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What better way to spend Valentine's Day than snuggling up with the special someone in your life and "catching a flick," as the kids are always putting it in between skateboard tricks? These five Valentine's Day movies capture the spirit of the holiday in one way or another, and should make a good viewing option for you and your better half.

"Some Like It Hot"

Other than chocolate and stuffed animals, Valentine's Day is also famous as the date of The St. Valentine's Day Massacre, in which several gangsters were lined up against a wall and mowed down by machine guns. This incident serves as the catalyst for the plot of "Some Like It Hot"-which incidentally is a delightful romantic comedy, not a gritty gangster movie. But it's got something for everybody: Romance, jokes, cross-dressing, and yeah, a little gangster action. The perfect couple's movie!

"No Strings Attached"

The phenomenon of the Valentine's Day date is explored in this romantic comedy, in which two friends try to have a sexual relationship without any of the jealous or affection that comes in a traditional relationship. This ill-fated experiment comes to a head during a date on Valentine's Day, as Natalie Portman's fear of commitment gets in the way of her feelings for Ashton Kutcher. Will these two crazy kids find a way to make it work and live happily ever after? Yes.

"My Bloody Valentine"

Both the original slasher classic and its recent remake feature a killer who stalks celebrants of Valentine's Day and kills them in a bloody fashion. If you and your Valentine's Day movie date are a bit too off-beat for Kutcher and Portman, you could try to watch this movie together instead. Who doesn't love a few bloody killings to go with those big red balloons and boxes of Valentine's Day chocolate?

"Raising Cain"

Then again, you might be too sophisticated for a Valentine's Day hack-em-up slasher. Why not a sophisticated thriller from Brian De Palma? Big chunks of the plot play out on Valentine's Day, including a harrowing scene in which John Lithgow's adulterous wife tries to retrieve a Valentine's Day present for her "on the side" guy that she gave to her husband instead. Fun!

"Valentine's Day"

But maybe you just want to shut off your brain and be happy for Valentine's Day (or maybe your girlfriend isn't into De Palma). In this case, you could probably do worse than Garry Marshall's sprawling film, billed as "the ultimate romantic comedy." Featuring a cast with too many stars to name here, it has enough sweet comedy, meet-cutes, and happy endings for any Valentine's Day couple.


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TV on DVD for 2/2/10 – Farewell Doctor Who, Hello She-Wolf

Doctor Who: The Complete Specials (BBC) – There was a noticeable grumble among Doctor Who fans when Christopher Eccleston left the role after a single season and the Doctor was reborn in the fun-loving, hyper-animated persona of David Tennant. There’s no question that Tennant made the part his own in his four years with the character, just as producer Russell T. Davies brought a whole new energy and sensibility to the iconic series with his 21st century reboot. And with both Tennant and Davies leaving the series, they decided to give the fans something very special by way of farewell and followed the fourth season with five hour-long “specials” (well, four actually, but one of them was broken into two separate parts and comes that way on disc). These shows take what was inherent in this incarnation of the Doctor and finally, fatefully transform the last of the Time Lords from happy-go-lucky time- and space-traveler into a tragic hero on a collision course with destiny and a death foretold.

David Tennant faces The End of Time
David Tennant faces The End of Time

The adventuresome Planet of the Dead (with Michelle Ryan) and the melancholy The Next Doctor (with David Morrissey) have already appeared separately on DVD and Blu-ray. The rest debut this week, separately or in DVD and Blu-ray box sets. The Waters of Mars, starring Lindsay Duncan as the leader of an Earth colony on Mars, is an invasion thriller that puts the Doctor in the heartbreaking position of putting compassion up against the laws of time and space that he considers immutable. Under the spring-loaded energy and snappy repartee that gives The Doctor his goofy amiability and lighthearted lift, Tennant layers in a note of anguish that is fully brought forth in the two-part The End of Time (titles don’t come more epic than that). And they outdo themselves on The End of Time, which delves into the mystery of the Time Lords (check out Timothy Dalton as narrator and rogue Time Lord), spins an apocalyptic showdown like you’ve never seen (John Simm as the Time Master, a madman with seemingly unlimited power to transform himself into… well, something epic) and ends with a touching farewell tour of the lives the Doctor has touched in his current incarnation before his inevitable transformation. It’s a touching and deserved farewell to one of the finest incarnations of The Doctor. Each of the specials runs just under an hour except for The End of Time, Part Two, which runs over to give the Doctor time to say farewell to everyone.

The BBC pretty much has the supplements covered in their “Doctor Who Confidential” specials they made for each of the programs, plus there’s “Doctor Who at the Proms” and “Doctor Who at Comic-Con” featurettes and a collection of Doctor Who station IDs for the Christmas season. David Tennant and director Euros Lyn team up for commentary on “The End of Time” (joined by Catherine Tate on Pt 1 and John Simm on Pt. 2), producer Russell T. Davies introduces a collection of deleted scenes and David Tennant presents his video diary of his last days as the Doctor. Five discs in a fold-out digipak on DVD and Blu-ray.

I had to check out She-Wolf of London: The Complete Series (Universal) based on the title alone. I’d never heard of it and only after a little research discovered that it was a syndicated show from 1990 created by Tom McLaughlin and Mick Garris and shot in Britain. And yes, there is a female werewolf at the center of the show: American graduate student Randi Wallace (Kate Hodge), who makes her entrance with giant glasses and hair tied back, her face buried in thick scientific book, going for that sexy smart girl look and succeeding. She has a touch of nerd and a bit of tomboy and is strong-willed and flirtatious, all of which both enchants and intimidates her favorite professor Ian Matheson (Neil Dickson). Then again, this American girl is named “randy,” which carries a while different meaning on this side of the pond. She gets bitten by a beast on the Moors while doing research on her chosen field, which just happens to involve disproving all forms of superstitious belief and mythical monsters, which she believes can be explained by psychological phenomenon. What a learning experience for both of them!

It’s part Beauty and the Beast and part Kolchak: The Night Stalker, with Randi shifting her studies and Ian joining her in supernatural sleuthing. The late-night sexiness gives way to a more screwball energy and tongue-in-cheek humor but there’s a definite romantic spark and a good balance of monster mash mystery and lighthearted adventure. In one episode, they even embark on a truly terrifying cultural phenomenon: a sci-fi convention dedicated to a cheesy TV series (a lo-fi, tongue-in-cheek parody of Star Trek done up as a cheap Captain Video-style B&W program). The characters moved to Los Angeles for the final six episodes and the show was renamed Love and Curses, but neither change resulted in a second season. Which is too bad, because this is a lot of fun. Their first American episode lands them in a suburban zombie-land that turns out to be a bizarre conspiracy involving a wizard’s curse and a race of ancient trolls (led by Paul Williams) kidnapping humans and ends up with Ian landing a talk show on the supernatural, which hooks them up with even more mysteries to investigate. Note that all of the episodes on this collection sport the Love and Curses credits. My best guess is that the entire show was renamed for the next round of syndicated showings and these episodes were mastered from those versions. 20 episodes on four discs in a digipak, no supplements.

Dying Room Only (Warner Archive) – Author and screenwriter Richard Matheson, whose resume includes Duel, the Night Stalker movies and numerous episodes of The Twilight Zone, was a one-man TV thriller industry when he adapted his own short story into this taut desert mystery. Cloris Leachman is the frantic wife searching for a missing husband under the intimidating gaze of surly diner cook Ross Martin and lazily threatening Ned Beatty, a bad ol’ good ol’ boy with a menace behind his sour grin. Director Philip Leacock strips the entire film down to a forlorn diner/motel on a lonely highway in the middle of nowhere. It’s a terrifying place to be alone when the sun goes down and the only people around are suspects in your husband’s disappearance. Debuts on the Warner Archive.

Also new this week: the British mystery sets The Inspector Lewis Complete Set (WGBH), featuring 11 mysteries on eight discs, A Mind to Kill: Series 1 (Acorn) with Philip Madoc, plus more American seasons of classic shows, including Beverly Hills 90210: The Ninth Season (Paramount), Murder, She Wrote: The Complete Eleventh Season (Universal) and Mister Ed: The Complete Second Season (Shout! Factory).

For more DVD releases, see my picks for the week at my blog and my DVD column at MSN.

Author: seanax

I write the weekly newspaper column Stream On Demand and the companion website ( I'm a contributing writer for Turner Classic Movies Online, Keyframe, Independent Lens, and Cinephiled, and the editor of Parallax View ( I've written for The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, The Seattle Weekly,, Senses of Cinema, Asian Cult Cinema, and Psychotronic Video, among other publications, and I am a contributing editor to Parallax View. I currently live and work in Seattle, Washington, with my two cats, Hammet and Chandler.

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Family History and Genealogy Resources by Surname

Kohler Surname Origin

(Origin German) An occupational surname for a charcoal burner.

