text:
Deep Breath: Primary Results Are In
Whew, the primaries had some surprises. We'll be digesting that race for a while, as we turn the corner and head into the general election.
I want to say something about Dana Beyer. Dana ran for House of Delegates in District 17, against tough competition, and did not advance to the general election. Her name is not well known to the public but she campaigned hard, she knocked on every door in her district even in killer summer heat. If you lived in her district you would have seen her ads all over the Internet, hers was one of the first "modern" campaigns in our area, in that sense. She worked the social media, email, phone banks, and ran geographically-targeted ads on many popular Internet sites. She ended up about 1,300 votes behind the guy she had to beat, out of 18,000 votes cast.
I am proud to know Dana. She has been a supporter of TeachTheFacts.org from the very beginning. She is cheerful, intelligent, hard-working, and took the most solidly progressive position of any politician in the state, I'd say. She is fearless in standing up for what is right.
Dana could have run as "the transgender candidate," but she has moved beyond the novelty of that. A few news outlets discussed her groundbreaking campaign in those terms, but Dana herself ran on the important policy issues. Her gender identity probably cost her some votes, but she did not make it a central point, and I am proud of that. She ran as a tough lefty, a defiant progressive ready to take on the establishment.
There were a couple of other results to talk about. Most incumbents kept their jobs in yesterday's election, but County Council member Duchy Trachtenberg did not. The Citizens for Responsible Whatever might want to claim credit for that, uh not so fast, buster. There was a lot going on there. Duchy had a lot of money in the bank, apparently saving it for the general election on the assumption she would get through the primaries, and she did not run much of a campaign.
The Post said this about her:
Ms. Trachtenberg, who can be cantankerous, is not winning popularity contests on the council or with public employee unions, with whom she has tangled. But she distinguished herself as the first of the at-large council members to sound the alarm on the county's grave fiscal problems and has been a tough and consistent voice for trimming spending and budgeting responsibly.
And that sums it up. She stood firm for cutting costs, and that meant somebody got the short end of the stick. She was picketed by firefighters and police during the campaign, as a result of her budget trimming . She came in fifth in a field where the top four move forward.
It is worth noting that Marc Elrich cleaned up in the County Council at-large race, far ahead of Hans Riemer who finished second; expected leader George Leventhal came in fourth. The pundits expected Elrich to do well, but not this well.
Roger Manno beat Mike Lennett for District 19 State Senator in a closely contested race. Also, the Republican candidate for governor who was endorsed by Sarah Palin got his butt kicked. Apparently Palin does not have the magic touch around here. On the other hand, 45 of the 48 candidates recommended on MCEA's Apple Ballot won their races in Montgomery County.
Anti-MCPS, anti-LGBT stealth candidate Martha Schaerr came in second for District 5 Board of Education, and will advance to the general election. She kept her views secret throughout the campaign season, I believe we were the only ones to publicize them. She was the only woman on the ballot for that district, and I hear she is personable and nice, if that's what you like. She got more than half as many votes as incumbent Mike Durso. Those two will battle it out in November.
Trachtenberg is the chair of the "Management and Fiscal Policy" committee. She managed us into a fiscal mess. (As well as a spiritual mess but we must deal with one mess at a time.)
"Also, the Republican candidate for governor who was endorsed by Sarah Palin got his butt kicked."
actually, this is the first governor endorsement that Sarah has missed on
she really didn't put in much effort though
when Brian Murphy decided to run, it was thought that Ehrlich wasn't going to, so he was filling a vacuum
as it was, he spent hardly any money and got a quarter of the votes, indicating the moderate non-stances of Ehrlich aren't that popular
it's not a good sign for Ehrlich and he would be advised to meet with Palin to find ways to fix up his positions
Brian would have made a better candidate and is a great guy
he runs a bakery that makes Maryland's official state dessert, the Smith Island Cake
you guys should go on his website and order one
"The pundits expected Elrich to do well, but not this well."
my theory is that voters got the name confused with Ehrlich
"Anti-MCPS, anti-LGBT stealth candidate Martha Schaerr came in second for District 5 Board of Education, and will advance to the general election. She kept her views secret throughout the campaign season,"
anti-MCPS?
hardly, she wants to improve MCPS, as should every candidate
did she keep her views secret or did she just not highlight past activities that TTF thinks are important but few voters do?
when you get down to it, how much do people know about any school board member's views?
they either like the way things are going or not
Alfred A. Knopf will publish a new children's book by Barack Obama two weeks after the election called "Letters to my Daughters".
It's part of a 1.9 million dollar deal he has with the publisher.
Glad to know he's been keeping busy doing something and finding a way to make a little extra cash during his down time in the Oval Office.
OK, last word on the Koran-burning controversy
it's just amazing how little Barack Obama understands how to use his office
from the Boston Globe today:
"Jones's threat to burn the Koran was ugly and offensive. It deserved to be reviled as an affront to civility, to American values, and to the millions of good Muslims who stand with us in the war against the radicals. But it is never right for the president or his aides to pressure US citizens into silencing themselves or stifling their liberties in order to conciliate violent zealots. If the years since 9/11 have taught us anything, it is that jihadists must be resisted, not appeased."
this was my thought from the beginning
now, it seems to be the consensus
for a while, I thought the world was going crazy
credit to NY Mayor Bloomburg who was the first elected official I heard wise enough and brave enough to say it
"Trachtenberg...managed us into a fiscal mess."
Simplistic thinking from a simple mind. Fiscal policy is an exceedingly difficult area to comprehend...especially in these days.
I have never heard or seen you, "anonymous" propose a single, workable, solution that would untangle the "mess"...other than to mouth the simplistic/simple rants of Palin, Beck, Limbaugh, et al.
I noticed you didn't present yourself as a candidate for public consideration (unless, perchance, you happen to be one of those candidates offered by the Republican "Heil Hitler" crowd.)
"I have never heard or seen you, "anonymous" propose a single, workable, solution"
don't think I'm the anonymous you were talking to but how about reducing the non-teacher employees of MCPS by 10% and cutting teacher salaries to what they would be if they only gone up by the CPI rate for the last ten years and increasing average class size by one student?
there's a solution
I'm very surprised that you didn't even bother to mention the victory of Bonnie Cullison in D-19, one of the few openly gay candidates in Montgomery County this year. She will be a huge help to LGBT causes in Annapolis!
"Anonymous" (Whichever one you are)
Simplistic solutions for complex problems. Consider this:
I believe MCPS teachers have accepted no salary increase for the past three years and will not receive one for this school year.
Increasing a classroom by just one student never translates to that in the vast number of classrooms (taking into account special classes, unique offerings - all designed to help students who need help or should have options that would enhance their futures) or reducing MCPS "non-teacher" staff without realizing the impact that can have on a teacher's ability to reach out to and meet the needs of an increasingly diverse student population are simple solutions to very complex problems.
Rather than single out one particular group of citizens(teachers) to assume the burdens of reduced government income, how about reducing the tax burden on teachers as compensation for giving up salary benefits? You should favor that...after all, don't you believe in reduction of taxes, especially when they are wasted on such frivolous things as meeting the expenses of those services you ask of your government but somehow think miraculously appear when demanded.
I know an MCPS teacher. they are extremely well paid. Esp. when you consider they get their summers off.
actually I was looking at the salary my friend made comparing it with what I make and then adjusted for taxes and hours worked.
I was only clearing 10K more on a tax adjusted hours adjusted basis. And I make a lot of money (before taxes that is).
sounds like Citizen has some ideas worth talking about
"Sarah Palin's busy primary endorsement season came to a mostly winning end Tuesday, most notably with victories by two of her "mama grizzlies": Christine O'Donnell, who prevailed in Delaware's GOP Senate primary and Kelly Ayotte's narrow defeat of Ovide Lamontagne in the New Hampshire GOP race for Senate.
By Facebook, via Twitter, the former Alaska governor and 2008 vice presidential candidate has handed out endorsements, well, right and righter this election season. She stood up for U.S. Sen. John McCain, who put her in the spotlight as his running mate. And she spurned home state incumbent Sen. Lisa Murkowski, to support the ultimate upstart winner Joe Miller in Alaska.
In two other races, former New Hampshire attorney general Kelly Ayotte (Palin's pick) held a one-point lead over Ovide Lamontagne (a Tea Party favorite who cast himself as a "true" conservative) in the Granite State with 85 percent of the vote counted Wednesday morning. But Brian Murphy, Palin's long-shot candidate in Maryland's gubernatorial primary, lost in a landslide to former Republican Gov. Robert Ehrlich, who will once again face off against Martin O'Malley.
"my theory is that voters got the name confused with Ehrlich"
Except yesterday was *primary election day* and primaries are closed in MD, which means only registered Republicans can vote in the Republican primary and only Democrats can vote in the Democratic primary. Marc Elrich's name only appeared on Democratic Primary Ballots and Robert Ehrlich's name only appeared on Republican Primary Ballots.
Your theory is wrong. No news there!
I still think that's what happened
nancy with the laughing face said...
"House Speaker Nancy Pelosi cheered the Tea Party victories in Tuesday's Republican primaries, saying the results were "very positive" for Democrats.
"What happened for Democrats last night was very positive," Pelosi told reporters after addressing the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation at the Capitol Wednesday morning. "We were very pleased with the candidates that we drew, and they offer a great contrast in the election as to the clarity of the choice."
Pelosi's comments are in line with the Democratic mood following the upset win of Tea Party-backed Christine O'Donnell over Rep. Mike Castle, a long-serving moderate, in the Delaware GOP primary for Senate."
