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ORLANDO, Fla., Feb. 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — From the floor of the HIMSS11 Conference & Exhibition, Allscripts (Nasdaq: MDRX) today announced the Application Store & Exchange™ (ASX) and the Allscripts Referral Network™ (ARN), two innovations to help hospitals and physician groups share ideas and information to improve care coordination, both inside and outside their organizations.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100901/CG58147LOGO)
ASX enables Allscripts clients, partners and other organizations to add to the company's open product platform, while ARN makes it easy to deliver seamless electronic patient referrals within the Allscripts client base of 180,000 physicians, 1,500 hospitals and 10,000 post acute care organizations – the largest connected network in healthcare.
"We believe these two simple innovations, paired with our open architecture, can help to transform healthcare," said Glen Tullman, Chief Executive Officer of Allscripts. "The Application Store & Exchange works like the Apple App Store to let everyone contribute to making healthcare better, while the Allscripts Referral Network enables our clients to create an electronic workflow with their referring partners, improving care coordination and efficiency. If you're on ARN, you will be connected to a third of the healthcare providers in the United States."
The Allscripts Application Store & Exchange
The Allscripts Application Store & Exchange is an online marketplace accessible by all of Allscripts hospital and physician clients and partners, allowing them to create, add, and connect to third-party applications. The Application Store & Exchange, which goes live today, enables Allscripts clients to access a wide range of Allscripts-built and third-party applications developed by registered, approved partners and clients, at lower cost and faster than otherwise possible.
"We've clearly seen this work in other industries and the time is now for healthcare to benefit from the same kind of innovation and collaboration," said Connie Suozzo, Vice President of Product Development Operations for Allscripts. "The smartest physicians, nurses and other caregivers in the world use our software and we want their ideas to become an integral part of the solution."
The Application Store & Exchange provides information and links on technologies developed by registered participants in the Allscripts Developer Program. Featured applications leverage the Helios by Allscripts™ open architecture platform to natively integrate with Allscripts clinical, revenue cycle and performance management solutions. The first applications to be featured on the Application Store & Exchange include:
- HCS Medication Reconciliation, a complete solution to address one of the most complex processes confronting hospitals today. Developed for Allscripts clients by HealthCare System, Inc., the solution queries multiple national data sources including pharmacy benefit managers, insurance companies, and retail pharmacies to provide clinicians with a record of the medications a patient has filled within the last 12 months.
- Positive ID Director for Allscripts, a fingerprint authentication system from BIO-key International, that enables any authorized user to securely access any module of the Sunrise Enterprise™ suite of acute care solutions using a single swipe or press of their finger. The solution works on virtually any sensor, whether on mobile devices, tablets, or shared workstations, and also meets the new DEA ePrescribing authentication requirements.
- NaviCare® WatchChild® Basic SCM Integration Application from Hill-Rom is an innovative labor-and-delivery solution that integrates Sunrise Clinical Manager™ with NaviCare WatchChild, an OB data management bedside solution for hospital labor and delivery units. The solution provides caregivers with an up-to-the-minute clinical summary of the hospital's labor and delivery patients from within Sunrise Clinical Manager.
- Allscripts Outcomes Solution Sets, providing client-proven best practice recommendations for achieving improved patient safety, health outcomes and performance. The tool sets guide implementation, configuration and utilization of Allscripts software products toward the achievement, measurement and standardized reporting of improved outcomes.
Allscripts will continuously add applications, integration options and other tools to the Application Store & Exchange to help clients access new innovations. Today, over 100 third parties are in active discussions for building applications that will integrate with the Sunrise and Enterprise EHR applications, leveraging the power of the entire healthcare community.
The Allscripts Referral Network
A breakthrough in health information exchange, the new Allscripts Referral Network enables physicians to easily send, receive and track round-trip patient referrals to physicians and post-acute providers, as well as collaborate via secure messages throughout the referral process. Available at no additional charge to users of any ARRA-certified Allscripts Electronic Health Record (EHR), as well as users of Allscripts ePrescribe™, the service enhances care coordination, promotes quality of care, and reduces administrative time and hassle associated with referral management, one of the most time consuming physician tasks.
The average primary care physician group spends approximately $1,000 per physician per month in staff time managing patient referrals, according to industry estimates. Electronic referrals in the Allscripts Referral Network reduce staff expense and enable caregivers to have the right information at the right time to provide appropriate care. The Allscripts Referral Network also makes practices easy to do business with, driving incremental referral revenue.
"Sending and tracking paper referrals back and forth between our multi-specialty physicians and outside referring partners is time-consuming but it's also a critical element of care coordination," said Praveen Toteja, Chief Information Officer of George Washington University Medical Faculty Associates, the 385-physician faculty practice of the George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, DC. "The Allscripts Referral Network makes the whole process easy, intuitive, fast and much more efficient. Best of all, patient referrals are fully integrated within the EHR so our physicians and support staff can handle referrals using the process they're accustomed to, and we don't have to ask them to learn yet another workflow."
The Allscripts Referral Network connects physicians who utilize an Allscripts EHR, as well as the nearly 110,000 homecare, hospice, skilled nursing and other post-acute providers who receive referrals through the Allscripts Referral Management solution. Physician practices that currently lack an EHR can participate in the service via their use of the free Allscripts ePrescribe solution, or as a sponsored user in a group or community that purchases referrals with ePrescribe. In addition, the Allscripts Referral Network offers an optional e-fax service that seamlessly faxes referrals to users who lack connectivity, while Allscripts users enjoy the same electronic workflow.
"Our multi-specialty physicians have been asking for an easy way to accept electronic referrals that synchronize the patient's information with their EHR workflow, and two-way tracking to reduce the time their staff spends managing referrals," said Steven Adkins, MD, Chief Medical Information Officer of Holston Medical Group (HMG) in Kingsport, Tenn. "The Allscripts Referral Network is a welcome advance that marks a clear win for our practice."
HMG, a pioneer in the design and implementation of Electronic Health Records, introduced its first EHR in 1995. Today, the practice's 150 physicians are virtually paper-free.
"Allscripts Referral Network is one of the tools that positions Allscripts as the 'Facebook of Healthcare', connecting 180,000 physicians, 1,500 hospitals and 10,000 post acute care facilities and doing it for free," said Mr. Tullman. "It doesn't require any additional training and comes embedded in every new ARRA-Certified Allscripts EHR. We think this will help begin to change the connectivity game in healthcare. The new question will be 'are you connected?'"
Allscripts also is actively participating in the Direct Project, a secure Internet-based approach for direct transport of structured and unstructured health information being led by Arien Malec and Doug Fridsma in the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology's (ONC) Office of Standards and Interoperability. On Feb. 2, Mr. Tullman joined Aneesh Chopra, the White House Chief Technology Officer, Dr. David Blumenthal, National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, and Farzad Mostashari, MD, Deputy National Coordinator for ONC, in a press conference announcing pilot demonstrations of the Direct Project, including at Allscripts client Albany Medical Center in Albany, New York.
The Direct Project complements the deep workflow integration of the Allscripts Referral Network, allowing ARN participants to reach Direct Project-enabled providers across the country.
For More Information
HIMSS attendees can view a demonstration of the Application Store & Exchange by visiting the Expert Bar in the Allscripts booth (#2241, Hall A).
Clients wishing to learn more about the Application Store & Exchange can log on to the Allscripts Client Site.
For more information on the Allscripts Developer Program and to contribute applications to ASX, visit www.allscripts.com/adp.
About Allscripts
Allscripts provides innovative solutions that empower all stakeholders across the healthcare continuum to deliver world-class outcomes. The company's clinical, financial, connectivity and information solutions for hospitals, physicians and post-acute organizations are the essential technologies that enable a Connected Community of Health™. To learn more about Allscripts, please visit www.allscripts.com, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.
Get Connected with Allscripts at HIMSS
Visit our website to discuss the conference and find out more about the Allscripts booth #2241 (Hall A). Follow us on Twitter: @Allscripts or @connectptdata.