Source: An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names With an Essay on their Derivation and Import; Arthur, William, M.A.; New York, NY: Sheldon, Blake, Bleeker & CO., 1857.

Kohler  Surname Meaning and Family Facts

Kohler Last Name Meaning
Search the FREE Name Dictionary.

There is more to Kohler family history than the origin of your surname:

Start your Genealogy to find your personal Kohler family ancestry. It's easy to get started. Just begin your family tree with what you already know. Learn More.

A Kohler Family History Thought:

'We are all omnibuses in which our ancestors ride, and every now and then one of them sticks his head out and embarrasses us.' --Oliver Wendell Homes

To find additional surnames, choose the first letter of surname:
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z


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Discover the meaning of your name.

Start Now
Free Surname Dictionary Over 70,000 Surname Origins

Family History and Genealogy Resources by Surname

Lightbody Surname Origin

A writer, somewhere, derives this name from Licht, a dead body, a tomb, and Bodee, contracted from Boadicea,--meaning the tomb or grave of this British Queen; a locality. The name, however, is more likely to have originated from bodily peculiarity.

Source: An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names With an Essay on their Derivation and Import; Arthur, William, M.A.; New York, NY: Sheldon, Blake, Bleeker & CO., 1857.

Lightbody  Surname Meaning and Family Facts

Lightbody Last Name Meaning
Search the FREE Ancestry.com Name Dictionary.

There is more to Lightbody family history than the origin of your surname:

Start your Genealogy to find your personal Lightbody family ancestry. It's easy to get started. Just begin your family tree with what you already know. Learn More.

A Lightbody Family History Thought:

'In all of us there is a hunger, marrow-deep, to know our heritage - to know who we are and where we have come from. Without this enriching knowledge, there is a hollow yearning. No matter what our attainments in life, there is still a vacuum. An emptiness. And the most disquieting loneliness.' --Alex Haley

To find additional surnames, choose the first letter of surname:
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z


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The Feelies Quotes

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Search Tools Product Report

Fluid Dynamics Search Engine

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Season of Mist, French independent label for Metal and Rock

News detail

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Thu, Mar 18 2010: KLONE

Latest release: "Black Days"

Release date: Mon, Apr 19 2010

MP3 - KLONE - Black Days - Give Up The Rest

The French release of KLONE's third album "Black Days" is now one month ahead! The band just redesigned their MySpace page and gives you the opportunity to hear new song "Give up the Rest". Go check it out!

Guitarist Guillaume Bernard comments: "We're proud to share with you the brand new song "Give up the Rest", from our new album "Black Days"! We have been working on this album like madmen for a year, involving our very souls in it! Thanks a lot to all who support and trust in KLONE, as well as all who make this achievement possible! We can't wait to play the new songs for you!"

You can also download the song here.

As previously announced, "Black Days" will be released in the rest of Europe and in Australia on May 17th.

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Top Picks for Arts and Events

Critics and fans were skeptical, cueing reruns of Almost Live's "The Lame List," but the Soundgarden reunion album King Animal dropped today and brings back the flannel-and-chains sound of the '90s with a vengeance. "King Animal is a weirdly cool beast to encounter in 2012—like running into a mastodon in a Melvins T-shirt," writes Rolling Stone's Jon Dolan. "They haven't forgotten how to stomp out the jams: Thayil is still a warlock guitar conjurer of the first order, and Cornell rolls around his multi-octave range like some kind of backwoods metal-Mariah." The Washington Post agrees. So does Consequence of Sound. In other words: Grunge lives. And with Soundgarden, it sounds ageless.

After a 15-year break, themes have strayed from the "Black Hole Sun" days, but the band still embraces the darkness and uncertainty of the future. "Don't know where I'm going, I just keep on rowing," Cornell moans on a softer track, "Rowing."

We know where you're going, Chris. Back to Seattle on a reunion tour. Soundgarden will play the Paramount February 7 and 8 and tickets go on sale this Saturday, November 17, at 10am. It feels like you've been away for far too long.

Feb 7 & 8 at 8, Paramount Theatre, $67 + fees

Watch the video for Soundgarden's first single off King Animal, "Been Away Too Long."

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Back in 1985, the producer of "Ran" -- the last great Akira Kurosawa samurai epic -- reportedly told a press conference that he was generally happy with the U.S. response to the film, but was sure "it would have done much better had it starred Tom Cruise."

He was, of course, making a joke. But that joke has come to life all these years later in "The Last Samurai" -- with Cruise at the center of a "Ran"-like, faux-Kurosawa samurai movie -- and the surprise is that it's not such a joke at all.

It over-romanticizes the samurai ethic and is likely to raise the ire of historians with its many contrivances, but it's a rousing epic that fills the screen with ritualized battle and an engagingly offbeat vehicle for America's biggest movie star.

Cruise plays an ex-U.S. 7th Cavalry officer -- alcoholic and tortured by the part he played in helping Gen. Custer commit his atrocities against the Indians -- who, in the year 1876, takes a job helping the Meiji Court of Japan build and train a modern army.

The emperor's main adversary is the samurai or warrior class, which has been officially banned but has instigated a rebellion in the countryside. Soon after arriving in Japan, the officer is captured by the rebels and spends the winter as their prisoner.

In the course of his confinement, this first American POW in Asia learns Japanese, becomes pals with the English-fluent rebel leader (Ken Watanabe), and is attracted to the Zen-simple lifestyle, the martial art of kendo and the samurai code of bushido -- to the point that he switches sides.

If the thrust of this plot sounds vaguely familiar, it may be because it's very close to the landmark 1980 TV mini-series of James Clavell's "Shogun." In his yukata robe and longish hair and beard, Cruise even looks like Richard Chamberlain in that famous role.

And, to its detriment, "The Last Samurai" lacks "Shogun's" tough-minded historical accuracy and more openminded view of its East-West culture clash: its willingness to see what was noble and sublime in Japanese feudalism, but also what was narrow and ugly.

As a grand visual epic, the film also lets us down in several of its more obviously computer-generated scenes -- the Yokohama harbor, Edo skyline and several battlefield panoramas -- which often look as phony as the worst studio matte shots of the '30s and '40s.

But, otherwise, the film is hard to fault. John Logan's script captures the sweep of the Meiji Restoration and its capitulation to Western ways; and Lilly Kilvert's art direction, John Toll's camerawork and Hans Zimmer's gangaku-esque score wrap us in the poignant pageantry of a dying civilization.

If not quite up to the standard of 1989's "Glory" -- director Edward Zwick's last historical war epic -- the film is nonetheless filled with exhilarating, gruesomely beautiful battle sequences and stylish nods to the great Kurosawa films, especially "Seven Samurai," "Yojimbo" and "Ran."

In his first role since turning 40, Cruise displays a likable new maturity, and an unexpected willingness to look weak and foolish. He's no Toshiro Mifune, but he's painfully convincing as a fallen man who gets a second chance, and strangely compelling as the unlikely centerpiece of the samurai last stand.


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SSI logo

Ace Marketers Reveal Their Methods

Security dealers/integrators from across North America entered the 15th Annual SAMMY Awards to match their sales, marketing and installation prowess against industry peers. Who won and why, plus what can you learn from their successes is explained within.

Maybe even before high quality, dependable service, a business’ marketing strategy is the single biggest factor to determine the success or failure of most any company. No matter if you are boutique mom-‘n’-pop security installer or an integration powerhouse, how you are perceived in the marketplace will likely determine the well-being of your company.

Not to be confused with simple advertising, an effective marketing plan is necessary to create a demand for your products and services. Think of your marketing strategy as an investment in future sales. Prospective clients need to be made aware of your company and what it offers. Marketing provides the means in which you expand your customer base.

It is in that spirit that each year SSI hosts the SAMMY (Sales & Marketing) Awards. Not simply to honor excellence in sales, marketing and installation endeavors, but ultimately to provide a platform to share best practices among your industry brethren. From yard signs to vehicle graphic designs, promotional giveaways to winning newsletters, there are numerous tools to reach and persuasively promote your company — without breaking the bank.

If you are in search of ideas to develop or improve your marketing collateral, be sure to check out the following brief profiles highlighting winners of the 10 marketing categories from this year’s 15th annual affair held in March.

We hope you’ll be motivated to incorporate some of these concepts into your own campaigns and enter the program next year to take a run at SAMMY success! SSI would like to thank program sponsors Altronix, Honeywell Security, ADI, Fire-Lite, TRI-ED, PSA Security Network, Visonic, Electronic Security Association (ESA), Campus Safety Magazine and ISC for helping make the 2010 SAMMY Awards possible.

