text:
A Study of Clofarabine for Older Patients With Newly Diagnosed Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) (CLASSIC II)
|The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Read our disclaimer for details.
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00373529
Recruitment Status : Completed
First Posted : September 8, 2006
Results First Posted : March 24, 2011
Last Update Posted : April 14, 2014
- Study Details
- Tabular View
- Study Results
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
Clolar (clofarabine injection) is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of pediatric patients 1 to 21 years old with relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who have had at least 2 prior treatment regimens.
This study will evaluate the efficacy of clofarabine in elderly patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) who are unlikely to benefit from treatment with intensive chemotherapy regimens (cytarabine and anthracycline based regimens) used in younger patients with AML.
|Condition or disease
|Acute Myelogenous Leukemia Acute Myeloid Leukemia
|Drug: clofarabine
|Phase 2
|Study Type :
|Interventional (Clinical Trial)
|Actual Enrollment :
|116 participants
|Intervention Model:
|Single Group Assignment
|None (Open Label)
|Primary Purpose:
|Official Title:
|A Phase II Study of Single Agent Clofarabine in Previously Untreated Older Adult Patients With Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) for Whom Standard Induction Chemotherapy is Unlikely to be of Benefit
|Study Start Date :
|October 2006
|Actual Primary Completion Date :
|May 2008
|Actual Study Completion Date :
|May 2010
Experimental: Clofarabine
Participants received an induction cycle of clofarabine 30 mg/m^2/day intravenous infusion for 5 consecutive days. Participants could then receive up to 5 additional cycles, repeated minimally every 28 days, of clofarabine 20 mg/m^2/day intravenous infusion for 5 consecutive days.
Drug: clofarabine
Induction cycle 1: cycle 1 of clofarabine 30 mg/m^2/day as a 1-hour intravenous infusion for 5 consecutive days.
Reinduction (cycle 2) and/or Consolidation cycles (cycles 2-6): cycles repeated minimally every 28 days, of clofarabine 20 mg/m^2/day as a 1-hour intravenous infusion for 5 consecutive days.
Other Name: clolar
- Percentage of Participants Achieving Overall Remission (OR) After No More Than Two Cycles (Approximately Month 2) [ Time Frame: approximately Month 2 ]Best response was assessed by the Independent Response Review Panel(IRRP) after two cycles of treatment. Overall remission(OR) is the sum of complete remission(CR) and complete remission in the absence of platelet recovery(CRp). CR includes normal values for peripheral blood cell counts (absolute neutrophil and platelet) and leukemic blast cells from bone marrow biopsy or aspirate, and absence of extramedullary disease. Partial remission(PR) includes recovery of peripheral blood cells with improved but still abnormal values in leukemic blast cells.
- Kaplan Meier Estimate for Duration of Remission (DOR) [ Time Frame: Up to 2 years ]DOR was defined as the number of days from achievement of OR as assessed by the Independent Response Review Panel (IRRP) until IRRP-determined disease recurrence or death (any cause), plus 1 day. Participants who initiated alternative antileukemic treatment while in remission were censored on the date the therapy was initiated or on the date of last follow-up.
- Kaplan Meier Estimate for Disease-free Survival (DFS) [ Time Frame: Up to 2 years ]DFS was defined as the number of days from achievement of IRRP-determined overall response until IRRP-determined disease recurrence or death (any cause), regardless of intervening alternative antileukemic treatment, plus 1 day.
- Kaplan Meier Estimates for Overall Survival (OS) [ Time Frame: Up to 2 years ]OS was defined as the number of days from first dose of clofarabine until death for all participants, plus 1 day.
- Overall Participant Counts Summarizing Adverse Events (AEs) During the Treatment and Follow-up Periods [ Time Frame: Up to 2 years ]
Participants with AEs that occurred during the treatment and follow-up periods. AEs were classified according to severity (graded using National Cancer Institute [NCI] Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events [CTCAE] version 3.0) and relationship to study drug. Treatment emergent is defined as any event that either first presents after baseline or worsens in severity after baseline.
NCI Common Terminology Criteria for Severity:
Grade 1= Mild AE, Grade 2= Moderate AE, Grade 3= Severe AE, Grade 4= Life-threatening or disabling AE, Grade 5= Death related to AE
- Percentage of Participants Who Died Within Thirty Days of Treatment (30-day Mortality Rate) [ Time Frame: up to Day 30 ]Percentage of participants who died within 30 days of the first dose of study drug, regardless of cause.
- Number of Participants Achieving Overall Remission After A Maximum of Two Cycles by Subgroup of Baseline Prognostic Factors [ Time Frame: approximately Month 2 ]The number of participants within each subgroup of baseline prognostic factors of the full analysis set who achieved a best response of either a complete response (CR) or a complete response in the absence of platelet recovery (CRp) as determined by the Independent Response Review Panel following a maximum of two cycles of treatment.
Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contacts provided below. For general information, Learn About Clinical Studies.
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|60 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Inclusion Criteria:
- Diagnosis of AML (de novo, secondary or with an antecedent hematologic disorder [AHD])
- Age ≥ 60 years
- Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-2
Presence of at least one adverse prognostic factor: Age ≥ 70 years; or AHD; or ECOG performance status of 2; or Intermediate or unfavorable (i.e., adverse) karyotype defined as any cytogenetic profile except the presence of any of the following:
- t(8;21)(q22;q22)
- inv(16)(p13;q22 or t(16;16)(p13;q22)
- t(15;17)(q22;q12) and variants.
- Adequate renal and hepatic function: Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN); Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤ 2.5 x ULN; and Serum creatinine ≤ 1.0 mg/dL; if serum creatinine > 1.0 mg/dL, then the estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) must be > 60 mL/min/1.73 m^2 as calculated by the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) equation
- Adequate cardiac function: left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥ 40% or left ventricular fractional shortening ≥ 22%
Exclusion Criteria:
- Diagnosis of acute promyelocytic leukemia
- Prior treatment with clofarabine
- Prior treatment for AML or an antecedent hematologic disorder
- Prior hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT)
- Prior radiation therapy to the pelvis
- Investigational agent received within 30 days prior to the first dose of study drug
- Ongoing uncontrolled systemic infection
- Diagnosis of another malignancy, unless the patient has been disease-free for at least 5 years following the completion of curative intent therapy with the following exceptions: Patients with treated non-melanoma skin cancer, in-situ carcinoma or cervical intraepithelial neoplasia regardless of disease-free duration are eligible for this study if definitive treatment for the condition has been completed; Patients with organ-confined prostate cancer with no evidence of recurrent or progressive disease based on PSA value are eligible for this study if hormonal therapy has been initiated or a radical prostatectomy has been performed
- Clinical evidence of central nervous system (CNS) involvement
- Severe concurrent medical condition or psychiatric disorder that would preclude study participation
- Positive human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) test
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT00373529
Show 20 Study Locations
|Study Director:
|Medical Monitor
|Genzyme, a Sanofi Company
Publications of Results:
|Responsible Party:
|Genzyme, a Sanofi Company
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT00373529 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
|First Posted:
|September 8, 2006 Key Record Dates
|Results First Posted:
|March 24, 2011
|Last Update Posted:
|April 14, 2014
|Last Verified:
|March 2014
Acute myelogenous leukemia
Acute myeloid leukemia
newly Diagnosed AML
Leukemia, Myeloid
Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute
Neoplasms by Histologic Type
Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic
Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action
Antineoplastic Agents