Nancy, Nancy.....
what will we do when we don't have Pelosi to kick around anymore?
"Washington (CNN) – A new poll indicates that only one in four Americans say they trust the government to do what is right always or most of the time"
You're it.
You and your buddies are the ones they don't trust.
Funny you mention that, "Anonymous".
The vast majority of teachers in MCPS get paid on a 10-month basis. Comparing your hours of employment with those an average teacher has (and here we are not talking about your standard 8-hour day...which probably describes your working day)is not possible. Teachers more often than not work much longer hours in the evenings and weekends not stipulated, but assumed to be required of them as "professionals", in the employment contract. Should I assume that you have the luxury of over-time pay?
You stated that you make a lot of money ("only clearing 10k more")...still more than your teacher friend, who also has to pay the same taxes as you, says it all. Very few (in fact the majority of) teachers "get their summer off", especially if they are on the low end of the salary scale (where is your friend on the salary scale, btw?)...often taking classes to further their education (at their expense, of course), participating in teaching-related workshops or curriculum development (on a stipend basis), or sometimes working at a fast-food outlet to supplement their incomes. I assume that you do not have to look for additional employment to supplement a 10-month salary.
The seven-month primary season, which began on Feb. 2 in Illinois, is over. Republicans and conservatives should be pleased by the results.
1. Voters flocked to participate in GOP primaries. National Republican turnout in 2010 has comfortably exceeded Democratic primary turnout. This is as good an indicator as the generic congressional ballot polls as to where the voters are going: They're going to vote for Republicans this November.
2. Christine O'Donnell is the exception to the rule that Republicans have, on the whole, nominated strong, electable and conservative candidates in key Senate, gubernatorial, and House races. GOP House nominees in particular seem very formidable—lots of young, impressive, and well-qualified non-career politicians who are well-positioned to maximize gains from the wave that will sweep in a lot of them in any case this November. Republican candidates for governor are running good races in tough states like CA and IL and OR, and Scott Walker, who won last night in Wisconsin, should have a very good shot there. And for what it's worth, I suspect Rick Scott will turn out to be a better nominee than Bill McCollum would have been in Florida, and I wouldn't be surprised if Carl Paladino could cause trouble for Andrew Cuomo in New York.
In the Senate, Christine O'Donnell will almost certainly lose a seat that could have been won (cf. Oliver North taking the Republican nomination in Virginia in 1994 and losing that winnable seat—Republicans still won the Senate). Sharron Angle is the other somewhat problematic GOP Senate nominee who might give away a likely pickup, though I suspect she wins. But from Ron Johnson (WI) to Carly Fiorina (CA) to Dino Rossi (WA) to Linda McMahon (CT) to John Raese (WV), the GOP has ended up with good candidates with a reasonable chance to upset Democratic incumbents or quasi-incumbents (Blumenthal in CT, Manchin in WV) in states where the Democrats would have been expected to be shoo-ins a few months ago.
3. Tea Party activism, enthusiasm and, yes, rebelliousness have been, on net, a very good thing for the GOP. Now in politics as in life, there can be, on occasions, too much of a good thing. Thus Delaware. But it's still much, much better to be the party to which independents and new voters are flocking, and in which activists are energized, than not. And it's better for the GOP, as the out party, that the anti-establishment and anti-incumbent wave is still building (which it clearly is) rather than ebbing. A year ago, the liberal media hoped tea partiers were going to generate suicidal third-party challenges, scare off independents from the Republicans, and generally destroy the Republican party. It turns out they've probably cost the GOP one Senate seat on the way to a huge off-year election victory. It's a small price to pay.
My understanding was that MCPS teachers received raises averaging 21% over the past 3 years. Am I mistaken? Did they receive raises this year?
So far all the tea party is doing is giving the GOP fits. It's been a barrel of fun watching what the radical wing of the GOP has done to the Grand Old Party. r.
There's fun reading all over the internets, where the google comes in handy!
Karl Rove Questions Christine O'Donnell's 'Serious Character Problems' | Hannity
http://www.foxnews.com/on-air/hannity/transcript/karl-rove-questions-christine-o039donnell039s-039serious-character-problems039
Karl Rove on Christine O'Donnell: "This Is Not a Race We're Going to Be Able to Win"
http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/karl-rove-christine-odonnell-not-race-were-going-be-able-win
Civil War: Karl Rove Slams Christine O'Donnell – Sean Hannity, Michelle Malkin And More Fire Back
http://www.mediaite.com/online/civil-war-karl-rove-slams-christine-odonnell-sean-hannity-michelle-malkin-and-more-fire-back/
The loss of moderate GOP stalwarts like Mike Castle means the choice will be very clear in November. Do we continue with the programs enacted when we elected Obama that kept us from falling into the abyss the Bush Administration left us falling into into or do we want to go back to those Bush policies like cutting taxes for millionaires, shipping jobs overseas, and borrowing from China to fund needless wars while what's left of the shrinking middle class begs for unemployment extensions and mortgage refinancing?
Compare the facts said...
"Obama Mortgage Modification Plan -- 100 Times Better Than Bush
Just about every posting regarding the Obama mortgage modification program says it's a dud. Those on the left say not enough has been done, those on the right say too many homeowners are washing out of the program. What's too often left out is any sense of context.
The reality is that the Obama loan modification program has saved roughly 100 times as many homes from foreclosure as the programs started under President Bush. That doesn't mean the Obama plan is perfect or wonderful, but it's surely better than many commentators suggest."
Read details of the Bush programs (Hope For Homeowners - saved 71 loans, FHASecure - saved 4,110 loans) and the Obama program (Making Home Affordable saved 389,198 loans) designed to prevent foreclosures at
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/peter-g-miller/obama-mortgage-modificati_b_694059.html
"The bottom line: The Obama program has so far saved 389,000 borrowers from foreclosure, a number which will increase in the coming months and a number which is now nearly 100 times greater than the foreclosure prevention results under the Bush Administration.
Is it good that more than nearly 530,000 borrowers have so far dropped out of the program? Of course not, it's a terrible thing to face foreclosure.
But ask yourself: When did the foreclosure mess begin? Why did past bouts of unemployment not produce a flood of foreclosures? Why did regulators let lenders offer toxic loans? Why weren't distressed borrowers helped before, when the foreclosure crisis first began to unfold? How much help and enthusiasm have lenders given the Administration's modification efforts? What better alternative has anyone been able to offer the 530,000 borrowers who did not succeed with Making Home Affordable?
Blaming the Obama program for failing to save more distressed homeowners is like a guy in a life raft who drills a hole in the bottom and then complains that everyone else isn't bailing fast enough. It just isn't right."
--Peter G. Miller
Blogger and nationally syndicated columnist
Posted: August 25, 2010 11:58 AM
three posts about Karl Rove's views
makes one wonder what everyone else think
what you guys all fail to realize is that by bucking the Republican establishment, the Tea Party is establishing itself as a third alternative
Americans rejected moderate Republicanism in 2008 and the only alternative was Democratic liberalism
while it's true they don't want to go back to the moderate Bush Republican establishment, they even more clearly have rejected liberalism, now that they have seen what it looks like
the Tea Party is the third choice and the wave is going to wash America clean
the only survivors will be those like John McCain, who ducked under and got behind the wave to ride it to shore
and at the end of the summer, those who ridiculed Sarah Palin's political future at the beginning of the summer...
look pretty ridiculous
raft party in Boston harbor said...
"Do we continue with the programs enacted when we elected Obama that kept us from falling into the abyss the Bush Administration left us falling into into or do we want to go back to those Bush policies like cutting taxes for millionaires, shipping jobs overseas, and borrowing from China to fund needless wars while what's left of the shrinking middle class begs for unemployment extensions and mortgage refinancing?"
that the Democrats feel this line of reasoning is a winner in November is a dream within a dream for the Tea Party
Merle said...
"the only survivors will be those like John McCain, who ducked under and got behind the wave to ride it to shore"
I love this analogy. I can just see John McCain ducking under a wave to ride it to shore. Oh, and then ending up behind it. What a picture, John McCain in his baggies, humming "I Get Around" underwater, behind the wave.
it's kind of sad when the president of Iran displays better common sense than the president of the U.S.
strange times and change is coming:
"(Sept. 16) -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says burning Qurans is "ugly behavior," but it doesn't make Muslims hate all Americans.
Despite controversies in the U.S. over a proposed mosque near New York's ground zero and a Florida pastor who wanted to burn copies of the Quran, Ahmadinejad said in a TV interview aired today that Muslims "are not against the people of the United States."
In an NBC News interview, he said that Iranians "are not against Americans, they are not against Jews. They are not against Christians or Christianity.""They are not against Americans, they are not against Jews. They are not against Christians or Christianity," Ahmadinejad told NBC."
You must be the only conservative on the planet who thinks there is any truth to any words that come out of the mouth of the President of Iran.
Your desperation to find something, ANYthing negative to say about President Obama shows just exactly how worried you really are. You stooped all the way down to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, for crying out loud!!
You are pathetic!
President Obama tried to pressure an American citizen into forgoing their freedom of speech to appease those who might react violently.
President Muji-bad didn't try to use the incident to stir further anti-American hatred and violence.
Barry doesn't know what he's doing and let this Iranian nut look magnanimous in comparison.
"this Iranian nut look magnanimous in comparison" to a nut like you!
that lyin', snivellin' Obama said...
It was a year ago this month that President Barack Obama stood before a joint session of Congress to confront accusations that his health care overhaul would raise costs for everyone and put Medicare at risk.