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Wenger unmoved by Scholes comments
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger will not concern himself with criticism of his team from former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes - a man with "zero" managerial experience.
Following the Gunners' 2-2 draw against Swansea on Tuesday night, in which midfielder Mathieu Flamini netted a bizarre last-minute own goal, Scholes had claimed Arsenal were "a million miles away" from challenging for the Barclays Premier League title.
The former United man, who won a string of medals under Sir Alex Ferguson, used his role as a TV pundit to launch a fierce attack on Arsenal, claiming they had "midfield players with no discipline" and "there are no leaders", as well as questioning the development of Jack Wilshere.
However, Wenger - who took charge of his 1,000th Arsenal game in the 6-0 defeat at Chelsea last weekend - used his pre-match press conference ahead of the visit of Manchester City to put the 39-year-old firmly in his place.
"Everybody has opinions, people who have managed zero games have opinions and we have to accept that. What you live is what you do on the pitch, and all the rest is only opinions," said Wenger.
"We are in a society where there are thousands of opinions every day, and some go for you and some go against you. You have to live with that.
"If six points (from the top of the league) is a million miles away, then I don't know what the translation from a mile into a point is."
The Gunners boss also took exception to Scholes' claim that midfielder Wilshere, 22, has "not improved since he was 17".
Wenger continued: "You cannot say that. Jack Wilshere is an exceptional player for me who has been handicapped by many injuries.
"Once Jack is back and consistently on the pitch, he will prove everybody wrong about that because he is an exceptional player - and Scholes knows that as well."
Wilshere is recovering from a fractured foot suffered when playing for England in a friendly against Denmark at the start of March.
Wenger expects the combative midfielder to continue his recovery in time to play some part in the final matches of the domestic season and also be available for the World Cup.
A win this weekend would see Arsenal move level on 66 points with City, who thumped Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford in midweek and have two matches in hand on all their championship rivals.
"We have not given up (on the title), believe me and we can show that tomorrow. It is our attitude that will decide that," Wenger said.
"Champions keep going when everybody else would give up. We have an opportunity to show that we have that mentality."
Beating City would boost Arsenal's flagging title hopes, and also put some distance back between themselves and fifth-placed Everton, who are six points behind and with a match in hand ahead of their showdown at Goodison Park next weekend.
"If people say that Everton can catch us, that means we can catch the teams above us as well because they play against each other," said Wenger.
"The next game is of massive importance because it is Man City and they fight at the top.
"They are the favourites with Chelsea and Liverpool, but when you play one of the favourites, you have an opportunity to shorten the distance with them."
Wenger added: "Let's not forget we are in an important race in the Premier League, we are in the semi-final of the FA Cup, so it is at the moment not as doom and gloom as everybody paints the situation.
"We want to finish first in the league and everything else, the other priorities are still there.
"You want to be in the Champions League of course, but it is never good enough to be anything other than first and you hope always you are the best.
"If you ask any team, and they have to be in the top four (so) you cannot say as well it is a shame, but you want to be first - you do not work day and night to be second."
Wenger also rejected reports suggesting City were ready to offer Arsenal full-back Bacary Sagna a lucrative deal when his contract expires in the summer, branding such a move "illegal", and remains hopeful the 31-year-old France international will stay on at the Emirates Stadium.
PA Media

subset: commoncrawl


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text: Hundreds of women marched in the streets of Lobamba, Swaziland yesterday to protest a shopping trip taken by 9 of King Mswati III's 13 wives to Europe and the Middle East. Protesters said the country can't afford a shopping spree when a quarter of the nation is on food aid and money is needed for anti-retroviral medication. Swaziland, the last absolute monarchy in Africa, is one of the world's poorest nations and it is estimated that 40% of the population is infected with HIV. [UPI, CIA Factbook]


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Sitting down to a meal can be daunting for an expectant mother weighing conflicting recommendations about which foods are good for her unborn child -- and which might subject that child to long-term ills like allergies to peanuts and other foods.
"We have a tendency to beat pregnant women over the head with 'do this, don't do this,'" said obstetrician-gynecologist Dr. Laura Riley, medical director of labor and delivery at the Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital. "We always want people to have a balanced diet that includes protein, fat and carbohydrates. We don't think pregnant women should take any one thing out of their diet."
But just as dietary advice for weight loss changes as new scientific information becomes available, so, too, does dietary advice for moms-to-be about how their eating shapes their future sons' and daughters' health.
The advice has been particularly tricky with respect to peanut allergy, a potentially fatal condition that affects an estimated 1 percent to 2 percent of children. The incidence has gone up in the last decade, although scientists can't say why.
From 1998 to 2000, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the British Committee on Toxicology recommended that in families where parents or siblings have allergies, women avoid peanuts during pregnancy and breast-feeding. But the data for these recommendations was scant and scientific studies yielded conflicting findings: Some said early exposure might be protective, others, harmful.
In 2008, the AAP reversed its position. Similarly, the European panel reversed its recommendation to stay away from peanuts during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
It now appears that in families with lots of allergies, it makes some sense for mothers-to-be to go easy on the peanuts, because of new research suggesting heavy consumption, particularly late in pregnancy, might set the stage for peanut allergies.
But for most families, doctors say there's no evidence that pregnant moms' peanut eating will produce an allergic baby -- or that avoiding peanuts will guarantee a healthier one.
To help clarify the issues, the Consortium of Food Allergy Research studied the relationship between maternal diet and childhood allergies. The researchers, led by Dr. Scott H. Sicherer of the Jaffe Food Allergy Institute at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, followed 512 infants with food allergies to see if they became allergic to peanuts over time.
The investigators from Mount Sinai, Duke University in Durham, N.C., Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, National Jewish Health in Denver and Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock, also asked the mothers about their prenatal eating.
In results published online Oct. 29 in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, which will appear in the December print issue, they reported that the more that a mom consumed peanuts in the third trimester of her pregnancy, the greater the chances her infant would test positive for sensitivity to peanuts.
However, sensitivity doesn't equate to peanut allergy, "just an increased risk," Sicherer said.
At enrollment, the children were ages 3 months to 15 months, too young for food challenges typically used to establish allergies. The study authors said the youngsters would have to be monitored over time to determine if they developed peanut allergies later.
Sicherer also qualified the findings by saying the study involved only families with allergy histories, so the findings might not apply to the general population. Also, he said the study is observational, which means it doesn't prove cause and effect.
Nevertheless, several experts called the results significant, but not practice-changing.
"This is an area that deserves more investigation and more studies," said Dr. Neeta Ogden, an adult and pediatric allergist in private practice in Closter, N.J. "I've suspected in my own clinical practice, based on anecdotal evidence, that there has been some association. A study like this puts it on our radar for pregnant women that perhaps they should be consuming peanuts with caution, especially when they're in their third trimester."
You Are What Your Mother Eats
While it's clear that a mother's diet influences the health of her unborn child, there's a lack of evidence that eating specific foods can prevent certain illnesses and conditions in her child.
Said Dr. Stephen Wasserman, an asthma and allergy specialist at UC San Diego, "There is not going to be one diet or one set of behaviors for all people. People bring their genetics to the table and one person's good is another person's bad."
Doctors agree that pregnant women should aim for a well-balanced diet and make sure they get sufficient protein, which is the basis for a growing fetus' cells and tissues. But some go beyond that:
Some obstetricians and others urge mothers to eat fish rich in the omega-3 fatty acids thought to promote development of a healthy nervous system in the fetus. Most include the caveat that they need to avoid going overboard, because fatty fish also tend to have higher levels of mercury, which is toxic to immature brains.
A limited number of studies suggest a diet rich in vitamin D, the sunshine vitamin, may protect against allergies. Still, said Dr. Christian Pettker, medical director of labor and birth at Yale-New Haven Hospital, "we are actually learning that more and more women have vitamin D deficiency than we previously suspected For these reasons, more obstetricians are advocating a diet that accounts for a healthy amount of vitamin D, and if vitamin D deficiency is suspected, this should be looked into." However, said Dr. Harvey Leo, a pediatric allergist at the University of Michigan's Center for Managing Chronic Disease, because vitamin D is predominantly made by sun exposure, "a mother's diet may not make a difference at all. It may be the mother's sun exposure."
Both Omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D decrease inflammation, and asthma and allergies are inflammatory disorders, so Dr. Katherine Sherif, Director of the Center for Women's Health and associate professor of internal medicine at Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia, recommended pregnant women take Omega-3 supplements and vitamin D supplements daily.
Some studies suggest a Mediterranean diet rich in fresh fruits, vegetables, legumes and lean protein could protect against allergies. However, physicians who are sticklers for evidence, rather than anecdotes, say the benefits to the unborn child aren't proven. "The Mediterranean diet is sort of like vitamin C: It's probably not bad, but probably as many studies say it's beneficial as say it's not," said Dr. Dana Wallace, an allergist in Fort Lauderdale and the incoming president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.
Probiotics, which encourage good bacteria to take up residence in the digestive system, may discourage the development of allergies, said Dr. Leonard Bielory, an allergist and immunologist now at the Center for Environmental Prediction at Rutgers University in New Jersey. Bielory was the primary investigator in a meta-analysis that suggested children may not be as allergic "if they have probiotics introduced into the diet or the mother's diet while pregnant."
Pregnant? Step Away From These Foods
Doctors are of one mind when it comes to pregnant women avoiding unpasteurized milk products, deli meats, raw fish and raw meats, which can lead to infections that could permanently affect the development of the unborn baby "and in some cases can be life-threatening," said Dr. Ari Brown, a pediatrician in Austin, Texas, and co-author of "Baby 411."
Beyond that, doctors tend to be more selective. Leo, for example, asks pregnant mothers who have a child with a documented food allergy "to avoid peanuts and tree nuts during the last trimester of pregnancy and during nursing if it's feasible. The data is still variable on this, but I feel this is a reasonable precaution for now in light of current studies."
Charting the Reasonable Course -- Avoiding Advice Whiplash
Bielory said there are well-done studies coming down on both sides of whether early exposure to peanuts protects against allergies or makes children more vulnerable. He cited a recent study that showed in Israel, where "there's a lot of peanut-based products introduced early in childhood, they have a lower prevalence of peanut allergy, where as in the U.K., where they did adopt a ban on ingestion of peanut-based products in infants and children, there was interestingly a higher prevalence of peanut-associated allergic responses."
"It is hard to know what is right or if there is any definitive influence," Sicherer said.
He added he's had mothers say they ate lots of peanuts and thought it caused their child's allergies, while other mothers who avoided peanuts are stumped as to why their child is allergic to peanuts.
"I think that we, unfortunately, have to say we do not yet know a certain answer," he said
Most of all, Sicherer said he doesn't want his study to make mothers feel guilty about their past eating decisions.
"Our study says we need to look more carefully," he said, "but we are not prepared to change public health recommendations."


