This is fascinating. What an amazing sociological experiment.
Rabobank Group is an international financial services provider operating on the basis of cooperative principles. It offers retail banking, wholesale banking, asset management, leasing and real estate services. Focus is on all-finance services in the Netherlands and on food & agri internationally. Rabobank Group is comprised of 147 independent local Rabobanks plus Rabobank Nederland, their central organisation, and a number of subsidiaries. The group entities maintain strong mutual ties. Overall, Rabobank Group has 59,000 employees (in fte's), who serve about 9.5 million clients in 48 countries.
In terms of Tier I capital, Rabobank Group is among the world's 25 largest financial institutions. Rabobank Group has the highest credit rating (triple A), awarded by well-known international rating agencies such as Standard & Poor's, Moody's Investor Service and Dominion Bond Rating Service.
Rabobank is the largest sponsor of sport and culture in the Netherlands. Rabobank has selected three branches of sport to focus its sponsorship activities on: cycling, equestrian sports and hockey. Cultural sponsorship provides excellent opportunities for demonstrating Rabobank's versatility and social involvement.
This is on the website of Butte Community Bank (which has been my business and personal bank since 1997).
Please explain this line...
The FDIC has assembled useful information regarding your relationship with Butte Community Bank. Besides a checking account, you may have Certificates of Deposit, a business checking account, a Social Security direct deposit, and other relationships with the institution.
Why are my relationships being assembled by the FDIC? This is so surreal.
FDIC Information for Butte Community Bank, Chico, CA
On Friday, August 20, 2010, Butte Community Bank, Chico, CA was closed by the California Department of Financial Institutions. Subsequently, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) was named Receiver. No advance notice is given to the public when a financial institution is closed.
All deposit accounts, including brokered deposits, have been transferred to Rabobank, National Association (N.A.), El Centro, CA. For more information on Rabobank, N.A. visit us at www.rabobankamerica.com/butte.
The FDIC has assembled useful information regarding your relationship with Butte Community Bank. Besides a checking account, you may have Certificates of Deposit, a business checking account, a Social Security direct deposit, and other relationships with the institution.
As you prepare for the Butte County FAIR in Gridley...
Here's the list of foods on-a-stick as of July 2010:
1. Fair Square
2. Chocolate-covered tiramisu on-a-stick
3. Turtle mousse bar on-a-stick
4. Strawberry cream bar on-a-stick
5. Twinkie log on-a-stick (frozen Twinkie dipped in white chocolate and rolled in cashews)
6. Octodog (hotdog in the shape of an octopus
7. Frozen s'more on-a-stick
8. Chocolate-dipped cake on-a-stick
9. Chicken club on-a-stick
10. Buffalo chicken on-a-stick
11. Chocolate-covered peanut butter round on-a-stick
12. Chocolate-covered key lime round on-a-stick
13. Carmellows on-a-stick
14. Pretzel rods dipped in caramel or chocolate
15. Pickle on-a-stick
16. Pork chop on-a-stick
17. Corn dog
18. Cheese on-a-stick
19. Cajun chicken on-a-stick
20. Sesame chicken on-a-stick
21. Carmel apple
22. German sausage on-a-stick
23. Teriyaki beef on-a-stick
24. Corn on the cob on-a-stick
25. Cotton candy
26. Veggie dog on-a-stick
27. Turkey drumstick
28. Nutty bar
29. Fried pickle on-a-stick
30. Hot bologna on-a-stick
31. Shrimp on-a-stick
32. Chicken on-a-stick
33. Monkey Tails (chocolate covered banana on-a-stick)
34. Taffy on-a-stick
35. Honey on-a-stick
36. Ice cream Wonder Bar
37. Deep fried Snickers bar on-a-stick
38. Deep fried 3 Musketeers bar on-a-stick
39. Deep fried Milky Way bar on-a-stick
40. Deep fried Twinkie on-a-stick
41. Lamb on-a-stick
42. Meatballs on-a-stick
43. Deep fried hoho on-a-stick
44. Fudge Puppy (waffle drenched in chocolate syrup and topped with whipped cream)
45. Chili Dog on-a-stick
46. Funtastick Pork on-a-stick
47. Dutch letters on-a-stick
48. Turkey tenders on-a-stick
49. Deep fried hot dog on-a-stick
50. Chocolate covered cheesecake on-a-stick
51. Potato Lollipop (4 thick slices of russet potato deep fried and on-a-stick with dipping sauces)
52. Pineapple on-a-stick (Fresh pineapple dipped in funnel cake batter and deep fried)
53. Chicken lips on-a-stick (breaded chicken breast smothered with hot sauce, served with blue cheese dressing).
54. Cornbrat on-a-stick (bratwurst dipped in corndog batter)
55. Frozen fudge brownie on-a-stick
56. Ice cream cookie sandwich on-a-stick
57. Rock candy on-a-stick
58. Salad on-a-stick
59. Hard-boiled egg on-a-stick
Costco Will Accept Food Stamps At 2 Clubs As Trial
May 27, 7:41 PM EDT
By SARAH SKIDMORE
AP Retail Writer
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- Responding to the economic pressures on its shoppers, Costco Wholesale Corp. said Wednesday that it will soon install the equipment to accept food stamps at two of its New York City stores as part of a pilot program.