Stanley Convergent Security Solutions
Best Overall Integrated Marketing Campaign
Sponsored by Fire-Lite Alarms

Coordinated Effort Emphasizes Branding, Messaging, Customers

While cynics might look at a company the size of Stanley Convergent Security Solutions (CSS) and say, “Of course they have great marketing materials, they have the money to do whatever they want,” upon closer scrutiny the principles, creativity and drive the 2,000-people-strong company exemplifies would likely lead to success regardless of budget. The company’s marketing philosophy is an extension of its Customer Excellence program of account management, installation, service, monitoring and billing touch points.

“When creating materials such as brochures and collateral, we convey our focus on ‘customer excellence’ by looking at them as not only tools for the sales associates, but tools for the customer as well,” says Director of Marketing Beth Tarnoff.

“To help customers select the security solution that is best for them, we use diagrams to explain system types, make easy bullet lists of advantages to compare one offering against another and highlight key features to the customer throughout.”

SAMMY judges were captivated by Stanley CSS’ yellow, black and white, sports-themed materials that range from basic sales brochures to flamboyant trade show booths. The entry scored especially well in the areas of overall central marketing theme, appearance and use of color, and company representation effectiveness. As a result, the company proudly captured its third Best Overall Integrated Marketing Campaign award in the past four years.

“We enter the SAMMY’s because we believe it is a great asset to the security industry to provide recognition to the sales and marketing efforts of security companies,” says Stanley CSS North America President and COO Tony Byerly. “We put a lot of effort throughout the year into our marketing program, various sales/marketing initiatives and community outreach. It is an honor to be recognized for all our hard work, creativity and overall efforts. It also provides us a constant challenge not only to be better than the competition, but also to continually create new, unique marketing approaches.”

A case study of Stanley CSS’ Integrated Installation of the Year will appear in July’s SSI.

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Business Management · Atronic Alarms · Best Defense Security & Fire Protection · Cover Story · Industry Awards · Johnson Controls · SAMMY Awards · All Topics

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For professionals who recommend, buy and install all types of electronic security equipment, a free subscription to Security Sales & Integration is like having a consultant on call. You'll find an ideal balance of technology and business coverage, with installation tips and techniques for products and updates on how to add sales to your bottom line.
A free subscription to the #1 resource for the residential and commercial security industry will prove to be invaluable. Subscribe today!

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Dear Visitor:

Here at ForeverPrized.com, Inc., we are most humbled to present an extraordinary excerpt from the last known novel by William T. Vaughn.  Known simply as Bill to his family in Terre Haute, Indiana, he wrote spy thrillers in Life, so it is fitting that in Death, we have the “license” to spy forever on Bill’s creative essence as captured in this perpetual e-memorial.

Bill and his family are among the thousands worldwide we have served with our trademarked Posthumous Vanity Publishing (PVP) services.   ForeverPrized.com, Inc. has been providing PVP and other e-memorial services since 1999 while the Scattergood family itself has been providing memorial services since 1989.

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The Wharf Marketplace is a convenient one-stop shop for all things fresh and local. Visitors and locals alike can purchase everything from seafood, flowers, cheeses, meats, vegetables to wines. The permanent farmers' market is conveniently located at the Pacific Railroad Passenger Station just between Old Fisherman's Wharf and the Commercial Wharf where many of the fishing boats unload their fresh catches. The Marketplace is open daily 7am-7pm but closes at 2pm on Tuesdays during Monterey's Oldtown Farmers' Market.

Combine education and edible delights when you make a visit to The Farm in the verdant Salinas Valley. Open six days a week, The Farm is an agricultural education center, demonstration farm and produce stand designed to tell the story of farming on the Central Coast. Enjoy the fresh certified organic produce, tours and visits with the farm animals. The Farm also hosts several events throughout the year like Apple Day, Fall Festival, Day of Thanksgiving and more.

Try Carmel Valley's Earthbound Farm Organic Farm Stand. Along with choosing from fresh produce grown in a spectacular setting, join in on a chef's pantry tour, cut your own flowers, or explore the "Kids' Garden." Check out their calendar for special events and workshops like wreath-making and pumpkin carving.

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OpenArray® Human Housekeeping Panel Kit

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OpenArray® Pathways are ready-to-use gene panels containing pre-validated real-time qPCR assays. The plates have over 600 assays each and are compatible with multiple sample types. Panels are currently avaliable with human or mouse genes. New panels are continually under development. Check back for updates.

Real-Time qPCR assays for housekeeping genes reformatted onto an OpenArray plate. Kit includes: OpenArray plate, Real-Time qPCR Case, Immersion Fluid, Frame Adhesive and Plate-File CD.


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Mitt Romey's leadership

Posted by IlliniNation88
Mitt Romey's leadership
April 15, 2012 11:25PM
Since Mitt Romney is the presumptive Republican nominee for President I decided to share a paper I wrote about Mitt Romney last semester for my political leadership class. To give you all a heads up this paper was written to study Romney's leadership style. I reference several sources that are not included in my bibliography. I can get you the names of those books if you wanted to check them out. Also, there are not any internal citations. I use footnotes for my internal citations and footnotes cannot be copied and pasted. I am also note sure if this paper is the final paper I turned in; I believe it is, but if it isn't then there may be some grammatical errors, please ignore those.