text:
hp already offers postage for returning inkjet cartridges, but customers have to go online and request that hp send one. hp has already implemented this program with its laserjet cartridges, and the company also offers recycling on hardware components.
the new addition to the product lifecycle program is a trial effort, aimed, apparently, at gauging customer support and interest. hp is also delving into the realm of using recycled elements in its production, with good success.
for more information, check out cnet. you can also take a look at the hp press release and hp's product recycling offerings.
joshua opinion
yay for hp! i am always encouraged by companies that move forward in the recycling arena. in today's trash-making society it is nice to see some people taking steps to become more involved in protecting the environment.
this is especially true of companies in the computer industry. with the speed at which technology doubles and with our increasing dependence on computers and high-tech gadgets, we are creating more waste than ever before. unless we take steps to stem the tide we will just continue to fill up landfills with resources that could be better used elsewhere.
it would be really nice to see companies that exclusively produce 50% or more post-consumer products. if more companies would start with that goal, the technology would become more available to make it cheaper and more effective. of course, starting such a move would probably be expensive, especially since most consumers don't care.
that is why hp's move is such a good thing. increasing awareness is the first step.
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
user comments 12 comment(s)
|price? (10:37am est thu nov 13 2003)
does this mean they will stop charging $50 for $0.32 worth of ink? i think it is sad when you can buy a new printer cheaper than the ink for it. that can't be good for the environment.
– by archerb
|better yet (11:22am est thu nov 13 2003)
why don't they make the cartridges refillable so they don't need recycled at all? it works just fine for the propane industry.
oh, that's right. then they'd loose their stranglehold on selling overpriced consumables that only last a hundred pages or so. – by jrink
|re (11:23am est thu nov 13 2003)
fu your right spyware does suck..
the recycling thing is a good start now lets just start recycling the rest of the crap we throw out. – by p.s.r
|all inkjet companies… (12:15pm est thu nov 13 2003)
are crooks, they should be taken out and shot. even as bad as the car industry is, you don't hear ford selling cars that can only use "ford gasoline". bastards.
regarding fu, if you don't want to pay for the page, shut up and ignore it, they have to make money somehow.
– by cfour
|yay for hp? (12:19pm est thu nov 13 2003)
you think they are doing this out of the goodness of their hearts? heck no…they can take the same cartridges, run them through a filling machine, and make a killing on them over and over again.
i have no respect for any inkjet manufacturers because they are all dumping printers at a loss just to sell ink. and many (like lexmark) are going to the extra effort of adding a chip that prevents a refilled cartridge from working.
i finally bit the bullet and bought a laser printer. companies have ruined a good thing with inkjets because of their greed.
true, laser cartridges are even more expensive than ink jet, but you can get thousands more prints from them so they are the lesser of the two evils. i will never buy lexmark again. – by m@
|you know… (12:24pm est thu nov 13 2003)
they are only doing this to try and take away from the third party ink refillers. by taking the empty cartridge and recycling it, theres one more customer that has to purchase a new one. hp aint doin it just to be enviromently sound, theres also a profit motivation attached to it. – by second side
|re: lexmark (12:56pm est thu nov 13 2003)
i am of two opinions regarding lexmark. first, i am from lexington ky, where they started, and konw many people that work there. by and large, it is a good place to work–if you are not one of the assembly line workers–that is, the dba's, the engineers and the like all make good money and they seem to like their job.
second, drm schemes such as they use stink, and i think that its a terrible business model, in that it has very bad side effects. its great though for the bottom line.
third, i don't buy lexmark because epson & others have better linux support. my cx5200 works perfectly under mandrake 9.1, and fair under rh9. haven't tried it under a recent edition of suse.
i buy printers bused on what os i can use, and then on quality. sorry, but i think epson has both hp and lexmark beat in the inkjet arena. laser printers are another ball game entirely though. – by darksarin
|re darksarin (1:23pm est thu nov 13 2003)
actually, i found that there are some open source drivers for linux that will bypass the ink refill chip allowing you to refill the cartridges many times for linux use. however, the windows driver will not allow this.
– by m@
|in fairness (1:29pm est thu nov 13 2003)
hp's site states quite plainly that up to 70% of the old ink tanks' component parts are shredded and the materials (not the complete tank) are recycled. i'm sure they still see a small profit or at least come close to breaking even on the deal, though. – by inky
|ink (2:12pm est thu nov 13 2003)
i applaud hp for recycling ink tanks. its a good start. some other posts have hinted to the money made on ink. i would personally pay $250 for a printer if the ink cartridges were $10 each and lasted 1000 pages. that way the companies wouldn't have to spend r & d money on drm technology, they could just make money on the printers themselves. – by mr. wizard
|bsa? (3:32am est fri nov 14 2003)
ad's for the bsa? you've gotta be kidding, anything but them, pleeeease!!
– by nooooooo
|poked in the wallet…… (12:26am est sat nov 22 2003)
this is no different than any other business entity,really.and once again,it's the common people who get screwed.sure it's great for the environment and all,but you could have an impact on the environment by actually supplying what you are selling.they don't supply anything…..the ink you get isn't worth the price you pay.with a cod-lock on both the ink cartridge design(fit in machine) and the introduction of the chip,it's just going to make a bigger environmental mess when you have to keep buying low quality(quantity) ink cartridges.
who cares if they make a few cents on the tank,how about giving customers some value? – by jtky.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Welcome to our luxurious new Henna salon, the ultimate Marrakech destination for your Henna experience. Our wonderful team of high class artists with years of experience of bridal henna in Morocco are waiting to adorn you while you sip one of our mint teas , and relax in style.
We are hugely grateful to breast cancer survivor and Londoner Yvette Cowles who is set to bring her one woman show Sequins on my Balcony to Marrakech for a one-off charity performance on Friday 16 January 2015 for the benefit of Henna Cafe. A soloist with Johara Dance Company and founder of Dance Yourself Happy classes which combine dance and…
Ladies grinding henna leaf to powder in the old spice market of Marrakech..
The henna ceremony the bride to Tangier In Morocco, the wedding traditions differ from one region to another, and each region or city customs that are specific to it. In Tangier , on the morning of henna , the bride goes to the hammam with her friends and family to wash and be beautiful ….


text:
Dark Chocolate Fruit & Nut Clusters
Looking for a stash-worthy treat? You know, one that you can hide away in the back of your fridge so that no one else can find … most notably your husband who eats all the things before you can even get to them???
Well then gather round my friends and say hello to today's dark chocolate fruit & nut clusters!
Made in about 25 minutes, these little dark chocolate treats are the perfect sweet end to the day.
There's only five, count em' five (!!), ingredients involved … one of which is flaky sea salt for sprinkling. Soooo I'm not even sure that totally counts.
And here's how they go down…
We microwave some dark chocolate chips until melt-y and smooth. Then, we stir in some toast-y raw pecans, walnuts and sweet dried cranberries.
Finally, we scoop the mixture into mini muffins liners, sprinkle with that aforementioned sea salt and then pop into the fridge until set. Annnnd we're done!
They're easy, they're healthy (well, when it comes to treats that is) and they can easily fit a variety of dietary needs (gluten free, vegan, dairy free!).
It's dark chocolate magic I tell you.
So, um, yeah. Mayyybe we should share these tasty chocolate clusters with others. Say for game day or valentine's day or christmas! <— Yup, I'm about 11 months early with that idea.
Tips & Tricks For These Dark Chocolate Fruit & Nut Clusters
- To keep these clusters vegan / gluten free / dairy free, be sure to check the ingredients in your dark chocolate chips! I like the Enjoy Life brand (Not sponsored! Just what I use for my dark chocolate!).
- Let's talk the fruit & nuts! You could absolutely use different raw nuts or dried fruit here. I listed my favorite combo in the recipe but pick your poison!
- Now, toasting the nuts. Yes, this is an extra step but I think it adds great flavor. Could you skip doing this? Of course! But if you don't, please keep an eye on the nuts when you are toasting them in the skillet! They can burn easily and that's just no fun.
- Along those lines, prep time for the recipe includes time for the nuts to cool slightly (toward the end of the cooling time, I start melting the chocolate and prepping the liners).
- Melting the chocolate! I stop heating the chocolate when just a few small chips remain and then stir until smooth (which helps prevent you from burning it).
- And finally, I would encourage you to keep the finished clusters stored in the fridge as directed. If your house is pretty cold, they may do well just at room temp … butttt we don't want to take any chances with them melting, now do we?!
May you delight in every sweet and crunchy and salty bite! ♡♡♡
Additional No Bake Dessert Recipes You Might Enjoy!
- Brownie Batter Hummus
- Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Dessert Hummus
- Healthier Chocolate Fruit Dip
- Peanut Butter Pretzel Honey Balls
- No Bake Peanut Butter and Chocolate Tarts
- Dark Chocolate Almond Butter Cups
- Healthier Cookie Dough Parfaits
- Chocolate Avocado Mousse
Did you make this recipe? Rate and review it down below! I'd love to hear from you.
Dark Chocolate Fruit & Nut Clusters
Dreamy dark chocolate, crunchy raw nuts and sweet dried cranberries combine in these irresistible dark chocolate fruit & nut clusters! An easy sweet & salty healthy treat!
- ½ cup chopped raw walnuts
- ½ cup chopped raw pecans
- 8 ounces dark chocolate chips
- ½ cup roughly chopped dried cranberries
- flaky sea salt, for sprinkling
- Set a medium skillet over medium heat. When hot, add in the walnuts and pecans and cook, stirring frequently, for about 2 to 3 minutes, until lightly toasted and fragrant. Remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly (about 10 minutes).
- Meanwhile, set 20 mini muffin liners on a parchment or wax paper lined baking sheet (you can also put them in a mini muffin pan, but I find it easier when scooping to just use the baking sheet - makes less of a mess!).
- Add the dark chocolate chips to a medium-sized microwave safe bowl. Microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring after each, until the mixture is smooth (alternatively, you can use a double boiler). Stir in the toasted nuts and the dried cranberries until well combined. Scoop about a heaping tablespoon of the mixture into each of the prepared liners (a small cookie scoop works great here!). Sprinkle the tops immediately with some of the flaky sea salt.
- Place the baking sheet in the refrigerator for about 1 hour, or until the chocolate is set. Transfer the clusters to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator!
Nutrition Information:Yield: 20 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 109 Total Fat: 7g Saturated Fat: 2g Trans Fat: 0g Unsaturated Fat: 4g Cholesterol: 1mg Sodium: 32mg Carbohydrates: 11g Fiber: 1g Sugar: 9g Protein: 1g


text:
On Tuesday, January 9, 2018, The Blues Foundation announced the nominees for the 39th Annual Blues Music Awards, the blues world's highest honors. Ten Alligator recording artists received a total of 18 nominations. Rick Estrin, leader of Rick Estrin & The Nightcats, received seven nominations, including the B.B. … [Read more...]
Week 10, 2016: March 7th to March 13th
Find out about all the best blues acts playing near you, plan your week now with this week's live music planner. Monday 7th March Georgio & Teo Blues Duo - Ain't Nothin But, London Blues Jam - Ain't Nothin But, London Davey James - The Blues Kitchen (Camden), London Big Joe Louis - The Blues Kitchen … [Read more...]


