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So you are probably wondering what I am getting at? Well, I hear stories all the time and have been asked questions like when are you opening a new store or when are you opening in this market? It's amazing how many times I have seen people and companies get too caught up in growth and whether they realize it or not and perhaps not intentionally, they let their operations slip. Growth is only as good as if you are profitable and have the right structure in place.
Your franchisees deserve the proper support. They have made a large investment for a reason. Companies who sell franchises for the fact of expanding faster can face tremendous challenges in both short and long term. Some questions to ask yourself first before selling a new market:
- Do I have the right team in place?
- Can I provide support to the new market?
- Do I have an adequate amount of positive cash flow?
- Are the franchise prospects the right for us?
- Do I have the right location?
- What is the upside for the company to expand now?
So let's take a look at each question. Do I have the right team in place? This requires you to be critical of the team. Is there a weak link currently on the team? If so, what plans do you have in place to change that? Can you replace that member in time, if not are you willing to take the risk to move forward and possibly damage your reputation? You also should stand back for a moment and ensure you have the right people to cover each of the areas; operations, marketing, training, branding, construction and all the other areas to successfully open a new store.
Can I provide support to the new market? Do you have enough people on the team to successfully provide support to your franchisee? It's one thing to just open a store. The bigger question is can you do it well and offer ongoing operational support. Support can also mean resources in terms of suppliers. Do you have the proper supply chain in place? Without food, you have nothing.
Do I have an adequate amount of positive cash flow? Cash is King as some people would say. Without it, what do you have? Take a look at your current financial position? How stable is the company? What are your future plans? Are there areas in the company that need immediate improvements? These can include repairs, renovations, adding additional team members, investing in better training materials and tools. All this takes time and money. This leads to my next point of finding the right franchise partners.
Are the franchise prospects the right for us? It's easy to be tempted to sell to everyone. You could be one of those companies that are receiving a consistent number of weekly franchise applicants or you could be the opposite and receive one every other week to the point you feel it's necessary to sign on a new franchise prospect. It doesn't matter what scenario you are. Bottom line, do your homework. Take the time to conduct a thorough financial credit check. Even the best of people can be hiding something. So be safe and conduct a criminal check too. Second and perhaps the most important, does the prospect have the passion and willingness to invest their time to make the business succeed. Don't trust everything you hear in the beginning. The consequences you could face are a failed market, a potential lawsuit, and lots of lost cash. Take your time to evaluate your potential franchise partner.
Location, location, location – Do you have the right location? You hear it all time. Location is everything. You may have a great product and great service, but if you have a bad location, you will have a lack of customers and sooner or later, you may close. Do you have a reputable real estate broker? Ensure you carefully study the market and the area. Visit your competition in the area. How well do they do? Ensure you are satisfied with the traffic and sales potential before you approve the location.
So what is the upside for the company to expand now? Again, I can't express enough how many times I have seen and heard companies agree to sign on a new franchisee without thinking twice about it. I have also seen and experienced the challenges for expanding too quickly. As long as you have gone through the steps of answering each of the questions I have highlighted and feel confident that you have all your tracks covered then expansion may be right for you. These are only some key points to lookout for. Look at the market you have been proposed? Will there be further future development in that market? Are there other markets that can benefit from that market expansion? Have you secured AAA store space? Perhaps, you have been approached by the right partners that bring restaurant and operation expertise to get you the company to the next level. Just remember, to consider all factors.
Don't get caught up with the idea of expanding too fast. There will always be time to expand. Focus on the problems at hand first and make it a practice to involve your corporate team. Listen to them as more than likely you can learn a thing or two. Once you have acknowledged any concerns and corrected any problems, you can re-evaluate if expansion is still right for you. It's critical that you have the Right Team, Right Partners, Right Location and Enough Cash. If you don't have one of them, then think twice about expanding.
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Using Cardio Exercise for Good Health
If your goal is to feel better and live a longer and healthier life, a little aerobic exercise goes a remarkably long way. The people in the bottom 20 percent of the population, fitness-wise, are 65 percent more likely to die from heart attack, stroke, diabetes, or cancer than the highly fit people in the top 20 percent. However, when those couch potatoes move up just one notch on the fitness scale, by simply adding a daily 30-minute walk, they're only 10 percent more likely to die from these causes than super-fit people.
If you have no designs on hiking the Appalachian Trail or losing 50 pounds, you may want to know the minimum amount of exercise that can make a difference in your health. Here are some answers.
How often you need to do cardio for good health
Research suggests that you can lower your risk of heart disease just by walking for 20 minutes three times a week. This typically is enough exercise to increase your energy level and stamina, too, although not enough to cause much in the way of fat loss.
If you're a beginning exerciser or returning to an exercise program, try to work out five or six days rather than three days a week (keeping the workouts short) so you get in the habit of exercising.
How long your workouts should last for good health
If your goal is to improve your health, you do not need to do all your exercise in big chunks. Nowhere is it written that in order to benefit from aerobic exercise, you need to do it for 30 consecutive minutes. Studies show that doing three ten-minute bouts of aerobic exercise has nearly the same health benefits as doing one half-hour session.
How hard you need to push for good health
If you're simply looking to feel better and improve the quality of your everyday life, being active is the key, even if you don't always reach your target heart-rate zone. However, to realize the maximum health benefits — significantly lowering your heart-disease risk, for example — it's wise to work out in your target zone the majority of the time. Plus, even if you have modest goals, you may want to crank up your intensity just to keep things interesting.
Realize that, when you're a beginner, any exercise you do is high-intensity exercise. As you get more fit, you need to adapt your routine to match your increasing strength and lung power.

subset: commoncrawl


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Staff Nursing Jobs Mpumalanga
Register today with Ambition 24Hours for exclusive staff nurse jobs in Mpumalanga. One sign-up will allow you to be part of a leading team of medical experts who take pride in their work. We offer maximum flexibility in shift hours and locations where a staff nurse would want to work. Follow the link to register with us and find out more about working with us at the A24 Group.
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(Our office is open in Cape Town for registrations 8:00am - 5:00pm, Monday – Friday.)


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Today is David's birthday – "Happy Birthday, Dave!"
* * * *
I can't believe it's been over two weeks since I've posted. It just goes to show you that without structure, I am wandering aimlessly. (Do I need to do Project 365 to actually keep a blog??)
Two days after my last post – it was my birthday and the present I gave myself was a trip to Texas to see Kale and Kayla. I went ALONE. I flew alone. Did you hear that? And I did it without nerve medicine. Haha!
Before I left, I knew I needed some Maddie time, so I picked her up from daycare (there's nothing better than hearing her scream "Mémère" when she sees me come in the door!) and off we went to Wal-mart.
When you live in the sticks, travel isn't all that "convenient". It takes three hours to get to the airport. The flight from Little Rock to Houston is only an hour or so… unless you get a plane with THESE…
…then, it takes about two hours. Ha!
Kale picked me up from the airport and shortly after we got home, Kayla got off work. I miss them SO much, they are always a sight for sore eyes! We went to eat at a really neat little "family" cafe (Eden Cafe) and I got chicken pot pie. I haven't had that in forever and it was so good! (I crunched up my crust before getting a picture. Ha!)
After supper, the "kids" gave me my birthday gift – an iPad2!!
It was a hard gift to accept, but I pretty much ran with it after I got over being overwhelmed!
All in all, it was one of the best birthdays ever! (That's saying a lot when you get to be my age.)
I'll post more about my trip tomorrow. Until then,
* * * * * *
Dear Maddie,
Look what Mémère got for you!


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European leaders have started a two-day summit in Brussels in the latest effort to resolve the continent's debt crisis and save the euro.
Some officials have described the European summit as a moment of reckoning for the common currency, under siege by Europe's burgeoning debt crisis. But before the meeting opened Thursday night, there remained a divergence of opinion on exactly how to resolve the two-year debt contagion that threatens the stability of the world economy.
U.S. President Barack Obama told reporters in Washington that Europe is prosperous enough to resolve the debt crisis if its leaders have the political will to act.
"Europe is wealthy enough that there is no reason why they can't solve this problem," said President Obama. "It is not as if we are talking about some impoverished country that doesn't have any resources and is being buffeted by the world markets and they need to come hat in hand and get help. This is Europe with some of the wealthiest countries on earth, collectively one of the largest markets on earth, if not the largest."
The economy in the 17-nation bloc that uses the euro has all but stalled, with some analysts saying it has already dipped into a recession. The European Central Bank took a modest step ahead of the summit to boost lending, trimming its prime interest rate a quarter percentage point to one percent, the second cut in two months.
But stocks slid on European and U.S. exchanges after the bank's president, Mario Draghi, dampened speculation that the central bank would increase its purchase of the debt of European governments as one way to cut their borrowing costs. A European regulator said the continent's banks need to raise nearly $154 billion to cover possible losses on government securities they hold.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy are calling for the eurozone nations to curb excessive spending and impose strict penalties on violators. Their plan would also create a unified corporate tax rate and a new financial transaction tax.
President Sarkozy said an agreement is essential.
"Everyone can understand that if on Friday we don't find an agreement, there is no second chance," said President Sarkozy. "I call for the spirit of compromise and speedy decision making."
Before heading to Brussels, the German and French leaders tried to rally support for their plan during a meeting of the center-right European People's Party in the French city of Marseilles. Senior officials said late Wednesday that final agreement may not be reached at the summit.
One German official told the Associated Press that it might be Christmas (December 25) before a deal is reached. Another senior official was quoted as saying that some countries "have not understood the seriousness of the situation.
Fears that Europe's debt crisis could spark additional problems have sent jitters through the global financial markets and have prompted warnings from several top credit rating agencies.
Britain, which has its own currency, the pound, has indicated that it may not be willing to sign on to new EU treaty provisions. Prime Minister David Cameron said earlier this week that he will defend Britain's financial interests at the summit.
Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.


