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Original paper:
Goce Dimeski*1,2, Breeann Silvester2, Jacobus Ungerer3, Leslie Johnson3, Jennifer H. Martin2,4. Policy change to improve pathology turnaround time and reduce costs – possible to do both? Biochemia Medica 2013;23(3):296-302. http://dx.doi.org/10.11613/BM.2013.035
1Chemical Pathology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Pathology Queensland, Australia
2The University of Queensland, School of Medicine Southside, Queensland, Australia
3Chemical Pathology, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Pathology Queensland, Australia
4Division of Medicine, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Queensland, Australia
*Corresponding author:goce_dimeski [at] health [dot] qld [dot] gov [dot] au ( goce_dimeski [at] health [dot] qld [dot] gov [dot] au)
Background: Overcrowding and prolonged length of stay in emergency departments (ED) are increasing problems in hospitals. Rapid availability of all laboratory results has an impact on clinical decision-making, admissions or discharge decisions and resource utilisation. Increasing number of our urinary drugs of abuse (DOA) screens had a turnaround time (TAT) of up to 33 days after the discharge of the patient.
Materials and methods: Following an audit and a consultation period with clinicians using the service, a policy change was implemented to reduce the use of gas chromatography mass spectroscopy (GCMS): all requests would have a standard immunoassay (IA) test panel undertaken unless specifically they requested GCMS (including medico-legal) analysis.
Results: Almost all of the clinicians interviewed had no understanding of the DOA screening or the difference in the information generated between a confirmatory GCMS urine toxicology screen and IA DOA panel. It appeared none of the patients surveyed in the audit would have had a different clinical decision made if a GCMS had not been undertaken. Post change audit showed only 4.3% of drug requests for IA also received a confirmatory GCMS testing. The estimated saving post change implementation was $127,000 (AU $) in test costs alone over a two year period. The TAT of GCMS results was reduced to 3-4 days.
Conclusion: A laboratory-led behavioural change in test requesting is possible and sustainable provided the reason is clinically sound and accompanied by consultation and availability of advice by phone when requested on test requesting or interpretation.
Key words: immunoassay; gas-chromatography mass spectrometry; pathology requests; drugs of abuse; urine testing; behavioural change; turnaround time
Received: July 23, 2013 Accepted: August 30, 2013
Overcrowding and prolonged length of stay (LOS) in emergency departments (ED) are an increasing problem in public hospitals (1). EDs and their payers (Governments or private providers) are under pressure to reduce LOS, improve health outcomes, and reduce costs. Although the operations of emergency services are complex, the availability of ancillary services, including clinically appropriate turnaround time (TAT) for laboratory tests, influences patient care decisions. For example, a 60 minute collection to validation TAT for general chemistry (electrolytes, liver function tests, and troponin) is the generally agreed acceptable TAT by laboratories for EDs and other critical care units (2,3).
Although there are many variables contributing to the increasing number of admissions to EDs, presentations from drug overdoses; either intentional or accidental (prescription, non-prescription or illicit substances) are increasing due to the wide availability of drugs of abuse (DOA) and the frequently changing armamentarium of natural, synthetic and recreational drugs. To aid clinicians in diagnosis and management, urinary drug screens (UDS) are widely used. Ideally, DOA results should be available at the same time as chemistry results for best patient care decisions. This is because rapid availability of all these results has an impact on multiple outcomes including clinical decision-making, admissions or discharge decisions and resource utilisation.
Generally UDS are performed in cases where the patient has or is reported to have a history of ingestion, presents with specific symptoms or has experienced trauma (4). In our organization, we became aware of an increasing number of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GCMS) drug screens being undertaken. Additionally, in some instances, our GCMS turnaround time had blown out up to 33 days, many weeks after the discharge of the patient. It was thus unclear how much benefit our drug screening process was improving patient care. We hypothesized that there was over-servicing of urine tests for drugs of abuse testing, causing the organization unnecessary cost without clear and timely clinical benefit.
The aim was to assess the need for routine GCMS in screening for drugs of abuse in a tertiary referral centre.
Materials and methods
Medical facilities, patient types and testing processes in place
Our organisation (Pathology Queensland) operates 33 pathology laboratories with nine of these serving as major hospital service providers. Samples for DOA screening are received via EDs, inpatient medical units, psychiatric units and various drug dependency/rehabilitation clinics. The nine major laboratories provide an immunoassay DOA panel on the general chemistry analysers (Beckman Coulter Brea, CA, USA). This consists of amphetamine like substances, benzodiazepines, cannabis metabolites, cocaine metabolites, methadone and opiates. Additionally, a confirmatory chromatography screening service to examine an extended array of drugs is offered (GCMS). The GCMS services provided are only qualitative which is used to confirm DOAs IA positives (and negatives) by identification of specific drugs and their metabolites, as well as to provide a toxicology service for general drug enquiries. Some of the limitations are that services cannot routinely detect and identify large molecular weight, highly polar and thermally labile drugs. The range of drugs able to be detected can be extended by chemical derivatisation, however this is not routinely performed. Overall, it detects many hundreds of prescription and over-the-counter drugs as well as certain poisons (e.g. hyoscine and hyoscamine from datura, strychnine, caffeine and nicotine in infants, for example). Clinicians could order either panel (rather than an initial screen) and a confirmatory GCMS test, regardless of the results of the IA test.
An audit undertaken pre-change (unpublished data) showed that 39.1% of drug requests for IA were also receiving a confirmatory GCMS test, regardless of whether it had been requested. This audit was undertaken via a standard "extended" search of our laboratory information system to extract the patient samples undergoing IA DOA and GCMS testing. Where both were undertaken, the pathology request form was reviewed to check if GCMS had been requested. The cause of the additional requesting in the laboratory was not analysed.
Service impact
The ease with which a full GCMS screen was available was overwhelming the chromatography unit performing the analysis, affecting TAT in some cases taking up to 33 days. The increasing workload, laboratory resource consumption and clinician demand for better TAT of results began to have a significant effect on the morale in our laboratory staff. When the audit results became available, a consultative process was undertaken to determine why GCMS was requested so frequently as a frontline panel, and what could be done to implement a change and improve service.
Consultative process
The process commenced by consultation with clinicians and clinical units most frequently ordering GCMS. The questions in the consultation process were:
· Why chromatography?
· Has an IA been performed?
· If IA completed, what additional information was hoped to be gained from chromatography?
· When was the data required?
· Will the results change medical management?
It was noted that almost all of the twenty clinicians (junior medical staff) interviewed had no understanding of the DOA screening and the difference in the information generated between GCMS and IA. At one large urban Drug and Alcohol Clinic it appeared that none of the medical attendees had a working knowledge of the laboratory tests being requested, but this was not formally assessed.
A decision was made to issue a directive Pathology Queensland wide that all requests for drugs of abuse testing would have a standard IA test undertaken, unless there was a specific request on the pathology form for GCMS, or the samples were from neonates or for juvenile drug testing. Samples would not be routinely tested with GCMS; however, the samples were to be held for 7 days so that a clinician could request a GCMS should it be required retrospectively.
Specimens for medico-legal or forensic needs were required to be packaged in line with chain-of-custody guidelines and forwarded to a forensic toxicology laboratory. Additionally, guidelines for DOA and toxicology investigations were developed and appended with all results to inform clinicians of the change and the new procedures. Furthermore, these most frequently requesting clinicians and units were directly verbally informed and then informed in writing of the change. This allowed clinicians to determine and specify on the request form if they had a need to look for additional and specific drugs e.g. newer "street" drugs, patient compliance for a single drug, for example.
Testing effectiveness
For the chromatography unit to improve TAT and for results to have greater clinical relevance when patients are in most need (overdose), it had to improve TAT. This was something that could not be easily accommodated, without a new policy. Further, there were concerns regarding any clinical or legal sequelae (e.g. for patients taking drugs of abuse whilst on an opioid maintenance programme) if an IA drug screen was undertaken as the initial test, and GCMS was not routinely performed. Since GCMS could still be undertaken as initial test if the requesting doctor informed the laboratory of the relevance of that test, effectiveness was measured as in two ways - one was the number of either complaints or calls to the Pathologist hotline querying why an IA and not a GCMS test was undertaken; and the second was phone calls to the 20 most common 'users' of GCMS as an initial tool asking for clinical outcomes and feedback on the new policy.
Consultative process
A total of 819 GCMS samples were audited and the 10 most frequently requesting doctors and clinical units were consulted. These were mostly drug dependency clinics and some ED and Mental Health units. Their main reason for requesting GCMS was that immunoassays (IAs) were not as sensitive, especially at low concentrations (which although not having a clinical effect on the patient could indicate diversion with medico-legal implications). There were other reasons less commonly cited including cross-reactivity, medical reasons e.g. patient stopping therapies, the need for knowledge of presence of buprenorphine or medico-legal tests. Pathology Queensland agreed that where there was one of these indications, GCMS would be undertaken.
Numbers of requests and pattern analysis
The five yearly sample numbers pre and post-test ordering protocol change for IA and GCMS are shown in Table 1.
Table 1. Number of samples over time period: pre and post-test ordering protocol change. Change in ordering practice was in the mid March, Year Three.
A subset of samples in each 3-month period of IA and GCMS testing results were examined before the change and after the change. Further, GCMS requests were compared with IA results to examine false negative and false positive results. Pathology request forms were examined for clinical indication. It should be noted that there was a much higher proportion of IA drugs confirmed on GCMS in the post change set for amphetamines (pre 70.1%, post 76.4%) and methadone (pre 92.7%, post 97.5%) and lower proportion for benzodiazepines (pre 89.6%, post 78.9%), and opiates (pre 94.4%, post 90.4%) compared to the pre change set. The data suggested there was minimal difference in detecting the presence of the selected drugs between IA as GCMS methodologies even though GCMS analysis post positive IA would only be undertaken if there was a requested clinical indication. Audit of the post change set requests showed only 4.3% of drug requests for IA were also receiving confirmatory GCMS testing, compared to 39% prior to intervention.
