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Natalie Grant: Even Better as the Real Thing
- 2005 15 Apr
She practically grew up in the church and then established herself as a successful artist known for happy pop anthems that Christian radio listeners can't get enough of. But Natalie Grant's worldview and her approach to life, music and ministry have recently undergone an extreme makeover of sorts. And as Alanis Morrissette famously did in one of her songs, Natalie can also thank India for providing her with this new outlook.
"Comfort zones are plush-lined coffins. When you stay in your plush-lined coffins, you die."
— American missionary Stan Dale
Usually it's criticism or, perhaps, a lack of commercial success that serves as the catalyst for a musician to re-examine his/her artistic motivations. But for singer Natalie Grant, it was actually a compliment from a Christian radio peer that really got her thinking.
"This radio guy said to me, 'Natalie, we can always count on you for the happy, "feel good" songs.' And I know he meant that as a compliment, but I was like, "Is that all I am to you guys — the girl who has all the 'Keep on Shining' songs?" It was then when I thought, 'Thank you, God, for all I've gone through' because without it, I would've never dug deeper," Natalie says. "I would've just been happy to stay on the surface."
While lounging in her favorite overstuffed chair in the living room of the Brentwood, Tenn. home she shares with her husband (and producer), Bernie Herms, Natalie divulges just how her personal and professional comfort zones have been rocked recently like never before. In the same way a girl would dish on her latest crush with her closest friends, there's almost a giddy enthusiasm in Natalie's voice as she discusses the evolution of her music on her new album, "Awaken" (Curb).
"I must admit that I'm a bit of a late bloomer," Natalie confesses. "I've known Christ since I was 6, but just because you've figured out how to keep yourself out of hell doesn't actually mean that you've figured everything out. You know Christ as your Savior, but you don't know Him as your friend. And it's taken me to this stage in my life to figure out that He's much more than my Savior. He wants this personal, individual relationship with me. He wants authenticity, and so do the people I minister to.
"I am finally comfortable with saying that I don't have all the answers. Sometimes I actually have way more questions than answers. I think I've finally embraced my weaknesses in all of that, and I'm seeing my audience connect in a different way."
The Death of the Perfect Power Ballad
With "Awaken" her audience is also going to hear a new side of Natalie as well, as she's axed the tracks and signature high-note endings in favor of live instruments and a more organic approach.
"I wanted to make sure that if I was going to be raw and honest in my lyrics that the music had that same feeling," Natalie enthuses. And unlike her previous outings, she also wanted to take more ownership in songwriting, too.
"Overall I was very involved in the entire process. I didn't write every song; but at the same time, I feel that every song on the record is from my journey. I didn't just want song pitches and 'the next hit song' this time around. They had to make sense for me to cut because I wanted to approach it honestly."
For Natalie, the process of making "Awaken" was almost like starting her career all over again. "I honestly wish this was my debut. It's a bummer because you only get one chance to make a first impression. But I've fought that my whole career," she recalls. "This time I finally feel like I have material that I hope will speak for itself."
This Ain't No "Desperate Housewives"
But what led to what's probably Natalie's greatest "awakening" of all began in a rather unlikely place — in front of her TV — as she watched one of her favorite shows, "Law and Order SVU." On this particular episode, the show's focus was on the issue of human trafficking, something Natalie hadn't heard about before.
"They were showing these kids who had been brought into America. One of them was going to be sent to be a servant at a house for underage labor. He was 8. And another kid was being held in a basement at a house and being used for sexual exploitation," Natalie recalls. "And I was like, 'No way. This isn't happening in America!' They were showing these kids who were being hauled off in cages. They were all chained up and given only a little amount of food. Basically they were only let out for sexual favors. And I didn't exactly know why at the time, but I couldn't get away from that image of that show."
Afterward Natalie was amazed at what she found when she conducted an Internet search on "human trafficking." She discovered that more than two million children had been forced into prostitution worldwide, including around 25,000 in America. "I was like, 'You've got to be kidding me — that somewhere, while I sit here in front of my nice little laptop, watching my television, there's an 8-year-old who's being forced to have sex with someone.' I couldn't fathom it," she says. "And then I got really ticked off. Here we are as the church — and I'm so grateful for all the organizations that are feeding starving children — but these are starving children who are also being forced to do the unthinkable. Why is it that in the church we haven't heard about this? I've never heard someone going, 'We need to reach out to these kids.'"
After taking her Web research a little further and searching "faith-based organizations that deal with human trafficking," she found an organization called Shared Hope that addressed the issue; and she began to uncover stories of people who've actually been rescued from their plight. "I'm sitting here at 3 in the morning, and I'm bawling my eyes out. I thought, 'I have to do something about this.'"
Mere coincidence? She thinks not.
After reading more on Shared Hope, Natalie was impressed by what the organization was doing to help. "The thing that was important to me was that it was more than merely providing food and shelter," she comments. "They were giving them education. And after they completed their schooling, they gave them job training, basically enabling these people to have a successful life. So I was interested to know more."
And one teary phone call later she did. "I knew the lady on the end of that line was like, 'We've got some crazy girl that's crying on line one,'" Natalie says with a laugh. "I told her that I was watching 'Law and Order' last night, and she said, 'They showed the human trafficking episode, didn't they?'"
Then Natalie proceeded to tell her how she found the group online and that she could probably help raise money because she was a singer. And when the woman asked her name, the confirmation that she needed to do something became even more apparent. "She said, 'No way! I was just at your show in Portland last week.' And I said, 'I did do a show in Portland last week. Wow, God, You are so in this. None of this is happening by chance; this is all part of a plan.'"
After connecting with the organization's founder, Natalie learned that the office members at Shared Hope had recently prayed together and wholeheartedly believed that this was going to be the year that human trafficking would get a real public platform. And it turns out that with Natalie's help, it would. But first she would get invited on a trip to India that would change her perspective forever.
The Silent Treatment
But before she'd get that stamp on her passport, Natalie faced something she'd never struggled with before: vocal trouble. Unlike the typical diva with a booming voice, Natalie never really warmed up before she sang. Nor did she employ the Céline Dion practice of wearing a scarf and refusing to speak on show days. "I was always like, 'Puh-leeze!' But I was probably irresponsible with my gift," Natalie says. "I didn't know how to take care of it. And it caught up with me.
"I had done a Women of Faith conference in Denver and halfway through the show, I felt something happen. I could hardly speak. I couldn't sing, and they [doctors at Nashville's Vanderbilt Vocal Clinic] said that my left vocal chord had ruptured, and it was bleeding."
And then the typically chatty singer got a prescription she wasn't quite ready for: 21 days of total silence. Not wanting to permanently damage her voice, she obeyed the doctor's orders and was on her way to a foreign land as a "mute," whose only means of communication was hand-written notes.
But when she looks back, she really sees her silence as a blessing in disguise. "I think I was able to experience it on a different level because so often we speak without thinking. And when we talk so much, we can't digest things like we can when we just listen," she remembers. "It's so funny because I'm going to this ministry to meet these girls who've been forced into prostitution, and they're praying for me because they think I'm a mute. They had to explain to them: 'She's a singer from America,' and they're like, 'What?' and just want to pray for me."
Culture Shock
One of the first places Natalie, her husband and her road manager, Hope, visited while in India was the infamous "Red Light District." Natalie says that nothing could've prepared her for what she'd see there. "You're walking through the streets, and the poverty is already so overwhelming. Before you even go into the brothel district, you see how a family of 10 has to take shifts in sleeping because there's only room for one bed where they live," Natalie recalls. "You also see people going to the bathroom in the streets. I've been to the slums of Ecuador before — the poorest of the poor — and it looked wealthy compared to what they considered middle class here."
As they continued walking down the street, Natalie witnessed something else that stopped her dead in her tracks. "I saw what was probably a 7-year-old girl, and she's peering down from a cage. I just remember her little hands on the bars," Natalie says. "She looked out at us, and I thought I was going to throw up. Here are people just walking with their baskets of food in the hubbub of the day; and every day this girl looks out, she sees people, and they don't even notice her."
Stunned, Natalie grabbed her notepad and pen.
"I asked the man [K.K. Deveraj, who Natalie just calls "Deveraj"] who was taking us around, 'What's the deal? There's a girl in a cage.' And he replied, 'That's where she's held until she is brought out to service a client.' A lot of times they hold them in cages until they break their spirit and know they won't run away.'"
In the center of all the cages and chaos, however, is a place, the clinic, that Deveraj started to provide a sense of relief and start the process of rescuing people from human trafficking. "Deveraj is one of the most unbelievably amazing men I've ever met. My husband and I felt bonded to him immediately," Natalie says. "He rolls up his sleeves, and he's just living it. When he was 21, he was in Lebanon and working in the oil business. His family was very wealthy, and someone introduced him to Christ. He got radically saved and was immediately disowned by his family. He still has no contact with them even today. But he knew that God was calling him to go back to his people and tell them who Jesus is. And so he went back to Bombay and started this ministry."
Deveraj and the people who work with him at the clinic help build relationships with locals by providing for their physical needs in hope of gaining their trust and getting them to voluntarily leave their current situation. Deveraj also built a nighttime daycare center so that the children will have a safe, clean place to go while their mothers "work."
"A lot of these girls are moms because they've been forced to have sex since they were 8, so they'd get pregnant very young," Natalie says. "They'd have no place to put their children. So if they had a small child and would start work around 5:30 at night, they'd tether their child to the bed while they service clients. That way their kid won't run away, and they don't have to worry about childcare."
Natalie says there are about 200 children who go to the daycare center and while she was there, she was able to spend some quality time with them and provide them with a few treats and trinkets her fan club had collected as a surprise for her to take on her trip.
A Place Called Hope
After seeing where these kids came from, the last stop of the trip was the Village of Hope, the rescue oasis for victims of human trafficking located two and a half hours outside of Bombay. "It's a beautiful facility," Natalie says. But what impressed her even more than the incredible schooling opportunities, practical training, pristine conditions and the overall beauty of the scenic location is the 95 percent success rate. "This spoke volumes to me," Natalie said. "Ninety-five percent of them are completely off drugs, rehabilitated, educated, and 95 percent have accepted Christ and renounced Hinduism — amazing!"
And it was through this experience of seeing these kids freed from the bondage of human trafficking that Natalie got a vision for her own "home" — The Home Foundation and a song called "Home" that she dedicates to these girls on "Awaken." "I didn't go there thinking that God was going to burden my heart and life for India. But I fell in love with the culture, the people, the city — everything. I knew I was going to spend this year doing anything I can to share funds with them as there's a desperate need for a medical clinic," Natalie says. "The best way to accomplish what I want to do was to start my own foundation. That way I can give 100 percent of the money to exactly where I want it to go."
And she's serious. In an earlier conversation with CCM's editorial staff, she said that the plan is to devote a certain number of shows on her spring tour to The Home Foundation — meaning, all profits, including commissions for booking and management, will go directly to the foundation. Natalie said she wanted to reach high goals financially, and the only way to be sure she'd reach them was to dig into her own pocket.
But when it comes to processing all that she experienced while in India, Grant says she "still has hard times with it," even months after she's returned to "life as usual."
"I really pray that God will continue to make me uncomfortable with my life because once you get back, it's very easy to get comfortable and forget the impact.
"I really don't think I'll ever be the same. What was always my driving passion was my music and making the right record. I loved the business side, too, the marketing meetings. This experience, however, has changed the course of my entire life. I've had an awakening. I've been awakened to the reality of how selfish we are and how the only way we can get outside of that is by allowing God to penetrate every area of our lives. It's funny because it's easy to blame the kind of music I did in the beginning of my career on my record company. But part of why I was doing this 'false-front' music was because I was a false front. I can't just blame it on everyone else because my music was as deep as I was. So I guess I'm learning to be honest about my failures and why I do music and have a platform. It's to effect change."
© 2005 CCM Magazine. All rights reserved. Used with permission. Click here to subscribe.