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Did you know that 57% of the U.S. population doesn't meet daily magnesium requirements according to the USDA?1 Here's what that means for you…
Magnesium plays an integral role "in more than 300 chemical reactions that keep the body working properly," including "the proper growth and maintenance of bones…nerves, muscles, and many other parts of the body."2
"So far this amazing spray has stopped joint pain and severe fibromyalgia attacks in short order. It has also proved helpful for backaches. Wondering what else it can do???" – Linda"When I use your magnesium, my hands and feet feel much better (well, all of me really). I also think it's helping my circulation." – Ashley
"I get quite a few headaches, even migraines. I've read and heard from multiple sources that migraine sufferers are often deficient in magnesium. I keep the magnesium oil on the nightstand, which makes it easy to remember and use. I experience fewer headaches, which I believe is in part to the oil." – Kristine
"A lot of people don't realize that poor quality of sleep could be because of a magnesium deficiency. In addition to magnesium pills, I spray on Sunfood's Pure and Potent Magnesium Oil — especially before bed. I rub it into my arms, legs and feet just before lights out for extra deep sleep. Without this oil, I do not sleep well at all." – Connie
Our magnesium oil is a convenient way to get magnesium straight into your bloodstream through your skin. It involves a groundbreaking process which infuses magnesium minerals into purified water up to the saturation point required for optimal absorption and maximum cellular retention. This is what gives our magnesium oil the ability to penetrate quickly and deeply. It's highly absorbable and many people say that it does not cause itching the way that other magnesium oils do…
"Just a few sprays helps relieve any muscle pain, and I am happy that it doesn't cause any itchiness like other magnesium products I've used."– Lauren"Love it!!! This magnesium oil really works!!" – Mans
Another fun (and delicious) way to get your magnesium is cacao powder, otherwise known as raw chocolate, which is naturally very rich in magnesium (35% RDA per serving). Mix it with your favorite smoothie or use in dessert recipes for a chocolaty boost!
Are you getting your daily magnesium?
1 – "Nutrient intakes percent of population 2 years old and over with adequate intakes based on average requirement." USDA, Community Nutrition Mapping Project, 2009.
2 – National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Medline Plus, 2013.
4 – "Trabecular bone density in a two year controlled trial of peroral magnesium in osteoporosis." Stendig-Lindberg, G. Magnesium Research Journal, June 2013.
5 – "Red blood cell magnesium and chronic fatigue syndrome." Cox, IM. Lancet, Mar. 1991.
6 – University of Maryland Medical Center, Complementary and Alternative Medicine Guide: Magnesium, 2013.
Sunfood's "Natural Solutions" does not promote or suggest natural cures, natural healing or natural remedies for any disease, disorder or ailment thereof. This information should be treated as educational material gathered and discovered from various studies, clinical trials and customer reviews. It is designed to encourage healthy lifestyles, and independent conclusions in regards to natural products and alternative health choices. It is best to consult with your healthcare practitioner before attempting any form of natural cure, natural healing or natural remedy to any health issues.


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College Students: Ideal for ID Theft
By Sid Kirchheimer , May 16, 2014 11:36 AM
If you have children or grandkids attending college, or about to graduate, it's time to school them on the dangers of identity theft.
Last year the Better Business Bureau deemed college students the "most at-risk" group for identity theft, and those in their 20s represented 1 in 5 of all victims (higher than any other age group), according to reports filed with the Federal Trade Commission.
College students and recent graduates are often targeted because they're ideal victims. Reasons:
- Many have access to credit cards and checkbooks - their own or held jointly with a parent - and, typically, a clean credit history that's attractive to ID thieves. But they're less likely than older folks to monitor their financial accounts.
- They're the most frequent and active users of social media and are more likely to post birthdates, hometowns and other personal information that can be pieced together by Facebook-trawling identity thieves.
- When victimized, they take longer to detect identity theft. Past studies have found that those ages 18 to 24 take an average of 132 days to discover they've been scammed - five times longer than the national average. Because of this delay, their financial losses have also been higher than those of older ID theft victims.
Maybe this explains why computer systems of universities are popular targets for cybercrooks.
So far this year, nearly 840,000 personal records were exposed in breach attacks against no fewer than 12 universities - including the University of Maryland, Indiana University, Johns Hopkins University, Iowa State, the University of Minnesota, Auburn University College of Business, a campus of the University of Wisconsin, Loyola Law School and the North Dakota University System.
Meanwhile, during the same period, fewer than 5,000 records were hacked in 10 data breaches of financial institutions, according to the Identity Theft Resource Center, which keeps tabs on reported breaches.
To reduce ID theft risk, teach your offspring to take the same protective measures as you do. That means:
- Monitoring their financial accounts, quickly and regularly. In addition to carefully reviewing bank and credit card statements for fraudulent charges, college students (like all Americans) should take advantage of the three free reports they are entitled to per 12-month period at www.annualcreditreport.com.
- Keeping checkbooks, bank and credit card statements, passports, and anything else with account numbers or other personally identifiable information (PII) in a locked filing cabinet, not a desk drawer. Ideally, sensitive documents, including credit card statements, should be mailed to the parents' home or a PO Box; dorm and apartment mailboxes may not be secure.
- Securely storing computers, smartphones and tablets (dorm rooms, in particular, can have "open door" access) when not carrying them. These devices should also be locked with PINs, and employ different passwords on different accounts. Security software should be installed and regularly updated, and data should be encrypted, especially on smartphones. How-to info should be in the owner's manual or on the manufacturer's website.
- Avoiding Wi-Fi networks when shopping online - and never leaving payment cards "on file" at websites, in case a company is subject to a data breach. In general, it's safer to use retailers' dedicated apps than the phone's browser.
- Reading reviews before installing apps and sticking with trusted vendors, such as Apple's App Store.
- Declining free downloads for games, music and screen savers, and not opening links from strangers - especially those promising nude photos or videos of celebrities. All are popular ways to install malware.
- Realizing that social networks like Facebook can be a gold mine for identity theives. Studies show that commonly shared information, such as birthdates and birthplaces, can be used to accurately guess most digits in a Social Security number. A pet's name (often broadcast by young adults) is often used as a security question at websites - and also as an account password by young people. And hackers know this.
- Adjusting privacy settings on social network sites to make it difficult for strangers to view accounts or post material on your page.
- Using credit cards, which offer stronger liability protection, rather than debit cards. When using a debit card, especially at gas stations, choose the "credit" option that doesn't require a PIN.
- Shredding solicitations for preapproved credit cards and opting out of such offers at https://www.optoutprescreen.com.
For information about other scams, sign up for the Fraud Watch Network . You'll receive free email alerts with tips and resources to help you spot and avoid identity theft and fraud, and gain access to a network of experts, law enforcement and people in your community who will keep you up-to-date on the latest scams in your area.
Also of Interest
- ID Theft in the Afterlife
- Why You Shouldn't Drop Your Landline Just Yet
- Fight Fraud and ID Theft With the AARP Fraud Watch Network
- Join AARP: Savings, resources and news for your well-being
See the AARP home page for deals, savings tips, trivia and more.


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Recent News
September 10, 2013
Altaire Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Recalls Ophthalmic Solution
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services received information regarding a recall of Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium 0.5% Ophthalmic Solution, 30 mL because the preservative may not be effective through expiry.
The product is known generically as Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium 0.5% Ophthalmic Solution and labeled as follows:
- equate Restore Tears Lubricant Eye Drops Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium 0.5%, Sterile, 1 FL OZ (30 mL) - Distributed by Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.;
- Lubricant EYE DROPS FOR MILD TO MODERATE DRY EYE, STERILE, 1 FL OZ (30 mL), for Mild to Moderate Dry Eye - Distributed by CVS Pharmacy, Inc.; and
- lubricant eye drops for mild to moderate dry eye, STERILE, 1 FL OZ (30 mL) - Dist. by Target Corp.
Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium 0.5% Ophthalmic Solution is a non-prescription (OTC) drug product used to relieve dryness of the eye and packaged in a plastic bottle inside a unit box. Lot numbers can be found printed horizontally on the side of the label and on the bottom flap of the box. The lots listed above were distributed between February 2012 and April 2013. The product was sold nationwide at retail stores.
The full recall including the lot numbers and expiration dates can be found at www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm367559.htm?source=govdelivery&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery.