Drugs that were not detected by IA but confirmed by GCMS were likely to be due to drugs present below the set cut-off limits for the IA, as specified by Pathology Queensland and based on the AS/NZS 4308:2008 standard (Australian and New Zealand Standard providing cut off limits for drugs). The drugs detected by IA but not confirmed by GCMS are likely to be due to cross-reactivity of the immunoassay methods, resulting in false positive results (5). Although some of the drugs not confirmed by GCMS have been tested up to defined concentrations by Beckman (Beckman Coulter, Brea, CA USA), they (or their metabolites) may cross-react above these concentrations sufficiently to produce a detectable value.
The mean TAT (registered to validated) of results from two of our hospitals was also audited. From our second largest hospital, Princess Alexandra Hospital (PAH), and our most distant hospital (~1800 km), Cairns Base Hospital (CBH) which services distant and dispersed remote communities, and small towns that may take days to send the samples to the laboratory. The audit data for PAH samples showed the TAT was 3-4 days for GCMS and < 70 minutes for IA results. The audit data for CBH which includes samples from the remote sites was 3-4 days for GCMS and ~13 hours for IA results, but samples originating from the CBH hospital had similar TATs, < 70 minutes.
Clinical outcome
Whilst it was suggested that not routinely undertaking GCMS could lead to a reduction in patient care, analysis of the results show this was not borne out, bearing in mind the limitations of the clinician review of this retrospectively collected data for this study. Post review change showed less than 1% (0.63% amphetamines, 0.8% benzodiazepines) with a negative IA had a positive GCMS for a drug of abuse. These are likely to be due to concentration too low to be detected on IA. 1.9% (methadone – predominantly methadone detected on GCMS), and 10% opiates (predominantly buprenorphine) were not detected on IA yet detected on GCMS. It is known that buprenorphine is not detected on the particular IA used within Pathology Queensland and clinicians have been advised to request a GCMS if this drug is suspected. However, of these patients, none would have had a change in their acute care prior to the GCMS being undertaken. Buprenorphine testing does not generally come into play with acute or ED patients. It is more applicable to ATODS clinics. Our results suggested the IA methods provided the required information on the presence or absence of the drugs of most interest in almost all cases when compared with GCMS, allowing clinicians to utilize the data in unison with other pathology results and clinical information in real time to best manage patients. The commonest feedback from clinicians was increased confidence in the IA results, which allowed speedier decisions on clinical management; improved time management – specifically time required by medical staff in attempts to extract information on drug consumption from unwilling and incapable patients and relatives in the consultative phase, leading to improvement in productivity. The availability of the results in improved TAT thus provides confidence in decision making, more in line with evidence based practices.
Cost savings
In the two years prior to the change, ~39% of IA samples had a GCMS screen. In contrast post change ~4% of samples had a GCMS screen. The cost to the clinical units of the 44,471 sample numbers requested for IA DOA in year 4 and 5 was ~$1.62 M (AU$) while the cost of the 1790 GCMS sample numbers was ~$80,000. If the pre change practice was continued, an additional 35% (15,565 samples) analysed by IA DOA would have had GCMS performed, costing additional ~$127,000 over the two years.
Furthermore to have continued with the existing service and improve it, an additional staff member (~$100,000/year) and an additional GCMS system (~$1400,000) would have been required.
In this study we have shown that changes in behaviour around test requests were possible without obvious clinical harm. Despite the limitations of the methodology to retrospectively adjudicate clinical decision making, there were other clinical benefits reported due to the provision of improved TATs - necessary to make timely clinical decisions. A TAT over a month is a clinically irrelevant result, unless the test is required for medico legal reasons or concerns regarding specific drugs that would be unlikely to be detected with an IA (for which it was still possible to request a GCMS). The other gain was a large financial saving for our organization, which could then be directed towards other needs. Specifically, the practice change has freed up two scientists to undertake other clinical work.
This laboratory-led change has been sustained – with changes persisting up to three years later. It is interesting that apart from phone advice when clinicians rang pathology; there was no ongoing formal education process around test requesting or interpretation.
This study is important for two reasons. Firstly, it shows that behavioural change and improved pathology turnaround time is possible. Secondly, it demonstrates how improved efficiency of laboratory processes can improve costs significantly, both directly and indirectly via improved patient TAT. In other studies it has been shown that laboratory services may make up 5% of a hospital's budget but facilitate 60-70% of all critical decision-making such as admittance, discharge, and medication (6). More recent publications estimate this to be as high as 80-90% (7). Approximately 80% of complaints laboratories receive are about TAT, even though there are differences amongst clinicians on what constitutes acceptable TAT (8). It is estimated that 87% of dissatisfaction complaints originate from EDs, the place where most DOA testing is undertaken (9). These key points make laboratories pivotal in introducing change in test ordering patterns and behaviour. Laboratories know the intricate details of their costs (labour, equipment, reagents, performance, etc.), TATs, test details and have a high level of knowledge on the relevance of tests for patient care. Laboratories can guide the multidisciplinary team on efficient and effective utilization of their services. However, laboratories are often reluctant to impose decision on clinical experts. This work has shown that it is possible to lead a change from Pathology and that is sustainable on long-term basis. It is becoming more and more important that healthcare teams look for novel ways to provide timely, cost effective, and clinically applicable services so that clinicians are able to make evidence based patient care decisions. Thus, interventions like in this study are necessary and pathology services will need to be proactive drivers.
Drug-testing is perceived to have a low impact on therapy if not provided in good TAT. In fact, most poisoned patients are managed symptomatically and supportively regardless of the drug or poison's identity (10) with timely urine DOA testing useful if antidote or specific therapeutic intervention is available, such as naloxone for opiates (4). Fabbri et al. similarly concluded that the use of multidrug analysis is questionable in the management of patients with acute drug poisoning, although it is rather useful to reassure the clinician of their actions (11). Other publications advocate such tests are not necessary as the clinical course of patients with suspected drug overdose can be predicted during the first few hours of observation (12). In some patients, such as those with altered mental status, where the medical history may be unclear at the time of presentation to the ED, drugs of abuse tests do aid clinicians in diagnosis and management of drug-related complications (13).
Other pathology services have also tried to manage improvement in the TAT by introducing point-of-care drugs of abuse testing. A recent example of this has shown a $132,951 ($US) increase in cost but a savings of 15.5 hours per day bed time (14). However, this result could be considered as cost shifting savings only (i.e. from laboratory to the clinical unit) unlike our study which is pure cost savings. Equally it needs to be pointed out that the laboratory is far better equipped at ensuring highest quality assurance is achieved with results. Performing urine drug screens by IA methods on existing general biochemistry analysers provides a very rapid and cost effective mechanism. However, as seen in this study, IA methods can produce false positive or negative results. Hence, the availability of confirmatory drug testing by chromatographic methods where it is clinically necessary is still important. This decision however is different to the use of the GCMS for every urine drug sample screening.
The pathology initiated change for improving TAT of DOA testing has resulted in the provision of a rapid and relatively inexpensive service for most of the patients across our network to aid critical clinical care decisions. The change led to almost instantaneous change in test ordering behaviour by clinicians without leading to anyobvious clinical harm, to a very significant improvement in TAT and cost savings, immediately and then sustained.
Potential conflict of interest
None declared.
1. Bradley V. Placing emergency department crowding on the decision agenda. Nurs Econ 2005;23:14-24.
2. Hawkins R. Laboratory Turnaround time. Clin Bioch Rev 2007;28:179-94.
3. Pulkki K, Suvisaari JC, Paul, Ravkilde J, Stavljenic-Rukavina A, Hammerer-Lercher A, et al. A pilot survey of the use and implementation of cardiac markers in acute coronary syndrome and heart failure across Europe. The CARdiac MArker Guideline Uptake in Europe (CARMAGUE) study. Clin Chem Lab Med 2008;47:227-34.
4. Hammett-Stabler CA, Pesce AJ, Cannon DJ. Urine drug screening in the medical setting. Clin Chim Acta 2002;315:125-35. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0009-8981(01)00714-8.
5. Markway EC, Baker SN. A Review of the Methods, Interpretation, and Limitations of the Urine Drug Screen. Orthopedics 2011;34:877-81. http://dx.doi.org/10.3928/01477447-20110922-22.
6. Forsman R. Why is the laboratory an afterthought for managed care organizations? Clin Chem 1996;42:813-6.
7. Howanitz P. Errors in laboratory medicine: practical lessons to improve patient safety. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2005;129:1252-61.
8. Valenstein P. Turnaround time. Can we satisfy clinicians' demands for faster service? Should we try? Am J Clin Path 1989;92:705-6.
9. Howanitz P, Cembrowski G, Steindel S, Long T. Physician goals and laboratory test turnaround times. A College of American Pathologists Q-Probes study of 2763 clinicians and 722 institutions. Arch Pathol Lab Med 1993;117:22-8.
10. Warner A. Setting Standards of Practice in Therapeutic Drug Monitoring and Clinical Toxicology: a North American View. Ther Drug Monit 2000;22:93-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/00007691-200002000-00020.
11. Fabbri A, Marchesini G, Morselli-Labate AM, Ruggeri S, Fallani M, Melandri R, et al. Comprehensive drug screening in decision making of patients attending the emergency department for suspected drug overdose. Emer Med J 2003;20:25-8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/emj.20.1.25.
12. Brett AS, Rothschild N, Gray R, Perry M. Predicting the Clinical Course in Intentional Drug Overdose: Implications for Use of the Intensive Care Unit. Arch Intern Med 1987;147:133-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archinte.1987.00370010131028.
13. Krasowski M, Pizon A, Siam M, Giannoutsos S, Iyer M, Ekins S. Using molecular similarity to highlight the challenges of routine immunoassay-based drug of abuse/toxicology screening in emergency medicine. BMC Emerg Med 2009;9:5. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-227X-9-5.
14. Lewandrowski K, Flood J, Finn C, Tannous B, Farris AB, Benzerx TI, et al. Implementation of Point-of-Care Rapid Urine Testing for Drugs of Abuse in the Emergency Department of an Academic Medical Center. Am J Clin Path 2008;129:796-801. http://dx.doi.org/10.1309/59681R72JDTCCD2B.