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Latest News
Feds declare GM, Chrysler not viable, refuse more aid
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama on Monday will reject requests for almost $22 billion in new taxpayer bailout money for General Motors Corp. and Chrysler, saying the car makers have failed to take steps to ensure their viability.
The government sought the departure of GM chief Rick Wagoner and said the company needed to be widely restructured if it had any hope of survival. It said it would provide the company with 60 days operating capital to give it time to undertake reforms.
The government will grant Chrysler 30 days operating funds, but said it must merge with another carmaker in order to remain viable. Talks with Italian carmaker Fiat are underway.
The administration also announced a warranty guarantee plan that administration officials hope will give consumers enough confidence that they will continue to buy the companies' vehicles.
GM and Chrysler have already received $17.4 billion in government rescue money. The two companies faced a Tuesday deadline for the government to approve plans they'd submitted weeks ago in hopes of persuading the Obama administration that they could remain in business anad deserved additional money.
But the decision from Obama was no.
The administration, however, did not demand repayment of the earlier loans. It also did not completely slam the door on the additional $21.6 billion the carmakers sought, but sent the two back to the drawing board.
A senior administration official, briefing reporters late Sunday night on the condition of anonymity in order to speak freely, said Obama will call for more sacrifice from carmakers, their investors and automotive unions.
The official said there were encouraging signs that the Chrysler merger with Fiat will happen soon. The administration wants this deal to happen, but has tried to avoid too big a stake by Fiat for fear that taxpayers would be funding a foreign takeover.
Fiat will commit to produce fuel-efficient cars and engines in the United States, and will be limited to a 49 percent stake until all taxpayer loans have been repaid. There are no expected leadership changes at Chrysler, given the ongoing merger talks.
Another senior administration official, also demanding anonymity, denied that the administration required Wagoner's ouster. But officials acknlowledged they wanted a fresh start at GM and Wagoner agreed to step aside. Other executives are also expected to depart.
The government laid out its case against the companies in two extraordinary documents that assessed their management structure, distribution systems, manufacturing capabilities and products — none of which drew much praise.
The government's assessment of Chrysler's prospects was particularly damning.
It noted that none of Chrysler's current models were recommended in a recent article by Consumer Reports and that every one of its brands ranked in the lower quartile for quality in an assessment by J.D. Power.
It said the company is too dependent on its truck and SUV business and had only a 3 percent share of the small-car market, even though that segment makes up 21 percent of car sales overall. Noting that Chrysler's strength is in trucks, SUVs and mini-vans, all vehicles with relatively low fuel efficiency, the government said it was unlikely Chrysler would be able to meet new government standards for fuel consumption.
GM, too, was criticized for being dependent on the sale of trucks and SUVs for its revenue.
The quality of its products also was a concern. While GM has worked hard to improve quality, "lingering consumer perception is that GM makes lower-quality cars . . . which in turn leads to greater discounting, which harms GM's price realizations and depresses profitability."
The government said that GM had not done enough to rid itself of underperforming dealers and that its large number of vehicle lines was a distraction to its management.
The government offered a bleak assessment of the prospects for GM's much heralded Chevy Volt electric car, noting that GM was a full generation behind Toyota in "green powertrain development."
"While the Volt holds promise, it is currently projected to be much more expensive than its gasoline-fueled peers and will likely need substantial reductions in manufacturing cost in order to become commercially viable," the government assessment said.
Given all that, the government assessment found that GM's proposed plan was too optimistic in foreseeing "only a very moderate decline" in market share. GM's market share in the United States stood at 45 percent in 1980, dropping to 36 percent by 1990 and 29 percent in 2000. Today, GM's share of the U.S. automarket is approximately 22 percent.
Still, the report concluded that the company can be saved if it undertakes major restructuring. "It is strongly believed, however, that such a substantial restructuring will lead to a viable GM," the report said.
In their briefing for reporters, administration officials said GM has made no progress in talks with its bondholders. It has about $35 billion in debt, $27 billion of it unsecured and at risk if GM is forced to file for bankruptcy. GM was expected to reduce that amount to $9 billion through a voluntary exchange of bonds for new shares of GM stock.
Bondholders have instead sought government help, officials said, suggesting they are betting that there won't be a bankruptcy. Officials, however, did not rule out the possibility of a so-called surgical bankruptcy under which GM could be sent into protection from creditors for a 30-day period after most details had been worked out in advance.
Under normal circumstances, banks would provide the long-term financing to help the two carmakers restructure but these are not normal times. In fact, banks have received hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars to stay afloat and the government is the only game left in town.
Chrysler is a smaller company than GM yet it owes banks more than $8 billion and these financially weakened banks are not in a forgiving mood.
Wagoner's departure from GM is surprising given that he has been the public face of the struggling carmaker and has worked at GM at home and abroad since 1977, rising to CEO in 2000.
Wagoner's long tenure saw days of glory, but GM was caught flatfooted as its fleet was heavy with trucks and sports utility vehicles that got weak fuel mileage as rising gasoline prices sent consumers looking for more fuel-efficient vehicles. GM was last profitable in 2004.
Most of the banks receiving government assistance have replaced their top officials, and the administration gains a measure of political cover for its rejection of the auto bailout by bringing in a new team of leaders.
In an interview with the CBS Sunday morning show Face the Nation, Obama hinted that changes were coming for the carmakers.
"We think we can have a successful U.S. auto industry. But it's got to be one that's realistically designed to weather this storm and to emerge at the other end much more lean, mean and competitive than it currently is," Obama told host Bob Schieffer, who asked if the carmakers were there yet. "They're not there yet."
More from McClatchy
To ask a question about this story or any economic question, go to McClatchy's economy Q&A
Will Europe embrace President Obama like candidate Obama?
Is the worst over? Some economists see glimmer of hope
7,500 GM workers, 12 percent of total, take buyout offer

subset: commoncrawl


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Einstein and John Theurer Cancer Center Receive $6.4 Million NIH Grant to Identify Breast Cancer Biomarkers
Professor, Department of Epidemiology & Population Health
Chair, Department of Epidemiology & Population Health
Harold and Muriel Block Chair in Epidemiology & Population Health
Associate Director, Population Sciences, Albert Einstein Cancer Center
Scientific Director, Epidemiology Study Management and Informatics Shared Facility, Albert Einstein Cancer Center
Dr. Rohan is a cancer epidemiologist who studies the role of genetic/molecular, nutritional, and hormonal factors in the etiology and pathogenesis of a wide range of cancers. Much of his work has focused on breast cancer, in relation to which he has a particular interest in the molecular pathogenesis of breast cancer, where his work focuses on identifying molecular changes in benign breast disease tissue that predispose to the development of subsequent breast cancer. Many of his other studies have involved cohort investigations, mostly within the Women's Health Initiative cohorts, the Canadian National Breast Screening Study dietary cohort, and more recently within a new cohort that he established, the Canadian Study of Diet, Lifestyle, and Health. He has published many scientific articles on cancer epidemiology, and he has co-edited books on cancer precursors and on cervical cancer.
In addition to being chair of the department of epidemiology and population health, Dr. Rohan is associate director for population sciences in the Albert Einstein Cancer Center. He is on the editorial board of several journals, and is a member of several professional societies.
More Information About Dr. Thomas Rohan
Material in this section is provided by individual faculty members who are solely responsible for its accuracy and content.
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Jack and Pearl Resnick Campus
1300 Morris Park Avenue
Belfer Building, Room 1301
Bronx, NY 10461
NBCNews.com reports on new research by Drs. Thomas Rohan and Geoffrey Kabat that suggests taller postmenopausal woman are at greater risk of developing cancer.