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i am trying to make a chess game and in order to do that I'm using a drag and drop method to move the characters.
I have been able to implement a mouse adapter to drag and drop the images. I am now trying to add a mouseReleased function where i can then check if the player has made a valid move.
When i run the program i am able to get the mousePressed function to work but the mouseReleased function is only called sometimes on a quick click and never after a drag.
button.addMouseListener(new MouseAdapter(){ //function that drags and drops the icons @Override public void mousePressed(MouseEvent e){ JButtonExt previousSquare = (JButtonExt)e.getSource(); TransferHandler handle = previousSquare.getTransferHandler(); handle.exportAsDrag(previousSquare, e, TransferHandler.COPY); System.out.println(previousSquare.location[0] + " " + previousSquare.location[1]); } @Override public void mouseReleased(MouseEvent e) { System.out.println("test"); } });
any help would be appreciated


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Princess & Prince Vintage Personalized Bookplates
Princess & Prince Vintage Personalized Bookplates
24 sweet Princess and Prince bookplates, waiting to be placed in your favorite books!
The beautiful illustation is from a vintage children's book from the early 1920's. Bookplates are printed on high quality, matte paper, ready for the adhesive or archival glue of your choice. Each bookplate is approximately 3 1/4" x 4 1/8", and bookplates are packaged in a clear plastic sleeve. The oiseaux watermark will not appear on your bookplates.
~ A great gift idea, and the perfect present for a new baby.~
In some cases I can include a middle or last name, feel free to email me with any questions. I can also leave your bookplates blank.
Thank you for looking!
Add To Cart
(Click on image to view larger)


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Autonomic Resources, a government-only cloud service provider, announced it has joined forces with Akamai Technologies, a fellow FedRAMP Joint Authorization Board (JAB) provisionally authorized provider, to provide control and security for cloud-based agency data and systems with their "end-to-end" FedRAMP cloud offerings.
By combining Autonomic and Akamai's FedRAMP authorized solutions, the companies aim to bring cost effective, secure and innovative cloud platforms, along with higher performance and Web security, to government agencies, the companies said in their announcement.
The partnership wants to give agencies visibility from the data center to the user point of access using metrics for application performance, availability to Internet end points and other key real-time metrics. It also expands Autonomic's FedRAMP JAB authorized cloud offerings for all federal, state and local government customers using the Autonomic Resources Cloud Platform.
Akamai services, such as application performance optimization, DDoS mitigation, Web application security and management via the Akamai portal, can be used in conjunction with Autonomic's cloud services while maintaining FedRAMP compliance.
"We're excited to see the increased use of FedRAMP authorizations, not only from federal agencies but now between cloud service providers to enhance the overall suite of services the federal government can use," said Matt Goodrich, FedRAMP program manager at the General Services Administration. "Collaboration like this goes to the heart of the "do-once, use-many time framework" of FedRAMP, helping to create a robust marketplace for secure cloud computing services for the U.S. government."
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Louis Vuitton Vavin GM Handbag Authentic Pre Owned
This item is no longer available
Authenticity code: Louis Vuitton SR0082This authentic Louis Vuitton Vavin GM has a contemporary look that really shows style and class. It features the LV traditional monogram canvas and leather trim. It is the perfect size for an everyday bag.
Authentic: Pre-Owned
Exterior: Gently used
Interior: Gently used
Measurements: 12" L x 8" W x 13" H. Handle drop: 10 (Approx.)
Product Code: 102502
Read more about Louis Vuitton Date Code here.
All photos are of actual item being sold. © 2007-2019 LuxeDH.
This Louis Vuitton® item is guaranteed to be authentic. Louis Vuitton is a registered trademark of Louis Vuitton. LuxeDH is not affiliated with or represents Louis Vuitton in any way or form.
New Arrivals


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Our Sunday Electives are a great opportunity for discipleship and Bible Study in a small classroom or small group setting. There are several Electives during both the 9:30am and 11am services. Click here to see the current elective lineup.
Back to All Events
Earlier Event: April 21Sunday Services
Later Event: April 24Wednesday Night Connect


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Join or leave a group in Yahoo Groups
Use groups to connect with a community of people on specific topics of interest. All of your subscribed groups are listed on the left side of the Yahoo Groups Home page and you can leave a group at any time.
Join a group
In private groups, your request is sent to the group's moderator for approval.
- Sign in to Yahoo Groups.
- Open a group.
- Click Join Group.
- Set your membership info.
- Click Send Request.
Leave a group
If you're the group's only owner, you'll need to transfer ownership before leaving.
- Sign in to Yahoo Groups.
- Open the group.
- Click Membership | Edit Membership.
- Click Leave Group.
- Click Leave.


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Inspiration from Kelso on That '70s Show? Yep. (Who would've figured?)
So when I think of Ashton Kutcher, here's what comes to mind: 1. Kelso on That '70s Show. 2. Goofy pranks on Punk'd. 3. His obscenely overanalyzed relationship with Demi Moore (which flamed out anyhow). Inspirational? Umm, hardly. But on Sunday night, when he received the Ultimate Choice Award at the Teen Choice Awards, his acceptance speech was charming, heartfelt and, dare I say, uplifting. In acknowledging the millions of fans who made and have kept him a star, Ashton (whose actual first name is Chris, he revealed) offered up words of genuine wisdom. He recounted a bunch of basic, boring jobs he held as a teenager, pointing out that opportunities generally look "a lot like work." He offered a personal take on being "sexy," saying that being smart, thoughtful and generous is really what to strive for. And he wrapped with a pointed suggestion to actively build the life you want instead of just getting swept along in someone else's. The 4-minute snippet of his remarks has gone viral, with well over 2 million YouTube views. It's definitely worth watching—with your kids, if you can.


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Band of Horses
Mirage Rock - BROWN/COLUMBIA
FILTER Grade: 87%
By Fred Frodus on September 19, 2012
2010 was a landmark year for Band of Horses. The Carolinans released their third album (and first for a major label), Infinite Arms, which topped numerous best-of lists and also snagged a Grammy nomination for Alternative Album of the Year, cementing their crossover from indie beloveds to, simply, a big, awesome American rock and roll band. Ben Bridwell had also cemented his band's lineup and fully embraced his love of rural Americana songsmiths like JJ Cale and Townes Van Zandt, resulting in more genuinely gorgeous, harmonizing slow-movers than ever before. But despite all the love, some sticklers bemoaned the growing number of patient, pretty songs in place of uptempo burners like "Wicked Gil" or "Islands on the Coast." So, then, the band's next move, Mirage Rock, should make everybody happy: it's just as elegant as anything in their catalog, but now with more ass-kicking. Toss in the fact that behind the boards is legendary engineer and 2012 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Glyn Johns (Sticky Fingers, "You Really Got Me," Led Zeppelin, "Baba O'Riley") and baby, you've got a stew going.
BoH have a knack for seamlessly transitioning between genres, their badge of honor at this point, and on Mirage, their blend of Southern and indie rock splashed with alt-country is evolving. Bridwell's high-register vocals, Tyler Ramsey's heavy riffs and Creighton Barrett's foundation-laying drums drive "Knock Knock," an even more anthemic and complete opener than Cease to Begin's "Is There a Ghost." Country influences in "How to Live" are abundant—taking note from another Johns project, The Faces—but the song doesn't veer too far in that direction, balancing out melodic harmonies and twangy instrumentals. "Slow Cruel Hands of Time" and "Shut-in Tourist" slow the pace while allowing room for Bridwell's voice—perhaps the band's true hallmark—to shine, but "Electric Music," a Stones-quality ripper showing Johns' deft ear, and "Feud," a tune faster and harder than anything they've written, bring back the speed. The swingin'-turns-sludgy riffing and world-weary laments of "Dumpster World" is their weirdest moment in four albums but still finds a way to deliver, and album closer "Heartbreak on the 101" makes room for strings and three sweeping, gravel-to-grand movements of Bridwell's soaring vocals. These two songs in particular leave us with the ultimate lesson of Mirage Rock: After four triumphant releases, and no matter where they go, it's clear we can trust Band of Horses, one of America's biggest and best rock and roll bands, to deliver.


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The infomercial psychic with the annoying accent who came out of the closet is seeing good things ahead for 2009.
Miss Cleo, the late-night prognosticator who flooded the airwaves in the late '90s with her cheaply produced commercials peddling her clairvoyant powers is still seeing the future and predicts 2009 will be a good year, in an interview with the Miami Herald.
A few years back, if you were up at 2 a.m. flipping through channels, you couldn't avoid Cleo's infomercials for the Psychic Readers Network.
"The cards never lie," she frequently said as she took calls and gave readings at 99 cents per minute, in often-mocked commercials.
Miss Cleo, also known as Youree Dell Cleomili Harris, came out as a lesbian in 2006 and is actively involved in gay rights in Lake Worth, where she now lives. She frequently attends protests, pride fests and AIDS walks in South Florida.
Miss Cleo is still doing readings - priced from $75 to $250 - but prefers to call herself a voodoo priestess instead of a psychic.
"I'm a proud voodoo woman," she told the Herald. "And I make no apologies to anyone."
Her stint as a TV psychic ended when the Psychic Readers Network was buried in lawsuits from callers who claimed they were grossly overcharged. Cleo, a Network spokeswoman but never a boss, was sued by the state of Florida, but the charges were eventually dropped.
These days, when she's not looking into her crystal ball, Cleo stays busy with her web site, www.the-real-mscleo.com, as well as other side projects. She was the voice of gang leader Auntie Poulet in the video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and she released a spoken-word CD in 2007.
Miss Cleo gave some upbeat predictions for 2009.
"In 2009 my lesson and my sharing with people is that one has to come out of their comfort zone," she said in a video posted on the Herald's web site. "It's a year of opportunity, absolutely."
And what about the lousy economy?
"When will the market start to turn around? Last quarter of 2009 we'll start to see some stability," she said.