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Product Details
Set Contents
- Wire chafing rack
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Full-Size Wire Chafer Stand Party Kit (6-Piece)
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Lake Hatcher lake-front lot with beautiful mountain views. Easy build site on this level lot. Fishing in your backyard and National Forest a minute away come and play.
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Real Estate listings held by companies other than Homes & Land contain that company's name.


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AC/DC are about to put out their 17th studio album Rock or Bust next week (December 2nd). To get their fans warmed up and psyched for it they have released a music video for the title track Rock or Bust.
Unfortunately, two founding members are not featured in the video. Rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young has retired due to dementia and has been replaced by his nephew Stevie Young. Drummer Phil Rudd is currently being stood in for by Bob Richards due to drug possession and death threat charges.
This video doesn't seem too different from any of AC/DC's other music videos. Then again, when you're someone like AC/DC all you need is the band doing what they do best (rocking your socks off) for an audience. Any other form of imagery would be excessive, distracting, and quite unnecessary as far as I'm concerned.
If you would like to listen to the rest of the Rock or Bust album it is currently streaming temporarily on iTunes. It will be released to the general public for sale on December 2nd. AC/DC does plan to tour with their current line-up in support of Rock or Bust starting next year.
Rock or Bust, by AC/DC


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Kydro & Jaroo – FreaKingdom
Manchester based Producer Kydro has teamed up with rapper/co-founder of Blackpool Hip-Hop collective Northern Structure, Spider Jaroo to release this new EP, "FreaKingdom" on Room2 Records.
This is a dark and brooding EP, with heavy, dense production and tight, intense rhymes.
A must for any UK hip hop fans out there, nice work.


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Products from Flip are well known for the facility that this manufacturer offers in terms of capturing video and sharing them easily with your near and dear ones. Flip UltraHD Camcorder is also in the same league and offers a number of excellent features combined in a small compact body that can easily fit into your pocket. Even the price tag is affordable enough for consumers looking for a basic camcorder with good performance and good features to capture the memorable moments. Flip UltraHD Camcorder has come out to be a real good option for making home videos and sharing them in several media players.
Let us check the features that have made this Flip creation a good value for money. As the product name itself suggests, this is a camcorder that captures the video in high definition format. Naturally the result is more colorful and livelier. The record that you take with Flip UltraHD Camcorder can be played in most of the media players like Windows Media Player, iTunes and also Quick Time Player as it is captured in H.264.
Flip UltraHD camcorder also combines a fast lens with 2x zooming power. Apart from these features, you will also have the help of an attached USB arm which lets you connect the camcorder directly to your computer and share the clips. But even before you view the recordings in your computer, you can have the pleasure of viewing them in the 2 inch bright, anti-glare and colored LCD screen of the camcorder. This also helps you to delete or take a preview of the object you are shooting.
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The original posting of the earthquake on the 15th off the coast of Oregon was for two earthquakes. It was then made one quake. See the details here
Despite the fact that the tensor solutions both seem to suggest a lower magnitude quake (5.8 or 5.9) it is still listed as Magnitude 6.0
PNSN have now relisted it as two earthquakes:
The image links to the PNSN site but obviously after a few days those earthquakes will not show.
I decided to take a look myself to see if I could confirm this analysis. Those who know me are aware that I spend a great deal of time listening to earthquakes. Yes listening. My software (under development but free to a good home converts SAC files to WAV files amongst other things so I can then hear the earthquakes and see the spectrum using Audacity (also free to a good home)
I picked the seismographic station UW.JEDS at random and downloaded the data for the earthquake.
The waveform (this is the BHE channel) is heavy at the front end and a little more modulated possibly than normal, but I would not have immediately jumped up and said "double quake" looking at that.
For the technorati who spot it these are at 2000 samples per second against the station rate of 40 sanples per second thus 50 x
Next I looked at the spectrum without doing any processing on the file.
This one does seem to show something that looks like a double quake. I low pass filtered for 6 Hz (300Hz at the multiplication I was using) and the amplified the signal as much as possible. Now the 'doubleness' was clearly visible.
So finally I listened to it. I have to direct you to my 4shared facility I am afraid as I don't have extensions here that enable it. UW.JEDS.Oregon-20120215.WAV
If you listen straight you hear two thumps. There is a slight echo feeling which may be because of the two quakes (echo being a delay to a signal added to the original). Now a close quake like this will pretty much always have a double thump, but not as long a gap as this. The second thumps is usually the arrival of the S-wave after the P-wave and there is very little gap on a close quake so it comes across as a quick double thump. If you turn up the treble you can hear the S-wave sound immediately after the first thump.
Double trouble? Yes I concur with the PNSN analysis that this was indeed two earthquakes one second apart.


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Scrabble & Words with Friends Word Unscrambler
Definition of Shapely
1 Definition of Shapely
The definition of shapely, the meaning of word Shapely
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- adj.- having a well-proportioned and pleasing shape
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There are 7 letters in shapely: A E H L P S Y


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Happy Feast of the Assumption!
Our busy day began with beignets for breakfast. They're part of a
Then we all hit the early traffic to Holy Spirit to attend Mass and drop off the big boys.
Back to the car for 6 of us to come home and load up KT's life into the back of the car and head for UGa. We had just enough room and plenty of Harry Potter to listen to.
She was so excited to back on campus with her buddies. All her apartment-mates were there getting unpacked. We made a run to the bookstore to buy books, got some pizza for lunch, and said good-bye. I thought it would be a tearful farewell, but we managed to
Here she is looking down from their front door with her good friend Alex. See how sad they are that we're driving away?


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Trend Lab® Pink Sky 3-pc. Crib Bedding Set
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Help - erection quality.
I'm going to the docs tomorrow to see if there's anything he can do. Basically, for a while now I've had low sex drive, and I just don't get those 100% erections that throb, you know what I mean?
I used to be able to think my way to a hard on, now it's more difficult, and I have to stimulate myself to them.
When having sex, I'm always aware of whether I'm losing the quality, and I'm sure this makes it worse.
I'm quite sure my limited P.E hasn't made it worse, but do you think kegels, stretches, and jelqing can make it better?
32 years old
Manage stress well
Eat a good diet
Physically fit
Any thoughts?


