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|System: X360, PC
|Review Rating Legend
|Dev: Valve
|1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid
|4.0 - 4.4 = Great
|Pub: Electronic Arts
|2.0 - 2.4 = Poor
|4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
|Release: Nov. 17, 2009
|2.5 - 2.9 = Average
|5.0 = The Best
|Players: 1-8
|3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
|ESRB Rating: Mature
|3.5 - 3.9 = Good
However, if you're looking for a more hands-on approach, then the all-new melee weapons and combat may be more your speed. Whenever you find a melee weapon, you can substitute it for your pistol(s). Then everything from a crowbar to a guitar can be swung with no cool down meter to worry about. In fact, every melee weapon besides the chainsaw, whose attacks are limited to the amount of fuel left in its tank, can be used infinitely without fear of breakage or a finite number of uses. This adds an entirely new dynamic to the game, as hacking your way to a safe room through a horde of zombies just wasn't possible previously.
Melee weapons also come in handy when surrounded by enemies since you can spin in a circle while swinging wildly without having to worry about running out of bullets or having to reload. Although it doesn't really make any logical sense, you don't have to fear not being able to help out teammates once downed when carrying a melee weapon, as you'll still somehow have a pistol with which to take pot shots at attackers in these situations.
There's even more variety to be had in the health department in L4D2. Whereas last time around you were limited to health packs for massive life regain and pills for quicker, smaller, and less permanent health boosts; you've got a few more options here. In addition to pills and health packs, you'll also find adrenaline and defibrillators. The adrenaline is somewhat like the pills; giving you a quick, small boost to health, but in addition they allow you to run and reload faster as well as run virtually unimpeded through zombies who would normally grab hold and slow you down. This can often be the difference between making it to the end of a level and winding up being zombie food. Of course, even if you die, as long as you have a teammate who is still up and has a defibrillator, you still have a chance. This item allows you to essentially resurrect a fallen teammate with half of their health as long as you can find their corpse, all without the aid of using the infection. Again, this new item can completely change the outcome of a level, allowing you to snatch victory from the brink of defeat.
On the other side of things, there have also been some twists and new additions to the opposition. For one, witches can now be found walking around instead of always being hunched over crying. This makes them much tougher to pick out of a crowd of infected. There are also three new special infected that you'll need to worry about in the form of the Spitter, Charger, and Jockey. All three of these new foes are specifically built to help separate well functioning teams in order to add tension to the game. Spitters lay down a decent-sized pool of damaging acid, Chargers plow through the Survivors while keeping the last one hit as a punching dummy, and the Jockey hops onto a single team member and then gains contested control over their movement. These new infected not only make going through the campaign more challenging, but they also add some much needed diversity and spontaneity to the Versus mode, which previously only allowed for Boomers, Hunters, and Smokers.
These new additions to the infected are also put to good use in L4D2's new Scavenge mode. I have to believe that this is the mode many L4D players have been clamoring for. This mode pits a team of four survivors against a team of four infected, much like in the Versus mode, however, the goal is no longer to make it to the next safe room or extraction point. Instead, the survivors will be tasked with feeding gas cans into something that needs fuel, be it a car or generator. Gas cans are located around the map but require some travel to get to and there's a clock constantly ticking down, which can force teams to split off into pairs in order to retrieve the fuel that is necessary to extend this time limit. However, at the same time, the four infected players are doing everything in their power to make sure that the gas tank and timer runs dry. After the time limit runs out, the teams switch and whoever collected and poured the most gas tanks at the end of each round wins (in a single round, best of three, or best of five situation). This mode essentially allows players to get a quick fix of Versus mode without having to sign up for an hour or longer Versus campaign play through.
With all of the great new additions and tweaks for the better found in L4D2, the game has easily earned the right to be a real sequel as opposed to being thought of as little more than an expansion pack. With more modes, weapons, health items, special infected - you name it! - L4D2 feels like a massive upgrade from the original L4D. And truthfully, anyone willing to boycott the game because they think it should have been DLC for the original should be careful what they wish for. If you break all of these additions into separate bite-sized DLC packages, there's probably no way you'd be getting out for less than sixty dollars. This is especially true when considering that the tiny two level campaign and Versus Crash Course add-on set Xbox 360 players back seven bones worth of space bucks. There is no longer time for idle threats of boycotts and should've-beens because now is the time to pick up a fantastic sequel to a great game and spend countless hours dismembering zombies while loving every minute of it.
Adam Brown
CCC Staff Contributor
Game Features:


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One of the most common questions asked to a mom of an infant is, "Is she a good sleeper?" Often what they actually are asking is, "Does she sleep long periods of time?" as if a baby who wakes up more frequently has a problem.
Our culture is very egocentric, and it shows in our parenting, as a lot of guides and cultural conditioning suggest that success as a parent is the ability to have an uninterrupted night. However, not only does this set parents up for unnecessary stress, but it's not even biologically sound thinking.
If we only expected from our babies what they were naturally designed to do, we'd have a lot less sleep struggles.
For example, "sleeping through the night" is a phrase thrown around often, but do you know what it actually refers to? Five hours. That's it. Sleeping through the night means a five-hour stretch. Once. What is being determined isn't if you laid down after brushing your teeth and woke up to your alarm clock, but that your baby's body recognizes the difference between daytime sleep and nighttime sleep, and sleeps longer periods at night than they do in the day.
That's it.
While some babies will naturally begin sleeping longer periods of time at young ages, and will push off the need for food, that is the exception, not the rule.
Babies will sleep longer when they are biologically ready to do so. It is a developmental step like walking and talking, not something you can (or should) force, much like you can show your child the potty but expecting them to use it before their bladder is developed enough to hold urine is only setting up a battle that is impossible for either of you to win. In fact, when observed, it's discovered that even moms who swear their babies sleep through the night (by adult standards) are mistaken -- their baby still wakes up, they just don't know about it, and they didn't wake up any more or any less than babies whose mothers were aware of the nighttime awakenings.
One of my absolute favorite quotes about sleeping through the night:
Probably one of the main reasons that night-waking babies are such a big issue is that parents don't have realistic expectations of the sleep patterns of babies. We are bombarded with magazine articles and books that perpetuate the myth that babies should not have nighttime needs. Babies were designed to wake up often at night to feed and cuddle -- keep in mind that many adults wake during the night, too. If our expectations for babies were not so different from our babies' expectations for themselves, much of this "problem" might disappear.
If a well-meaning family member or doctor tells you that your rocking or nursing to sleep needs to stop, consider that they don't live in your household. It is totally normal and acceptable for even a 1-year-old to wake up and need their parent to help them ease back to sleep. Normal! Our culture isn't supportive of that, though, but the reality is, our culture pretends that babies need to be sleeping, without intervention, for incredibly long periods of time, before they're actually ready to. And almost no one actually does it, especially without fights and crying, but they don't talk about it because they don't want to be seen as a lax parent.
Well people, take heart. As long as you promote healthy sleep patterns, everyone is well-rested, and you are respecting your baby's emotions and developmental abilities, how you put your baby to sleep and when they wake up really isn't an issue. It is absolutely okay to be nursing a 15-month-old during the night. It is okay to need to sing a little to a 9-month-old. Stop looking at books and people who tell you your baby must sleep, and look at your baby who tells you they're trying, but just need a little help from the person they love most, who comforts them best -- you.
Are you at all concerned about how long baby sleeps?

subset: commoncrawl


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The Oscar earned a SAG lead actress nomination earlier on Wednesday (12) for her performance as Alma Reville in Hitchcock. She will collect her honour on Jan 5 in Palm Springs.
The International Star Award "recognises an actor or actress who has achieved both critical and commercial international recognition throughout their body of work".
Previous recipients include Javier Bardem and Gary Oldman.
"With more than four decades' worth of memorable film, television and stage performances, Helen Mirren continues to be one of the most outstanding actresses of her generation," said festival chairman Harold Matzner.
"In Hitchcock, Mirren delivers another virtuoso performance as Alma Reville, wife to the great master of cinema, who was integral to creating his classic films including the masterpiece Psycho."
Mirren won the Oscar for The Queen in 2006 and earned nominations for The Madness Of King George, Gosford Park and The Last Station. Her credits includeExcalibur, The Long Good Friday, The Age Of Consent, Red, Calendar Girls, Some Mother's Son and The Cook, The Thief, His Wife And her Lover.
The 24th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival is set to run from Jan 3-14.