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All in favor?
ST. PETERSBURG — Not everyone within the Blue Jays' clubhouse are big fans of the new instant replay ruling that Major League Baseball has implemented. Count Roy Halladay and Matt Stairs among those who aren't entirely in favor or the decision.
"You kind of hate to see it, just because you're starting to change the game," Halladay saod. "Really, I think it's probably going to be more fair and it's probably going to be the right way to do it, but it's starting to change the game — change the way it's always been called."
OK, Stairs wasn't entirely against it — let's be honest.
"I think changing the game and putting instant replay in, in my mind, is wrong," Stairs said. "Next thing you know, it's going to be computerized strike zones with no umpires. That's the next step. I just don't agree with bringing the instant replay in. It makes the umpires look bad if they're wrong."
Beginning Friday for the Jays, any questionable home runs can be reviewed by the umpires. The process involves calling MLB Advanced Media's headquarters in New York City, where a technician and a umpire supervisor or former MLB ump, who will review the play and relay their findings to the crew at the game in question.
As Stairs put it: "The pitchers are going to suffer because of the fact that he has to stand on the mound and not do anything."
That is certainly one concern for Halladay.
"Hopefully, they just find a way to do it quickly," he said. "You don't want to be standing out there every time somebody hits a home run waiting for them to figure it out. Let's see how it works. Maybe it's something that goes quickly and it's not even an issue. But, yeah, that'd be a concern, especially with them trying to speed games up, I think that would put a hamper on that."
Now, there were plenty of Blue Jays who were in favor of the new initiative, but most said that will only remain so as long as the guidelines remain as is. Stairs expressed concern that this could open the door for more reviews being allowed down the road and that's something the players don't want to see, or the coaches for that matter.
"I don't want the human element taken out of this game," bench coach Brian Butterfield said. "I don't want there to be computers or machines doing the job of our umpires."
Today's lineups:
TORONTO (68-63) at TAMPE BAY (79-51)
at 7:05 p.m. ET at Tropicana Field
Joe Inglett, 2B
Marco Scutaro, 3B
Alex Rios, RF
Vernon Wells, CF
Adam Lind, LF
Lyle Overbay, 1B
Matt Stairs, DH
Rod Barajas, C
John McDonald, SS
PITCHING: LHP David Purcey (2-4, 6.55)
Akinori Iwamura, 2B
B.J. Upton, CF
Carlos Pena, 1B
Rocco Baldelli, DH
Willy Aybar, 3B
Ben Zobrist, LF
Shawn Riggans, C
Justin Ruggiano, RF
Jason Bartlett, SS
PITCHING: RHP Matt Garza (10-7, 3.71)
13 Comments
Bosox 13.473 fans at the Trop last night not a good showing for a team that will win the divison maybe,but they will make the playoffs if I was the owner I think I would cry.
The Rays have never drawn good once schools started back. In fact they have had trouble drawing most of the time. I am pretty sure though once the team gets into October that place will be absolutely ROCKIN'!
It will be fun to watch them once they get into the playoffs!
Great MLBlog …… check mine out sometime!!
Major League Ballhawk
Jordan – One more thing, can you tell MENCH that John Witt, his clubby from 2000 in Port Charlotte, says "HEY!"
This game is now over,Purcey is no match for this team,and these fools cant beat Garza.
I'm not saying he is not pitchen well because he is but it's to bad he has to face Garza it looks like he is going to be a hard luck pitcher this year, my last post about him being no match for this team was wrong I meant this team is no match for Garza,As we all know every team every year runs into a pitcher they can't beat and Garza is the one we can't beat.
Ballhawk read your blog enjoyed it.
Did you guys hear? We traded Robinzon Diaz for Buatista. J.P makes me laugh.
Gsumner I take anything I said about Purcey back that was a game and a half the kid pitched his heart out and took a hard luck loss,and once again the Jays made an average pitcher look good again.
I wouldn't call Garza an average pitcher — I think he's got a pretty bright future ahead of him.
Tough loss for Purcey, but definitely a step in the right direction.
Looks like Purcey is settling in, remember I did say it would take 5-10 starts. He finally got his breaking ball back and working. As you can tell from the k's, it's nasty.
Too bad we didn't score any runs for him.
From SI-Trade Rumors
Five days before Monday's trade deadline, the Angels continue to pursue a veteran shortstop as insurance in case Erick Aybar is injured. The team has targeted three Toronto players, slick-fielding John McDonald, former Angel David Eckstein and Marco Scutaro, as well as Baltimore's Juan Castro and Cleveland's Jamey Carroll. No team will just hand the Angels a quality shortstop, so the asking price, even for backups, is high.
**Let's hope it's David Eckstein.
I wonder which (if any) of these shortstops cleared waivers.
I'd be surprised if the Jays hadn't put Eckstein on waivers already, and I doubt they'd have done that with Macdonald or Scutaro.
Last night MLB reported that both 2nd baseman Howie Kendrick and shortstop Erick Aybar left the LA game with tight left hamstrings. In addition, Chone Figgons was scratched from the lineup prior to the game with a sore big left toe. So it does look like LA needs some help.