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Stone fruit season is officially upon us — those juicy peaches, nectarines, plums, apricots and cherries have arrived at our local farmers markets and we could not be any happier. We are always encouraging our patients to include more fruits and vegetables in their diet, and in response we frequently receive the question, "Doctor, should I buy all my produce organic?"
This is a valid question since recent USDA tests have found at least one pesticide on 64 percent of conventionally raised produce, and five or more pesticide residues on 12 percent. The answer can be found by referring to the Environmental Working Group shopping guide.
The EWG shopping guide was made to protect your family from the produce most commonly exposed to high amounts of pesticide. Every year they form a list of the most highly sprayed fruits and vegetables of which they encourage to buy organic, or to at least make sure your grower avoids pesticides.
The 2015 "dirty dozen plus" are apples, peaches, nectarines, strawberries, grapes, celery, spinach, sweet bell peppers, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, imported snap peas, potatoes, hot peppers, kale and collard greens. If you purchase any of these from conventional growers, make sure to rinse them with vinegar or another nontoxic produce cleaner. Some plants do absorb pesticides systemically so washing may have only limited effect.
Thankfully, the guide also provides information regarding the "cleanest," least pesticide-sprayed produce. These are usually either fruits or veggies with skins that we can remove, or simply plants that are not as prone to pests or infection.
The "clean 15 " list, which you least have to worry about purchasing organic, includes avocados, sweet corn, pineapples, cabbage, frozen sweet peas, onions, asparagus, mangos, papayas, kiwi, eggplant, grapefruit, cantaloupe, cauliflower and sweet potatoes.
Implementing more fruits and veggies in our families' diets is so important for so many reasons, and avoiding pesticides should also be a priority. U.S. and international government agencies have acknowledged different pesticides as linked to health problems including brain and nervous system toxicity, cancer, hormone disruption as well as skin, eye and lung irritation. Prenatal and early childhood exposures to the neurotoxic organophosphates have been shown to be at greater risks of impaired intelligence and neurological problems.
Aside from maintaining our health, buying pesticide-free and organic produce supports environmental-friendly farming practices, minimizes soil erosion, safeguards workers, as well as protects our precious water quality and wildlife.
Do your best to support our farmers markets, organic and environmentally friendly markets, and get to know the EWG for more excellent and up-to-date environmental health information.
— Drs. Dena and Jonathan Birch are naturopathic doctors and co-operators of Purety Family Medical Clinic in Santa Barbara. The clinic's phone number is 805.500.8300. The opinions expressed are those of the authors.


text:
115 - Stage Door
Here is my attempt to solve Case File 115 over at CSI.
The Scheme: I have used all the colours but the peach is a little pale.
Evidence: hearts, lace, mesh, flowers, clouds, stamps, pen work, mixed
media background
Testimony: Inspiration words
My idea for this layout came from the inspiration words, Float, Dreamy,
Imagine, as this is how I felt when the photo was taken!
The photo was taken in 2009 when I was just starting out with scrapbooking
and I always knew I would create a layout with it, I just didn't know when.
I met David Essex at the stage door of Wimbledon Theatre, London after
seeing his show All the Fun of the Fair. He was very gracious and generous
with his time. A real gentleman. He even said that he liked my 1950s
hairstyle, which left me on Cloud Nine!!
I originally thought I would do a funfair style layout but when I saw the
Case File, I decided to create a theatrical layout instead, reminiscent of
all those lovely old London theatres that I often frequent and love so
The background card is Core'dinations (both sheets). I have used pearl gems
and Magic Mesh. The wood heart is recycled from a broken homeware item. The
horses are actually a pair of ear-rings! I purchased them with a view to
using them as carousel horses and to achieve this effect, I bent the posts
upwards! The white plastic flower came from a haberdashery shop. The paper
clips are from Morrisons (UK). The wood hashtag is Studio Calico. The
vintage lace is Crafts Too. The tag is a recycled clothing tag to which I
tied some recycled ribbon.
The title and journaling are all stamped. The little heart is stamped and
adorned with Glossy Accents. The sheet music background is stamped and
embossed in white. I created the dots with ProMarkers. I used brown and
white ink pads.
Pointing hand - My Mind's Eye Lost & Found
Small alphabet - Hero Arts
Numbers - Stampendous Retro Alphabet set
Sheet Music - Debbi Moore
Heart - PSX
I have always admired the techniques of mixed media and altered art but
haven't ventured to use them on layouts very much, if at all. I have been
brave on this occasion and given them a go! I have used white children's
paint as my background. I spread the paint using my fingers and I think the
result is rather cloud-like! I also painted the recycled clothing tag using
the same paint, and stamped onto it.
I always love to see torn pages but have never really done that on layouts
either and certainly not on a large scale. Another new technique for me!!
Thanks for looking,


text:
May 12, 2008
City may give senior center to zoo; Aldermen skeptical of zoo's request for additional $50,000
Racine Zoo CEO Jay Christie appeared before the committee requesting more money from the city to help the zoo break even in the coming years. The zoo is seeking a $50,000 increase in the city's annual $550,000 payment, plus an additional 3.5 percent increase each year.
The zoo is also asking the city to give it the Belle City Senior Center, which is the former Lakeview Community Center. The center would allow the zoo to generate an additional $15,000 per year, plus get more parking near the zoo's main entrance.
David Easley, chairman of the zoo's Board of Directors, said many more people would use the former community center if the zoo had control of it. Christie estimated thousands of people would use the center if it was run by the zoo, compared to "hundreds" who use it now as a senior center.
The committee spent most of its time discussing the zoo's request for the $50,000 increase. Alderman Tom Friedel, chairman of the Finance Committee, was skeptical of the proposal. He said he would support an annual increase that matches inflation, but not the one-time increase.
"Frankly, I have a hard time making a recommendation like," he said. "If I had to vote on this today, I'd have a hard time … if that means a policeman is out of the budget, I'm not interested."
Friedel also raised questions about why the zoo is projected to lose money in the coming years, despite making an additional $180,000 last year by charging a fee.
Christie said a combination of a cut in the amount of money Racine County paid the zoo and rising costs hurt the zoo's bottom line. After the meeting, Christie also noted that the zoo's Board of Directors voted in 2000 to use donations over $5,000 to build up its endowment, rather than paying day-to-day expenses. If the zoo doesn't get additional public support, Christie said, the zoo would have to tap its endowment and cut back on its building projects to meet its budget needs.
"I hope nobody thinks we're going back to the well too often, or asking for too much here," Christie said.
Alderman Jim Spangenberg voted to refer the item to the City Council's Committee of the Whole – a committee of all council members – for further discussion. Alderman David Maack suggested Christie bring animals to the meeting and give the council an update on the zoo's success in operating the popular attraction for the city since 1989.
The Racine Zoo is run by a nonprofit organization that covers more than 60 percent of the cost of running the zoo.
The county had given $100,000 per year to help the zoo covers its operating expenses, but cut that number to zero in its last budget. The county may restore $15,000 in funding for the zoo in future budgets, Christie said.
Friedel said that Racine County Executive Bill McReynolds does not understand that money negotiated for the zoo in the sewer agreement between the city, Caledonia and Mount Pleasant does not count as county money.
The sewer money is technically excess reserves for the Racine sewer plant that came from Racine, Caledonia and Mount Pleasant. It's not county money, Friedel said.
"He has a hard time understanding that. I don't know why," he said, adding: "It's the same mistake he makes with the library."
During the committee's discussion, the aldermen noted that even if they supported the zoo's request, they didn't have control over the budget. Mayor Gary Becker writes the budget and the City Council approves it. Though the council can make changes to the mayor's budget, it's difficult to free up $50,000 for any one item.
"It's still the mayor's decision," Spangenberg said. "He's got to balance his budget for every factor."
4 comments:
I thought that this only happened on the David Letterman show!!!!!!!ReplyDelete
- Anonymous5/13/2008 1:22 PM
What Friedel doesn't understand is that sewer agreement was sold to the people of Caledonia, Mt. Pleasant with the promise that some of that money would be funding county institutions such as the Library, Museum and Zoo! Where is that money Mr. Friedel?ReplyDelete
- Anonymous5/13/2008 2:06 PM
I cannot locate my copy of the sewer agreement at this time, but as stated by anonymous, the sewer agreement provided funds for the zoo, etc. at an increasing rate per year. The rate, as I can remember it, was greater than the rate of inflation.ReplyDelete
Why is it that we never see the actual funds disbursed by the water department to the zoo, library and museum compared to the sewer agreement. Actually just seeing the actual rate of intergovernmental disbursements would be interesting.
Here's a story for you Pete!
- Anonymous5/13/2008 6:02 PM
Where did the money come from for the 2 new positions in city hall in last year's budget?ReplyDelete


text:
vrijdag 2 september 2011
to the sea
3 opmerkingen:
- Sharon zei
Race you to the water! Wow! I love that the sea is just a tease at the top. All that patient waiting...now here it is! Really gives weight to your title. And that gorgeous active Ochre and Raw Sienna beach. Ancient/Contemporary. Once again, Eric, another fine piece!
- 2 september 2011 om 20:47
- Seth zei
Love this one Eric. The colors are so earthy and organic.
- 3 september 2011 om 19:27
- Marit zei
This piece reminds me of the first glimps of the sea, when I'm nearly on the top of the dunes... beautiful!
- 4 september 2011 om 14:46
Abonneren op: Reacties posten (Atom)


text:
|i'm in love with this picture of the lake
p.s. if you don't have fall where you live, send me a message and i'll make sure to send you a box of leaves to enjoy while they last :)
|i'm in love with this picture of the lake
|cardigan: Old Navy, top: Down East Outfitters, leggings: kohls, boots: Steve Madden
|it was kind of smoky because of the fires in the canyon, but it gave an interesting lighting effect
|I've never noticed these lovely weeds before, but i'll take a picture by them any day ;)
|it's so beautiful and kind of abandoned, we have adopted it :)
|it's kind of indoor and outdoor feeling at the same time, my fav!
|flowers around the temple
|ok i just couldn't help but put a little heart around these sweet feet :)
|those CHEEKS!
|his little-big sister came to pose for a few photos too :)
|seriously, she is a little model ;)


