What Is One Thing That You Regret Learning in Medical School? - Slate

<base href="data:"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; color: black; text-align: left; "><div class="text parbase section" style="margin: 1.5em 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.5em; "><em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic; "><a href="https://www.quora.com/Medical-School/What-is-one-thing-that-you-regret-learning-in-medical-school" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 153); text-decoration: none; ">This question</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.quora.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 153); text-decoration: none; ">Quora</a>.</em><br><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: bold; "><br>Answer by <a href="https://www.quora.com/Jae-Won-Joh" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 153); text-decoration: none; ">Jae Won Joh</a>, MD:</strong><br><br>Where to begin...<br><br><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: bold; ">1) How </strong><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: bold; "><em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic; ">colossally</em></strong><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: bold; "> broken the U.S. health care system is.</strong><br></p></div><div class="text parbase section" style="margin: 1.5em 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><ul style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 0em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; position: relative; left: 35px; "><li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; ">How <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic; ">monumentally</em> undereducated/misguided about health/medicine/ethics the people legislating health care are.</li><li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; ">How <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic; ">desperately</em> most physicians avoid thinking about the problem; indeed, how many actively contribute to it in order to chase "patient satisfaction," the end-all-be-all these days in the highly political hospital world.</li><li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; ">How <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic; ">mercilessly</em> this hurts patients, particularly the underserved.<br style="margin-bottom: 1em; "></li></ul></div><div class="text parbase section" style="margin: 1.5em 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: bold; ">2) How </strong><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: bold; "><em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic; ">uninvested</em></strong><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: bold; "> most patients are in their own health.</strong><br></p></div><div class="text parbase section" style="margin: 1.5em 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><ul style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 0em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; position: relative; left: 35px; "><li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; ">How <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic; ">lazily</em> most people would rather take a pill to control their obesity or cholesterol instead of watching less TV and getting up to exercise.</li><li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; ">How <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic; ">massively </em>undereducated people are about basic nutrition facts that didn't have to be explained to their ancestors just a few generations ago.</li></ul></div><div class="text parbase section" style="margin: 1.5em 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: bold; ">3) How </strong><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: bold; "><em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic; ">uncertain</em></strong><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: bold; "> the practice of "the standard of care" is.</strong><br></p></div><div class="text parbase section" style="margin: 1.5em 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><ul style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 0em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; position: relative; left: 35px; "><li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; ">How <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic; ">traditionally</em> defined practices that legitimately may negatively affect patient care still survive. "This is how I was taught" is something I've heard way too often.</li><li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; ">How evidence-based medicine struggles to make the rounds, as many have relatively little experience analyzing a study and how it should or should not affect their practice.</li><li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; ">How <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic; ">tremendously</em> difficult it really is to actually prove something of clinical value, namely due to the fact that ethically, experimentation on humans is seen as horrifyingly unethical ... but at a certain point, you have to wonder if it's not just as unethical to keep up practices that we're not really sure are beneficial to the patient.<br style="margin-bottom: 1em; "></li></ul></div><div class="text parbase section" style="margin: 1.5em 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: bold; ">4) How </strong><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: bold; "><em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic; ">minimally</em></strong><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: bold; "> the process of educating a clinician has changed to adapt to modern times. Indeed, one wonders if we aren't going backward somewhat.</strong><br></p></div><div class="text parbase section" style="margin: 1.5em 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><ul style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 0em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; position: relative; left: 35px; "><li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; ">How <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic; ">ancient</em> the system is, expecting every medical student to take the same courses/rotations for three years and then somehow differentiate themselves into the 145 different medical specialties. This originates from a time when it was legitimately possible to know just about everything in the field of medicine with enough time/study.</li><li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; ">How <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic; ">favoring</em> the system is to subservience, now that we have the hierarchy of attending physician, fellow, resident, medical student.</li><li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; ">How <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic; ">frightening</em> it is that we emphasize memorizing and spewing out answers on tests instead of looking at ways to test actual clinical competence.</li><li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; ">How <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic; ">poorly</em> the art of the physical exam is taught, in favor of far more expensive tests and imaging.<br style="margin-bottom: 1em; "></li></ul></div><div class="text parbase section" style="margin: 1.5em 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.5em; ">~~~~~<br>All that said, I still love what I do. There is much I would change if I had the power, but simply put, I do not; nor, I suspect, will I ever. So I do what good I can, when I can, where I can. We'll see if any of this changes in the years to come.<br></p></div><div class="text parbase section" style="margin: 1.5em 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "></div></div><a href="http://www.slate.com/blogs/quora/2013/06/27/what_is_one_thing_that_you_regret_learning_in_medical_school.html">http://www.slate.com/blogs/quora/2013/06/27/what_is_one_thing_that_you_regret_learning_in_medical_school.html</a><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; color: black; text-align: left; "><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div>

What Is One Thing That You Regret Learning in Medical School? - Slate

This question  originally appeared on  Quora . Answer by  Jae Won Joh , MD: Where to begin... 1) How  colossally  broken the U.S. health car...

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Pig & Heifer

Pig & Heifer New York Delicatessan - a taste of America<div><br></div><div>We split a "Hot Colin" sandwich for lunch.  It was so good!!! We both said it tasted like America!</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYAX6bzyAq8sG_hmWic-ako2fbTcoUhTDtsc_1j9JHqJ6MdFhSp2kMxzeXhOJr52RZ8OTC8j5JLBno7beHhcMcFcDKGKYg_kxApg3wzBlqWVnXd1IWkIW_3u4uKOVm5E07-QiTFtF_Y1PX/s640/blogger-image--210508104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYAX6bzyAq8sG_hmWic-ako2fbTcoUhTDtsc_1j9JHqJ6MdFhSp2kMxzeXhOJr52RZ8OTC8j5JLBno7beHhcMcFcDKGKYg_kxApg3wzBlqWVnXd1IWkIW_3u4uKOVm5E07-QiTFtF_Y1PX/s640/blogger-image--210508104.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It was my first time here and I loved it!! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmOkgw4PaVtqlDTGa311F6g27zJxyJlUsboKp0wDTHuhF2_43kQLYTljxa-Lfb4krNT68A9pI6vIFp6520P0LPFYGRttZvY_WDCidtpfEynvhjI-U9YB78ABOhUHD-cHqvMCRd5u5Fd8B6/s640/blogger-image--438600637.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmOkgw4PaVtqlDTGa311F6g27zJxyJlUsboKp0wDTHuhF2_43kQLYTljxa-Lfb4krNT68A9pI6vIFp6520P0LPFYGRttZvY_WDCidtpfEynvhjI-U9YB78ABOhUHD-cHqvMCRd5u5Fd8B6/s640/blogger-image--438600637.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Jk_YRRUEHVlojnN0LKQG1lZndbAiQWIuctu3eUQkEIOuf8LfyLDW9oHZg0BLyhqeTmoYVPk1dw-OrJpzViraFtVP29i1UIEVA0qnrhp1p3iDQ3BKAxDPQ-1PmzxOx0cwjYCwohr3NWTS/s640/blogger-image-1611594514.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Jk_YRRUEHVlojnN0LKQG1lZndbAiQWIuctu3eUQkEIOuf8LfyLDW9oHZg0BLyhqeTmoYVPk1dw-OrJpzViraFtVP29i1UIEVA0qnrhp1p3iDQ3BKAxDPQ-1PmzxOx0cwjYCwohr3NWTS/s640/blogger-image-1611594514.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbu5AI627HnF8XRoKdl3xU-MvMcpNe50Qpg3KCSQUvQbJzmMthCfc5-7SR-UfgRfQboP61FhuOayphSOxMx6cBraTypZ_Zbn2s6SPHSZ0T5Zh0gYxjcrLAlSwbg1WQHMGQiKkTtd2PlDqn/s640/blogger-image--1433328633.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbu5AI627HnF8XRoKdl3xU-MvMcpNe50Qpg3KCSQUvQbJzmMthCfc5-7SR-UfgRfQboP61FhuOayphSOxMx6cBraTypZ_Zbn2s6SPHSZ0T5Zh0gYxjcrLAlSwbg1WQHMGQiKkTtd2PlDqn/s640/blogger-image--1433328633.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div>

Pig & Heifer

Pig & Heifer New York Delicatessan - a taste of America We split a "Hot Colin" sandwich for lunch.  It was so good!!! We both ...