text:
Kidney stones are made of
salts and minerals in the urine that stick together to form small "pebbles."
They can be as small as grains of sand or as large as golf balls. They may stay
in your
kidneys or travel out of your body through the
urinary tract. The urinary tract is the system that makes urine and carries it
out of your body. It is made up of the kidneys, the tubes that connect the
kidneys to the bladder (the
ureters), the bladder, and the tube that leads from
the bladder out of the body (the
When a stone travels through a ureter, it may cause no pain. Or it may cause great pain and other
Kidney stones form when
a change occurs in the normal balance of water, salts, minerals, and other
things found in urine. The most common cause of kidney stones is not drinking
enough water. Try to drink enough water, enough so that your urine is light yellow or clear like water (about 8 to 10
glasses a day). Some people are more likely to get kidney stones
because of a medical condition, such as gout.
Kidney stones
may also be an inherited disease. If other people in your family have had
kidney stones, you may have them too.
Kidney stones often cause
no pain while they are in the kidneys, but they can cause sudden, severe pain
as they travel from the kidneys to the bladder.
Call a doctor
right away if you think you have kidney stones. Watch for severe pain in your
side, belly, or groin or for urine that looks pink or red. You may also feel
sick to your stomach (nausea) and may vomit.
You may first
find out that you have kidney stones when you see your doctor or go to an
emergency room with pain in your belly or side. Your doctor will ask you
questions about your pain and lifestyle. He or she will examine you and may do
imaging tests such as
a CT scan or an ultrasound to look at your kidneys and urinary tract.
You may need more tests if you have more than one stone or have
a family history of stones. To find out the cause of your kidney stones, your
doctor may order a blood test and ask you to collect your urine for 24 hours.
This can help your doctor find out if you are likely to have more stones in the
Kidney stones may not cause any pain. If this is the case,
you may learn you have them when your doctor finds them during a test for
another disease.
For most stones, your doctor
will suggest that you take care of yourself at home. You may need to take pain
medicine. You'll need to drink enough water and other fluids so you don't get
dehydrated. Your doctor may give you a medicine to
help the stone pass.
If a stone is too large to pass on its own,
or if it gets stuck in the urinary tract, you may need more treatment. About 1
or 2 out of every 10 kidney stones need more than home treatment.1
The most common treatment is
extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL). ESWL uses shock waves to break a
kidney stone into small pieces. The bits can pass out of your body in your
urine. Other times, a doctor will need to remove the stone or place a small
flexible plastic tube (called a
stent) in the ureter to keep it open while stones
After you have
had kidney stones, you are more likely to have them again. You can help prevent
them by drinking plenty of water, enough so that your urine is light yellow or clear like water, about 8 to 10 glasses
of water a day. You may have to eat less of certain foods. Your doctor may also
give you medicine that helps prevent stones from forming.
Learning about kidney stones:
Being diagnosed:
Getting treatment:
Living with kidney stones:
Health Tools help you make wise health decisions or take action to improve your health.
Kidney stones
may form when the normal balance of water, salts, minerals, and other
substances found in urine changes. How this balance changes determines the type
of kidney stone you have. Most kidney stones are
calcium-type—they form when the
calcium levels in your urine change.
Factors that change your urine balance include:
More commonly, kidney stones can run in families, as stones
often occur in family members over several generations.
In rare
cases, a person forms kidney stones because the
parathyroid glands produce too much of a hormone,
which leads to higher calcium levels and possibly calcium kidney stones.
Kidney stones
form in the kidney. If they stay in the kidney, they typically do not cause
pain. When they travel out of the body through the tubes of the
urinary tract (including the
ureters, which connect the kidney to the bladder, or
urethra, which leads outside the body), their movement
may cause:
Conditions with similar symptoms
ectopic pregnancy, and
kidney stone begins as a tiny piece of crystal in the
kidney. When the urine leaves the kidney, it may carry the crystal out, or the
crystal may stay in the kidney. If the crystal stays in the kidney, over time
more small crystals join it and form a larger kidney stone.
stones leave the kidney and travel through the
urinary tract when they are still small enough to pass easily out of the body.
No treatment is needed for these stones.
Larger stones may become stuck
in the tubes that carry urine from the kidney to the bladder (ureters). This can cause pain and possibly block the
urine from flowing to the bladder and out of the body. The pain often becomes
worse over 15 to 60 minutes until it is severe. The pain may ease when the
stone no longer blocks the flow of urine, and it often goes away when the stone
passes into the bladder. Medical treatment is often needed for larger
Problems that may occur with kidney stones include:
Kidney stones are more serious for people who have a single
kidney or an
impaired immune system or have had a kidney
When stones occur during
pregnancy, an
obstetrician and
urologist should determine whether you need treatment.
Treatment will depend on your trimester of pregnancy.
Several risk factors (things that put you at risk) for kidney stones make it more
likely that you will get
them. Some of these things you can control, and
others you cannot.
Risk factors you can control include:
Risk factors you can't control include:
Call a doctor immediately if you have symptoms that suggest you have a
kidney stone, such as:
Call your doctor if you have been diagnosed with a kidney
stone and have another problem, such as:
Call your doctor to find out if you need an exam when
Watchful waiting is a wait-and-see approach. If
you get better on your own, you won't need medical treatment. If you get worse,
you and your doctor will decide what to do next.
If you are
passing a kidney stone under your doctor's advice, you may be able to pass the
stone without medical treatment if you:
If you need immediate help because of pain from kidney
stones, you may see an
emergency medicine specialist.
Health professionals who can diagnose and treat
kidney stones include:
To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment.
Your first diagnosis of
kidney stones often occurs when you see your doctor or
go to an emergency room because you are in great pain. Your doctor or an
emergency medicine specialist will ask you questions and
examine you. After you pass a
stone, your doctor may give you another exam to find out whether you are likely
to get kidney stones again.
Your doctor may do
one or more of the following tests to help diagnose kidney stones, see where they are
located, and find out if they are causing or may cause damage to the
urinary tract.
Determining the
type of your kidney stone will help with treatment
decisions and measures to prevent stones from forming again. Tests you may have include:
For small stones, most people don't need any treatment other than taking pain medicine
and drinking enough fluids.
If your doctor
thinks the stone can pass on its own, and if you feel you can deal with the pain,
he or she may suggest home treatment, including:
Your doctor may prescribe medicine to help your body pass
the stone.
To learn more, see Medications.
If your pain is too
severe, if the stones are blocking the
urinary tract, or if you also have an infection, your doctor will probably
suggest a medical procedure, such as lithotripsy, or surgery to deal with the stone. For more information, see Other Treatment and Surgery.
After you have had a
kidney stone, you are more likely to have one again. Almost half of all people
who have a stone will have more stones within 7 years unless they take
preventive measures.1
You may be able to prevent
getting more kidney stones by drinking more fluids and making changes in your
diet. Talk with your doctor or a dietitian if you need help with your diet. If you have risk factors (things that put you at risk) for having more stones, such as a family history
of stones, your doctor may suggest medicines that help prevent stones from
may need more treatment for your kidney stones if you have continuing
problems and:
After you have had a kidney stone, you are more likely to have stones again. But you can take
steps to help prevent them:
If you get more kidney stones despite
drinking more fluids and making changes to your diet, your doctor may give you
medicine to help dissolve your stones or to prevent new ones from forming. For more
information, see Medications.
Home treatment—drinking more fluids and taking pain medicine—is often the only thing
you need to do when passing a
kidney stone.
When you are
passing a kidney stone, you need to drink enough water to
keep your urine light yellow or clear like water, about 8 to 10 glasses of water a day. If you have kidney, heart, or liver disease and are on
fluid restrictions, talk with your doctor before drinking more fluids.
Medicine you can buy without a
prescription, such as
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), may relieve
your pain. NSAIDs include aspirin and ibuprofen (such as Motrin and Advil).
Your doctor can prescribe stronger pain medicine if needed.
Medicine you can buy without a
prescription, such as
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), may relieve
your pain while you pass a stone.
doctor may also prescribe medicine to help your body pass the stone.
Alpha-blockers have been shown to help kidney stones
pass more quickly with very few side effects.3 Ask
your doctor if these medicines can help you.
Which medicine you take depends on the
type of stones you have.
Calcium stones are the most common kind of kidney stone.1 To prevent them, you may take:
About 5 to 10 out of 100 kidney stones are made of uric acid, a waste product that normally exits
the body in the urine.1 To prevent these types of stones, you may take:
A very small number of stones are made of a chemical called cystine.1 Medicines to prevent them include:
Some struvite stones (staghorn calculi) form because of
kidney infections. If you have a struvite stone, you
will most likely need antibiotics to cure the infection and help prevent new
stones from forming. You may need surgery to remove the
stone. Urease inhibitors may be used to prevent struvite stones.
Surgery is rarely needed to treat kidney stones. Surgery is only needed when the kidney stone is very large, caused by an infection (staghorn calculi), blocking the flow of urine out of the kidney, or causing other problems like severe bleeding.
If your kidney stones were caused by a problem with your parathyroid gland, your doctor may suggest surgery to
remove a parathyroid gland or glands (parathyroidectomy). This can help prevent future kidney stones.
Other treatments for kidney stones are much more common than surgery. You may need one of these treatments if your pain is very bad, your stone is blocking the urinary tract, or you have an infection. Your options include:
Whether these treatments will work for you will depend on the size of the stone, its location in the urinary tract,
and your overall health.
UrologyHealth.org is a website written by urologists
for patients. Visitors can find specific topics by using the "search"
The website provides information about adult and
pediatric urologic topics, including kidney, bladder, and prostate conditions.
You can find a urologist, sign up for a free quarterly newsletter, or click on
the Urology A–Z page to find materials about urologic problems.
The National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information
Clearinghouse (NKUDIC) provides information about diseases of the
kidneys and urologic system to people with these problems and to
their families, to health professionals, and to the public. NKUDIC answers
inquiries; develops, reviews, and distributes publications; and works closely
with professional and patient groups and government agencies to
coordinate resources about kidney and urologic diseases.
NKUDIC, a federal agency, is a service of the National
Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). NIDDK is part
of the National Institutes of Health under the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services.
The National Kidney Foundation works to prevent kidney
and urinary tract diseases and help people affected by these conditions. Its
website has a lot of information about adult and child conditions. The site
has interactive tools, donor information, recipes for kidney disease patients,
and message boards for many kidney topics. Free materials, such as brochures
and newsletters, are available.
CitationsParmar MS (2004). Kidney stones. BMJ, 328(7453): 1420–1424.Teichman JMH (2004). Acute renal colic from ureteral calculus. New England Journal of Medicine, 350(7): 684–693.American Urological Association and European Association of Urology (2007, reaffirmed 2010). Ureteral Calculi: 2007 Guideline for the Management of Ureteral Calculi. Available online: http://www.auanet.org/content/guidelines-and-quality-care/clinical-guidelines.cfm?sub=uc.Other Works ConsultedMoe Ow, et al. (2010). Nephrolithiasis. In EG Nabel ed., ACP Medicine, section 10, chap. 12. Hamilton, ON: BC Decker.Stoller ML (2008). Urinary stone disease. In EA Tanagho, JW McAninch, eds., Smith's General Urology, 17th ed., pp. 246–277. New York: McGraw-Hill.Taylor EN, et al. (2005). Obesity, weight gain, and risk of kidney stones. JAMA, 293(4): 455–462.
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April 28, 2011
Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine & Tushar J. Vachharajani, MD, FASN, FACP - Nephrology
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text:
Russ Says: 'Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark' Has My Spidey Sense Tingling! Exclusive Preview!
I saw the Spider-Man musical — which is the talk of Broadway for all the wrong reasons – and trust me when I say you should do anything you can to see this Broadway spectacular!
Surrounded by technical issues, stuntman injuries and costly delays, the upcoming Broadway musical Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark may have put a bad taste in many people's mouths. However, after seeing a preview performance Dec. 29, I can tell you the show's imagination, outside the box thinking and flying Spider-Man fun is a complete joy for anyone spending a night on Broadway!
The thing on everyone's mind before the show started was stuntman Christopher Tierney's recent fall, which wasn't unnoticed by producers of the show, as they came on stage before everything started to let everyone know the progress Christopher was making and his urge to get back on the show when he is at full health. It set the audience at ease to enjoy the near three hour show. However, on that note, the first time Spider-Man took flight, the audience screamed as if they were experiencing a rough landing on a commercial flight — almost expecting something horrible to happen!
As for the music, if you like U2, you will love the songs. Plus, Matthew James Thomas, who played Spidey, looks like a young Clay Aiken and sings his songs with the passion and fever of a young Bono.
Even though there are multiple flying stunts and a performance by Patrick Page as Normon Osborn and his alter ego Green Goblin that may steal the show, there are still some aspects of the show that can be improved.
A lesser known Spidey villian, Arachne, (played by T.V. Carpio) is not very memorable. Unfortunately, that character takes most of the stage time in the second half of the show, which is less spectacular then the fun and inspired first half that goes through the normal Spider-Man mythology.
Overall, if you want to see something that you have never seen before — something that will test your imagination and take it to places you never thought – go buy your tickets now. It may have had a rough start, but I'm here to say Spider-Man is an impressive feat, thanks to director and co-writer Julie Taymor, and song writers Bono and The Edge.
IN SUMMARY: Will you enjoy Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark? If you enjoy comic book fun and a sense of wonder and Cirque De Soleil type stunts, then I say, yes — four out of five web slingers for sure!
Russ Weakland