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Part of Rangemaster's 60cm range, the Rangemaster Classic 60cm all electric cooker is a traditional style cooker with arched baker's style window.
The upper oven on the Rangemaster Classic 60 is dual functioning oven with grill and conventional oven settings. This oven is ideally sized for slow cooking. The lower oven is a multifunction oven offerring conventional, fan assisted, fan, grill, fanned grilling and defrost settings - all in one oven! Both ovens have catalytic liners for easy cleaning of the oven cavities.
Each of the four ceramic rings has 6 heat intensity settings, giving great flexibility on whatever you're cooking.
We are able to deliver all of our products nationwide however additional delivery charges may apply on certain products. Please call a member of our sales staff on 01568-611124 or email firstname.lastname@example.com for more information.
Although we do our best to make sure that the colours printed on our website are accurate, actual colours will vary. In addition, subtle colour differences and textures may not be fully appreciated on some systems due to differences in computer monitors and / or display cards.
We aim to dispatch goods within 7 days of your order where items are currently in stock. If you wish to check stock availability don't hesitate to call us on 01568 611124 or email firstname.lastname@example.com and we will be happy to advise you.
On the occasion that items are out of stock we will call you back and advise on an expected delivery date or recommend alternative in stock products.
We have every confidence in our products; however if you are in any way dissatisfied with your purchase you may return it to us within 7 days, in its original condition, for a full refund or replacement. In the event of goods arriving damaged or not as ordered, please inform us within 24 hours and we will be happy to replace them.
Our Payment Service Provider is Sage Pay (formerly Protx) – the largest independent payment service provider (PSP) in the UK and Ireland. Sage Pay provides a secure payment gateway (Level 1 PCI DSS), processing payments for thousands of online businesses, including ours. It is Sage Pay's utmost priority to ensure that transaction data is handled in a safe and secure way.
Sage Pay uses a range secure methods such as fraud screening, I.P address blocking and 3D secure. Once on the Sage Pay systems, all sensitive data is secured using the same internationally recognised 256-bit encryption standards.
Sage Pay is PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) compliant to the highest level and maintains regular security audits. They are also regularly audited by the banks and banking authorities to ensure that their systems are impenetrable.
Sage Pay is an active member of the PCI Security Standards Council (PCI SSC) that defines card industry global regulation.
In addition, you know that your session is in a secure encrypted environment when you see https:// in the web address, and/or when you see the locked padlock symbol alongside the URL.
So when buying through our site, you can be sure that you are completely protected.
More information about shopping securely with Sage Pay can be found at www.sagepay.com/shoppers


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Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電), the world's top contract chipmaker, yesterday said it planned to start mass-producing next-generation 450mm wafers using advanced 10-nanometer technology in 2018.
The plan was included in the latest technology roadmap unveiled by TSMC about one year after the chipmaker attributed its delay in making 450mm wafers, originally scheduled in 2015, to semiconductor equipment suppliers' postponement in developing advanced equipment for manufacturing amid the industrial slump.
The 450mm wafers would help solve the problem of rising costs in making advanced chips, allowing TSMC to provide affordable 10 nanometer chips with FinFET transistors for customers, J.K. Wang (王建光), vice president of TSMC's operation in charge of 300mm factories, told a media briefing arranged by semiconductor industry association SEMI.
Cost constraints rather than technological constraints for chipmakers to migrate to next-generation chips via shrinking chip geometry, he said.
Chipmakers can get 2.5 times more chips from a 450mm wafer than from a 300mm wafer.
The advanced 10-nanometer chips could first be used in mobile devices and other consumer electronics, like game consoles, that demand high-performance and low power consumption, Wang said.
TSMC planned to build a pilot production line to make 450mm wafers between 2016 and 2017, when semiconductor ASML Holding NV had its key equipment ready in 2015, Wang said.
The chipmaker would consider building major 450mm-wafer production lines in Greater Taichung, he said.
Early this year, TSMC joined the Global 450 Consortium in a move to facilitate the transition of 450mm wafer production from its current 300mm wafers in collaboration with the world's major chip companies, Intel Corp, Samsung Electronics Co, IBM Corp and GlobalFoundries Inc, Wang said.
Each company sent 20 engineers to jointly develop the technology and overcome challenges, Wang said.
Taiwanese chipmakers are expected to spend 8 percent more on semiconductor equipment to U$9.2 billion this year from last year's US$8.2 billion, primarily driven by contract chipmakers, TSMC in particular, SEMI analyst Clark Tseng (曾瑞榆) said.
That was a contrast to an annual decline of 2.6 percent in spending by global chip companies this year, SEMI said.
TSMC planned to spend US$8.5 billion on new equipment this year.
Next year, Tseng expects local chipmakers to budget more than US$9 billion in total on new semiconductor equipment, meaning little change from this year's spending. Any improvement in the macroeconomy would allow an upward revision, he said.
Taiwan and South Korea are expected to be the two largest markets for semiconductor equipment this year, with purchases totaling US$9.26 billion and US$11.48 billion respectively, according to SEMI figures.
TSMC shares rose 0.12 percent to NT$84 yesterday, outperforming the TAIEX's 0.01 percent gain, while rival United Microelectronics Co (聯電) was flat at NT$11.95.


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Market Week Starts With a Global Selloff
Stocks extended their declines as investors reacted to a continued rise in Treasury yields and a steep tumble in Chinese stocks. Michael Casey joins MoneyBeat.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
... and do ... rising bond yields and growing concerns about the stability of China's financial system ... rattle global markets with the ten year U S Treasury note ... the highest level since August twenty eleven ... Dow Jones Editor Michael Casey is here to explain what it all means ... on the MoneyBeat show on ... Friday was just a breather and ... yet I mean when I see things in the center I received today is that selling pressure that was most of last week this is right back on top of us and ... obvious easy to move in the markets here ... Paul is really inching was a fun on China ... yes its true cost announces that the selloff and phones years of secret until the chocolate stores million to two one ... because in fact if ... it seems as if China itself could stop this is one to one goal and of course is a spike in ... in in today ... many routes where ... the the seven day repo rates of it as a measure of of the cost of borrowing to banks in this market during what looks small but China ... is up around seven point five percent is downloaded from fraud is still very high insurance on to stress ... that the thing is it's really because that that that that the People's Bank of China's central bank ... is simply no need to be in the weddings Mason to come and say ... alright that's his liquidity to get you through this ... The because they want to reform the financial system in China because they wanna get them off the com drugging que octave chief finance ... and its cycle of investing in Benin speculative property and infrastructure ... them into a ... consumer based ... economy ... it's a saying you know what ... is ... that we need to have a was possible ... banking system and then you know what a bit of higher as high rates of ... twenty oh that ... be that it isn't just the Clintons explicit is that that seems to be the message that while domestic over the message they came out with a statement they released a statement that there are probably the written last week but at least ... overnight for awesome for him ... and he was pretty blah and yet could you ever imagined Denver Nanking Mario drug he saying something like that what they do that to Pretoria to see what the search button machine bottoms extreme bonus to see my posting its tight to ... use it in time to move clearly and now the rest of the cover ... and the way they can and said that is it is not ... it's not that there isn't any money it's is that money's going the wrong places I'm that was extremely funny I cannot imagine ... figuring that the TLC wasn't ago though it was one point when it opened the fact that they just up to this ... the standard line autonomy could be given one more ... the service to more liquid approach ... that was seen as effective incentive pay a block when it hit me and he was no use all of this and the Shanghai come sit down more than five percent under the two thousand level he even see it in the summer hasn't been in a couple of years ... ago were selloff in Shanghai in four years ... this is the world's second-largest economy ... the economy is slowing down we know that we know exactly how much you can trust the numbers but ... give a weakening economy now they have all cash crunch in the central bank not stepping in ... this is really rattling teachers ... there ... it is because I think it's in a sign of the end of a key moderate growth we've had since the crisis of people wondering what's that because the pieces ... the U S of course coming back a little bit from the reasons why ... the Fed is looking to dial back a little bit of a stimulus ... that whether or not I can supplant ... it cut ten percent growth rates in China was offering to the will does is it is a big question ... yet the idea that to the financial crisis and in China has a nifty one as well aam ... did did the consensus is that it had such ... sources of the battle has ... heated seats don't buckle so that that that the company is the stepping in a level of a bank that the problem ... tends to the day that concern for the same time ... here you've got ... it will all pull loose lending that went on to become very un checked faction one of municipalities that built up a lot of debt to these offshore ... off balance sheet mechanisms ... these other ... means of investing the people of five of the banking system is Google's will manage to prevent ... exposing one's Holdings is especially ... to races of the thinking is ... that if the big bank's time ... the big four banks in China constant violence done to ... the fiscal Gov will come in and do some things that some of the missing concerned with total melt down to do to bring this all ... year this morning we saw the yield on the U S ten year Treasury go this is five to six six ... zero to sixty one now ... but he was at two six it has gone up a full percentage point a little more than a month ... yet on ... how how ... how disturbing is that to this economy ... well you know it's still a big bet on one hand you can have a boss awful Tuchman is is is that this is ... a reflection of ... the expectation of an improving environment I mean that's the Winstanley ... which only had ... the myth that the idea of growth in the future does to push up along the team ... in the can of course the real factor here is the fifth insight into their defined hinted ... that the boss pop in effect therefore is that this is going to ... drive everything else are you know we tried to comply ... with all the cost burden every single a bomb on has sold off which means that borrowing costs for everybody from pulpits school this this is to ... see the fun moments ... I aam and and going up and and that of course the scenes you need to foster growth ... but this is ... what one look at the issuance of offenses that pauses ... impacts be that ... banks ... that were when it struck with the various theme margin between what what to look like a chore in rates would what they've been tested the windows rehersal ... now because the CPU that we know the right to still Cancun zero shorting ... but hiring to add that Korean car is similarly his older Loral's area very rocky but they


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Most Popular Stories
The most popular Music stories on AllTop right now
Mostly music sharing, and usually more obscure stuff––nothing from the Hall of Fame here.
We Are the Music Makers (www.reddit.com)
A subreddit for musicians of all sorts: hobbyists, professionals, and semi-professionals.
Listen to This (www.reddit.com)
A great place to discover new music, usually music you haven't heard of before.
Spotify Blog (news.spotify.com)
A helpful way to keep up with the latest developments for the streaming service, including recently-released music.
Rolling Stone (www.rollingstone.com)
Rolling Stone is the classic music magazine. Though it was founded on rock and roll, it now covers everything.
Consquence of Sound (consequenceofsound.net)
Chock full of music news, reviews, features, and commentary.
Fact Magazine (www.factmag.com)
A hub for all things music: new music, music news, music-making tools, and reviews.
Brooklyn Vegan (www.brooklynvegan.com)
Focuses on the New York music scene, but the site gives space for Austin and Chicago, too. Read up on all sorts of music here.
For the classical music lover; engage in all the aspects of classic music and culture here.
Compiles music news, photos, videos, and top lists. It focuses on pop music.
The first mp3 blog, and it was created in 2002. It gives you both free mp3s and reviews of the songs.
Popjustice (www.popjustice.com)
Brings together music, music videos, news, and interviews.