On the first day of class we were told this country is facing a leadership problem. It is the reason why the country is currently in such dire straits and why it cannot seem to get itself out. Our elected â€˜leadersâ€™ in Washington are more concerned with playing the blame game than coming up with a solution. Our President also is not a strong leader. There is no doubt he had the right intentions coming into office, but he has shown he is not capable of bringing people together and he is not willing to make tough, unpopular choices. I am going to study Mitt Romney. I want to determine what kind of person he is, what kind of leader he is and I want to look at his record to determine if he is capable of bringing true leadership to Washington.
Mitt Romney is a quintessential Guardian, specifically he is an ESTJ; a supervisor Guardian. Kiersey says that guardians use concrete words and language; they do not like the abstract. I looked through a number of Mitt Romney speeches and he almost always is talking about his past, his experiences or his accomplishments. Guardians are also interested in material things because they can be measured and analyzed.Romney willtypically use statistics to show that President Obama has been a failure.He likes to measure his success against Obamaâ€™s failures. He likes to show, using hard data, he will be a better President. In a speech delivered at the â€œDefending American Dream Summitâ€ Romney spent the first half of his speech listing facts, he had a statistic for everything and freely shared his knowledge with everyone.
Keirsey also suggests that guardians are most interested in commerce for its practical use. Mitt Romney when talking about his background typically states, â€œI spent my career in the private sector. Iâ€™ve met a payroll, and signed the front, as well as the back, of a payroll check. Iâ€™ve actually saved jobs and created jobs. And I know what it takes to get America back to work.â€ Romney has been involved and interested in business most of his life. The Atlantic gives a brief history of Romneyâ€™s achievements, specifically that he turned around Bain capitals fortunes in 1991 and 1992 when it appeared as though the company would be going belly up. Romney did the same thing when he took over the Salt Lake Organizing Committee. By all accounts the Committee was in deep trouble, but as he did with Bain Capital Romney was able to get it on its feet and make it successful. Romneyâ€™s background in business is important to him. Romney wants to be President and wants to bring his background in business to DC in order to spur economic growth and also to make the government more accountable, effective, efficient and fiscally responsible.
Guardians are concerned with morality; they have a deep sense of right and wrong. Republicans pride themselves on being the party of family values. Romney will typically include at least some mention of the Republican Partyâ€™s core social values. Romney is not just being a politician, either. Based on personal accounts from those who have known Romney since college he is a moral man, who is dedicated to his family and they even added that he does not swear.
Keirsey says guardians are pessimistic about the future. Mitt Romney is not pessimistic about the future in any way. In a speech delivered at the Values Voters Summit on October 8, 2011 Romney said, â€œI am guided by one overwhelming conviction and passion: this century must be an American Century. In an American Century, America has the strongest economy and the strongest military in the world. In an American Century, America leads the free world and the free world leads the entire world.â€ Romney is telling people he believes Americaâ€™s best days are ahead and not in the past. He is clearly optimistic about the future of America and he wants the American people to know that hope is not lost. He does, however, say if we do not change course and elect a new President the future may not be so bright. Romney is also not just saying this to become President. Romneyâ€™s classmates at Harvard said he has always been optimistic and upbeat.
Keirsey also states guardians are set in the past because they are afraid of change. Republicans are certainly wary of change. They do not like the unknown. Romney seems to feel this way as well. It is clear from his speeches that he wants to run this country the way he ran his state and businesses because it worked for him. He is not willing to follow Obamaâ€™s example and take risks because risks have the potential to backfire like they did for Obama.
Guardians support a strong defense, in other words security is important to them. Republicans love defense and security. Romney has made very clear he will not continue Obamaâ€™s policy of cutting defense spending; he wants to make the military bigger and stronger and provide them the support and funding they need to keep America safe. Obama has actually continued most of the policies started under the Bush Administration, so I believe a lot of Romneyâ€™s speeches regarding security are more political and do not reflect what he will actually do. Unless Romney believes President Bush was a weak president when it came to protecting America (which I doubt he does.)
Mitt Romney is also an excellent example of Riso and Hudsonâ€™s Type Eight personality. Type eight personalities are big personalities; they are independent, resourceful, assertive, determined and competitive. Type eights are natural born leaders, as a result they tend to make excellent politicians and businessmen. Romney displays a number of the qualities important to eights. First and foremost he is energetic, compassionate, engaging and intense. More importantly he keeps his promises. Riso and Hudson state that an eights word means everything to them, when they say they are going to do something they do it. According to Romneyâ€™s friends he never failed to keep his word, he always did his work and was exceptionally responsible.
Romney pursued a joint business and law degree at Harvard University. According to the Boston Globe the dual degree is an intense program that demands a lot out of the students. \Romney excelled in the program and graduated with honors. Type eights are energetic and independent;they strive for excellence and give nothing short of their best in all of their endeavors. Romney also has a history of taking on immense challenges (Bain Capital in 1990, taking over the Salt Lake Organizing Committee) and coming out the victor. Type eights willchallenge themselves primarily because they want to show they are capable of taking on any challenge they are confronted with.
Mitt Romney is also fiercely independent. There is perhaps no greater example of this than the health care law he passed while Governor of Massachusetts, commonly referred to as Romneycare. Romney became the first and so far only Republican Governor to ever sign and implement such a progressive health care overhaul. As the Boston Globe points out what Romney did was actually fairly Conservative and was even supported by certain Conservatives when it was initially passed. They changed their tune shortly after Obama became President, because he modeled his own health care legislation after Romneyâ€™s. It would be easy for Romney to say he made a mistake, but he has not done that. He has instead defended his program, stating, "Our plan was a state solution to a state problem. His is a power grab by the federal government to put in a place a one-size-fits-all plan." This is what makes Romney unique, because it would be easy for him to turn against his program; in fact it may even score him points with the Republican base. Doing that is not in his nature; type eights are proud of their achievements and for Romney this is his greatest achievement as Governor.
Romney is a type eight wing seven. What this means is his dominant personality is a type eight and his weaker personality is a type seven. Type eight wing seven people are outgoing, energetic, quick and have big egos. In my opinion anyone wishing to run for and be President has to have at least some of these qualities. Running for any political office takes a lot of dedication and energy. Candidates have to devote their entire life to the campaign and there is no guarantee they will be successful in their bid. Furthermore, candidates have to be outgoing; they have to appeal to people. Voters like people like Mitt Romney, people who are confident, have a plan for the future and who are willing to take on any task, no matter how big.
Strengths Based Leadershipseeks to identify a personâ€™s strengths, because, as the authors, Tom Rath and Barry Conchie state a truly successful leader will be aware of their strengths and focus solely on them. Romneyâ€™s top five strengths would most likely be analytical, command, competition, deliberative and restorative. Analytical people have an ability to dig deeper and find the reasoning behind any given situation. A lot of Romneyâ€™s analytical skill likely came from his time at Harvard. The dual degree program he was enrolled in forced him to look at cases and to read cases in order to understand how to be a successful executive and lawyer. Furthermore, Romney had to be able to analyze the problems facing both Bain capital and the Salt Lake Organizing Committee in order to successfully turn those two organizations around.
People strong in command take charge of a situation, they are decisive and strong. Again, Mitt Romneyâ€™s history as a businessman shows he is more than capable of taking control of any situation and turning it around. He has shown he is bold and decisive and is willing to make the hard choices in order to achieve the necessary results. People strong in competition are obviously highly competitive they love to compare themselves to others, so show their strengths and the others weaknesses. Romney loves to do this on the campaign trail. He continually compares his record as a businessman and Governor of Massachusetts to President Obamaâ€™s record. He highlights all of his achievements and continually focuses on President Obamaâ€™s â€˜failuresâ€™. Part of this is good politics, Romney has to give voters a reason to elect him and not any of the other Republicans and if he is the nominee he has to show voters he will be a better president than Obama. However, it is also simply part of his nature. I believe most politicians are naturally competitive because politics is inherently competitive.
Deliberative leaders are those leaders who are careful when making decisions; they anticipate obstacles and plan accordingly. This strength sort of goes hand in hand with the last one, restorative; restorative leaders are good at dealing with problems and have an excellent ability of taking a situation and resolving it. Romney has a clear record of success. When Romney took over the reins at Bain and Co. he was faced with a company on the brink of ruin. Under his leadership the company turned around within three years as business increased by 20%. The Salt Lake Organizing Committee was in just as bad shape when Romney became head of it. They were facing a deficit in excess of $370 million and support was waning. Romney again orchestrated a successful turnaround. When Romney became Governor of Massachusetts he was faced a huge deficit. He promised voters his first order of business would be to put the state on a sound financial footing and to turn the deficit into a surplus. Romney again was successful and turned the large $1-2 billion budget gap into a $700 million surplus. Romney has shown time and time again that he is more than up to the task of taking on challenges. He has an incredible ability to turn things around.
Not since Ronald Reagan has the Republican Party had a good public speaker either run for President or be President. Mitt Romney may change that trend. Romney is a fairly decent public speaker. He is not as good as Ronald Reagan, but compared to President Bush and the current field of Republican candidates he is a great speaker. He also looks like a President. He is calm, composed, in control and he hardly seems rattled. Despite his overall strength in this area he is not President Obama. President Obama is one the best speakers I have ever seen. Romney cannot and will not beat Obama in this area. However, as far as Republicans go I think Romney is a good communicator and will be able to hold his own against Obama.
Romney is a businessman and businessmen understand organization. One of the reasons Romney was so successful in all of his business ventures is he successfully reorganized.He made them more efficient, compatible and effective. As Governor Romney instantly went to work reorganizing the state, the Boston Globe reports that he was the stateâ€™s first CEO-Governor. They report he and his old business partners went to work finding inefficiency and waste in order to turn the stateâ€™s financial woes around. Furthermore, Romney amassed a dream team of cabinet members (the Boston Globe was more than impressed with his cabinet choices!) President Bush also amassed an impressive list of cabinet members when he was President and that backfired on him. Primarily because he was unable to prove that he was the one in charge because he had so many big personalities. Romney did not have that problem, he ran a tight ship according to the Boston Globe and it was clear that he was the one in charge. Romneyâ€™s restructuring and organization ultimately achieved the stated goal of turning around the stateâ€™s financial situation.
For the most part Romney possesses keen political skill. He was, after all, elected Governor in a solidly Democratic state. Romney also faced a Democrat legislature. Despite this fact Romney was able to successfully implement a number of his major policy goals. Despite facing a Democratic state legislature Romney was successful in restructuring the state to improve efficiency, accountability, effectiveness and to decrease costs as a way to turn around the stateâ€™s financial woes. He also was able to successfully win approval for his health care bill. This was no easy task. First and foremost Democrats were not always on board with an insurance mandate, for a long time that was a Republican proposal. He had to convince Democrats that it was in their best interest to go against the party line and support it. He also had to convince Republicans that such a progressive approach to health care was necessary. In the end he was successful (although the overall success of the program is still being debated.) He did have some slip ups.
Two examples really stand out. Romney tried to overturn the Massachusetts Supreme Courtâ€™s decision in favor of gay marriage. He was met with hostility in the legislature and he went out on a limb to try and force the legislature to back a proposal which defined marriage strictly in a traditional sense. This decision ultimately backfired on him and it was a pretty public backfire on his part. His response to an accident in the big dig left many questioning whether or not he was out of touch. Despite these two fairly public debacles Romney was quite successful in Massachusetts. Despite dealing with a Democratic legislature he was able to pass numerous reforms and bills which drastically altered the direction of the state.
Romneyâ€™s vision seems pretty straight forward. He is a businessman and his vision as Governor was to bring his business experience to the capital in order to turn around the stateâ€™s financial woes, make government more efficient, effective and accountable and to create jobs and spur economic growth. This seems to be what he wants to do in Washington. I do not doubt that he has vision, but I am not sure he really knows what he wants to do outside of economics. He seems to be toeing the Republican line when it comes to national security issues and social issues. It begs the question; if Mitt Romney is President and he turns around the economy what will he do next? As Governor he focused on education reform and health care reform. These are areas that will also need to be addressed if he is President, but Romney has not yet articulated (at least not entirely) what else he plans to do as President.
Romney is incredibly intelligent, no one can deny that. He graduated from BYU with a 4.0 GPA and was valedictorian. At Harvard he graduated from law school with honors and was a Baker Scholar at the business school. Romney has also shown his intelligence and business savvy time and time again. Each new problem he encounters gives him an opportunity to not only show his intelligence but also to expand it. He has been so successful primarily because he understands how business works and he always knows what needs to be done in order to turn a faltering organization or business around. His peers clearly respect his intelligence. Perhaps one reason his cabinet did not overshadow him was his cabinet members did not question his intelligence; they knew he knew what he was doing. They respected him and knew that he would consider all the facts and come to the best conclusion possible.
I mentioned that Romney was accused of having an emotional deficit as a result of his response to the big dig accident. I think this is probably true. Romney has never had to deal with the same problems as â€˜averageâ€™ Americans. He grew up in a wealthy family and as a result of his intelligence and skill has gone on to be just as successful as his father. He does not understand what most people are going through because he has never had to live in the middle class. He can talk about it, but he does not have any credibility with average Americans. Bill Clinton was successful because he did come from modest roots and became successful in his own right. He also was an excellent communicator and when he spoke people genuinely believed he felt their pain. President Obama is the same way. He did come from the middle class and worked hard to be successful and get to where he is at.
Romney is successful at almost everything he does (although he has not always been successful politically, he lost to Senator Kennedy in 1994 and also lost to McCain in 2008). The question is why; why is he so successful and why has this success thus far not struck a chord with Republican voters. First and foremost Romney is confident, he is confident in himself, his abilities and he believes that he can do anything. His track record certainly does not dispute this fact; he has encountered immense challenges in his life and has always come out on top. I think the primary reason is people are motivated by him; his confidence and his optimism are contagious. He has responded to every challenge with small steps, he restructures an organization, he makes small changes to improve efficiency and cut costs, which all result in quick, drastic change. He turned Bane and Co. around in less than three years, he did the same thing with the Salt Lake Organizing Committee and then again as Governor. Part of the reason for his success is he trusts a select group of people, who in turn trust him and they come together to create a solution. He has garnered respect as a result of his record and people trust his advice, they know he knows what he is talking about. Context has also helped him. He always seems to be in the right place at the right time and always seems to make the right decisions. So given all of this why are Republican voters still wary of him?
I think the main problem is they question his loyalty to Conservative values and so far he has not had his tipping point moment. President Obama had several tipping point moments. The first was his address at the Democrat National Convention in 2004. The other and perhaps most important was his address on race during the democratic primary. Romney has had tipping point moments before, his success at Bane and Co. and the Salt Lake Organizing Committee were certainly major moments in his life. His success while Governor was also a tipping point in his life. His problem is he has not had a tipping point in this campaign.
Romney has followed the Four Agreements quite well. He has been impeccable with his word. When he says something people trust him, not only because he has such an impressive resume, but he has a record of being honest and truthful. When Mitt Romney says he is going to do something people know he means it. Romney also does not seem to take things too personal. This is a must in politics. Politics is dirty and nasty. People cannot get bogged down or take offense to things because they will spend all their time focusing on what others say instead of focusing on themselves and why they are the best person for the job. Romney has so far remained focused on his record, what he wants to do as President and why he would be a better President than Obama and also a better nominee than the other Republicans. Romney does not seem to make assumptions. Most importantly Romney always gives his best. He has been so successful because he has gone into every situation gung ho and he knows exactly what he wants to do in order to turn things around.
Mitt Romney is without a doubt the best choice to run against Obama in 2012. He has a proven record of success, both in the public and private sectors. He is also a curious leader. He is not the quintessential Republican. He understands the partyâ€™s faults and weaknesses and is willing to accept that Democrats are not always wrong. In a lot of ways his leadership is a breath of fresh air. This country is in need of a leader who understands what needs to be done to create jobs, grow the economy, and make the government more efficient and to bring down costs. The country also needs a leader who can bring both sides together and Romney has shown he can do all those things. I chose to write about Mitt Romney because I wanted to know more about him; I wanted to see what sort of leader he was and whether or not he was truly cut out to be President. Through the course of writing this paper I have become more than impressed with him. I believe he would be an excellent President and I believe he will change the culture in Washington. He will bring real leadership to DC. I am curious to see how things turn out over the next few months!