text:
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says he believes there will be an agreement soon with the players' union for testing for human growth hormone.
At his annual state of the NFL news conference Friday, Goodell said he expects an agreement to be reached very soon for the tests.
Goodell noted that the league and union agreed to the testing two years ago in the collective bargaining agreement. He said it is important to have testing to retain the integrity and the brand of the league.
Goodell also said he is not going to give up his authority to discipline players for various offenses, something he said has served the league well over the years.
(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
Also Check Out:


text:
Member of the SCHURTER group, responsible for sales, distribution and support for the UK and Ireland.
SCHURTER Ltd. was incorporated into the SCHURTER Group in 1990 as Rendar Limited in Bognor Regis and assumed sales responsibility for the components business in Great Britain and Ireland. In 2014, Danielson Ltd. in Aylesbury was taken over by SCHURTER and renamed SCHURTER Electronics Ltd. in 2017. The company produces and sells input systems in the same market. In the same year, SCHURTER Ltd. moved from Bognor Regis to Aylesbury. Since then, both companies have been operating from the same location.
On January 1, 2019, the two companies merged under the name SCHURTER Electronics Ltd.
Information on the Input Systems team can be found at SCHURTER Electronics Limited
Contact Information
29 Pembroke Road
HP20 1DB Aylesbury
BU (Buckinghamshire)
United Kingdom
Commercial Register : 436766
VAT-No. : GB723419349
Director : Andy Birch
Chairman of the board : Martin Zarges
Data Protection Officer :


text:
Our TECHSPEC® OD 2 Longpass filters are designed to have a sharp transition from reflection to transmission, making them ideal for various applications. Available in a variety of cut-on wavelengths, these filters are designed for fluorescence and order sorting applications. Eliminate stray light by creating custom bandpass filters when combined with our TECHSPEC® OD 2 Shortpass Filters. A single layer AR coating on the back surface enhances the overall efficiency of each filter.
Our OD 2 longpass filters provide ≥2.0 average optical density and are available in a number of kit configurations. Visible filter kits are available in 25nm increments (featuring 14 filters) or 50nm increments (featuring 7 filters). NIR Kits are available in 50nm increments (featuring 8 filters). All filter kits are available in 12.5, 25, and 50mm diameters.


text:
Exercise Tubing
We offer the best exercise tubing you can find for your office. Valeo Resistance Tubing With Handles, Thera-Band Professional Resistance Band Loops, REP Band Tubing and Lifeline Exercise Cables are just a few of the items we have to offer. Our exercise tubing comes in a variety of styles to suit all of your patients.


text:
David Osmond: Talent, and MS, runs in the family
Just like Donny and Marie (his aunt and uncle), David Osmond has a smile so bright you need sunglasses to look directly at it. And, like so many others in the Osmond clan, he has a great singing voice and stage presence.
He also has multiple sclerosis, diagnosed when he was 26. His father, Alan, oldest of the performing Osmonds and producer of Donny and Marie's TV show, also has MS.
His solo career was really taking off, but the chronic disease for which there is no cure caused him to put everything on hold. He first noticed the symptoms on Christmas Eve 2005: pain that began in his feet and eventually enveloped his body, causing paralysis that landed him in a wheelchair and compromised his breathing and his eyesight.


text:
Riverside's products are designed and constructed for use in the home and are generally not intended for rental, commercial, institutional or other applications not considered to be household usage.
Riverside uses furniture construction techniques and select materials to provide quality, durability, and value in our products and allows us to meet the wide range of design and budget requirements of our customers. The construction of our core product line consists of a combination of cabinetmaker hardwood solids and hand-selected veneers applied over medium density fiberboard (MDF) and particle board. MDF and particle board are used in quality furniture for surfaces that require stability against the varying environmental conditions in modern homes. The use of these materials allows Riverside to design heirloom quality furnishings that are not only beautiful, but will increase in value through the years.
- Wood seat
- Seat height: 17 1/2"
- Dimension: 20D" x 40H" x 25.25W"
Only sold in sets of 2
Furnished Over 1 Million Homes Since 1997...
I was very satisfied with One Way Furniture Service. I have referred them to many friends, family, and customers. Thank you. Kathy A. Eisele, Boston, MA
Product Review - Riverside Furniture - Mix-N-Match - Dining Chair
Furniture Brand
Shop for great furniture selections for any room in the home with Riverside Furniture. Find a large array of traditional and contemporary bedroom furniture for the home or office. If you are looking for complete bedroom sets or coffee tables, end tables and accent furnishings, Riverside Furniture is the sensible choice for top quality furniture. Riverside Furniture
Weight & Size
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Reference - Sku: 36458 - Riverside Furniture - Mix-N-Match - Dining Chair by Riverside Furniture


text:
Google Adds Location Function to Maps for Mobile
Google added to its arsenal of mapping functions Wednesday with a beta mobile app that utilizes cell phone tower signals to pinpoint a mobile phone user's location and provide them with information about their surroundings.
"My Location" is part of Google Maps for mobile version 2.0, released this week. The app takes data from cell phone towers and "sifts it through Google-developed algorithms" to get a user's location, Google said.
Once your location is identified, you can use Google Maps to find nearby restaurants and stores and get turn-by-turn directions for your selections. Google stressed that the information is gathered anonymously, and personally identifiable information is not stored, so no one has to know that you spent your Saturday afternoon at TJ Maxx and Applebee's.
"My Location" is available on most smart phones, including color BlackBerry devices, all Symbian Series 60 3rd Edition devices, most Windows Mobile devices, newer Sony Ericsson devices, and some Motorola devices, Google said.
Google is touting this service as a good alternative for those who do not have GPS-enabled phones. "My Location" delivers faster results, provides coverage inside buildings and does not drain battery power as fast as GPS phones, according to Google.
Google Maps for mobile first launched in November 2005.
Also this week, Google added a "terrain" function to Maps. Type in an address and click on the Terrain button, and Maps will provide details on physical features such as mountains, valleys, and elevation levels. I suppose it could be helpful to know that what looks like a straight stretch of highway is actually winding its way into rather mountainous regions, though it does remind me somewhat of those mind-numbing lessons on topographic maps in grade school.


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Cricketweb to play New Zealand
Sunday, 3 December 2006
Cricketweb Football Association today announced that the Cricketweb National Side would continue their preparation for the 2010 FIFA World Cup OFC Preliminary Qualifying Rounds with an international match against New Zealand at North Harbour Stadium on Sunday 4 February 2007.
The Cricketweb FA believes that the match will be another important step in preparing the team for its biggest football ever event, the World Cup Qualifiers, commencing in September 2007.
"Our goal is to take it one step at a time and games like the ones against New Zealand and American Samoa will give us a guide as to where we stand approaching the World Cup Qualifiers" said a FA Member.
"New Zealand are the top side in Oceania so not only will it give us a guide as to where we are at but will also give the whole team the experience of playing against higher class opponents."
"Both matches are a great opportunity for Cricketwebbers to support the team. With the Innaugural National league just getting underway it will be a great chance for the fans to see the national team in action."
© Cricketweb Football Association


text:
I've developed a Wordpress site locally and have recently been trying to upload it to the server. Although every time I do so, the child theme I have created for the parent seems to break.
I can't figure out why this is, as I can't see anything that has changed. It says that "the parent theme is missing. Please install the "Propulsion" parent theme." although it is clearly there, and can be activated.
It might be worth mentioning too that when I originally migrated the site, nothing would show up when I tried to visit the site, not even an error message. Support from Dreamhost then told me that no theme was activated, and activated the default theme for me. It was from here that I could see the error with the child theme.
I would just try and delete and reinstall the child theme, although when I do so I lose all of my theme options, custom templates etc. which have taken me quite a while to build, so really would be terrible if I had to start from scratch.
Is there a way I can perhaps export all this data from my local copy if I can't get it working through a normal migration? I'm testing all this on a mirror of the site through Dreamhost, i'm not sure if that might have anything to do with the problem?
Any help would be greatly appreciated, i've been battling with this for a while and am getting a little desperate!
Thanks again,


text:
How to
Use the Activities
Inquiry Question
Activity 1: Researching Why Eisenhower Never Visited the Soviet Union
Activity 2: International Diplomacy
Ask one person from each group to briefly explain their event to the class. Next have a different group member represent each of the parties involved (including the mediator if applicable) and present their side of the issue. For each event, hold a debate on which party the class believes was most "right" in their views. Teachers may wish to conclude the activity by discussing with students the following questions: Can they think of examples of negotiations that were held on a national level? state? local? Are formal negotiations useful? Why or why not? What other ways are there to solve conflicts?
Activity 3: Preparing for Nuclear War


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Being vegan I try to make the best possible choices when it comes to food, clothes, cosmetics and makeup. Unfortunately most makeup companies use animal ingredients and test their products on animals. One of the most disgusting ingredients that is used in a lot of mascaras, lipsticks and eyeshadows is Carmine. Carmine is a red color produced by cochineal insect. In order to obtain this red pigment, the beetles have to be dried and ground up. It takes about 70,000 beetles to make 1 pound of cochineal dye. Not only is this cruel, but it is also pretty gross. Why would anyone want to put crushed up bugs on their face? By the way the same color is used in many food products as well. It is added to everything from fruit juices, to yogurt and candies. Food products that contain carmine based food dye may cause a severe allergic reaction in people who are allergic to this dye.
Luckily I found several makeup companies that don't test on animals and have products that don't contain animal ingredients.
Some of my favorites are ZuZu Luxe (100% Cruelty free and vegan), Smashbox (not all product are vegan) and Urban Decay (they have a great vegan selection). Urban Decay recently came out with a new beautiful vegan palette. The palette comes with 6 eyeshadows, black eyeliner, and an eyeshadow primer. The packaging is sooooo cute! I could not find it in stores so I had to order it online.