"Bogus claims," said the president.
"You lie!" shouted Rep. Joe Wilson from the gallery, in a break from decorum that was roundly chastised.
A year later, we know that Wilson was right -- Obama did trash the truth to make his health care train wreck seem as if it sprung from the Big Rock Candy Mountain. The president, who told Congress and the American people his bill would, "slow the growth of health care costs for our families, our businesses, and our government," now ADMITS this isn't true.
"As a consequence of us getting 30 million additional people health care, at the margins that's going to increase our costs -- we knew that," Obama said last week.
Of course he knew, but he wasn't saying so as he lobbied for the bill's passage. In his 2009 speech, Obama assured Americans the expense of extending coverage to the uninsured would be covered through cost cutting reforms.
He was a big liar!
In the six months since the president signed the bill, not one significant cost-cutting reform has been adopted. Congress, as predicted, avoided cutting Medicare reimbursement rates, a key component of Obama's projected savings.
Instead of declining, Medicare costs are expected to continue to rise at an average rate of 6.3 percent over the next decade.
And the pain to consumers is already being felt. Next week, the first mandates of Obamacare kick in, and will add 1 percent to 9 percent to insurance premiums.
Those requirements will boost health expenditures by $10.2 billion over the next 2 1/2 years, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Consumers will pay every dime.
Much of Obama's 2009 speech was aimed at reassuring seniors that Medicare as they knew it would not change, except to become more efficient. But the bill is now expected to drive at least 50 percent of seniors out of Medicare Advantage plans, raising their out-of-pocket costs.
At the other end of the age spectrum, the low-premium, high-deductible catastrophic polices favored by students and young adults are also at risk because of the bill's mandates.
So much for Obama's promise that, "Nothing in our plan requires you to change what you have."
As for Obama's assurance that he wouldn't put private insurers out of business, his Health and Human Services secretary, Kathleen Sebelius, this week contradicted that claim in warning insurance companies not to blame rate hikes on Obamacare lest they be cut off from government payments. In other words, toe the administration's propaganda line or risk going to the gulag. Even free speech is sacrificed to keep the Big Lie of Obamacare from exposure.
Nearly all of the promises the president made in advance of Obamacare's passage are unraveling.
There's no reason to trust that any of the benefits touted by Obama will materialize, or not to fear that all of the doomsday scenarios -- from rationing to the collapse of the private medical system -- won't.
Joe Wilson, you were rude. And you were right.
"Those requirements will boost health expenditures by $10.2 billion over the next 2 1/2 years, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services."
I just searched the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services website and found no such statement anywhere. Let's see if you can find a way to verify this bogus claim by the "spineless, inept, intellectually-challenged Detroit Newsistan Editorial Page Editor Nolan Finley," the author of the editorial you chopped up is full of it.
Good news!! said...
There was more, incremental progress on the labor front, as initial jobless claims fell 3,000 to 450,000 and continuing claims plunged 84,000 to 4.49 million last week, the U.S. Labor Department announced Thursday.
Initial jobless claims have now fallen about 11% since early summer.
In addition, the four-week moving average plummeted 13,500 to 464,750.
A year ago, initial jobless claims totaled 547,000, the four-week moving average was at 559,500, and continuing claims totaled 6.11 million.
States also reported 4.11 million persons claiming Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) benefits for the week ending Aug. 28, the latest week for which data is available, a decrease of 402,116 from the prior week.
Another sign that labor markets continue to heal after the summer doldrums concerns claims totals among states that experienced increases in initial jobless claims.
For the week ending Sept. 4, the latest week for which data is available, the states with the highest claims increases had low totals: Pennsylvania, 1,442; Washington state 1,190; and Texas, 809. That's something one sees as layoffs subside and hiring picks up. Moreover, if that trend continues in the months ahead, it will confirm a labor market that's healing.
there's going to have to a dramatically improved situation, to an extent never occurring before, to save Dems before the November election
"I just searched the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services website and found no such statement anywhere."
I didn't find the statement outlandish. I thought it conservative. The expansion of services has to be paid for and you know who will be paying.
Everybody in our society that is productive.
obama is such a liar said...
"I just searched the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services website and found no such statement anywhere. Let's see if you can find a way to verify this bogus claim"
that was tough
you actually have to be able to use tricky software, like Google:
CMS actuaries printed the study of health spending in the journal Health Affairs. Here's the link:
http://content.healthaffairs.org/cgi/content/full/hlthaff.2010.0788v1
"Affordable Care Act Immediate reforms in the Affordable Care Act are also estimated to affect health spending during 2010–13. These include the implementation of the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan, or high-risk insurance pools for those with health conditions that make it difficult to acquire affordable individually purchased coverage. Enrollment in the program is expected to peak at about 375,000 people covered in 2011. Also affecting health spending is the Affordable Care Act provision for coverage of dependents under age twenty-six, which is expected to peak at about 1.5 million people covered in 2013. In total, these provisions are estimated to increase national health spending by $10.2 billion through 2013."
so, the anonymous TTFer owes an apology to both Nolan Finley and Joe Wilson
change is coming
tomorrowland said...
The National Abstinence Education Association (NAEA) just released its report on which states applied for Title V abstinence-education funding. An encouraging three out of every five governors elected to apply for Title V abstinence education by the Aug. 30 deadline.
Prior to the deadline, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services held back the results of a pivotal abstinence study, which featured results contrary to the Obama administration's policy of "zeroing out" all abstinence-education funding.
As a result of public pressure, the taxpayer-funded survey –"The National Survey of Adolescents and Their Parents" – was released in time for wavering governors to re-apply for critical funding for their states' abstinence programs, which end on Sept. 30.
States that participated in the 2009 Title V abstinence-only education program were:
Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington and West Virginia.
Compared to 2009, there were eight new states that applied for the FY2011 funding:
Delaware, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York and Virginia
The state chapters of Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice were outraged after learning that Republican Govs. Bob McDonnell of Virginia and Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota opted to forego the government-preferred Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) funding for the abstinence-only funding option.
Victoria Cobb, president of The Family Foundation of Virginia, did not mince words when defending McDonnell's decision.
"Despite the rhetoric from the economic loser in this decision – Planned Parenthood – recent studies have shown that abstinence education effectively helps teens postpone risky sexual behavior," Cobb said.
Planned Parenthood of Virginia would have been a substantial recipient of PREP funds.
Tom Pritchard, executive director of the Minnesota Family Council, equally defended Pawlenty's decision. He told the Star Tribune, "It's better to spend no money on sex education if it's going to have a condom message. You are pouring fuel on the fire."
The pro-abortion groups were not the only ones that went after the governors. Liberal, sex groups like Sexuality Information Education Council of the U.S (SIECUS) – a fringe, Kinsey-rooted policy organization –fought against Title V funding and lobbied the Obama Administration to zero out abstinence funding.
The Huffington Post, a liberal website, also tried besmirch the governors for opposing President Obama's "comprehensive sex education" program.
Bruce Gordon, communications director for Pawlenty, said, "The governor has consistently prioritized abstinence amongst family planning options."
Stacey Johnson, spokesperson for McDonnell, the McDonnell's decision was consistent with his past support of abstinence-only education, as proven when he opposed the decision of his predecessor, Gov. Tim Kaine, of eliminating the funding.
Chad Hills, an abstinence and sexual health analyst, applauds the 30 governors who listened to put sound public policy over politics.
"It's encouraging to know that several governors realize the importance of upholding the highest expected standard for sexuality within their public and private schools," Hills said. Parents and teens support the message of abstinence, and citizens are encouraged to thank the governors who opted to make their decisions based on principle and the will of the people –not on political correctness."
What do five Grand Old Tea Party US Senate candidates, Ken Buck of Colorado, Sharron Angel of Nevada, Rand Paul of Kentucky, Joe Miller of Alaska and Christine O'Donnell of Delaware, have in common besides wanting to reduce the size and scope of government? They are radical anti-abortion crusaders who think not only should abortion be outlawed, but they think there should be no exception even in the event of rape or incest.
These supposed small government tea bag candidates think the government has the right to force females of any age to give birth to their rapist's baby.
These radicals believe that even preteen girls who are incestuously raped by a family member, which most often are repeated rapes for many years, should carry any resulting pregnancies to term.
As the GOP continues its purge of moderates from within their shrinking "big tent," they demand that those who remain in the GOTP are "anti-abortion."
They hope to impose their religious views on the rest of us, whether we practice their religion or not.
An interesting graph of facts by the Census Bureau is found here:
http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty/data/incpovhlth/2009/pov09fig04.pdf
Look at 1980 when Reagan came into office. The number of Americans living in poverty rose a lot until about 1984 and then it came down a little bit through 1989 before rising again through 1994. From 1994 through 2000, during the Clinton Administration, the number of Americans trying to get by at the poverty level fell at a relatively steady rate. Clinton's programs left us with a surplus and with the lowest number of Americans living in poverty in years. Then in 2000, the Bush Administration began to undo the programs Clinton had put in place and the number of American living in poverty has been climbing ever since. Since Bush came to office, the number of Americans living in poverty has climbed while the top 2% of wage earners have enjoyed the windfall of the lowest income tax rate in years.