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Saturday morning on the porch....

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvXgdc6jMdfvJMX1Bsyt-fGHlfcP3LIpFsDc2oKuJXgZ5Q3zUZ99L2ke8GmEUq8LW93GToFNz18_lXNV5q51OiwI9ftawpv0RhKsmJD7ppqd0JS7I1pLk7CdVBQHF5SqrlY6bQFMTqHkFT/s800/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvXgdc6jMdfvJMX1Bsyt-fGHlfcP3LIpFsDc2oKuJXgZ5Q3zUZ99L2ke8GmEUq8LW93GToFNz18_lXNV5q51OiwI9ftawpv0RhKsmJD7ppqd0JS7I1pLk7CdVBQHF5SqrlY6bQFMTqHkFT/s400/2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Wow, what a gorgeous morning in the Shenandoah Valley ... a sweater morning! The sky is blue, the sun is out, temps are in the 60s, low humidity, and there's a stiff breeze with a cool edge to it that requires a sweater to ward off the shady chill. I can't help but think how nice it must be up on the mountain for those camping this weekend in Shenandoah National Park. <br /><br />We've had lots of rain this spring and into summer so the grass is green and lush, unlike some years when it's dried up and crispy by the July 4th holiday. The shade trees in our little oasis are blowing in the breeze, their leaves rustling and making dancing shadows on the yard. <br /><br />I just heard a sound in the gutter overhead so watched to see who was intruding on my quiet, and then a bright red cardinal flew from the roof to a nearby tree. He must have found a bug for his breakfast. Rabbits are munching on the smorgasbord that is our front yard ... nibble, hop, nibble, hop hop.  The birds are loud as they are every morning with their various chirps and calls to one another. The mournful sound of a dove can be heard in the distance.<br /><br />The bright orange daylilies are blooming as are the cheerful yellow coreopsis moonlight, and bright red roses. My potted annuals got a late start this year since I was about three weeks behind in planting them but they are catching up -- petunias, zinnias, impatiens, geraniums, heather, and other colorful additions on the porches and in the back yard around the outdoor tables. Flowers can be time-intensive but the reward of those overflowing blossoms that add splashes of color as well as fragrance in the air is well worth the effort.<br /><br />The wind, the leaves, the birds ... those are the only sounds this morning. It's going to be a great day....<br /><br />Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell

Augusta County flowers Lynn R. Mitchell Shenandoah Valley Virginia Saturday morning on the porch....

Wow, what a gorgeous morning in the Shenandoah Valley ... a sweater morning! The sky is blue, the sun is out, temps are in the 60s, low humi...

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Today's Teamster News 06.29.13

<a href="http://ntdtv.org/en/news/world/asia/2013-06-28/china-factory-resolution-reached-us-businessman-released.html">China Factory Resolution Reached, US Businessman Released</a>  NTD Television   ...A U.S. executive and his Chinese workers who held him captive for six days reached a resolution to a row about pay on Thursday...<br /><a href="http://americanmanufacturing.org/blog/us-trade-deficit-china-underestimated-according-new-study-value-added-trade#sthash.g2NlkqUq.dpuf">U.S. Trade Deficit with China Underestimated According to New Study of "Value-Added Trade." </a>manufacture this   ...A new study by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) finds that, after accounting for net trade flows, the U.S. trade deficit with China is greater than has been suggested by both the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the World Trade Organization’s (WTO)...<br /><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/28/chinese-wind-turbine-sinovel-trade-secrets">Chinese wind-turbine firm charged with stealing US trade secrets</a>  The Guardian   ...Sinovel Wind Group and two of its executives were indicted in a federal court in Madison, Wisconsin, on Thursday. A former employee of the Massachusetts-based American Superconductor (AMSC) pleaded guilty in Klagenfurt, Austria, to stealing a source code for turbine controllers...<br /><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/28/chile-student-uprising-election">The 18-year-old voice of Chile's nationwide student uprising</a>  The Guardian   ...On Wednesday, Moisés Paredes helped organise a march of 100,000 protesters through the streets of Chile's capital, Santiago, calling for free university education...<br /><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/28/world/americas/brazil-protests-favelas">Poor, middle class unite in Brazil protests</a>  CNN   ... What started as a student mobilization transformed day by day to incorporate professionals, the middle class, and residents of the favelas, or slums...<br /><a href="http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/06/27/195222/troops-allegedly-misled-by-car.html#.Uc69Bj7F36k">Troops allegedly misled by car loan program to get refunds</a>  McClatchy   ...U.S. Bank and a Kentucky-based financial services provider agreed to refund $6.5 million to 50,000 military service members after federal regulators accused both companies of misleading borrowers about fees and costs associated with an auto loans program that targeted active-duty troops...<br /><a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-06-27/bank-of-america-said-to-send-property-reviews-to-india.html">Bank of America Said to Send Property Reviews to India</a>  Bloomberg   ...Bank of America Corp. opened a unit in India to review home-valuation reports as it seeks to rebuild share in U.S. mortgages at a lower cost ... The firm also eliminated jobs of licensed U.S. workers in its LandSafe business...<br /><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/28/senators-james-clapper-nsa-data-collection">Senators accuse government of using 'secret law' to collect Americans' data</a>  The Guardian   ...Bipartisan group seeks answers from intelligence chief James Clapper over scale of and justification for NSA surveillance...<br /><a href="http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/06/paid-sick-leave-florida-disney-alec">Forced to Work Sick? That's Fine With Disney, Red Lobster, and Their Friends at ALEC</a>  Mother Jones   ...The Florida law is the most recent in a series of victories by low-wage industries that, with the aid of Republican-led state legislatures, have succeeded in derailing or overriding measures providing this benefit to workers...<br /><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/28/north-carolina-unemployment_n_3515448.html?ncid=txtlnkushpmg00000037">North Carolina Dropped From Federal Unemployment Program</a>  Associated Press   ...With changes to its unemployment law taking effect this weekend, North Carolina not only is cutting benefits for those who file new claims, it will become the first state disqualified from a federal compensation program for the long-term jobless...<br /><a href="http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2013/06/heres_the_truth_about_oregons.html">Here's the truth about Oregon's 'right-to-work' initiative: Guest opinion</a>  The Oregonian   ...So-called right-to-work laws have nothing to do with anyone being forced to be a member of a union or to support political causes he or she disagrees with...<br /><a href="http://www.teamster.org/content/teamster-praise-passage-enterprise-zone-reform">Teamsters praise passage of enterprise zone reform</a>  Teamsters Joint Council 7  ...Teamsters Joint Council 7 hailed passage Thursday of Assembly Bill 93 by the California Assembly and Senate.  The bill restructures a $750 million job creation program towards manufacturing employers that create jobs with demonstrable economic benefits for workers and California’s most impoverished communities...<br /><a href="http://www.teamster.org/content/sun-times-refuses-union-advertising">Sun-Times refuses union advertising</a>  Teamsters Joint Council 25   ...On June 26, the Chicago Sun-Times refused to run an advertisement from unionized funeral directors employed by Service Corporation International (NYSE:  SCI) which appealed to the public for help in their contract negotiations with the $3 billion corporation...<br /><a href="http://www.teamster.org/content/religious-leaders-pledge-support-face-possible-funeral-labor-dispute">Religious leaders pledge support in face of possible funeral labor dispute</a>   Teamsters Joint Council 25   ... Religious leaders throughout the Chicago area have pledged their support for funeral directors and drivers whose employer, Service Corporation International (NYSE:SCI), is forcing to the brink of a labor dispute...<br /><a href="http://www.teamster.org/content/teamsters-ups-agree-extend-current-ups-national-contract">Teamsters, UPS agree to extend current UPS national contract</a>  IBT   ...The Teamsters Union and UPS have agreed to an extension of the current UPS National Master Agreement and all Supplements, Riders and Addenda. The extension does not have a specific end date, but can be terminated by either side with a 30-day notice...<br /><a href="http://www.teamster.org/content/teamsters-union-issues-statement-senate-passage-immigration-bill">Teamsters Union issues statement on Senate passage of immigration bill</a>  IBT   ... The International Brotherhood of Teamsters supports a path to citizenship for the 11 million undocumented men and women already living and working in this country. Keeping these workers in the shadows would continue their exploitation and the downward pressure on wages and labor standards. Bringing them out of the shadows is good policy...