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Monday morning, following this weekend's season finale of Game of Thrones, visit MikeMarbach.com for an new episode of Stark Raven Mad. This cleverly titled podcast recaps each week's episodes and features a panel of comedians from the Philadelphia improv scene.
Consisting of some book-readers and some TV-only viewers, the panel of mega-fans will break down each episode and select the episode's winners and losers. Care is taken not to spoil yet-to-be-broadcast plot-lines; much gratitude to the well-read Westerati. The TV-only fans will make predictions, including Marbach's Stone Cold Lock of the Century of the Week.
"My stone-cold lock of the century of the week from last week's show was quite detailed: [editor's note: If you are caught up on the show, the following predictions will not spoil anything. However, if you ARE NOT up to date with the TV show–as of the June 8th, 2014 episode–these predictions may spoil quite a great deal. Just to be safe: **SPOILERS**] This week we will see the end of House Clegane. The Mountain will be shown to still be alive, but quickly deteriorating not just due to the wounds inflicted by Oberyn Martell but also because the spear was coated with poison (there was a scene in that episode kind-of maybe sort-of showing that). The Mountain will die. Hopefully painfully. The Hound will die, not from his infection from the Biter's bite, but by Arya in an act of "mercy". The specifics here I'm not certain on… whether the Hound asks her to end his life because he knows he was on her list, or because Arya has just become so desensitized that she sees this as the best thing to do regardless of his wishes. End result is the same, she takes him off the list and then heads for Bravos to find Jakan Hagaar."
This upcoming Monday's episode will feature guest pannelists Frank Farrell, David Donnella, Whitney Harris, Corin Wells, Rob Alesiani, Kevin Pettit and Lizzie Spellman.
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Being a producer is hard work with long hours, but one of the greatest perks of lifestyle production is eating at so many amazing restaurants. And as a food fanatic, I keep the research going even when I'm not on set. Here are some of my favorite meals from my travels, both work and personal. 2011 sure was good to me.
"Clams Chorizo" at nine one five - Key West, FL
"Crawfish Diablo" at Maximo's Italian Grill - New Orleans, LA
"Cheeseburger with Jalapenos & Duck Fat Fries" at The Burger & Beer Joint - Miami, FL
"Brunch Sante" at Le Cartet - Montreal, Quebec
"Corn Flake Crusted Challah French Toast" at Atlantica Restaurant at Allegria Hotel - Long Beach, NY
"169 Famous Bloody Mary" at 169 Bar - New York, NY
"Chicken Fried Steak" at Tillman's Roadhouse - Dallas, TX
"Pan-Seared Sturgeon" at Birch & Barley - Washington, DC
"Conch Fritters with Jalapeno Grape Jelly" at The Rusty Nail - Cape May, NJ
"Butter Pecan Ice Cream Cone" at The Juice Bar - Nantucket, MA
NYE "Mini Buffalo Chicken Meatballs" at my house - Long Beach, NY (from The Meatball Shop Cookbook)


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Hasta la vista -- Eddie.
The estranged wife of "Terminator 2" star Edward Furlong has reportedly taken out a restraining order against him.
Rachael Kneeland, who filed to divorce Furlong in July, won a temporary restraining order against him Aug. 12 in L.A. County Superior Court, The Wrap reported.
Furlong must also remain at least 100 yards away from the ex-couple's 3-year-old son Ethan, according TMZ.
In a 29-page court document obtained by The Wrap and TMZ, Kneeland alleges Furlong left a series of Mel Gibson-style voice mail and text messages, threatening Kneeland and her new boyfriend.
"If he dares hang out with [explicative] Ethan, I swear to God I'm gonna [explicative] rip his [explicative] heart and [explicative] feed it to him you understand me?" Furlong allegedly said.
In another alleged voicemail, Furlong calls Kneeland "such [explicative] vermin" and a "cesspool of [explicative]."
Furlong's publicist declined comment to E! News on the allegations.
In October, Kneeland asked a judge to lift a previous restraining order on Furlong. In that September court filing, Kneeland had accused Furlong of rampant cocaine and other drug use and making threats against her life.