text:
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7:42 AM Edited by Blony
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text:
Friday, June 13, 2008
Freaky Friday
Why do children have to be so darn nice sometimes to make you (for a small period of time) want to have you own? And then spoil the moment by asking something so inanely stupid like Are you married??? that you laugh like Santa Claus high on crack ?
Why do you have to listen to a song after a long period of time and be reminded of a time in your life when you had dreams? When you didn't know that life is a like desert filled with a few small oasis of happiness? Why does it remind you of a time when you thought that you would one day grow up and change the world and not end up like everyone else? Why does that seem so stupid when you think about it now?
Why does the news of your favorite teenage waterhole being closed make you feel like someone who has already been canceled from prime time and is now running in syndication ?
What makes you want to spend a few days with your head in the sand just like an Ostrich? Just talk to no one, see or read nothing, just keep your head buried while you temporarily switch off your brain?
Why is it that you can't identify your emotions and actually know what the hell is wrong with you?
Why do you wake up one day and feel like everything around you has changed and then when the warm cup of black coffee brings you back to your senses (or whatever) you realize the only thing that changed was you?
Why do you keep procrastinating and not doing things you know you really need to do? Things you know would only benefit you?
Why do people have to assume that after living in a city for more than two decades would make you an expert at navigating through it?
Why do you lie awake at night thinking all these thoughts end up not sleeping for more than 24 hours??
11 comments:
- savante said...
Whoa. Can't answer all those questions at one go :) But can reply to the first. Well, to ask the career is the easiest icebreaker.
- June 13, 2008 at 8:09 PM
- Dark Knight said...
These are the million dollor questions whose answer, everyone seeks.
Sometime i wonder to myself, when i die, would i end up being another Oxford dictionary where instead of meanings, questions are listed. Is it same with everyone? (See i am again making question)
Also one thing, if we ever could find answers to everything we seek, may be we would have become another Buddha or Jesus. May be He (you know who)doesn't want us to get answers, so he only fills with questions. May be!
- June 14, 2008 at 6:51 AM
- Swats said...
its like...you dont know whre you're goin but u cant wait 2 get thre :)
- June 14, 2008 at 11:10 AM
o gosh. way too many questions to answer, even for a brilliant indian college student! :) how abt an ice cream break instead, eh?
- June 14, 2008 at 11:51 AM
- unsungpsalm said...
Hello there! Thoroughly enjoying your blog, and shall thus take liberties of adding to to my blogroll so that I keep visiting :)
Keep up the Confessions!
- June 15, 2008 at 12:32 AM
- chandni said...
I'd be damned if I knew!
- June 15, 2008 at 2:02 AM
- flygye12 said...
i want more smilies here!!! hrmmph
- June 15, 2008 at 6:48 PM
- Orange said...
Impressive set of questions you have there Whippy. Also, a life time to figure them out... :P
- June 16, 2008 at 3:00 AM
- unsungpsalm said...
I have the answer to all your questions. Care to guess?
- June 16, 2008 at 7:42 AM
- unsungpsalm said...
Oh well, since no one asked, the answer is 42. Predictable, right?
For those who understand, please go and read "A Hitchhiker's Guide..." You're many years late already!
- June 16, 2008 at 7:13 PM
- Aaarti said...
DANG... i wish i knew half the answers~~~
neat blog...:)
- June 22, 2008 at 10:31 AM


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I've lived in Nashville for five years. Before that it was Ft. Worth, Chicago, Charlotte, NC and several little towns in between. I've written professionally for twenty years, all kinds of writing--children's books, children's music, singer-songwriter stuff, Christian contemporary, country. Like most of us, I think life goes better with a personal soundtrack playing.
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Dan Zuba
1107 East State Street
Rockford, IL 61104
Thank You
Your message has been sent to Dan Zuba. We look forward to being in touch.
Contact MeComplete this form and Dan Zuba will contact you to discuss your needs.
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About Me
It is my pleasure to serve the financial needs of people in the Rockford area and the surrounding communities. I started in the financial services industry in 2006 and became a Wealth Management Advisor in 2010. I hold a Bachelor of Science degree from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois.
I want to make managing your finances as easy as possible for you. As your Wealth Management Advisor, I will partner with a Banker from U.S. Bank to bring you a holistic approach to your wealth management needs. We will collaborate to understand your financial situation and develop personalized strategies to help you work toward your financial goals.
In my free time, I enjoy playing music, running and spending time with my family.
Area of focus
Investment Planning
Insurance Protection Planning
Retirement Plan Distribution Planning
Executive Compensation Planning
Business Succession Planning
Charitable Gifting Strategies
Executive/Trustee Planning
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Goals Based Wealth Management
My Offices
Primary Office1107 East State Street
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Secondary Office1701 South West Avenue
Freeport, IL 61032
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Freeport, IL 61032
Secondary Office430 Main Street
Pecatonica, IL 61063
About U.S. Bancorp Wealth Management
Whether you're just starting out or have already achieved a certain level of wealth, our Wealth Management team can help you find ways to make your money work as hard as possible to help you work toward your goals. We offer comprehensive wealth management services including retirement and financial planning, investment management, trust and fiduciary services, and private banking from U.S. Bank. We also offer retirement and financial planning, investment management, and brokerage strategies from U.S. Bancorp Investments.


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Apple® Premium Service Provider
LivingSound > Apple® Premium Service Provider > Apple Service Provider
Effective Monday, April 23rd LivingSound will no longer be accepting Apple products for service and repair. We apologize for any inconvenience.
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text:
The sight of smoke billowing out of air-conditioning ducts prompted a south Seminole County resident to call the fire department. Within minutes, two massive fire trucks, a small fire truck and an ambulance had gathered in front of the house.
So had most of the neighbors.
Fire officials quickly took care of the problem, which turned out to be minor, and left to respond to another call.


text:
Rock Stage, Friday 8 June, 12:00
The classic Vixen lineup only released two studio albums, "Vixen" (1988) och "Rev it up" (1990). This, however, was enough to secure tha band's place in melodic metal history, since the albums contained songs like "Edge of a broken heart", "Cryin'", "How much love" and "Love is a killer". A planned reunion of the band's classic lineup in 2013 was sadly thwarted when guitarist Jan Kuehnemund succumbed to cancer the same fall. The remaining three; Janet Gardner (vocals), Roxy Petrucci (drums, also in Madam X) and Share Pedersen (bass, ex-Dogs D'Amour); decided to continye anyway. Vixen's return to SRF will see Britt Lightning at the guitarist's position.
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text:
It has been five years since we saw this display, as business had necessitated us being away from home for extended periods and no matter how hard we tried to schedule being home for this time of year, we had never managed to successfully sidestep commitments to be elsewhere. So the experience of this week has gone a long way to compensate for the distractions that came with almost continuous travel!
However, the picture isn't quite as rosy as it may appear, and we lived through several false starts that had me wondering whether I would see any flowers develop!
Storms during the past two weeks, dumping several inches of snow and driving us indoors as well as forcing us to abandon taking the car to a track-day event at a nearby road circuit (yes, a Colorado facility with no snow-removal equipment), and it just appeared that winter wasn't about to let go of its grip on us. Friends to the east of us swear winter will be with them for several more weeks and like us, are cautious about becoming prematurely optimistic!
However, the time indoors has seen me devoting a lot of time to database technology and to looking at the more popular implementations. My business colleagues are often amused with the enthusiasm I have for all things database – wasn't I the manager of the product management team within Tandem Computers overseeing product roadmaps for communications and networking products and technologies? Wasn't it me who was always quick to step-up and present new features in excruciating detail?
It was several years ago when in the post of June 5th, 2008 "My road to the vendor side …" where I disclosed how my first years within IT were spent working with data bases. From my earliest days I worked with data and file access methods, becoming a master of IBM's ISAM and BDAM file systems. These were times when good application programmers, equipped solely with the machines assembler, could write file sorts that would execute entirely within the channel.
I moved to London to work on an early commercial deployment of the Cullinane database management system, IDMS, and then after a bitterly damp English winter, I struck out for North America only to land in Edmonton, Alberta where I parlayed my knowledge of IDMS into my first job as a DataBase Administrator (DBA). For the corporation I had just joined, I quickly dropped all enthusiasm for IDMS and pushed hard to try my hand at deploying an "inverted file" type DBMS, a new product from Insyte Datacom Inc, called Datacom/DB, a precursor of what was to follow with "relational" type DBMS (RDBMS).
Perhaps the only real memorable occurrence that the years I spent working with databases produced was that it gave me the ticket out of Canada. As I wrote in that June 8th post, what happened with all that Datacom knowledge – well, it turned out to be the key that allowed me to return home to Australia. For the next three decades, my focus switched to networking and communications; initially with TeleProcessing (TP) Monitors, before delving deeper into the underlying network architectures.
However, today we live with the Internet and with the protocols it spawned and networking has become comparatively dull; so getting an opportunity from my client to revisit the topic of data bases tapped into a lot of experiences (and late nights) that had lain dormant for a long time. Perhaps not quite on the same scale as the coming of spring, but tempered with as much anticipation certainly!
Before I paint too rosy a picture about data bases, they have seen their fair share of storms as well but we starting to see support begin to flourish and that shouldn't be a surprise to anyone within the NonStop community!
This post is not going to cover the same material that I have developed for my client but it does give me the opportunity to segue nicely into describing a future I see for the HP NonStop server in light of the messages being developed within HP in support of the just-announced strategy that's focusing on Clouds and Mobility. Obviously, "Mobility", centered on mobile devices and the WebOS operating system rules out NonStop for the time being, at least. And with that observation the future of NonStop, as a thriving participant in the enterprise offerings of HP, implies a future within Cloud Computing.
With all the talk of virtualization and clustering NonStop SQL/MX database (NS SQL/MX), remains one of the best kept secret in the industry. Whereas every popular database product sits atop the operating system, often in conflict with the operating system when it comes to efficient resource oversight, NS SQL/MX is a part of the operating system. Years of development went into making the Tandem Computer fault tolerant and the pursuit gave us an n+1 technology built on a shared-nothing architecture – a copy of the operating system inside every processor in the system, or node.
The first byproduct from providing users with fault tolerance and the ability to run 24 X 7 was that from the very outset, Tandem Computers could scale linearly. Today, packaged as very modern HP NonStop servers, they have lost none of these availability and scalability properties. Why are we finding this is so important today?
Cloud Computing is coming after a period of server consolidation, and with it, the emergence of mixed workloads. Before we consolidated we had to come to terms with the fact that we have too many lightly used servers and the manageability challenge they presented was proving daunting – even for the biggest users. The growth in business needs fueled the popularity of this model and as we contemplate Cloud Computing there's no evidence that we will not be growing further – so we need to be able to scale the cloud.
For many corporations considering building out their data centers with a super "private cloud" populated with as many servers as required to satisfy the corporations IT needs, means there will be mixed workloads. From all that I have uncovered talking to users and vendors alike, nothing runs mixed workloads quite like the HP NonStop server – and yes, nothing else includes the data base as part of the mixed workload the way NonStop does! No mysteries in how this is achieved after all, mixed workloads are just riding the coattails of the services within the NonStop operating system designed to ensure fault tolerance!
I wonder how long it takes before applications providers, targeting Cloud Computing recognize this. Or how inexpensive it is to utilize the data base that is part of the NonStop operating system, NS SQL/MX? And before you think I'm painting too rosy a hue on the prospects of NS SQL/MX here, over the past six weeks I have talked with a dozen or so corporations with NS SQL/MX deployed including the DBAs overseeing their maintenance, and the story really is very positive. However, there's a lot more that is still required and there's nowhere near critical mass in terms of solutions vendors opting for NS SQL/MX.
HP has a long way to go before everyone understands how the vision of Cloud Computing and Mobility will come to fruition and how this strategy will impact their own partnership with HP. For the users of HP NonStop servers, however, the steps into Cloud Computing and the reasons behind taking those steps are becoming clearer. And it has a lot to do with the merits of NS SQL/MX.
Time to dust off my database skills and to check out the latest analysts' reports! Who could have guessed that after so many years, the industry would turn so markedly back to databases! As a colleague of mine was quick to point out today, the ball is squarely in HP's court on this issue – if NS SQL/MX is that good, they need to build programs to attract partners; follow the Apple model, if you like.
It may be a stretch and HP may hedge, of course, but if I have learned anything from talking to NonStop customers these past few weeks, HP is not lacking when it comes to reference-able customers! And watching NS SQL/MX develop strong advocates, perhaps others apart from HP will begin to pay attention! Perhaps even … you know who!