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Moderators: MetroSonus, Plink Floyd
MetroSonus wrote:I just wanted to let you all know that Im thank ful that you're the biggest bunch of sucks that ever sucking sucked. my life would be shallow and hollow without you
christianrock wrote:I'm glad I made you happy, BWD. That was my whole purpose.
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Peak Lists
Log In
Ascent of Shackley Hill on 2011-08-12
Dave Dunham
Others in Party:
Alan Bernier
Friday, August 12, 2011
Ascent Type:
Successful Summit Attained
Shackley Hill
1122 ft / 341 m
Ascent Trip Report
Day 4 was another eary morning as I hit Dunkin Donuts right at sunrise. We drove 25 miles to McGaffey Mountain and at 7am we were out and running. Up to the 1,310' summit of the highest point in Kennebec county. We ran up in 12:54, spent a few minutes kicking around then ran down in 9:09.
Next up was a 20 mile drive to Moose hill (1,116') the most prominent point in Androscoggin county.At 8am we zipped up the access road in 9:39 and ran back down in 7:15. Another peak in the bag!
15 miles of driving and we were at the foot of Shackley hill for a nice run in the woods. Our round trip run of 26:33 had us reaching the highest point in Androscoggin county. This was Al's final county high point in Maine (I've still got two to go).
As we headed for our next peak Al noticed that there was a mountain with a fire tower that we'd be driving by. We were a bit ahead of schedule so we drove 25 miles to Streaked (1,750') in Oxford Maine. Off we went for another short run...this time 12 minutes to the summit. We bumped into another group on the top and chatted for a bit before running down in just over 10 minutes (total = 23:26 running).
Our final mountain of the day was Douglas mountain in Sebago. I'd been there last fall but Al needed this peak to finish off the county prominence points in Maine. We drove the 40 miles to the most prominent peak in Cumberland County and quickly hit the summit. The run up included 4 minutes of road and 5 minutes on trail. We spent another 10 minutes on top taking pictures before the 7 minute run down. Total time was 26:25.
We closed the book on this trip with 100 mile drive to Haverhill and a nice 5 mile run around Lake Kenoza in Winnekenni park.
Day four totals:
Drive - 225 miles
Run - 14 miles
Hike - 0
Peaks - 5
Trip totals
Drive - 1,020 miles
Run - 54 miles
Hike - 7:15
Peaks - 17
Summary Total Data
Total Elevation Gain:
422 ft / 128 m
700 ft / 213 m
Route Conditions:
Maintained Trail, Unmaintained Trail
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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Offense sells tickets, the saying goes, and defense wins championships.
Even in the pass-happy era in which we live, the immovable object usually manages to stymie the irresistible force. On Sunday at MetLife Stadium, the NFL's No. 1 defense in both yards and points absolutely throttled the No. 1 offense -- of all time.
The Seattle Seahawks, underdogs in the eyes of the folks in Las Vegas, smoked the Denver Broncos 43-8.
This was an unlikely game in which Peyton Manning did a passable imitation of his beleaguered younger brother, Eli. Or was it barely passable? This season alone, Eli (15) and Peyton (two) combined to throw 17 interceptions at MetLife Stadium, the home of the Giants and Jets. In a quirky turn of events, the brothers combined to throw seven interceptions (and one lonely touchdown) here against the Seahawks this season.
The best play of the game, if you are a Seahawks fan, was linebacker Malcolm Smith's 69-yard interception return for a touchdown late in the second quarter. Defensive end Cliff Avril hit Manning's arm as he released the ball, and Smith gathered in the disabled duck -- and ran a wondrous, meandering route to the end zone. That gave Seattle a stunning 22-0 lead.
It was the longest interception return for a touchdown since the Saints' Tracy Porter took one back 74 yards -- against Manning in Super Bowl XLIV.
Going in, if you had known that Seattle's two starting cornerbacks -- Richard Sherman and Byron Maxwell -- would be out of the game midway through the fourth quarter, you might have thought Manning would have a field day. Instead, he merely finished the game with a Super Bowl record for completions (34), an exceedingly hollow victory.
The rest of the best and worst of Super Bowl XLVIII:
Best effort by a part-time player: It's not how you start; it's how you finish. Seattle wide receiver Percy Harvin got a six-year, $67 million contract but made exactly one catch during the 2013 regular season. Hip surgery on Aug. 1 to repair a torn labrum took Harvin out of play for much of the season, but he returned for the divisional playoff game against the Saints (three catches), then suffered a concussion. After sitting out the NFC Championship Game against the 49ers, he was a big part of the Seahawks' offensive game plan. He had two sweet runs in the first half, a 30-yard rush around left end and a 15-yard sweep. Then he ran back the kickoff to open the second half 87 yards for a touchdown -- and a 29-0 lead.
Best quarterback: Russell Wilson is the most successful quarterback in NFL history over his first two seasons. This Super Bowl victory gives Wilson a total of 28 wins -- one more than the Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger in 2004 and '05. This is a guy who was drafted in the third round, 53 spots behind Cleveland's Brandon Weeden.
Worst quarterback: He had the best offensive season in NFL history, but he was also the second-oldest quarterback to start this ultimate game. Peyton Manning was the only player on either team to win a Super Bowl, but he certainly didn't win this one. No, the two interceptions weren't completely his fault, but his big-game nerves will be questioned after this loss. Again. Manning is now 11-12 in playoff games.
Worst effort in the big game: The Broncos franchise is now 2-5 in Super Bowls -- and the only team to lose five. The worst Super Bowl blowout ever? The Broncos lost to the 49ers 55-10 in Super Bowl XXIV.
Best (and only) halftime show: Bruno Mars, sporting a skinny, old-school tie, was his stylish self, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers were, well, red-hot and hopelessly energetic. Still, the performance fell well short of the standard set by U2 in the post-9/11 Super Bowl played in New Orleans. U2 played "Where The Streets Have No Name" while a list of the names of the World Trade Center victims was unfurled.
Best career opportunist: In addition to his memorable interception, Smith had a backbreaking fumble recovery in the third quarter. Cornerback Byron Maxwell punched the ball from the hands of Demaryius Thomas. Smith scooped it up, and it wasn't long before Seattle had a 36-0 lead.
Best non-omen: The Seahawks had zero players who had previously appeared in a Super Bowl, the first team with that number since the 1990 Buffalo Bills. Those Bills, by the way, lost a tough one to the Giants (Scott Norwood, wide right) and went on to lose four consecutive Super Bowls. The Seahawks, obviously, are not students of history.
Worst start (ever): We've seen Peyton Manning check out of so many plays this season that we almost expect it. So when the Broncos' quarterback stepped out of the shotgun formation and moved toward center Manny Ramirez on the first offensive play of the game, it seemed like business as usual. But then Ramirez inexplicably snapped the ball over Manning's head. It sailed into the end zone, and Seattle had a stunning safety -- 12 seconds into the game. It was the fastest score in Super Bowl history and only the ninth safety. The second-fastest? Chicago's Devin Hester took the opening kickoff all the way back in Super Bowl XLI -- against Manning's Indianapolis Colts. Indianapolis, for the record, came back to win that game.
Best dressed: Manning, declining to follow the fashion trend of Michael Jackson, actually wore two gloves, one on each hand. An hour before the game, when he first started throwing, the temperature was 52 degrees. But with a forecast calling for the low 40s (not to mention a modest wind chill), Manning probably didn't want to make a "Bad" decision and change midstream.
Worst dressed: "Broadway" Joe Namath made a pregame sideline appearance wearing an enormous retro 1960s fur coat, which sent Twitter into a tizzy. It was tawny, with white, snowy piping, and it had a hood. See temperature in above item.
Best song: Opera singer Renee Fleming, a superb soprano, offered a stirring rendition of the national anthem. Heading in, the popular over/under was 2 minutes, 30 seconds. Fleming came in with a snappy, sinewy 2 minutes, 2 seconds. The other big pregame question: Would Broncos running back Knowshon Moreno cry during the song? Upon review, it appeared he did not.
Best breakup: If not for Denver linebacker Nate Irving, the Seahawks almost certainly would have had a 12-0 lead in the first quarter. But after Russell Wilson feathered a lovely pass up and over into the end zone to Jermaine Kearse, Irving stuck his right hand in Kearse's face. As they fell to earth, he wrenched the ball loose, and Seattle had to settle for a field goal.
Worst route-running decision: On paper, it was an ugly interception by Manning. But judging by the exercised discussion his coaches had with him afterward, tight end Julius Thomas might have broken off the route prematurely. In any event, Seattle safety Kam Chancellor collected the late-first-quarter gift ball, and the Seahawks had another offensive possession. They ran 22 plays in the first quarter versus only seven for Denver.
Best dodged bullet: The Broncos' Trindon Holliday appeared to fumble after returning a kickoff past his 30-yard-line. Chris Maragos knocked it loose, and kicker Steven Hauschka recovered. It was ruled a fumble on the field and would have given Seattle the ball in Denver territory with more than three minutes left in the first half. But, upon further review, Holliday was ruled down by contact. So take heart, Broncos fans. It could've been worse.