Where are the jobs those lowered tax rates were supposed to create so the poor could lift themselves out of poverty?
sit with me, for a cup of tea said...
the country rejected Republicans two years ago
they are rejecting Democrats now
glad you recognize that the GOTP, as you call it, is a third party
please help us continue to make that clear to the voters
hope is not lost
there is another way
btw, if you think belief in the value of all life, including that of the weak, is merely a "religious" idiosyncrasy, you've followed Alice down the rabbit hole and taken a turn down a very dark subterranean corridor
America will be restored and revived soon
stay underground
MCPS teachers, administrators, aides, et al. received no raise in salary this year. There may be an opening in the negotiated agreement to bring up the issue again for the next school year, depending on acknowledged and agreed-upon analyses of the budget needs at that time.
"if you think belief in the value of all life, including that of the weak, is merely a "religious" idiosyncrasy, you've followed Alice down the rabbit hole and taken a turn down a very dark subterranean corridor"
Anyone who thinks forcing a 12 year old girl who was raped and impregnated by a relative or any other man for that matter should be forced to bear her rapist's baby does not value that 12 year old girl's life one bit.
"The vast majority of teachers in MCPS get paid on a 10-month basis. ....."
I don't get paid overtime, I work base + commission and typically work about 50-55 hours a week, not including travel.
My total comp package is over double hers. The number she was quoting was her 10 month salary with 2 months off and she doesn't work during the summer months. She also doesn't take her work home... but she is still a great teacher.
When I took the 50 hours as my average work week, and compared my take home after tax pay with hers, I was at about 10K more after tax than she was, though on paper I make double. I know all this because we were talking specifics, and she was debating whether or not to take a management job she has been offered. It was a 30K bump in salary but would require overtime and summer work. Thus we did a DETAILED calculation of the amount more she would take home...We decided it probably wasn't worth it. During this detailed conversation we realized that on a take home basis, I was only making 10K more per year...
I am not going to mention the specific amounts but teachers in MC are quite well paid, not even mentioning the teachers pension !
MC teachers are SO well paid because of the outrageous influence of the MCEA (the apple ballot).
Check out the washington post article on the apple ballot if you have not read it already... it was great.
Look I am not saying teachers shouldn't be well paid. Of course they should be. But, given we have practically zero inflation and are bordering on deflation, giving teachers a raise in MC or even a tax cut should really not be a discussion point.
Not until things get better.
AS mentioned previously, teachers will NOT be receiving a salary raise this school year.
Teacher's salaries are not a by-product of the Apple Ballot...they result from actual negotiations between the Board's representatives (and not the Board directly) and the teacher's representatives. Bargaining an employment contract is a time-honored practice (even the employees of the Washington Post participate in this process); it results in an Agreement that is reached by COMPROMISE. Arms are not twisted, fists are not pounded or shaken in the faces of others, reprisals are not flung about...the process is civil (civility: something that we seem to have forgotten in our Tea-Bagger-rude society these days.) and the results are approved by a majority vote of the teachers and by members of the B.O.E. This year the teachers agreed to forego a salary increase, voluntarily and by a vote of the 12,000 members of MCEA.
"I am not saying teachers shouldn't be well paid. Of course they should be." I'm glad you concede that point...but to single out teachers by reducing their salaries in order to pay for the demands that citizens make on their government seems to be more than severe. When you agree to give back your commissions and your other benefits (thereby reducing your tax burden) maybe we could talk more about this questionable suggestion.
Oh...and btw..."teachers in MC are quite well paid, not even mentioning the teachers pension !"
Perhaps you can give me some pointers about how I can live at your level of living on my $15,00/yr. teacher's pension (which is taxed by both Maryland and the U.S. government), my mounting health care costs, and my loss of income when my additional retirement investment portfolio went south in 2009.
Don't blame educators for the problems that have resulted from 8 years of mismanagement of the Federal budget by the previous administration.
Citizen.
My husband company also did not give out raises, mine not only didn't give raises but cut everyones salary by 10% last year and hasn't restored it.
Everyone is struggling. The poverty level is the highest it's been in 50 years. So no, teachers shouldn't get raises either !
Which they didn't. They have a job and should be grateful for it.
Have you read this article ?
"Teachers are a bedrock of any community, and they deserve good salaries and benefits for doing a tough and important job. The problem in Montgomery is not its teachers. Rather, it is that the MCEA, the largest union in the county, is in effect hiring its own bosses -- members of the school board, who vote on the teachers' contract, and County Council members, who approve the overall county budget -- and is getting paid for it in the bargain. This twisted system has fueled skyrocketing payroll costs -- including a 23 percent pay raise for a typical teacher over the past three years, plus extraordinary health and retirement benefits -- even as private-sector wages have stagnated. "
I'm assuming that you and your husband had nothing to say about your salary situations? Perhaps you should work to unionize your co-workers! The alternative, I guess, is to seek other positions to support your two-income lifestyle. I'm sorry that you are having the same kind of financial problems that even educators in Montgomery Council are dealing with.
How easy it is to forget the decades of below-average salaries that teachers had to accept, even after long years of experience and service...putting them on the same level as domestic workers. After all, it was a pretty cheap way for the public to pay for day-care and baby sitting and providing the care that their kids weren't getting at home.
Yes...you are correct: MCPS teachers and other employees have been paid well in the past few years. But consider that in the same way you consider commissions available in other lines of work. When you succeed in your line of work...when you can show measurable improvements in your "product"; when you meet the goals and objectives of your company; when you meet the stringent criteria imposed on you to be an "above average teacher"; and when you become recognized nationally for the high quality of your schools...increases in salary are the rewards.
No one disagrees with you that we are in difficult financial times. Not too many people agree that we all have to do our part in dealing with the situation, however. The solution, however, is not to single out a group of workers (stress: workers) and punish them, after they have already given up three years of salary improvements, in order to bail out the system.
Forcing "grateful" people out of doing the nation's education work is more than short-sighted...it is a prescription for disaster.
(Decided to withhold my I.D. and be Anonymous, like you)
"This twisted system has fueled skyrocketing payroll costs -- including a 23 percent pay raise for a typical teacher over the past three years, plus extraordinary health and retirement benefits -- even as private-sector wages have stagnated. "
So the article was wrong ? You say teachers haven't gotten any increases over the past 3 years, but this article says they have gotten a 23% raise.
When the economy improves the teachers can get their payroll increases back, hows that ? Ie, when the large private companies start giving increases again than the teachers can get increases too...
I can tell you in the private sector there was no such thing as 23% over the past 3 years... more like 3% if you got an increase at all...
You have again quoted this mysterious 23% article. Do you have a link to this article? I'd love to read it.
Anon posted a URL to a WaPo editorial that quoted the 23% figure.
"I can tell you in the private sector there was no such thing as 23% over the past 3 years... more like 3% if you got an increase at all..."
I guess it depends on which part of the private sector you're talking about.
"Executives and shareholders of the five biggest for-profit health insurers, Unitedhealth Group Inc., WellPoint inc., Aetna Inc., Humana Inc., and Cigna Corp., enjoyed combined profit of $12.2 billion in 2009, up 56 percent from the previous year. It was the best year ever for Big Insurance."
Editorials don't need facts. The Washington Post Editorial Board has a problem with MCEA. I was wondering if there was any actual REPORTING that claimed that figure, not the Post Editorial Board's throwing things out there as fact without actual information to back them up.
the salary sites say MC teachers are paid 15% more than teachers nationwide.
that would probably be okay, but I think that this site may already adjust for cost of living on the area...
http://www.indeed.com/salary/q-Teacher-l-Montgomery-County,-MD.html
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text:
New trains for Scotland being tested in Germany
5 people found this useful
Testing of Hitachi Rail Europe Class 385s has moved to Germany, ahead of the trains entering service in December.
Two electric multiple units have moved from the Velim test track in the Czech Republic to Minden (near Hanover), where they will be tested on a range of different routes at speeds up to 100mph. They will be based there until October. The EMUs involved are three-car 385002 and four-car 385101.
HRE says the testing is being carried out in Germany to speed up the process, owing to the busy nature of the UK rail network. The work in Germany is in addition to that being conducted by 385001 and 385102 in Scotland.
For more on this, read RAIL 835, published on September 13.
For an EXCLUSIVE interview with ScotRail Alliance Managing Director Alex Hynes, read RAIL 833, available from Back Issues or via Android/iPad.
Hitachi Rail Europe
ScotRail Alliance
EGIP
I'm surprised that the Old Dalby test track isn't being used as well
The Class 385's do have character in them. Even though they are commuter EMU trains that will be used on the newly electrified Glasgow-Edinburgh line via High Falkirk and to operate on other routes including the North Berwick line and to work alongside the Class 380's.
Caledonian Sleeper MD to leave post once replacement is appointed
@rhwilson83 @martin_lowe @NinaLockwood @theJeremyVine @WilliamBarter1 @GarethDennis Another day for sure Ryan....st… https://t.co/9ccpnP8CsZ