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A Life Shaped by Books
1) God Came Near by Max Lucado - this book is what actually got me into reading Christian books on my own, without being forced to because of some teacher. Though today it wouldn't be considered one of my favorite books, it certainly started me down the path of reading Christian Living books.
2) Desiring God by John Piper - Piper opened by eyes to how theology truth could profoundly affect me both emotionally and spiritually. His concept of "Christian Hedonism" showed me how I could pursue happiness by pursuing God.
3) A combination of The Gospel According to Jesus by John MacArthur, The Race Set Before Us by Tom Schriener and Ardel Canaday, and Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners by John Bunyan - Starting with MacArthur's book, during my time just after seminary, I started to understand what salvation was actually supposed to look like and how our behaviors should affect how we perceive our perseverance and assurance.
4) Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem - This book, combined with the 2 theology courses I took under Dr. Stan Norman at NOBTS led me to inerrancy and a deep love for theology. It also drew me away from Dispensationalism. I think it is probably the best basic, Baptist Systematic ever written.
5) Power in the Pulpit by Jerry Vines and Jim Shaddix - This book, combined with the "Proclaiming the Bible" class I took with Dr. Shaddix at NOBTS is essentially how I was taught to preach. I refer to it often and the method is deeply inscribed in my preparation each week, though I am not nearly as organized in presentation as Shaddix or Vines advocate.
There are so many more I could list that have had big influences on me like, The Pursuit of God by Tozer, Knowing God by Packer, Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood
What books have shaped your life and ministry?


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In early April 2006, TSA [Transportation Security Administration] official Robert MacLean appears on NBC News incognito to complain that the TSA is requiring sky marshals to wear suits and ties, making them easily identifiable to potential terrorists. But his identity is somehow discovered by the TSA, and he is fired on April 11, 2006.
The TSA claims he leaked "Sensitive Security Information." However, he argues that the text message he leaked wasn't marked as classified and was sent to sky marshals over regular phone lines.
In 2014, after years of legal battles, the US Supreme Court will rule that the Whistleblower Protection Act prevented his firing. A year later, he will be reinstated, but he says he is still fighting with the TSA.
In September 2015, he will note similarities between his case and Clinton's email scandal, but he predicts she will have an easier time than he did. "There's just a different standard for whistleblowers than for politicians." (McClatchy Newspapers, 9/29/2015)


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CONCORD — After taking her oath of office as New Hampshire's 81st governor — and only the second woman to hold the office — Maggie Hassan said she was grateful at her inauguration Thursday afternoon for the trust Granite State residents have placed in her.
Chief Justice Linda Dalianis administered the oath of office to Hassan, who later stated that gender equality was exemplified in New Hampshire Thursday with a female Supreme Court Justice swearing in a female governor.
Speaking from the Statehouse in her first speech delivered as governor and joined by her husband and children, whom she thanked for their support, Hassan said it will be through traditions that have guided New Hampshire residents in its history that she will accomplish building a stronger and more innovative state.
"To our very core, we value freedom, independence, hard work, fiscal responsibility, family and community," she said.
And during her time in office she aims for accomplishments made in the state and the values that guide them, to be shared by all those who call New Hampshire home, regardless of circumstance.
"We live these values in our personal lives and our workplaces," she said.
It is her goal to create a state allowing all of its residents to enjoy the "high quality of life" offered within its borders.
"Where all our citizens are included in our success and prosperity," she said.
Throughout her inaugural address she emphasized one path toward that end was education.
Addressing the significant state funding cuts in higher education, Hassan said is time leaders in the state begin to "reverse course."
"Cutting state support for public education in half and lowering the tobacco tax two years ago was short sighted," she said, adding that it hurt the state's younger population.
She also said the university system needs to find ways to increase its in-state student enrollment and freeze in-state tuition.
"We need to renew our tradition of attracting new citizens and help our young people stay here, raise families here, and remain part of the future of New Hampshire.
"I have always believed strongly in the power and value of education," she said.
Innovative thinking was the main theme throughout Hassan's speech as she touched on the priorities she sees for the state's future. She said accomplishments through innovation can be made while still creating a balanced budget.
"We can fund our priorities and balance the budget," she said.
Hassan warned, however, that funds should be spent prudently and wisely.
"Opportunities for innovation and growth can evaporate if we fail to make smart investments in a timely way," she stressed.
University of New Hampshire President Mark Huddleston told Foster's he was pleased to hear Hassan "reiterate her support for restoring funding for the state's four-year public colleges and universities to the 2010-2011 level of $100 million."
"In the short term this will make higher education more affordable for Granite State students, and in the long term it will grow the state's economy, attract new businesses and provide jobs. Employers in the state are in desperate need of college graduates ready for the workplace, and we are already committed to partnering with them to provide those skilled workers. That same commitment from the state is critical to our success," he wrote.
Hassan cited the low poverty and teen birth rates, the fact that the state is consistently rated one of the safest states as well as one of the safest in the country in which to to raise children, as distinctions its residents can be proud of.
Committing to support of small businesses, entrepreneurs, and the education needed to inspire New Hampshire's students, Hassan said there are things government must do not only to assist its residents, but to establish a solid economic platform as well.
Leading local and state officials, members of the N.H. Army National Guard, state troopers and others, NHARNG Chief Warrant Officer Charlie Morgan of New Durham, diagnosed with terminal breast cancer and who has also led the fight against the Defense of Marriage Act, led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance Thursday.
On Hassan's website, army veteran and OutServe-SLDN Executive Director Allyson Robinson, called Morgan "a national treasure and a treasure to her home state of New Hampshire." The website states Morgan recently announced that her doctors told her she has just months to live.
In her speech, Hassan said the state's leadership toward marriage equality without a court order is one way New Hampshire "signals to everyone the kind of welcoming state we are."
Acknowledging the recent tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., Hassan remined everyone that "as lawmakers, we must also recognize that out first obligation is to protect the safety of New Hampshire's families."
Senate Democratic Leader Sylvia Larsen said Hassan's speech was a strong one and believes "she will be a leader who will focus on ensuring New Hampshire is a more innovative state by taking a bipartisan, common-sense, and fiscally responsible approach to addressing our challenges."
New Hampshire, Hassan said, "is uniquely suited to seize the promise that innovation presents."
"I urge members of both parties to share your ideas and concerns with me. My door will be open and together we can find a way to solve problems and make New Hampshire a better place," she said.


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Face the Facts: Family Caregivers Work
By Sally Abrahms , October 24, 2012 08:30 AM
Here we go again. More black-and-white confirmation that elder responsibilities often negatively impact both employees and companies. A new fact sheet out from the AARP Public Policy Institute, in chilling percentages, shows the enormity of the issue and the need to implement or enhance workplace programs.
Let me lay it out. Here are the statistics I found particularly revealing:
- 61 percent of family caregivers age 50-plus work either full-time (50 percent) or part-time (11 percent).
- 42 percent of U.S. employees have cared for an older relative or friend in the last five years.
- 45- to 64-year-olds make up the biggest age group in the workplace to care for a parent (22 percent).
- 19 percent of retirees stopped working because of elder care.
- 68 percent have had to make work accommodations (taking time off, coming in late, leaving early, refusing a promotion, reducing work hours, changing jobs, quitting altogether).
- Female caregivers age 50-plus who stop working to care for a parent lose an average $324,044 in wages and benefits over the course of their lives versus $283,716 for men. Even reducing hours can affect their career and future financial security.
- Low-income employees, minorities and women are most likely to have to make work changes because of elder care.
Now, getting down to business. It's expensive for employers to ignore the needs of caregivers and not do everything to make it easier for them.
Altruism aside, elder care programs (on-site support groups, discount backup home care, referrals to community caregiving resources) boost productivity, employee retention and health while reducing stress. (Read the Society for Human Resource Management's suggestions.)
So do flexible work arrangements, family leave and paid sick days. Offering these alternatives also will make a company more attractive to new work prospects and help retain current employees.
If those suggestions don't do the job, here are two that will:
- Full-time caregivers cost U.S. business around $33.6 billion annually in lost productivity.
- Companies pay 8 percent more in health care costs for workers with caregiving responsibilities versus noncaregivers, translating to $13.4 billion a year.
You'd think it would be a no-brainer for employers. What do you think is holding them back? I'd love your opinion.
Follow Sally Abrahms at www.sallyabrahms.com or on Twitter
Photo by Michael Pujals courtesy of Creative Commons