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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Texas Governor Rick Perry dropped out of the race for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination on Thursday after a series of gaffes and controversies undercut the campaign of the one-time frontrunner. He endorsed former rival Newt Gingrich.
"I've always believed the mission is greater than the man. As I have contemplated the future of this campaign, I have come to the conclusion that there is no viable path forward for me in this 2012 campaign," Perry, 61, told supporters in South Carolina, the conservative southern state where he had hoped to revive his campaign in Saturday's Republican presidential primary.
"Therefore today I am suspending my campaign and endorsing Newt Gingrich for president of the United States," Perry added. "I believe Newt is a conservative visionary who can transform our country."
Perry entered the race in August cheered by conservative activists and evangelical Christians dissatisfied with former Massachusetts Governor Romney, a more moderate politician who touted his business background.
The Texas governor briefly was at the front of the pack of Republican candidates seeking the party's nomination to face Democratic President Barack Obama on November 6. But a series of gaffes, poor debate performances and controversial statements during the campaign undermined his standing in polls.
Speaking of Gingrich, the former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Perry said: "We've had our differences, which campaigns will inevitably have. And Newt is not perfect. But who among us is?"
"The fact is there is forgiveness for those who seek God. And I believe in the power of redemption, for it is a central tenet of my Christian faith," Perry added.
Perry's poll numbers remained low in South Carolina, with little prospect for improving there or in other state contests ahead. Perry and Gingrich in recent days had both been criticizing frontrunner Romney over his conduct as head of private equity firm Bain Capital and had called for him to release his federal income tax returns.
Speaking to reporters in Beaufort, South Carolina, Gingrich said he had spoken with Perry earlier in the day and called the Texas governor "a great patriot." Gingrich also said Perry had agreed to work with other state governors and legislators to develop a detailed conservative agenda for the future.
Perry contemplated getting out of the race after a fifth place showing in the January 3 Iowa caucuses - the first contest in the state-by-state battle for the Republican nomination - but then decided to stay in. His campaign, however, never got more traction.
He announced his candidacy in the coastal South Carolina city of Charleston last year and ended it there on Thursday.
"I know when it's time to make a strategic retreat," Perry said with his wife joining him.
Perry had roared past Romney and other rivals in August to take the lead in polls after entering the race. His conservative views and support from the grassroots Tea Party movement had positioned him as a top contender in the Republican race.
But Perry foundered after several poor debate performances in which he was hammered by his rivals over his immigration policies and for ordering that young girls in Texas be vaccinated for a sexually transmitted virus.
He was ridiculed after a major debate stumble in November when he could not remember one of the three government agencies that he had repeatedly said he would eliminate if elected president. He also alienated some conservative voters with his stance on immigration.
On Sunday, Perry accused the Obama administration of overreacting to a videotape that shows four U.S. Marines appearing to urinate on dead Taliban fighters in Afghanistan.
The next day, the Texas governor said that U.S. ally Turkey is ruled by Islamic terrorists and questioned whether it should remain in NATO, prompting the Turkish government to condemn his comments as "unfounded and inappropriate."
Perry had been known for controversial remarks even before running for president. In 2009, he pondered his state's secession from the United States. At a Tea Party event in Austin, supporters shouted "secede," and Perry said Texas might want to "if Washington continues to thumb their nose at the American people."
Perry becomes the latest casualty in the presidential campaign. Last August, former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty withdrew after failing to make headway in the race.
Former pizza executive Herman Cain dropped out in December amid allegations of sexual harassment and infidelity. And U.S. congresswoman Michele Bachmann dropped out earlier this month after a weak showing in Iowa.
Additional reporting by Steve Holland, Karen Brooks and Patricia Zengerle, Editing by Vicki Allen and Doina Chiacu


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I don't know about you but I think that every home needs good curtains related to Washable Shower Curtain. I'll even go a bit further than that: I think a home or an apartment without curtains or some other type of window treatment is missing something in a big way.
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The end of the Second World War also signalled the beginning of the end for the British 'Raj' (empire). The first sign of this decline was the Independence and Partition of India, which in turn led to the division of the Gurkha Brigade between the British and Indian armies. This was a traumatic time for the Gurkhas and their British officers. Gurkhas in the four regiments (2nd, 6th, 7th and 10th Gurkha Rifles) who were given the option to stay in the British army were relocated to Malaya were they would soon find themselves back at war, first in the 1948-60 Malayan 'Emergency' and then in the 1963-66 Borneo Confrontation.
A Changing World
The World was changing fast and so too was the Brigade of Gurkhas: new ideas about what Gurkhas were capable of led to the training of Gurkhas as 'British' Officers, Gurkha Engineers and Gurkha Signalmen (see 'New Ideas: Gurkha Signals, Engineers & 'British' Officers'). Things were changing back in Nepal as well: an emerging democratic movement was slowly reforming the country's feudal system of government. By the time of the Handover of Hong Kong in 1997, Gurkha soldiers were more highly trained and worldly-wise (but no less effective) than their predecessors who left India in 1947 could ever have imagined.
Using the Timeline
You can explore the Ayo Gorkhali Timeline using the interactive version above or - if you do not have Adobe Flash Player installed in your browser - you can use the Era menu to the right of this introduction or the Timeline Menu at the bottom of the page. Please note that the Flash version of the Timeline has additional entries not available via the Era menus.
Many of the Timeline entries contain references to the online sources we have used in our research. You will find links in the Timeline information and, in some places, in the separate external links panels, so that you can follow up on points of interest. We realise that we have left out alot of historical events and characters, so please leave comments on the Timeline entry pages if there are important people, events or facts you think we should include. We will be developing and improving the Timeline over time, so if you would like to be kept up to date with what is happening on the site, please either register or join our newsletter mailing list. Alternatively you can post your comments here, on our Facebook page or to our Twitter feed.
We hope you enjoy exploring the rich and fascinating history of the British Gurkhas.
Dhanyabad - thank you.


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Fineprint Literary Agency
FinePrint is located in New York City and was launched in September 2007 as the merger of the Peter Rubie Literary Agency and the Imprint Agency. We represent both fiction and nonfiction for adults and young adults. Our 12 agents allow us to take on works in many categories.
Sarah Wylie - All THese Lives
Pitched as a literary YA My Sister's Keeper, about a girl who believes she has nine lives and copes with her fraternal twin sister's leukemia by setting out to rid herself of all her extra lives, only to discover that she might have only the one life after all.
Sidney Perkowitz - Slowlight
Cat Hellisen - When the Sea is Rising Red
A girl fakes her own suicide to escape from the strict confines of her aristocratic family and a likely arranged marriage, only to be confronted with the harsh realities of living in the slums with the working class and the ultimate discovery that the boy she's fallen in love with is plotting a rebellion to destroy her family.
Steve Ulfelder - Purgatory Chasm: A Mystery
Advance Praise for Purgatory Chasm:"Ulfelder couples precise, evocative prose with an original private investigator in his compelling hard-boiled debut…. Ulfelder smoothly navigates the many plot twists, and effortlessly introduces wrinkles in his protagonist's backstory that enhance the character. Fans of Michael Koryta's PI crime novels will find a lot to like." –Publishers Weekly, starred review
Victoria Schwab - Near Witch
The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children. If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company. And there are no strangers in the town of Near.
These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life.
Yvonne Navarro - Highborn
EVERYONE DESERVES A SECOND CHANCE. BRYNNA MALAK MIGHT BE THE EXCEPTION TO THE RULE. Brynna is a fallen angel trying to earn redemption. She's escaped from Hell in search of a new life on Earth, but Lucifer's deadliest hunters are hot on her trail. Police Detective Eran Redmond is after her for a different reason: he needs Brynna to help him find a serial killer who is terrifying Chicago . . . and the trail leads them right to Hellspawned demons of the most dangerous kind.
Christopher de Vinck - Moments of Grace , Days of a Faith-Filled Dreamer
In a time of economic woe, this is a book that does not infuse money into our pockets, but rather invigorates the soul to remember what is truly important in our everyday lives.
Rebecca Coleman - the Kingdom of Childhood
The excerpt opens with the narrator remembering bits and pieces of her childhood while living in Bavaria and going sledding with the brother of a friend. The story then moves forward twenty years and we catch up with her as a mom with high school age kids who is also a teacher in the lower school where her son attends. Life is not perfect when chasing around small children in a classroom all day and taking care of husband and teenagers at night, and her weariness Is felt by the reader. This is definitely one of the outstanding excerpts I have read.
Stephen Chambers - Jane and the Raven King
Outside the window, a squirrel in a tree popped out with a little black suitcase. At first, Jane was sure she must be mistaken, but as she watched, the squirrel opened the tiny suitcase and began arranging nuts and acorns inside...
The animals clearly knew something was wrong. Even her pet iguana scrawled a warning in the sand of his tank: He is coming.
Lucinda K. Porter - Free from Hepatitis C
Your Complete Guide to Healing Hepatitis C , Foreword :"I was cured of hepatitis C!" I never expected to utter those words when I was diagnosed with hepatitis C in 1996. Receiving a diagnosis of hepatitis C is a life-changing event, and at that time little was known about chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) and how to live with it, and what was known was confusing and contradictory. At best, being infected with HCV was nothing to worry about; at worst, I was going to die from it very soon.