Today's Teamster News 06.29.13

China Factory Resolution Reached, US Businessman Released  NTD Television   ...A U.S. executive and his Chinese workers who held him captiv...

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Bretzel Bakery

While we were in Key West, we cycled to the Eaton Bakery for breakfast most mornings.  Their freshly pastries were delicious, the coffee was good and they also had freshly squeezed orange juice.<div><br></div><div>Now that we are home in Ireland I wanted to recreate that lovely start to the day.  So this morning after dropping a pair of Ciaran's shoes to the cobbler and calling in to the vet with Bones, we walked to the Bretzel Bakery in Portobello.  It is a bakery that has been around since 1870 and it's in the Jewish Quarter of Dublin and is also a kosher bakery.</div><div><br></div><div>I was impressed when I saw the place and when I first entered the shop.  However I quickly became disappointed. They had no apple Danish and they didn't do coffee.  </div><div><br></div><div>I got a pain au chocolate and Ciaran got an almond croissant.  We then walked to Nick's for coffee where we sat outside and ate the pastries. Omg, further disappointment.  The pastries were doughy and tasteless. They should have been light and buttery but they were not one but.  It was not like KW at all.  :-(</div><div><br></div><div>But it means that I get to choose another bakery next weekend!!</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsI_lkmsisUuqjDSbZXS4eDe5OW8J_R6XSx5wK5blEsOH6S1p1UbO6I1YNctyvQfmeFW2MwQ7x6jyobJlxoM8WV69i1SynmPmo2puUzvw1R6Bo99aie67rVboiijFz_4bZjhPEWgoPyClZ/s640/blogger-image-220897669.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsI_lkmsisUuqjDSbZXS4eDe5OW8J_R6XSx5wK5blEsOH6S1p1UbO6I1YNctyvQfmeFW2MwQ7x6jyobJlxoM8WV69i1SynmPmo2puUzvw1R6Bo99aie67rVboiijFz_4bZjhPEWgoPyClZ/s640/blogger-image-220897669.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Bones sitting patiently outside</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcBjjykzmQpG6W3ymtzc5VyhvvcGTIV_4MA7_oYb1z4r-u9Tw8mNv71-1wE3TMtl3oFoFi3SEb5QEgmIoGDkqkMyFwWkF0ca2THW1DZiFcqfunbgTI86Ubs4KJ8DLvxcIR3ssDmIcwbByV/s640/blogger-image--1638342885.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcBjjykzmQpG6W3ymtzc5VyhvvcGTIV_4MA7_oYb1z4r-u9Tw8mNv71-1wE3TMtl3oFoFi3SEb5QEgmIoGDkqkMyFwWkF0ca2THW1DZiFcqfunbgTI86Ubs4KJ8DLvxcIR3ssDmIcwbByV/s640/blogger-image--1638342885.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVNWL9IVD4CPFZYSzvX5QbM8PIwgfmJnelyh1vu7Q4pQcVtrDPNIxi3j_lvetjQPA08-qAgpbSS_LwR-zG3S0nOFXhpjY7bmgR4tDw0yJP1I-EdDFdOtFq2aatnfiM65ngNVpx5dPhNP_Q/s640/blogger-image-1638371565.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVNWL9IVD4CPFZYSzvX5QbM8PIwgfmJnelyh1vu7Q4pQcVtrDPNIxi3j_lvetjQPA08-qAgpbSS_LwR-zG3S0nOFXhpjY7bmgR4tDw0yJP1I-EdDFdOtFq2aatnfiM65ngNVpx5dPhNP_Q/s640/blogger-image-1638371565.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhbJhMYkqHlLlSfk79Fy-54pvL6gaN5bGQ0-fn4N2B64eKke9gDl8J_Ngh-n9aMUEFjJYRadPzwICGqJtVm5jc34wy6pgnnpNZ3MdY8pf9qbNHm1ciOXh7-yyh1dzY8rzUn3jbVHfwWJDZ/s640/blogger-image-460237544.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhbJhMYkqHlLlSfk79Fy-54pvL6gaN5bGQ0-fn4N2B64eKke9gDl8J_Ngh-n9aMUEFjJYRadPzwICGqJtVm5jc34wy6pgnnpNZ3MdY8pf9qbNHm1ciOXh7-yyh1dzY8rzUn3jbVHfwWJDZ/s640/blogger-image-460237544.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Look at the size of the pain au chocolates!! (That is about the only positive thing I can say about them)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg33HsIcq8IkNC_-OHI_7yuzGidA97Tvu6bLzYkj0RK8S-E5MK1YzIVFIvYWzBZmR1J6uun47shxWHcmYyqlntClPWeA8uNx1Ru8Okokt2LK-cEbnzQRVta_KpB3801sd9Nv_cYEzO_6ztm/s640/blogger-image-567840748.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg33HsIcq8IkNC_-OHI_7yuzGidA97Tvu6bLzYkj0RK8S-E5MK1YzIVFIvYWzBZmR1J6uun47shxWHcmYyqlntClPWeA8uNx1Ru8Okokt2LK-cEbnzQRVta_KpB3801sd9Nv_cYEzO_6ztm/s640/blogger-image-567840748.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div>

Bretzel Bakery

While we were in Key West, we cycled to the Eaton Bakery for breakfast most mornings.  Their freshly pastries were delicious, the coffee was...

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Am I being paid to blog? Setting the record straight

I have been bothered all evening about a comment to my earlier post of my first weigh in video.  It pretty much said that someone on twitter was making suggestions that my blog is fake and I was being paid by the pharmaceutical company.  And it also suggested my first week was purely water weight.<br /><br />Let me be clear.  I am not being paid by ANYONE to do my blog.  I never heard of Belvic until I went to the doctor for an unrelated reason a week and a half ago.  In fact, my doctor had never heard of it until the RX sales rep stopped by with a brochure just moments before I got there.  It was all timing.<br /><br />In fact, I was skeptical just like many are and I appreciate that.  I didn't even get the RX filled for 3 days because I thought it was just another drug failure and I wasn't about to waste my money on the unknown.  It was when a precious friend posted a picture that was taken one day on facebook when I broke down in tears and I just realized, I MUST do something.  So, the next day, I got the RX filled since it was a free trial.  I was amazed by the immediate results.  So much so, I got excited about the possibilities for the first time in years.<br /><br />I will say one thing, I did some research on Belviq over those few days and I realized it was a really new drug.  So, realizing that to continue this course, it is going to cost me roughly $300 a month for Belvic and online nutritionist.  I have heard of cases where people can get sponsors and paid to blog.  I would be completely open to that idea.  I need to figure out how I will be able to do this financially!  Its going to be really really hard, but I am committed to it.  So, if Belviq ever approached me to sponsor my blog, I will totally take it up.  I will also let everyone know.  Mostly because I will be excited! HA.<br /><br />I am also looking at changing my blog site to go through a paid go-daddy site.  The reason for this is I can do a few things, most importantly, I can set up ads on the side bar to help generate a little monthly income based off of incoming views.  I can't stress enough that if my insurance would cover the RX, I would just keep the blog here and do as is.  But I have to figure out how to bridge this financial divide.   Also, I am sure you realize, but the cost of eating healthy is so much more expensive to the cost of eating poor.  I'm so used to my bad eating habits, that my budget is based off of that.  <br /><br />I hope this clears this up once and for all.  I want to thank the person that brought this to my attention.  I do not EVER want to appear deceptive for any reason.  I want to thank him personally for believing in me.<br /><br />I hope you all believe in me as well!!!  I am counting on each of my followers to encourage me.  Seeing my large audience every day encourages me.  So you don't even have to say anything, you just have to read my blog and I will know you were here!  Well, not know exactly who was here but know that SOMEONE was here ha!<br /><br />Have a great evening!

Am I being paid to blog? Setting the record straight

I have been bothered all evening about a comment to my earlier post of my first weigh in video.  It pretty much said that someone on twitter...