text:
Theatregoers in Toronto will soon come face to face with a piece of local history that once represented a new beginning for generations of newcomers to the city.
The glitzy, illuminated sign that once graced the front of the iconic Honest Ed's department store was being dismantled Tuesday, months after the store itself sold its last bargain-priced item.
The sign will be refurbished and find a new home over an entrance to the Ed Mirvish Theatre, named for the man who founded the discount store on his way to becoming one of the city's leading impresarios.
Read more:
Honest Ed's famous sign gives its final farewell: Keenan
Honest Ed's sign to be removed today
Honest Ed's signs no longer so cheap cheap cheap, as resale value goes up up up
Here's how Toronto said farewell to Honest Ed's
The brightly-hued sign, measuring 9.14 metres tall by 18.28 metres wide and comprised of nearly a dozen smaller placards, featured 23,000 bulbs loudly displaying the words "Honest Ed's."
Although the sign was installed in 1984, more than 30 years after Mirvish first opened the store known for its rock-bottom prices and occasional giveaways, it became a prominent and beloved landmark to residents and visitors alike.
Ed's son David said there was considerable public interest in preserving the sign, adding the new location will both meet that demand and offer an appropriate tribute.
"It is fitting that a sign from the original store that made it possible for my father to become involved in theatre will now grace the venue that is named for him," David Mirvish said in a statement. "I'm sure he would be delighted to see two of his great passions — Honest Ed's, which in many ways was a theatrical setting for a grand parade of humanity, and the theatre world, which he loved — finally be joined together."
The younger Mirvish's description of the people who frequented his father's store is hardly an exaggeration, according to local historians.
Camille Begin of Heritage Toronto said Honest Ed's played a central role in one of the city's most dynamic and diverse neighbourhoods for decades.
The store itself evolved from Mirvish's early business venture as operator of a women's clothing store, she said, adding Honest Ed's opened its doors near Bloor St. and Bathurst St. in 1948.
Begin said Mirvish was an early pioneer of a tactic now embraced by big box stores, namely purchasing huge quantities of goods and passing savings along to the customer.
In short order, Begin said the store housed everything from clothes to housewares to plants, all of which could be acquired at dirt cheap prices.
The merchandise was particularly enticing to residents of the centrally located, transit-accessible downtown neighbourhood around the store, she said, adding many of them were either blue-collar workers on a tight budget or new immigrants trying to get established.
"It was a store that was really important for newcomers to the city, newcomers to Canada," she said.
"You could set up your household by going to Honest Ed's."
That pricing structure never changed even as the neighbourhood evolved, Begin said, recalling how she herself equipped her kitchen for less than $30 when she first came to the city as a University of Toronto student in the early 2000s.
Shawn Micallef, author of numerous books on Toronto, said the store's merchandise also helped connect new immigrants to the cultures they left behind.
Micallef recalled that the store used to sell chocolate bars that he had previously only been able to obtain from his Maltese grandmother, adding that kind of diversity helped cement public perception of, and fondness for, the business.
"This place was connected to this other kind of economy that isn't the hippest, it's not the most trendy, but it's there and it serves a lot of people," he said. "It had all these behind-the-scenes connections to people's lives."
The area around the original location also became integral to the neighbourhood over time, Begin said. Ed Mirvish and his wife Anne began purchasing historic homes on a nearby street, turning some of the area around Honest Ed's in to an artists' colony.
Some of those buildings were incorporated into the store itself as it expanded and became a sprawling local maze, Begin said.
The building also became home to annual traditions that enlivened the neighbourhood, she added.
For years, Ed Mirvish himself gave away turkeys shortly before Christmas to families without the means to buy their own.
He kept up the tradition even after he decreased his focus on the store and began building up the business that now specializes in live theatrical productions.
Mirvish also threw birthday parties for himself at the store, offering free food and additional giveaways.
Over time, due in part to the sign that Micallef described as a "Moulin Rouge-style marquee," the store became a destination in its own right for tourists seeking an authentic slice of Toronto.
But that destination closed its doors on Dec. 31, 2016, a few years after a developer purchased the store and surrounding land.
Begin said the site will soon be home to many purpose-built rental homes, small-scale retail spaces and a public park that she hopes will maintain the spirit of Ed Mirvish's community-focused business.
As for the sign, David Mirvish said it will be refurbished while a new steel structure is put in place to receive it at its new home.
There is no word on when the sign will go back up.


text:
This whitepaper outlines how Christie MicroTiles act as a sustainable and innovative digital display solution in building design. Christie MicroTiles seamlessly blend into any environment, allowing your audience to focus on the intended message and not the technology being used to display it.
For immediate access to this Christie whitepaper, please enter your contact details in the form.


text:
This Summer, In The Pocket selects 10 hungry graduates for a unique 3-day challenge. They will get the chance to work on a real business case with the help of the best interaction designers, strategists and visual designers in the industry. We're looking for a bunch of young, creative and highly-motivated talents with a passion for everything in digital. You'll get the chance to test and improve your skills and kick off your career in the digital world.
The Challenge
Refu Interim is an interim office where asylum seekers and recognised refugees get the opportunity to work as a volunteer in a cultural or leisure industry. The big challenge? Reach out to all these people, inform them about their opportunities and enthusiasm them to take action.
For whom?
Fields of study vary from Devine, Graphic design, Digital or Communication Sciences, Multimedia, Information Management, Mobile App & Web… But most importantly:
- You're passionate about digital products
- You're graduating in 2017
- You want to learn from the best
The location
The 3 day challenge will take place in a kick-ass villa in Denée, Belgium. The 10 lucky winners will gather at In The Pocket in Ghent and travel together to the Summer Academy mansion.
Learn from the best
Besides In The Pocket's experts, top-notch designers Tim Van Damme (Head of Design at Abstract, previously at Dropbox, Instagram and Gowalla) and Maxime De Greve (UX/UI Designer at Marvel) are sharing their knowledge at Summer Academy.
They will learn you to uncover user needs and business goals, generate innovative product ideas and translate those to usable prototypes.
How does it work?
- 1/06: Register before June 1st and show off your skills in your portfolio and motivation letter
- 29/05-2/06: Get selected for an interview with our Talent Manager, Emma
- 14/06: Kick-off for the 10 nominees
- 27/07 - 30/07: Summer Academy


text:
Once the estate of Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel, Hampton Manor was built by his son in 1855 and has now been lovingly restored to offer a stylish setting for your wedding. The contemporary rooms, stunning gardens and indulgent accommodation make Hampton Manor an unrivalled venue for your big day.
If you are planning an Hampton Manor wedding in the West Midlands, please do get in touch about your day.
Weddings at Hampton Manor


text:
Four Willows Farm provides riding lessons for all ages and abilities, the opportunity to lease horses and to show them. Summer and Spring and Christmas Break Camps to teach the
care of the Horse and enhance riding skills
Four willows has an indoor and outdoor arena for teaching riding lessons and hosting horse shows in all types of weather
Sign up to hear from us about horse shows, special events and upcoming fairs.
1213 North Franklin Road, Greenwood, IN 46143
Tuesday - Friday: 11 am to 7 pm
Saturday: 10:00am - 4pm
Sunday: closed
Monday: closed
Other times by appointment only


text:
Have you always wanted to be a scientist or engineer--and now that you are coming to the end of your graduate school experience, you realize that your dream may come true?
Have you ever honestly asked yourself if you (yes, you) have a) the courage of your intellectual convictions, b) a big enough brain, and c) your own personal brand of insanity to goad you through the tough times of a career in science and engineering? Do you have what it takes to succeed?
As I'm sure you've figured out by now, to succeed in science and engineering you've got to work for it, and hard. Defining success for yourself isn't easy. Your definitions, especially as a scientist or engineer, are often based on the opinions of others around you. We subconsciously internalize the work ethics and goals of our peers and our advisers, even if they're not truly our own. Although there is no standard for success, we all look around, holding ourselves up to others: How many papers has she published? Is it more than I have? Does he have a job yet? Wow, she's working on a hot new project; I wish I could do that. He has a really close relationship with his adviser; I wish I could connect with mine the same way.
The perceived successes of others shine brightest in the faces of those who think they aren't achieving their own goals. Especially in our instant-gratification culture, it's hard to feel like a successful scientist or engineer in grad school when your friends from college have already gotten great jobs, gotten married, bought houses, and started families--all while you're still living with roommates and eating Ramen noodles.
To keep yourself going, you may have heard (and internalized) the adage, "People who succeed aren't successful all the time; they just don't give up when things don't work out," or something like it. Or maybe the more succinct "Winners never quit, and quitters never win" is your mantra. But it isn't a football game; there are no clear answers, and success is a subjective and personal thing whether you've realized it yet or not, especially once you've passed the age when smiley faces, gold stars, and A's on your report card made you happy (assuming you've passed that age).
My own definition of success is enjoying and excelling at what one does. Not one, not the other, but both together. Maybe that's why in my eyes, my graduate school experience hasn't been all that successful. Sure, I've gotten two publications out of it (there will be more if my adviser has his way and if the reviewers are kind), but--to me--my project has been far from earthshattering. I'm grateful that it has been working these last few years, but I've often felt like I could have done better if I would have just (choose one): worked harder, switched projects, come up with more ideas, stood up to my adviser, switched advisers, switched schools, switched research areas, had a lobotomy, etc, etc. Juxtaposed with my mixed feelings is my adviser telling me how great it all is. Yeah, great. Awesome.
For a slightly different definition of "success," take my friend Wendy. Wendy is a talented woman on her way to a great career. Her experiments are working, she's full of enthusiasm and new ideas, she's passed her qualifiers, she's got one publication under her belt and two more in the works, and she's active in her department and the university community. And she's not even a third-year yet! By the scientific community's estimation, Wendy is a twinkling star on her way up.
But Wendy feels like a falling star. She is working herself to the bone, getting migraines, and freaking out about how things are going. By everyone else's standards, everything is golden. But Wendy doesn't feel golden. She feels like she's not in control of what she's doing. When the project and experiments are working, her advisers are so excited that they're constantly throwing out ideas for new experiments for her to do.
Wendy, being the take-charge woman that she is, keeps taking it all on, working harder, and harder, and harder until she can't think straight because of the migraines and has to withdraw from the world in exhaustion for a week or so. I'm trying to convince her that it's not worth it to burn herself out this early. I want her to finish grad school healthy and sane, but at the rate she's going, she's likely to add ulcers to the migraines before she's done.
Science offers a unique opportunity to achieve something really important, something earthshattering. Even a modest success can be a little piece of truth we can lay claim to. But the pursuit of perfection and greatness can come at a high price. Welcome to the dark side of success.
While building blindly on our perceived "successes," sometimes we, like Icarus, veer too close to the sun--or maybe it's some artificial lamp that just looks like the sun--striving for what we think we want, what we are told we should want, without noticing that the wax that holds our wings together is melting. We neglect ourselves, getting caught up in doing what others want us to do, what will win us notoriety and praise, without pausing to think about how it will affect us down the road.
Because we tend to be big of brain, and we deal in data and ideas, we think that somehow and someway we should be able to figure out what drives us. But it's not so easy to figure out which one (or two or three) of the myriad things available to us as intelligent people makes us want to get out of bed in the morning. I know I haven't figured that one out yet. Many people never will. It's like the quest for enlightenment or inner peace; we struggle toward something our whole lives but almost never achieve it. So what should we do in the meantime? We have to keep trying, but how hard? When is enough, enough?
Many scientists, myself included, are constant evaluators, always assessing and reassessing our positions, our thoughts, our triumphs, and our failures. It's harder for us, because we obsess about things (often needlessly), to see when something has gone right. It's harder for us to celebrate good things, because we're always waiting for the next challenge, the next bump in the road, the next curve ball. And because we're usually pursuing someone else's goals, we usually aren't sure when we've obtained them.
As you continue on your varied paths, wherever they may lead, I encourage you to continue the struggle to find the path you were born for (if it exists) and to be mindful of both success and failure. Breathe every now and then between evaluations. Even if the dream you're pursuing isn't yet your own, you can still stop and appreciate what you've accomplished. Any thoughts on success or failure in science/life/madness are welcome! Please send comments to email@example.com.
Next time, countdown to freak out. I'm defending in a few months. I have a thesis to write. Oh my ...
Comments, suggestions? Please send your feedback to our editor .
Micella Phoenix DeWhyse is a pseudonym.