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This year marks the 50th Anniversary of the revolutionary Summer of Love. To mark the occasion Glasgow's psych rock cosmonauts Trembling Bells hook up with original trailblazers Mike Heron and Ed Askew for a magic carpet ride of musical adventure. See dates below.
Few bands could be said to embody the spirit of the 1960s more comprehensively than the Incredible String Band. On albums such as 'The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter' or 'Wee Tam and the Big Huge'- with their epic perspectives, pantheistic lyrics and visionary synthesis of musical forms- ISB gave the hippy generation some of their most emblematic anthems. This is not the first time Mike has teamed up with Trembling Bells. One notable collaboration coincided with the Hux Records' release of Incredible String Band 'Live at Fillmore East, 1968', an album that found Mike and Robin [Williamson] at the peak of their creativity. In our interview with Mike Heron and Alex Neilson of Trembling Bells, they revealed how they first met:
"We met at a Joe Boyd curated Incredible String Band tribute event at the Barbican in 2009 and recognised each other as kindred spirits" recalls Alex. "Trembling Bells had only recorded one album at that point but ISB were so much a part of our shared musical diet that it had informed the aesthetic of the band in many ways. For example, the omnivorous appropriation of folk musics from throughout the world and colliding them with a more expansive conception of song writing. Retaining the elemental pulse at the heart of folk music but warping it by combining it with interests in art, gnostic writing, psychedelics etc etc etc." You can read the full interview here.
Watch this rare clip of October Song being performed on Dutch TV by the Incredible String Band in 1967:
Ed Askew is a painter and singer-songwriter who resides in New York City. His acid-folk masterpiece Ask the Unicorn, originally released on the 'staunchly underground and subversive New York indie label ESP-Disk', was re-released in autumn 2016. Ed has just toured Europe with his trio in September in support of this release and in anticipation of his forthcoming second studio album of new songs, featuring Josephine Foster, on Tin Angel Records. He is also due to perform at this tears Fanø Free Folk Festival. Here he is performing for a La Blogothèque session with Diane Cluck:
Regular followers of Folk Radio UK should need no introduction to Trembling Bells, one of Britain's most distinctive and exciting groups that formed in 2008, born from Glasgow's close-knit scene, united by shared tastes, passions and imagination. "We all like music on a forensic level," says Alex Neilson. "We're all obsessive, pedantic, maladjusted, unemployable nerds." They feature throughout this website.
SUMMER OF LOVE 50th ANNIVERSARY TOUR
Featuring; Trembling Bells/ Mike Heron/ Ed Askew
2nd August, Sage, Newcastle
3rd August, Colchester Arts Centre
5th August, The Phoenix, Exeter
6th August, Supernormal Festival, Braziers Estate, Oxfordshire (Plague Dogs/ Ed Askew)
7th August, Cafe Oto, London (Trembling Bells/ Ed Askew/ Amy Cutler)
8th August, Cafe Oto, London (Mike Heron/ Alasdair Roberts/ Jeff Hilson)
9th August, Hare and Hounds, Birmingham
The Summer of Love – From San Francisco to Cornwall
Whilst The Summer of Love became synonymous with a generation and city called San Francisco, the LOVE vibe ran far beyond the famous gathering at San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury.
In the UK the short-lived UFO Club in London's Tottenham Court Road was in full swing, run by Joe Boyd and John 'Hoppy' Hopkins. Every Friday, the club introduced London to the likes of Pink Floyd, the Soft Machine, the Crazy World of Arthur Brown. In Joe Boyd's autobiographical White Bicycles he recalled the owner of the premises, a Mr. Gannon, calling him aside one evening and saying that although he wasn't sure and didn't want to jump to any conclusions he had a feeling "there's a few people smokin' dope in here". Mr Ganon suggested he might want to turn the fan on just in case.
May 1967 also marked the start of John Peel's short-lived Perfumed Garden radio show (May 1967 – August 1967) on pirate radio station Radio London from midnight to 2 am. The unpopular slot (with DJs and advertisers at least) meant he was able to quietly shift away from Radio London's commercial pop playlists to a mixture of folk, blues, psychedelic and progressive rock tracks. The radio station management were unaware of what he was playing until the show began cropping up in music press reviews and they received a letter of praise from The Beatles' manager Brian Epstein. It attracted a surprising number of listeners, unfortunately, the station was shut down under anti-pirate legislation in August 1967. Two months later John Peel began co-presenting BBC Radio 1's Top Gear from 2-5pm on a Sunday. It wouldn't be until the following year that he became the sole presenter. His first solo show featured Tyrannosaurus Rex in session with Marc Bolan in the studio – a man he was once instructed by the head of BBC Radio 1 to stop playing as 'he'll never be popular'.
There was also plenty happening in Cornwall. Rupert White, in his book Folk in Cornwall, described the emergence of the Cornish folk-scene and the part that the clubs such as the Folk Cottage played attracting the likes of Michael Chapman, Ralph McTell, Clive Palmer, Pete Stanley & Wizz Jones. In one interview with Ralph McTell and Wizz Jones, they both refer to the summer of 1967 as a boom year for Folk Cottage when all-nighters attracted surfers, beatniks and the Soho-hippies.
Watch this old documentary that Ralph McTell shared:
In July 1967, a Legalise Pot Rally was held at Speakers' Corner in Hyde Park, led by activist Stephen Abrams, featuring the Beat Poet Allen Ginsberg. Allen was seen by many at the time as a father figure of the hippie movement who was also pretty busy introducing a younger generation to Eastern Spiritual practices.
San Francisco Human Be-In:
Allen was also the MC at one of the landmark assemblies at the beginning of the year – a gathering of the tribes at Golden Gate Park on January 14th, 1967 which included Gary Snyder and Timothy Leary. It was billed as a 'Human Be-In' which focused on the San Francisco music scene of the time, the acid experience, and the Eastern spiritual movement. Among the bands that that performed were Jefferson Airplane, The Grateful Dead, Big Brother and the Holding Company, and Quicksilver Messenger Service. "Underground chemist" Owsley Stanley also provided massive amounts of his "White Lightning" LSD, specially produced for the event (wiki). It was to be the introductory event for the "Summer of Love" in San Francisco.
We could do with some positivity and LOVE today, to counteract all the negativity, so try and make those dates….
Featuring; Trembling Bells/ Mike Heron/ Ed Askew
2nd August, Sage, Newcastle
3rd August, Colchester Arts Centre
5th August, The Phoenix, Exeter
6th August, Supernormal Festival, Braziers Estate, Oxfordshire (Plague Dogs/ Ed Askew)
7th August, Cafe Oto, London (Trembling Bells/ Ed Askew/ Amy Cutler)
8th August, Cafe Oto, London (Mike Heron/ Alasdair Roberts/ Jeff Hilson)
9th August, Hare and Hounds, Birmingham