Romney, Mitt. Defending American Dream Summit speech. Washington DC. 18, November 2011. []

Romney, Mitt. Values voters Summit speech. 8, October 2011.[]

McCardle, Megan. â€œRomneyâ€™s Businessâ€ The Atlantic. Web. []

Hicks, Joshua. â€œDoes Romney deserve Olympic Bragging Rights?â€ Washington Post 3 November 2011. Web. []

Pfeiffer, Sacha. â€œRomney;s Harvard classmates Recall his Quick Mind, Positive Attitude.â€ The Boston Globe 26, June 2007. Web. []

Lehigh, Scott. â€œGOPâ€™s Lost Love Affair: Romneycare.â€ The Boston Globe 3, June 2011. Web. []

Khan, Huma. â€œDo Mitt Romneyâ€™s Health Care Claims Line Up With Facts?â€ ABC News 12, May 2011. Web. <[];

Romney, Mittâ€ Current Biography. Accessed using Wilson Web, 14, December 2011. < [];

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/15/2012 11:41PM by IlliniNation88.
Re: Mitt Romey's leadership
April 16, 2012 02:11AM
Bottom line - you're a member of the Romney family and you're out trying to change people's impression of good old Milt. Got it - thanks. thumbs up

Oh and it's "Bain Capital" not "Bane and Co." - so sorry, but I'll have to deduct a couple points off your final grade for spelling.
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text:
From the Office of State Senator Royce West - District 23

For Immediate Release
October 15, 2001

Why the November 6 election deserves your vote

If there is a single lesson to be learned from the unprecedented occurrences of Election 2000, it should be the value of a single, correctly counted ballot. It is of equal importance that a regular pattern of voting is practiced to the degree that when it comes time, eligibility goes without question. To translate, it should not be so long since the last time you've cast your ballot that you are not sure whether you're registered or not.

November 6 is the next opportunity that Texans will have to exercise that precious right. No, we cannot elect a president. And it will be another year before you can elect the U.S. Senator, Congressperson, Governor, and oh yes, State Senator of your choice. But your vote on November 6, 2001 is a chance to again have your say on how government should work on your behalf.

A quick lesson in civics says that our day-to-day pursuits are regulated through ordinance and statute, and those mandates by constitutional law. Often, ideas or initiatives surface that although they could be of great benefit to the public, and have gathered the support of politicians, are not permissible under constitutional law. While the language of both the original U.S. and Texas Constitutions remains the same, both are written in terms broad enough to allow interpretation by statute, and change by amendment.

A total of 19 proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution will appear on the November 6 slate. And although all 19 proposed constitutional changes deserve your attention, I've lifted for your edification, several that have far-reaching implications.

Proposition 6 was drafted and approved by the Legislature this year to ensure that the debacle that happened in Florida during Election 2000 can never take place in Texas. Democracy was held hostage while ballots were being counted and recounted, and court challenges were made to decide who would receive Florida's electoral votes. Inevitably, a state process required a Supreme Court decision. Proposition 6 would require the Governor to call a Special Session of the Legislature in the likelihood that a determination of the electors will not be reached in time to comply with election deadlines.

Our treasured military veterans will be happy to know that a constitutional amendment - Proposition 7 - if passed, will allow the Veterans' Land Board to issue $500 million in bonds to finance additional home mortgage loans for veterans. This would be in addition to funds

already available for that reason. Assets derived from the sale of bonds will also be used to improve veterans's cemeteries.

Proposition 8 is important for a number of reasons. It authorizes the issuance of $850 million in General Obligation Bonds. These bonds will help finance numerous state agencies such as the

Department of Health, the Department of Agriculture, Parks and Wildlife, and the Department of Public Safety to name a few.

Near and dear to me, included in the funding for the Department of Criminal Justice is $18.5 million for the purchase of audio visual equipment to be used in the implementation of the Racial Profiling Bill.

Proposition 9 if approved, will save taxpayer dollars. Current constitutional law says that a special election must take place to fill a vacancy in the Legislature, even if there is only one qualified candidate for the seat. Proposition 9 will allow vacancies to be filled through certification without an election if a candidate is running unopposed. Similar law now governs local elections.

Its no surprise to anyone who drives the roads and highways of this state that there are problems besetting transportation. But few are aware of the expense involved in constructing a roadway. A one-lane road, one-mile in length, costs in the area of $1 million to build. Figures from the Department of Transportation reveal that the state has funding available to complete only 36 percent of the projects needed to accommodate Texas' rapid population growth.

Texas now operates under a "pay-as-you-go" approach, meaning that roads are not built until the money is available. While that may have worked in a bygone day, that method is as outdated as the old "Blue Law" which said you couldn't buy a hammer or clothing on a Sunday.