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Hildreth: Keep the Stage under county control
I have been employed as a driver for the Summit Stage for 10 years and can honestly say that I have always been treated fairly by each of my dispatch supervisors, the operations manager and our former operations director as well. If there has ever been any occasion in which my actions have warranted discipline, they have been. Likewise, a job well done on my part has also been rewarded.
Our mechanics, in my opinion, are always productive and do their best to keep our fleet out on the roads and safe for the drivers and passengers alike. If a situation ever arises in which a bus is deemed to be in need of immediate attention, our dispatch has never allowed it to remain on route. The bus is pulled and our highly competent mechanics work as diligently and efficiently as they can to get that bus back on route. Is our operation ran without flaws? No. What organization is? Is there room for improvement? Yes, I believe so.
I work with a lot of very smart people at the Summit Stage. I witness them on a daily basis brainstorming to find ways of improving route times and cutting the cost of our operations. It is my hope, and that of those with whom I work, that we can be given the chance to "stand and deliver." We hope to keep the Summit Stage where it should be … a county-based operation.
Start a dialogue, stay on topic and be civil.
If you don't follow the rules, your comment may be deleted.


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Horned Man Attempts to Murder Landlord with Minivan
This tattooed, horned fellow is named Jesse Thornhill. He was recently arrested for attempting to run down his landlord. In a 1996 Ford Windstar minivan. Naturally, we have some questions for Mr. Thornhill. Such as:
- A 1996 Ford Windstar?
- Really?
- Was there really no more amicable way to settle your dispute?
- Did you think you could escape unidentified?
- How long did it take to put together a lineup?
- I mean, couldn't hire a mediator, or something?
- Your face...? That's the whole question.
- Seriously, though. A Windstar?
Thornhill, for what it's worth, has bonded out of jail after being charged with assault with a deadly weapon. (The weapon is his Windstar.) His mother has said that she, and Thornhill's landlord, "had been having problems with her son."