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What can the market bear as near-record drought conditions and low corn stocks bolster both corn and milk prices?
We are moving into uncharted waters and interesting times as very dry weather covers nearly 55% of the nation.
Yes, we saw this back in 1988, but corn stocks going into that year were at 4.259 billion bushels, much higher than this year. The drought of 1988 pulled carryout down to 1.930 billion bushels. Ethanol was not being produced or mandated at that time and the use of corn for manufacturing was not as great as it currently is.
Current drought conditions are nearly the same as 1936, which again was a bit different than they currently are. If you can believe it, there are four other years during which the percent of the nation in drought was greater than the present. A cause for great concern is carryover of stocks, which are estimated to only be 903 million bushels for the end of the current marketing year, according to the latest World Agricultural Supply and Demand report. This spells real difficulty for the dairy industry.
Class III milk futures have been increasing, with contracts this fall exceeding $19.00. Prices are certainly higher than was expected this spring, but that provides little consolation as feed prices continue to rise. Since mid-June, December corn futures have increased nearly $3.00. Over the same period of time, December milk futures have increased nearly $2.60. This does not improve the milk/feed ratio and may actually decrease it further, depending on the price of soybeans and alfalfa hay, both of which also are increasing substantially.
As of June, we have not seen the evidence of the effects caused by the current situation. Dairy cattle slaughter in June totaled 229,000 head, up just 10,000 head from a year earlier and down 22,000 head from May. This was the lowest monthly slaughter since July 2011.
However, the latest USDA Milk Production report did indicate a slowing of milk production from the previous year. Production in all 50 states was up 0.9%, with cow numbers still up 54,000 head from a year earlier, but down 19,000 head from May. July is expected to see a significant decline as culling increases and the effects of hot weather are seen. July milk production is expected to show negative year-over-year growth for the first time in 29 consecutive months.
Lower milk production should tighten the market and push prices higher. The question is, "What can the market bear?" and "Will U.S. dairy prices lead world prices higher?" A recent estimate indicated cheese prices could reach $1.92 later this year. If that is achieved, then milk futures really do not need to increase any further. A block cheese price of $1.92 with barrels at $1.90 and butter at $1.80, as an example, would indicate a Class III price of $19.34 -- nearly the price current futures are. However, variation will be based on actual AMS weekly prices. Traders are already anticipating this price by putting a premium in the futures contracts.
My current recommendation is to hold off on any further milk price protection strategies but to keep a vigil on weather and grain prices. If crop conditions begin to stabilize and grain futures cease moving higher, fence strategies need to be implemented to cover a greater portion of your milk production. Those who currently hold previously recommended fence strategies consisting of the purchase of $16.00 and $17.00 puts and the sale of $18.00 and $19.00 calls should hold those positions. That's due to the price premium in the market and the fact that the end result will be a significantly better milk prices than what was initially protected.
Let's all hope it rains soon and the drought ends.
Upcoming reports:
- Global Dairy Trade auction on July 31
- Agricultural Price report on July 31
- Dairy Product Production report on August 1
- July Federal Order class prices on August 1
Robin Schmahl is a commodity broker and owner of AgDairy LLC, a full-service commodity brokerage firm located in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. He can be reached at 877-256-3253 or through their website at www.agdairy.com.
The thoughts expressed and the data from which they are drawn are believed to be reliable but cannot be guaranteed. Any opinions expressed are subject to change without notice. There is risk of loss in trading and my not be suitable for everyone. Those acting on this information are responsible for their own actions.


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At Fusion, David tells Amanda she has screwed things up and needs to get sober so she can keep working JR! Amanda wants to quit but David reminds her of the money and she gives in. She feels guilty about ruining JR's life but David says JR deserves nothing less.
Moving Plans!
Angie invites Rebecca and Natalia to move in with her, Jesse follows Ryan to Puerto Rico, Di is shot and so is Aidan, Taylor and Jake bond and Colby tries to reach Brot.
At the hospital, Rebecca's doctor tells Angie and Frankie that she has refused chemotherapy treatments and all they can do is wait for her to die. They go to Rebecca's room; she tells Natalia she wants to go home; Angie says that is what they will do then! Angie takes Natalia into the hall to finish Rebecca's paperwork. Natalia asks about Jesse; Angie says he is out on police work and offers to talk if Natalia wants. She leaves, instead. Frankie comes over and she asks what he would think if she moved Rebecca into their home! Frankie says she is a strong woman. She returns to Rebecca's room as she and Natalia are talking about hotels. Angie asks them both to move into her home! Rebecca objects so Angie sends the kids out. She sits with Rebecca and says staying with them would be a gift for her and for Jesse; she says it would also help Natalia. Rebecca cries.
JR goes to the mansion and finds Krystal and Little A there; she convinces JR to let Little A spend the night because he wants his own bed. Adam takes the boy upstairs. JR turns on Krystal but she remains firm, saying that the kiddo deserves some peace and familiar surroundings. JR says Little A just needs him but gives in to Krystal anyway. David and Amanda arrive and watch JR through the terrace doors. She has second thoughts about their plans and David says she probably isn't up to the task anyway. He says they need someone who is a good listener with a big heart. "You mean you want me to be Babe?" she asks and David says yes! He says she has to become Babe, which means not letting anyone walk all over her and she can't do it. Amanda gets angry and says, "Watch and learn." David smiles and peeks back in the window. Krystal sees him! She doesn't say anything to JR, who is still talking about Little A. She says he did the right thing by letting the boy stay at the mansion. JR finally agrees with her and goes upstairs. Krystal grabs her coat and goes to David. She threatens to call security but he stops her.
In the foyer, Amanda comes in and apologizes to JR for kissing him. She says she was out of line and will understand if he never speaks to her again. She turns to the door and JR asks her to wait.
Colby returns to the storeroom at the hospital. Brot is dreaming of the last firefight in Iraq and jumps at her when she wakes him. She offers him lunch from the cafeteria and jokes with him about the bad taste. He says hospital food is much better than Army food; Colby starts questioning him and Brot quiets down. She says if he doesn't talk, she'll get security. He tells her about his squad and the fighting they did.
In her hospital room, Jake pushes Taylor to work harder. She laughs at him, asking when he turned into a tough Army guy. Frankie comes in and watches her progress. Jake has a gourmet dinner delivered. They keep teasing one another as they eat and watch another telenovela. Colby walks by and hears them talking about Taylor's time in Iraq; she wonders if Brot and Taylor could be connected somehow. She leaves. Brot walks by and watches Taylor and Jake from outside the door. Taylor tells Jake how dark things have been for her and thanks him for helping her. Jake tells Taylor she is a strong woman, made even more beautiful by her vulnerability. "I could fall in love with you," Taylor says!
Colby goes back to the storeroom but Brot is gone. Frankie sees her and questions what she is doing there. She says she was checking on supplies. He leaves.
Jesse arrives in Puerto Rico and demands that a police officer tell him where Ryan and the others are. The officer doesn't know but then a call comes in about Americans running rampant at Pine Key hotel.
At the hotel, Ryan, Greenlee and Aidan rush into the room and find Di on the ground! Annie says Di took Emma; Ryan rushes to her side and tries to get Di talking. She tells Ryan to ask Annie where Emma is; Annie says she was trying to get Di to tell her the truth when the gun went off. She says she saw Di in the lobby and followed her to the room. Aidan and Greenlee question her. Annie tells them that Di is the only one who knows where Emma is. Aidan looks back, sees Di point the gun and pushes Greenlee out of the way. Di shoots and Aidan is hit! Di collapses and Ryan says she is dead. He and Greenlee try to save Aidan but Annie is frozen. Just then Jesse and several police officers burst into the room. He tries to talk to Greenlee but Annie gets nervous and tells him to rest. The paramedics give Aidan more medications. Two officers question Ryan but when he explains that Di was the bad guy, they don't believe him. Greenlee tries to go with Aidan but the officers stop her. "Not until you are interrogated," the officer says. Ryan goes nuts, yelling at the officers but Jesse shuts him up, saying he'll handle it.
Ryan, Annie and Greenlee are jailed at the police station. Jesse questions them, specifically Annie's motives. Ryan says Annie was desperate. Jesse returns to the officer at the desk and Greenlee asks why Ryan didn't tell Jesse his suspicions. Annie, meanwhile, is being interrogated; she tells the man about following Di and the shooting. "This is a person I thought was my friend. How could she take my daughter?" Annie says, leaving out her part in the kidnapping. Nearing hysteria, Annie begs the man to find Emma. Jesse goes through Di's bag but doesn't find anything; Greenlee tries to convince Ryan to tell Jesse about Annie. Ryan says he doesn't know anything and reminds Greenlee that Di has a criminal past – not Annie. Annie is brought back to the cell. Jesse comes over and says there is no evidence that might tell them where Emma is. An officer comes by to tell them Aidan is in grave danger. Greenlee begs them to let her go to Aidan; they release her but not Ryan or Annie. Jesse leads Greens away. Annie yells at the officer, who sits down casually. She turns to Ryan and cries about Emma. She gets one of the men to open the door and runs for it; Ryan runs, too, but they are both caught. They are locked back up but Ryan pulls a set of cell keys from his pocket!
At the hospital, Aidan's condition worsens. The doctors and nurses work on him but his condition keeps worsening. Jesse and Aidan arrive and the doctor says Aidan is out of surgery but isn't stable enough to have the full surgery. He says they don't have the equipment to do such an operation, which means Aidan is going to die! Greenlee goes to his side and orders him not to die. The doctors say there is nothing more they can do. Greenlee says she'll bring in help and tells the doctor to keep Aidan alive!
Next on All My Children:
Colby tells Brot to come clean with Taylor.
Amanda talks about Babe with JR to manipulate him.
Ryan and Annie race to find Emma.
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Emergency Medical Services
Please note that this degree program is not currently accepting new students.
Associate Degree Objectives
- To prepare EMS-certified staff members to assume higher levels of responsibility and advance professionally within the health care industry.
- To bring EMS students to a more sophisticated understanding of personal, social, and cultural development.
- To provide instruction and practice in oral, written, and electronic communications as these relate to professional performance.
- To broaden students' understanding of questions of conscience and increase their sensitivity to diversity through focused study of philosophy and literature.
- To facilitate personal growth and understanding of relevant medical data by means of mandated self-development coursework.
Degree Information
A maximum of 65 college credit hours will be awarded for those completing the EMS Degree. Completion of the EMS Degree requires successful completion of the Paramedic Training Program.
Please note that this degree program is not currently accepting new students.