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


What a lovely experience! Thanks for sharing. It reminds me that the world is full of wonderful people. A very uplifting post.
I was a bit reticent about blatantly asking these young men what they were doing, but I went ahead anyway and was really so glad I did.
the honor is all ours & it was a pleasure meeting you hoping it won't be the last time.
P.S: thanks for the lovely way of writing.
Just checked the scores at the Mars Society website. Congratulations Mohamed Assy on your team's high ranking. I hope you had a wonderful time here. Safe journey homeward.


Flexography (often abbreviated to flexo printing) is a kind of printing way which could adopt a flexible plate. It can coordinate with almost any type of substrate, including plastic, wooden, iron, film and paper. it is widely used for paper printing, cardboard printing, and plastic film printing. we always make a solid 3D plate refer to design work, then adapt it to the flexo printing machine. Once the cardboard across, the ink will transfer onto the cardboard, then the printing finished.
As it is a cheap and economical printing process, the customer always applying them on brown/white kraft corrugated fiberboard, rigid card stock, and plastic film.
Box with blue printing looks like a closure ribbon on the box.
Take away packaging carton, single color printing.
Imported rigid Kraft cardstock material, deep black printing.
A simple printed paper bag, well designed.
An eye-care Kraft material for making a magazine.
For the kraft paper (include paper stock), we have the thickness range from 0.04mm to 0.8mm.
As for the printing color number, we could apply as many as six colors, full ink coverage or spot printing.
We always take video for our customer, in the video, you will clearly see what we are doing on the machine. if you need, we will take video for you, or when your boxes are being flexo printed. Please feel free to write an email to us, your needs will be fast satisfied.
Below is the production video for Flexo printed boxes, we own 7 color flexo printing machine available for your demand.


Considerate Hoteliers (CH) has great pleasure in announcing the launch of the 'Considerate Hotel of the Year Awards 2015' – once again supported by Berendsen, Aslotel & EcoPureWater with the eventual winners being announced at an Awards Gala event at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park London on July 3rd 2015.
Considerate Hoteliers is particularly excited about its new alliance with the Slow Food UK's Chef Alliance, as this branches out into an area within the hotel where Chefs are in charge of driving their own sustainability agenda through the food that they serve and the producers they choose to work with. Slow Food and Considerate Hoteliers have many synergies and this strategic new partnership will help enforce the message that the Slow Food motto of "good, fair and clean" can be applied to many aspects of daily life within a hotel.
Applicants in all categories are also asked to nominate their favourite suppliers which will help the judges choose the best companies for the awards.


With English Language Day being celebrated on the 23rd of April, we thought it would only be fitting to provide you with some of the best apps to help you learn English grammar. One of the best things about the advancements in technology is the vast array of tools that are now available to us for all sorts of things.
Apps for education are amazing assets that you can, and should, take advantage of. While there are all sorts of different apps for language learning, we're going to focus on the ones which are perfect for English grammar. So, take a look below and perfect your grammar skills!
First on our list is Basic English Grammar. This app is designed for basic learning skills and boasts over 230 different grammar lessons. It doesn't matter whether you're a fluent English speaker who wants to improve on your grammar skills or if you're learning English as an additional language, especially with over 100 translations available. It's a great app which makes basic grammar a breeze to learn.
The English Grammar Test app is highly rated and one of the most popular apps on Android for learning grammar. There are several different skill levels so you can find a level which suits your needs. You can also monitor and track your progress as you go along although for you to excel you need to put in the commitment. If you put the time in, you can reap rewards with this tool.
Next up we have the Grammarly Keyboard app. This app is a great help for people who are writing in English but aren't too sure about their grammar. It's not a learning tool but a powerful keyboard that will correct mistakes you've made as well recommend solutions to sentences. It's not perfect but it's a fantastic app for people who are struggling with grammar.
Udemy boasts a huge catalog of educational courses that you can do in your spare time. The material on here can range from graphic designer to computer programming, but you can definitely expect a few lessons on grammar nestled in there too. The downside to Udemy is almost every course requires payment but with that said; if you pay for something you are much, much more likely to follow through and commit yourself.
Lastly on our list is English Grammar Book. There are over 130 different grammar points which will be taught to you throughout individual lessons. The app will keep score of your progress and will give you different examples and explanations to help further your learning. It's a great app, even if it does look a little dated.


As an established home Mac repairs business, we know malware and virus removal for Mac. Check out our top picks for the best Mac OSX antivirus software! We recommend you install at least one of these products for the best mac virus protection against malicious attacks, annoying popups and identity theft.
What is Mac Antivirus Software and What Does It Do?
Everyone has heard the common selling point about Apple's Macs preached time and time again: Macs don't get viruses.
The truth of the matter is, however, that although Macs are very good at what they do and are certainly a worthwhile type of computer or laptop to invest your money in, you cannot rely on their already-existing software and interface to protect you from the evil little monsters that live hidden in the shadows of the internet.
While Macs may be beautifully designed and considerably resilient, no one has yet created a computer that is invincible from attacks. But if Macs are vulnerable to viruses, malware, and more, just like any other internet accessible device, then why do so many Mac users browse the internet unprotected, thinking that they are safe from the countless threats that live in the web?
While Macs can still certainly get viruses, it is true that they are subject to fewer threats than their PC counterparts. OS X includes many protections built in to their design that help defend against these invisible monsters, and less threats out there are designed to attack Macs in the first place.
However, while it is true that Macs are less likely to end up with a virus, it's important to remember that viruses aren't the only scary thing that lurks on the web. An attacker can still hijack your computer if you are a Mac user, or you could still pick up malware from the simple act of inserting a USB drive into your computer. Phishing sites are still able to trick you into handing over your personal information.
As you can see, while there are fewer viruses that have Macs on their radar, any device that has access to the internet is vulnerable to its myriad of attacks. This is why it's wise to use Mac antivirus software as well as a top rated VPN service as your final layer of computer protection, when your operating system isn't enough to fight off the dangers of the web for you.
Who is Mac Antivirus Software For?
Mac antivirus software is for anyone who uses a Mac who believes they may one day connect that computer to the internet—or even plug in a USB drive. In short, everyone who owns a Mac, unless that Mac is meant to be a beautiful display that never gets touched in your home.
Believe it or not, you having Mac antivirus software as a Mac user is not only beneficial to you—you're also doing a favor to all of your Windows and Linux friends. While many of these sinister malware and other programs may not be able to run on your Mac, the can still infect it and take up unnecessary space, and from there, they may hitchhike through an email or USB drive to infect your friends or other computers that your Mac interacts with.
To combat these malware and viruses, as well as their sneaky and malicious tactics, Mac antivirus software is often designed to scan for Windows and Linux malware as well as those capable of harming your Mac. This helps to keep your computer tidy and not using more storage space than necessary, as well as aids in protecting your friends.
Why Do I Need Mac Antivirus Software?
Just like how it's recommended you use Windows antivirus software, you also need Mac anti-malware software for your own protection as well as for the protection of those you interact with on your computer. Many people choose to neglect using antivirus software after buying a Mac because of the all-too common myth that "Macs don't get viruses." If only that were true, or if only viruses were the only thing on the web capable of harming your computer—but, unfortunately, that is not the case.
Having Mac antivirus software is simply the smart thing to do, allowing you to browse the web, send emails, and use USBs without fearing a cyber-attack, having your identity stolen, or running into other problems. After all, with technology advancing so quickly nowadays, your computer becomes out-of-date after a short two years—but your computer may not even make it that long if you don't have the necessary protection in place to keep it up and running for the long-haul.
What Are the Pros and Cons of Using Mac Antivirus Software?
Still not convinced that Mac antivirus software is right for you? Let's take a look at the pros and cons to help you determine if installing this additional layer of protection on your computer is the right call.
With Mac antivirus software installed on your computer, you can rest assured that you can safely browse the web without infecting your computer with a dangerous virus, a spammy email or about malware making its home on your computer and hitching a ride via some email to your friends' computers.
Malware and viruses can be found in the most unexpected of places. Not only that, but websites designed to steal your identity have become more and more advanced over time—luring greater numbers of unsuspecting people into their web every day. Keep your computer and your identity safe from harm with the simple act of installing Mac antivirus software.
Peace of Mind – Over time, it is normal for computers to begin to slow down or act up as they age and their software is out of date in comparison to the newer models on the market. However, if your computer starts acting up before its time has come and not performing as it is meant to, then that might be a red flag that a virus or malware has made its way onto your computer.To keep you from having to worry every time your computer skips a beat or isn't functioning properly that a virus is the culprit. Not only that, but you can feel secure on websites online that you won't be giving away your personal information into dangerous hands. With Mac antivirus software, you can trust that you have a layer of protection to protect you from harm always, and that peace of mind that your computer, information, and privacy is secure is priceless.
Upgrade That Sticky Note Over Your Camera – If you're currently like the countless people who are protecting themselves against their computer being hacked by placing a sticky note over their camera, then it's time to upgrade. Instead of comforting yourself with the thought of, "If they do hack my camera, at least they can't see me," it's best to prevent them from hacking your camera in the first place.
But Do Macs Really Get Viruses Anyway? – The answer to this question is a resounding: sometimes.Many people believe their Mac is immune to cyber-attacks. While this is not the case, your Mac certainly is much safer from threats than a PC. If you end up choosing not to get antivirus protection, you may end up never knowing the difference.So, while you might end up being okay without antivirus software, is it really worth the risk? Take our word for it—investing in mac antivirus software is significantly cheaper than simply shelling out the cash for a new computer once your old one gets infected and doesn't run like it once did. Not to mention, any fee for antivirus software is a small price to pay to not have your friends and family frustrated because your computer has infected all theirs with a virus or malware.While the built-in protection that comes with your Mac might be enough to slide by with, you need to ask yourself: Is it really worth the risk?
The Cost – Clearly, any paid Mac antivirus software is going to cost more than having no antivirus software at all. If you're looking to spend the least amount of money possible, then you may want to pass up any Mac antivirus software.Of course, it is also expensive to have to repair or replace your computer, so that's another factor to take into the occasion if finances are one of your primary concerns. Besides, if you take a look at the prices of some of the top Mac antivirus software available on the market, you might be surprised at how affordable they truly are.
While skipping on installing antivirus software onto your Mac is a way to save a quick buck, you also want to consider what is going to cost you the most in the long run. If you're frequently browsing a lot of websites and sharing data with others, it may be in your best interest to invest in an affordable Mac antivirus software.
What Are the Main Features to Look Out for Mac Antivirus Software?
You want your antivirus software to act as a firewall and protect you from any and all cyber-attacks or dangerous software from rooting itself on your computer. With so many different types of threats lurking around on the web, you need an antivirus software that is up for the challenge and ready for anything. Some even go as far as encrypting their internet traffic in order to prevent malicious attacks.
Many antivirus apps for Mac will keep your activity covered on the web, through scanning your traffic or using a URL advisor, letting you know which links are safe to visit.
Firewalls go even further than baseline protection, through controlling the data that flows to and from your Mac. Firewalls tend to be a rare feature in Mac antivirus software, and this is likely because OS X comes with these features already programmed into your device. However, the firewalls that come with these programs are much more advanced and prepared to protect you from anything dangerous you may encounter on the internet.
If you have children, the parental control features that come with many Mac antivirus programs may be a huge plus for you. They allow you to filter and limit the sites children visit online and how long they can surf the web.
What's the point of having an antivirus software that only scans your computer for threats on command? What are you supposed to do—scan your computer every 5 minutes? And those scans can really eat away at your time, as scanning every single file on your computer is far from a lightning fast process.
With real-time scanning, the antivirus software will be constantly scanning your computer for new threats each time you download something new or visit a new website.
In addition to real-time scanning, auto-clean is another feature you will likely really like in your antivirus software. After all, knowing that your computer is being exposed to a threat is only going to do you so much good if the software isn't going to do anything about it. With an auto-clean feature, if the software detects any malicious software, it will automatically delete the code from your computer.
Why wouldn't all programs do this? Good question. What some software does instead if place the malware or virus in a sort of quarantine zone after it detects it, leaving you with the responsibility of logging on and manually deleting the harmful code. However, there's no reason to leave potentially dangerous software on your computer, so it's best to find a program that uses auto-clean to rid itself of viruses automatically.
With the world of viruses and malware moving quickly as people looking to do you harm are always developing new forms, it is vital to keep your antivirus software up to date. Of course, with this means that antivirus software programs are constantly coming out with new updates, and it can be easy to forget and fall behind the times after you haven't updated your software for what only feels like a few short months—but what is practically a millennia in developing years.
Can I get by without Mac antivirus software on my computer?
Yes, you can get by without using an antivirus software on your Mac, but it's risky. Depending on what you use your computer for, and how often you browse the web and share data, you may be more or less at risk for a virus or other malware than other Mac users. At the end of the day, however, it's always better to be safe than sorry.
Can antivirus protection help with a virus I already have?
If you already believe you have a virus on your Mac, then downloading an anti-virus software will help you to detect it and will likely aid you in remedying the issue.
What should I keep in mind while looking for Mac antivirus software?
Look at the features they offer and make sure that it has everything you are looking for handing over your credit card number. Do your research to make sure the software will truly be able to deliver before you install it—and make sure it's compatible with your Mac!