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It's 4 p.m. when the mobile meals van pulls up to a patch of pavement behind the library at Pennsylvania and North avenues. The cardboard boxes it brings — filled with chicken sandwiches, milk and snacks — may be the first food some children have eaten all day.
Even now, nearly 40 years after the federal Summer Food Service Program was first offered in Baltimore, only about half of the 46,000 children who eat free and reduced-price meals during the school year are getting the breakfast, lunch and dinner offered at rec centers, churches and schools during June, July and August.
So this summer, the city's program is sending a van to make a weekday circuit through West Baltimore's Penn North and Upton neighborhoods to bring the food to the streets.
"The summertime is the time of the year in which a child across this country of ours is most likely to go hungry," said Kevin Concannon, an undersecretary with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. "Even if the school is a feeding site, it means that kids have to find their way to the school."
At Pennsylvania and North, as a crew sets up a folding table, chairs and a tent, librarian Kinshasa Vargas-Pile tells of a 7-year-old boy dropped off hungry in the morning and left to wait all day for the food truck.
"The hunger is real in Baltimore," Vargas-Pile said.
The effort mirrors the latest push in cities and rural communities throughout the country to feed poor children over the summer months. In Baltimore, by the time children go back to school, the goal is to have served 2 million meals at more than 650 fixed or mobile sites across the city. The Baltimore Housing Office of Community Services administers the program with a handful of partners, including the Family League, which launched the mobile meals van as a permanent program this summer.
Along the mobile van's supper route one day this week, more than 150 children picked up dinner, up from about 85 a day when the van began operation in June, said Katherine Klosek, director of the Baltimore Partnership to End Childhood Hunger and a Family League employee.
With additional money from the United Way, seniors and other adults can be served, too, and the food van crew turns away no one asking for a meal.
Teddy Fisher, 42, comes with his two daughters and a goddaughter in tow, their hair freshly braided. Iona Dimory, his 3-year-old goddaughter, wants Fisher to take the crusts off her sandwich, though she declares that they are her "favorite breakfast." For Areiona, 6, Fisher peels an orange. They love the fruit, he says, but have few places to get fresh produce, except when the horse-drawn a-rab cart comes through the neighborhood. He'd like a farmers' market, or at least a better grocery store, within walking distance.
The food van program is "all positive," Fisher said, in contrast to some of the "negativity" in the neighborhood. He tries to keep the girls away from that, he said, letting them watch TV in Japanese and Spanish to expand their minds, and not letting them associate with the "bad kids."
"I take care of myself, and I'm trying to teach them to do that," he said.
The next stop for the van is nearby on Clifton Avenue, next to the Westside Elementary School playground. Someone pulled the cap off a fire hydrant on the corner, spraying children, adults and cars with water as temperatures climbed into the high 90s.
Volunteer Liz Fauntleroy, 72, kept a hawkish eye on a shaded table occupied by about a dozen mostly small boys, making sure their milk cartons were open and their trash picked up.
"These kids be playing all day, and you don't know if they're eating or not," she said. Her sister asked the program directors to put the site there, as many of the children are too young to cross North Avenue by themselves to get to the library.
Alice Nicholson, 65, another volunteer, said children in the neighborhood used to get summertime meals at Parkview Recreation Center, which the city shut down after last summer. The food van helps fill the gap, she said.
A volunteer pulled out a bucket of balls, hula hoops and other toys for the children to play with, and some splashed in the hydrant water.
"We have to get them to eat first because the toys will be a distraction," Nicholson said with a grin.
Last year, nearly 2.3 million children received meals at about 39,000 sites nationwide, a fraction of the 21 million kids and teens who received free and reduced-price lunch and breakfast at 101,000 schools. The program cost $398 million last summer.
Maryland ranks seventh in the country for its success in providing summer meals to hungry and poor children. Concannon said its accomplishments are tied in part to partnerships with anti-hunger groups.
Even with that success, the statewide participation rate is only about 20 percent. Baltimore's summer meals program reaches 50 percent of children and teens who regularly participate in the free and reduced-meals program during the school year.
The USDA's Food and Nutrition Service reimburses the local urban providers $1.94 for each breakfast, $3.41 for lunches and dinners and 80 cents for snacks. The rate for meals in rural communities is slightly higher.
The city's housing office is expected to be reimbursed $3.4 million for the meals provided over the summer. Other providers, such as the Family League, the city school district, the Archdiocese of Baltimore and the Maryland Food Bank, also will seek reimbursement.
Reggie Scriber, deputy housing commissioner, said among the efforts to notify children and parents are regular neighborhood canvasses, including a visit to the Cedonia neighborhood Thursday by Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and Councilman Brandon M. Scott.
"We want every child who qualifies to get these meals," Scriber said.
While the summer meals programs are available typically only on weekdays, schools and food banks stock pantries to help families stretch their resources on Saturdays and Sundays. The Family League also is considering the feasibility of expanding the mobile meals concept to weekends, and perhaps year-round service.
Free meals for children and teens
The Family League, in conjunction with Baltimore's housing agency, runs a mobile meals van that makes three stops each weekday. Participants do not have to provide ID or income verification. The program is intended for children and teens, but adults won't be turned away.
4 p.m.-4:45 p.m. — Pennsylvania Avenue library at the corner of North Avenue. Van parks on Cumberland Street.
5 p.m.-5:30 p.m. — Westside Elementary School, 2235 N. Fulton Ave. Van parks near the playground.
5:45 p.m.-6:30 p.m. — Across from McCulloh Homes at Robert C. Marshall Park, 544 Dolphin St.
To find out where else to get a meal, go to mdsummermeals.org or call 211.


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There are a variety of ways to fund your education, including grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study jobs. Our goal is to explain your options and demystify the application process. We help our students maximize all of their available financial aid opportunities, and it's a service we are proud to provide.
Our financial aid staff is available for in-person or phone appointments with students and families. If you have any questions, please email us or call us at (800) 965-8790.


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Sermon: "Unseen Reality"
Scripture: Hebrews 11:1
Children and Teens are invited to begin the morning in the sanctuary with the whole congregation, then participate in Sunday School activities downstairs. For those interested, youth activities begin after the Children's Message portion of our Sunday Worship Service. Parents desiring nursery care may leave their children with our nursery attendant any time from 10:20-11:40am.
Everyone is encouraged to join us after our Sunday Worship downstairs in the Meeting Place, for coffee, snacks and conversation. All are welcome!


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Politics & Government
Dems now have 57 Senate seats as Oregon's Smith falls
WASHINGTON — Democrats added another Senate seat Thursday when they squeaked out a victory in Oregon, leaving only three contests undecided.
Democrat Jeff Merkley, a state legislator, defeated two-term Republican Sen. Gordon Smith by about 40,000 votes. Smith called Merkley to concede.
"This is the beginning of a transformational change for America," Merkley told supporters.
"There was simply a tide too strong for us to stem," Smith said in his concession speech. "We understand that."
His win means Democrats will control 57 of the Senate's 100 seats, still short of a filibuster-proof 60-vote majority, which would enable them to leap Republican hurdles to their agenda more easily.
"We thought 56 votes was enough to pass real, meaningful legislation," said Matthew Miller, a spokesman for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. "Fifty-seven is all the better."
Still undecided are races in Alaska, where votes remain to be counted; Minnesota, where there will be a recount; and Georgia, where there probably will be a runoff.
Sen. Ted Stevens, an Alaska Republican who's been in Congress since the 1960s, was leading in his bid for an eighth term, but with felony convictions for corruption hanging over his head.
He's ahead of the Democrat, Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich, by more than 3,000 votes, but more than 55,000 remain to be counted.
Regardless of the final tally, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, has said, "The reality is that a convicted felon is not going to be able to serve in the United States Senate. And as precedent shows us, Senator Stevens will face an Ethics Committee investigation and expulsion, regardless of his appeals process."
Out of nearly 3 million votes cast for the Senate in Minnesota, Republican incumbent Norm Coleman has a 438-vote lead over Democrat Al Franken, a former writer for "Saturday Night Live."
Coleman declared victory when his lead was 725 votes, but it's since been dropping. He urged Franken to forgo a recount, automatically triggered when the margin is so slim.
"I just think the need for a healing process is so important," Coleman said Wednesday.
However, Franken told Minnesota Public Radio on Thursday, "This is the closest race in Minnesota history. This is part of the process to make sure every vote is counted fairly."
Three percentage points separate the candidates in the Georgia Senate race, where votes are still being counted.
Neither Republican incumbent Saxby Chambliss nor Democrat Jim Martin has received enough to meet the state-required minimum of 50 percent plus one to be declared the winner. Chambliss has received 49.8 percent and Martin 46.8 percent
The state is expected to hold a runoff Dec. 2.


