in Gaston County, which he has never listed on Congressional disclosure statements. McHenry purchased the property, a four-bedroom, two-bath home located at 1100 Requa Road, late in the year for $110,000.
Local tax records estimate that the property was worth about $143,000 in early 2007. McHenry recently put the house on the market for $119,000.
House Ethics Rules Hazy
By 2005, McHenry was a first-term Congressman, representing a rural and suburban district sandwiched between booming Charlotte and Asheville to the west. Months after he was sworn in, he purchased a foreclosed lakefront condominium in Catawba County, the population center of his district, for $140,000.
McHenry has never disclosed purchase or ownership of the property on his financial disclosure statements.
Current House ethics rules are hazy on the exact types of properties Members must disclose on their financial disclosure statements. According to the House Ethics Manual, Members are not required to disclose primary or secondary homes they are not renting out for income, nor property not held primarily for investment purposes.
Through his father's estate, McHenry also owns at least $40,000 worth of lakefront property in nearby Lincoln County. McHenry also has never listed the parcel, which he shares with his siblings, on his financial disclosure forms.
About one year ago, McHenry purchased another home on Requa Road in Gaston County, this time from Allen Fraley, a Gaston County commissioner. McHenry and Fraley, who privately negotiated the deal, completed the sale on Oct. 27, 2006. McHenry paid Fraley $87,500 for the home. A local revenue official appraised the property months later for about $113,000, roughly $25,000 more than the sale price of the house.
Days after the sale, campaign finance documents show that an Allen Fraley from Cherryville, N.C., gave McHenry a $500 campaign contribution. Fraley did not respond to repeated messages from Roll Call.
On his 2007 financial disclosure statement, McHenry estimated that the home was worth $50,001 to $100,000.
A Big Payday
McHenry also lists on his 2007 disclosure a property at 4211 Pete Brown Road, which he estimated was worth $100,001 to $250,000. The lawmaker owned 10 percent of the property, a 40-acre rural plot in Mecklenburg County, which McHenry's father bought with a friend in 1988 for $73,000.
Less than three months after he filed his disclosure forms, public records show McHenry and the property's other owners sold it for $1.5 million to Harris Woods, a company affiliated with E.C. Griffith Co., meaning McHenry's share of the take was $150,000.
A company representative did not respond to attempts by Roll Call to discuss the deal. McHenry said he was not involved in the deal over the property at all, other than occasionally being apprised of the progress in the negotiations by his brother and sister.
The rural property had been rezoned to accommodate redevelopment by the firm, which expects to build 1,104 new homes on or near the McHenry plot. As late as May 2005, McHenry estimated on his disclosure forms that his share of the Pete Brown Road property was worth at most $50,000.
"The Congressman's four real estate transactions since being elected were all conducted on the open market and have been fully and accurately disclosed under House rules," McHenry's Chief of Staff Parker Poling said in a statement. "His experience as a small businessman is an asset to the people of western North Carolina."