text:
Drosanthemum bicolor är en isörtsväxtart som beskrevs av L. Bol. Drosanthemum bicolor ingår i släktet Drosanthemum och familjen isörtsväxter. Inga underarter finns listade i Catalogue of Life.

Bildgalleri

Källor

Externa länkar

Isörtsväxter
bicolor

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text:
Successful Launch Of Navy Offshore Patrol Vessel
By: New Zealand Defence Force
Published: Mon 20 Nov 2006 03:48 PM
New Zealand Defence Force
Te Ope Kaatua O Aotearoa
Monday 20 November, 2006
Successful Launch Of First Navy Offshore Patrol Vessel
Amidst fanfares, sea shanties and a rousing haka performed by the sailors of the Royal New Zealand Navy, the latest naval ship, the Offshore Patrol Vessel OTAGO, was launched on Saturday 18 November at Williamstown, Melbourne.
At 11.20am Dame Silvia Cartwright, the ship's sponsor,launched the OTAGOwith these words: "I name, and am honoured to launch this ship, OTAGO. May God bless all those who sail in her".
As the champagne bottle smashed against the bow, the pin was removed and a collective gasp and loud cheers from the 3800-strong crowd accompanied OTAGO as she slid down the slipway with clockwork precision.
OTAGO remained briefly at the wharf opposite the RNZN's Multi-Role Vessel CANTERBURY, prior to returning to the Dry Dock to commence her extensive fit out.
Chief of Navy, Rear Admiral David Ledson described the day as memorable for the ship.
"As a sailor, I can't resist giving the ship the qualities of a person. In the New Zealand context, OTAGO moves from the realm ofPapatuanuku, the Earth Mother, to the domain ofTangaroa,the God of the Sea. This is the day where OTAGO tentatively kisses the environment that will be her home for many years."
Commanding Officer of OTAGO, Lieutenant Commander John Butcher is Dunedin-born and Invercargill-bred. "I am very much looking forward to taking her home into both Dunedin and Bluff to show the people of Otago and Southland their ship," he said.


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The Town of Buena Vista (BEW-na Vista) is a Statutory Town located in Chaffee County, Colorado, United States. The town population was 2,855 at the 2020 United States Census.

History
The Arkansas River Valley and the area of what would become Buena Vista was first settled in 1864 by settlers drawn to the area by the plentiful water which made the land suitable for agriculture. By 1880, the county seat had moved from Granite to Buena Vista, but by 1928 Salida had a larger population so the county seat was moved once again. By 1894, Buena Vista had electricity, telephone service, street lights, parks, cemeteries, and schools. Travelers, speculators, and miners traveling up the Arkansas Valley towards Leadville made Buena Vista a popular stagecoach stop, and railroad depot following the 1890s. While certainly experiencing economic ups and downs, the valley's agricultural economy has made the area more resistant to the 'boom, bust' cycle of mining towns.

Buena Vista is located in central Colorado roughly midway between Salida and Leadville in the Upper Arkansas River Valley at an elevation of . The area between Buena Vista and Salida is often referred to as the Denver & Rio Grande, South Park & Pacific, and Colorado Midland railroads. Many of the existing buildings of Buena Vista date back to this era, and were built in the 1880s and 1890s.

The name "Buena Vista", Spanish for "Good View", can often be heard pronounced locally as "Byoo-na Vista". This Americanized pronunciation was specified by Alsina Dearheimer, who chose this name for the town, which was officially selected over other names (Cottonwood, Mahonville) on the occasion of the town's incorporation. Alternate pronunciations include "Bwenna Veesta" (Spanish pronunciation) and simply "Biewnie." Many residents simply refer to the town as "BV".

Trustees recall election
Then-Mayor Cara Russell wrote a column for the Chaffee County Times entitled "How big a payoff do you want?", about the pros and cons of a local land development, on October 29, 2008. Several town trustees believed the vote to annex the Cottonwood Meadows development was lost by a mere 21 votes because of the mayor's letter giving both the advantages and disadvantages of the real estate development.

The column prompted five of the six town trustees to present her with a letter of dismissal on November 10, 2008. Russell requested a hearing over her dismissal. Two weeks later, after the trustees determined that this was not the best course of action, having been informed by the mayor's attorney that they could be in violation of the mayor's First Amendment rights and subject to criminal charges, they voted to withdraw the letter of dismissal.

Russell was re-elected April 6, 2010, and resigned on April 20, 2010, to run for Chaffee County Clerk. On April 16, 2010, Russell filed a federal lawsuit against the town of Buena Vista and five town trustees for violation of her First Amendment rights.

On July 9, 2010, The Mountain Mail newspaper reported that the trustees denied the allegations and contended that they were, under legal doctrines, immune from the lawsuit. They also contended Russell's public statements opposing the annexation were not protected by the First Amendment. Russell and the town of Buena Vista settled the lawsuit with the town paying an undisclosed amount and issuing an apology for violating her First Amendment rights.

Geography
Buena Vista is located in the Upper Arkansas River Valley at  (38.829332 -106.139515).

At the 2020 United States Census, the town had a total area of , all of it land.

Climate
Buena Vista has a Semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification BSk), with cold, dry winters and warm, somewhat wetter summers. Altitude and dryness cause the diurnal temperature variation to be high year-round.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,195 people, 978 households, and 622 families residing in the town. The population density was . There were 1,124 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 96.81% Caucasian, 0.09% African American, 0.64% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.73% from other races, and 1.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.74% of the population.

There were 978 households, out of which 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.2% were married couples living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.3% were non-families. 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.83.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 23.6% under the age of 18, 5.1% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $34,800, and the median income for a family was $40,455. Males had a median income of $32,841 versus $25,486 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,920. About 9.4% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.1% of those under age 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation
U.S. Route 24 is an east–west highway running from Clarkston, Michigan, to its intersection with Interstate 70 near Minturn, Colorado. Its western terminus is located just  north of Buena Vista.

The short segment between US 50 at Poncha Springs and US 24 at Buena Vista was originally U.S. Route 650, designated in 1926. US 285 was commissioned in 1936 along its present extent from Sanderson, Texas, to Denver, mostly replacing state-numbered highways.

Chaffee County Road 306 leaves Buena Vista and travels west to the summit of Cottonwood Pass (elevation . This road is closed during the snowy months, typically late October to April or May, but when open allows travelers a more direct route to Gunnison and Crested Butte than US 50 crossing Monarch Pass to the south of town.

Buena Vista is part of Colorado's Bustang network. It is on the Gunnison-Denver Outrider line.