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Matt Said, Jay Said...1776

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdPpVg54vKTn7Hn-usyFu_hbCnlGkkaYElb4L3HGuZh_zJFUVApmwgeqSpLZkDkAHEkviwX6S0SZsLCbij7OA_i6AfMk3z0CmdFOd_f_v27-xdgZHYdrFQha3-_72FtMS7JreXAEm9cMU/s466/Tamra+4th+of+July+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdPpVg54vKTn7Hn-usyFu_hbCnlGkkaYElb4L3HGuZh_zJFUVApmwgeqSpLZkDkAHEkviwX6S0SZsLCbij7OA_i6AfMk3z0CmdFOd_f_v27-xdgZHYdrFQha3-_72FtMS7JreXAEm9cMU/s640/Tamra+4th+of+July+2.jpg" width="313" /></a>Matt-Man town cries…Jayman pamphleteers…You, toss Orange Pekoe into Boston Harbor.<br /><br />Jay:  Hello Schmoop; it’s Jay.<br />Schmoop:  Hello Jay…Here’s Matt.<br />Matt: Hi Jayman, how is your evening?<br />Jay:  Not bad and yours?<br />Matt:  Pretty Good.<br /><br />Jay:  I was thinking about this Sunday’s show.<br />Matt:  And?<br />Jay:  We should do an <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/im-with-stupid/2013/06/30/drunk-on-history" target="_blank">American History Show</a> </span>since the 4th of July is fast upon us.<br />Matt:  That’s a great idea.<br /><br />Jay:  I thought so.<br />Matt:  We could talk about our fave founding fathers, least fave Presidents, and fave Commanders-in-Chief.<br /><br />Jay:  Damn right.  Bobby Kraft could talk about famous battlefields like Pea Ridge.<br />Matt:  Buddy Acapella could sing our National Anthem.<br />Jay:  I could talk about many historical things because I’ve been known to turn a bitch.<br />Matt:  That’s hot.<br />Jay:  IKR?<br /><br />Matt:  We could also update today’s news.<br />Jay:  Damn right.  Slyder could give an update on the tragically funny news about Aaron Hernandez.<br />Matt:  Poor dude.  Had it all, but blew it like a bad tire.<br />Jay:  Maybe Paul Piatt?  Is he patriotic?<br />Matt:  More than you think!!<br /><br />Jay:  Hmmmmmmm…<br />Matt:  Lot of cookouts coming up this week, maybe Kirk Douglas could give us a weather report.<br />Jay:  If he’s still alive, he will.<br /><br />Matt:  Man, our <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/im-with-stupid/2013/06/30/drunk-on-history" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Drunk on History</span></a> show is going to be great!!<br />Jay:  I know right!?<br /><br />Matt:  Hey!?<br />Jay:  What?<br />Matt:  Something weird just happened.<br />Jay:  What’s that?<br /><br />Matt:  We actually discussed what we are going to do on Sunday’s show.<br />Jay:  Holy Independence; we actually did!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8aTy_vFmsDQ5XdhlWX2_VTEZdlS4QArrhLUvFz0B1CEzIoQvQwt47Eu9c6Jgua6g4ISWLjIMigqyps8Wojt8oscjDN3NRdqIIMwWd3H4jc-67i8RjSgvWB7g2u5FSL1eqnwn5Le5WG14/s300/4th+of+July.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8aTy_vFmsDQ5XdhlWX2_VTEZdlS4QArrhLUvFz0B1CEzIoQvQwt47Eu9c6Jgua6g4ISWLjIMigqyps8Wojt8oscjDN3NRdqIIMwWd3H4jc-67i8RjSgvWB7g2u5FSL1eqnwn5Le5WG14/s400/4th+of+July.jpg" width="400" /></a>Matt:  After nearly three years on the air, are we growing up and becoming mature?<br />Jay:  Oh Hell No.<br />Matt:  Why do you say that?<br />Jay:  Because after nearly 237 years, Congress hasn’t grown up.<br />Matt and Jay:  Heyyyyyyy-ooooooooo.<br /><br />Matt:  Annnnnnd Jayman, Angie will be on to discuss the SCOTUS DOMA ruling and Prop 8!!<br />Jay:  That’s HOT.<br /><br />Matt: This is going to be a jam packed show.<br />Jay:  Damn right and I hope people call-in at 661.244.9852<br />Matt:  Exactly, and listen to us by clicking <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/im-with-stupid/2013/06/30/drunk-on-history" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">HERE</span></a><br /><br />Jay:  See you on the radio this Sunday from Noon-2 PM ET.<br />Matt:  And unto you, I say the same….<br /><br />To catch Jay and Matt LIVE this Sunday from Noon-2 PM ET you can click <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/im-with-stupid/2013/06/30/drunk-on-history" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">HERE</span></a>.</div>

Matt Said, Jay Said...1776

Matt-Man town cries…Jayman pamphleteers…You, toss Orange Pekoe into Boston Harbor. Jay:  Hello Schmoop; it’s Jay. Schmoop:  Hello Jay…Here’s...

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White House Down: Slick summer heroics