Costco, one of the nation's largest wholesale club chains, said its future New York City locations also will be equipped to accept food stamps as payment if the pilot goes well. A company representative was not immediately available to discuss whether Costco would expand the service to its more than 400 other stores in the U.S.
Costco, which reports its earnings Thursday, is the latest of several discounters to begin accepting food stamps as job losses and other economic pressures take their toll on consumers.
BJ's Wholesale Club announced in April that all of its 180 stores will begin accepting electronic food stamp for payment. And discounter Family Dollar Stores Inc. is in the midst of making all its stores capable of accepting food stamps, the federal subsidy for unemployed and very low-income people.
Costco said it expects the trial stores in Queens and Brooklyn, which were selected because of the high penetration of food-stamp recipients in their areas, will be equipped by early summer with the technology to accept food stamps.
"In the past, we have not been convinced that there was sufficient demand among our membership to justify the expense and possible inefficiencies associated with accepting food stamps," Costco Chief Executive Jim Sinegal said in a statement. "However, we are mindful that many of our fellow citizens are facing unprecedented economic challenges at this time, and it seemed to us that it was worth reconsidering our position in that light. We are taking this step to see if we can be a part of the solution to the financial burden that many people are facing today."
The Issaquah, Wash.-based company said it will look at whether the food stamp acceptance meets customer demands and does not slow down its front-end operations.
New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo criticized the retailer in a letter Wednesday for not immediately committing to accept food stamps at its East Harlem store, which is still under development.
Costco could extend the program to the store if the pilot goes well.
The East Harlem site is in a redevelopment area, which means the company has received public support. The attorney general's office said that by not accepting food stamps there, Costco is violating the purpose of tax-exempt financing it has received. An estimated 30,000 residents in East Harlem use food stamps.
Cuomo said there is "no justifiable business rationale" for not accepting food stamps at all its stores.
Shares of Costco closed down 31 cents at $48.83 Wednesday but rose slightly in after-hours trading following the announcement.
The National Anthem Salute.
All U.S. citizens, whether military or civilian,
are expected to stand and salute when the
national anthem is played.
A provision in the
Defense Authorization Act of 2009, which was
signed by President George W. Bush,
authorizes military veterans not in military uniform to render a military-style hand salute
at the playing of the national anthem. The
provision does not address whether head
cover should be removed prior to rendering a
salute. The accepted practice is to follow the
same protocol as you would if your were in uniform. Flag Raising and lLowering Many people raise and lower the flag at their
homes or places of business in an informal
and casual manner every day. On military
installations flag raising ("Reveille"), and flag
lowering ("Retreat") are events that are taken
seriously. Military members out of doors when "Reveille" or "Retreat" is sounded are
expected to stop, turn toward the music and
render a salute.
A provision in the Defense
Authorization Act of 2008 authorized military-
style hand salutes for veterans out of uniform
during raising and lowering of the flag. Flag Passing in Review Viewing parades on
festive occasions is an
event that Americans
experience every year.
An honor guard carrying
a U.S. flag usually signals the start of a parade. People along the parade route stand
and render a salute as the flag goes by. This
is a time of great pride for veterans who had
the privilege of serving the country during
military service. A provision in the Defense
Authorization Act of 2008 also authorized military-style hand salutes for veterans out of
uniform when the flag carried by an honor
guard passes in review. Pledge of Allegiance The salute to the flag during the reciting of the
Pledge of Allegiance has changed
significantly since the beginning of the 20th
century. Prior to Word War II, children in
school would have saluted the flag with an
outstretched hand, with the palm up. When official flag protocol was finally established,
the salute was changed to the right hand over
the heart. Although the new provisions to the
law do not specifically address the military
salute during the recitation of the pledge,
many veterans are rendering the military-style hand salute when the pledge is given. Not Mandatory There are no provisions in the law concerning
flag etiquette and protocol that mandate any
penalty for civilians not saluting the flag. If you
are a military veteran no longer wearing a
uniform, you may choose to salute the flag as
other civilians do by removing your hat and holding your hand over your heart or you may
render a military-style hand salute. The new
provisions to the law provide you the liberty to
render respect to the flag as your conscience
dictates.
Most American herbalists rank the Oregon grape as one among the most outstanding and exceptional Native American herbs available today. They also believe that the plant is in fact one of the best herbs available that effectively stimulates liver activity and the secretion of bile. This is due to the Oregon grape containing a high level of the alkaloid berberine, which is in turn an important constituent of other similarly powerful healing plants like goldenseal.
The Oregon grape can stimulate weakened livers, and at the same time dramatically alleviate liver-induced symptoms such as headaches, poor digestion, and toxic blood. The versatile herb is also regarded as a blood purifier, although this point has not been clarified through scientific research. Herbalists prefer to use the Oregon grape to cleanse the liver, the spleen and in some cases, the blood too.
For all of the latest pet/pot news go to chicoer.com.
Today's top animal stories include pot advocate arrested, nine cats found in abandoned house, and the pets at the Kirshner foundation may be homeless.
About Me: Observations and mussings.