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John Bracewell is the type of guy who will defend on Sunday what he did on Friday despite what happened on Saturday...
John Bracewell is the type of guy who will defend on Sunday what he did on Friday despite what happened on Saturday...
Originally Posted by Natman20
Fair enough - but no Kyle Mills? I don't think he's playing in England, is he?
President of SKAS - Kat is King | Proud member of CVAAS - One of the best | LRPLTAS - Rosco rocks!
Go Tigers!
R.I.P. Fardin & Craig
Hmmm. HmmmmmmmmmmmmmOriginally Posted by Natman20
Franklin, IMO, is quite clearly our second-best pace bowler behind Bond. Martin needs a squillion different variables to be in his favour to be effective (i.e. pitch conditions, overhead conditions, good rhythm etc); Oram's only a stock bowler who will never take many wickets and Mills a) hasn't played enough tests for us to rate him and b) doesn't have the ability to bowl wicket taking balls like Franklin does. Mills has turned into a useful ODI bowler, but he's never going to run through a team like Bond or even Franklin and Martin can. He doesn't swing it as much and is a bit slower than the other two which reduces his chances of taking wickets.
Also, Franklin most certainly does not take his wickets through luck. If you look at the way he gets batsmen out, most of them come from good-length outswingers/inswingers that get the batsman caught behind/lbw. He genuinely gets batsman out through good bowling rather than waiting for a mistake.
Finally, I disagree that his bowling is only good when the ball is new. Many of Franklin's best spells in recent times have come when he's been pasted in his opening spell and then come back when the ball is a bit older. Look at some of the most recent tests versus Australia and also South Africa and you'd see that this was often the case.
He's thrown a kettle over a pub, what have you done?
- Gareth Keenan from "The Office"
*****Winner***** of the 2006 FIFA World Cup predictions thread...see you in four years' time?
Seconded. Natman's comments sound like irrational bias and shouldn't really be taken seriously.Originally Posted by Sir Redman
Member of the Newtown Cricket Club - "Per commissum ad taberna"
Honorary Vice-President of the "Twenty20 Is Boring Society"
I just don't like James Franklin! I havn't seen any of the games he played in South Africa and heard he bowled a few good deliveries to get wickets and maybe he could develop into a good bowler but only tests. Please don't have him back in the ODI team he just gets hit for four so often with about 1 off delivery in every over from what i've seen. If Daryl Tuffey was fit I would play him instead. My comments about Mills were probably a bit dumb but hes a good ODI bowler I think and hasn't really been given much opportunity in tests. -- Nobody listen to me i'm irrational --
I think we are all agreed that Franklin should only play tests, but he's a much better bowler than you think
I wouldn't have Tuffey in the side ahead of him, but I'd have Tuffey bowl with the new ball and Franklin first change. Bond, Tuffey, Franklin is better than Bond, Franklin, Martin...
Tuffey is a better ODI bowler than Franklin.
winner of formula 1 prediction thread 2005 competition and look forward to next year
While we are talking about Franklin I heard on the radio just before that he is going to play for Glamorgan no surgery required. Maybe this will make him a better player.
Last edited by Natman20; 17-05-2006 at 04:40 AM.
But Franklin's a great test bowler. I mean, he's got a test hat trick for crying out loud!! Look what happened to our other test hat trick taker, Peter Petherick - he went on to have a great career...Originally Posted by Natman20
In bowls.
Originally Posted by Natman20
Well, I hope all our players in England this year will improve. I think we have the most over this year than any other? I may be mistaken though.
A recent interview with Richard Sherlock and a few other players heading to Aus next month has been posted elsewhere on the web I see (any direct link will automatically be starred out according to the preview of my post - type "cricket" and "Richie Sherlock" (as in Richie McCaw) into google if you're interested). I only found the site it's on through half-jokingly adding Sherlock to my google alerts over the summer to keep track of all his injuries.
In the interview he's described how he's dealing with the constant setbacks and how he developed the sidekick relationship he enjoys with Bond. There's definitely a similar theme of unbreakable optimism that you associate with Bond's own interviews, which is a nice sign.
Last edited by Kippax; 17-05-2006 at 09:25 PM.
Bond and Sherlock in tandem would be good for the team, but I must ask, with all these fast bowlers getting injured, do the people in charge in New Zealand really taking care of their faster bowlers? I guess not, given how quickly Geoff Allot and Shayne O'Connor faded away, and how often Dion Nash was out of action, and now Shane Bond.
"Talent is nothing without opportunity"
"You're not remembered for aiming at the target, but hitting it"
Twenty20 used to be boring.
I think Bonds focus should be the World Cup so I would only play him in 2 or 3 ODIs before the tournament so he doesn't get injured. How fast does Sherlock bowl?
Sherlock was clocked at 150kph on his tour of SA in 2004 (the NZ A v SA A one-dayers were televised apparently). From posts on CW by those who'd had a bit to do with him though, 150 seemed a little high for what they'd estimated he was. Two years on and several injuries later, it's really anyone's guess what his top speed would be now.
More than just good pace, one of the things I've liked about Sherlock as a prospect was him reportedly being capable of getting some nice outswing going as well, similar to perhaps a Lee, Steyn or Simon Jones.
sherlock wasn't actually clocked at 150 dayle hadlee just predicted it even so hed still be prett quick. when i went to an otago canty game sherlock and bond where bowling in tandem but sherlock didn't look as quick as bond. mccullum was standing between where he stood for bond and cairns when sherlock was bowling
CW Red
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A web page is interactive when it prompts a response from the user.
Immediacy is the key to interactivity: If you click on a button that says "chat," then that experience would be considered "more interactive" if you are immediately able to chat with someone online. The experience would be "less interactive" if the response was an email address for a mailing list on which you are allowed to discuss a particular issue. Interactive is really just another code word for describing how graphical elements in web pages work together with the software behind them.Go Back to Top. Skip To: Start of Article.


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Dear Readers,
The work at both Cust cemeteries has now been completed.
Cust's Anglican Cemetery (Tippings Road) was finished last year and the listings can be found here.
The Cust/West Eyreton Cemetery, the larger of the two, has now been fully photographed and listings are being added daily. Thanks to my parents and husband for helping me out with this cemetery, it saved on painkillers!
Don't forget, to learn more about the history of Cust and those who lived and died there you can visit or contact the Cust Museum, open 2pm – 4pm on Sundays or by arrangement.
Happy Hunting!
Helen @ Hunting Kiwis