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Reinforcing Bar Couplers. Lapped joints are not always an appropriate means of connecting rebar. The use of Ancon Reinforcing Bar Couplerscan simplify the design and construction of reinforced concrete and reduce the amount of reinforcement required.The Reinforcing Bar Couplers market was valued at xx Million US$ in 2018 and is projected to reach xx Million US$ by 2025, at a CAGR of xx% during the forecast period.
In this study, 2018 has been considered as the base year and 2019 to 2025 as the forecast period to estimate the market size for Reinforcing Bar Couplers.
This report presents the worldwide Reinforcing Bar Couplers market size (value, production and consumption), splits the breakdown (data status 2014–2019 and forecast to 2025), by manufacturers, region, type and application.This study also analyzes the market status, market share, growth rate, future trends, market drivers, opportunities and challenges, risks and entry barriers, sales channels, distributors and Porter's Five Forces Analysis.
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The following manufacturers are covered in this report:
- AGF Group
- NVent
- Tokyo Tekko
- Peikko Group
- Terwa
- Ancon CRH
- Dextra Group
- Sida Jianmao
- Henglian
- Cage BMS
- Dywidag Systems International
- Preshcon
- JBCZ (Jianlain Reinforcing Bar Conjunction)
- Spplicetek
- Express Reinforcements Ltd
- Rom Reinforcements
- ROC Co.,Ltd
- Bartec Company
- Vadol Corporation
- Fletcher Reinforcing
Reinforcing Bar Couplers Breakdown Data by Type
- Tapered Thread Bar Coupler
- Parallel Thread Standard Bar Coupler
- MBT Coupler
- Grout Sleeve Coupler
Reinforcing Bar Couplers Breakdown Data by Application
- Building Construction
- Others
Reinforcing Bar Couplers Production by Region
- United States
- Europe
- China
- Japan
- Other Regions
Reinforcing Bar Couplers Consumption by Region
- North America
- United States
- Canada
- Mexico
- Asia-Pacific
- China
- Japan
- South Korea
- India
- Australia
- Indonesia
- Thailand
- Malaysia
- Philippines
- Vietnam
- Europe
- Germany
- France
- Italy
- Russia
- Rest of Europe
- Central & South America
- Brazil
- Rest of South America
- Middle East & Africa
- GCC Countries
- Turkey
- Egypt
- South Africa
- Rest of Middle East & Africa
The study objectives are:
- To analyze and research the global Reinforcing Bar Couplers status and future forecast?involving, production, revenue, consumption, historical and forecast.
- To present the key Reinforcing Bar Couplers manufacturers, production, revenue, market share, and recent development.
- To split the breakdown data by regions, type, manufacturers and applications.
- To analyze the global and key regions market potential and advantage, opportunity and challenge, restraints and risks.
- To identify significant trends, drivers, influence factors in global and regions.
- To analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the market.
In this study, the years considered to estimate the market size of Reinforcing Bar Couplers :
- History Year: 2014–2018
- Base Year: 2018
- Estimated Year: 2019
- Forecast Year: 2019–2025
This report includes the estimation of market size for value (million USD) and volume (K Units). Both top-down and bottom-up approaches have been used to estimate and validate the market size of Reinforcing Bar Couplers market, to estimate the size of various other dependent submarkets in the overall market. Key players in the market have been identified through secondary research, and their market shares have been determined through primary and secondary research. All percentage shares, splits, and breakdowns have been determined using secondary sources and verified primary sources.For the data information by region, company, type and application, 2018 is considered as the base year. Whenever data information was unavailable for the base year, the prior year has been considered.
Get the Complete Report & TOC @ https://www.grandresearchstore.com/manufacturing-and-construction/global-reinforcing-bar-couplers-2025-315
Table of content
1 Study Coverage
1.1 Reinforcing Bar Couplers Product
1.2 Key Market Segments in This Study
1.3 Key Manufacturers Covered
1.4 Market by Type
2 Executive Summary
2.1 Global Reinforcing Bar Couplers Market Size
2.1.1 Global Reinforcing Bar Couplers Revenue 2014–2025
2.1.2 Global Reinforcing Bar Couplers Production 2014–2025
2.2 Reinforcing Bar Couplers Growth Rate (CAGR) 2019–2025
3 Market Size by Manufacturers
3.1 Reinforcing Bar Couplers Production by Manufacturers
3.1.1 Reinforcing Bar Couplers Production by Manufacturers
3.1.2 Reinforcing Bar Couplers Production Market Share by Manufacturers
Key Que Answered in this report:
- What will the Global Reinforcing Bar Couplers market?
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- What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the Reinforcing Bar Couplers Market?
- What are the key outcomes of the five forces analysis of the Reinforcing Bar Couplers market?
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Strategic suggestions and proposals for the beginners to understand
Assessments of the market share from different countries and regions were conducted
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The competitive landscaping mappings of the ongoing trends are discussed.
Based on the market estimations, the strategic recommendations are made in the business segments
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hello Dr. Frascino, I know that HIV is more your area of expertise but I was wondering if you knew anything about hpv. I was diagnosed with hpv about 10 years ago and was reading recently that some percentage of people actually clear the infection, as well as the actual warts, from their body. Recently I had a partner of mine absolutely freak out because I conveyed to him that I didnt think it was that big of a deal, especially considering everything that's out there today. Regardless, I was wondering if it is true that some or most people actually clear the infection form their body. Perhaps if it is true this may give some consolation to my partner in the hopes of not contracting my hpv. Thank you...wishing all the best.
Sincerely, Anonymous
Hi Anonymous,
There are many different types of HPV (30-40 varieties). Over half of all sexually active folks become infected with some type of HPV. In 90% of these cases the body's immune system completely clears the infection. (See below.)
Hope that helps.
Dr. Bob
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and HIV/AIDS April 2010
What Is HPV?
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the name of a large group of viruses. Certain types of HPV cause warts on the hands or feet. About 30-40 types can cause infections in the genital area (the vulva, vagina, penis, buttocks, scrotum, and anus).
Genital HPV types are often referred to as "low risk" and "high risk." Low-risk types can cause genital warts. High-risk types can cause cervical cancer or cancer of the vulva, vagina, anus, and penis.
The types of HPV that can cause genital warts are not the same as the types that cause cancer. However, if you have warts, you may have also been exposed to the types of HPV that could cause cancer.
Genital HPV is spread easily through skin-to-skin contact during vaginal or anal sex with someone who has the infection. Condoms do not totally prevent transmission. Even though many people who have HPV don't know it, they can still pass it on to someone else.
Genital HPV is the most common sexually transmitted disease (STD) in the US. Over 50 percent of all sexually-active men and women become infected with HPV at some time in their lives.
Most people with HPV do not know they have it because they do not develop symptoms. In 90 percent of cases, the body's immune system clears HPV infection naturally (without treatment) within two years.
People living with HIV (HIV+ people) are more likely to be infected with HPV than HIV-negative people. HIV+ people with HPV are also more likely to develop genital warts, as well as cervical or anal cancer.
If you have sex, it is important to be checked for signs of HPV such as genital warts or cervical and anal cancer. This is because the body does not always clear HPV on its own and you may need treatment to prevent health problems.
Genital Warts
Certain types of HPV can cause warts on the vulva; in or around the vagina or anus; or on the penis, scrotum, groin, or thigh. Warts can appear anywhere from a few weeks to a few months after you are exposed to HPV. They can even appear years after exposure.
Flesh-colored, pinkish, or white warts that appear as small bumps or groups of bumps. They can be raised or flat, different sizes, and are sometimes shaped like cauliflower. Diagnosis
Health care providers can usually identify genital warts by looking at them Sometimes a biopsy is done (a sample of the suspected wart is cut off and examined under a microscope) Some health care providers may use a vinegar solution to help identify flat warts, however, this test may sometimes wrongly identify normal skin as a wart Treatment
There is no cure for HPV, but genital warts can be treated by removing the wart.
The following treatments must be done in a health care provider's office: TCA (trichloracetic acid): A chemical is applied to the surface of the wart Cryotherapy: Freezing off the wart with liquid nitrogen Electrocautery: Burning off the wart with an electrical current Laser therapy: Using an intense light to destroy the wart Excision: Cutting the wart out Some treatments can be done at home with prescription creams Do not use over-the-counter wart removal products to treat genital warts Some wart treatments should not be used by pregnant women Warts can reappear after successful treatment If left untreated, genital warts may go away, remain unchanged, or increase in size or number. Some people decide not to have treatment right away to see if the warts will go away on their own. When considering treatment options, you and your health care provider may take into account the size, location and number of warts, changes in the warts, your preference, and the side effects of treatment.
Many HIV+ women, especially those with low CD4 cell counts, may not be able to get rid of genital warts using standard treatments. Several different treatments may be needed.
Dysplasia and Cervical Cancer
Certain types of HPV can cause abnormal cells to form. This is called dysplasia. The main place dysplasia occurs is on the cervix. Other less common areas are the vagina, vulva, and anus. Dysplasia is not cancer, but if left untreated, it can develop into cancer.
Cervical cancer can be life threatening. It is one of the few AIDS-defining conditions specific to women. Fortunately, it can be prevented through early diagnosis and treatment.
Cervical cancer screening is done by using a Pap test (sometimes called a Pap smear). This test checks for changes in the cervix. Cervical cancer usually takes years to develop, but it does not have symptoms until it is quite advanced. This is why getting screened on a regular basis is important; screening can catch potential problems before they get worse.
It is especially important for HIV+ women to have regular Pap tests. This is because HIV+ women are more likely to have abnormal Pap tests than HIV-negative women.
Many women do not experience symptoms In very advanced stages, a woman may experience pain, vaginal discharge, and bleeding between periods Diagnosis
HIV+ women should have a complete gynecological examination, including a Pap test and a pelvic exam, when they are first diagnosed or when they first seek prenatal care HIV+ women should have another Pap test six months later If both tests are normal, yearly screening is recommended An abnormal Pap test can indicate inflammation, infection, dysplasia, or cancer If you have an abnormal Pap, you may need a colposcopy (an exam of your cervix using a magnifier to look at the tissue more closely) and a biopsy (cells or tissues are removed so they can be checked under a microscope for signs of cancer) An HPV test can be used along with the Pap test to detect cancerous and pre-cancerous conditions. However, there are no firm recommendations for using the HPV test in HIV+ people. Speak with your health care provider to see if the HPV test is appropriate for you. Treatment for Dysplasia
If it is determined that you have dysplasia, discuss your treatment options with your health care provider. While there is no cure for HPV, dysplasia can be treated. Most treatments focus on destroying the abnormal tissue so that it doesn't progress to cancer.
Electrocautery Burning off the cells with an electrical current Laser therapy: Using an intense light to destroy the cells Cold-knife cone biopsy: Cutting the cells out LEEP: Loop electrosurgical excision procedure Cryotherapy: Freezing the cells with liquid nitrogen In cases of mild dysplasia, your health care provider may just monitor the cervix by colposcopy, repeat Pap, or HPV test Dysplasia is more common in HIV+ women than HIV-negative women, especially women with advanced HIV disease and low CD4 cell counts. Dysplasia is often more serious and difficult to treat in HIV+ women than HIV-negative women.
Treatment of Cervical Cancer
Cervical cancer is most treatable when it is diagnosed and treated early, so regular Pap tests are vital. Treatment depends on the type of cervical cancer and how far it has spread. Often, more than one kind of treatment is used.
Surgery: Cancer tissue is cut out in an operation Chemotherapy: Drugs (pills and/or intravenous medications) are used to shrink or kill the cancer Radiation: High-energy rays (similar to X-rays) are used to kill the cancer cells
Dysplasia and Anal Cancer
Nearly all HIV+ men with a history of receptive anal intercourse have anal HPV infection. Certain strains of HPV may cause dysplasia and cancer in the anus. Although the risk of developing dysplasia is higher among men who have sex with men, women are also at risk, especially those with HIV or who have had anal intercourse.
May be no symptoms Anal bleeding, irritation, itching, or a burning sensation In very advanced stages, there may be abscesses, lumps, ulcers, and anal discharge Diagnosis
Careful physical examination by a health care provider may be the best way to detect anal cancers An abnormal anal Pap test may indicate dysplasia or cancer If you have symptoms, you may need an anoscopy (an exam of the anus using a magnifier to look at the tissue more closely) and a biopsy (cells or tissues are removed so they can be checked under a microscope for signs of cancer) It is important to ask your health care provider to check for anal cancer on a regular basis Treatment
Same as treatment for dysplasia and cervical cancer (see section above)
HPV is More Common and Can Be More Serious for HIV+ People
HIV+ people are more likely to be infected with HPV than HIV-negative people. One study found HPV in more than 3 out of 4 HIV+ women. Because of immune suppression, HIV+ women are more likely to have:
HPV infection that does not clear up on its own Infection with the HPV strains that are more likely to cause cancer Higher risk of developing cervical cancer HPV in both the cervix and anus Several strains of HPV at once HPV infections that were previously under control that come back again HPV that responds poorly to standard therapies -- multiple treatments using different methods may be needed
Prevention of HPV
There are two Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved HPV vaccines: Merck's Gardasil and GlaxoSmithKline's Cervarix. Gardasil is approved for females and males ages 9 to 26. Cervarix is approved for females ages 10-25. Pregnant women should not use the vaccines. Both vaccines protect against types of HPV that cause the majority of cervical cancer cases and genital warts.
It is important for young people to get vaccinated before their first sexual contact (before they have been exposed to HPV). People who are already infected with HPV are not protected by the vaccines. Also, the vaccines do not protect against less common HPV types. Therefore, health care providers still recommend regular Pap tests to look for dysplasia before it becomes cancer.
There are payment assistance programs for people who cannot afford the HPV vaccines, see the resource section of this sheet for contact info.
The safety and effectiveness of the vaccines in HIV+ people has not been determined. Speak to your health care provider about the HPV vaccine to see if it is appropriate for you.
Routine Screenings
Regular pelvic and anal exams and Pap tests are very important. While they cannot prevent HPV-related problems, they can help catch warts and dysplasia before they progress and cause greater problems.
It has been found that many HIV+ women skip PAP tests. It is crucial that HIV+ women get routine Pap testing and follow up as needed to identify problems before cancer develops. Prevention is always better than treatment.
Even though condoms do not fully protect HPV, when used correctly, they can help reduce the risk of HPV transmission.
Not Smoking
Smoking has been shown to increase the chance of developing numerous types of cancer including cervical and anal. If you smoke, it is a good idea to try and quit.
Taking Care of Yourself
HPV can be very serious for HIV+ people. Since there are frequently no symptoms, regular monitoring by your health care provider is the best way to be sure that any problems are found and treated before they progress.
A recent study also found that HIV+ women who were adherent (stuck closely) to their HIV drugs and had an undetectable viral load, had lower levels of HPV and were less likely to have pre-cancerous cervical cell changes. Although more research is needed, these findings suggest that sticking to an effective HIV drug regimen may help reduce HPV-related problems.