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b><i>White House Down</i> </b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b>(2013) • <a href="http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/sony_pictures/whitehousedown/" style="color: #27a9c5; text-decoration: none;">View trailer</a></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b> </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b>Four stars. Rating: PG-13, for fleeting profanity and relentless action violence</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b>By <a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/12885694730612878577" style="color: #27a9c5; text-decoration: none;">Derrick Bang</a> • </b></span>Originally published in <i><a href="http://www.davisenterprise.com/" style="color: #27a9c5; text-decoration: none;">The Davis Enterprise</a></i>, 6.28.13</b></span></span></span></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <br /><div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You gotta give ’em credit: Despite an invasion premise that confines the primary characters to the labyrinthine White House interior, this crowd-pleasing action epic manages to work in a car chase.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And a reasonably plausible car chase, at that. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpJ8D6JIsw8tJVqOIc7S0xgZnOKn-Iwvusb6IAWPlujWjn8CKIGOCioPDqCspWP8qU831sAQ3xdNF3b8JDJaWU3EJfDAcN9TCsKQExP-d8wnZ2zjJ6vXOPmeUypSB8_q2OhWRf1lc2ZlM/s1600/White+House+Down+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpJ8D6JIsw8tJVqOIc7S0xgZnOKn-Iwvusb6IAWPlujWjn8CKIGOCioPDqCspWP8qU831sAQ3xdNF3b8JDJaWU3EJfDAcN9TCsKQExP-d8wnZ2zjJ6vXOPmeUypSB8_q2OhWRf1lc2ZlM/s400/White+House+Down+blog.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Having worked their way through secret tunnels that lead beneath the White House,<br />Cale (Channing Tatum, right) and President Sawyer (Jamie Foxx) are dismayed to<br />discover that the bad guys have blocked the way with a complicated bomb. Worse<br />yet, irritated thugs with guns are right behind them...</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Director Roland Emmerich and writer James Vanderbilt actually deserve credit for far more than that. Despite arriving late to this high-profile copycat party, <i>White House Down</i> is superior to spring’s <i><a href="http://derrickbang.blogspot.com/2013/03/olympus-has-fallen-if-only-it-were-so.html">Olympus Has Fallen</a></i>: a much smarter script, vastly better characters and a superior blend of action and hell-for-leather humor.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">THIS is the way I expect our heads of state to behave: defiant and resourceful in the face of death, rather than the cowardly, impotent weenies who populated <i>Olympus Has Fallen</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Granted, both films offer the same sort of quasi-political hokum, but <i>White House Down</i> delivers the (mostly) one-man derring-do with far more style. Despite a self-indulgent running time of 131 minutes, Emmerich and editor Adam Wolfe keep the pace crisp, the tension coiled and the heroics more or less reasonable.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Vanderbilt’s narrative is a series of clever teases, with every small triumph offset by a newly discovered setback; we therefore cheer each cathartic victory while remaining invested in the primary goal that, vexingly, remains out of reach.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Best of all, we have a solid quartet of villains to boo and hiss: a turncoat mastermind and three delectably unscrupulous associates, each playing his part with gleefully malevolent brio. After all, heroes are measured by their adversaries.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">John Cale (Channing Tatum), a capable D.C. policeman, is less successful on the home front, having let down his young daughter, Emily (Joey King), once too often. This comes as no surprise to ex-wife Melanie (Rachelle Lefevre), who, while sympathetic, doesn’t put much stock in Cale’s insistence that he’s trying to atone for past mistakes. Emily, also not impressed, prefers to call her estranged father by his first name.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hoping to recover some ground, Cale scores a second White House pass so that Emily can tag along when he applies for his dream job, as a member of the Secret Service staff assigned to protect President Sawyer (Jamie Foxx). Alas, Special Agent Finnerty (Maggie Gyllenhaal) also knows too much about Cale’s various character flaws, in part thanks to a long-ago affair with him. She thus denies him the shot.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><a name='more'></a><br /> <div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not wanting to admit this newest failure to Emily, Cale yields to her desire for a White House tour. We’ve learned by now that Emily is a hard-core political enthusiast, with a passion for detail and a dreamy-eyed crush on President Sawyer; she therefore knows the answers to all the tricky questions posed by the tour guide (Nicolas Wright, as Donnie), much to the latter’s amused frustration.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Alas, this just happens to be the day when Walker (James Woods), a 25-year Secret Service veteran, goes rogue and orchestrates a complex revenge plot. Within minutes, thanks to an assault team that cleverly infiltrates the White House — and let’s hope it wouldn’t be anywhere near this easy, in real life! — the demolished Capitol dome has crashed into the lower floors, Walker has the president at gunpoint, 70 or so tour members are being held hostage, and Cale has been separated from his daughter (who chose this moment to use one of the posh White House bathrooms).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Security aides manage to get Vice President Hammond (Michael Murphy) airborne in Air Force One, while Speaker of the House Eli Raphelson (Richard Jenkins) is similarly safe in the military command center overseen by spit-and-polish Gen. Caulfield (Lance Reddick).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The invading commandos are led by the vicious Stenz (Jason Clarke) and the somewhat unstable Killick (Kevin Rankin), both of whom think nothing of offing a high-level politico in order to secure compliance from the others. Meanwhile, über-hacker Tyler (Jimmi Simpson), happily ensconced in the White House emergency bunker, methodically punches through all computer security protocols in order to gain access to ... we know not what. But we can imagine it’ll be bad, if he succeeds.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh, and outside military forces are prevented from mounting a rescue mission because a) they don’t want to risk injuring President Sawyer; and b) the baddies have control of the White House roof, where they’re able to repel any incursions with RPGs.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Yeah, those are thin excuses, but hey: We’ve got a movie to enjoy. Go with the flow.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Can Cale make a difference? Will the sun rise in the east?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tatum makes an engaging action hero from the “I’ve no other choice” school, as opposed to guys who know what they're doing at all times. Cale’s desire to find and protect his daughter is ample motivation: at times a stronger incentive than saving a president he didn’t vote for (one of this film’s many droll running gags). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That said, Cale quickly links up with Sawyer, and the two become a resourceful team: The former has the military training — tours of duty in Afghanistan, carefully noted early on — while the latter knows “his house” inside and out.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Foxx is careful to maintain Sawyer’s limitations: He’s a decisive and quick-thinking strategist, to be sure, but otherwise a vulnerable head of state quite content to follow Cale’s lead (as opposed to, for example, Harrison Ford’s commando-style president in 1997’s <i>Air Force One</i>). This is smart synergy on the part of Emmerich and Vanderbilt: Cale and Sawyer cleverly complement each other, just as Tatum and Foxx make excellent use of the initially prickly wariness between these two characters, which (of course) quickly blossoms into mutual trust.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The stand-out performance, however, comes from young Joey King’s bold and plucky Emily: definitely the toughest, smartest and most quick-witted little girl we’ve seen in a <i>long</i> time. King pulls it all off quite credibly; when she screws her little face into a furious sneer and defiantly stares down Stenz and Killick, angrily telling one to get out of her face, it’s hard to resist shouting, “You <i>go</i>, girl!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">King earns considerable good will throughout this film, which is essential, if we’re to greet her climactic act without rolling our eyes. (Emmerich rarely resists an opportunity for some old-fashioned, heart-thumping displays of patriotism.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gyllenhaal is properly focused and steely eyed as the capable Finnerty, while Simpson — a popular character actor with an active résumé of big-screen and TV roles — has a field day as the droll, lollypop-sucking Tyler.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Woods chews up the scenery in similar style, as the vengeance-fueled Walker. Woods always is at his best as an impatient villain who grows increasingly annoyed with his underlings, contempt dripping from every hard-bitten syllable. He’s the pluperfect criminal mastermind astonished by the interference of one lone guy: a juicy addition to the bad-guy template established so well by Alan Rickman, in 1988’s <i>Die Hard</i> (the only noteworthy entry in that series).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The always capable Jenkins, with a long history of <i>becoming</i> his roles, looks and sounds every inch the seasoned politician. Wright provides welcome comic relief as the tour guide, although his character isn’t quite as frivolous as he seems. Andrew Simms memorably depicts a Rush Limbaugh-ish media gasbag, and Jackie Geary makes the most of her small role as a White House staffer smitten by Cale.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’m less satisfied, however, with Murphy’s portrayal of Hammond as an indecisive idiot, a numb-nuts character who would have been more at home in <i>Olympus Has Fallen</i>. Really, must cinema’s U.S. vice presidents be depicted like Nigel Bruce’s bumbling Watson in the Basil Rathbone Sherlock Holmes movies? It’s the one glaringly sour note in Vanderbilt’s otherwise solid script.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That quibble aside, Vanderbilt knows his way around twisty scenarios, having adapted Robert Graysmith’s book for director David Fincher’s 2007 handling of <i>Zodiac</i>. Vanderbilt is clever about details, so pay close attention to the opening act; clues are dropped that’ll later prove quite significant.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stunt coordinator John Stoneham Jr. and visual effects supervisors Volker Engel and Marc Weigert are kept busy. The aforementioned car chase is a corker, as are sequences involving assault helicopters and jet fighters. Yes, Tatum and Sawyer are ridiculously adept at dodging fusillades of high-powered bullets, but that has become <i>de rigueur</i> in flicks of this nature.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Emmerich has a long history of thunderously overblown, audience-pleasing epics that go back to <i>Stargate</i> and <i>Independence Day</i> (the latter getting a wink-nudge shout-out here), and more recently include the less satisfying <i><a href="http://derrickbang.blogspot.com/2008/03/10000-bc-too-primitive.html">10,000 BC</a></i> and <i><a href="http://derrickbang.blogspot.com/2009/11/2012-end-of-days.html">2012</a></i>. I’m happy to note that <i>White House Down</i> lacks the unpalatably casual mass brutality of <i>2012</i>; all the characters here matter, and the occasional instances of collateral homicide take place logically, rather than as a pointless excuse to ratchet up the body count.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In sum, <i>White House Down</i> is a capably mounted and enjoyably executed ride. You really can’t expect more from a summer popcorn thriller.</span></span><!--EndFragment-->

2013 action Channing Tatum Four Star Films James Woods Jamie Foxx Jason Clarke Jimmi Simpson Joey King Maggie Gyllenhaal Richard Jenkins Roland Emmerich White House Down: Slick summer heroics

White House Down   (2013) •  View trailer   Four stars. Rating: PG-13, for fleeting profanity and relentless action violence By  Derrick Ban...

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Librarian I - Hamden Public Library

<strong>Librarian I - </strong><strong><strong><span style="color: #48286d;">Hamden Public Library</span></strong></strong>. Position definition: Performs professional library duties in the areas of reference services, technical services or children's services. Provides instruction in the use of electronic and print information sources in these areas and assists library patrons in the selection and use of library materials. Supervision Received: Works under the general direction of the immediate supervisor as determined by the Library Director, who assigns areas of responsibility, outlines policy and procedures, provides guidance as necessary and evaluates work in terms of accuracy and effectiveness. Works with independence in assigned areas. Makes regular reports to Supervisor, including statistical information for activity reports. Supervision Exercised: Provides general supervision to Library Technical Assistants, Library Clerks, Library Pages and volunteers. Examples of Essential Job Duties: Performs basic professional librarian duties, the specifics of which depend upon the unit to which the employee is assigned. Minimum Qualifications Required: The minimum qualifications required for this position is a Master’s Degree in Library Science from an accredited college or university and some working or internship experience in a public library. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Must have a working knowledge of library principles and practices. A working knowledge of the Dewey Decimal Classification System required. Must possess a working knowledge of and facility with current library-related technologies in a variety of platforms as well as the ability and willingness to embrace technological advances as they arise. Must be able to use the Town's email system. The ability to apply principles of library science to solve practical problems where only limited standardization exists is required. Must be able to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral and scheduled form. Must be able to work with patrons in a busy public service-oriented setting and have the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the library staff. Applications and copies of the job description are available in the Personnel/Civil Service Office from 8:30 - 4:30 PM and on the Town of Hamden website, <a _fcksavedurl="http://www.hamden.com" href="http://www.hamden.com/" target="_blank">www.hamden.com</a>. Closing date: Thursday, <span style="color: red;">July 11, 2013</span> @ 4:00 PM.