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U.S. park model builders played a central role during the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association's (RVIA) Annual Committee Week, held June 2-6 at the historic Mayflower Renaissance Hotel in Washington D.C. – more so than they have in years.
In an era when camping is trending in some cases toward more long-term stays involving an array of destination-style vehicles and camping cabins, RVIA has been focusing a lot of attention on park trailer builders who last year agreed to rejoin RVIA after an absence of 18 years and shelve their existing trade group, the Recreational Park Trailer Industry Association (RPTIA).
And it quickly became evident that park trailer companies are comfortable with their new association ties during Committee Week, where RVIA's board of directors endorsed committee recommendations to change the name of the association's "Destination Camping Committee" to the "Seasonal Camping Committee" to better reflect common use of those terms among RV park operators and the camping public.
RVIA, for public relations and marketing purposes, will now refer to these types of units as "Park Model RV's" while using either of the terms "Recreational Park Trailers" or "Park Model RV's" for regulatory and standards purposes. Behind the new nomenclature is a desire on the part of park model builders, the national trade association and many campground operators to accentuate their status as recreation vehicles that are essentially mobile and distinct from housing whenever such questions might arise among consumers, zoning boards and taxing bodies in the future.
"Really, it's a rebranding effort," reports Park Model RV Committee Chairman John Soard, general manager of Fairmont Park Models, a division of Nappanee, Ind.-based Fairmont Homes Inc. "We for a long time in the park model business have just wanted to be affiliated more closely with what HUD (the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) calls us, which is an RV, and we've just never had the word "˜RV' in the actual name of the product. We wanted to have that name – RV – in there, and we are now "˜Park Model RV's.'"
Soard is pleased with the RVIA staff support his company and the other 23 park trailer manufacturers who have joined RVIA since last year have been receiving in a number of ways "" from seals to marketing to shipment reports "" under the watch of Matt Wald, executive director of park model RV's for RVIA.
"Those items are all important," said Soard. "You have government affairs working hard to get a list of the code states and what their issues are and how to define park models. That was huge, and so was getting accurate shipping data. That's a big deal, and we were very pleased with how that came about. Getting us RV seals was very helpful. Then, there's the Show Committee integrating us back into the Louisville Show. That was a big deal for us as well.
"Again," he added, "all of this took staff's time and effort to get things done for us. These are all things that we all, as a committee, wanted to be addressed, and they were handled very professionally. All things considered, the recognition within RVIA of the seasonal camping market and how big it is, that was a big deal to us. I'd say, overall, it's been an incredible first year with RVIA, and I'm very pleased with how smoothly the transition has been going."
Seasonal Camping Committee member Tim Gage, vice president over park models and cabins for Phoenix-based RV and manufactured home builder Cavco Industries Inc., agrees with Soard's assessment.
"I think that the direction we're headed in is going to be definitely positive for our segment of the RV industry," says Gage, whose company in June introduced a new parkmodels.com website. "And I like the new branding, so to speak, as a "˜Park Model RV.' That's really what we are. I think that things have gone well."
Gage appreciates the "phenomenal support" of Wald, who told WCM that standards inspections were the most pressing priority over the past year in integrating these new companies, which together account for about 3,000 units a year "" a fairly small number vs. the RV industry's estimated total wholesale shipment numbers of 310,000 for 2013. In fact, Wald says the need for consistent and professional standards inspections was one of the main reasons the park model sector wanted to rejoin RVIA in the first place after exiting in 1994.
"Everybody (park trailer builders) was very nervous about how that was going to go," said Wald. "They had 20 years of experience with third-party inspectors who took a very different approach to the inspection than our inspectors do. Ultimately, the (RVIA) inspectors have found a very high degree of conformance with ANSI 119.5 (the park model standard) among the OEMS."


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Narrow Stainless-Steel Spatula
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- Summary
Made in Italy by Due Buoi, a family-owned fine-cutlery business since 1884, this long, narrow spatula handles delicate foods – from fish to desserts – with ease. Its rigid, angled neck efficiently slides under foods without breaking them apart.
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- Dimensions & More Info
- 5" long spatula; 2" x 10 1/4" long overall.
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- Use & Care
- Hand-wash in warm, soapy water; dry immediately.
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Shipping Information
UPS can deliver most in-stock items within 3–5 business days. UPS is unable to deliver to P.O. boxes.
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For an additional charge of $26 per address, we can expedite delivery to most destinations. This service is not available for some oversize items, items shipped directly from the supplier (including perishable and custom-manufactured items), out-of-stock items and items to be shipped outside the contiguous 48 states.
Orders received by 9:00 p.m. ET Monday through Thursday will arrive the next business day; orders placed Friday through Sunday will arrive on the following Tuesday.
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At Williams Sonoma, we take great pride in the quality and craftsmanship of our products. Attention to design, materials, safety and construction are our priority. Upon receipt, please inspect your purchase and notify us of any damage; we will arrange for a prompt replacement.
If within 30 days, you are dissatisfied for any reason, you may return your purchase for a refund of the merchandise value. An original receipt or gift receipt is required for all returns and exchanges. Returns with a gift receipt will be refunded in the form of a Merchandise Credit for the amount indicated on the gift receipt. Returns with original receipt will be refunded in the original form of payment, cash and check refunds over $100 will be issued as a company check (may take 14 business days from time of request).
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Rated 5 out of 5 by cmcinc from The Only Steel Spatulars you Need I bought this and the large one and these are the only ones to buy if you're thinking about it. They get under and flip everything. Super strong. You won't be disappointed.Date published: 2017-07-04Rated 5 out of 5 by Mandisue from Who knew a person could love a spatula so much? I have used this magical utensil to cut into layers of light and creamy tiramisu and glide through dark chocolate fudge brownies. The quality is outstanding. It is so well made that I expect it to be used for the many desserts of my future and held with joy each time.Date published: 2017-06-01Rated 5 out of 5 by Maagg from Favorite spatula So versatile for breakfast, lunch and/or dinner. Works really good when cooking narrow dishes. My husband prefers the narrow spatula from the other sizes our kitchen has.Date published: 2016-03-16Rated 5 out of 5 by SKCfromVA from Beautiful tool When you spend a lot of time in the kitchen- it is nice to have tools that are well made, feel good in your hand and do their job well. This is a classic tool that you will find many uses for. Just remind your family members that does not go in the dishwasher- just like your good knives.Date published: 2015-03-04Rated 5 out of 5 by Cookie1001 from Excellent Due Buoi from William-Sonoma Best spatula ever - this is now my go-to tool in the kitchen...great for turning anything in the Lodge skillet! Better still, it's Italian!Date published: 2014-02-06


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Zack Snyder explains how the new Superman will handle Kal-El's continuity. A dozen cast videos for Game of Thrones take you inside HBO's adaptation of George R.R. Martin's series. The Ghost Rider sequel casts a comic book villain, and more!
Spoilers from here on out!
Top image from Transformers: Dark of the Moon.
Superman Reboot
Diane Lane discusses her casting as Martha Kent:
"It's going to be a wild ride. [I rewatched Watchmen] to remind myself of what an audacious, brilliant man Zack Snyder is. I love 300 and I'm very flattered to play Martha Kent and live up to his vision. It's pretty cool...I've always wanted to raise a good man. I thought that was the biggest challenge a woman could have, and so I get the embarrassment of riches."
Meanwhile, Zack Snyder says that, not surprisingly, this film is a reboot:
Literally, the one thing that everyone can start to think about is that we're making a movie that finally goes with the approach that there's been no other Superman movies. If you look at 'Batman Begins,' there's that structure, there's the canon that we know about and respect but on other hand there's this approach that pre-supposes that there haven't been any other movies. In every aspect of design and of story, the whole thing is very much from that perspective of respect the canon but don't be a slave to the movies.
He also says his Superman will be a "physical cat," and that people have a lot of preconceptions about Superman that are wrong. [L.A. Times]
Transformers: Dark of the Moon
Here's the official description for Peter David's novelization:
All humankind was watching that fateful day in 1969. But only a handful knew the real mission behind America's triumph in space. Now the treacherous Decepticons have set their sights on unearthing government secrets. The only hope of averting a crisis rests on the Autobots - yet who knows what remains in the shadows, hidden from man and machine?
Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance
Nicolas Cage isn't just fighting Satan in the upcoming Ghost Rider sequel from Crank directors Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor. Johnny Whitworth, whose previous credits include the 3:10 to Yuma remake and the Neveldine/Taylor movie Gamer, reveals he's playing the comics villain Blackout:
"I play the villian who, at the beginning, up until like page 70, is human. I'm not a very nice guy. I'm bad. I get turned into, for those who read 'Ghost Rider', the character Blackout. I get turned into him by the Devil to complete my job. That gives me the fortitude to fight Ghost Rider and the supernatural abilities to compete on some level with that guy."
Dark Shadows
Casino Royale's Eva Green explained her character Angelique will be rather different from Lara Parker's depiction of the character in the original TV series:
"I haven't seen the TV series, but from what I've seen on the Internet, it's very different. My character is very different. She's American, blonde, cool, in the '70s. She is this sexy witch, very powerful in town, she's very cool. She has many faces."
Now, the initial reaction elsewhere to this comments seems to be that the whole "American, blonde, cool, in the '70s" bit is describing how she'll play the character in the movie, but I think that's a misinterpretation, considering that's pretty much just a description of Lara Parker's portrayal. So no, I don't think she's implying here that the movie will be set in the 1970s or that she'll be ditching her natural French accent for an American one. She did at least clarify one thing: most likely, she will be dyeing her hair blonde for the role.
Anyway, what she says here is much easier to interpret, as she gets into her relationship with Johnny Depp's vampire Barnabas Collins:
"It's something that he's never done, I think," she said. "It's much more focused on the actors. It could almost be a play. The script is very powerful and funny. [Angelique's] relationship with Barnabas, that 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf' relationship, very love-hate - it's very funny."
Underworld 4: New Dawn
Here are some set photos of star Kate Beckinsale. [Celebutopia]
Cockneys vs. Zombies
The latest crazy zombie movie, in which we can only assume working class Londoners take on the undead, has found its cast, which reportedly includes Goldfinger and The Avengers star Honor Blackman, Snatch villain Alan Ford, and Michelle Ryan, the star of the failed Bionic Woman reboot and de facto companion in the Doctor Who special "Planet of the Dead." Other cast members include Harry Treadaway, Jack Doolan, Rasmus Hardiker, and Ashley Thomas. Finally, in what has to be considered at least a mildly hopeful sign, the script is reportedly being worked on by James Moran, the writer of the British comedy horror Severance and the rather excellent Doctor Who episode "The Fires of Pompeii." [The Hollywood Reporter]
Red Dawn
In a stunning move that allows the upcoming remake to be both asinine and completely toothless, MGM has reportedly decided to digitally remove any sign that it's actually the Chinese army that launches the American invasion, lest they offend one of the world's largest movie markets. Instead, apparently it's now going to depict isolationist North Korea as the villains. [The Los Angeles Time]
Executive producer Jeff Pinkner says there won't be a two-hour finale this year, but that the last three episodes will form a single continuous story arc. He also offers this hint about Olivia's upcoming possession by William Bell:
Olivia will be inhabited by Bell for a couple episodes - but cohabitation is not as benign as William assumes it is...
Game of Thrones
HBO has released a ton of videos where the cast breaks down their respective main character, as well as three sneak peeks. Since Game of Thrones has a principal cast the size of a small country, we're putting all the videos in a gallery where you can watch them all. But here's our personal favorite, as the impossibly awesome Peter Dinklage explains his character, badass antihero Tyrion Lannister. [SpoilerTV]
Here are some more detailed descriptions for the first two episodes:
Episode #1: "Winter Is Coming"
A Night's Watch deserter is tracked down outside of Winterfell, prompting swift justice by Lord Eddard "Ned" Stark and raising concerns about the dangers in the lawless lands north of the Wall. Returning home, Ned learns from his wife Catelyn that his mentor, Jon Arryn, has died in the Westeros capital of King's Landing, and that King Robert is on his way north to offer Ned Arryn's position as the King's Hand. Meanwhile, across the Narrow Sea in Pentos, Viserys Targaryen hatches a plan to win back the throne, which entails forging an allegiance with the nomadic Dothraki warriors by giving its leader, Khal Drogo, his lovely sister Daenerys' hand in marriage. Robert arrives at Winterfell with his wife, Queen Cersei, and other members of the Lannister family: her twin brother Jaime, dwarf brother Tyrion and Cersei's son and heir to the throne, 12-year-old Joffrey. Unable to refuse his old friend and king, Ned prepares to leave for King's Landing, as Jon Snow decides to travel north to Castle Black to join the Night's Watch, accompanied by a curious Tyrion. But a startling act of treachery directed at young Bran may postpone their departures.
Episode #2: "The Kingsroad"
Bran's fate remains in doubt. Having agreed to become the King's Hand, Ned leaves Westeros with daughters Sansa and Arya, while Catelyn stays behind to tend to Bran. Jon Snow heads north to join the brotherhood of the Night's Watch. Tyrion decides to forego the trip south with his family, instead joining Jon in the entourage heading to the Wall. Viserys bides his time in hopes of winning back the throne, while Daenerys focuses her attention on learning how to please her new husband, Drogo.
You can also check out the link for a very detailed explanation of the show's premise. [SpoilerTV]
True Blood
In discussing the abilities of fairies, it's confirmed that they can't be turned into vampires, although Alan Ball points to one rather intriguing power:
"They can abduct humans and take them somewhere else that is not here. Just like aliens."
[TV Guide]
Here's some more hints about the finale from executive producer Eric Kripke and actor Misha Collins:
Kripke: "The battle with Raphael and the war in heaven gets hotter and hotter. Castiel's really backed against a corner as he's just battling to stop the evil forces in heaven."
Collins: "He's assembling as powerful an arsenal as he possibly can. He's going to use all of those weapons to the best of his ability."
[TV Guide]
Stargate Universe
Here are some photos, a promo, and a synopsis for episode 13, "Alliances." [Daemon's TV]
Greer and Camille are on Earth via the communication stones, and find themselves trapped when Homeworld Command is attacked.
Being Human (US)
Here's a promo for episode 10, "Dog Eat Dog."
Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Here's a image from Chewbacca's upcoming guest appearance. [multipleverses.net]
Additional reporting by Gordon Jackson and Charlie Jane Anders.