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Rue21 Stuck in Surging Debt Markets
The debt markets may be wide open for companies, but in the case of rue21, investors are proving that they remain capable of skepticism.
The clothing retailer is having trouble selling its loans, leaving the company's underwriters facing steep losses, as The Wall Street Journal's Ryan Dezember and Matt Wirz reported on Thursday.
"There's high default risk, that's what investors think," said one debt capital markets banker who's not working on the transaction.
Although the company's struggle in the debt market doesn't suggest broader issues with corporate financing—most companies are still able to find funding at attractive rates, as this article from the Financial Times illustrates—it does show that investors aren't buying every deal they see. That could be a healthy sign that markets aren't overheated.
"There must be a fundamental issue with the company," said one debt adviser who's not involved with the transaction. "Everything else in the market is getting blown out."
To be sure, rue21's situation is particularly precarious. The retailer, which sells clothes and accessories for teens, sold itself to private-equity firm Apax Partners in May for $1.1 billion. But the company has since suffered dramatic declines in sales, reporting on Thursday that comparable store sales had fallen 12.8% in September. That follows a 7.6% drop in August. For its fiscal third quarter, ending Oct. 5, the company said same-store sales will be down 9.5%.
In June, the company lowered its earnings guidance for the year, based on what CEO Bob Fisch described as "a challenging environment."
Reports suggest that the banks that have committed financing to the acquisition are trying to sell roughly $800 million of financing to investors. That includes about $530 million of a seven-year term loan.
The banks financing the debt, J.P. Morgan Chase & Co, Bank of America Corp. and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. had tried selling it last month with interest between 5.5% and 5.75%. However, they pulled the deal temporarily when investors balked.
The banks' difficulty lies in convincing investors that rue21 can handle that much debt as its business deteriorates.
"It's a lot of leverage," said one investor.
According to the company's balance sheet, it is unclear whether rue21 will be able to cover interest payments on just the loan, not to mention any other debt. If the banks manage to price the loans at 5.75%, the annual interest charge on $530 million will be about $31 million. Even after accounting for deductions on the interest payments, that will eat up a big chunk of the company's operating cash flow.
For the past 12 months ended in July, rue 21 had $79 million in net operating cash flow, and spent about $61 million of that on capital expenditures, leaving $18 million in free cash flow.
The company reported earlier in September that it expected capital expenditures for its 2013 fiscal year to range between $47 million and $53 million, which means it would have to generate between $78 million and $84 million in operating cash flow after the buyout just to service the loan debt.
Those numbers may be difficult to hit if the same-store sales numbers keep falling, and could raise the specter that the company can't afford to hold the debt it takes on as part of Apax's LBO.
Ratings firm Standard & Poor's in August gave rue21 a B- credit rating, meaning it considers the company vulnerable to adverse business conditions, but currently has the capacity to meet financial commitments.
The ratings firm said that the company has "adequate" liquidity to handle its debt, given its access to $150 million of a revolving credit line, and the cash it has on hand.
One person close to the company said that the backward looking numbers don't line up with future projections and fail to account for the company's ability to lower its capital expenditure adjust working capital and boost revenue through an e-commerce initiative.
The company had $50 million of cash on its balance sheet as of the end of July.
Apax declined to comment and rue21 declined to make the CFO Keith McDonough available.
A banker working on the deal declined to discuss specifics. "It's a work in progress," he said.
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Diabetes and Sleep Problems
Sleep difficulties are more common in people who have diabetes than in people who don't. That's because having diabetes raises the risk for certain sleep problems such as sleep apnea and restless legs syndrome. Learn more about how diabetes affects sleep, the common types of sleep problems and most importantly, how they can be treated so that you can finally get a good night's sleep.
Frequently Asked Questions
How may my diabetes be affecting my sleep?
The classic symptoms of uncontrolled diabetes include feeling very thirsty and having to urinate often. As a result, you may wake up several times during the night to use the bathroom and/or get something to drink. Doing so can keep you from getting a good night's sleep. Low blood glucose, or hypoglycemia, may also wake you up during the night with symptoms of feeling sweaty, shaky, dizzy or hungry.
What are common sleep disorders?
Common sleep disorders include sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome and insomnia.
Sleep apnea is a condition that occurs when your breathing stops while you are asleep. The most common kind of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). OSA occurs when your throat closes off when you try to breathe while asleep. This happens because the muscles that usually keep your throat open are relaxed during sleep. People who are overweight or have certain face shapes are at risk for OSA because they have a narrower throat. When the throat closes off, there is a pause in breathing and blood oxygen levels drop. Eventually, the person wakes up briefly, which gets the throat muscles working again and opens the throat so breathing can resume. This can cause a gasping for air or a full awakening in the middle of the night. If the breathing stoppages occur frequently through the night, they can prevent one from getting into deeper stages of sleep and so make their sleep less restful.
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a condition marked by an uncontrollable urge to move the legs, often with an uncomfortable feeling in the legs that occurs around bedtime. It can feel like something is creeping or crawling on your skin, an electrical sensation, or a need to stretch. This feeling gets better when you move your legs even for a few seconds but starts to come back when you stop moving. It is different from muscle cramps or charley horses that some people also frequently get at night. The uncomfortable sensations can be bothersome enough that it is difficult to fall asleep.
Insomnia means different things to different people, but generally it refers to difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or poor quality sleep. Insomnia can be normal in the short term, but can be an issue if experienced over a longer period of time. Many things can contribute to insomnia, including depression, anxiety, medications, a poor sleep routine, and other sleep disorders such as sleep apnea and RLS. Stress and worry are also frequent causes of insomnia. Sometimes, after not having slept well for a few nights, the worry and anxiety about not sleeping well and feeling like you really need to get a good night's sleep can lead to a vicious cycle preventing sleep and worsening the insomnia.
If I have diabetes, am I at high risk for sleep apnea?
Yes, having diabetes puts you at higher risk for sleep apnea and other sleep difficulties, such as restless legs syndrome, compared to people without diabetes. If you have sleep apnea, you may stop breathing for short periods of time while you sleep. When you stop breathing, you wake up and your breathing then returns to normal. These frequent interruptions in your sleeping pattern can prevent you from getting into deep, restful stages of sleep. Treatment is available for sleep apnea, and may include losing weight, changing your sleeping position, treating allergies and using a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine or other devices.
How do I know if I have sleep apnea?
The most common symptoms of sleep apnea are snoring, waking up during the night, and feeling sleepy or tired during the day. Some people wake up gasping for breath, have headaches in the morning, or don't feel refreshed when they wake up in the morning. Not everyone has these symptoms, though. Sometimes, the only clue is that someone else notices pauses in your breathing when you are asleep. The only way to know for sure if you have sleep apnea is to get a sleep study. Sleep studies can be done in a sleep lab or in your own home with a monitor that records your breathing while you sleep.
What happens in a sleep study?
A sleep study usually takes place in a special sleep lab set up like a hospital room with a lot of monitors and equipment. You will go to the sleep lab in the evening and be given a private room where a sleep technician will place sensors all over your body. There will be monitors on your head to measure your brain activity to see when you are sleeping and what stages of sleep you are in. There will be monitors over your nose and mouth to measure the air you breathe in and out. Monitors on your chest measure your breathing efforts and your heartbeat, while monitors on your legs measure twitching or movements in your legs. A clip on your finger or ear measures the oxygen level in your blood.
Once the technician finishes applying all the monitors, they will have you get into bed. All of the wires coming from the sensors will be bundled together in to one thick cable to make it easier to disconnect things if you need to get up in the night to use the bathroom. After some tests to make sure everything is recording correctly, you will be asked to go to sleep. The technician will be watching all of the recordings on a computer next door, and may come in to adjust things if there is a problem during the night. In the morning, the technician will wake you up and remove the monitoring equipment.
Recently, devices have been developed that can be used to do a sleep study in your own home. These devices measure breathing but don't have the sensors on your head to measure sleep. They are used mostly to test for sleep apnea. If you get a home sleep test, you will receive instructions on how to put on the monitors – usually plastic tubing goes in your nose, some bands go around your chest and stomach, and a clip goes on your finger. You will put the device on when you get ready to go to sleep and turn it on. When you wake up in the morning, you will turn it off, take the monitors off, and then return the device. The information about your sleep will have been recorded through the night and will be downloaded from the device to be reviewed by your doctor.
How is sleep apnea treated?
The most common treatment for sleep apnea is a machine called "continuous positive airway pressure" (CPAP). CPAP consists of a machine that blows air under pressure through a hose that attaches to a mask. Patients with sleep apnea wear the CPAP mask at night when they go to sleep and the air blown by the device keeps their throat from closing, allowing them to breathe normally. This treatment works very well in normalizing breathing, but it can be difficult for patients to get used to sleeping with a mask on their face. Masks come in different styles – some just cover the nose, some the nose and mouth, and some go in the nostrils. Another common treatment option is called an "oral appliance." Oral appliances are typically made by a dentist based on a mold of your teeth. The most common style of oral appliance uses your upper teeth as a brace to pull your lower jaw forward. By pulling your lower jaw, your tongue moves forward and opens up the back of your throat.
In cases of mild sleep apnea, treatment can include weight loss and positional therapy. Positional therapy is a method of avoiding sleeping on your back (the position in which sleep apnea is worst). This can be accomplished by wearing something that makes it uncomfortable if you are on your back. For example, some people sew a tennis ball into the back of their pajama shirt.
There are surgical operations that can be used to treat sleep apnea as well, focusing on opening up the throat. For people who are significantly overweight, weight loss (bariatric) surgery can also be considered.
How does a CPAP machine work?
The CPAP mask creates a seal over your nose (and sometimes mouth, too) and is connected to a machine that blows air at a set pressure. The positive pressure from the blower makes the pressure inside your throat positive and keeps the walls of your throat from collapsing. This allows air to get into the lungs as it would normally and prevents the oxygen levels from falling. Often the large amount of air being blown by the CPAP can cause the nose or throat to dry out. Most CPAP machines come with a humidifier to try to increase the humidity in the air being blown to prevent this side effect.
Does sleep apnea affect my heart?
Sleep apnea can affect the heart in several ways. When you stop breathing and your oxygen levels drop, levels of adrenaline increase. This causes your blood pressure to rise. People with sleep apnea are at higher risk of developing high blood pressure; the good news is that treating sleep apnea helps to lower blood pressure. In addition to higher blood pressure levels, people with sleep apnea are at higher risk for heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure (a condition where the heart has difficulty pumping blood forward). Irregular heart rhythm, such as atrial fibrillation is more common in those with sleep apnea, as well. Some studies suggest treating sleep apnea can lower the risk for these heart problems.
Will treating sleep apnea improve my diabetes?
Treating sleep apnea can help in several ways. With relief of fatigue, you will likely find that you have more energy and can be more physically active. This, in turn, can help you better manage your diabetes. Treating sleep apnea has also been shown to decrease insulin resistance – the main cause of type 2 diabetes – and lower the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Even though I get enough sleep, I feel tired a lot and have nodded off at work. Why might this be?
There could be several reasons for feeling tired and nodding off. One of these reasons may be sleep apnea, a sleep disorder that is common among people with type 2 diabetes. Other reasons include restless legs syndrome, peripheral neuropathy (a type of nerve damage), uncontrolled blood glucose, depression, stress and anxiety. Talk with your healthcare provider about your symptoms and how they can best be treated to help improve the quality of your sleep.
I have pain in my feet that keeps me awake at night. What could be causing this?
Neuropathy, or nerve damage, is one of the major complications of diabetes. Painful neuropathy is a common cause of sleep problems for people with diabetes. There are many medications that can control the pain and improve sleep. Ask your provider about the different medications that are available and what would be best for you to try.
Sometimes at night my legs feel "twitchy" and I have to keep moving them. Could this be restless legs syndrome?
Yes, this could be restless legs syndrome (RLS). RLS is a condition characterized by an uncontrollable urge to move your legs, often combined with uncomfortable feelings in the legs. The uncomfortable feeling is often described as something creeping or crawling on the legs, an electrical shock, or a need to stretch, and is often felt deep inside the leg. Sometimes it can feel painful. In all cases, the discomfort gets better when you move the legs but often comes back quickly when you stop moving. The symptoms typically start in the evening around bedtime and can interfere with being able to fall asleep.
Does diabetes increase my risk of having restless legs syndrome?
Restless legs syndrome (RLS), a condition that causes unusual feeling in the legs during the night, is more common for people with diabetes than for those in the general population. It may be a feature of diabetic neuropathy. RLS is also seen more commonly in other conditions including multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and kidney disease.
How is restless legs syndrome treated?
Treatment of restless legs syndrome (RLS) depends on the severity of symptoms, how often they occur, and how much they interfere with your sleep or other aspects of your life. Distracting mental and physical activities, such as playing word games or doing house chores may help relieve some of the symptoms. Some people report that stretching, taking a warm bath, or exercising helps their symptoms. If symptoms occur almost every night, they can be treated with medications that help reduce the urge to move and the uncomfortable sensation. There are several different types of medications used, including some that are used for other conditions such as pain. Iron supplements can be helpful if the iron levels in your body are low.
Once in a while I wake up during the night feeling shaky and sweaty. Is this due to my diabetes?
It may be. Feeling shaky and sweaty can be symptoms of hypoglycemia, or low blood glucose. It is important to know if your blood glucose level is dropping in the middle of the night. The next time you wake up during the night with these symptoms, check your blood glucose. This way you will know if the symptoms are caused by hypoglycemia or something else.
I have to get up several times during the night to use the bathroom. What is causing this?
One thing that may be causing this is hyperglycemia, or high blood glucose levels. When blood glucose levels are high, the kidneys form more urine and fill the bladder. This causes excessive urination, which means that you have to get up (often, during the night) to use the bathroom. Another possibility is sleep apnea. When people with sleep apnea are trying to breathe their diaphragm muscle can push down forcefully putting pressure on the bladder. As a result, when they wake up after a breathing stoppage, people with sleep apnea often feel the need to urinate. Other things can cause frequent urination and waking up to urinate including urinary tract infections and prostate enlargement in men. Let your healthcare provider know that this is happening so that he or she can determine the cause and prescribe appropriate treatment.
How much sleep do I need every night? What is the downside if I don't get enough sleep?
Most people need between 7 and 9 hours of sleep each night. In the short term, a lack of sleep can lead to feeling tired or sleepy, feeling irritable, trouble paying attention and high blood glucose levels. Over time, not getting enough sleep can increase the risk for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke and obesity. If you have difficulty falling or staying asleep, talk with your healthcare provider. You may have a sleep disorder and/or you may need to focus on improving your diabetes control.
What things can I do to improve the quality of my sleep?
There are a number of steps that you can take to help you sleep better. Aim to get up at the same time every day, even on days when you're not working. Limit the use of electronic devices (phone, tablet, computer) before going to bed. Exercise during the day but not too close to bedtime. Limit caffeine and alcohol in the afternoon and early evening. Sleep in a cool, dark room. If you can't sleep, get out of bed and try reading, listening to music, meditating or practicing relaxation exercises.
I have trouble falling asleep at night, but I don't want to take a sleeping pill. What else can I do?
Aim to be physically active during the day but not too close to bedtime. Avoid drinking caffeine after noontime and avoid drinking alcohol late in the evening. Using electronic devices, such as your computer, tablet or smartphone too close to bedtime may make it difficult to fall asleep – the light from the screens can trick your brain into thinking it's daytime, so try to avoid using these two hours before you go to sleep. Sticking with a regular sleep schedule and keeping any naps fairly short may also help you fall asleep. Make sure your bedroom is restful and comfortable – not too warm and not too cold. Practicing relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing, meditation or gentle yoga may help calm you enough so that you fall asleep. If, however, you try these tips for a couple of weeks without success, talk with your provider about the possibility of a sleep disorder.
I recently gained quite a bit of weight and now I'm waking up a lot during the night. What could this be?
If you have recently gained weight or are overweight, you're at higher risk of having a condition called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). OSA is a type of sleep disorder in which your throat can close in your sleep. As a result, you may snore, stop breathing, or wake up gasping or choking. Frequent episodes of apnea, or lack of breathing, can disrupt your sleep. The next morning, you may feel tired, groggy, irritable and/or have a headache due to a lack of good quality sleep. You may be more likely to fall asleep during the day.
Diabetes and Sleep Problems
This booklet was developed by Joslin Diabetes Center and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and supported by funding from the ResMed Foundation.
Learn more about the common causes of sleep problems among people with diabetes as well as common treatment options.
Download the Joslin Diabetes Center booklet Diabetes & Sleep Problems below.
Related Links
Page last updated: November 07, 2019