Proposition 15 would create the Texas Mobility Fund. Under the Fund, as opposed to the current system, money could be borrowed, backed by the sale of bonds. Financing of projects will allow existing dollars to spread further. I might add that transportation, is the only state entity that uses the "pay-as-you-go" method. Education for example, has always had the ability to finance capital projects.

America has been blessed and because of our bounty, we are often called upon to share that abundance with others. It was with such thoughts of goodwill that I authored Senate Joint Resolution 32 - Proposition 5 on the ballot. Proposition 5 will give to fire departments throughout the state, the option of donating used, outdated or surplus fire fighting equipment to impoverished countries.

Representatives of the Dallas Fire Department brought this proposal to me due to the number of donation requests received statewide from underdeveloped countries. However, the Texas Constitution presently allows used equipment to be donated only to other Texas municipalities or bordering states. Donations to foreign entities are not allowed.

It was explained to me that some departments in our neighboring country of Mexico have little more than brooms to use in fighting fires and often battle blazes wearing street clothes. The equipment in question - though useable - no longer meets the industry standards of this country. It sits decaying in firehouses after being passed over by other donation requests. One man's trash can be another man's treasure.

With the nation coming to grips with the events of September 11, we all realize the need for a greater spirit of cooperation and humanitarianism.

But remember this effort and our further progress all comes at a price that we as citizens must pay. Your vote is the currency used in securing democracy. Use it. It can make a difference.

Royce West
Texas Senate

For more information, please call Kelvin Bass at 214-467-0123.

-- ## --


text:
NetRant Archive Index

I'm Doing Facebook Wrong

26 March 2010

I've been doing Facebook all wrong. I thought Facebook was a fun place to share information with friends and family. You keep them up-to-date on what you've been doing. You share recent photos. You talk about the things you have in common. It seems that's how most of my younger friends treat it.

It's fun like that. That isn't how people my age use it.

I had a few clues. I'd post a small gallery of images from a recent adventure, but it didn't seem like anyone was looking at them. If others posted a gallery, I'd look through everything but baby photos [they all look alike to me]. Sometimes, I'd comment. I even commented on a Halloween costume of a girl from high school's kids. I didn't really know her in high school, but she knew people who knew me, so we ended up as Facebook 'friends'. Often, I was the only person commenting on a gallery addition. It seemed no one looked through other peoples galleries.

I did notice lots of people posted every image in their camera, but I thought they were just those kind of people.

The Flair I was getting was another hint I missed. If I was looking through Flair and saw something I knew would interest someone I know, I would send it to them. The Flair I was getting from my friends wasn't like that. They would often send me Flair that was about them, revolved around their interests. It bothered me. It seemed strange, but I pushed the question of 'why?' to the back of my mind.

When I'd find something cool on the net, I'd post a link. Hey, if I think this is interesting, maybe someone else will enjoy it, right? Wrong. Video links, no comment. New science news, a comment here and there. I could post the most silly status and get 50 comments, but the links that really excited me? The comments were few and far between.

When I was off the board for a few days someone told me I should stop in and simply say hello - I didn't have to 'carry Facebook'. The phrase confused me. I hadn't considered my links were being taken that way. I wasn't one of those 'here are five YouTube videos about a subject you couldn't care less about' people. It was more like, 'Here's a funny video' every now-and-then.

I asked a friend and he said if he didn't know me, he would think the same of me. Knowing I would be sending him those links instead of posting them, because that's what I do, he understood. To others, it might appear as though I was trying to be a source of content. I like when people send me links of cool things. Apparently, some people don't, and you're odd or trying to run the board if you post them.

I also noticed some people would post the same 'interesting' thing about themselves in the comments of different posts. They would slightly alter it to the post they were commenting on, but it was the same information - 'I have this...' 'I've done this...'

It was confusing to see people post 'Good morning, Facebook' and 'Goodnight, Facebook'. It didn't make sense. They weren't talking to FB; they were talking to their friends. Why would they address FB?

Then, someone posted a picture of their lunch. They took a photo of their lunch and posted on FB. That wasn't 'keeping up with their friends'. It was like depositing the minutiae of their life on a web server.

Slowly, it started to sink in. People aren't really posting to their friends - not in a genuine way. They are using FB to brag about what they're doing, get support from others, and help themselves believe they are important, they matter, in the world. They aren't really seeing it as two-way. They comment, when they can advertise themselves. They send hearts and angels and butterflies, to show what caring people they are. They don't really care, but sending a heart is just a click. It's so much easier than really caring.

I'm guilty of it, at least as far as the photos are concerned. I posted about ten pictures from a trip to the zoo, seven pictures from a trip to Europe. I tried to keep the galleries very small and wrote, what I hoped were, clever captions. I thought it would be an amusement. Many of my friends' galleries have upward of fifty pictures of random things, slapped up with no caption, nothing that even says where or why the photo was taken. My galleries were short and themed. But now, thinking about it, why did I post mine? Was I caught up in the whole, 'Look what I'm doing!' nature of the board? Posting, not to my friends, but to Facebook, to show I exist?

© Simon

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text:
Try to picture the world in the summer of 1992.

Arkansas governor Bill Clinton was months away from being elected president. The Boston Red Sox were slogging their way through a sub-.500 season. The first -- and, let's be honest, the only -- Dream Team was trouncing international competition at the Olympic Games. And a young, fairly unknown cyclist was winning the Longsjo Classic in Fitchburg.

That young rider was a 21-year-old, first-year pro from Plano, Texas, who would go on to become both the world's most well-known cyclist and the villain who represented all that was wrong with the sport.

His name is Lance Armstrong.

While that victory is common knowledge to those who follow cycling or even have the most remote interest in the Longsjo Classic, what's been lost over the years is what a spectacle the event once was. Routinely, the series of races named in honor of Fitchburg Olympian Arthur Longsjo would draw some of the country's best riders and throngs of fans.

I'll admit it. I never attended the Longsjo in its heyday and I didn't see Armstrong take the title in 1992 (Forgive me. I was 11).

I'm told at its peak, the event would draw spectators several deep along its courses, most notably through downtown Fitchburg, through Fitchburg State University, and at the summit of Wachusett Mountain.

I first saw the race in 2007 and, even then, there was a party atmosphere for portions. This was most evident during the Fitchburg State Circuit Race. A grueling and hilly leg of the then-four-stage event, the circuit saw spectators lining the climbing finish on Pearl Street, with many sitting on rooftops to get a view of riders battling the elements and the course.

A return to even that level of excitement would be a welcome change to the event, resurrected a year ago after cancellations in both 2011 and 2012. Sure, the economy isn't what it once was, making it tough to draw sponsors, and cyclists may still remain wary of the recently revived race.

Now under the direction of the Arthur Longsjo Foundation, the event is attempting to reclaim the glory days it once knew. Sponsors are buying into the foundation's message and cyclists are beginning to return.

The real shame, though, is how interest has waned among spectators. In recent years, it seemed that the Longsjo had become a burden to residents of Fitchburg, with its street closures and added traffic from cycling teams leading to, at best, apathy toward the event and, at worst, a complete disdain. Once supported by the community, the race saw its crowds begin to fade.

It was though the people of Fitchburg couldn't see the forest for the trees, so to speak, overlooking the big picture because a road closure could cause a minor inconvenience in their lives. Here's an event that honors one of the city's most decorated athletes, the first person to compete in both the Winter and Summer Olympics in the same year and a famed cyclist with multiple wins under his belt in his short career that earned him membership in the National Speedskating Hall of Fame and the U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame.

Furthermore, the event was always an economic boon to the region, with teams shacking up in area hotels and dining in local eateries.

How could an event with so many positive connotations around it be viewed as detrimental to the people of the city that hosts it? Sure, not everyone will love it, but the economic boost and positive reflection it shines upon the community should be enough to garner support.

So when this year's Longsjo Classic kicks off with a stage in Leominster Friday night and until it ends Sunday afternoon in downtown Fitchburg, try to imagine a more innocent time and embrace the races. If it helps, imagine that a future cultural icon could be in your midst.

It wouldn't be the first time.

Follow Nick Mallard on Twitter and Tout @n_mallard


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View Full Version : Heey!

11th September 2008, 9:09 AM
Hey, I'm new here.
A friend (Mel-Girl) referred me to this site and was kinda like 'JOIN!' so I did. XDD
So anyway, HI!

11th September 2008, 9:12 AM
She speaks truth here guys. Anywho, welcome, welcome, cakes and banners and threads and fanfics, lots of wedding rings <333333 and uh... KibaShika?

Anyway Erin, I really want to introduce you to my friends already but my close ones aren't online... D=

Well, enjoy your time here and don't get too lurkerness like you said you would be like... Um... Yeah!

^ Erin is cool, guys. <3

11th September 2008, 9:32 AM

read the rules
and be active

or else....