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Brand New FLITE 3 Piece Pad Set
- Color: Blue nylon with yellow screen printing
- Made in the USA
- Made from UV resistant coated nylon
- Top tube pad is 12" long with approx. 1" foam inner diameter (will also open up to fit 1 1/8" top tubes - foam will have to be cut to fit larger top tubes)
- Handlebar pad is 9" = 225mm long with approx. 7/8" = 22mm foam inner diameter
- Double stem pad is 11" = 275mm long (not including the velcro tabs) - if you're wanting to be sure this will fit your stem, wrap a tape measure around your stem and be sure 11" gives you plenty of room.
- Model:
- 4 Units in Stock
- Manufactured by: Flite


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White Lacquer Bookcase image above is part of the post in White Lacquer Bookcase gallery. Related with Bookcase Ideas category.
For Bookcase Ideas, You can find many ideas on the topic white, lacquer, bookcase, and many more on the internet, but in the post of White Lacquer Bookcase we have tried to select the best visual idea about Bookcase Ideas You also can look for more ideas on Bookcase Ideas category apart from the topic White Lacquer Bookcase.
This post published on . Read Bookcase Lighting Ideas or find other post and pictures about Bookcase Ideas.
White Lacquer Bookcase Gallery


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Has the time come for you to get out of the dorm and move into an off campus AIW apartment? Perhaps the options available from the The Art Institute of Washington - Northern Virginia housing office no longer meet your needs and you would like to find a cheap apartment close to the AIW campus. If so, you can search for off campus The Art Institute of Washington - Northern Virginia apartments with MyNewPlace's college housing search.
Although The Art Institute of Washington - Northern Virginia student housing may be very conveniently close to campus, moving to an off campus apartment can be a great way to save money, put some distance in between yourself and an RA, get accustomed to living in your own apartment and building up rental history.
AIW apartments for rent are available close to campus and in other neighborhoods around Sterling, Virginia. Using our map based university apartment finder, you can find off campus housing near campus to ensure you can still get to all the AIW games and make it to class on time.
We can help you find off campus AIW apartments that will best suit your collegiate lifestyle; search The Art Institute of Washington - Northern Virginia apartments by the number of bedrooms, price, neighborhood or a range of other amenities.
Have more questions? Check out our articles with renter tips in our apartment guide and search through http://www.artinstitutes.edu/northern-virginia/.


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Glossom becomes Arthewall
Glossom doesn't exist anymore, we moved to Arthewall. A new name, a new dress and an amazing new online store to buy your favorite curated art collections. The site is totally rebranded and combines the best of both worlds: the inspiring, artistic selection and editorial point of view of the old site alongside Arthewall, the tools to bring art in all the spaces, curated and ready to hang. Glossom and all his contents will be not available online anymore, you'll be noticed for future updates.
Explore stories, artists & more


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Difference between revisions of "Tracking Data"
From UA Libraries Digital Services Planning and Documentation
(→Remove and save the tracking data columns)
|Line 21:
|Line 21:
===Remove and save the tracking data columns===
===Remove and save the tracking data columns===
This happens after the spreadsheet has been batched, if necessary
COPY Filename column from the metadata spreadsheet to a new sheet
MOVE Tracking Data columns to new sheet
Save new sheet as tab delimited .txt file [collNum.batchNum.log.txt] in the collection's Admin folder
==Rationale for Change==
==Rationale for Change==
Revision as of 07:54, 25 April 2013
This page refers to the current procedure for recording administrative metadata during the capture process. For older processes of recording tracking data, see TrackingFiles.
Integrate the tracking data columns before capture begins
- Open the collection's metadata spreadsheet
- Open trackingcolumns_template.xlsx (found in S:\Digital Projects\Organization\Digital_Program_Logs\TrackingFiles\TrackingFiles_database_files)
- COPY tracking columns to the end of the metadata spreadsheet or enter these column headers manually:
Number of Captures Captured with Captured by Date OCR? (1=yes or 0=no) DS Notes
4. Save the metadata spreadsheet (and close trackingcolumns_template.xlsx)
Use the tracking data columns during capture
- Include data for items that you actually capture, not things you skip (see Skipped Items for how to track those
- Check your Number of Captures against the Format column in the metadata part of the spreadsheet -- the metadata should be made to match the number of captures you make (if there's a big discrepancy, see Procedural Anomalies)
- Be sure to fill in the OCR? column so that Tesseract can do its job
Remove and save the tracking data columns
- This happens after the spreadsheet has been batched, if necessary
- COPY Filename column from the metadata spreadsheet to a new sheet
- MOVE Tracking Data columns to new sheet
- Make sure you also copy the column headers
- If you don't, you'll get an error on upload -- because the script automatically assumes the first row is the header, it will interpret that your first item in Scans hasn't been entered into the log
- Save new sheet as tab delimited .txt file [collNum.batchNum.log.txt] in the collection's Admin folder
- Example: u0001_2007001.25.log.txt
Rationale for Change
In December of 2012, it was proposed that we rethink the current tracking model, for two reasons:
- Numerous fields in the TrackingFiles document were not being used, and they were overburdened with validation rules
- TrackingFiles documents were separate files, housed in a totally separate location from the rest of the collection's documentation
Advantages of New System
We then proposed the simplified and integrated tracking data procedure outlined above. This process has many advantages for our workflow:
- There is no longer a need to keep two spreadsheets open during capture, which improves our data collection
- With everything in one spreadsheet, it is easier to
- check the metadata against the tracking data, which allows for more accurate recordkeeping
- isolate batch tracking data (as the entire working metadata/tracking spreadsheet is being "batched")
- The tracking data has been pared down to essential fields but is open to future reconfiguration if necessary
Effects and Potential Effects
The process has the following impacts on workflow:
- No added step at preparation for capture, just a rewriting of the old one (adding template columns to existing sheet rather than saving template sheet as new document)
- No added step at preparation for upload, just a reworking of the old (transferring and saving the data rather than simply saving a spreadsheet)
- admittedly, the copying/removing procedure introduces risk, but it is a risk we are accustomed to taking: we have always done something similar to extract the OCR list from TrackingFiles
- if the columns are not removed, Archivist Utility will point them out during the MODS-making process, and the problem can be corrected
- The new model contains most of the same data that was effectively used in the old TrackingFiles documents, and can be named and archived in the same way
- Done properly, the new model should not impact the Metadata Unit at all; done poorly, it will not break our current system (columns will be mapped to MODS in a way that doesn't trigger a fatal error)
- Legacy collections will not require manual migration to the new system
- There was nothing inherently broken about the old system, so it can continue where it needs to
- New form tracking can be instituted as outlined above at any point in ongoing collections because we document them in batches


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Providing a firm foundation in the design of digital systems using Verilog HDL, this book presents the complete Verilog language together with a wide variety of examples. It describes the different modeling constructs supported by Verilog with numerous examples designed in each chapter.Cavanagh, Joseph is the author of 'Verilog HDL Digital Design and Modeling', published 2007 under ISBN 9781420051544 and ISBN 1420051547.[read more]
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Officers Shot During Kiddie Porn Bust at Harry Potter Movie
[There was a video here]
cops were injured by "friendly fire" while trying to apprehend a child pornography suspect while he attended a midnight screening of the most recent Harry Potter movie. There are so many inappropriate "wand" jokes to make right now.
Cops in Plainville, Connecticut, cornered suspect Eric Gothberg after the movie on Friday night and tried to arrest him but he didn't go willingly. When he reached for his pants (which is never a good thing for a child porn lover to do, especially right after a movie about magic children), the cops "discharged their weapons" (not the right idiom to use here, people) at the suspect. One bullet hit the suspect in the foot and another hit another cop who had just arrived at the scene in his squad car. His partner suffered injuries from flying shards of glass when the bullet hit the car window. No one was gravely injured, except for the reputation of the Plainville Police Department, which is now finding out how much it will cost to install a shooting range for some target practice.