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This article on Atheist Scientists being "Spiritual" ties directly into wonderism. I've been reading about creating a sense of community and a sense of reality by what we collectively pay attention to in Living in Denial: Climate Change, Emotions, and Everyday Life by Kari Marie Norgaard. If 20% of atheist scientists have individual quests for meaning-making without faith, why can't we open a space for such discourse? Let's share experiences that are deeply meaningful personally, to create a community. In particular, I find a greater sense of time and space a common theme, where we escape everyday-concerns time-and-space. For me, there is also an awareness of the limitless possibilities for our future (as in Everett's Many Worlds) and how a small act can send our reality into one future scenario rather than others (extreme sensitivity to initial conditions). A related thing for me, the collapse of quantum entangeled possibilities by experimenter effect is deeply meaningful.
One example of a profound experience that stayed with me was sunbathing, being aware of the arbitrariness of up and down as I was grounded to the earth, at the bottom of the planet's gravity well within the sun's gravity well.
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I agree with your ideas, but just want to point out that the author of the research in that article is Elain Ecklund, who is notorious for her quite obvious agenda of trying to make scientists look a lot more religious than they actually are. Check out Jerry Coyne's take at Ecklund and Long: Scientists are totally spiritual.
It's that darn word 'spiritual' again. The problem is that there isn't a good, popular alternative to 'spiritual' that means 'having strong positive emotional experiences without any of the baggage of a supernatural interpretation to them'.
I've played around with the word 'inspiritual'. I like it, but it's a bit clumsy, possibly. My meaning for it would be "motivated by inspirational things", "not spiritual" (using the in- prefix as 'not'), "embodied spirit" using in- meaning 'inside', as opposed to "disembodied spirit", and "inspirited" which is from the obscure verb "to inspirit" which means to invigourate or energize.
I've also started using the phrase "wondrous experiences" to contrast with "religious experiences". It works surprisingly well, in my experience. I just emphasize that wonder is natural and everyone can have those experiences, and it pretty much deflates any special-pleading claims to having 'special' supernatural experiences. But at the same time it doesn't deny that those experiences happen. It just takes a more parsimonious interpretation of them, i.e. they are natural, not supernatural.
I would really love to find a good solid word that could counter 'spiritual'. Inspiritual is the closest thing I've seen yet. How does it sound to your ears? A bit clumsy?
What are You Celebrating? This video speaks about meanign, but not about particular celebratory events such as HumanLight or Darwin Day.
Thanks for the article!
"That is amazing!"
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Join Sue Beer, EFT Master, as she explores tapping and time travel. Her unique approach to using EFT to "recreate" the past, effect the present, and change the possibilities for the future is as engaging as it is effective. Sue's experience is based on years of working with countless clients, and her tapping techniques have been tried and tested. This demonstration-heavy DVD will provide you with the understanding to expand your EFT "toolbox" working with clients, or the insight to see the extent of what is possible with EFT if you are a beginner. This valuable demonstration with Sue is definitely worth the time you will invest into watching it.
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Acyanotic heart defects are heart problems that develop before or
at birth but do not normally interfere with the amount of oxygen or blood that
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A few years ago Vietnam finally passed a law requiring motorbike riders to wear a helmet but this law only required them for adult riders. Kids don't need them. Is somebody kidding somebody? We could blame the lawmakers for not seeing the fatalities and injuries amongst children but that shouldn't release parents from their basic responsibilities to protect those children should it? I didn't think so. And so an idea was hatched (yeah, bad pun) to do a public service campaign to speak to parents about the importance of the whole family wearing a helmet. In a country of what might be easily, 30 million motorbikes for roughly 80 million people the motorbike is a way of life in Vietnam. In fact it's an extension of life, an extra limb it has been called. But it's also a way of death, the highest rate of highway fatalities in Asia before enactment of the law.
On launch day, the government deployed 5000 police around the city (Saigon) to enforce strict fines ($10 is strict here) and lo and behold - one day nobody had a helmet and the next day they did. Except for the children. And this baffled the crap out of me. Didn't the people understand that a not fully formed skull can be crushed up to 60% easier than an adult's? Didn't they see it as important? And the answer is, 'no they didn't'. What was important to them was not paying a fine to comply with the law. Sad, I thought. No thought about the reasons one should wear a helmet at all.
Ask anyone what they believe to be a symbol of birth and childhood and you will eventually hear the word 'egg'. So I took that visual and put a helmet on it. It was funny. And it worked. We all know eggs crack easily and putting a helmet on them just reinforced the point. Photographer Mads Monsen and I worked together to create this campaign and we did it without a specific client in mind - because we thought the idea was important. Should you know of any organization in Vietnam who might be interested in running this work as a public service, please contact me. We would love to get this campaign up and running and doing the job the parents should be doing - getting all their kids to wear a helmet.