11th September 2008, 9:37 AM
WELCOME Pokemonn (and congrats on finding THAT as an available name XD)

Hope you have fun, read the rules. and youll soon see this site Rules =P

Blue Snover
11th September 2008, 11:02 AM
Hi, welcome to the forums.

Hope you have a good time.


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Going organic in a large family - advice needed!

I've been thinking more and more about trying to incorporate more organic foods and products into our diet. I've perused the organics aisle at my local store, although I know that in summer, I'll have access to farmstands and markets that will have fresher products too. The one thing I'm a bit freaky about is cost - I have a large family (five kids) and am the regular "go to place" for all their friends and hangers-on..... I do my best to keep our grocery bill reasonable by cooking from scratch as much as possible, using in season produce, and shopping sales. So, can I really "go organic"?

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Oven Fail

Last night at work, I put a pork roast in the oven. It was fairly quiet, and about an hour later I heard a strange hissing sound.
I opened the oven to see arcing and fire! The heating element had broken in two.

Has anyone heard of this happening? Got any appliance malfunction stories of your own?

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Heading soon for short visit to son and family who just moved in July to Toronto. (Him, dil, 3 year old and 9 month old)
So where would be a nice place for me to treat us all to a lunch out?

Specs: He and I love all food, dil not so food-oriented, not crazy about spiciness etc, plus lively 3 year old and baby. Lunch, preferably early, not evening.
So no formidable high-dining experience, just good food with range of choices, relaxed ambiance, kid-friendly. They leave in Little Portugal, so close by would be nice if possible.

Plus recommendation for me to treat son and dil to a meal out on their own in the evening, with me babysitting at home. Again, nothing too fancy or formal but good food, ambiance, service.

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Corynopoma riisei

Swordtail Characin

Characidae. Subfamily: Glandulocaudinae

Northern Venezuela and the Villavicencio area in Colombia. There’s also a thriving extant population existing on the island of Trinidad.

An exclusively freshwater species inhabiting coastal rivers and tributaries. In Trinidad it has been collected in various habitats from slow-moving, silt-laden to flowing, clear water environments.

Maximum Standard Length

Around 2.6″ (6.5cm), although usually a little smaller.

Aquarium SizeTop ↑

It’s very active and despite the dimunitive adult size a group would need a tank measuring at least 30″ x 15″ x 12″ (60cm x 37.5cm x 30cm) – 88.5 litres.

C. riisei is predominantly a surface-dwelling, pelagic animal and thus the aquarium should contain plenty of open space for swimming. It looks particularly effective when maintained as a group in a well-planted aquarium with patches of floating vegetation. The addition of some driftwood twigs (stripped beech and oak are also ok) and leaf litter scattered on the substrate could make for a very natural-looking set-up.

Water Conditions

Temperature: 72 – 82°F (22 – 28°C). Ideally aim for the upper end of this range.

pH: Prefers slightly acidic water pH 6.0 – 7.0, although it can survive under more alkaline conditions.

Hardness: 1 – 15°H

The upturned mouth and keeled body shape suggest that this species feeds primarily on small invertebrates taken from the water surface in nature. In the aquarium it’s particularly fond of live and frozen foods such as Daphnia, bloodworm and Cyclops but most specimens will learn to accept dried alternatives given time.

Behaviour and CompatibilityTop ↑

Generally a very peaceable species, although males can sometimes squabble amongst themsleves. This is one very good reason why it should always be kept in groups of at least 6-8 individuals. It makes an excellent tankmate for loads of commonly imported South American species such as other similarly-sized characins, Corydoras and smaller Loricariid catfish and dwarf cichlids such as Apistogramma. Basically though it can be kept with most other peaceful species that enjoy similar conditions.

Sexual Dimorphism

Males possess masses of glandular tissue on the caudal peduncle and extending into the base of the caudal fin itself. These caudal glands are partially covered by scales but are clearly visible in mature fish. As they mature males also develop a second set of glands on the anterior edge of the operculum, and also exhibit a fleshy, paddle-shaped appendage extending anteriorally from the operculum. Both the gill and caudal glands are thought to release particular pheromones that increase sexual behaviour in females (see section below).

Additionally, male specimens develop the elongated caudal fin that give rise to the common name of the species. The dorsal, anal and pectoral fins of males also become extended, with the anal fin possessing small hooks. It’s been hypothesised that these may aid in the transfer of sperm during mating. Females do not develop these fin extensions and as with most small characins, sexually mature individuals usually appear rounder in the belly than males.

This species has a particularly intriguing method of reproduction. As with other members of the family, females are literally inseminated by males, and chemical signals are thought to play a major role in the spawning process. Some details about these behaviours remain unconfirmed, although it’s thought the hooks on the anal fin of males may play a role in directing the sperm.

Despite the imprecise nature of much of the available data, it’s not an especially tough species to breed. The adult fish are best conditioned and spawned in a mixed-sex group. The water should be slightly soft and acidic in the range pH 6.0 – 7.0, gH 1 – 5, with a temperature between 77 – 82°F. Offer them plenty of small live and frozen foods and they should soon come into spawning condition. You may see males extending their opercular appendages and “twitching” them by moving their body in a certain way, causing females to become noticeably excited. Females have been witnessed rubbing against these appendages and even biting them.

You’ll need to set up a separate tank if you want to successfully raise any fry. This need not be large; something around 18″ x 10″ x 10″ in size is ideal. Use subdued lighting and add clumps of fine-leaved plants around the perimeter, with an open space in the middle. Fill this with water from the adults’ tank. A small air-powered sponge filter bubbling away very gently is all that is needed in terms of filtration.

If you’ve been observing courtship behaviour for a few days, it’s likely that at least some of the females will have been inseminated by the males. Apparently in nature females can retain fertilised eggs for several weeks, releasing them only when environmental conditions are to their liking. Transferring a couple of females to the raising tank and leaving them for a few days will therefore often result in the appearance of fry (according to Baensch, the eggs hatch in 20 – 36 hours). The fry are tiny but easily spotted with the aid of a magnifying glass. Once they are noticed the females are best removed in case they decide to predate on their young.

The fry should be fed on an infusoriatype food for the first week or so, after which they should be large enough to accept Artemia nauplii and/or microworm. Perform small (10-15%) daily water changes using water from the parents’ tank and growth rates should be quite rapid. Yields are usually smaller than with externally-fertilised small characins; this is thought to be related to the higher efficiency of the internal fertilisation method.

NotesTop ↑

This unusual tetra is not often seen on sale in the trade, but is never particularly expensive when available. It is currently the only member in the genus although the family Glandulocaudinae actually contains about 20 member genera. None are especially popular aquarium fish, although a couple of Mimagoniates species are occasionally seen in the hobby.

Almost all members of the Glandulocaudinae are characterised by the presence of secretory caudal glands in male fish, the particular structure of which varies between genera. These have been shown to release a concoction of pheromones that acts as an attractant to females of the species. Movement of associated hypertrophied scales is thought to facilitate the release of these chemicals, literally “pumping” them into the surrounding water.

Glandulocaudinids have further reproductive adaptations. Males possess unusually large storage areas for sperm, located posteriorally to the testes. Some species also produce spermatozeugmata, packets of sperm that lack an outer covering. In the majority of genera the sperm cell itself has an extended nucleus, although the extent of this does vary between the species.

Corynopoma is one of only a handful of glandulocaudinids to possess additional gill glands. These probably act as a secondary sexual organ, secreting a colloidal chemical which is thought to further stimulate sexual activity in females. They are formed by a modified section of lamellae on the first gill arch.

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The Benefits of Guest Posting

Though some may think otherwise, SEO isn’t a zero sum game. In other words, it’s not necessary for a competing site to lose page views in order for you to gain them. Guest blogging proves that you can generate a significant amount of synergy by lending your words to another site. There are so many advantages to guest blogging that it’s almost impossible to enumerate all of them. However, a few major benefits stick out when you take an objective look at the potential upside of posting on other websites.

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Even if your guest blogging efforts don’t yield immediate traffic spikes, they’re still a great way to get exposure to a broader audience online. Your long-term goal should be to leave a lasting impression so that your name is more easily recognized by readers in your niche. Guest blogging can quickly lead to further opportunities to get the word out about your own blog. When other webmasters see your authoritative posts on websites of note, they’ll look into creating guest blogging deals with you to keep the quality content coming.

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You’ve no doubt heard about Google’s Penguin Update by now. If you need a summary of the changes wrought by Penguin, here’s a quick refresher. According to many SEO professionals, Penguin negatively impacts bloggers that pay for article placement and tends to reward those who use guest blogging to increase the quality of their content. Guest blogging is a far more natural form of organic linking that has long-lasting positive effects on PageRank, perceived authority, visibility and quality SEO. In an increasingly competitive SEO world, every bit of link juice counts. If your goal is to increase your rankings in the organic SERPs, guest blogging is the quickest route to sustainable results.