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Photo of fallen firefighters stirs controversy
- The image showed up on a social media page devoted to the Granite Mountain Hotshots on Thursday
- No credit or explanation about the photo%27s source was included on the page
- The Prescott Fire Department officials said the agency did not authorize the release of the photo
PRESCOTT, Ariz. -- A photograph of 19 flags, apparently draped over body bags on a patch of charred earth, was published Thursday on a social-media page devoted to the Granite Mountain Hotshots, the firefighters who died in the Yarnell Hill Fire on Sunday.
The image appears to show the scene of where the 19 firefighters died, after an honor guard draped the body bags with flags while preparing to remove them from the hill the day after the fire.
STORY:Arizona fire aftermath: Trying to use lessons learned
STORY:How you can help the Arizona firefighters' families
The image turned up on a Facebook page at midafternoon Thursday with no comment, no credit and no explanation about its source. Within a few hours, almost 1,000 people had shared it on their own Facebook pages.
The picture immediately triggered a debate on the page over the sensitivity of posting the photo. It drew a claim from at least one family member that the image was intended to stay private, though it was unclear who would have made that commitment. It also elicited outrage from a fire department official.
The bodies of the 19 members of the hotshot crew were removed Monday and taken to Phoenix to undergo autopsies.
The photo was posted on a page devoted to the team, although under the "about" section, it is described as "a community, news, and donation page (that) is not directly related to the Granite Mountain Hotshots personally."
The page was created Monday and includes a long series of links and photos of the firefighters, mourning family members, along with information about donation efforts. The page also includes a link to the Prescott Fire Department's website and includes the name and office telephone number of the department's wildland division chief, Darrell Willis.
Contacted by The Republic late Thursday, Willis said he had no connection to the page and said he did not post the photo or authorize its posting.
"This is totally unauthorized. It's totally against anything we committed to," Willis said
He confirmed the authenticity of the photo but said he was upset that someone would attach his name to a page with the image.
Prescott Fire Chief Dan Fraijo said he was unaware of the post, but said, "If it was any of our people who (posted) this, I am sure that they intended it to be in good taste."
After the firefighters were killed Sunday night, investigators and other fire workers oversaw the area and gathered evidence. On Monday, a team of fellow Prescott firefighters went to the scene to recover the bodies. In interviews with The Republic, members of that team described a solemn ceremony they performed to honor their colleagues:
When the recovery crew arrived, the fallen crew members had already been placed in body bags. The recovery crew draped each one with an American flag. An honor guard stood watch as the team prepared for the trip to the Maricopa County Medical Examiner's Office.
The Republic chose to republish the photo because it depicts the respect given to these men who gave their lives to protect others.
Robert Steele, a professor of journalism ethics at DePauw University in Indiana, said the questions about how the photo came into the public sphere could detract from a powerful image from the tragedy.
The debate "puts a lot of emphasis on how and why this photo became public and who made it public rather than the photo itself," he said. "It takes away from the real meaning of the image itself, the pain and loss and the community agony that comes with the deaths of these 19 firefighters. It becomes a story about the who and why."
The photo started a lively discussion on the Facebook page, with arguments for and against posting the image publicly. Many commenters simply offered condolences or saluted the firefighters. Others criticized the page owner for posting the photo.
"This picture is very overwhelming," one person wrote. "This is a picture that should be kept private. This does not show respect for these heroes or their families. I would hope this picture would be removed."
But others said they appreciated the photo as a show of respect.
"As a firefighter of more than 25 years, I have witnessed tragedies such as this," one wrote. "I feel that this picture ... is a meaningful reminder of the sacrifice that these brave, unselfish souls gave of themselves, and paid the ultimate price."
Several people said that firefighters' families knew about the photo earlier and were told that it would remain private. A woman who identified herself in the comments as a relative of one of the dead firefighters repeated that claim.
Juliann Ashcraft, whose husband, Andrew, was among the fallen firefighters, said Thursday that she appreciated all that was done to honor the bodies. She said she knew they were going to be photographed as a group, but the photos were to be "exclusive to the family."
She hadn't seen the photo online late Thursday, but when she heard about it, she said: "It makes me sad. But it doesn't make or break things in the end."
Contributing: Republic reporters Ken Alltucker, Connie Cone Sexton and Kristina Goetz


text: I admit it, I have been inspired by Alton Brown's show Feasting on Asphalt, so I have created a gallery on my smugmug page just for road food. I will post photo of some of the great roadside eateries that I come across in my travels. I will also post them here. I'll start the ball rolling... Little Red Wagon, Merrimac, Mass. This has to be one of the smallest kitchens around. Located right off exit 53 off 495, it is an easy, quick stop and go from the highway. Complete with a stream and picnic table, it's a great place to stop and grab a bite. Great breakfast sandwiches!


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#1 from 2013: Paul Kagame: Digital President Leading a Technology Movement
Our Top Ten blog posts by readership in 2013
This post was originally published on November 27, 2013
Paul Kagame, the President of Rwanda, has been dubbed the "digital president" by international organizations, journalists, and politicians alike. A recent article in Wired Magazine provides a compelling review of numerous technology initiatives that President Kagame has spearheaded in the last decade, making it clear why he's been given this title. The Rwandan government has been making a concerted effort to create a culture of innovation by investing in technology, infrastructure, and the skills of the Rwandan people, as demonstrated by various projects such as the One Laptop per Child Program and the launch of Carnegie Mellon University in Rwanda (CMU-R), which offers a Master of Science degree in Information Technology along with a Master of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering. In the last year alone, the government of Rwanda struck a 4G Internet deal with a South Korean telecoms firm that will lead to high-speed broadband for 95% of Rwandan citizens within three years. This is all part of an effort to transform Rwanda into a knowledge-based economy.