Notable people
 Christine Arguello (born 1955), federal judge
 Trace Bundy, acoustic guitar player
 Austin Carlile, vocalist, Of Mice and Men
 Mason Finley, American shot putter and discus thrower
 Matt Hemingway, American track and field athlete
 Curtis Imrie, pack burro racer
 Nate Solder, tackle, New York Giants

See also

Colorado
Bibliography of Colorado
Index of Colorado-related articles
Outline of Colorado
List of counties in Colorado
List of municipalities in Colorado
List of places in Colorado
 Arkansas River
 Cottonwood Pass
 Mount Princeton

References

External links

 Town of Buena Vista official website
 CDOT map of the Town of Buena Vista
 Buena Vista Chamber of Commerce
 Chaffee County Times (local newspaper)

Towns in Chaffee County, Colorado
Towns in Colorado
Colorado populated places on the Arkansas River
Former county seats in Colorado


Each super soft skein weighs 115g (4 oz.) and has 250 yards.
Recommended needle range: US 4-6 (3.5-4 mm).
Each monitor shows colors differently. I did my best to represent the actual colorways on my monitor screen as I see each skein in front of me.
© 2017 A Twist of Yarn. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.


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The Anatomy of a Coin
21/11/2018 00:00 0 Comments
Have you ever wondered what the different parts of a coin are called, and how they all work together to create the complete coin? As a casual user of coins, this might not be a question that's ever crossed your mind, and truthfully, there would be little reason to wonder. But as a curious numismatist, these are the types of questions that may begin to interest you.
Learning a little coin anatomy for beginners is a crucial step in becoming an experienced coin collector. These are the terms that dealers, salespeople, and other collectors will be throwing around, and if you don't have a firm grasp of what they mean, you may quickly find yourself feeling confused and overwhelmed.
To help you learn the different parts of a coin, what they're called and what they bring to the coin as a whole, we've created this guide on the anatomy of coins. As you browse through this coin term glossary, consider grabbing a few of your own coins to have handy, so you can compare the terms we discuss here to the coin in your hand. Then you can see for yourself what these terms look like in practice.
What Is a Coin?
This might sound like a bit of a silly question, but it's worth asking. Did you know that for a coin-shaped object to be considered an official coin, there are three distinct features it needs to display? These three features are:
The Name of the Issuing Nation: If the coin was never officially issued by the government of any recognized nation, then it can't truly be considered a coin. For example, game tokens, no matter how much they might look like coins, would not officially qualify for this label.
The Denomination: This tells how much the coin is worth. Is it worth 50 cents? A dollar? Five dollars? Without this denomination, the coin is not truly a coin.
The Date: This tells when the coin was minted, giving insight into what materials and precious metals are included in the coin's composition, as these often change over time.
What Are the Parts of a Coin Called?
Let's begin with a quick breakdown and glossary listing of all the main terms you're likely to come across in coin anatomy, before breaking down each term in greater detail. Every coin, no matter how simple or elaborate, consists of these same elements:
Date: This designates the year in which the coin was minted.
Denomination: This tells how much the coin is worth, i.e., one cent, five dollars, etc.
Designer's Initials: Some designers may place their initials somewhere within the coin's design.
Device: This is a term for any objects or figures depicted on the coin's surface. For example, Lady Liberty would be considered a device.
Edge: The flat surface along the border of a coin. Sometimes referred to as the third side.
Field: The field of a coin is the blank background or any part of the coin that remains flat and free from ornamentation.
Incuse: Any part of a coin's design that is imprinted below the surface of a coin.
Legend: Any inscription, writing, or numbers present on a coin.
Obverse: The front side of a coin, otherwise known as the "heads."
Mint Mark: This is a tiny distinguishing mark that signifies which mint produced the coin.
Motto: Any phrase or quotation on the coin's surface.
Relief: Any part of a coin's design that is raised above the surface.
Reverse: The back side of a coin, otherwise known as the "tails."
Rim: This is the raised edge along the border of a coin that prevents the side from lying flush against a flat surface.
Side: The large, flat round surfaces of a coin. Every coin has two sides.
The Bones of a Coin
As we all know, a coin is a mostly flat disc with a design stamped onto it. By necessity, this means a coin will have two sides and a thin edge separating them. These two sides of any coin are colloquially referred to as the "heads" and the "tails." In American currency, the heads side typically features a portrait of a former president, statesperson, or leader. The tails, on the other hand, might feature an image of a well-known landmark or object with some symbolic meaning.
In professional numismatic terms, however, there are much more official terms for these sides than simple "heads" or "tails." In professional circles, these sides are known as the obverse and the reverse. The term obverse refers to the "heads" side of a coin, or the side featuring the portrait, while the term reverse refers to the "tails" side.
What Is the Edge of a Coin Called?
A common point of confusion for new coin collectors who are not yet familiar with the terminology comes from terms like "edge" and "rim." While it may seem that they could be used interchangeably, they are, in fact, different. Let's look at each term separately.
What Is the Rim of a Coin?
If you place a coin flat on a table, you should see that there is a raised perimeter that forms the border of the coin. This raised border prevents the coin from truly lying flat against the table, thus keeping the design on the coin safe from any damage that might occur as a result of constantly rubbing against surfaces when laid flat against them.
This raised border is what's known as the rim. Essentially, the rim has two surfaces, one on either side of the coin. These surfaces can be viewed from either side, the obverse or the reverse, but it cannot be seen as well from the side.
While a coin's rim is not typically a major site for complicated decorations or ornamentation, it may sometimes be dressed up slightly. It may be decorated with ridges or evenly spaced bumps. In many cases, however, it is left plain.
What Is the Edge of a Coin?
The edge is different from the rim. If you keep your coin flat on the table and look at it from the side, the surface you'll see is the edge. The edge is the narrow surface that runs lengthwise around the perimeter of the coin. If you hold a coin between your thumb and your forefinger so as not to touch the sides, the surface you are holding is the edge. Because this edge surface is often fairly wide, it is known in some cases as a coin's third side.
Edges are often decorated. One common edge design features something known as reeding. A reeded edge has a series of tiny grooved lines all the way around it, and you can feel them as you run your finger along the edge. Sometimes, an edge might even feature writing, such as a motto or the coin's denomination. This would be known as a lettered edge. It may also be engraved with a different design, in which case it would be called a decorated edge.
While these types of ornamental edges are fairly common, it's also quite common to simply leave the edge blank. This leaves it as a smooth, flat surface.
The Design of a Coin
Now that we know a bit more about the large, structural elements of a coin, let's take a closer look at the different decorative elements that make up a coin. This includes things like the writing, the images, and the identifying marks that help distinguish one coin from another and make them beautiful objects worth collecting.
Coins are created by taking blank discs, known as planchets, and stamping them simultaneously on the front and back with dies cast in the intended design for the coin. These dies work together to stamp a pre-determined image into the metal, imprinting some of the design below the coin's surface while also creating designs that are raised above the coin's surface. On many coins, the design will include both of these elements, which is why it's important to have names for both of them.
Any design element that is essentially pushed into the surface, creating an imprint in the metal itself, is called incuse. On the other hand, any design element that is raised above the surface of the coin is said to be a relief. These design elements work together to create all the images and writing we see on our coins.
Typically, the vast majority of a coin's design is done in relief. This means if you were to close your eyes and run your fingers over the surface of a coin, you would be able to get a pretty good idea of what the image was even without looking.
What About the Images in a Coin's Design?
Every coin has some sort of design on it. In the United States, we're used to seeing Lady Liberty, eagles, buffalo, past presidents and historical figures, national landmarks, and more. All of these types of design subjects are known as devices. For example, if you were to ask what the device on a penny is, the answer would be Abraham Lincoln on the obverse and the Lincoln Memorial on the reverse.
As United States coinage demonstrates, historical figures are common choices for devices. Other popular options include national symbols or landmarks that are important to a nation's history. For example, the bald eagle is the national bird of the United States and is a popular symbol of freedom, making it a common choice on currency.
While the device on a coin is important, the field is equally so. The field refers to the background space of a coin. This is the part of the coin's surface that is unmarked by design and that remains flat and blank. While this may seem insignificant, the very fact that it exists makes it possible for the device to exist as well.
What About the Lettering and Numbering on a Coin?
There are plenty of different places for numbering and lettering on a coin's surface, and sometimes even along the edge. Let's go over each of them separately.
1. The Motto
On United States coinage, we're used to seeing the phrase IN GOD WE TRUST. This is what's called a motto, a phrase, or quotation placed somewhere on the surface or edge of a coin. Other mottos we might be familiar with include "E PLURIBUS UNUM." Like the major devices on a coin, mottos are typically chosen for their national significance. In most cases, the motto is the secondary inscription and is set in a smaller type than the primary inscription.
2. The Legend
The legend is the primary inscription on a coin. In many countries, it might be the name of the ruler, or it may even be the name of the country. It may also be an ideal, such as LIBERTY. It is also usually set in a larger or bolder type than the motto, making it more immediately noticeable.
3. The Date
The date is an important element of a coin because, as we mentioned earlier, this is one of the features that every coin must have if it wants to qualify as a coin. With the exception of certain situations such as commemorative coins, it's against the law to stamp coins with a date outside of the year in which they were actually minted. For example, unless there were special circumstances, a coin minted in 2018 could not be dated as 2016. Because the precise metal combination and design of coins changes frequently, this date stamp helps distinguish them.
For collectors, the date is also of particular significance. It is often an indicator of how valuable a coin is, and it helps them place specific coins within a series.
4. The Designer's Initials
Not every coin out there has its designer's initials on it. Sometimes, designers may not be able to sign their creations. For some coins, however, the designer's initials are worked into the design, usually hidden fairly subtly in one of the devices. Depending on the particular coin and the history, this may even make a coin more valuable for collectors.
5. The Mint Mark
This is a mark, usually a letter or a pair of letters, that signifies which mint the coin originated from. This is because there are multiple mints around the country that are all minting official coinage. Without this signifying mint mark, it would be impossible to tell which mint a coin had originated from, should the need to learn this information arise.
The following mint marks you may encounter on U.S. coinage are as follows:
P – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (If there is no mint mark at all, the coin may also be from Philadelphia as they have not always used a mint mark.)
W – West Point, New York
D – Denver, Colorado
S – San Francisco, California
Mint marks that are no longer in use include:
C – Charlotte, North Carolina
CC – Carson City, Nevada
D – Dahlonega, Georgia
O – New Orleans, Louisiana
What Are Coins Made Out Of?
No discussion of the anatomy of coins would be complete without mentioning the materials that make up the coin itself. For anyone who doesn't know much about the world of coins, it might be easy to assume that all of them are made up of gold or silver, with the exception of something like a copper penny. This, however, is not the case.
Most U.S. coinage today is made from various metal alloys. An alloy is a term for a metal that's been created by mixing two or more different metals together. In other words, the coins we use in our daily life in the U.S. are never pure gold or pure silver. This varies across special and commemorative coins, but for ordinary quarters, nickels, pennies, and dimes, you're actually getting a combination of different materials.
An Overview of Current U.S. Coinage
Now that we know a bit about what the different parts of a coin are called and how coins can be decorated, let's put that knowledge to work for us. We're going to take a brief look at each of the four major coin denominations in circulation in the U.S. today. While there are other coins, such as the half-dollar and the dollar coin, we're going to focus on the four denominations that most of us are the most familiar with: the quarter, dime, nickel, and penny.
1. The Quarter
The obverse of a quarter shows an image of George Washington's profile, making him the primary device. The legend along the top of the coin reads LIBERTY, and there is a smaller motto that reads IN GOD WE TRUST.
Designs featured on the reverse side vary depending on the particular series. For example, we're all likely familiar with the designs representing the various states and national parks. For the previously standard quarters, however, the design features an eagle clutching a bundle of arrows, surrounded by olive branches. The legends read UNITED STATES OF AMERICA along the top, and QUARTER DOLLAR along the bottom. A smaller motto reads E PLURIBUS UNUM.
In addition to these designs, quarters also have beautiful reeded edges.
2. The Dime
The obverse side of a dime shows the profile of Franklin Roosevelt, as well a legend reading LIBERTY, and a motto reading IN GOD WE TRUST. The date is also present on this side. The reverse shows devices of a lit torch, an olive branch, and an oak branch — symbols of liberty, peace, and strength, respectively. The legends read UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and ONE DIME, with a smaller motto of E PLURIBUS UNUM.
Like the quarter, dimes currently use reeded edges.
3. The Nickel
The obverse of a nickel shows an image of Thomas Jefferson. The corresponding legend and motto are LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST, along with a date inscription. The reverse side shows an image of Jefferson's home, Monticello. The legends and motto on this side read UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, E PLURIBUS UNUM, and FIVE CENTS, along with a smaller inscription that labels the image as MONTICELLO.
The edge of a nickel is plain.
4. The Penny
Pennies feature an image of Abraham Lincoln on the obverse, along with the legends LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST, and a smaller date mark. The reverse side features the Lincoln Memorial as the device. The legends read UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and ONE CENT. The motto reads E PLURIBUS UNUM.
Like the nickel, the edge of a penny is plain and undecorated.
Browse Coins for Sale Today
Ready to put all this new knowledge to work by shopping for coins to start or add to your own collection? Then now is the perfect time to start by browsing our selection of coins here at American Mint. We offer high-quality specialty coins at reasonable prices, and we offer them all with a guarantee of authenticity so that you can always be sure you're getting exactly what's been advertised. And if you're not satisfied with your purchase, you can always take advantage of our money-back guarantee.
Start shopping coins today to find the next great coin in your collection.
Evaluation* 10 excellent 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 very poor