The Final Word

To get the most out of guest blogging, it’s imperative that you publish your content on sites that are complementary to your own. Overall, you’ll want to reach out to websites that have a similar purpose as your own. In the post-Penguin world, you can’t fake your way to relevance. If your posts don’t contribute true value to both your own site and the site you’re guest blogging on, you’re wasting your time. Put your best foot forward and deliver exceptional content, and you’ll find that guest blogging is well worth the additional time and effort you invest in it.

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This is about a school boy having a great day, or....
This is our first part of our first story, this is just a bit of a preview. Please rate us good and leave nice comments :).

Naughty Lily

I never was a very shy person, but what happened last month was truly surprising to me. I study surgery in a University close to my house, and instead of the usual girls you see in such a University, the girls here were very pretty. Never before I’ve seen that many beautiful girls. One girl in particular keeps catching my attention: Lily.
She has beautiful blonde hair with gorgeous green eyes. She always wears a skirt which is way too small for her big ass, and a very small shirt which shows almost half of her boobs. I didn't dare to look to her until a few weeks after she arrived when she became my partner for a report. When we were working we didn’t talk at all and I thought she was very shy but that was in contrast with her clothes. When she bent over to pick up her bag, one of her boobs popped out of her bra. To my surprise her nipple was erected. She quickly put her boob back in her bra and looked away ashamed. I decided to say nothing more about it and returned to work. However my huge boner i got was clearly visible, I excused and went to the toilet to jerk off. When I came back she was constantly looking at my shirt. After a while I looked as well and saw that there was still cum on my shirt. I blushed and mumbled: ’I was ehm...’ She interrupted me saying: ‘spare me the details please,' then she took a tissue out of her bag and slowly cleaned the cum of my shirt. She accidentally touched my penis in the process. I didn’t know if she knew she was touching my penis but I instantly had a boner again. She pulled back her hand and looked surprised, now I did know for certain that she knew she had touched my penis, partly because it had risen up to my belly button

I tried to apologize but she put her finger on my mouth and said: ’you don't need to.’ Then her hand reached down and started to massage my balls. I started sweating heavily because she was the first girl who had touched me. She then asked: 'can I take it out?' Within a second my pants were off and I was struggling to get my underwear off. We started kissing while I was half naked, and my cock was touching her stomach again and again. She pushed me on the ground and took off her shirt. She sat on my stomach and put my hand on her bra. Then she whispered: take off my bra, sexy boy. I hesitated for a second but then I ripped of her bra, revealing her beautiful C-cup breasts. They had a tanned colour and her nipples clearly pink. I immediately took them in my hands and stroked them. She noticed I got turned on even more, and she bent over putting her breasts in my face. I gently started to lick one of her nipples. After I had sucked on her other nipple she went down to my cock. She grabbed my balls and began to lick them while she was giving me a hand job. I never felt so good in my life. She went up to my cock from the bottom to the top. My cock was now about 11 inches. She then put my whole cock in her mouth, up until her throat. It felt like a warm, moistly ring was around my cock. It was the greatest feeling the world. She was playing with my dick with her tongue and touching the top of it with her tongue once in a while because she discovered I loved that. She noticed I was close to my climax and stopped sucking. She removed my cock from her mouth, positioned her ass to my face and placed my cock between her beautiful tits. I took off her string and stared at her wet pussy. I never licked a pussy before and said to her: ‘you know it’s my first time right?’ She turned around smiling and responded: ‘For everything is a first time.’ This gave me enough confidence to give it a try and I put my tongue against her pussy. First licking her out labia and inner labia only to realise the clitoris was the best spot. I took it in my mouth and played with it. I made circles with my tongue around her clitoris, of which she responded with a moan. After a few more play sessions she had her orgasm and her fluids poured over my face. This made my come as well and I shot my whole load in her mouth and onto her face. She was about to swallow it all when I heard someone had opened the door. I thought astonished: we are still at school.

anonymous readerReport

2013-01-23 01:56:46
This IS definitely your most beufitaul piece T- I teared up within the first couple of words. It is without a doubt Mom is wanting you to know that you're doing a great job, and she loves and misses you. I saw her in a dream the other morning, and I really wish I knew what she was trying to tell me. Do you remember she used to wear another kind of perfume too, but I can't for the life of me remember the name of it, but I do remember the smell and the bottle? We need to remember her as the happy, healthy Mom, not when she was so sick. Mom would be very proud to read this from you, honoring her memory. I'm so lucky and honoured to have a sister like you- I love you tons xoxoPS- has the baby squirrel found its way out yet?

anonymous readerReport

2012-05-10 19:20:05

anonymous readerReport

2012-05-10 07:41:28
Fuckin my moms tight pussy makes me want to come to this story

anonymous readerReport

2012-05-10 07:40:25
Im at school and i just came in my pants at the toilet, because this story is just awesome

anonymous readerReport

2012-05-10 07:36:59

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Abortion activists on each side of the issue converged on San Francisco Saturday, creating parallel universes testifying to what 40 years of reproductive rights have wrought.

At Justin Herman Plaza, pro-choice activists danced and spoke about liberating women from the horror of back alley abortions conducted by coat hanger-wielding quacks.

Before legal abortions, what might happen to you "was a terror in the back of your mind," said Chris Malfatti, 64, of San Francisco, who knew someone who lost her fertility to an illegal abortion.

At Civic Center, antiabortion protesters gave a series of speeches to supporters who packed the plaza, talking about a different kind of liberation - for the fetuses in wombs.

"I care about saving lives, especially the babies, who are innocent," said Nikki Legaspi, 18, who attends Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Brentwood.

Saturday marked the ninth annual "Walk For Life," an antiabortion march that is heavily supported by the Catholic Church. This year's event not only featured the archbishop of San Francisco, Salvatore Cordileone, but also Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, the papal nuncio, who is the equivalent of the Vatican's ambassador to the United States.

Issue not just political

Church groups came from around Northern and Central California. Many offered reminders that the issue of abortion was hardly just political, but one underscoring central tenets of divinity and belief.

"We are here to witness the most precious gift God has given to us ... the gift of life made in his image and likeness," said Viganò.

The fact that Jan. 22 marked the 40th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion, Roe vs. Wade, gave added import to both sides.

The 1.000 or so pro-choice activists mostly stayed at Justin Herman Plaza. The antiabortion group was in the tens of thousands, jamming Civic Center and spreading along block after block on their Market Street march.

As antiabortion activists passed by the seedier sections of the city's main thoroughfare, signs and scenes provide striking contrasts. A woman walking by the Crazy Horse Gentleman's Club held a picket sign declaring "women deserve better than abortion."

'No fear of anything'

In a city where the sexual revolution is celebrated, ongoing and even displayed publicly, changing attitudes toward sex were a staple of conversation among both sets of activists.

The proliferation of birth control and abortion has resulted in more oppression of women, said Kathleen Rose, 62, who came from Auburn, where she attends St. Teresa Catholic Church. Men are less accountable, she added.

"It's our generation that created this mess," said Rose, a mother of four. "We wanted respect ... now women are used more. Guys will say, 'are you using protection?' There's no fear of anything."

Malfatti, the pro-choice activist, said the era before Roe was one that kept women in the dark and hidden.

"It was a different sexual era," she said. "Everything was a secret. If you got pregnant, they sent you away."

The contrasts between the two groups were also striking when it came to how each discussed the emotional aftermath of abortion.

At the antiabortion rally, Sylvia-Marie Blackie held a sign that said "Women Do Regret Abortion."

The pediatric nurse from Citrus Heights, a Sacramento suburb, said she's known several women who've had abortions.

"They regret it," said Blackie, 48. "They've killed a baby."

At the pro-choice rally, it was an altogether different sentiment.

Adriana Guerra said she has several friends who've had abortions, some multiple times.

"Of the people I've known, the major feeling is one of relief," said Guerra, 31, of Oakland. "It would have derailed their future plans."

Arguments on both sides

Both sides brought out their examples.

A woman who only identified herself as Donna, 57, said she had an abortion when she was 19.

She said the reason was simple.

"It meant I wouldn't have to expose the child to poverty," said Donna, 57, of Fremont, who now has two grown daughters.

On the other side was Sarah Panyard, 65, of Novato, who said she went to have an abortion in 1974 because of her husband.

"He said I had to get rid of the baby because we couldn't afford it," she said.

She said wept at the doctor's office for 20 minutes before deciding to keep the child, who is now 39 and just had her own child.

The decision meant divorcing her husband and surviving on her salary as a flight attendant.

"If I would have aborted, I wouldn't have had that grandson," she said, smiling. "How can I deny that I did the right thing?"

Matthai Kuruvila is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: mkuruvila@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @matthai