| Guest column: Reflections and opportunities
I have a Hallmark datebook from junior high, back when they called it junior high. And yes, I kept it, because I wrote down every boy I "went with" and when we "broke up," which was about every week or few days. But I did throw away the silver blue metallic strappy high heel shoe that I wore to one of my senior high school dances because I could only find one. Had I found the other I may have kept it, as I'm sure my niece would have loved it to play dress up. But I've also been known to use my old prom dresses for curtains, and nail my pumps to wall for decoration. You know what they say? One person's trash is another person's treasure. In my case, it's home dcor. With Times Square gearing up for the countdown to the New Year in the background, I lifted the lid to another storage tote and uncovered a pile of yellowed editions of the Times-Mail.
Week in Review
The campaign reform package could be far-reaching — affecting union and political action committee donations; rules calling for conflict-of-interest recusals; in-kind contributions; and, of course, money from individuals, setting a cap of perhaps $250 or $500 per person. .
On coffee date
From filter coffees offered in humble surroundings to cappuccinos in plush settings, the city has a host of choices to have that coffee date. A few tips before embarking on one. Appear laid-back.
It's just coffee! That's the appearance you want to give. No pressure, relaxed, ready to meet and chat. "The first time I invited my colleague for coffee, it was just a way of getting to know her better without being pushy," says Shymol Chatterjee. "I decided a Friday as I would be casually dressed." Choose carefully
If you're the person who suggests the meeting place, make sure it's someplace that will have adequate seating, a comfortable environment and won't be too crowded. "We used to meet in the Udipi hotels as then there were no plush coffee joints, but it was good enough," says Lata Iyer, a travel consultant.
Drug treatment via courts receives boost
The juvenile-recovery court, opened in June 2007 for addicted teens, will expand from 12 clients annually to 97. The family therapy court, for parents who want to reclaim custody of their children, will expand from 25 clients annually to 35. The domestic violence court, for misdemeanants whose drug problems lead to abuse, will treat 14 clients in its first year, and 50 to 57 in its second. The number of people who can stay in the county's detox beds each year will double from about 730 to 1,460. The total number of people receiving long-term inpatient addiction treatment will increase from about 40 each month to about 60 each month. The number of people getting outpatient addiction treatment, now in the thousands, will increase by about 100. Thompson warned that unexpected events could force the county to miss some of those targets.
Party Like Its 1999 -- Or 1950
From the invitations to the party favors, a themed party can breathe new life into your social scene and make your party the one people are talking about for weeks. While there are a lot of details to remember, it's actually not hard at all once you get yourself organized. Carolyn Shepard is a party and event planner in Charlotte, N.C., who has seen a huge increase in the number of themed parties she's asked to handle over the past five years. "People are tired of the same old thing, but they still don't want to blow their budgets too badly," she said. "A theme party can be as elaborate or as simple as you want, depending on your available cash." Fantastic Invitations The important thing isn't how much you spend, in general, but the small touches you pull off to keep the theme going.
Why Is Huckabee Doing So Well?
There is no reason any state should adopt it as the state banner. A state's flag should promote unity--not divisiveness. And while the analogy may not be entirely appropriate, the Confederate flag has no more business flying over a state capitol in Georgia [as it did until just a few years ago] than would the swastika flying over Florida. --By the same token, there should be no interference with the private use or display of the flag on private property. --It is likewise appropriate in certain public or quasi-public venues viz. museums, Confederate memorials, Civil War re-enactments, or as part of historical displays with other flags. It is unfortunate the Confederate flag has also been exploited by, or associated with, various hate and white supremacist groups.
Shopping Spree
Despite recent record gas prices and a slowing economy, customers are still expected to open their cyber wallets, dig deeper and spend more time and money shopping online this holiday shopping season than they did last. The fact that a growing number of consumers will be doing even more of their Christmas shopping online in 2006 has web retailers anticipating a strong holiday buying season, according to Internet Retailers latest surveythis one on holiday shopping expectations and preparations. Each year retailers count on their online holiday sales to deliver big contributions to their overall annual financial performance: 9.5% of all retailers depend on the final months of the year to generate more than half of their yearly sales, according to the Internet Retailer survey.
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