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Photographer's Note
Stood on the gates of the Baha'i Gardens, on the lower town Haifa, view upwards / due south.
The gardens stretch from a high ground on Mt.Carmel, all the way down on the slope, but not allowed visitors to stroll within, only on a secluded area designated for.
A WS of a cropped version from further down the street. Second WS show an Eagle-mottif lantern, one of many under the archs of the shrine. Also there are some Eagle statues on the balcony in picture.
Location of the gate on lower town: 32.8172, 34.9888
pajaran, Kielia, jhm, Miguel82, bayno, lakshmip1949, Cricri, ourania, Sonata11, Royaldevon, danos, maria-v1981, delpeoples, clic, emilbo, pierrefonds, raszid62, mkamionka, papagolf21, kato, mcmtanyel, ChrisJ marcou esta nota como útil
Critiques | Translate
pajaran (91572) 2012-11-11 3:19
Dobar dan, popodne.
Lep pogled na vrt ...
Dobra ostrina snimka, kontrast i perspektiva, lepe boje.
Dobar tekst i kompozicija, lepo pokazan vrt i arhitektura.
Lep vrt.
Imajte lep dan za odmor.
Sve najbolje.
Good afternoon, this afternoon.
Nice view of the garden ...
Good image sharpness, contrast and perspective, beautiful colors.
Good content and composition, beautiful gardens and architecture shown.
Nice garden.
Have a nice rest day.
All the best.
snunney (130965) 2012-11-11 3:24
Hello Ike,
The eyes are drawn into the scene by the rows of trees up toward the rotunda in this well composed shot. I like the natural green tones offered by the manicured lawns and the contrast they make with the stonework. Very good sharpness.
Kielia (24077) 2012-11-11 3:29
Hello Ike,
a fantastic impression of this wonderful park and a very nicely composed image accompanied by an interesting note. The perspective is excellent. My compliments!
Warm regards
cornejo (61012) 2012-11-11 4:05
Hello Ike, very good pictures with good pov, this charming garden forming terraces with a beautiful staircase. Image very well composed and interesting, technically very well made, with clarity, depth, good light and good color. Excellent job perfectly done, so congratulations my friend. Tfs.
Good evening and happy start to the week.
Best regards and best wishes.
jhm (190735) 2012-11-11 4:19
Hello Ike,
It is a very difficult choice between your two pictures.
I find the first the most beautiful.
Amazing picture with the great garden in foreground.
Also a lovely panoramic view about these area.
Excellent captured , good presentation too.
Very nice done, TFS.
Have a nice sunday,
Miguel82 (35114) 2012-11-11 5:04
A superb mediterrannean garden, very well maintained and clean
I like the monument in the background and the palm trees
Very good shot
Excellent sharpness, fine colors and pov
Have a nice day
Nicou (187726) 2012-11-11 6:20
quelle courbe de pré vert sueprbe cpatage e tiamge et je jardin avec les cyrpès, ce blanc des édiffice, la coupole au sommet usperbe iamge.
Bravo et amitié
bayno (18348) 2012-11-11 6:39
Ciao Ike,
A composition full of greenery and pleasant to the eyes, great depth and sharp, beautiful gardens...nice one..
buona serata,
eldancer1 (36343) 2012-11-11 6:49
Beautiful garden! I like your pov, it captured the essence of the place. Awesome architecture. Good lighting and dof with sharp details. Wonderful colors. Well done, tfs.
lakshmip1949 (19081) 2012-11-11 7:01
Hello Ike,
Another beautiful shot with fantastic light control . The atmosphere is very nice with so many trees in the garden. Nice colors, sharpness and color contrast with excellent view.
Cricri (176) 2012-11-11 10:57
Hi Ike
Version horizontale que je préfère, une vraie beauté ce jardin avec l'architecture blanche sur l'avant ou l'on devine le chemin vers le batiment, dont le WS complète bien cette image, belle lumière, excellent POV
Belle soirée
siudzi (34141) 2012-11-11 11:13
Hi Ike,
Great presentation of this interesting place. Both nature and architecture are very eye-catching and work together very well. Good sharpness and clarity achieved.
Splendid composition with lots of nice details, the light is delicious too. It seems the Paradise!
ourania (51103) 2012-11-11 11:52
Hello Ike,
these gardens are very beautiful and the balcony seen in your workshop photo has a great view to them. The point of view from which you composed this picture is superb and gives us a very interesting and comprehensive idea about the special features of the landscape architecture and the elegant constructions it includes. Perspective, sharpness, lighting and colours are very pleasing. Congratulations and thank you!
All the best, have a lovely week,
Sonata11 (34119) 2012-11-11 16:37
Hi Ike,
Wow!!! you captured this garden wopnderfully and flawlessly. Splendid color, sharpness, clarity, perfect light, POV and DOF. This stunning picture is perfectly well done. Magnificent work. I love it. Thank you Ike.
Warm regards,
jcpix (14030) 2012-11-11 18:35
The well manicured grass reminds me of a golf course, this is beautiful Ike! I love the Cypress and palm trees scattered throughout. Well, maybe "scattered" is not the correct term, they're definitely in a pattern but the composition lends itself to a different point of view. Amazing gardens, great image...especially on a sunny day.
Royaldevon (63828) 2012-11-12 0:32
Good Morning Ike,
A beautifully composed shot, which uses the natural features like steps, to lead from the bottom r/h corner to the the top l/h corner. The light and the colours are excellent whilst your dof keeps all the details accessible.
It so much reminds me of the style of a Roman amphitheatre.
Have a lovely day,
Bev :-)
danos (110395) 2012-11-12 0:52
Good morning Ike,
pictiuresque the view of the Baha'i Gardens,with the lot of greenery and trees to make the scene even more effective.The beauty of the place is unique with the brilliant light to brings out the details of the scene.
Have a good week,Danos
maria-v1981 (10966) 2012-11-12 2:07
Hello Ike,
Very nice symmetry and perspective in this shot, the colours are really intese and marvelous. The light and the texture of grass are wonderful. A really beautiful postcard of this place.
Have a good start,
delpeoples (60288) 2012-11-12 2:46
Hi dear Ike
We've seen these beautiful gardens from above and now we see them from below. Your series on the Bahai gardens is not just very complete, but also very beautiful. I think this is my favourite of the series. The light is well-managed here, the colours are lovely and deep and everything is as sharp as a razor. Thanks for sharing.
Un caro saluto
clic (22770) 2012-11-12 7:16
This is an outstanding view, Ike.
An intense impression of 3 dimensions is convied by backlight on the multi-layered display of interesting buildings and decorative greenery, dominated by young cypresses.
Judicious control on densities for an overall perfect depiction.
Many compliments.
ciakgiak (30) 2012-11-12 7:23
Hello Ike,
Wow! What a clear, luminous and splendid image!
The subject is really beautiful, the colors, overall the green of the field, is outstanding. The quality of the image is excellent.
Congratulations and TFS.
Best regards
mauro61 (53411) 2012-11-12 11:19
ciao Ike,
questa ripresa è la migliore che ho visto con una lunga prospettiva che sale sulla collina e con il verde brillante del prato.
Ottima la qualità,
emilbo (22616) 2012-11-12 11:24
Allô Ike!
Il est vraiment magnifique ce jardin et le bel éclairage nous le montre bien dans toute sa beauté avec d'excellents détails. Une bonne composition où tous les éléments sont intéressants jusqu'au dôme en arrière plan. La végétation est splendide, les tons de vert sont superbes et beau contraste avec le blanc qui est parfaitement bien rendu.
Bravo!... et toutes mes amitiés,
jmdias (91326) 2012-11-12 15:27
marvelous angle catching many detail including the dome, the gardens and these stairs. I liked the light here.marvelous place.
Silvio1953 (190423) 2012-11-13 0:40
Ciao Ike, beautiful composition with lovely garden, excellent clarity, wonderful colors and splendid light, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio
pierrefonds (93027) 2012-11-13 7:26
Hi Ike,
The distance between the garden and the building is giving depth to the composition. The point of view is showing the details and colors of this area of the garden. «the good luminosity isd giving nice tints to the colors. Have a nice day.
raszid62 (18457) 2012-11-13 9:08
Beautiful landscaped gardens on the hillside of Mt. Carmel. This looks great luscious green and white buildings. In the garden of beautiful cypress and palm trees. Wonderful place. Superb color and image quality.
הצהריים טובים. גנים מטופחים ויפים שעל צלע הר של הר. כרמל. זה נראה ירוק ועסיסי גדולים ובניינים לבנים. בגן הברוש יפה ועצי דקל. מקום נפלא. צבע מעולה ואיכות תמונה. .
breathtaking postcard with amazing green
excellent sharpness and lightness
showing the beauty of this chosen
point of view,the light and the
green are wonderful creating
a magic atmosphere
serp2000 (47063) 2012-11-14 10:45
Hi, Ike,
I like this view. One my girlfriend from Haifa showed me these Gardens, attractive photo, perfect quality. The colors and sharpness are superb! TFS!
amaryllis (37039) 2012-11-14 14:16
Ta série de photos de ce parc est spendide, une luminosité extra, des parterres de verdure très bien entretenus, ici en contre plongée qui nous permet d'apprécier les différentes étapes de ce parc avec un bel escalier
belle réalisation
mkamionka (53294) 2012-11-15 9:54
Hi Ike,
beautiful garden, it must be a great place to walk and relax. I like how well taken care about it is. Nice presentation. The light is a bit harsh for the structure on top but except for that it is really pretty.
Thanks for sharing,
papagolf21 (144604) 2012-11-15 11:36
Bonsoir, cher Ike,
Je suis stupéfait par la couleur des pelouses, l'on dirait presque du gazon artificiel.
La munificence de ces jardins en espalier est de toute beauté.
Le cadrage a été choisi avec beaucoup de recherches.
UlfE (14641) 2012-11-18 2:07
Hi Ike,
Although this is a beautiful garden especially in the beautiful weather you took this photo I would say that it is not a photographers dream. When I look at your photo I realize that all the cypress and palm trees, lampposts lamps etc. and the sort of overdone stairs make it a bit difficult to find a really good POV. Usually it is a good idea to choose a POV from the side and I would say that it works well here too. However, when you look at the right bottom corner you get the impression there is a jumble of the cypress trees, bushes and lampposts. Having said that I believe you did an excellent photo job. You make excellent use of the element curves and lines in your composition. I quite sure that a photo taken from a POV straight in front of the stairs would have been better. TFS and have nice Sunday!
Kind regards,
jemaflor (125201) 2012-11-22 4:15
Hi Ike,
A beautiful view well balanced with green grass and dome on the left side, very good result with this light to give contrast at your presentation.
fabbs99 (17179) 2012-12-06 18:12
Hello Ike,
Spectacular shot of the garden with good sharpness.Great POV and good composition.TFS.
elenimavrandoni (0) 2012-12-15 11:43
Hello Ike, flawless garden, very impressive shot!
Great contrast of immaculate green against the bright white, difficult shot against the light, but well managed!
Have a great weekend,
kato (11630) 2013-05-02 0:24
Hi Ike,
You're capturing well this place by a good angle and excellent tone/clarity, so it's impressive to see the the green garden with down slope and balcony with a good design. It's impressive there're many green groves taken care of well on garden, and white dome on top. The whole is harmonized well by a good arrangement and bright color tones. And, the shadow projected to the green lawn draws out a good effect in this image.
Kind regards,
mcmtanyel (53975) 2013-05-20 19:08
Hi Ike,
I love the green, manicured gardens. Sharp image, good light and color management. Really, really. nice!
ChrisJ (151702) 2015-09-10 22:16
Hello Ike,
The sweeping curves of the green grassy amphitheatre in the fg nicely lead the eyes around and into the image. The repetition of the poplar or cypress trees is good. Superb sharpness and the bg cupola roofed building provides a fine focal point. Tfs.
Photo Information
- Copyright: Ike Harel (ikeharel) (98396)
- Genre: Lugares
- Medium: Cor
- Date Taken: 2012-10-28
- Categories: Vida Diária, Arquitectura
- Camera: Panasonic Lumix DMC FZ35
- Exposição: f/7.1, 1/100 segundos
- More Photo Info: view
- Map: view
- Versão da Foto: Versão Original, Workshop
- Tema(s): Unusual moments, objects and amazing nature's #2 [view contributor(s)]
- Date Submitted: 2012-11-11 3:15
- To lakshmip1949: critique (1)
by ikeharel, last updated 2012-11-12 02:25
- To UlfE: light (1)
by ikeharel, last updated 2012-11-18 03:58