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We've known about Nvidia's follow up to the Tegra 2 chip since last February, but the company has only now unveiled full details on the quad-core system-on-chip (SoC) for smartphones and tablets.
Formerly known as Kal-El, Tegra 3 will first ship in the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime, also announced today, and promises to give five times the performance of its predecessor. It will have a four-core Cortex A9 configuration sitting alongside a new 12-core graphics processor – which promises three times the graphical grunt of Tegra 2.
Of course, one of the most important things we will want from Tegra 3, is improved battery performance and Nvidia is indeed promising great things. For example it says that Tegra 3 will play 720p video using 61 per cent less power than Tegra 2 giving us the possibility of 12 hours video playback on a smartphone or tablet.
One of the most interesting things about Tegra 3 is the inclusion of a fifth "companion core" which takes some of the everyday low-intensity duties off the main cores. However it will be able to handle audio streaming and video playback and will run at a maximum speed of 500MHz.
Speaking of speed, once one of the Cortex A9 cores kicks in, it will chug along at 1.4GHz while in dual- and quad-core modes, Tegra 3 will top out at 1.3GHz. Depending on how much the SoC is being asked to do, single-, dual- or quad-core modes will be chosen automatically.
As you can see in the video below, Tegra 3 is certainly a beast when it comes to games but we'll have to wait for developers to push those boundaries before we fully see the capabilities of the new chip. They should be showing up in the Tegra Zone app first we imagine.
With the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime launching next month, Nvidia has said it wants to distribute Tegra 3 to as many smartphone and tablet manufacturers as possible and quad-core phones, such as the much-rumoured HTC Edge, are already on the horizon.


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Crystel is Jordan's first independent, multilingual contact center. We provide a range of inbound and outbound contact center services, consultancy, and business process outsourcing to various customers in markets across Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and North America. Our customized customer management solutions help our clients attain measurable business results and enhance the value of their brands.
Crystel considers its employees to be the most valuable asset in the company. For that reason, investing in the training of employees and providing them with the best working environment are key factors for achieving measurable results. If you have strong interpersonal and communication skills, the ability to learn and to become customer oriented offering the best customer service and support, we welcome you to apply to Crystel and join our dynamic, fun and unique team. We offer day and evening positions in our 24 hour operation.


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RESIDENTS who have been affected by the flooding will receive relief from paying the policing part of the council tax.
Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens has joined councils in Somerset to ensure communities suffering in the devastating floods receive council tax relief.
She said: "It's impossible to imagine the distress and upset felt by the residents whose lives have been changed by the flooding. Leaving your home or staying in a flooded property is no easy choice."
Ms Mountstevens is planning to set aside approximately £22,000 towards the council tax bills of residents who have been affected by flooding.
She added: "Despite the ongoing visible strength and resilience of the residents I am anxious to do whatever I can to help rebuild the lives of those whose homes have been shattered by the devastating effects of the floods. This is just one small way I can offer support."
Eligibility will be exactly the same as the local authority council tax relief scheme for flooded homes. This includes a 100% Council Tax discount for the six months up to the end of June this year for households who have had to evacuate or move upstairs in their flooded homes.
In addition the 100% relief would apply for three months for those whose homes have been cut off by floods but have not been under water.
Other properties on the Levels or other severely flooded areas might also be eligible for discounts depending on their individual circumstances and they would need to contact their local authority with individual requests.
The district and borough councils are responsible for collecting council tax on behalf of Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner and eligibility for the scheme will be decided by them.


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[Roundup] Apps To Help Keep Your 2013 Resolutions
image credit: chronus.com
You know the drill: Time to make lofty New Year's resolutions, just to drop them by April. Since mobile apps help us do everything else, why not use them to help you stay on track with your yearly goals.
Evernote - Free for iOS, Android, BlackBerry, Windows Phone, Mac, PC & Web
First and foremost, you need a centralized location to organize all your grandiose plans. Evernote can keep your resolution plans (and the rest of your life) organized and synced across all of your devices and on the Web. Evernote is so universal, that just about every other app you use for your resolutions (health & fitness, finance, education, etc.) probably integrates with the app.
Mint - Free for iOS, Android & Web
Mint is one of the easiest ways to get your finances organized. Simply create a profile, add accounts, and set up some financial goals, and Mint does the rest by organizing and categorizing your expenses, bills and other finances so you can see the big (or overdrawn) picture.
Gotta Smoke - Free (limited time) for iPhone
You've tried quitting cold turkey - Didn't work. Gotta Smoke is an app that helps smokers gradually quite smoking by learning smoking habits and letting users know when they can "flame one up". After a smoke, the app adjusts the time between smokes, and lets you know the next time you can smoke with an easy to read indicator. The more you use the app, the longer the time intervals become, eventually weening you off to cancer sticks.
Fooducate - Free for iOS, Android & Web
Counting calories in the New Year? Fooducate lets users snap photos of the UPC codes on food packaging to get a better idea of you caloric intake as well as a wealth of nutritional information about the food you eat. Fooducate is the app you use to make better food choices with over 200,00 barcodes in its database.
Couch-to-5K - Free for iOS, Android & Web
You want to just jump out there and hit the track hard for the New. If you're anything like me, your body (and knees) have changed since college. By giving you detailed training instructions every time you lace up your sneakers, Couch-to-5K can slowly get you "up and running" to compete in your first race in just 9 weeks.
Let me guess "This year, I'm really going to complete my resolutions." With mobile apps by your side everywhere you go, maybe this year will be different.
For real this time...


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Survey of Historical Heresies - Arianism Part 1/
Survey of Historical Heresies - Arianism Part 1 by Phil Johnson
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Welcome to Watch List, where we identify five things on TV to watch while you stay at home and celebrate CINCO DE MAYO! Awwww yeah! The greatest holiday of all! You don't know what it even commemorates, all you know is you get to consume all the Tecate and fresh tamales you want! WOOHOO! VAMANOS!
AMERICAN IDOL – 9:00PM (FOX) Tonight you get Lady Gaga and whatever outfit Lady Gaga had stitched together from items found in a Lower East Side apartment building Dumpster. I actually like Lady Gaga. She can sing, her songs have good hooks, and she doesn't give a crap if you think she's a complete freak for walking around with 70 dead bats stitched together and draped over her body. No one in this final Idol grouping has that kind of fearlessness. They're all just so… plain. Gaga will school them all. ANTICIPATION: NO PANTS!
MODERN FAMILY – 9:00PM (ABC) Tonight's the big one. Yup, it's the Hawaii episode. A bold gambit, given that the whole "family vacation" storyline has been a shark-jumping stable for decades now. But the "Modern Family" people were like, "You know what? We're so good, we'll do it and get away with it!" And if they show Sofia Vergara in a two-piece, then by golly, they will. They definitely will. ANTICIPATION: TWO PIECES!
BREAKOUT – 8:00PM (NatGeo – An NBC/Universal network) Tonight an armed robber escapes from jail by hiding in the back of a furniture truck. Now, is that not them most ingenious escape method of all time? Not only does he break out of jail, but he does so while sitting comfortably in a Barcalounger in the back of a truck. The only smarter move would be hiding in the back of the TV/Beer/Sleepnumber Bed truck, assuming such a thing exists. Which I hope it does. ANTICIPATION: COMFY CHAIR!
BIKER CHICKS: LEATHER AND LACE – 9:00PM (NatGeo – An NBC/Universal network) According to the guide, "Women who live in the world of bikers experience sexism and violence." I'll say! The sexism is right in the show's title! Tonight, biker grand dame (which is a British title, I think) Jennifer Chaffin marries John "The Mongol" Ely. You got nothing to worry about when you got a husband named The Mongol. He'll treat you right. ANTICIPATION: VROOM VROOM!
WEIRD OR WHAT? – 8:00PM (Discovery) This episode is called "Cocaine Mummies." Whoa. What does that mean? Are they mummies preserved in pure cocaine? Did cocaine cause them to wrap bandages around themselves and walk around very slowly, making groaning sounds? I want to know. I want a cocaine mummy for my own. ANTICIPATION: COCAINE MUMMIES!


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Filter events
Aqua Aerobics
Thursday, 4 August 2016, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Come and join a weekly aqua aerobics class suitable for all fitness levels and abilities, including non-swimmers. You will improve your muscular strength, flexibility and cardio fitness. The classes are held in an indoor heated pool.
When: Every Thursday from 10:00am.
Where: Massey Park Leisure Centre.
Cost: $6 (support people are free).
Contact by emailing Latesha Sharp or by phoning Latesha on 09 281 6503 or 027 808 1148 to register your interest and for more information.
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Massey Park Leisure Centre
2 Ron Keat Drive
2 Ron Keat Drive