text:
I certainly attempt to avoid hyperbole when it comes to my Cowboys writing, but evidently I engaged in some last week. Here was a paragraph from my overview of the San Diego game, #13 of the 2009 season:
If you want to go to the Playoffs. If you want to quiet the critics. If you have any plans of winning your division. If you don't want another season to crater. If you want your new stadium to appear difficult to play in. If you want opponents to take you serious....
Need to Win.
The truth is, I was only partly correct. They lost, of course, and despite that fact and the fact that they could very likely lose again in a day's time, they are still in this race. I was partly correct because any chance they had at a division title reduced dramatically, and now the most likely berth in the playoffs appears to be the #6 seed out of 6. But, I was incorrect if you consider the object of the game to play in the playoffs this year and ultimately do away with that playoff drought.
You see, my trusty partner on the air, Mr. Dan McDowell, bristles at my suggestion that this game is a "must win" game like I did against San Diego. If it is a must-win game, then how are the Cowboys still in this with 3 to play? Doesn't "must" suggest that losing is not an option? And, as Duane Thomas once said about the Super Bowl, "If it's the ultimate game, how come they're playing it again next year?"
So, where does that leave us?
|New York
It leaves us with the Cowboys controlling their own playoff destiny for the time being. If they win their games, they are in. But, if they go 2-1 for the final 3, or, gulp, 1-2, they will need help. Remember, they lose a tie-breaker to the Giants (season sweep) and the Packers (head-to-head), so being even doesn't help them.
The opponent is a juggarnaut of epic proportions. The Saints have scored an insane 466 points in their 13 games (35.8 per game). To put this in perspective, the next several teams in scoring are Minnesota (389), Philadelphia (372), San Diego (362), and Indianapolis (359). That is right, the Saints have scored 77 more points or, 11 more touchdowns, than any team in football. And, their points for/point against differential is a crazy +192. Total domination.
National Football Post told us in August that the Saints do not have exceptional talent around the field:
New Orleans —
BLUE CHIP: QB, Brees; ILB, Vilma.
ALMOST BLUE: WR, Colston; WR, Moore.
These 2 teams have played a combined 26 games this year and have been favored in 25 of them. The Saints have never been an underdog in their 13 games, and the Cowboys have been favored by Vegas in 12 of their games (3 point dogs at Philadelphia). But, this week, the Cowboys will be heavy dogs for the first time in a real long time. In fact, I cannot recall this city seeming to accept defeat prior to the game in years. But, playing this team in this stadium is an extremely tall order.
ON OFFENSE: 895 yards of Total offense in 2 games and you lose them both? I would love to see a statistic on how many teams have done that this season. You would love to have more to show for your 900 yards, but we all know how the goal-line stand could possibly go down as the defining moment of the 2009 season.
As I look at the Cowboys offense, I continue to see some very impressive numbers that indicate this is, in fact, a good offense. It can be so much better, but overall, the tools are there to build something impressive. Trouble is, time is running out, and the Cowboys are starting to look like a team that has nice parts, but the sum total is less than what we had hoped.
I was trying to figure out what I don't like about this offense the other day, and I formed a premise then wondered if it held water. I don't think the Cowboys ever throw the ball down field anymore. For reasons I am not sure I grasp, I don't think Tony Romo throws the ball over the top like he did in the days of Terrell Owens and the 2007 Dallas Cowboys. Sure, Romo has plenty of 40+ yard passes, but is it from short plays that become long after the catch? Who do you think has more yards after the catch between Drew Brees and Romo? That would be Tony Romo.
But, "yards at the catch" measures passes length - and Romo rates #11 in the league, Brees is at #1. Brees throws the ball down the field. Romo doesn't seem to. So, I asked the boys at Football Outsiders this question: Does Romo throw the ball down the field like he once did?
The answer?
Romo's percentage of deep passes has dropped this season but not by much.
2007: 20% 16+ yards, including 8% 26+ yards in the air
2008: 19% 16+ yards, including 7% 26+ yards in the air
2009: 16% 16+ yards, including 5% 26+ yards in the air
That's it? From the high-flying days of 2007 until now, His deep passes are down only 3% and his medium throws are down 4%? Theories are so much better when you don't have to prove it. But, I sure can't remember the Romo deep ball much in the last 2 months, can you?
1) - Sustain Your Drives, Hold Serve - Playing the Saints is very much like a tennis match. You are going to have a chance if you can get to the final-set tiebreaker. The trouble is, to get there, you must be able to keep up with the Saints. Sadly, this was impossible for Tom Brady and his band of weapons a few weeks back. It causes coaches to panic and go for it on 4th Down because they know that if they settle for 3, the Saints will get a working margin. If that happens, they unleash the blitz, and the score gets worse. You must sustain drives and roll clock with a power running posture. We know they can do it, but will they? Will they keep their heads? And, unlike last road game, will they have an offensive line that allows you do so?
2) - Composed Romo vs. The Superdome - Beware the blitz of the Saints, and beware the urge in the back of your head to try to keep up with Brees and his offense. Play within yourself and you have a chance. But, also be opportunistic. If you are unsure about one element of Romo's efficient 2009, it would be this: Is he pushing the ball down the field enough, or is he being too careful with the ball? I hate to say it, because being too careful is better than not careful enough, but to be elite, your QB has to be willing to occasionally fit the ball in tight spaces. Also, let's not forget how loud and intimidating the Superdome can be. A truly college atmosphere in the pros, and you must stay composed and not get flustered when things go in the wrong direction. This is a great test for Romo.
3) - Protect the QB, Win the Line of Scrimmage - I know I harp about this on a weekly basis, but this team needs better, consistent efforts from the OL in December. They lose this time of year for many reasons, but if you asked me to boil it down to the main culprit, I would circle a OL that dissolves a bit as the year goes on. For the most part, they were reasonable against the Chargers, but on the goal-line stand, the game was lost because the OL did not give Marion Barber much to work with. It is imperative that this offensive line gets after the Saints DL and protects the flanks against the solid Saints edge pass rush, and when it is time to get a yard, they need to move the pile.
4) - Touchdowns, Not Field Goals - This fits right with the theme of not having a dependable kicker, right? They may need Nick Folk to make a kick, but I suspect if they call on him much, they won't have a great chance to win. The Cowboys have been in the Red Zone 39 times this season (which sounds impressive until you see New Orleans has been in there 63 times) and has scored 20 TDs. That means 19 times, they have settled. Settled for FGs or less. That won't cut it on Sunday. Must get 7 every time you drive down there and get a chance. Must convert into 7.
ON DEFENSE: I would love to dazzle you with all of the amazing stats about the New Orleans Saints. They are so far ahead of the curve on every offensive metric that it is nearly unfair. To me, it all comes back to your QB, and Brees is an amazing story from every angle. When he signed from San Diego, he was coming off a big shoulder injury, and the Saints were trying to bounce back from the crazy season of Katrina. Sean Payton took a job that nobody seemed to want, and Brees signed. Since then, they have gone on quite a tear of offensive genius that we can compare to the greatest offensive systems of all-time. We can debate whether you would rather have the 1998 Vikings, the 2001 Rams, or the 2007 Patroits offense rather than the Saints (why did none of those teams win the Super Bowl those years?), but we cannot dispute that the Saints put you in a very uncomfortable position when you play their offense - you must score 7 points everytime you get the ball, or you lose sight of them.
We saw the Patriots try some awfully exotic schemes a few Mondays ago, but Brees surgically dismantled them with his huge assortment of weapons. And, for the most part, it all comes out of Shotgun and most of it with the pass or runs from a pass formation. It is too 1-dimensional and too predictable, but it doesn't matter. They are that good at what they do.
So, if you are Wade Phillips, do you rush the QB with risky blitzes or drop into coverage? We know we cannot trust the Cowboys to get there with 4, so the only option is to flood the zones with defenders. Trouble there is that Brees is as accurate a passer as there is in football. No pass rush = no chance in my estimation. Your only chance is the unpredictable blitz packages. 1st and 10 corner blitzes are just crazy enough to have a chance. But, traditional situations are picked apart by Brees/Payton.
1) - Pass Rush - Remember the Cowboys pass rush? Well, it has betrayed them down the stretch. 1 sack against the Redskins. 1 sack at New York. 1 sack against the Chargers. 3 1-sack performances in your last 4 games? That is quite disappointing, and now the prospect of not having DeMarcus Ware at full strength does not help matters. I don't dispute this idea that Anthony Spencer is having a nice year, but the fact that Marcus Spears has no sacks since Atlanta, Jay Ratliff hasn't had a sack since Philadelphia, Keith Brooking has 1 sack since Seattle, and Bradie James has 1 sack all year (at Denver). The usual suspects are not getting there, and you can certainly imagine the implications of giving Brees all day.
2) - Take the Ball Away - Since the Eagles game, the Cowboys have played the Packers, Redskins, Raiders, Giants, and Chargers. In those 5 games, the Boys have multiple takeaways in just 1 game (Giants). This is a game where takeaways could be the one and only way to get the Cowboys a win. Big plays are the great equalizer, and for the Cowboys to have a chance, they must turn the ball over. Trouble is this: In his last 4 games, Brees has thrown 13 Touchdowns and 1 interception. Ouch.
3) - Newman and Jenkins must bounce Back - Sorry, but that was not good enough against San Diego. We can discuss who was worse in the game, but the fact is that Phil Rivers offered no respect to the corners of the Dallas Cowboys. And they showed unworthy of big respect. The Chargers picked on whoever they wanted with big days for Vincent Jackson and friends, especially on 3rd down. 3rd down is not exactly a tough spot for the Saints, but Jenkins and Newman (and Scandrick) must stay on top of Colsten, Moore, Henderson, and Meachem.
4) - Tackling must be true - Understand this: The Saints are going to get done what they normally get done. There will be big plays and huge yardage totals. I am not sure there is a recipe for an alternative. But, there will be moments where the game can change on a tackle or a miss. If the Cowboys blow tackles in the open field, the Saints take those for 50 yard Touchdowns. New Orleans has been the master of 3rd Down in this latest stretch, and if you can't tackle, you can't get off the field. And, if you can't do that, you can't win. Must wrap up and bring down.
SUMMARY: If there was one game on the schedule when it was released in April that I didn't consider a win as much of a possibility, it is this game. I didn't know the Saints would be 13-0, but I knew they would be very good, and would present a number of match-up issues with the Cowboys secondary. No pass rush, no secondary confidence, and what appears right now to be a Cowboys team that is so terrified of a collapse that they can not do anything but collapse. This team needs a confidence transplant, and for the life of me, I don't see how they get a win here. If they do get the unlikely win, it could change the direction of this franchise on a dime, but after these last 2 weeks, I would be a fool to trust them again. Not going to happen.
Saints 37, Cowboys 27
Past Issues:
San Diego Chargers Game Plan
New York Giants Game Plan
Oakland Raiders Game Plan
Washington Redskins Game Plan
Green Bay Packers Game Plan
Eagles Game Plan
Seattle Seahawks Game Plan
Atlanta Falcons Game Plan
Kansas City Game Plan
Denver Game Plan
Carolina Game Plan
Giants Game Plan
Tampa Bay Game Plan