Librarian I - Hamden Public Library

Librarian I - Hamden Public Library . Position definition: Performs professional library duties in the areas of reference services, techn...

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Back in the homeschool classroom: A chance encounter

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_7q6CIQ5fuSDXBghlyaLneba7meMy6D-GS0nDYvkjWo9f86vG00gYZk3XjnRrp5_MG0jVBPJunGxIov9BhcRa6SbBX778qyvtPVmgGmPABR0aeqc1lLBYpNG6DD-6Zd8IpCM3krHJ3X5c/s800/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_7q6CIQ5fuSDXBghlyaLneba7meMy6D-GS0nDYvkjWo9f86vG00gYZk3XjnRrp5_MG0jVBPJunGxIov9BhcRa6SbBX778qyvtPVmgGmPABR0aeqc1lLBYpNG6DD-6Zd8IpCM3krHJ3X5c/s400/5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Gulf of Mexico on the Florida Panhandle.</i></div><br />I ran into an old friend today while shopping at Martin's in Staunton ... a homeschool mom who joined our local homeschool organization while I was in leadership. It was good to see her and brought back memories of the years I educated my children at home.<br /><br />We got caught up in that quick in-a-nutshell way that you do when running into someone you haven't seen in a while in a public place like the grocery store, and then she said something that kind of stopped me in my tracks.<br /><br />"I read your blog."<br /><br /><i>"Really?"</i> I was flattered.<br /><br />I thanked her, and laughed about how I write about politics but then escape to the mountains or the back roads to take photos and enjoy the Shenandoah Valley. She smiled and nodded and said, "Your pictures of the beach...."<br /><br />"Ah, the Gulf of Mexico," I said nodding my head. "I had not been there in years but the water was just as blue as I remembered."<br /><br />She noted that it was beautiful and she had really enjoyed the pictures and it made her want to go to the beach. Yes, I told her, I had heard that from others, too.<br /><br />The photos are my window on the world that I enjoy sharing with others, the neat nooks and crannies of the places where I ramble and make discoveries and spend time taking in the beauty of wherever I am. It has always been amazing that people write to say how much they enjoy seeing them.<br /><br />It is equally amazing that a number of homeschool moms, some whom I've never met, read my blog. You would think they would have their hands full with required school reading so I consider it an honor that they take a few minutes out of their day to stop by SWAC Girl.<br /><br />A while back, one mom wrote that she especially enjoyed when I ended my posts with, "It's summer (spring/winter/fall) in the Shenandoah Valley...." Now when I type that line, I think of her.<br /><br />Our chance encounter today was once again a reminder that friends are priceless. And knowing that there are those who enjoy my blog is an honor.  <br /><br />And, Leslie -- great seeing you today! May the rest of your homeschool journey be especially gratifying and successful, and hopefully it won't be so long before we meet up again....<br /><br /><i>----- </i><br /><i>Lynn Mitchell educated her children at home for 16 years and was part of leadership in North Carolina's Iredell County Home Educators (ICHE) and Virginia's Parent Educators of Augusta County Homes (PEACH). Her son graduated from Harrisonburg's James Madison University (JMU) in 2007 with a BS in Computer Science and a minor in Creative Writing. Her daughter graduated from Staunton's Mary Baldwin College in 2012 with a BS in Sustainable Business and Marketing. Lynn and her husband live in Augusta County located in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. The story of how she began her homeschool journey <a href="http://swacgirl.blogspot.com/2013/01/back-in-homeschool-classroom-blazing.html">can be found here</a>.</i> <br /><br />Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell<br />Seacrest, Florida <br />May 2013

Florida Gulf of Mexico homeschooling Lynn R. Mitchell Seacrest Shenandoah Valley Back in the homeschool classroom: A chance encounter

The Gulf of Mexico on the Florida Panhandle. I ran into an old friend today while shopping at Martin's in Staunton ... a homeschool mom ...

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Product development Engineer (opto-mechanics | motion control | Laser | Illumination systems | plasma light) (#109574)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="WordSection1"><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Job Title:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Product Development Engineer<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Location:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Milpitas, CA<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Duration:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Fulltime<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Job description:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Responsibilities:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The selected Product Development Engineer will work within the Wafer Inspection Division on Brightfield products. The Product Development Engineer will be responsible for designing, developing, testing and implementing high brightness plasma light sources to support KLA-Tencor's roadmap in optical wafer inspection. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">This role will involve requirements analysis, systems design and testing of complex inspection systems using expertise from multiple technical disciplines. The selected candidate will:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Work with marketing and engineering to define system architecture and develop requirement specifications and test plans - 30%<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Work with functional groups to define and review designs. Create and execute test plans and perform analysis to validate system performance. Will trouble shoot system and subsystem issues and work with various subsystem teams to find and implement solutions - 40%<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Support internal and external customers in implementing processes to build and use the tool effectively and optimize tool performance. Lead troubleshooting efforts in manufacturing and in the field. - 30%<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Occasional travel will be required.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Preferred Qualifications:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Must have a strong background in engineering or the physical sciences and demonstrated analysis and problem solving skills.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Must have a good understanding of Optical, Electromechanical and Software systems and their interactions in the context of complex industrial equipment.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Strong diagnostic and trouble shooting skills in optics, opto-mechanics, and motion control systems<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Experience with lasers and illumination systems, CCD/CMOS cameras is a plus.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Should be familiar with scientific and statistical analysis tools and SW tools such as Matlab, JMP, Zemax, and LabView.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Experience in developing a subsystem in one or more of the above areas are highly desirable.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Knowledge of semiconductor manufacturing processes and image analysis is desirable.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Should have the ability to influence functional groups to drive system level decisions.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Agility and ability to thrive on a fast paced program and respond quickly to field and internal escalations.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Ability to define objectives clearly, create and track schedules effectively, and drive the team to a solution.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Must be an effective communicator able to share technical information with functional groups and provide executive level reports to management and customers.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">May be required to lead small cross functional teams.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">PhD in applied optics, mechanical/electrical engineering, physics or related disciplines desired<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Minimum Qualifications:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Bachelor's Level Degree with at least 5 years of relevant industry experience. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">OR<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Master's Level Degree with at least 3 years of relevant industry experience.  <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">OR<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Doctorate (Academic).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Please send in your resumes to vinod.sanker@kla-tencor.com</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></div></div>

Product development Engineer (opto-mechanics | motion control | Laser | Illumination systems | plasma light) (#109574)

Job Title: Product Development Engineer Location: Milpitas, CA Duration: Fulltime Job description: Responsibilities: The selected Product...