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JOHNNYG wrote:Just talked 2 Thee ! What a great dude man ! We have so many great ideas that we (us, you ) will be working on !! Ultimate Edition is and will be the top rank ! soooooo many things to do, any idea's are welcome !!! 3.3 is 3.2 "Un-buged" Thee is rreally looking foword to the future, as I (we) all are, Thee gives his best to you all and sends his luv !! and say's, . . . the best is yet to come ! He gives you all his best and say's THANK YOU ! and we have come to a dissision ! as far as that goes !! . . . . see I too can be cryptic ! Nick !! ooo so much to do ! You up !
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Tonya Harding & Adam Rippon to Compete With Other Olympians on ABC's 'Dancing with the Stars'
From the ice rink to the ball room!
The cast of the special all athlete edition of Dancing with the Stars was just revealed, and it features several of our nation's most famous figure skaters.
The announcement for the upcoming short season of the popular reality competition was made on ABC's Good Morning America today (April 13).
2018 Olympic stars Adam Rippon and Mirai Nagasu will be competing on the show. They'll be joined by one of the most infamous figure skaters in history, Tonya Harding.
The Olympic power won't end there. skaters will be joined by two other stars from the PyeongChang games. Snowboarder Jamie Anderson and luger Chris Mazdzer will be competing as well. Meanwhile, retired gold medal winning softball player, Jennie Finch is also competing.
Here's a look at the complete list of contestants (and their dance partner):
- Adam Rippon (Olympic skater) will be paired with Jenna Johnson.
- Arike Ogunbowale (college basketball player) will be partnered with Gleb Savchenko.
- Chris Mazdzer (Olympian luger) will dance with Witney Carson
Medal-Winning Luger @mazdzer and @WitneyCarson will glide together in the ballroom for #DWTS: Athletes! pic.twitter.com/Rk21NcIsvd— Dancing with the Stars (@DancingABC) April 13, 2018
- Jamie Anderson (Olympia snowboarder) will be paired with Artem Chigvintsev.
- Jennie Finch Daigle (Olympic softball player) will dance with Keo Motsepe
- Johnny Damon(former MLB outfielder) will be partnered with Emma Slater.
World Series Champion @JohnnyDamon teams with @EmmaSlaterDance for #DWTS: Athletes! Play Ballroom! ⚾ pic.twitter.com/oRVTVlHYWT— Dancing with the Stars (@DancingABC) April 13, 2018
- Josh Norman(NFL cornerback) is dancing with Sharna Burgess.
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (former NBA superstar) will dance with Lindsay Arnold.
NBA Legend @kaj33 will be joining @lindsayarnold in the ballroom for #DWTS: Athletes! pic.twitter.com/Td65Ed1VN2— Dancing with the Stars (@DancingABC) April 13, 2018
- Mirai Nagasu (Olympian figure skater) is paired up with Alan Bersten.
- Tonya Harding (former competitive skater) will compete with Sasha Farber.
Legendary figure-skater Tonya Harding is heading to the ballroom on #DWTS: Athletes with @SashaFarber! pic.twitter.com/DYQH6ODPlC— Dancing with the Stars (@DancingABC) April 13, 2018
Dancing with the Stars: Athletes begins on April 30 at 8pm ET on ABC.


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Boston Attack Renews Fears About Homegrown Terrorism
Threat Evolves From Complex International Plots to Small-Scale Attacks by Individuals Within U.S.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation interviewed suspected marathon bomber Tamerlan Tsarnaev in 2011 at the request of the Russian government, but didn't find evidence of suspicious activity and closed the case, an FBI official said Friday.
The fact that the FBI spoke with Mr. Tsarnaev, who was killed Friday morning in a firefight with authorities, is likely to become a focal point of the post mortem into how the attack was able to be carried out at the Boston Marathon. It also speaks to the challenge faced by authorities as...


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Checklists for Installing BI Features
This section provides checklists for installing SQL Server BI features in different combinations or in scale-out topologies. If you already know how to run a Setup program to install a BI feature, a checklist is the next step towards understanding the recommended installation order, and whether additional configuration changes are required to enable feature integration scenarios.
Checklists in this section
Deployment Checklist: Reporting Services, Power View, and PowerPivot for SharePoint
Deployment Checklist: Scale-out by adding PowerPivot Servers to a farm
Deployment Checklist: Multi-Server Installation of PowerPivot for SharePoint
Deployment Checklist: Install Reporting Services into an Existing SharePoint Farm


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People might have mixed feelings about snow, but it's pretty clear that these adorable animals love the white stuff — and yes, we're happy to live vicariously through them.
Whether it's kittens flipping out, puppies chilling or penguins and polar bears enjoying winter weather, we're hoping that these adorable fuzzballs make your snow day a bit better. We've rounded up 11 videos of animals totally enjoying the cold weather and the white stuff.
Remember, if you're planning on taking your pet outside, your furry friend might need an extra layer or two.
If you want another dose of cuteness, check out more photos of animals in snow or our page dedicated to adorableness.


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Need-to-know information for current and future mums and dads.
Nappies, and Baby clothing
Buying furniture, Cots, and Change tables, high chairs and playpens
Prams and strollers, Carriers and slings, Car seats, and Portable cots
Child safety devices, Toys and safety at play, and Avoiding common dangers
Education, and Childcare
Making healthy choices, Fussy eaters, and Foods to avoid
Breastfeeding, Bottle feeding, and First foods
Planning for baby, and New parent and baby tips
Sleep and settling, Vaccinations and medications, Baby thermometers, and Conditions
Not only are our product testers experts in their field, they also have first-hand knowledge of what's best for babies and children as they've been there themselves, rocking bub back to sleep at 1.00am. And 2.00am. And ... you get the picture. Surely you can't get more trustworthy than that!
Kim Gilmour
Team leader - Household
Baby furniture, Children and safety, Baby transport, Laundry and cleaning, Kitchen, Cooling, Bedroom
Rebecca Ciaramidaro
Content producer - Household
Kitchen, Laundry and cleaning, Beauty and personal care, Household, Children and safety, Baby furniture, Baby clothes and nappies, Bedroom, Outdoor entertaining, Camping, Dentists and dental care
Chris Barnes
Product Category Manager (Household)
Kitchen, Laundry and cleaning, Heating, Cooling, Bedroom, Baby furniture, Children and safety, Baby transport, Energy saving, Painting, Tools, Pest control, Safety and security, Cars, Bikes, Gardening, Pools, Camping, Outdoor entertaining
Uta Mihm
Senior content producer - investigative journalist
Banking, Insurance, Credit cards and loans, Financial planning and investing, Property, Education and childcare, Getting ready for baby, Healthy ageing, Reproductive health, Shopping for special occasions
Rachel Clemons
Investigative journalist
Nutrition, Diet and fitness, Feeding children, Food warnings and safety, Groceries, Packaging labelling and advertising
Get the best products and latest news in health and body, with the help of our experts.
CHOICE can help you choose the best appliances, furnishings, cleaning products and more.
They say you are what you eat – how much do you know about your food and drink?