text:
Singapore, Sep 20:
Scientists have been able to link the abnormal behaviour of two genes to the underlying cause of schizophrenia. The findings provide a new target for schizophrenia treatment.
The major cause of the devastating mental disorder — that affects nearly one percent of the total human population — lies in impaired brain development that eventually leads to imbalanced signals within the brain.
This imbalance within the brain is thought to cause hallucinations and paranoia in people with schizophrenia.
"We wanted to understand the mechanism by which the brain circuit operates," said senior study author Shawn Je from Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School Singapore.
Je and his team analysed signalling activity in neuronal cultures that either did not have a gene called DTNBP1 or had low levels of it.
Reduced DTNBP1 levels and genetic disruptions of DTNBP1 in mice resulted in schizophrenia-like behaviours.
Using multiple model systems, they found that the low levels of DTNBP1 resulted in dysfunctional interneurons and over-activated neuronal network activity.
Reducing levels of DTNBP1 also lowered the levels of the secreted protein molecule, BDNF.
BDNF was then shown to be one of the most important factors that regulate the development of a normal brain circuit.
Additionally, Je and his team also found that when BDNF levels were restored, brain development and activity were rescued and returned to more normal levels, despite the absence of DTNBP1.
The study not only singled out the two genes — DTNBP1 and BDNF — as risk genes for schizophrenia, it also showed that the two function together. (IANS)


text:
Director (Academic) / Academic Theme Leader
Dr. Schneider is the academic theme leader for biomedical imaging, having joined the Bioengineering Science Research Group in 2013.
Director (Operations)
Dr. Mavrogordato oversees the centre's commercial activities, and has a keen interest in the development of custom in situ testing experiments.
Principal Scientist
Dr. Boardman's research interests lie in 3D image processing and manipulation. Additionally, he is interested in novel 3D reconstruction algorithms, particularly their implementation on massive-memory compute clusters (both CPU and GPU).
Beam Scientist / µ-VIS Fellow
Dr. Katsamenis' background is in bioengineering sciences, and he takes a leading role in the centre's collaborations with biologists and bioengineers.
Dr. Kathryn Rankin
Beam Scientist / µ-VIS Fellow
Dr. Rankin focuses on the centre's commercial scanning activities, and has a keen interest in CT as a forensic engineering tool.
Nicholas Hale
µ-VIS Fellow
Nick focuses on the centre's commercial scanning activities, and has a keen interest in mechanical failure mechanisms and composites.
Academic Theme Leader (Fmr. Director)
Prof. Sinclair's core interests lie in micromechanics of failure in materials and structures. This currently involves extensive use of high resolution computed tomography methods. A wide range of interdisciplinary projects include applications of CT for biomedical, crop science, earth science and heritage projects.
Academic Theme Leader
Prof. Reed is academic lead in structural materials, with a particular interest 3D aspects of crack initiation and growth in metallics. Major application areas include turbine materials for aerospace and power generation, along with a variety of performance issues in welds and automotive powertrain components.
Academic Theme Leader
Dr. Blumensath leads work on advanced tomographic reconstruction and novel approaches to volumetric image analysis. He is also interested in the study and development of unconventional x-ray tomographic approaches as well as the use of x-ray tomography for dimensional metrology.
Academic Theme Leader
Prof. Roose develops modelling technologies and methodologies to deal with branched biological systems such as plant roots and blood vessels.
Dr. Sharif Ahmed
Visiting Researcher
Dr. Ahmed is a Beamline Scientist at DIAD beamline at Diamond Light Source synchrotron science facility. Sharif specialises in quantitive analysis techniques in 2D and 3D. His primary area of research is in 3D shape characterisation, 4D testing of granular/porous materials and numerical modelling using DEM.


text:
from the hill, flows to river
a breathtaking sight!
April 26, 2013 20 Comments
The autor is half Human, half machine. Go Figure or just revel in what I write
Nothing more refreshing to see and hear than a waterfall!ReplyDelete
I have seen like a thousand falls all my life (am from the hills, you see) and the description above is absolutely apt. Blissful.ReplyDelete
breathtaking is the perfect word to describe that nature's spectacle! :) beautiful haiku! Loved it!
- - -
If you'd like to read mine, here it is: Waterfalls.
aah good one ! lovely haikuReplyDelete
Nicely taken and lovely haiku
So true...
Blue and white like the sky itself!!!
Refreshingly beautiful, the picture and the words.ReplyDelete
Splendid sight...so beautiful....
Do visit to see what happened on my first visit to a waterfall in Mahabaleshwar some 15 years ago..
Waterfalls gives you a wonderful feelings of happiness, I just love this !ReplyDelete
Lovely cascading Haiku :)ReplyDelete
Nice Efforts done. Useful Blog
Thanks & Regards
Watch Live IPL6 Matches from Pepsi VIP Box for Free


text:
Academic "transportation" research makes business schools and economics departments look like hotbeds of pure science. Both the US Department of Transportation and all the university-based "centers" it shepherds continue to exist to pave the way for more cars-first outcomes, regardless of the screamingly obvious need of this society for radical movement away from automobiles.
Doubt that? Consider this typical item, an announcement of one of the sponsors' pet assignments:
Monday, January 24, 2011
U.S. Department of Transportation Announces Connected Vehicle Technology Challenge
The U.S. Department of Transportation's Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) today announced the Connected Vehicle Technology Challenge, a new national competition seeking ideas for using wireless connectivity between vehicles to make transportation safer, greener and easier.
Through the competition, RITA is soliciting ideas for products or applications that use Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC), an advanced wireless technology, similar to WiFi but faster and more secure. DSRC can communicate basic messages – such as alerts about imminent crash situations or roadway hazards – from one vehicle to another in a fraction of a second with minimal interference and without manipulation by the driver. The spectrum used by DSRC technology has been reserved by the Federal Communications Commission for transportation applications.
"This is an example of new technology helping to make transportation safer and more efficient," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.
DSRC will be the basis for a future system of connected vehicles that will communicate with each other as well as the surrounding infrastructure, such as traffic signals, work zones and toll booths. According to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report, wireless Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) and Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) communications can potentially address 81 percent of all unimpaired vehicle crashes.
"This technology is an opportunity to help create a future where millions of vehicles communicate with each other by sharing anonymous real-time information about traffic speeds and conditions. This new world of wireless communication will make transportation safer, provide better and faster exchange of information for vastly improved daily and long-distance travel, and even reduce environmental pollution," said RITA Administrator Peter Appel.
Selected prize recipients will receive funded opportunities to present their winning ideas to unleash a new breed of advanced wireless technologies to make universal vehicle connectivity a reality.
The Connected Vehicle Technology Challenge is open to all idea generators and innovators, including those not working in the transportation industry. It will run from Jan. 24 through May 1 and competition rules and additional details can be found at www.Challenge.gov.
So, first of all, this is research aimed at making cars behave more like trains, the vastly superior technology which, in order to facilitate corporate capitalism in the great United States, they have been permitted to replace.
Second, two words: Rube Goldberg. Let's see a show of hands from those who believe the solicited pipedream could ever: a) work properly (imagine a "rush-hour"* freeway on which the imagined "more secure" moving, ad hoc, high-interference computer network crashed or encoutered a virus!) and b) be accepted, paid for, and correctly maintained by the nation's legions of tailgating, lane-hopping, cell-phoning, radar-detecting road-ragers.
Another item our grandchildren will find amazing, if we somehow transcend such suicidal idiocies and manage to leave them a society with the capacity to remember and learn from our stunning world-historic errors.
*One of the most blatant of our epoch's many Orwellian linguistic inversions.


text:
BBB's Absolute GTG List July 2015 Part 2
by, 07-09-2015 at 07:49 PM (2362 Views)
Natalia Bijoux - DNR and all I'll say is Natalia is 100% fun and GTG. I've visited Natalia many times.
Adele - French Canadian Treat! Early 30's, 5'4", 110 lb with D cup enhancement. I've seen Adele twice now and I ask myself why I haven't visited more often? Adele loves sex and if you are a kind, generous and respectful guy; you will be rewarded
Sweet Adelaide Jones - I've seen Adelaide once and already feel its time to repeat. High energy and fun are the words that best describe Adelaide. Tall, sweet booty, natural boobs and at 23 years of age is a MILF. A few tats for those who keep track of such things. Highly recommend and its apparent by other reviews that other's feel the same.