Are the sins of Billy Graham unspeakable?
Billy Graham and his many helpers, including my late father Francis Schaeffer and others broke our brains with the best of intentions and their Jesus-saves-you-from-a-retributive-God-who-will-otherwise-send-you-to-hell literalistic theology.
via A Short Shutdown History: Billy Graham Broke Our Brains and (Inadvertently) Sold America to the Koch Brothers Who Folded the USA into a Moronic Religious/Political Delusion Called the Tea Party.
You have to first understand — to talk about Billy Graham as Frank S. has done is pretty much, for many people, talking about Jesus.
I have no delusions or otherwise about Billy Graham. I was excluded from his crusades because of my own fundamentalist upbringing. Billy, you see, was just as lost as the rest of you.
The Rev. Graham did a lot of good things, but he had his issues too. However, he grew. Earlier, he supported segregation but later understood it had no biblical basis. Earlier, his political views trumphed his religious obligations. He had come to regret that, speaking out about his wishes to have devoted more time to reading rather than speaking. There are some major issues in Graham's previously held points of view and/or actions.
However… St. Paul was worse. He killed /an/Christians. He slaughtered men and women and he had fun while doing it. His political-religious views changed, of course. However, he never shied away from these. If his life was untouchable while he was a non-believer in Jesus, he never said anything. In fact, he often presented his life as a model of what Christ can do. He didn't switch gods; neither was he converted. Instead, he came to see Jesus differently.
When we discuss both Billy and Paul, we must discuss the grace shaping their later lives. We should do this first. We can talk about what Billy and Paul did and what their actions led to. In fact, talking about these things testify to the grace of God more than ignoring them as if their sins were simply washed away.
Franklin is the real bad egg.
Billy Graham's epitaph should read: Here lies the father of the Great Lemming Lockstep.
Franklin's outfit looks more like a traveling circus. But, like his pappy, the boy knows how to rake in the dough! Then, there has always been big money to be made by fleecing the flock.
Weren't the sins simply washed away in baptism, as my sins? It is the one place where we all stand equal.
Dealing with the effects of those sins is another matter.
Are they gone? The effects of sins I mean? Nope. I used that language for a reason!


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Emerging cities: Guangzhou
Get a quick snapshot of Guangzhou, the commercial hub of south China and the capital of Guangdong province. By Arvind Hickman
Global economy and markets
Guangzhou (pronounced ˈgwäNGˈjō) is the commercial hub of south China and the capital of Guangdong province. Located in the heart of the densely populated Pearl River Delta, about 120 kilometres north-west of Hong Kong, it is China's third-largest city and one of the most rapidly developing.
Guangzhou's population is 12.7 million. It has grown by 27% in the past five years. GDP per capita has increased by 10.2% over the same period, which is the 22nd highest among world cities.
"Guangzhou was traditionally the city in China that had the strongest business links with the British Empire," said Vicky Li, regional director in northern Asia for the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. "It is the cultural base of the Cantonese people, with a huge population of Chinese diaspora. It is fast becoming the most pro-business and pro-market region of China, and some of the country's most successful businesses started, and flourished, in the city — Tencent and Huawei, for example."
The World Bank's Doing Business 2013 report ranked China 91st out of 185 countries.
Average time to register a business: 33 days. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development average is 12 days.
Construction permits: These are difficult to obtain and take an average of 270 days.
Securing electricity: China is ranked 114th. It takes an average of 145 days to establish a permanent electricity connection.
Transparency International corruption index: China is ranked 80th out of 182 countries.
Market costs
Corporate tax: 25% for resident companies; 20% for non-resident companies and certain SMEs. High-/new-tech companies that are supported by the state pay a reduced rate of 15%.
Average monthly wage: CNY4,789 (about $773).
Commercial rent: Guangzhou has four major office districts. Zhuijang New Town CBD is the most expensive, with an average rental rate of CNY183.3 ($29.11) per square metre per month. Yuexiu is the cheapest with an average rental rate of CNY124.4 ($19.76) per square metre per month. The citywide availability is 8.6% of total office space.
Retail rent: The average rent for high-end shopping malls was CNY1,315 ($210) per square metre per month in Q4 2012.
Industrial rent: In 2012, warehouse rent was CNY2.85 ($0.45) per square foot per month, and factory rent was CNY2.73 ($0.43) per square foot per month in the Guangzhou Economic and Technological Development Zone.
Four tips for success
Laurence E. "Larry" Lipsher, CPA, CGMA, author and tax consultant at prctaxman.corp in Guangzhou, offers the following tips for outsiders considering the market:
Consider investment in Nansha, the southern-most portion of the city. It is one of three subsections of cities in China that are in the country's 12th Five Year Plan. Nansha is projected to become a governmental hub within the next 15 years.
Prepare for banking challenges. Businesses that are not state-owned will have difficulty getting local financing.
Understand currency regulations. You will need to know how to work within the confines of the laws and regulations imposed by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange.
Gain knowledge of the "system". Western companies expecting to do things the "Western way" will face obstacles. A lack of appreciation for the Chinese way of business has led to many a business's downfall. Lipsher adds: "If you do not have the patience to develop the trust and friendships you need, then you will fail."


It's fitting, then, that their final film together (for now) is a toast – 12 times over. In "The World's End," Pegg and Frost play former friends among a group reunited to take on "The Golden Mile": a dozen pubs in their old U.K. hometown, downing a pint at each.
Wright: I feel the sense of satisfaction that we made good on a promise. We made a promise to ourselves as much as we did the fans of making three movies, so to actually finish the movies and have a film that we're really proud of – three films that we're really proud of – British films and pretty uncompromised, is huge for us.
Frost: So in five years' time, when we get back together to do "Rhino Man and the Abs," people will enjoy it more.