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System design Engineer ( electron beam or ion beam | column and source design | integration and characterization) (# 109634)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="WordSection1"><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Job Title:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> System design Engineer<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Location:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Milpitas, CA<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Duration:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Fulltime<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Job description:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Responsibilities:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">1. electron beam system development for semiconductor wafer review and inspection<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">2. electron optical column and electron source design, integration and characterization<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">3. system calibration feature development and trouble shooting<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">4. system level integration and characterization<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">5. Data analysis<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">6. team work with multiple functional groups and some leadership<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Preferred Qualifications:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">1. Doctorate (Academic) in physics, electrical engineering and material science with at least 5 years of experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">2. Strong hand-on experience and modeling skill on electron beam or ion beam technology<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">3. Good knowledge and experience on vacuum and high voltage<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">4. Good knowledge and understanding on physics of charge particle related<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">5. Strong data analysis skill and capability of drawing clear conclusion from complicated data set<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">6. Experience on in-depth SEM image analysis is big plus<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">7. Experience on design, integration of high-sensitivity semiconductor testing equipment is big plus<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Minimum Qualifications:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">1. Doctorate (Academic) in physics, electrical engineering and material science with at least 2 years of experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">2. Basic knowledge of electron beam or ion beam or other charged particles<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">3. Some experience on designing and characterizing relatively sophisticated system <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">4. Good data analysis skill<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">5. Good communication skill<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Please send in your resumes to vinod.sanker@kla-tencor.com<span style="font-size: x-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div></div></div>

System design Engineer ( electron beam or ion beam | column and source design | integration and characterization) (# 109634)

Job Title: System design Engineer Location: Milpitas, CA Duration: Fulltime Job description: Responsibilities: 1. electron beam system de...

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Sr System design Engineer ( Optics| metrology | critical dimension | Thinfilm| throughput MAM | modeling and simulations) (#109110)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="WordSection1"><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Job Title:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Sr system design Engineer<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Location:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Milpitas, CA<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Duration:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Fulltime<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Job description:           <o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Responsibilities:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">We are looking for a senior systems engineer to support the development of the next generation film and CD measurement technology and hardware.  Following the KLA-Tencor Product Lifecycle methods, the candidate will be required to participate in all phases of the design, design reviews and requirements definition for systems and subsystems.  System requirements documents, feature requirements for software, analyzing system performance and modeling expected performance are key responsibilities for this position.  Other responsibilities for this position include interfacing with multi-disciplinary teams in the US and overseas, analyzing system level impacts, modeling and simulations of measurement hardware, and evaluating throughput MAM and optics efficiencies. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Preferred Qualifications:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Candidate should have doctoral degree in physics/applied sciences/ materials sciences with at least 5-10 years of experience.  Experience in the semiconductor industry and in other film/CD measurements would be a plus.  Candidates should have excellent written and oral communication skills.  Candidates should be familiar with analytical tools such as Matlab, Mathematica.  Prior knowledge of Zemax or other optical design programs would be considered a plus.  Prior experience in polarization measuring instruments, reflectometers, ellipsometers, interferometers etc would be considered a definite plus.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Minimum Qualifications:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Bachelor's Level Degree with at least 7 years of experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">OR<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Master's Level Degree with at least 6 years of experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">OR<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Doctorate (Academic) with at least 5 years of experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Please send in your resumes to vinod.sanker@kla-tencor.com</span></b></div></div></div>

Sr System design Engineer ( Optics| metrology | critical dimension | Thinfilm| throughput MAM | modeling and simulations) (#109110)

Job Title: Sr system design Engineer Location: Milpitas, CA Duration: Fulltime Job description:           Responsibilities: We are looki...

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Complete Randomness

<br />Nothing exciting going on around here.  So, welcome to my brain randomly darting around to different ideas instead of being productive...<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvcvAzY-QY2jOcYq4iKc0VOcCovIv9Z60vXlWxbjQrAgWkS23YoNTxjImzhp2eQDWSYYzky3gtXd0MNMy5MDCh_DSEd5FlNfoDjEcurv9fYQa5-4R5AQ2jbrDWcdj_Dx3zLtUDoAoBFmo/s960/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><ul><li>It's Friday!!!! </li><li>6 months until Christmas.</li><li>My dog is officially dumber than a sack of rocks.  There's only two ways he will go to the bathroom.  The first way, his toes hit my bedroom carpet.  Simple cause and effect.  The second way, he has to be on a leash with me scolding him to "go, go, GO!"  He can be in the yard for an hour and never go even though he has free access to his preferred spot.  Nope, beeline for my carpet.  Little shit.  </li><li>I love Taco Bell, really really love Taco Bell.  This started in college when I realized I could get completely full for under $2 and it never wore off.  If I don't go for a few days I start to miss it.  I'm really missing my friend today lol</li><li>I am not qualified to have four kids.  I always thought I wanted four.  Two 4-year-olds and two 6-year-olds has been quite enough today!  I can snap a class of 20+ kids to attention, but this... holy cow.  And loading them in the car?  Four kids in booster seats!  I had to put the extra two seats in the back, which meant the older ones had to climb on top of the younger ones to get to their seats.  Granted they could have walked between the middle seats, but what fun would that be?  And they had to step on them and kick them in the face on the way back.  Then I had to climb back too because one couldn't figure out which one to plug the seat belt into.  A mini-van would work, with its lovely sliding door.  But I'm a truck kind of girl and you can't haul a horse trailer with a minivan.  So SUV it is.  And two kids are more than plenty.</li><li>It's $1 Flip Flop day at Old Navy tomorrow.  </li><li>Hubby can't get the kids to swimming lessons either.  I was tempted to let the crash and burn happen.  Not at the expense of the innocent though.  Yes, they were late.  And yes, I had to save the day with towels, drinks, snack, and sunscreen right before they pulled out of the garage.  Half of me thinks this was bait for me to take control of it, the other half thinks I'm reading into it and men don't do things like women do.  Either way, I think there's an awareness now of what it takes to get them going.</li><li>And the thing I'm really super excited about is that I live near another blogger.  Crazy close.  Like meet for lunch anytime kind of close.  I'm really looking forward to getting to know her!</li><li>Oh, and did I mention it's Friday?</li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1XyKCRbNy5cSVudlCqznzhEmB2nveCrTb4ujvMluYiqnwR_OfLEsVsnxT7HVlxUE9wBhLevzI28ygIH5b4kFTMbQhVu248zI_QvTAp_zroAEoSLDcS1wD078BJpDd0ka__gXl4FUjsHQ/s960/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1XyKCRbNy5cSVudlCqznzhEmB2nveCrTb4ujvMluYiqnwR_OfLEsVsnxT7HVlxUE9wBhLevzI28ygIH5b4kFTMbQhVu248zI_QvTAp_zroAEoSLDcS1wD078BJpDd0ka__gXl4FUjsHQ/s320/photo.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLCxqsLMGkYZLToCPI5E7ZUAMWFwnvnfcd11iEmGVT2aJ3y2kyKOzr2G1Hvanp1hXbbv0gJyiMgzZdHb4btuw6HFfNcsz8tzgvr4184R5LK14KPvqvZrf2D6Ca1GU00Ll-EcSi8i4x6_E/s320/For+Emily+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLCxqsLMGkYZLToCPI5E7ZUAMWFwnvnfcd11iEmGVT2aJ3y2kyKOzr2G1Hvanp1hXbbv0gJyiMgzZdHb4btuw6HFfNcsz8tzgvr4184R5LK14KPvqvZrf2D6Ca1GU00Ll-EcSi8i4x6_E/s320/For+Emily+1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><ul></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>

Complete Randomness

Nothing exciting going on around here.  So, welcome to my brain randomly darting around to different ideas instead of being productive... It...

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Why the Teamsters charged a funeral giant with lawbreaking