text:
Arrays use the 'a' type descriptor. Following the type descriptor is the type of the index and the type of the array elements. If the index type is a range type, it ends in a semicolon; otherwise (for example, if it is a type reference), there does not appear to be any way to tell where the types are separated. In an effort to clean up this mess, IBM documents the two types as being separated by a semicolon, and a range type as not ending in a semicolon (but this is not right for range types which are not array indexes, see Subranges). I think probably the best solution is to specify that a semicolon ends a range type, and that the index type and element type of an array are separated by a semicolon, but that if the index type is a range type, the extra semicolon can be omitted. GDB (at least through version 4.9) doesn't support any kind of index type other than a range anyway; I'm not sure about dbx.
It is well established, and widely used, that the type of the index, unlike most types found in the stabs, is merely a type definition, not type information (see String Field) (that is, it need not start with 'type-number=' if it is defining a new type). According to a comment in GDB, this is also true of the type of the array elements; it gives 'ar1;1;10;ar1;1;10;4' as a legitimate way to express a two dimensional array. According to AIX documentation, the element type must be type information. GDB accepts either.
The type of the index is often a range type, expressed as the type descriptor 'r' and some parameters. It defines the size of the array. In the example below, the range 'r1;0;2;' defines an index type which is a subrange of type 1 (integer), with a lower bound of 0 and an upper bound of 2. This defines the valid range of subscripts of a three-element C array.
For example, the definition:
char char_vec[3] = {'a','b','c'};
produces the output:
.stabs "char_vec:G19=ar1;0;2;2",32,0,0,0 .global _char_vec .align 4 _char_vec: .byte 97 .byte 98 .byte 99
If an array is packed, the elements are spaced more closely than normal, saving memory at the expense of speed. For example, an array of 3-byte objects might, if unpacked, have each element aligned on a 4-byte boundary, but if packed, have no padding. One way to specify that something is packed is with type attributes (see String Field). In the case of arrays, another is to use the 'P' type descriptor instead of 'a'. Other than specifying a packed array, 'P' is identical to 'a'.
An open array is represented by the 'A' type descriptor followed by type information specifying the type of the array elements.
An N-dimensional dynamic array is represented by
D dimensions ; type-information
dimensions is the number of dimensions; type-information specifies the type of the array elements.
A subarray of an N-dimensional array is represented by
E dimensions ; type-information
dimensions is the number of dimensions; type-information specifies the type of the array elements.


text:
Chapter 1236: Miraculous Item
Translator: CKtalon Editor: CKtalon
The venue of Myriad God Ridge's entry test had a stone gateway erected on the square. It had four columns and a stone door made of three slabs. Gateways such as these were typically erected in front of villages in the mortal world to honor top scholars or chaste and heroic women. The design was very rarely seen in a warrior's world.
On the surface, the stone gateway wasn't special in any way. It even seemed a little out of place, standing in the middle of the square. However, when Yi Yun saw the stone monument, his brows pricked up slightly. He could tell that behind the stone gateway was the path to a pocket world.
If he circled behind the stone gateway there would be nothing, but if he were to travel through the gateway's stone door, he could step into that pocket world.
However, there was a restriction set up in front of the stone door. If one did not understand the restriction's rules, it would be impossible to gain entry.
At that moment, a group of people, including Yi Yun, had obtained their registration tokens and were standing before the stone gateway. They were waiting for the test in a daze, unsure of what the stone gateway was for.
"Senior, if I were to be recruited by the Myriad God Ridge, would you give me the honor of treating you to some alcohol?"
Yi Yun stood in front of the stone gateway and, after gathering his thoughts, he quipped with Old Snake. The old fellow would probably not reject an offer of alcohol.
Indeed, Old Snake beamed when he heard that. "That sounds good. I'm warning you, I'm very picky about my alcohol and I do not fancy any of the ordinary stuff."
As Old Snake spoke, he took out an alcohol gourd. He deliberately shook it and the sound of alcohol splashing emitted from it. Following that, he pulled out the stopper and took a delightful swig.
When the people around them heard their conversation, they were rendered speechless. What sort of person was this? Why did his tone sound as though the Myriad God Ridge was some tea shop that he could enter as he pleased?
Such behavior could be expected from a crazy old man, but the youth was equally dimwitted.
Yi Yun naturally ignored the people around him. As he observed the stone door, he sneered. The examinees were making a din but none noticed that three men and a woman were standing behind the stone gateway, watching them indifferently!
They were dressed in purple and the words 'Myriad God' were embroidered on their chests. Yi Yun could tell that despite the purple clothes appearing to be made of a soft fabric, they were, in fact, superior-grade defensive clothes. Even the 'Myriad God' words that were embroidered were sewn using heavy gold from the deep sea. The gold powder from such deep-sea metal was great for writing Dao patterns. Although the 'Myriad God' words looked like text, they were actually a Dao pattern in and of themselves. Carved within them were laws that were no trifling matter.
Without a doubt, the three men and woman must have had illustrious standing in the Myriad God Ridge.
At that moment, the four of them stood in the pocket world and, with the stone gateway's restrictions isolating them, no one could see them. Amid their indifferent expressions were haughty looks that seemed seared into their faces.
A man with thick brows glanced at Yi Yun because he had heard Yi Yun offer to treat Old Snake to alcohol after he entered Myriad God Ridge. It incurred his displeasure.
"Senior Brother Ji, look at the kind of people that want to enter our Myriad God Ridge as disciples. Every time, we see a bunch of useless people coming to join in the buzz. Listen to what they say. He's even more confident of entering the sect than me. They seem to think that the Myriad God Ridge will accept anyone."
Upon hearing the thick-browed man grumble, the woman shook her head and said, "The recruitment test is held once every three days, with ten thousand entrants every time. The ones that we should recruit have mostly been recruited. So it's natural that we are only left with the useless ones. It is only normal for these situations to occur."
After hearing the woman's comment, the thick-browed man asked perplexedly, "Senior Sister Jin, I have never understood this matter. Our Myriad God Ridge is one of the best major sects in the Calm Sea region, but isn't the recruitment test being run too frequently? Are we really only doing this for the tens of thousands of Spirit Jade in recruitment fees? That is what the women from Clear Lunar Island say of us. Their strength might not be on par with our Myriad God Ridge's but they only do a disciple recruitment every two years. Furthermore, it is an extremely stringent selection, taking in only geniuses. They mock our recruitment test as a gathering ground of mediocrity."
The woman wanted to explain but stopped mid-sentence. At that moment, the man that had been addressed as Senior Brother Ji spoke. He said, "Junior Sister Jin, there's no need to be apprehensive. In a few days, Junior Brother Song will become a disciple of Elder Taiqing. In a way, he will become a personal disciple as well. The matters in question are no longer secrets among personal disciples, so there's no harm in telling him."
"Alright then." The woman nodded and looked at the thick-browed man. She said, "Our Myriad God Ridge has a miraculous item. Its actual origins are unknown even to the Elders of Myriad God Ridge. It seems to seal a world inside of it, and that world contains precious treasures. And this miraculous item will only recognize certain fated people. This fate is hard to determine, too. One would imagine that people with higher talent would be first in line with this fate, but it is not so. Decades ago, there was a youth whose talent was ordinary and his nomological insight was as terrible as could be. He managed to stir the object and attract something out. That something was valued greatly by the Patriarch and as a result, the youth became a core disciple."
"P… Patriarch?" Upon hearing that word, Junior Brother Song, who had spoken, widened his eyes. The Myriad God Ridge's Patriarch was very seldom heard of much less seen. It was frequent not to hear anything from him for hundreds of thousands of years and it was unknown if he was in seclusion or touring the world.
In the Calm Sea, the Myriad God Patriarch was feared by all. He was not born from the Calm Sea but came from the depths of the Sinkhole. He was like a godlike existence to the Myriad God Ridge.
For people like Junior Brother Song, it was rare for them to even meet the sect master, so the Patriarch was someone they couldn't even cast their sights on.
Now that he managed to hear some information regarding the Patriarch, Junior Brother Song felt extremely excited.
"Therefore, with that precedent, and according to the instructions of the sect master, we have been searching for people of fate all these years. However, even the amount of fate that one has can vary. It's very rare to find someone with great fate. You might think nothing of these candidates, but what if one of them is a person of fate?"
Senior Sister Jin's explanation made Junior Brother Song's blood boil with excitement. The Myriad God Ridge indeed had deep roots. Furthermore, he had chanced upon news of the Patriarch. As long as the Patriarch was around, the Myriad God Ridge would remain lord of the Calm Sea.
It would be great if he could become a personal disciple of the Patriarch. Such a thought flashed across Junior Brother Song's mind but such an extravagant hope was only in his imagination.
"Alright, stop discussing such matters. You just need to do your job. Let's begin the recruitment test."
At that moment, a middle-aged man's voice sounded as a middle-aged man dressed in purple robes walked out from the deep depths of the pocket world.
He was lanky in build and his body effused a blade-like aura. Behind him was a blurry haze that seemed like a void of Chaos. Even a single glance at it made one feel like their gaze was being sucked into it.


text:
RAF High Wycombe - Shopping around Naphill
Naphill A to Z Local Shopping. Search flowers, books, chemists, bicycles, clothes, shoes, jewellers around RAF High Wycombe
Want to advertise on this website? Create your advert now.
We could not find any Charity Shops around your location. Please click below to see full results from Google.


text:
by Brittany Geragotelis
Hey all!
Have you heard? The super, sweet Calvin Reid from "Publisher's Weekly" did a follow-up interview with me last week and just posted the story online! If you haven't already, please check it out here. In it, Calvin talks all about what wonderful opportunities I've been given since my book was published. I can't spill the beans just yet, but I'm talking with a variety of people regarding several really awesome projects and my hopes are that a special publisher sees the potential in the Life's a Witch brand and wants to make a deal to rep the whole series! And of course, I've got other books just waiting in the wings, too.
We'll have to see though. Right now, I'm just content with the fact that those who have read LAW, have loved it, and are telling their friends about it! So....if you've read LAW and loved it, show your support by telling your friends by reposting this article on FB, Tweeting about it or mentioning it in your blogs. Every little bit helps!
Thanks to those who have helped me along the way and all of you for your love and support!
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 awesomeness, Brittany Geragotelis, Brittany The Book Slayer, cool stuff, Interview, Life's a Witch, publishing
Publisher's Weekly Follow-up!
Posted by Brittany at 2:07 PM
1 comments:
- Heather Sunseri said...
I just stumbled upon your interview and your exciting story over at PW. Congratulations! You're an inspiration to all aspiring novelists, Brittany.
- January 24, 2012 at 2:18 PM
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
Reports from agfax.com show that head scab of wheat (Fusarium head blight) is appearing in southern regions of several states, including Illinois and Missouri.
Fusarium head blight affects crops by "bleaching" them in color; due to rainy conditions during the flowering of the plant, crops are especially susceptible this year. Not only the appearance of the plant is altered and yield losses more probable, but head scab can also produce mycotoxins.
In Illinois, agfax.com reports "moderate to high incidence of scab." Naturally, there are differences from field to field, which are results of plant varieties, the possible application (or lack thereof) of fungicide and differing local weather conditions.
In Missouri, many fields in the southeast portion of the state are infected.
Researchers suggest evaluating and observing the disease prior to maturation; those with high levels of scab "should consider making adjustments to their combine that would allow low test-weight, scabby kernals to be blown out the back of the combine." Click here for information on combine fan speed statistics from The Ohio State University.
To learn more about agricultural conditions in the U.S., including plant progresses and drought conditions, please watch the video below:


text:
Address: Linderick Avenue
Link: School Website
School Location
Latitude: 53.169227 Longitude: -3.0899464000000307
About Southdown Primary School
Our school is in the largest town in Flintshire N Wales, Buckley. Buckley is an old pottery town famous for making bricks, we are about 10 miles away from the border with England. We are a large mixed primary school with a two form entry.
In your local language
What we would like to achieve
We are studying the novel Sky Hawk by Gill Lewis and want to develop a cross curricular topic covering numeracy, literacy, science, geography and art and craft.
About our local Ospreys
The closest nesting Ospreys to our school are in Porthmadog
In your local language
Files to Download
No files to download


text:
Tag Archives: steampunk
RJ at Karen's Book Barn Nov 5
This Sat, Nov 5, Karen's Book Barn in LaGrange, KY, (click the link for address, etc) is hosting a multi-author book signing, conveniently scheduled to help readers get a head start on their holiday shopping. We'll all be … Continue reading →
Blue Christmas part of Holiday Antho
After months of preparation and weeks of teasing, I can finally share the big news about the NEW ORIGINAL collection of holiday stories co-edited with my good friends John F. Allen, E. Chris Garrison and me. The anthology is called … Continue reading →
Interview: Eric Garrison Gives R.J. a Reality Check
Congratulations to my friend Eric Garrison on his two book publishing deals, one with Hydra Publications for his recently released science fiction dimension hopping thriller, Reality Check. The other for a multi-book deal with Seventh Star Press. Shorty after … Continue reading →


text:
Sometimes even after hard work, man can get frustrated after facing hard luck. Despite doing the sincere and hard work, job offers are not being received. On the basis of eligibility and ability, you won't be getting well paid whereas your junior would get promotions. You will probably start blaming yourself. Though yes if you work with sincerity, hard work and honesty but having luck on your side is equally important in order to get success in life.
Now the question arises as to why it happens with you?
The Astrology analyzes the impacts of planets in your Horoscope. The planets which gives great relief suffer and sorrow directly or indirectly. Impact of planets in which ascendant shows different impact. Dasha Mahadasha is guide our good and evil actions.
1. Destiny diminish should study deeply the 9th house and Navmesh {lord of 9th house} in Horoscope.
2. 5th house { 9th to 9th house} and lord of 5th house's should be carefully inspected.
3. Placement of donor of fortune-renown Sun not under the influence of malefic or debilitated planet vision.
4. Somewhere Jupiter, donor of money, wealth, job, husband, son and prosperity is not under debilitated condition or malefic influence.
5. Lagan {1st house In horoscope} and Lagan lord {Lord of 1st house} somewhere on influence of malefic or debilitated planets.
Read Also : WHAT YOUR EYE COLOR SAYS ABOUT YOUR PERSONALITY
Some combination obstruction in luck
1. If Lagnesh {lord of 1st house} in debilitated condition, 6th , 8th , 12th house than luck is interrupted.
2. Rahu in Lagan {1st house}, debilitated Saturn in any house in horoscope and Mars in 4th house than luck is interrupted.
3. If lagnesh {Lord of 1st house} along with Sun, Moon and Rahu are in 12th house then luck is interrupted.
4. If lagnesh {Lord of 1st house} along with Sun in Libra sign{Sun in debilitated condition} and Saturn in 6th or 8th house then fortunes of the natives are not supporting.
5. If panchmesh {lord of 5th house} debilitated or retrograde and placement in 6th , 8th 12th house then may be suffering deception.
6. If panchmesh {lord of 5th house}, and navmesh {lord of 9th house} as debilitated condition in 6th house then interrupted by the enemy.
7. If Impact of Rahu, Ketu and Sun on 5th house and lagnesh {lord of 1st house} in 6th house than due to Pitra dosh, luck is interrupted.
8. If Jupiter of Capricorn sign in 5th house then suffers hardness of luck.
9. If panchmesh {lord of 5th house} in 12th house along with Mercury in Pisces sign then luck is interrupted.
10. If Sun in 5th house or 9th house along with exalted Saturn { Saturn in Libra sign }than destiny is seen obstacle.
11.If Sun along with Venues in 9th house aspects by the Saturn then luck not with them.
12. If navmesh { lord of 9th house} in 12th or 8th house seen by malefic planet the luck not with them.
13. If lord of 9th house along with Rahu in 8th house then facing difficulties at worries level.
14. If lord of 9th house along with Rahu or Ketu in 2nd house aspects by Saturn then human luck is interrupted.
15. If lord of 9th house along with lord of 6th house placement in 12th house and aspect by malefic planet then suffering due to illness, debt and disease.
16. If debilitated Jupiter along with lord of 9th house in 8th house aspects by Rahu or Ketu luck is interrupted.
17. If debilitated Jupiter placement in 6th , 8th or 12th house and aspects by Rahu or Saturn then luck not with them.
Read Also : WHAT MOLES ON FACE TELL ABOUT YOUR LUCK, LIFE & CHARACTER
Measures luck diminished prevention.
Good measures taken of Sun, Jupiter, Lagnesh {lord of 1st house}, Navmesh {lord of 9th house} luck related diminish go to solve.
1. Chatting of Gayatri Mantra and offering water to God Sun.
2. In the morning, get blesses of parents by touching feet.
3. Never feel superior by knowledge, reputation and post.
4. Save by the curse of weak and helpless person.
5. Help old age home and weaker section as per physical, mentally and money level.
6. A day in week visits Temples, Mosques, church or Gurudwara and pray for happiness . By also donation of Steel, Cement, Rebar in Holy places and help in contraction work.
7. Reads || Mahishasura Mardini Stotram || in morning , block of fate are away.
8. `Om Namo Bhagwate Vasudeva` By chatting of this mantra 108 times luck will be favored.
9. In case of not defect pronunciation Aditya hridya stotra
Watch Video : TOP 10 MOST FAMOUS ARIES CELEBRITIES IN INDIA


text:
Establish a break from the school day, typically before lunch, that involves planned, inclusive, actively supervised games or activities; also called semi-structured, or structured recess
Policies & Programs
Policies and programs that can improve health
filtered by "Diet and Exercise" and "Scientifically Supported"
26 results
Active recess
Activity programs for older adults
Offer group educational, social, or physical activities that promote social interactions, regular attendance, and community involvement among older adults
Breastfeeding promotion programs
Provide education, information, counseling, and support for breastfeeding to women throughout pre- and post-natal care
Community fitness programs
Offer exercise classes (e.g., yoga, Tai Chi, cycling, etc.) and fitness program support in community centers, senior centers, fitness, and community wellness centers
Community-based social support for physical activity
Build, strengthen, and maintain social networks that provide supportive relationships for behavior change through walking groups or other community-based interventions
Competitive pricing for healthy foods
Assign higher costs to non-nutritious foods than nutritious foods via incentives, subsidies, or price discounts for healthy foods and beverages or disincentives or price increases for unhealthy choices
Complete Streets & streetscape design initiatives
Enhance streetscapes with greater sidewalk coverage and walkway connectivity, street crossing safety features, traffic calming measures, and other design elements
Exercise prescriptions
Provide patients with prescriptions for exercise plans, often accompanied by progress checks at office visits, counseling, activity logs, and exercise testing
Fruit & vegetable incentive programs
Offer low-income participants matching funds to purchase healthy foods, especially fresh fruits and vegetables; often called bonus dollars, market bucks, produce coupons, or nutrition incentives
Individually-adapted physical activity programs
Teach behavioral skills that can help individuals incorporate physical activity into their daily routines
Mixed-use development
Support a combination of land uses (e.g., residential, commercial, recreational) in development initiatives, often through zoning regulations or Smart Growth initiatives
Multi-component obesity prevention interventions
Combine educational, environmental, and behavioral activities that increase physical activity and improve nutrition (e.g., nutrition education, aerobic/strength training, dietary prescriptions, etc.) in various settings
Multi-component school-based obesity prevention interventions
Deliver educational, behavioral, environmental, and other obesity prevention efforts (e.g., education classes, enhanced physical education, healthy food promotion, family outreach, etc.) in schools
Nutrition and physical activity interventions in preschool & child care
Offer young children opportunities to eat healthy foods and engage in physical activity by providing fresh fruits and vegetables, incorporating physical activity into daily classroom routines, etc.
Physically active classrooms
Incorporate physical activity breaks, classroom energizers, or moving activities into academic lessons, usually for elementary students
Places for physical activity
Modify local environments to support physical activity, increase access to new or existing facilities for physical activity, or build new facilities
Point-of-decision prompts for physical activity
Place motivational signs on or near stairwells, elevators, and escalators that encourage individuals to use stairs
Safe Routes to Schools
Promote walking and biking to school through education, incentives, and environmental changes; often called SRTS
School breakfast programs
Support programs to provide students with a nutritious breakfast in the cafeteria, from grab and go carts in hallways, or in classrooms
School fruit & vegetable gardens
Establish designated areas where students can garden with guidance, often with nutrition and food preparation lessons and opportunities for taste tasting and hands-on learning


text:
You didn't ask the question but I'd encourage you to have her look it the savings she might get if she contributed to a traditional IRA instead of a Roth. Not only would the contribution further reduce your tax liability but since the credit is larger the lower someones AGI is and the IRA contribution lowers ones AGI, the traditional IRA contribution might amplify her tax savings. She could then convert the Traditional IRA to a Roth in a future year when she wouldn't qualify for the retirement savings credit.Obviously there are a lot of factors that go into whether or not this would be a good idea in her situation. But I think it's worth considering.
Folders |
Best Of |
Favorites & Replies |
Settings |
Start a New Board |
My Fool |
Help |