text: [Windows] + [Spacebar] (Aero Peek) Make all open windows transparent to view gadgets and icons on desktop. [Windows] + [D] (Aero Peek) Show or hide the desktop.[Windows] + [Home] (Aero Shake) Minimize all but selected window. Reverse by clicking the key combination again.[Windows] + left arrow OR [Windows] + right arrow (Aero Snap) Dock selected window to the left or right half of your screen.[Windows] + up arrow OR [Windows] + down arrow (Aero Snap) Maximized and restores the selected window.[Windows] + [SHIFT] + up arrow OR [Windows] + [SHIFT] + down arrow (Aero Snap) Maximizes and restores selected window in vertical dimension only.[Windows] + [Tab] (Aero Flip) Launch 3D representation of open windows and click [Tab] key again to flip through them.


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Historia de él
A play in 17 scenes. The unscrupulous 'Él' begins as a bank clerk, rising to become president and director general of the bank. He develops political ambitions and becomes a senator. An encounter with a woman and then with Equis, his alter-ego, remind him of more permanent values, though money and power remain his principal objectives. He becomes president of the Republic, but he is unpopular. Aspiring now to glory and a place in history, he tries to portray himself as a hero and 'saviour' of the nation, but the people won't accept him. He preaches progress and Revolution, "nuestra Revolución", with machine guns pointed at the audience.


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02852572, Lever
Please help our community — upload your photos of 02852572.
This is a lever, front side door lock cylinder (**vpi 1-877-846-8243), for Cadillac automobiles. It fits for Cadillac Deville, Deville touring, Hearse, High luxury, Limousine, Seville, Eldorado, Eldorado touring, Concours, and D'elegance for the U.S.. It's a genuine General Motors part with an OEM part number 02852572. Please keep in mind that this lever is discontinued for the U.S. market since July 1, 2010.
This part has a standard 12 months GM warranty on replacement parts.
This lever 100% fits for General Motors cars. It's made of top quality materials, it has passed not only all manufacturer's tests but also General Motors quality control and has to endure rough road conditions over a long time.
In spite of higher price of genuine parts buying this lever will be a smart decision because you will be absolutely sure that it will serve you longer and will provide maximum safety and performance for your car.
Part 02852572 has been superseded
- 02852572 is discontinued since July 1, 2010 for the U.S. market.
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text:
Vintage Christmas Tablecloth with Jars of Candy Holly Candy Canes and More
The Pink Rose Cottage
A fun vintage Christmas tablecloth! Features apothecary jars full of Christmas candy, ribbon candy, candy cane sticks and more. Lots of cheerful holly and holly berries, Christmas presents, Shiny Brite ornaments, snowflakes and more!
This vintage tablecloth measures a generous 73 by 62 inches. As shown in the photo there are a few spots of gold metallic on the edge. When held to a window some light spots. The red center has just a tiny bit of color fading in the fold. but overall the colors are just terrific! Rayon blend. Great condition!


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In case you haven't noticed, "coaching" is kind of a thing these days.
No matter what you're looking to achieve, there seems to be a coach out there ready and willing to help you get what you want out of life. Whether that's losing weight, writing a book, finding true love, or just about ANYTHING else you could name.
That's great news if you're looking for help. But what if you dream about BEING a life-changing mentor in a space that is becoming increasingly crowded and noisy?
Don't give up on what you want just yet. You can still be that coach you want to be. It just takes an investment of time, money, and passion. It also takes a solid foundation.
It's time to cut the fluff, keep it real, and step into the coach that you want to be. I'm going to show you three things you need to do right now to set the foundation and become more than just another face in the online crowd. Let's start building something amazing right NOW!
Step 1: Help yourself first
What comes before a sparkling website, the perfect sales funnel, or shiny new branding? YOU.
You have to believe in yourself. You must have total confidence in what you do. That means knowing that you have the solution to the problem that you solve. More importantly, it means that you LIVE that solution every day in your own life.
In other words, you have to be the change that you want to see in the world.
If you want to help others, help yourself first. Become the person who practices what they preach and walks the walk themselves. Think about it for a moment. Would you want to be coached to run a marathon by someone who never endured a 26.2-mile race? I seriously doubt it.
But what if you're not there yet? What if you have the interest and the passion for something…but not quite the expertise?
So the first step is to heal yourself. Help yourself. Do the work, reach the goals, and become the person that you want to coach others into being. If you can make big things happen for yourself, you can show someone else how to do it.
This is the part where you ask yourself some serious questions. Who do you want to be and what do you want to help others do? What do you stand for and what are your values? I recommend boiling it down to what I call the "five characteristics". They're the top five values that you bring to the table. The things that you want to represent in the world. And the things on which you will never compromise.
Take a few moments and really dig deep into this one. Then get the answers down on paper.
Next, start stepping into this space by embodying these characteristics every day.
This is the "coaching yourself" part. Decide who you want to become. Start taking the steps, coaching yourself, and making big things happen in your own life. It's how you become your own first testimonial.
Step 2: Put in the time
What if you're dreaming about being a life coach, but you've spent 20 years as a medical professional or an accountant? You can transition into anything that you want to be, but it's going to take work. You're going to have to put in the time, get the experience, and get the results.
If you wanted to go from being a doctor to a lawyer, you'd have to go to law school, right? Same deal here. You can transition into whatever you want to be, but it takes an investment of time, money, and energy. It also takes practical experience working with real-life people.
Let's say you're living your five characteristics and you're rising into the person you want to be. Next comes the practical part: getting out into the world, working with people, and building your credibility.
You do this by working with real people in the real world. And sometimes for free.
I know, I know, you want to run a business and not a charity! But offering services in exchange for testimonials will do three big things for your cause.
First, you get the chance to perfect your craft. Second, you can track the results that your test clients get and use them to shape your offerings. Finally, the more real-world experience you get and the more "IRL" results you get for others, and the more confidence you get in yourself.
So coach yourself first and get big-time results for YOU. Next, start working with real people in the real world for real testimonials. And right from the jump, start tracking the results that you get along the way. You're going to use it all in the last step.
Step 3: Own your value and your worth
So you've worked with several test clients and got some killer testimonials. Now the time has come to start (gulp!) asking potential clients for REAL money. Kind of gives you heart palpitations, right?
Your first thought might be to play it safe and keep your prices low in the beginning. It might seem logical to start out cheap, get more experience, and then raise your rates.
But I'm here to tell you that going down this road might make you more miserable than not having any paying clients at all. First, you might find yourself taking any client rather than holding out for ideal clients. Second, you'll be working really hard and not seeing the rewards. Put these two things together and the quality of your work will go downhill before you know what happened. Not exactly the recipe for a sustainable business.
This is the time to remember that you've already validated your services. Remember and review the results you've gotten for people. Take note of your testimonials. Then review the five characteristics that you stand for in the world. This is how you start to remember what you've worked for and honor your worth.
You seriously CAN start that coaching business that you dream about. But it's just like anything else in life. You need to do the work for yourself first. Be the person that you want to be. Get yourself the results that you want to get for other people. Then start practicing, serving, and helping other people make things happen for themselves. Curate your results. Celebrate your clients and yourself. Then start charging what you're worth with confidence.
But remember, it all starts with you. Set that solid foundation first. BE the change you want to see in the world first. Then start making it happen for others.


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This story is about Lyanna Baratheon the one true heir to the iron throne. The only true born child of Robert Baratheon and Cersei Lannister. About the ones she loves and the part that she plays in the great game. The Game of Thrones.
- baratheon
- gameofthrones
- jonsnow
- lannister
- lyanna
- robbstark
- sansastark
- tyrion
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To try the thousands of add-ons available here, download Mozilla Firefox, a fast, free way to surf the Web!Close
Welcome to Firefox Add-ons.
Choose from thousands of extra features and styles to make Firefox your own.Close
Review for FEBE by Yoquesena
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Usefull and customizable plugin for firefox, I love it, is remarcable the easy of the menus and the confortable desing for view the webs with this plugin.This review is for a previous version of the add-on (6.1).
To create your own collections, you must have a Mozilla Add-ons account.