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While , "But you look so good…" may be intended as a compliment (or at least a deflector) coming from someone talking about your multiple sclerosis, there are other things that people say that is downright mean. Whether or not it is intended, people can say some pretty hurtful things about (or actually TO) those of us living with MS.
While I must admit that the most offensive thing anyone has ever said to me was along the line of, "You don't really need that cane; do you?"; in a recent article in the National MS Society's Momentum magazine I read evidence of some pretty awful stuff that people can say.
Sure, we could chalk some of it up to ignorance, some comments up to fear and some a deflection device for their own "stuff". Some of it, however, is nothing but people being just plain mean – The remark made to one of my commenters, Jan, about using a handicapped parking space was a perfect example of someone being nothing more than a complete ass!
Most of you know that we try to focus on the more productive in these pages. Once in a while, however, it's ok to talk about the darker side.
As I unpack from one trip, only to launder my clothes for a jaunt back east tomorrow, I just can't get this article out of my craw. From insensitive employers and coworkers to verbally abusive spouses, there is NO reason that we should put up with such comments.
The only way I can deal with these thoughts right now, I guess, is with an indigent, snorting laugh. "Some people's kids…" So, rather than simply for the pity of it, I'd like to ask you for the pure pleasure of the humor only those who have been there can appreciate; What is the meanest thing / worst thing / stupidest thing that anyone has ever said about your MS?
Let's all laugh at those people for their assumptions of us.
Wishing you and your family the best of health.


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Sweden's Finance Minister Anders Borg warned Uganda on Tuesday that a new Bill imposing harsh penalties for homosexuality could represent a financial risk for the East African economy.
Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni initialled the Bill on Monday, drawing immediate criticism from Western donors, including the United States. Within hours, Norway and Denmark said they were holding back aid. Austria said it would review assistance.
Reflecting the gap between the policies of Western donors and some African attitudes, a Ugandan tabloid's frontpage carried the banner headline "Exposed" and threatened to out 200 allegedly known homosexuals, an act activists feared marked a new pogrom against the gay community.
"I'm really here to discuss the economy and growth opportunities, but that will be overshadowed, unfortunately, because they have taken this decision," Borg told Swedish news Agency TT, referring to the Bill on homosexuality.
"It represents a financial risk for Uganda to get this type of reputation," said Borg, who was in Uganda on Monday and Tuesday, and met gay activists the same day the law was signed.
If the aid cuts become widespread, Uganda, East Africa's third biggest economy, could be forced to cut spending or borrow deeper. When donors suspended aid in 2012 over graft concerns, Uganda revised its growth outlook downwards.
The new Bill strengthens existing punishments for anyone caught having gay sex, imposing jail terms of up to life for "aggravated homosexuality" – including sex with a minor or while HIV positive. It outlaws lesbianism for the first time and makes it a crime to help individuals engage in homosexual acts.
Many culturally conservative sub-Saharan African governments outlaw homosexuality, a point of friction with the many Western donors that support their budgets.
US Secretary of State John Kerry said the new legislation "complicates a valued relationship", adding Washington would review ties with veteran leader Museveni and his government.
Museveni may though be betting that such warnings are just rhetoric, analysts said. Uganda is a Western ally in the fight against al-Qaeda-linked militants in Somalia, putting troops into a battle the West has little stomach for.
He may also be counting on future oil production which could start in 2016 and help ease his nation's dependency on aid.
Surge in house raids
Gay rights campaigners report a surge in house raids, violence and harassment against homosexuals since Parliament passed the Bill in December. Many gays in the capital, Kampala, hid behind locked doors for a second day on Tuesday, they said.
Homosexuality is taboo in almost all African countries and illegal in 37 – including Uganda, where rights groups say gay people have long risked jail. Fear of violence, imprisonment and loss of jobs means few gays in Africa come out.
Uganda's leading tabloid Red Pepper printed pictures of 10 suspected homosexuals and a list of several dozen names with personal details about their work places and families.
"They are exposing people at a very dangerous time," said Julian Onziema Pepe, a spokesperson for Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG).
The Red Pepper item revived bitter memories of a local newspaper's 2010 campaign to publish photographs of suspected gays alongside the banner: "Hang them". Uganda's High Court intervened, gagging the Rolling Stone publication but activists worried the new Bill would clear the way for similar witch-hunts.
Gay activist Clare Byarugaba said five people were in hiding in her office, asking to be moved to safe houses. "Museveni has basically given the leeway for people … to persecute each other, and it's just going to get worse," Byarugaba said. – Reuters


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Downey is acknowledged to be North Palm Beach's finest General Contractor. We are a family run business who firmly believe in going that extra mile in providing the best for your house. Our commitment to keep you and your family or business safe is unwavering and non-negotiable.
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laugh silly (bizarre, nonsense, joke, inanity, crazy, humor, absurd, jokes, fun, and serious too)
2025 not sure about the DYDD, there's something about his eyes, the way he is looking at me, must be careful must be caref
2024 the DYDD rescued me from the zombies by forcing me to breathe smoked banana skins. Not sure how long we can avoid them, must not fall asleep
2023 I have no complaints, we will absorb you, there is no where you can hide, join us, be free of ..
2022 hiding out in a basement living on canned goods and recycled water, they can't find me here, someone's coming...
2021 attacked by brain-sucking zombies, the world seems doomed
2020 with perfect vision It is clear what is in store, and I don't mean grocery store.
2019 back from distant lands, I am not doing contests but any member may start one here especially if the are giving away money prizes or free bananas.
2019 not running any contests anymore, ran out of banana prizes, sorry
take the time to compose something silly
2016 begin again another year, more silliness, musescore discussions, contests, laughs, and serious music
We have lots of contests and tend to write fun and silly original compositions. We try to have a contest every month or so. Contest currently open include:
The Musical Signature Contest ending Jan 15-create a composition based on your name, a sort of cryptogram, assigning notes to letters. It's fun, try it.
New Year contest ending Jan 31- write a composition celebrating the new year just for fun. It can be serious or silly.
Love Song contest ending in mid February- write an original love song. It can have lyrics if you want and can be serious or silly.
March Madness contest ending April 1 appropriately- Anything goes for this contest, be creative and silly and wild and totally mad (in a nice way). Everyone welcome.
We also have a Film Music contest ending April 30. That should be fun.
Solo Instrument contest ending June 30- write an original composition for the instrument of your choice. It can be unaccompanied or with piano or orchestra if you like or, what the hey, it can be a duet or quartet or 50 harmonica band piece just so it focuses on one shining instrument.
Now, we have a Halloween Music Contest ending Oct 31 of course and already have some great entries. So join in the fun.
We also have a guess the melody contest in which you can try to name the composer and title of music from an arrangement we put together. And we have a Famous composer challenge in which you can match up the names of composers to brief descriptions about the composer. All in fun.
Members are welcome to start their own contests or discussions in this group as well.
The administrator, Chinadoll, writes comments to every composition submitted to the group and tries to include encouragement and positive critical advice or suggestions. Anyone is welcome to join.
Visit our websites at http://chinadoll123.wix.com/laugh-silly to vote for the best music composition and composer in our group and also visit the DYDD site for pure silliness and mayhem featuring the adventures of the Downy Yellow Dinge Dork, a nearly (some would say, hopefully soon) extinct bird http://chinadoll123.wix.com/dingle-dork1
Listen to more Chinadoll music (under the name dshostakovich) at https://soundcloud.com/dshostakovich


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While Kanye West isn't set to appear on Friday's "Hope For Haiti" telethon, the outspoken rapper hasn't been barred from the show, despite online rumors.
"Not true," a highly reputable source told Access Hollywood, explaining that Kanye had simply not necessarily come forward to join the broadcast. "[The] telethon organizers took the first people to come to us… on the phone bank and in the singers and presenters."
Kanye's last telethon appearance, when he appeared on NBC to raise funds for Hurricane Katrina relief in 2005, found the rapper standing next to a dumb-founded Mike Myers while making the infamous remark, "George Bush doesn't care about black people." The hip-hop star has stayed out of the public eye since his latest televised disruption — interrupting Taylor Swift's Best Female Video acceptance speech at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards last fall.
Stars who will be participating at Friday's telethon include freshly announced performers Madonna and Beyonce and stars including President Bill Clinton, Brad Pitt, Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, Clint Eastwood, Leonardo DiCaprio, Denzel Washington, Halle Berry, Jon Stewart, Will Smith with Muhammad Ali, Robert Pattinson, Tom Hanks and more.
Previously announced performers in the all-star lineup include Wyclef Jean, Bruce Springsteen, Jennifer Hudson, Mary J. Blige, Shakira, Sting, Alicia Keys, Christina Aguilera, Dave Matthews, John Legend, Justin Timberlake, Sheryl Crow, Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, Kid Rock, Sheryl Crow, Coldplay, Bono, The Edge, Jay-Z and Rihanna.
The telethon airs on a number of networks and online and mobile platforms at 8 PM EST. Performances from the show will be available on iTunes, with proceeds going to charity.
Related Content from AccessHollywood.com:
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Celebs Who Give Back
PLAY IT NOW: Rosie O'Donnell Ready To Help In Haiti
PLAY IT NOW: John Mayer Offers Huge Praise For Taylor Swift & Defends Kanye West
MORE ACCESS ON THESE TOPICS: Kanye West - Charities - TV - TV One - Keith Urban


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TigerTalk: Listen in as Tigers radio broadcasters Dan Dickerson and Pat Caputo talk baseball.
MLB.com Extras: Tigers beat reporters join national correspondents to take an inside look ahead at the story lines and developing news that impact the team's outlook.
Listen to or download single episodes below, subscribe via iTunes or use your RSS reader so you never miss an episode.