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Yesterday we learnt that the Soviets still have a working doomsday system in place. This is an SS-17 ICBM master missile, which are launched first. Once they are in the skies, they activate the launch for all the Russian nukes.
That includes every single nuclear weapon, every one of the Russian Inter-Continental Ballistic Missiles in ground silos, nuclear submarines and heavy bombers around the world. Scary stuff indeed.
But fear not, fellow humans, because the Dead Hand system is not completely automatic. The actual red button is apparently activated by a soldier hidden in some underground bunker.
Yes, I feel so much safer now. [gradremstroy—in Russian via DRB]


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PHOENIX (Monday, February 14, 2011) -- Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne and the Gila River Indian Community today announced the filing of a joint lawsuit to stop a Glendale Casino from opening in a Glendale neighborhood near a local high school. Working together to protect Arizona - Tribal Gaming Compacts, the State of Arizona and the Gila River Indian Community have taken this action to stop Tohono O'odham from opening a casino that would violate the Proposition 202 Compacts approved by the citizens of Arizona and seventeen other Arizona tribes.
The lawsuit filed today in the U.S. District Court for Arizona requests an injunction to prevent the Tohono O'odham from opening a casino in Glendale. Tohono O'odham leaders have repeatedly said they fully intend to immediately open a casino in Glendale if the land is placed into trust by the United States - without ever obtaining approval from Secretary of Interior Salazar or the State of Arizona.
AG Tom Horne provided this legal background: "Initially, the Gila River Indian Community sued the United States. In a separate lawsuit the City of Glendale also sued the United States. The Tohono O'odham Nation intervened in both lawsuits. The purpose of both lawsuits is to have the decision concerning the land in question (Glendale land) remanded to the Department of the Interior for proceedings that were omitted but necessary. This office intervened on behalf of the State of Arizona supporting the Gila River Indian Community. In this new action, both the Gila River Indian Community and the State of Arizona seek a judgment for breach of contract because of the initial agreement that tribal gaming would not occur within cities and neighborhoods."
Arizona Citizens voted to approve Proposition 202 in 2002 to allow Indian Casinos to operate on existing reservation lands and to keep casinos out of cities and neighborhoods. Now the Tohono O'odham Nation claims that a legal loop hole allows it to open a casino in Glendale in violation of its Compact and the promise made to the citizens of Arizona by the 17 tribe coalition that supported Proposition 202. GRIC Governor William Rhodes said, "Arizona tribes and Arizona voters made a promise to keep casinos out of neighborhoods and to make gaming work for the economic benefit of every tribe and our state. We can't let one tribe break that promise at the expense of all other Arizona tribes and 6 million people of the state of Arizona."
Even though the Department of Interior has never determined that gaming on the Glendale land would be legal, the Tohono O'odham Nation has made clear in its court filings that it has no intention of ever seeking an eligibility ruling. Their plan is to just open the casino and then see if anyone can shut the casino down. The Secretary of Interior apparently agrees with this approach which could trigger a crisis in Indian gaming in Arizona.
By contrast, Attorney General Horne and the Gila River Indian Community believe that any gaming conducted without a formal eligibility ruling violates the Compacts, which only allow casinos on IGRA approved lands. Except for very limited exceptions which do not apply here, IGRA does not allow a Casino on Indian land acquired after 1988.
"What Tohono O'odham has proposed not only violates federal and state law, it breaks the promise of Indian gaming relied on for years by tribes and Arizonans alike," Rhodes said. "So far, the federal government has not been willing to uphold the law. The BIA has decided to avoid making a decision and to leave this to the courts to figure out. So, together with Attorney General Horne, we intend to make sure that happens."


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Report: CEO Pay Soars at Cos. that Send Jobs Overseas
United for a Fair Economy
For immediate release, Tuesday, August 31, 2004
Contact: Betsy Leondar-Wright, (617) 423-2148 x113
For hard copies or to set up interviews with the co-authors, call 617-423-2148 x113 or e-mail bleondar-wrightfaireconomy.org">
For immediate release, Tuesday, August 31, 2004
Contact: Betsy Leondar-Wright, (617) 423-2148 x113
Executive Excess 2004
Or, infoFairEconomy.org">email us to receive a copy by return e-mail.
"Executive Excess" Report:
CEO Pay Soars at Companies That Send Jobs Overseas
Biggest Convention Sponsors & Political Donors Also Pay CEOs More
CEOs at companies that outsource the most US jobs are rewarded with bigger paychecks, according to a new report, "Executive Excess 2004: Campaign Contributions, Outsourcing, Unexpensed Stock Options and Rising CEO Pay."
Average CEO compensation at the 50 firms outsourcing the most service jobs increased by 46 percent in 2003, compared to a 9 percent average increase for all CEOs at the 365 large companies surveyed by Business Week. Top outsourcers earned an average of $10.4 million in 2003, 28 percent more than the average CEO compensation of $8.1 million. From 2001 to 2003, the top 50 outsourcing CEOs earned $2.2 billion while sending an estimated 200,000 jobs overseas.
Political contributions also appear to pay off. CEOs of the 69 companies that sponsored this summer's Democratic and Republican National Conventions saw their pay jump 52 percent in 2003, far outpacing the 9 percent raise for the average large company CEO. Similarly, the 38 CEOs who have personally raised at least $100,000 for either the Bush or Kerry presidential campaigns earned an average of $15.2 million in 2003, 88 percent more than the average large company CEO.
One sign of the political clout of corporate leaders is the current effort in Congress to block new rules that would require corporations to report all stock option grants as expenses in their financial statements. Current accounting rules have encouraged lavish options grants to executives. The report calculates that corporations have claimed an estimated $3.9 billion in tax deductions related to stock options exercised by 350 leading CEOs since 1997.
After two years of narrowing, the CEO-to-worker wage gap is rising again. The CEO pay to worker pay ratio reached 301:1 in 2003, up from 282:1 in 2002. If the minimum wage had increased as quickly as CEO pay since 1990, it would today be $15.76 per hour, rather than the current $5.15 per hour.
One rationale for high CEO pay is that CEOs bear tremendous risks and responsibilities for their companies, yet the report found that CEOs are far more financially secure than those risking their lives in war. Average CEO pay is 56 times more than the pay for a US Army general with 20 years experience ($144,932) and 634 times more than the pay for a starting U.S. soldier ($12,776).
The good news is that public pressure is beginning to have an impact. More investors than ever have demanded greater accountability from CEOs at shareholder meetings. Richard Grasso, CEO of the New York Stock Exchange, was forced to resign due to public outrage over his $140 million pay package. A number of companies and CEOs, including seven detailed in the report, have voluntarily supported fairer pay plans. The report also includes recommendations on how tax and corporate governance regulations could be reformed to help narrow the pay gap.
"Executive Excess 2004" profiles the CEO pay practices and political contributions for the 15 companies that outsourced the most US service jobs: United Technologies, Citigroup, Oracle, Bank of America, Cognizant Technology Solutions, Morgan Stanley, Intuit, SBC Communications, Conseco, JP Morgan Chase, Sprint, Bank of New York, Time Warner, General Electric, and American Express.
Bank of America, for example, cut nearly 5,000 US jobs while outsourcing up to 1,100 jobs to India in 2003. In July 2004, the firm announced that it planned to cut another 12,500 U.S. jobs in the next two years. Meanwhile, CEO Kenneth Lewis received $37.9 million in compensation in 2003, nearly 110 percent more than in 2002. Bank of America's PAC has made $576,319 in contributions in the 2003-2004 election cycle.
The outsourcing of service jobs to low-wage countries has further widened the pay gap between workers and their bosses. Currently, the pay gap between U.S. CEOs and American call center workers is 400:1, while the gap between U.S. CEOs and Indian call center workers is 3,348:1.
Authored by Sarah Anderson, John Cavanagh, Chris Hartman, Scott Klinger, and Stacey Chan, "Executive Excess 2004" is the eleventh annual CEO pay study by the Institute for Policy Studies and United for a Fair Economy. The Institute for Policy Studies is an independent center for progressive research and education in Washington, DC. United for a Fair Economy is a national organization based in Boston that spotlights growing economic inequality.
For hard copies or to set up interviews with the co-authors, call 617-423-2148 x113 or e-mail bleondar-wrightfaireconomy.org">
United for a Fair Economy is an independent national non-profit that raises awareness of growing economic inequality.
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2014 Federal Budget and its Impact on Canadian Charities
Today Finance Minister Jim Flaherty introduced the Canadian Federal Budget 2014. The budget had a large number of provisions dealing with non-profits and charities. Here are some excerpts from the Federal Budget in one PDF document. Overall I was very pleased with the provisions of the budget dealing with charities.