text:
BNPP IP: World remains in a soft patch due to growth disparities
Reinhold Knaus senior economist, Multi Asset Solutions at BNP Paribas comments on the macro outlook for Europe, China and the US.
Recent weeks can be characterised as 'moving back to normal'. Core themes such as the pace of global growth and normalisation of monetary policy by the US Federal Reserve (the Fed) are coming back to centre stage for market watchers. Greece's domination of media and financial market attention has been completely disproportionate to its economic size but it should now fade away as the latest deal with its creditors moves closer to a resolution. This should in turn reduce Greece's contribution to the prevailing risk-off mood.
On the other hand, financial markets have other sources of uncertainty to deal with, such as the volatility of China's equity markets and the disparate and in some cases, rather weak rates of growth in some parts of the global economy. There are few signs yet of the expected acceleration in global economic activity. World trade and industrial production data remain on the weak side. Commodity price movements reflect the global growth
environment and are very sensitive to weakness in emerging markets. The nuclear deal with Iran has put downward pressure on oil prices on the basis that it both reduces geopolitical risk and increases supplies of oil over the medium term. The prospect of lower-for-longer oil prices is supportive for industrialised countries. It should translate into stronger demand and be a catalyst for some pickup in the global economy in the second half of the year.
Greece's political and financial roller-coaster ride over whether to accept tighter conditions for a third bailout programme of up to EUR 86 billion finally came to an end during a weekend summit that ran into the business hours of Monday 13 July, underlining how close a Grexit was. As the 'last chance' deadline of 20 July approached, failure to reimburse maturing Greek bonds would have left the ECB with little choice but to stop its Emergency Liquidity Assistance (ELA) for Greek banks, triggering a collapse of the Greek economy.
Against this background, a broad national unity front in the Greek parliament acknowledged economic reality and the will of the Greek people to stay in the eurozone by countering the 'No' vote of the 5 July referendum and accepting the tougher conditionality of the proposed ESM programme. Delivering the first reform steps by passing the laws its required by Greece's creditors was a constructive first step. It permitted negotiations on the ESM programme and bridge financing to progress. The ECB facilitated the reopening of Greek banks with two EUR 0.9 billion increases in the ELA facility.
The road map for fast tracking delivery of a third bailout package is now being followed. But is this the end of the Greek saga? We don't think so. First of all, the devil is in the detail. For example, the International Monetary Fund reiterated its request for more debt restructuring, and Greece has a bond due for repayment on 20 August. Secondly, even after the approval of a third bailout package, political and economic instability could over the coming months still trigger a downward spiral in Greece – and result in a Grexit – although we believe this is now less likely. Also less likely, in our view, is a scenario whereby Greece would continue to captivate financial markets as it has in recent months, because the potential channels of contagion are shrinking. There is a clear will to keep Greece in the eurozone and to support the country.
But even if Greece was not to meet the new conditions or modernise its economy, there would be a 'plan B'. The writing is on the wall, the euro summit having replaced uncertainty with some clarity. As a result, European equities bounced back, peripheral spreads narrowed substantially, and the pressure on German Bund yields was muted. The EUR is currently moving in a range of 1.08 – 1.12 against the USD.
Better visibility on Greece's situation is also reducing the threat of risk-off market sentiment contagion being channelled more broadly across the eurozone. The real eurozone economy has barely reacted to the negative media hype around Greece – indeed, underlying growth in the eurozone has, in our view, strengthened and become less vulnerable to shocks. Spain in particular has entered a solid growth trajectory (unemployment in Q2 fell by 1.4 percentage points to 22.4%, the lowest level since Q3 2011), and data for Italy also points towards a return to an upward trend. The eurozone composite sentiment PMI has fallen slightly so far during July, from 54.2 to 53.7 and is pointing to a pace of growth in the eurozone at the start of H2 2015 similar to that achieved in H1. Further strengthening of investment and/or fewer headwinds from global trade are needed for growth to accelerate.
The minutes from the July meeting of the Bank of England (BoE) monetary committee show that uncertainty over the eurozone led to a unanimous vote for keeping UK monetary policy unchanged. However, this masks an underlying change in the mood of BoE, due to strong fundamentals, confirmed by a reacceleration of GDP growth to 0.7% QoQ in Q2. The BoE has started to prepare markets for a first rate hike, which we expect in Q1 2016. The timing will be more and more data dependent as stronger growth and rising wages could increase the pressure on the BoE despite the absence of inflation (0.0% YoY in June). In any case we would expect only a gradual pace of tightening and no action before the Fed starts hiking.


text:
Busy Day in Braves' TownBrave in New York
What a day…
June 3, 2009 was a day that Braves fans will not soon forget. The Braves made three MAJOR roster moves Wednesday that shook up the team, the organization, the fans, etc. All of Braves nation was shocked to hear about the release of future Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Glavine.
Glavine had just made his final minor league rehab start in Rome, informing the Braves he was ready to make his 2009 debut with the Braves as soon as this weekend when all of a sudden….I had just wanted to see what Ted Lilly's 2009 record was, about 20 minutes pre-game time, when I looked at the headlines and saw "Braves Release Veteran Glavine." WHAT THE HELL?!
All I could think was "WOW!" I was shocked. Not because I thought he was going to come up and pitch lights out and get the Braves into the post-season for the first time since 2005, but because it was TOM GLAVINE, a two time Cy Young Award winner (1991 & 1998)! I thought about it more and more and for some reason I was thinking clearly; I wasn't angry or stressed or anything. Did the Prozac finally kick-in?
It used to be, when I heard the Braves had made a move, I thought, "Oh, Schuerholz knows what he is doing," but things really haven't been that way in 5 years or so. It's bizarre to think the names Greg Maddux, John Smoltz and Tom Glavine now represent former Braves.
I don't think it was necessarily the right time to make this move. The guy has worked so hard to get himself back into pitching shape after a '08 surgery, rehabilitation the whole off-season and working through set-backs through the first two months of this season. Even though he left the Braves in 2003 for the METS, I still think of Glavine as a Brave. I always will. The 305-game winner has always been a true professional both on and off the mound, and there has never been a teammate who spoke ill of him. I just strongly hope that the $1 million bonus had NOTHING to do with this.
After mulling it over for a few minutes it started to make sense. Obviously if the Braves thought he could contribute to the team in any way they would have welcomed him to the roster with open arms. BUT…this meant that if Glavine wasn't going to pitch, then who would be the 5th starter? Is Kris Medlen the guy? OR maybe it's time for…TOMMY HANSON!
Disbelief turned into elation knowing that it was time…FINALLY!
The second major move the Braves made Wednesday was announcing that 'Super Prospect' Tommy Hanson had been promoted from AAA Gwinnett. Hanson (3-3) pitched well this season, posting a 1.49 ERA and 90 SO in 66.1 IP. The 6'6" 23-year-old Hanson will join his roommate Kris Medlen, who has been moved to the bullpen, and will make his major league debut Saturday against Ryan Braun, the "Hebrew Hammer," and the Milwaukee Brewers.
After feeling mentally drained from hearing the first two bits of news, the Braves had to really test my psychological capacity by announcing they made a trade for CF Nate McLouth. Another surprise! I stopped worrying about my mental state and more about my heart. It sounded like a good move, then I heard who they gave up for McLouth…Charlie Morton (okay, I can deal with that)…Jeff Locke (damn!) …and…Gorkys Hernandez (OH NO!). Did they really just trade one of their best prospects?
But again, the more I thought about this the more I liked it. Charlie Morton, who was having a solid year in AAA Gwinnett (7-2 2.51 ERA), wasn't high on the Braves list anymore after going with Jo Jo Reyes and Kris Medlen over Morton to start games this year. Jeff Locke, who I am still very high on, started to struggle at A Myrtle Beach (1-4 5.52 ERA) and really, he is a kid who has never pitched above A-ball and no one knows if he will turn out great or be a bust. I can deal with letting go of Locke…but GORKYS HERNANDEZ?!
This kid (I thought) was the Braves' future CF— a kid that could hit for average, steal bases, play terrific defense and really just create havoc for opposing teams. BUT…again this may not be terrible. Hernandez was basically a throw-in with Jair Jurrjens in the Edgar Renteria trade. The Braves got him for virtually nothing. So in reality the Braves got a Gold Glove winner, a 2009 All-Star, and finally a legit lead-off guy for an AAA pitcher, a pitcher that is struggling in A-ball and a prospect that they obtained as a throw-in, who has only played two months in AA. Not Bad!
McLouth is a solid 5-tool player that will absolutely give the Braves a much-needed offensive threat. Let's not overlook the fact McLouth is signed at a reasonable price through 2011, with a club option for 2012, so this is not a rent-a-player situation. After a great 2008 season where he posted a .276 AVG 26 HR 94 RBI 23 SB, all career highs, McLouth has struggled slightly this season hitting just .256 (only .002 higher than Kelly Johnson podcast guys), but has produced good power numbers with 9 HR 34 RBI.
The Braves seemed gun shy about making a move after trading the Rome Braves for Mark Teixeira in 2007, but it's hard to knock a trade of prospects for an All-Start caliber player. Look at some of the past top prospects to be dealt— Wilson Betemit…Andy Marte…Matt Belisle…Jose Capellan…where are they now? It's not always bad to trade prospects, unproven players, for solid major league talent.
After all of this, the news that Jorge Campillo was back on the DL (WBC) and Brian Barton, acquired for Blaine Boyer, had been called up to provide some depth to the bench didn't seem so significant.
Overall, the McLouth trade looks like a winner for Frank Wren and the Braves. I will be watching intently as the talented Mr. Hanson and Nate McLouth make their Braves debuts this week, but I will never forget what Tom Glavine has done for the Braves and, more importantly, for Braves fans.
Thank you, Tom, for all you have done!
Follow me on Twitter @ BRAVEinNY
Until Next Time…Go—Tommy Hanson!


text:
Ithacappella, Ithaca College's all-male a cappella group, is kicking off its singing season with its first fall concert of 2018! This event is FREE and you may bring as many people as you'd like.
It is recommended you arrive at least one hour before the show's start time of the show in order to get a good seat. Seating is not assigned, so it's first come, first serve.
This concert is the first of four concerts the group performs on the Ithaca College campus.
Hope to see you soon!