No one should be surprised that funeral giant SCI would lie and break federal laws during contract talks. SCI has in the past hired gun-toting goons to spy on its workers during negotiations.<br /><br />The $3.8 billion company buys neighborhood funeral homes, siphons money from the community and tries to impoverish its workers.<br /><br />SCI is currently in contract negotiations with Chicago-area funeral directors and drivers who are members of <a href="http://www.teamsterslocal727.org/">Local 727</a>. The Houston-based corporation is demanding the workers agree to elimination of their pension, increased health care costs and a wage freeze for new hires. And it's not as if the company is hurting. Its stock went up 56 percent in the last year.<br /><br />SCI is also lying to the employees and negotiators. That's against the law. The <a href="http://www.teamster.org/content/unfair-labor-practice-charges-filed-against-funeral-giant-sci">press release</a> from Local 727 explains:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">On or about June 24 and 25, in violation of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), SCI engaged in bad faith bargaining with the union by making unlawful omissions and misrepresentations in memos issued to its employees and negotiators.  Additionally, SCI issued memos that contained implied threats to interfere with employees’ current benefits in violation of section 8(a)(1) of the NLRA.</blockquote>The funeral directors are asking the public for support. (You can help by signing this online petition <a href="http://www.integrityinillinois.com/online-petition.html">here</a>.)<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_xLJFXbdJS7zZHEdek8rtuK4FWFE1rWs97R7yMCTu9HSzc7AhlCSFWMVQNLVbJ7Mb9W-PyMoPq932zMPYcJ34EIpUIGuoZZofLqZ5tliUOurJD6l0SdPTPJ6aJ9tTzADa4bG9OiQCsqqK/s1600/funeral+directors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_xLJFXbdJS7zZHEdek8rtuK4FWFE1rWs97R7yMCTu9HSzc7AhlCSFWMVQNLVbJ7Mb9W-PyMoPq932zMPYcJ34EIpUIGuoZZofLqZ5tliUOurJD6l0SdPTPJ6aJ9tTzADa4bG9OiQCsqqK/s320/funeral+directors.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teamster funeral directors rally for fairness</td></tr></tbody></table>Local 727 placed an ad in the <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/">Chicago Tribune</a> and tried to place the same one in the Chicago Sun-Times. But the Sun-Times refused to carry it. <a href="http://www.teamster.org/content/sun-times-refuses-union-advertising">John T. Coli, secretary-treasurer of the Local, said</a>.<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">The Sun-Times obviously does not want to offend a consistent revenue source. It’s ironic that a  newspaper that makes its money off the First Amendment would do this.</blockquote>Here's the ad, which warns of a labor dispute:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">We, the undersigned funeral directors and drivers, are proud to be able to assist grieving families in their greatest time of need, and we have dedicated our lives and careers to this important service. </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">Over the last seven years, we have made sacrifices — including wage cuts and freezes — in order to help SCI. Now, the company wants to eliminate our pensions and slash our benefits. Their shameful actions could force us out on strike and cause further harm to the Chicago community...</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTOsefVB6EeVUsVxxYdmWsuduEwgRru_iboOjTJSwpTAsJgKUERuJ4Czn7274x1OKLb_xfzZ46EXjqBu2JE1AIJo-h1tXVZmIMhF1GSAbEfEQ21LmcUTiJ96A3LOC0tJ_IsA-gOe9NEN1W/s240/SCI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTOsefVB6EeVUsVxxYdmWsuduEwgRru_iboOjTJSwpTAsJgKUERuJ4Czn7274x1OKLb_xfzZ46EXjqBu2JE1AIJo-h1tXVZmIMhF1GSAbEfEQ21LmcUTiJ96A3LOC0tJ_IsA-gOe9NEN1W/s240/SCI.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These walls hide real nasty behavior</td></tr></tbody></table></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">As funeral directors and drivers, we are not nameless, faceless workers; we are licensed professionals who have spent years fostering strong relationships with the families we serve. SCI needs to know they cannot treat us this way. </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">In the event of a labor dispute, please visit IntegrityInIllinois.com or call (312) 206-4123 to be directed to alternative funeral facilities.</blockquote>About the guns:  Six years ago, the Teamster funeral directors were caucusing in a South Side hotel room between negotiating sessions with SCI. A female Teamster negotiator left the room and returned to find a large man who was clearly carrying a gun listening at the door. He tried to intimidate her, but she brushed past him. Funeral directors fanned out across the hotel grounds and identified several more armed goons. The Teamsters immediately filed unfair labor practice charges with the <a href="http://www.nlrb.gov/">National Labor Relations Board</a>.<br /><br />For more information, go to <a href="http://www.integrityinillinois.com/">www.integrityinillinois.com</a>.

funeral directors negotiations SCI Why the Teamsters charged a funeral giant with lawbreaking

No one should be surprised that funeral giant SCI would lie and break federal laws during contract talks. SCI has in the past hired gun-toti...

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Steal $1B? Pay a fine. Criticize banks? 13 years.

A California man who chalked "Stop Big Banks" on a sidewalk faces a possible prison sentence of 13 years, while a banker whose firm "disappeared" $1.2 billion dollars faces no jail time whatsoever.<br /><br />The California man, Jonathan Olson, is a former aide to the U.S. senator from Washington. <a href="http://jonathanturley.org/2013/06/26/bank-of-america/">Blogger Jonathan Turley</a> tells us he can't even <i>bring up</i> the First Amendment during his trial.<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">Olson used water-soluble statements like “Stop big banks,” and “Stop Bank Blight.com” outside Bank of America branches last year to protest the company’s practices. He eventually gave up his protest but prosecutors later brought 13 charges against him. Now a judge has reportedly banned his attorney from “mentioning the First Amendment, free speech, free expression, public forum, expressive conduct, or political speech during the trial.” It appears someone associated with Bank of American could finally go to jail, but it will not by the bank officials in the financial scandal. It is the guy writing slogans in chalk in the sidewalk.</blockquote>Jon Corzine, the former head of MF Global, faces a fine because his company robbed clients of $1.2 billion.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjZoBJ-FreYpIzldJp8a3-hORZhYIRcFskU5hAp1HSESQE3rwECw_Lae8zUj8n39sL43Ora6LikmcKXAtCKx288QkdJs7u4WEl0QQHN8hEPVu5UjnVCuNGOdBMi_XOI0fRYjlAQIXpI6OL/s288/why-it-took-regulators-nearly-two-years-to-bring-a-case-against-jon-corzine-for-mf-global.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjZoBJ-FreYpIzldJp8a3-hORZhYIRcFskU5hAp1HSESQE3rwECw_Lae8zUj8n39sL43Ora6LikmcKXAtCKx288QkdJs7u4WEl0QQHN8hEPVu5UjnVCuNGOdBMi_XOI0fRYjlAQIXpI6OL/s288/why-it-took-regulators-nearly-two-years-to-bring-a-case-against-jon-corzine-for-mf-global.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Corzine</td></tr></tbody></table>The <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323873904578571681994899150.html?mod=WSJ_hps_LEFTTopStories">Wall Street Journal</a> reports:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">Federal regulators on Thursday filed civil charges against former MF Global Holdings Ltd. Chief Executive Jon S. Corzine and a top lieutenant for overseeing the misuse of almost $1 billion in customer funds, saying Mr. Corzine "bears responsibility" for the New York commodities brokerage's 2011 demise... </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">The agency also charged a former executive at the firm, Edith O'Brien, with misusing customer funds, saying she aided and abetted the violations. The agency is seeking monetary penalties from Mr. Corzine and Ms. O'Brien and to ban the two from ever again trading commodities on Wall Street. </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">The CFTC's 47-page complaint depicts Mr. Corzine as instrumental in making decisions that put customer accounts at risk by allegedly moving money in violation of strict rules prohibiting such transfers.</blockquote>Here's how relentlessly Bank of America went after Jonathan Olson, according to Turley:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">Darell Freeman, vice president of Bank of America’s Global Corporate Security ...  reportedly demanded action from local prosecutors. Olson stopped when contacted by the San Diego Gang Unit in 2012. </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">Yet, the bank insisted the chalk caused $6,000 to clean up, a rather suspicious claim. These were slogans written on the sidewalk. Prosecutors hit him with 13 counts of misdemeanor vandalism charges and $13,000 in restitution to the City and to Bank of America. </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">Freeman reportedly continued to hound police to bring charges and reports state that on April 15, Deputy City Attorney Paige Hazard contacted Freeman with the good news. “I wanted to let you know that we will be filing 13 counts of vandalism as a result of the incidents you reported.”</blockquote><a href="http://www.economicpopulist.org/content/corzine-gets-sued">Economic Populist</a> writes:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">If the CFTC wins their civil lawsuit against Corzine, beyond being banned from trading, they could impose stiff personal penalties.  Generally speaking it looks like Corzine will be personally sued into political and economic oblivion as he has been bombarded with private lawsuits already in addition to the government now filing civil litigation against him.  Yet of course no one is actually going to jail for illegally using and losing over $1 billion of customer's funds.   </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">Contrast that with the 20 year prison sentence commonly imposed for sticking up the local 7/11.</blockquote>Or with a 13-year prison sentence for writing in chalk on a sidewalk.

Steal $1B? Pay a fine. Criticize banks? 13 years.

A California man who chalked "Stop Big Banks" on a sidewalk faces a possible prison sentence of 13 years, while a banker whose fir...

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