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NBC News recently featured a report about changes at Glacier National Park, which sits at the upper edge of Montana.
The point was to demonstrate how a key feature of a natural masterpiece is disappearing. The news show's focus was on the Grinnell glacier, or rather its dwindling presence at the park.
The reporter asked an accompanying ecologist when the best time would be for tourists to view the glacier, and he said just about anytime, but "they'd better hurry."
Because the Grinnell is melting away, filling in what used to be a crater below the glacier with icy, blue snow melt.
A similar situation is occurring in southern Iceland, where residents are being forced from their homes because of flooding caused by a giant glacier meltdown.
We suppose folks who do not read newspapers or watch TV news can say, with a straight face, that global warming is just a hoax. We recommend they not visit any of the great cold-climate parks or countries where there is ample graphic evidence of a warming planet.
It also is evident that humans are spending far too much time and energy arguing over climate change. As glaciers melt, ice fields disappear and storms get more violent and destructive, we should be concentrating on how to cope with, and possibly benefit from climate change's effects.
We've mentioned some coping mechanisms in this space many times in recent years.
For example, ice melting at Earth's poles is increasing sea levels. It is true that rising seas threaten coastal areas, which seem doomed to relentless flooding sooner rather than later. But such melting/rising also increases the planet's water supply.
Salt water can be turned into drinking water and sustenance for crops. Availability of clean water is a big problem for a large percentage of Earth's human inhabitants, so it just seems intuitive to use modern technology — and in some cases, not-so-modern machinery — to remove the salt from sea water and put what's left to practical uses.
There are other ways humans can capitalize on a changing climate. Certain parts of the globe that have been inhospitable to agriculture could possibly get more rain in a warmer environment, turning what had been mostly dry, barren regions into growing fields.
Changes in the jet stream because of warming oceans could bring more wind and fewer clouds to certain regions, making wind and solar power a more reasonable possibility.
The problem with continuing to argue over the causes of what is happening before our very eyes is that it tends to cause a form of paralysis. Nothing substantive gets done when tongues and fingers are wagging in anger.
It's not unlike seeing a tub full of dirty bath water, throwing it out the window — despite the presence of a baby in the water.
That's sort of a silly analogy, but you get the point: Why don't we start talking about dealing with the effects of climate change, because stopping it at this point seems, well, pointless.
Such conversations can and should occur despite the skeptics and deniers in our federal government. Thankfully, California's government officials recognize climate evidence for what it is, and are taking steps to prepare this state and its citizens for a different kind of future.
Those of us fortunate enough to live on the Central Coast are in an enviable position. We have all the ingredients for using sea water, without the salt, generating electric power with wind turbines, and away from the coast capturing sunshine for viable solar energy production.
We just need to do it.


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11 July 2007
Pleader's Pligest Update
The thing is, his subscription is currently paid to June of 2009. But because of the auto-renew feature, Pleader's Pligest considered his account to be "overdue" in 2007. What a total crock.
I'm now going to write to the friendly folks at Pleader's Pligest to tell them what I think of this process.
5 comments:
- Magpie said...
That is scandalous. Write to Andrew Cuomo while you're at it - he's the NYS Attorney General, and they are located in NYS.
- 9:08 p.m.
- niobe said...
I'm with Magpie. I'd call FIL's state representative, the governor's office and the consumer protection/marketing fraud division at his local attorney general's office. And I'd make sure the magazine knew all about your efforts to inform local law enforcement of their legally questionable marketing activities.
You could also try the feds, since, no doubt, the letter travelled in interstate commerce. But you're more likely to get a sympathetic hearing from the state folks.
- 9:23 p.m.
- landismom said...
God, that is just sick. Glad your dad has you to advocate for him.
- 10:23 p.m.
- Rev Dr Mom said...
Paid up til 2009 and the bill is overdue? That is fireplacing ridiculous! And those "auto renewal" deals are supposed to have an easy out--two years notice should suffice!!!
- 5:18 p.m.
- Songbird said...
what a racket! That's inexcusable.
- 9:04 a.m.


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We are pleased to announce that Marci Weiner, internationally known columnist and TV personality will be writing a regular column for www.KNBSTV.com. Marci's syndicated column is in many local and national publications, and she has appeared on such TV shows as Joan Rivers, USA Network, Soap Talk, and Hollywood Style. She is currently taping a series "Hollywood Marci" which originates in Houston, Texas.
Marci's Hollywood Hotline will be a regular feature on www.KNBSTV.com and you can submit info and invitations to her at firstname.lastname@example.com
Marci's Hollywood Hotline By Marci Weiner
Jewish Film Festival
The Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival is a week of events celebrating the diversity of the Jewish experience in film. They feature flicks that highlight Jewish culture, traditions and challenges.
The Opening night Gala was the premiere of Jump, written and directed by Joshua Sinclair, and a special tribute to Patrick Swayze, who portrays a Jewish lawyer in the film. Swayze, who is gravely ill with cancer, was unable to attend, but his presence was felt by all those in attendance – particularly Sinclair, who is a personal friend of the ailing actor. Sinclair, is a medical doctor, specializing in tropical diseases, and has worked with Mother Teresa in India, and various parts of Africa. He also is a best selling novelist and a film and TV actor, producer, and director.
He is best known as the creator and writer of the Shaka Zula Trilogy, and his work against Apartheid, for which he was honored by the the U.S. Government.
Some of those attending the star-studded premiere, included Producer Lilly Berger, who wore an original dirndl dress from Austria (where the film was shot), Award winning actress Sally Kirkland, and veteran Casting Director Marvin Paige, who escorted another Academy Award nominated actress, Patty Mc McCormack (The Bad Seed.)
Coincidently, a few weeks later, we attended the premiere of the international stage hit, Dirty Dancing at the Pantages Theatre – which Swayze was the original star. When Josef Brown, who portrays John Castle in the stage version, jumped enthusiastically on stage – there wasn't a dry eye in the house. His style and dancing skill were reminiscent of Swayze, who made his first big hit in the film. Never to be forgotten.
The newly decorated Hollywood Palladium was the perfect venue for a "Night in Hollywood" sponsored by the Hollywood Arts Council. The dramatic décor of the historic landmark was mind-boggling.
A most welcome addition to the revitalization of Tinseltown.
Nyla Arslanian, President of the Council stated, "we are very pleased with the turnout and support we have received," and announced that the proceeds from the gala will benefit SOAR (students overcoming all risks. Their much lauded after school art program serves 1,500 kids each year.
The Charlie Awards (in honor of Charles Chaplin, of course) are presented for outstanding contributions to Hollywood's art and culture, and among the recipients were the Upright Citizens Brigade (Comedic Arts Award); Live Nation & NCA Green (Music Arts Award) and Independent Shakespeare Company, who received the prestigious Theatre Arts award. Some of the celebrated presenters included David Carradine, Sally Kellerman, Horatio Sanz (former alumni of Saturday Night Live, who recently lost over pounds) and actress Helen Slater, who created the role of Supergirl, when she was teenager.
Other Award Recipients and VIPs in attendance included Council member Tom LaBonge, Congresswoman Diane E. Watson, Oscar Arslanian (publisher of Discover Hollywood magazine), and George Pennacchio, Entertainment Reporter for ABC-TV.
Kudos to Co-chairs of the evening, Nancy J. Brown (CEO Bethany Towers) and Harvey Schwartz (President, 20th Century Props) for helping preserve the grace and glory of historic Hollywood.
Despite her recent bout with Breast Cancer surgery, Christina Applegate has not let any grass grown between her feet. She graced the cover of People Magazine's Most Beautiful People, and that wasn't easy running against such forerunners as Cindy Crawford, Angelina Jolie and Michelle Obama! And speaking of running, she also just won a gold medal for finishing the 16th annual Revlon Run/Walk for Women. The star of the top rated TV series, Samantha Who, hosted the run benefiting women's cancer research, with her Mother, Nancy Priddy, who also is a cancer survivor.
Christina recently was honored at the Women's Guild of Cedars Sinai Luncheon at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, for setting an example for young women to take a proactive role in their health care. She feels it is her mission to go public, and encourage them to talk about appropriate screening, and has founded Right Action for Women – which helps pay for the expensive MRI testing she feels saved her own life.
Some of her friends on hand to honor Applegate, and enjoy the vintage fashion show presented by Decades, included Emile De Ravin, star of the TV series, Lost, and actor Tim Russ, best known for his role as Geordi LaForge in ten different seasons of Star Trek. Also enjoyed dishing the current hit film, Valentino, The Last Emperor, with famed designer James Galanos. Sadly, there aren't enough of these class acts around today.
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Epson Labelworks PX LW-PX700 creates labels up to 1-in. wide
April 17, 2017 - K-Sun Corp. has presented the Epson Labelworks PX LW-PX700 industrial label maker for creating "durable, custom and compliant labels, wire markers and more" up to 1-in. wide.
The LW-PX700 features Auto Tape Rewind, which the company claims reduces lead margins to 4 mm by retracting material into the cartridge before the first label prints. It also has the mixed-length hot key that lets users create multiple uniform and variable-length labels on the same strip with a half-cut between each label.
The label printer, engineered to meet MIL-STD 810 drop test specifications, can be used to organize tool cribs, identify storage bins, label inventory racks, make safety labels, mark cables and wires, tag assets and create nine resident barcodes or 15 using Label Editor Professional software plus import images and label files to print on the go.
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