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Right about now, irony and sarcasm are pretty hot stocks. They were the magic at the center of the 1990′s most popular, and most clever, sit-com, they're used in commercials every day to sell products, and, really, they're a big part of everyday humor. If you're like most people, you find irony and cynicism funny. You can enjoy it pretty much everywhere you find it, from the witty guy on ESPN to that uncle of yours who's pretty quick. And you may even think it's a good tool with which to critique modern America.
But, let's go a little bit further. Let's not only say that you enjoy the humorous application of sarcasm and irony, but you decided that sarcasm and irony were going to be your guiding principles. You were going to take them as your Gospel. You would fill every day with knowing remarks, second-guess the agenda behind even the most generous of gestures, laugh at all the sentimental scenes in movies, rant at how unrealistic TV is. Are you imagining this? If so, you are beginning to get the tiniest idea of what the press junketeers in Colson Whitehead's John Henry Days are like.
What's John Henry Days? John Henry was a railroad man, a steel-driving ex-slave who bore a hole in a mountain so the train could get through. He's an American myth, a legend who could work harder than any ten men combined and died moments after beating a steam-driven drill in a race. In short, John Henry was a man's man, a strong sonofagun who never lost a
steel-driving race. He even beat the steam drill. And then he died.
In Whitehead's book, this manly American legend becomes a stamp. The Post Office has created a series of four stamps commemorating American heroes and John Henry is one of them. In honor of the event, Talcott, West Virginia, the tiny backwater town where Henry is supposed to have made his mark, is hosting John Henry Days, a festival to coincide with the stamp's release.
Whitehead's press junketeers (the incredibly cynical folk) have been sent to Talcott to cover the stamp event, except that only one of them (J., our main character) is actually writing it up; the rest are just freeloading on the food, beer, and trinkets. A bunch of cynical middle-aged writers out in the country pretending to cover a two-bit hick festival, sponging off the locals and having a grand time with themselves. Yep, John Henry Days is that kind of book.
Something must be said for John Henry. The man may have been a veritable He-Man of the steel-driving circuit, but nothing could have prepared him for the metaphorical burden that Whitehead loads him up with. We're talking quintuple-duty plus here.
First off, you have to know that Whitehead is no stranger to well-themed literature. His first novel, The Intuitionist, brought together the Great Northern Migration, African-American integration, race and disability, and African-American "passing" into a taut narrative of elevator inspectors. The main conflict was between inspectors who did things the old fashioned way, opening up the elevator and looking at its guts, versus the new intuitionists who could mystically diagnose an elevator just by feeling it. This central metaphor became the bedrock that supported, and linked with, everything else Whitehead added in.
In short, the new-old inspector conflict was a clever focal point that all of The Intuitionists major themes passed through. John Henry takes over the thematic duties this time, and in John Henry Days Whitehead has greatly expanded his reach, taking on not only the ongoing debate of African-American integration, but the commercialization of culture, an exploration of what pop culture is, how it is transmitted, and what it is for, the search for meaning in our heavily-mediated world, and a survey of what it is that is distinctly American.
Making John Henry our common point of reference for all this is wise, as it renders an intricate, sprawling book all the more comprehensible. Make no mistake, John Henry Days is a huge 400 pages. The book darts around several narratives across over 100 years, which is a lot to keep track of, even for John Henry. In fact, if this were Henry's burden alone, Whitehead's themes would quickly mix up like a swarm of bees. What keeps everything orderly and allows Whitehead to plays his themes off one another is Henry's supporting cast, of which the press junket reporters are just one part.
Actually, the junket can be divided into three parts: J., One-Eye, and Misc. J. is our anti-hero, a man so tired with his life that he has decided to go on junket after junket without any break for an entire year–a Lou Gering-esque feat of junketeer endurance. One-Eye (who lost an eye in a slapstick accident) has also grown tired of a meaningless junket life, but his response is the exact opposite: he wants to remove himself from the mystical List of junket reporters. The rest of the junketeers are the sardonically black human backdrops against which J. and One-Eye are illuminated.
Whereas the junketeers come off as jerks shielding themselves with sarcasm, the other characters in John Henry Days feel more like tortured souls who imbibe sarcasm to help get by but haven't quite become masterful like the junketeers. There's Pamela Street, whose father was just a little obsessive-compulsive when it came to John Henry. He amassed the largest collection of John Henry-related memorabilia in the world (in his one-bedroom apartment), became a horrible parent and real weirdo in the process, and turned his apartment into a John Henry "museum" that no on ever visited. After he died, Pamela put his stuff into storage and now the city of Talcott, keen to make John Henry their ticket to rural tourist-flytrap prosperity, wants to buy the collection and put it in a new John Henry Museum. Pamela has some issues about this since she hasn't yet figured out how to grieve for her bad father. Giving the stuff up is the logical fix, but for some reason she can't.
There's also the stamp collector, Alphonse Miggs. His life was so miserable and directionless that he turned to stamp collecting as a way to fill up all the hours he spent not enjoying time with his wife. He ended up specializing in railroad stamps and it's not giving away too much of the plot to say that he plans on doing something decidedly bad at the big John Henry stamp commemoration event at the pinnacle of John Henry Days. He's desperately trying to give his life over to something meaningful, and his wife, his job, and his stamps aren't it.
The character traveling through the mythical John Henry isn't a person at all; it's the Ballad of John Henry. In a series of glimpses and remembrances, Whitehead shows this song's century-long gestation. Throughout the 20th century, a succession of songwriters and poets add verse after verse to the ballad until it arrives at modern day Talcott, in the form of an African-American native son who sings it during the event's invitation-only send-off. It is a force that transcends the tacky money-making festival, a viral bit of culture that managed to preserve itself against the assaults of commercialization. When the ballad is sung early on, all the junketeers and weirdoes and eager city planners in attendance for the stamp festival are momentarily taken by its poignancy.
In a sense, John Henry carries each of these characters because he is the reason they have all come to Talcott. Similarly, what John Henry represents–genuine American culture spun into content for purposes of making money–has brought each to Talcott as well. The junketeers are there because content-making is how they earn their living. Pamela is there both because the city wants her father's collection of culture/content and because she needs to come to grips with her fear of letting go of her identity as the "daughter who hated the man who collected John Henry" in favor of figuring an identity of her own. Alphonse is there because he's addicted to the culture/content, just like Pamela's father was. And lastly, the song is there as some leftover part of culture that refuses to be assimilated into the capital-cash-nexus, a fragment of history that's become so real that it defies attempts to forge simulacra of it.
There's one last thing that has been brought to Talcott: John Henry. Actually, Henry was technically not brought to Talcott because he never left. According to the legend, he died in Talcott right after he finished off the steam drill. Subsequently, a statue was erected in his honor (now shot at for fun on Saturday night by wayward local youth), and his body is supposedly interred at a cemetery on the mountain he was drilling a hole through; however, the cemetery has long since become overgrown (literally) by weeds and it's virtually impossible to locate anyone's grave, including John Henry's.
Just as the Talcott locals have made Henry the bearer of their fortune, so has Whitehead make Henry the bearer of his indictment of Talcott's choice to make Henry the bearer of their fortune. In John Henry Days, Whitehead is exploiting American culture to attack the exploitation of American culture.
As far as this concept goes, Whitehead is a little late to the party. John Henry Days was published in 2000, roughly 20 years after a school of writing alternatively known as post-post-modern, hyperreal, or image-fiction began inhabiting the realm of and using pieces from popular culture in its fiction. Of course, just because Whitehead wasn't around when image-fiction was getting started doesn't mean he can't use the style to spectacular effect. But first, some more about image-fiction.
In his essay "E Unibus Pluram," David Foster Wallace describes image-fiction as employing the same vernacular as the postmoderns, self-conscious irony, and applying it to the realm of pop culture, especially the culture seen on television.
The new Fiction of Image uses the transient received myths of popular culture as a world in which to imagine fiction about "real," albeit pop-mediated, characters. (emphasis in original)
By this definition, Whitehead's fiction, especially John Henry Days fits in pretty well with the school of image-fiction. In particular, Whitehead exemplifies image-fiction in his language. He has an exceptional ability to write in the style of self-conscious irony, consistently describing everything from decrepit office anonymity to a folksy county fair in this vernacular.
The results are breathtaking: Whitehead's book feels about as stark and dry as a book can be without inducing suicide. To get a true feel for the irony and cynicism that infuse this vernacular, you'd have to read John Henry Days for about 50 pages, or to the point that things like this sound normal: "Set above the cutting plate like a divine illumination, the red heating lamps warm the sweet meat. The red light is a beacon to the lost wayfarer, it is a tavern lamp after hours of wilderness black." That's dry, and Whitehead keeps it that way throughout. At one point, he even describes a city fair entirely in declarative statements.
Abstract horror for the fast walkers when they fall behind the dawdlers. Invective, calumny. Finally maneuvering around to find the agent of delay is infirm, disabled, acquitted. They split up. They are left waiting at the meeting place and despise their companions. Excuses are tendered up and down the rows.
This goes on for pages and it works because it's all in a wry, eye-winking tone. The book is telling saying, "Look at the hicks enjoying their festival. How very rural of them," and is sarcastically pleasant to the reader, who probably isn't a hick. But it also hits home in the reader because Whitehead captures common experiences. We've all been behind annoying people who walk slow, so even as we laugh at Whitehead's send-up of the fair, we also know that we partially laughing at ourselves. The book enmeshes the reader in the very irony that it's made its lingua franca.
This is all very nice, but Wallace goes on to say that much of image-fiction fails because it doesn't transcend its material. Sure, savvy writers can ridicule the contemporary world to death (and in very creative ways), but according to Wallace that's all part of the joke: the contemporary system has co-opted self-conscious irony for its own use and, from a standpoint of critiquing the system, much image-fiction fails because it simply reinforces a vernacular that the system itself exploits to great effect. In other words, this kind of image-fiction isn�t any more creative or subversive than a low-rated sit-com, which uses the same methods and subjects to garner its cheap laughs.
John Henry Days walks right up to that boundary of co-option but doesn't pass over. To be sure, it's a very dark book filled with sad, pathetic people and Whitehead plays them for all they're worth. We do laugh at these people's expense. We're made to mock their ways, to find pleasure in the pathetic things they do to make their lives a little less miserable. But we also identify with them and their sarcastic ways so our laughter is uneasy. Is he making fun of them or us?
It's an unsettling kind of sarcasm, something that a sit-com, which wants to make the watcher feel special and superior, never would dare.
Further, Whitehead hasn't written a book wholly devoid of hope. Although the majority of the people in John Henry Days are happily co-opted cynics, One-Eye, J., and Pamela each rebel in their own ways and succeed to various degrees. It's here that Whitehead finds his hope. Earlier on I said that John Henry was made to do some heavy lifting. Well here's a little more:
Before [the song of John Henry] came into ballad form, the men used to sing it as a work song, to keep the rhythm of their strokes. . . . They sang it like a song of resistance. They wouldn't go out like John Henry. But maybe were condemning him instead of lamenting him. His fight was foolish because the cost was too high. . . . You could look at it and think the fight continued, that you could resist and fight the forces and you could win and it would not cost you your life because he had given his life for you. His sacrifice enables you to endure without having to give your life to your struggle.
The image of the railroad workers singing the song of John Henry to keep time and as a cautionary tale strikes me as rather much like the function of irony. Both irony and the ballad are tools to make the everyday struggle easier. However, just as the ballad keeps the railroad workers from stepping out of line, irony is also cautionary in that it keeps you from going and doing anything crazy, anything that might seem too sincere. After all, that would be uncool and you'd be exposed to the jokes of your ironic friends.
But the ballad, the entire John Henry myth, can also be seen as giving hope. It can be seen as an inspirational tale, that one railroad worker chose to do things his way, and even if he died in the struggle you, knowing what he discovered, might live. That you, who can look back on the ironic exuberance of the 60s, the decline of the '70s, and the decadence of the '80s, can know where that rebellion went wrong, that even though it eventually was turned into commercials and dated rock stars hawking corporate wares, you could see how their culture died (or "was co-opted") and not do that yourself.
While reading John Henry Days, a book that often came to my mind was Don DeLillo's Underworld. There's good reason for this. DeLillo's earlier White Noise and Underworld are both somber, urban tales that fit into the image-fiction camp by virtue of their obsession with pop culture and the way it is exploited in interwoven webs of people watching people. Underworld had a couple central metaphors that did the heavy lifting I've ascribed to John Henry and both DeLillo;s and Whitehead's books wove these metaphors into very personal struggles, making them meaningful on several levels.
I bring DeLillo up because Underworld is a gigantic meandering book and in a lot of ways John Henry Days is like its little brother. This book sprawls far beyond its 400 pages, as Whitehead fits in bits and pieces dating from the 19th century right up to the year 2000. One section of the book, perhaps a quarter of it, is composed entirely of scenes with no logical chronological relationship from one to another. Each is wonderfully done, describing J.'s narrative, a '30s musician adding to the John Henry's ballad, a little girl discovering said ballad, random children from Talcott that we never hear from again, and a turn of the century professor researching the John Henry legend. It's a strange melange that reminded me of nothing more than the seemingly-jumbled feel of Underworld.
In John Henry Days, not only is Whitehead carrying the torch for the likes of DeLillo, but he's doing it in admirable fashion. Given the substantial success of Whitehead's debut novel and the caliber of this follow-up, which is a great leap forward, I have extremely high expectations for whatever novel Whitehead writes next. If it's as much of a leap as John Henry Days was, then it might just be an Underworld improved and updated in form and content for a post-9/11 world and written from an African-American perspective.
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Robert Scott Smith (born March 4, 1972 in Euclid, Ohio) is a former American football running back who played with the Ohio State Buckeyes and later with the Minnesota Vikings of the NFL. While in college, he openly criticized the Ohio State football staff for not allowing him to concentrate on academics. He declared for the NFL draft shortly after his sophomore year (counting his redshirt his third academic year) leaving many of his fans perplexed. (He also starred in track and field while at Ohio State. Smith is the only player to ever win Ohio's Mr. Football Award twice (in 1988 and 1989).
Smith was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round (21st overall) of the 1993 NFL Draft. Although he suffered from a number of ailments in his first few seasons, he finally broke through in 1997, gaining 1,266 yards. Smith's finest year as a pro came in the 2000 season, leading the NFC in rushing with 1,521 yards. He retired at the end of the season, despite being at the peak of his career.
In eight NFL seasons, Smith rushed for 6,818 yards and 32 touchdowns, along with 178 receptions for 1,292 yards and 6 touchdowns. He also returned 1 punt for 4 yards and 19 kickoffs for a total of 460 yards. Smith wore number 20 as a rookie in 1993, but switched to number 26 when it became available in 1994 and wore it until his retirement.


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To make this delicious oil, we crush organic tree-ripened lemons together with late harvest olives, a process that fully captures the flavor and color of the fruit, creating a versatile oil you can use in any dish that calls for lemon. As olive oil is both a natural preservative — literally preserving the flavor of fresh lemons — and a conduit for flavor, our citrus & herb oils are no-brainers for fast, fresh flavor any time of year!
Pairs well with: steak, chicken, pork, eggs, vegetables, pasta, shrimp, seafood, potatoes, in vinaigrettes, our Napa Valley and Ferry Building spice blends.
Harvest Date: October 2018 (most recent harvest)
photo credit: Erin Scott